For the First Time, Progressives Develop National Ballot Initiative Strategy
By on Jun 16th, 2006 at 1:41 pm
For the First Time, Progressives Develop National Ballot Initiative Strategy
“For more than two decades,” conservatives “have used ballot initiatives to create wedge issues and whip up excitement among core voters,” while progressives “remained largely on the defensive.”
2006 is different. For the first time, progressives have a coordinated national ballot initiative strategy, focusing on our priorities like the minimum wage, renewable energy, stem cell research, and privacy. (Of course, we’ll also be working to defeat several conservative measures.)
In the coming months, ThinkProgress will focus on ballot initiatives across the country. Here’s a taste:
|
ISSUE
|
DETAILS
|
STATE
|
| Minimum Wage Increase | Several states will decide whether to increase their state minimum wage above the federal minimum, which has been stuck at $5.15 an hour since 1997. | Arizona California Colorado Missouri Montana Nevada Oklahoma Ohio |
| Clean Alternative Energy | The Clean Alternative Energy Initiative would “impose a wellhead tax on oil companies operating in California” to finance $4 billion towards alternative-fuel vehicles and renewable energy and conservation research. | California |
| Stem Cell Research | The initiative “would specifically allow any stem cell research permitted under federal law. It also would prohibit human cloning, defined as implanting a cloned embryo in a woman.” | Missouri |
| Overturning Abortion Ban | The initiative would overturn the near-total abortion ban passed recently by South Dakota’s legislature, which included no exceptions for incest or rape. | South Dakota |
| Gay Marriage | “Most states that will vote on anti-gay marriage measures will see the harshest possible versions of the amendment on the ballot. These strict laws punish many more people than gays and lesbians, outlawing not only gay marriage and civil unions, but all domestic partner benefits.” | Alabama Arizona Colorado Idaho Massachusetts South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Virginia Wisconsin |
| TABOR | TABOR, a.k.a. the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights, is an “anti-tax” initiative backed by right-wing activist Grover Norquist. It artificially limits revenue and spending for all public services, no matter how great the need, by restricting revenue growth “to a highly restrictive formula: inflation plus the annual change in population.” | Maine Oklahoma Ohio |
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So now libs will manipulate your wee little minds using “….. ballot initiatives to create wedge issues and whip up excitement among core voters,â€
June 16th, 2006 at 1:45 pmIt’s called “ballot watch”, but shouldn’t it be called “ballot count”.
June 16th, 2006 at 1:53 pm…oh I get it…we won’t be counting them this time either.
Re: troll. Haven’t the right wingers been complaining that liberals “don’t stand for anything”? Now that (finally, in my view) a solid platform of core beliefs is put forth, that’s going to be mocked? Figures.
June 16th, 2006 at 1:57 pmto “troll”: you mean sort of like the last-minute gay marriage amendment that affects and upsets straight males like you so much?
June 16th, 2006 at 1:57 pmto “troll”: you mean sort of like the gay marriage wedge issue that affects and upsets straight males like you so much?
June 16th, 2006 at 1:58 pmAll these efforts will be for naught if the electronic voting machines are not outlawed. As soon as the rethugs get a hint they are losing, they will simply send out the word to “fix” the machines. They’ve successfully done it before and they will do it again.
June 16th, 2006 at 1:59 pmI know it is happening right here in my own Dupage county in Illinois.
Maryland has environmental protection and public land protection ballot measures. take THAT ehrlich.
June 16th, 2006 at 1:59 pmOrganization — good, good, goooood…
June 16th, 2006 at 2:03 pmNice, but they have waited till it is almost too late to do anything about it! Diebold, and other vote machines are hackable crap, but how can they be replaced before November?
Strange that after 2 fraudulent presidential elections, finally some in DC are beginning to notice? A real democracy has FAIR elections with every single vote counted, but has the US ever counted all the ballots in any election?
June 16th, 2006 at 2:06 pmI know this post is about issues, but how can any of them win without FAIR counting of ballots?
June 16th, 2006 at 2:09 pmProgs – DON’T stop there!!! Show America how socially just and equitable the USSA (United Socialist States of America) COULD be with the wisdom of “progressive leadership”. Suggest the following proposals I’ve seen on moonbat websites and show the American people how “forward” thinking you are:
a.) do away with the minimum wage – substitute it with the “living wage for every man, woman, child – and let’s not forget the hobo and drug addict.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:14 pmb.) close the racist/class based prison system.
c.) Animals, being sentient beings deserve the same rights as people. (To oppose such a proposal is simply specicist.)
#2
What you need to realise is that for the past 20 years, the Conservative movement has been working overtime to make it so that Liberals like ourselves will never be perceived as being human. Here is how they have done this….
Whenever a Liberal stands for something or for that matter whenever a Liberal stands for a moral principle, the Right Wingers through the use of their media noise machine denounce him/her as being a member of the so-called “Angry Left.” This has several positive outcomes for the Right-Wing:
1)It keeps up this perception that the Right-Wingers have been conveying about all Liberals being flawed in some way.
2)It causes Democratic politicians to take a weaker stance on the issues. This in turn couses even their own supporters to see them as unauthentic. Democratic politicians in turn try to live up to ever more impossibly higher standards which cause them to look even more disingenuous in the eyes of the voters, particularly their own supporters.
3)It effectively neutors the Left. The Conservative leadership realises that rage is the most powerful fuel for political success, and that the less rage Liberals have to use as a driving force, the higher the chances their base conservative supporters will be able to outfight the Letf. Meanwhile, the Right-Wing constructively fans the flames of anger of their own grassroots supporters. This in turn causes social conservatives to direct their anger constructively in the form of political activism which leads to success at the polls.
All of these factors added together gives a massive boost in power to the Conservative movement.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:21 pmI agree with PLC (above).
It’s about D—-D TIME progressives took the offensive!!!!
JEEZ PEOPLE!!! I don’t know about you guys… but I’ve been waiting since 1994 for Democrats/Liberals/Progressives/Populists/etc. to get their act together and DO SOMETHING!!!!!
June 16th, 2006 at 2:21 pm#12 I really feel pity for you.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:22 pmCouldn’t people have put forward initiatives that required all voting machines to produce a human readable copy that was then deposited in a “ballot box”
Don’t seem anti-luddite by calling for the electronic machines to be disposed of, just demand this simple addition.
User votes using machine. Verifies the printed copy and posts it in a ballot box.
If there is a problem with the printed copy then they should see it immediately and can raise it as an issue.
If there is a dispute about the machine count then the ballot boxes can be opened and hand counted. Simple, straightforward and NOBODY can legitimately object to it.
Z.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:26 pmBallot initiatives sound democratic, but they are a real bad idea. I used to live in California, which should be the poster child for eliminating ballot initiatives. Every time we go to the polls, there are about a hundred ballot initiatives. Most are poorly written. And I guarantee you the electorate is putting a minimum of thought into how they vote, with guidance coming primarily from 30 second TV ads. The legal system in CA is gradually being turned into a quagmire.
Here’s two suggestions for improvement:
1. Require a 2/3 vote to pass.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:30 pm2. Put big signs up at all polling places saying “When in doubt – VOTE NO”
Thank you, Juan!! It is a pleasure to feed your misplaced “moral” superiority!!!
“Whenever a Liberal stands for something or for that matter whenever a Liberal stands for a moral principle,….” AC
June 16th, 2006 at 2:36 pm******I’ve JUST recovered from laughing hysterically!!!! You mean the “morality” that:
a.) dictates it’s OK to kill inconvenient offspring?
b.) asserts a needle is a heinous execution for the murderer/rapist/pedophile?
c.) states a dope dealer is entitled to “knock and notice” in addition to securing the necessary warrant?
d.) proposes throwing out thousands of years of traditional rules of marriage?
e.) defends the inability of poorly educated children to speak grammatically correct English?
f.) “if it feels good – do it…”
Hey CONS – Don’t stop where you’re going! How about legislation that:
June 16th, 2006 at 2:37 pm1. Outlaws growing two different crops in one field (Defense of Plowing Act)
2. Gives corporations the right to vote (One Company, One Vote Act)
3. Declares the creation of The United States of the World
4. Permits the installation of video cameras in every Americans bedroom (if you’re
not doing anything “wrong” you shouldn’t mind)
5. Insures that millionaires get to become billionaires (Maximum Wage Act)
Come on, guys, get creative!
bigLIAR – You’re too pathetic to waste any tim-
June 16th, 2006 at 2:40 pmLast I heard, they were having some serious trouble getting enough signatures to put the anti-gay initiative on the ballot in Arizona.
Nice to see even such a solid-red state as AZ has limited interest in that nonsense.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:48 pmEver wonder why there are so many trolls on our blog lately?
I mean, it seemed as though they stopped coming for a while but now it is as though they have been coming here more frequantly. I guess they have gotten a big head since Zarqawi’s death. Do they really believe Zar-Quawi’s death will do anything to change things in Iraq.
If there is one thing Conservatives are known for it’s that they celebrate over things that only serve as symbolism. They don’t celebrate things that lead to actual results.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:50 pmWhat’shisname’s death will not change things in Iraq. He will be replaced in a month’s time.
I hope Democrats won’t just focus on domestic issues…again. Democrats should also address: Bush began an unnecessary war against Iraq on the basis of lies; Bush is considering launching another unnecessary war against Iran probably also based on lies; Bush has threatened a nuclear first-strike against non-nuclear states whether or not a threat exists; Bush has scuttled the Geneva Conventions, international law, international cooperation; Bush has scuttled non-proliferation; Bush has scuttled the Constitution; Bush has abused his office through the “unitary executive” theory; Bush is spying on Americans without warrants and without oversight; Bush has scuttled FEMA, the EPA, the CIA, the military—I could go on. But these are the issues that I feel are more important than gay marriage or flag burning. Let the GOP divert attention with these wedge issues. But the Democrats ought to be addressing the big issues that are costing lives and treasure, as well as minimum wage and healthcare.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:53 pmI would be glad if the Democratic party united behind a set of causes and had plans on how to fix them like this site shows. Are the points listed here the true Democratic party points and way to fix said points? Or is this jus something trumped up from bloggers? While I agree with some of the points, I disagree with others but such is life.
June 16th, 2006 at 3:01 pmDear AC – Thank you for turning the thread from “ballot watch” to Zarqawi- IT was a GREAT day!!! But I thought trolls were the people always shifting “your” arguments….Hmmmm – ptitful….
Leslie – FYI – The “BIG BUSH LIE” won’t fly as Big Bill, Roaring Al, and a HOST of other Dems said IDENTICAL things….And you wonder why your party loses????
If this is an indication of “unswerving progressive determination”, I predict you’ll be disappointed with Novembers election outcome.
June 16th, 2006 at 3:02 pmTrue – but the root of the problems can be laid on the incompetence of the party in power, which should be the focus. History has shown – focusing on one individual’s incompetence does not serve that effectively, as it provides a convenient end point. Imagine that Bush was forced to resign. The VP is — by progressive standards anyway — even worse.
The focus needs to be on – what fixes can be made, how will they be done. As #24 said, let them waste their time on wedge issues. They now appear as hypocrites even to their own people – it’s well known, for example, that Cheney doesn’t support the FMA, and that Bush is pushing it merely for political points. Put forth new, innovative ideas and let the right tear itself apart along its own fault lines.
Use issues like stem cell research, improving science, government intrusion into the bredroom. Split small-government conservatives from the religious right and we win.
June 16th, 2006 at 3:06 pmThe issues:
Minimum Wage increase- For it
Clean Alternative Energy- Against forcing yet another tax on business
Stem Cell Research- Against Federal Funding, For keeping it legal, For private business researching it
Overturning Abortion Ban- For having it on the ballot for the people to decide. Against any court (including the Supreme Court) deciding for us
Gay Marriage – I support Gay marriage fully
TABOR – This I like as it keeps government in Check.
So it is a mixed bag for me. I can’t imagine anyone getting rid of anything that resricts government growth and spending. On the other hand, I like the idea of South Dakota getting to actually vote on abortion instead of congress or a judge deciding for us. The rest of the issues are pretty straight forward and up in the air. Only the far left and far right will have strong opinions on them.
June 16th, 2006 at 3:13 pm#1 Troll,
You are darn tootin’ on that, everyone does it, all sides, it’s part of modern politics. Both sides do the same stuff, haven’t you realized that yet?
June 16th, 2006 at 4:34 pm#26 Mighty,
Again, haven’t you realized both “sides” pull much of the same crap, so you are correct, and so are we ;)
June 16th, 2006 at 4:37 pmMighty,
You really like Bill Clinton and just haven’t been able to break through your denial.
June 16th, 2006 at 4:38 pmMighty,
Your hate-filled ad hominem attacks will not be tolerated, cuz lord knows nobody else here does it. Heh.
June 16th, 2006 at 4:40 pmHi, Nico,
I’m an east coaster that’s spent the last few years in Washington State. Here the initiative process has been a popularity contest used mostly to trick voters and turn back preventive legislative measures. But i agree that as long as the initiative process exists, left-leaners should utilize them as well. Great point!
On another topic, as a proponent of equality for all, I would like to make a quick plea to abolish the term “gay marriage” and call issue what it is: “marriage equality.” I’m involved in the marriage equality movement in Seattle, WA, and I never feel as if i’m fighting for my own type of marriage or for special rights. I just want to be treated equally and have the rights that most of my friends, family, and society, in general, have.
Please consider using this term.
June 16th, 2006 at 4:57 pm#15 – I really feel pity for you.
Comment by Juan C
You are more generous than most, Juan.
June 16th, 2006 at 5:08 pmThe secret to the repug ballot initiatives is that there is strong visceral support for them amongst the target audience. People really get worked up over the thought someone having an abortion, or two guys marrying. Of the listed proposals only #1 and #3 strike me as something anyone could get excited about.
June 16th, 2006 at 5:08 pmHow about limiting CEO salaries, reigning in the exec branch, reoutlawing domestic spying, ending corporate tax fraud by setting up overseas front front offices. Just some suggestions.
#33 – That’s a good idea, Alex V. Marriage equality includes everyone, and takes away the “scary” gay word. Welcome to the Northwest!
June 16th, 2006 at 5:16 pmLimiting CEO salaries? HAHAHAHA
June 16th, 2006 at 5:28 pmYou can’t be for real. No american could possibly want that. This is America right? Free market system anyone? WOW, now that is extreme socialism if I have ever seen it. Please tell be you aren’t from here.
I was just trying to think of something that people would get excited about. Those ceo salaries can be really grotesque.
June 16th, 2006 at 5:31 pmIf you limit the saleries of those that lead a business, it decreases the ambition to actually start a business. This country thrives on small and large business employing millions of americans. Besides, CEO’s are held responsible by their Shareholder’s like they should be. If the shareholder’s don’t like what a Company is doing with the shareholder’s money, then they sell there stock, vote the CEO out, vote the board of directors out, or simply go alone with a buy out plan by a better company. Those huge saleries are generally because they are the top talent.
Exxon’s CEO was one such guy. If you study his career, he netted his shareholder’s very nice profits well above the industry average. His shareholder’s basically gave him that retirement gift as a thank you for a job well done. This works in all industry.
If you limit the pay of Executives, you get less people that will be interested in starting a company. That afterall is what makes America great.
Either way, you wouldn’t get that on a ballot in any state. Your Democrat leaders expect those big contributions from business just like the republicans.
June 16th, 2006 at 5:55 pmIf you limit the pay of Executives, you get less people that will be interested in starting a company. That afterall is what makes America great.
making disproportionately more than your employees is what makes the US great…? I disagree. There are a lot of shitty countries out there that can lay claim to having similar levels of income inequality to ours. However, many of those countries don’t have the protection of basic civil rights and liberties built into the fabric of their governments. I think this distincition is a much better sign of our “greatness.”
also, i know many people who start small businesses and companies because they’re passionate about the work they do and the products they create or the services they provide. not all persons are driven by the thought of having a “CEO’s” salary.
June 16th, 2006 at 6:33 pm#13 – I appreciate your response, but I believe you’ve overlooked one of the big reasons the left is easily pushed aside as a the weaker of the broken 2 party system. The right have all the bibles and rifles. God’s on their side, remember. You can’t beat God.
June 16th, 2006 at 6:42 pmBesides, now that this inititiative is put on paper, I’d like to know if the left has somebody of some substance that’s willing to wholeheartedly push this initiative, put their face all over it, scream it from the tops of all buildings, be all over the news with it, etc.
Jerad; the CEO is one of the reasons why the stockmarket works the way it does.
The CEO of a company is not there for the long haul if he can help it. Normally, a CEO is there to create short term growth and to get the heck out as quickly as possible. If you are still at a company after year 5, chances are the quick fixes you put in place in year 1, are going to come back and bite you in the ass. You don’t give a stuff about what long-term effects are going to be caused by your decisions, because frankly you aren’t even going to be there for the long term.
Now, the shareholders are happy with this, after all they mostly don’t have any real interest in the running of the business. The shareholders measure the worth of the business not in assets, but in how much their shares would sell for. They are either getting rich trading the shares or they are getting poor trading the shares that little bit too late because they don’t actually believe the shares will ever go down. Unfortunately, the laws of Neutonian physics apply fairly well to the stockmarket, and when a company’s share price is based on a perception, rather then anything real, it can fall quite a long way, quite quickly.
The trouble is, that CEO’s is that they are there to build the perception. They don’t have to think long term, and so they spend a lot on image rather then reality. Think about it thus, who spends the most on looking rich, the conman or the richman? When that share price comes tumbling down, frequently it can destroy a company, or even a country’s economy. This is what happened in the Great Depression, the illusion of what stocks were worth was so much greater then the reality, that the end effect was to destroy a lot of companies. This in turn led to a run on the banks. This is what led to a lot of the rules governing public companies today, and why companies get audited.
This is also why I don’t believe that it is the salaries which are the problem when it comes to CEO’s, its the short term nature of the CEO. Thus, the new law I would consider, would be that no person may become a CEO of a company, for less then 10 years, with exceptions obviously for if they die or the company goes broke.
June 18th, 2006 at 7:42 amThere are lots of issues that can be used by the Democrats/liberals to win in the 2006 and 2008 elections. First, they could insist on the restoration of the tax breaks Bush gave to the super rich. Second, they could take a firm stand on maintaining the inheritance tax the Bushies want to eliminate. Third, they could work to eliminate all taxes on the first fifteen thousand dollars of earned or retirement income. Fourth, they could insist on restoring ALL the environmental restrictions reduced or eliminated by the Bushies. My list goes on….
June 18th, 2006 at 10:44 amTypically stupid response to the real problem of “ballot initiatives” and “binding referendums”…
A problem of allowing well-financed and well co-ordinated campaigns on the part of those who can most easily finance and co-ordinate those campaigns (corporate interests, and the trade associations they form), the problem of circumventing the People’s Legislature.
Dissatisfied w/ the People’s Legislature, and the Laws they make?
Petition them; vote them out if you like.
Think these “ballot inititives” and “binding referendums” are a tool by which to circumvent the People’s Legislature, a corporate method by which to craft law, and a real problem in our Democracy?
Then by all means, let’s have more and more “ballot initiatives” and “binding referendums”…
Typically stupid response.
June 18th, 2006 at 1:34 pmIt’d be nice to see these issues next to a list of candidates running in the states listed.
June 27th, 2006 at 11:43 am[...] In Ohio and other states, progressives are pushing ballot initiatives to raise state minimum wages above the federal minimum of $5.15 an hour, where it’s been stuck since 1997. [...]
July 24th, 2006 at 4:38 pmYeah these inititives really say something about the “progressives”.
They favor an increase in pay for unskilled labor. Again, why do we need this? Can’t people earn higher wages through learning skills and merit?
They favor a tax on the oil industry to finance research into alternative fueled cars. So, make them pay to help put themselves out of business. Sounds fair right?
They are in favor of overturning a law passed by voters banning most abortions. If the majority of americans are pro choice, why did this pass in the first place?
At least they are trying to pass laws instead of having their judges legislate from the bench. Oh yeah, conservatives sitting on the bench has prevented that.
November 6th, 2006 at 4:57 pmJohn, The Bush tax cuts have led to the largest gains in reveune in HISTORY, the stock market hitting record numbers, 4.4% unemployment, the defecit being cut in half 3 years ahead of schedule…
You know, on second thought, lets scrap all that and really stick it to those fat cats!!!
Idiots
November 6th, 2006 at 5:01 pm