[statecom-discuss] Facing some hard truths about our party

Tue May 8 00:53:31 EDT 2007

Ron, your analysis of weaknesses of GRP was brilliant (though I disagree  in
part with your pessimism)--but I for one genuinely seek more detailed
information from you on what has been in the past one of your preferred
strategies==the town referenda idea because if you are right about your
facts I think it might become one of the strategic working group's key
strategies. (And I dont think SWG in any sense moves in a preordained mode:
we are open to any and all ideas right now as I understand it.) But I want
to ask seriously if this referenda idea can apply right now to areas that
dont (like Somerville) have the "city" status. I am something of an expert
on statewide ballot issues and even on trial balloons in county efforts like
the nuclear freeze issue in the past, but I dont know anything about the
signature collection process or the exact ballot status at city or town
level, and more important, given the wide disparity of status between "city"
and "town" in Mass., I really want to know this. (Both as a GRP task force
member and as a teacher.) I think this was probably part of what Eli had in
mind when he wrote to you (and I am riding on just a part of your message; I
deleted the most recent exchange between you and Eli by mistake.) IF the
city AND TOWN referenda idea is practical and feasible in terms of # of
signatures I want to know it. I happen to live in a town (Burlington)--does
your preferred strategy apply to me or not? Many of us live in towns. I dont
know the exact history here (having avoided it in past) but I THINK we are
very much more a hapless tool of the state than you are.

One constant theme of yesterday's very preliminary hearings--to which I paid
very close attention--was the plea for a focus on local contests and local
issues. I/we very much value your input here--and I think Eli does too. If
you feel your preferred strategies have been neglected I sympathize with
you. (So have mine in most of the past twenty years.) But I think we badly
want to correct that notion. That is why I for one have returned to GRP
activism; I want to make a fresh start and this process (cumbersome and
boring as it is) is so important. We urgently need input from you--as a very
wise and very candid person. No game playing or name calling. PLEASE answer
just a few of my questions. (Believe it or not at BU we dont have research
assistants unless we have a grant which I dont as someone about to retire.
But if you cant answer this because you dont know legal difference between
towns and cities, please tell me and I will try to discover it for myself. I
suspect you must have done a lot of research on this pt.) With respect,
Betts

-----Original Message-----
From: statecom-discuss-bounces at green-rainbow.org
[mailto:statecom-discuss-bounces at green-rainbow.org]On Behalf Of Ron
Francis
Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 5:50 PM
To: statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
Subject: Re: [statecom-discuss] Facing some hard truths about our party

As to being in the collective process:

You said:

"Part of the collective process is hearing from members across the
state, including you. Yesterday's "hearing" went quite well in that
regard"

SPWG has already heard from me in detailed written form about the
fundamental problems facing our party  and so the process has already
included me (I am indeed part of the collective process) and I would have
come in person except for a potluck involving local organizing which will
always be a priority for me.

I don't think the SPWG wants specific plans at this point; it seems like the
group wants principles and ideas which I have already put forward for
months, including my last email,... and so that it what I mean by not
putting forward a specific plan - it would pre-empt the process.  (THE SPWG
process needs to consider the root causes of our problem, and once that is
understood move forward with a plan).   And anyhow, if it is a specific plan
that is desired, then I have already put out such plans, again in detailed
written form and thus I am part of the collective process.

To summarize, I have provided a set a principles for thinking about our
root-cause problems, and I have ALSO submitted a detailed plan to solve the
problems.  I am happy to resend these materials.

As for number 2)

You said:

"Isn't your proposal about local referenda with a possible focus on
 an abolish-poverty issue a suggested plan for going forward? Shouldn't
 you want the SPWG to put that in the mix among its considerations?"

If the SPWG is interested in specific proposals based on the fundamental
ideas that I have put forward (including both the Common Local Ballot
Question Initiative and the Local Organizing Initiative), then the group is
free to advocate for or discuss those kinds of proposals and similar ones.

These specific proposals (CLBQ adn LOI) are already in the mix...in detailed
written form.   They have even been submitted with timelines, rationale and
even mailed out in physical form to many members....  So I'm confused to
hear a suggestion that they are not in the mix.  In fact they are well in
the mix as is the ideas that Mike H. sent out the other day.  (I asked Eli
to make the CLBQ and LOI materials available to SPWG, as well as other more
root-cause analysis and I assume that he did)

Merelice <merelice at gmail.com> wrote: On 5/6/07, Ron Francis  wrote:
> Hello Betz,
>
> I don't want to suggest any plan for going forward since I prefer that the
Strategic Planning Working Group use a collective process.
>
Hi Ron,

Your response is confusing on two counts:
1 - Part of the collective process is hearing from members across the
state, including you. Yesterday's "hearing" went quite well in that
regard.

2 - Isn't your proposal about local referenda with a possible focus on
an abolish-poverty issue a suggested plan for going forward? Shouldn't
you want the SPWG to put that in the mix among its considerations?

Merelice
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