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Beyond the Midterms: Independents in History
I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I am an independent who believes that at this moment of partisan dysfunction and division that the health of American democracy depends on the capacity of the American people to come together, to grow and to develop.
While the media is saturating us with a focus on the results of who won and who lost in the midterm elections, my attention is drawn to signs of the emergence of a bottom up nonpartisan developmental politic in our country that breaks throu
12 Nov, 2018
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6 min read
Sessions Ouster Clears The Way for Federal Marijuana Legalization
Attorney General Jeff Sessions' resignation from his post this week at the behest of the president was a cherry on top of another string of wins for the marijuana legalization movement in America.
Although he was not asked to resign because of his overtly hostile position toward the marijuana legalization movement in the United States and the consumption of the plant itself (as a U.S. Senator he once said, "Good people don't smoke marijuana.")––
His removal from office does pave the way for a
09 Nov, 2018
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2 min read
Midterm Polling Mishaps: White Rural Voters a Big Problem
Washington, D.C.- You don’t often see this sort of disclaimer:
“We made 25,975 calls, and 642 people spoke to us.But remember: It’s just one poll, and we talked to only 642 people. Each candidate’s total could easily be four points different if we polled everyone in the state. And having a small sample is only one possible source of error.”
That is right at the top of a single poll result on the New York Times website's live polling section. It posted results in real time with every phone call
07 Nov, 2018
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4 min read
Missouri Voters Ban Most Lobbyist Gifts, Vote to End Gerrymandering
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI - Clean Missouri celebrated a landslide victory Tuesday night. Their comprehensive good government proposal -- Amendment 1 -- was approved by 62% of state voters.
Amendment 1 isn't just about money in politics or special interest influence or gerrymandering, but the negative impact all of those things have on the political process. The amendment:
* Bans nearly all gifts from lobbyists (placing a limit of $5);
* Requires lawmakers to wait two years before becoming lob
07 Nov, 2018
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1 min read
Anti-Gerrymandering Reforms Sweep the Nation in 2018
SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - Game-changing proposals to end partisan gerrymandering passed in 3 states Tuesday -- with the results of a 4th (Utah) pending -- taking control of redistricting out of the hands of partisan politicians in favor of a nonpartisan system.
Nonpartisan redistricting proposals were on the ballot in Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, and Utah. Though each proposal differs to various degrees, the goal for all of them was the same: implement a redistricting system that puts the interests
06 Nov, 2018
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4 min read
Forget Red Wave, Forget Blue Wave, This is The Best Year for Pro-Voter Election Reform in 50 Years
Amid all the divisive ugliness inside the Beltway, here is some good news: 2018 may well be the best year in a half century for election reform. Today’s narrative laments a crumbling democracy, alienated voters, and a political culture spiraling ever downward.
While true, that narrative is incomplete. It misses the remarkable energy building across many states to confront these problems, shore up our democracy, and rebuild our political culture.
Nowhere is that energy more apparent than in the
01 Nov, 2018
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4 min read
2 US Senate Candidates Praise Historic Movement to End Two-Party Duopoly
Voters looking to move away from partisan histrionics and the impotence of “politics as usual” have solid alternatives to Democrats and Republicans in this year’s midterm elections.
In Missouri and Maryland, there are candidates for the U.S. Senate who present a clear vision of what “Country Over Party” means, with unique insight into how a recent surge in nonpartisan political activity can affect our elections, now and into the future.
These two candidates recently shared these insights and m
29 Oct, 2018
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7 min read
Amendment 1 to Clean Up Missouri Politics Endorsed by 7 Newspapers
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI - The Clean Missouri campaign released a press release Friday announcing that their proposed good government constitutional amendment picked up its seventh newspaper endorsement ahead of the November 6 election.
Clean Missouri announced that the Joplin Globe joined a large trans-partisan list of endorsements to Amendment 1 that also includes 6 other newspapers: Columbia Daily Tribune, Jefferson County Leader, Kansas City Star, St. Louis American, St. Louis Post-Dispat
26 Oct, 2018
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1 min read
This Week In Nonpartisan News: Top 5 Stories for Independent Voters
Much of the media's election coverage two weeks out from Election Day is focused on what kind of wave we are seeing -- red or blue -- and how Donald Trump will affect the outcome of the midterms. However, what often gets overlooked are the stories that matter to independent-minded voters.
Here are the top 5 stories in nonpartisan news to start your week:
1. Nation's Only Independent Governor Suspends Re-Election Bid
Alaska Governor Bill Walker announced late Friday that he is suspending his
22 Oct, 2018
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5 min read
Pre-Election Rundown: 4 Ballot Measures to Deal Historic Blow to Partisan Gerrymandering
Voters in Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, and Utah are voting on whether to hand control over drawing electoral districts to independent redistricting commissions.
With two weeks to go, here’s a rundown of what these ballot questions would do, who’s for and against, and their prospects of winning.
Fair Maps Colorado - Amendments Y and Z
In Colorado, there are twin constitutional amendments on the ballot backed by Fair Maps Colorado. Amendment Y sets up a multi-partisan independent redistrictin
17 Oct, 2018
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4 min read
