Question 2: I think this one has a lot of potential. Fusion voting was systematically eliminated in 43 states by the Ds and Rs acting in concert to protect their duopololy. The states that do have it can find it annoying, but only because it holds them accountable to voters. The Working Families Party, the organization that got this on the ballot, has had a lot of success as a Third Party in New York precisely because of Fusion Voting. Their independent fund raising and third partiness give them credibility amongst the disenfranchised. Their individual platform ensures that when they do get votes, it matters. They have been the margin of victory in several elections - those who win them, Republican or Democrat, know they are beholden to the voters on WFP's issues.
With their help, a powerful Republican in a tight race managed to win. 10% of the people voted for him through the WFP, more than twice the margin of victory. He knew that their agenda - a raise in the minimum wage - was what got him the win. With his help, it ceased to be stuck in committee and debate and was quickly passed. They also ran a candidate in Manhattan against a Republican who was so popular the Democrats didn't even run a candidate! The WFP Candidate got the Democratic endorsement and ultimateley won. Let me repeat that: A Third Party won an election where the other mainstream party wasn't even going to try. That's powerful stuff. See this entry for more information/conversation.
If you do vote YES on 2, please also vote for Rand Wilson for State Auditor. He expects to lose, but if we can get him the 3% of the vote required to be a recognized political party, we'll have a true multiparty system in Massachusetts.
Question 3 leaves me leaning toward NO. I've had good experiences with the Unions I was a part of, but Monopolies are bad for the people. In this case, if the workers in question aren't for it, it has my opposition. Publix employees are repeatedly harassed by the Teamsters to Unionize, despite the fact that they get higher wages and better benefits than Teamsters grocery workers - and that's before Union Dues!
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Time for some Philosophizing
Date: 2006-11-03 05:21 pm (UTC)Question 2: I think this one has a lot of potential. Fusion voting was systematically eliminated in 43 states by the Ds and Rs acting in concert to protect their duopololy. The states that do have it can find it annoying, but only because it holds them accountable to voters. The Working Families Party, the organization that got this on the ballot, has had a lot of success as a Third Party in New York precisely because of Fusion Voting. Their independent fund raising and third partiness give them credibility amongst the disenfranchised. Their individual platform ensures that when they do get votes, it matters. They have been the margin of victory in several elections - those who win them, Republican or Democrat, know they are beholden to the voters on WFP's issues.
With their help, a powerful Republican in a tight race managed to win. 10% of the people voted for him through the WFP, more than twice the margin of victory. He knew that their agenda - a raise in the minimum wage - was what got him the win. With his help, it ceased to be stuck in committee and debate and was quickly passed. They also ran a candidate in Manhattan against a Republican who was so popular the Democrats didn't even run a candidate! The WFP Candidate got the Democratic endorsement and ultimateley won. Let me repeat that: A Third Party won an election where the other mainstream party wasn't even going to try. That's powerful stuff. See this entry for more information/conversation.
If you do vote YES on 2, please also vote for Rand Wilson for State Auditor. He expects to lose, but if we can get him the 3% of the vote required to be a recognized political party, we'll have a true multiparty system in Massachusetts.
Question 3 leaves me leaning toward NO. I've had good experiences with the Unions I was a part of, but Monopolies are bad for the people. In this case, if the workers in question aren't for it, it has my opposition. Publix employees are repeatedly harassed by the Teamsters to Unionize, despite the fact that they get higher wages and better benefits than Teamsters grocery workers - and that's before Union Dues!