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Unelected partisans came face-to-face with a genuine independent voice this week in the form of American icon, Warren Buffett.  In Monday’s New York Times, Buffett – CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Investments – asked the nation that allowed him to become one of the richest men in the world to relieve him of some of his money.  Why?  Because his country, and its poor and middle class citizens, need it.     “While the poor and middle class fight for us in Afghanistan, and while most Americans struggl

The fate of the California Democratic Party's Progressive Caucus remains uncertain following its passage of a resolution calling for a primary challenge to President Obama late last month.  Could the growing rift within the Democratic Party signal the emergence of an Independent progressive movement in California and nationwide? On July 30th, as the White House and Congressional leaders were engaged in last minute negotiations that ended the first round of the debt ceiling debacle, the Executiv

Governor Jerry Brown is expected to provide a huge boost to the progressive anti-Electoral College movement with his signature on AB 459, the National Popular Vote law. The highly controversial bill, passed by both the Assembly and the state Senate last Thursday would enroll California in an interstate agreement that obliges member states in presidential elections to give their electoral votes to the candidate with the most votes nationwide, regardless of the true tally of each state's electoral

While California’s budget woes have dominated the headlines, the California Universal Health Care Act – Senate Bill 810 – was introduced by California State Democrats, seeking to create a single-payer health care system. Led by State Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), if enacted, SB 810 would replace the federal health care system signed into law just 14 months ago. SB 810 creates a public-private partnership to provide every state resident with medical, dental, vision, hospitalization and pr

Democrats have a lot to crow about this week.  Their president has overseen the demise of Osama Bin Laden while the opposition party seems focused on tearing itself limb from limb over matters such as birther conspiracy theories and the role of "enhanced interrogation techniques" in uncovering the whereabouts of the head of Al Qaeda. Meanwhile, the Democrats in California spent this past weekend strategizing for the 2012 election cycle at the annual convention in Sacramento.  The most galvinizi

What's that you say?  You didn't even know open carry was legal in California? Why yes it is. The gun must be in clear view at all times and be unloaded. You may also legally carry ammo on a clip next to the holstered gun.  You don't need a license. In a move either brave or foolhardy, State Assembly member Anthony Portantino has introduced a bill, AB 144, which would ban open carry in California. It's a given he will be hearing from lots of concerned folks about this, most especially from pro-

I've been doing my best to keep CAIVN readers abreast of Monsanto's activities and the legal sagas surrounding the chemical company's genetically engineered crops such as corn, salmon, beets and alfalfa. These are products which I believe to be hazardous to human and environmental health. They also threaten to destabilize local and regional food economies. I suppose I was just too disheartened (that isn't to say shocked) to report on last week's announcement by the USDA that it has approved the

Arizona allows anyone concerned about the mental health of another to report them to authorities to be evaluated, even as they continue to slash their mental health budget. Many other states including California are of course doing the same. Such cuts do put those needing help more at risk.  However, the key to recovering from mental illness is for the person to want to change. States can't make anyone change nor can they lock someone up for acting oddly. This is certainly a good thing as such

Though  the mainstream political press has naturally focused on the stinging  Democratic losses and sweeping Republican gains in last week's  elections, 2010 has proven to be an historic year for third party and  Independent politics in the United States. One  of the primary motifs in media coverage of this year's elections has  been the public’s deep discontent with both the Democratic and  Republican parties.  In poll after poll, record numbers of  Americans opted to identify themselves as In

Ideological polarization has created an environment in which Democrats and Republicans are virtually incapable of coming to any sort of agreement.  However, they almost never disagree when it comes to barring third party and independent candidates from joining in forums and debates, and even from participating in the electoral process by means of highly restrictive ballot access laws. The reason for this is not difficult to discern.  Independent and third party politics represents a threat to t