RDP Meeting Notes:  Monday, July 16, 2018,   7:00 pm

Prepared by John Medeiros

 

IMPORTANT:  have learned from an informed friend that NY does not allow a "citizen initiative" to be on a regular election ballot, so that option is not even available.  

 

Reports:  Election Reform Survey A is online and has been sent to some friends.

Ongoing discussion/plans:  L. H., H. J., T. F., B. E., A. R., R. W.: 

 

7/16/18:  Summary:  Stated goal of RDP/RBV is too ambitious.  Effort to "change a culture" [political and social] is not promising.  It is more realistic and practical to connect with others in organizations that are already supported and pursue goals the same as or similar to us.  We can get involved in such successful organizations and/or adopt more realistic local goals.

            Reports/projects: 

Leslie shared her experience of driving a voter to the polls.

 

Beverly gave a description of the "Swing Left" project/organization -- supporting Democratic candidates in districts where vote counts are close.

 

Alice described the "Rank Choice Voting" practice/procedure that is has been adopted in several municipal and state elections.  This practice is actively supported by "Fair Vote."

 

Henry passed out copies of two articles from Foreign Relations magazine:  "How the Safety Net Can Survive Trump" (Kenworthy) and "Russia As It Is" (McFaul).  He also suggested that the donor list [including organizations] for a progressive female candidate in the Democratic party might be a source of connections to voters likely to support the goals of the RDP.

 

John discussed general information about how ballots are disqualified by local election authorities (voter suppression).  He also commented that the RDP view that we need to have a write-in "protest vote" on our ballots would be more likely to be supported by those who usually do not vote rather than by registered Republicans and Democrats.  Citizens who usually vote fear that any vote not cast for their preferred party will be wasted and help the party they oppose.  (This a destructive anti-democratic quality of the two-party tyranny.  One of the Four Lethal Flaws.)

 

The group discussed goals, local and national, and how any project can be evaluated by asking the question:  "How will we know we have succeeded."

 

John said his goal is an active protest write-in vote on the national scale, from millions of voters (those who do not usually vote) would be the sign that he has succeeded.  John also said he planned to get more information about the procedure for forming a political party in New York and being recognized as a party by the Board of Elections, as well as more information about running as a write-in candidate.

 

Self-assignment for next meeting: 

Look up the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), online at:  www dot fec dot gov

What did you want to learn about first?  What is important about using the information at the FEC website?                    End of meeting notes for 7/16/18