Search query: maine

Immigration is not a partisan issue, but the mainstream media and Congress have framed this current effort to fix our broken system as a partisan game, appealing to our lowest common denominators. By all meaningful accounts, immigration reform needs to be addressed by Congress, and yet, our elected leaders double down on their partisan narratives, further dividing the country, giving oxygen to the extreme voices who offer no chance of solving this crisis. This issue didn't start with President

Ranked choice voting has grown significantly in popularity since the battle between voters and politicians in Maine caught the attention of national media outlets. Now, there are a number of states that could soon follow Maine's example. One of the most notable efforts is in Massachusetts, where a growing organization, Voter Choice Massachusetts, is making a strong push for the voting reform. And the reason could not be simpler: "Our politics are dysfunctional." That is what Voter Choice Massa

The voting record of a 29-year-old general contractor from the little town of Tiger, Georgia, makes him by far the most independent member of the Georgia House of Representatives. In addition to his construction business, Matt Gurtler has worked as a political consultant since 2015, learning about the political process by volunteering for Texas Congressman Ron Paul's presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012, and serving as a Delegate to the Georgia Republican Party in 2013 and 2015. Since winni

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. – The United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Janus v. AFSCME may serve as a landmark decision. While traditional media outlets and the Democratic establishment are already discrediting the decision, the gnashing of teeth may be relatively short-sighted. The very basis of this decision could be used as precedent to attack the Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010). Both cases were predicated on First Amendment protections. The J

“Liquid Democracy” has entered the public discourse in the past couple of years, as a possible replacement for the system of government that we have come to know. Because it is based on Blockchain, it has gained intellectual traction among some proponents of “structural change” within our society. I don’t doubt the motives of most proponents, but I do have concerns. And at the heart of my concerns is the potential for “liquid democracy” to dilute our essential understanding of what democracy is

In a 5-0 vote, California’s Senate Judiciary Committee passed a data privacy compromise bill, AB 375, which for the first time passes greater control of personal data and privacy to consumers. It's expected to be signed into law later this week. California is among the first states in the nation to tackle this issue. The bill lays out a citizens' right to know what personal data is collected, who it is sold to as well as the right to take legal action against a company after a data breach. Also

Maxine Waters has lost the plot. She has enjoyed the life of the privileged political class for twenty-eight years and has just been caught out. However illuminating her call for harassment may be, Maxine Waters's chances of ever getting voted out of office even if she were to do worse is scant at best.  Unfortunately, she has matured in her Congressional seat at a time when politicians use rudeness as a moral corrective, and they are off the mark. It’s not a corrective; it’s just rude. And this

The impressive momentum for progress in national electoral reform projects and campaigns owes much to the influential recent wins and viable initiatives underway across the country, including: * Maine voters upholding Ranked Choice Voting that elevates voters above parties * Gerrymander reform initiatives on the ballot in several states this November * Viable independent candidates running for offices up and down the ballot So how does our growing electoral reform movement build a cohesive,

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.- The San Francisco mayor’s race was a cliffhanger. After the initial tally of votes for San Francisco mayor, London Breed had 37%, Mark Leno had 24%. Then ranked-choice voting’s instant runoffs kicked in--due to the non-majority result--and Leno and Breed were suddenly neck-and-neck. Breed’s and Leno’s collective 61% totals meant that 39% of voters had chosen one of the six other candidates on the ballot.  As all of those others were eliminated, RCV did its job of determin

The San Francisco mayor’s race was a cliffhanger. After the initial tally of votes for San Francisco mayor, London Breed had 37%, Mark Leno had 24%. Then ranked-choice voting’s instant runoffs kicked in...