Friends,
The election is over, but the battle has just begun.
On election eve and the day after, I discussed on three nationally televised programs our nation’s challenges and how we can overcome them through a people’s movement (similar to the Labor, Women’s Suffrage, and Civil Rights Movements):
Watch Rocky's Democracy Now! Election Night Discussion here (Rocky's interview begins around 290:00)
I ran the race to heighten awareness and to inspire people toward effective action. As demonstrated by third-party candidates in the past (e.g. Teddy Roosevelt and Ross Perot), a third-party effort can win far more than an election if it helps to catalyze a persistent, broad-based democratic movement for real change.
Our campaign was immensely successful in getting out the word and inspiring action. (For videos of interviews and debates on television, click here, and to listen to radio interviews, click here.) For those who helped us communicate our message, I am grateful.
Our campaign was a call for the people of the United States to take charge – because they must be the leaders, and we must build a broad-based powerful movement, if we are to
- overthrow the plutocracy – government that is up for sale to the highest bidder,
- end the imperial presidency,
- restore the rule of law and the most fundamental freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution,
- end the two-tiered economic and justice systems and achieve a republic where no one is above the law,
- respect civil and human rights, here and abroad,
- end the empire-building that serves only the interests of multi-national corporations and plutocrats,
- end poverty in a nation where our presidential candidates won’t even discuss it,
- end the corporate cronyism that has caused economic devastation for the vast majority of American people,
- end the deprivation of basic health care for tens of millions of people, and
- finally bring to an end the strangle-hold the two corporatist and militarist parties have on our electoral system and our government.
Please join other engaged citizens in this continuing movement for economic, social, and environmental justice. If you are interested in working with me and others in carrying this movement forward, please send me a note, including your contact information, at rockyanderson.justice@gmail.com.
For now, I’ll stop writing to you and wait for you to write to me.
Best,
Rocky Anderson
PS If you can, please help us retire campaign debt. Thank you!
Contribute here.
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No Difference commented
2012-12-04 00:20:43 -0700
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Rocky Anderson, in his DN interview on election night, that we must push President Obama to end corruption in our political system. I am curious how the Left will force a criminally-behaving president to crack down on the criminals throughout the system. Isn’t this a bit like leaving the mouse to guard the cheese?
Kevin Wayne commented
2012-11-11 13:15:49 -0700
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I strongly suggest that for 2016, that there be 1 candidate nominated by the various small parties rather than all this fracturing: Justice, Green, Progressive, Peace and Freedom, Socialist – all these groups need to come together, put minor differences aside & put the same person on the ballot in all 50 States & DC. The only way forward is to build a cohesive movement that has the best chance of breaking the 2-party duopoly.
Harrison Wills commented
2012-11-10 01:39:44 -0700
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I believe we in an all of the above approach to change. It is essential and necessary to have third party progressives running at the national level. They were able to bring critical awareness to issues that neither of the two corporate parties would address. They stimulated a discussion on college campuses, on online blogs and forums, they got us thinking differently and they provided someone like me with a vote of conscience.
But I also agree that now we must start to mobilize in our local communities, in our local state senates and state legislatures, our city councils, our student governments, all of the above, yes! Rocky, Jill and Gary brought international awareness to major contradictions in Obama and Romney. But now that the election is over we must mobilize locally, regionally and nationally.
We need a national independent and progressive conference where we can all come together and exchange ideas and build up teams that can help get people elected locally. We can have a sustained and coordinated effort that works on a number of issues. Look at how successful ballot initiatives were in Colorado, Washington and Maryland and Massachusetts.
Imagine if we got together and drafted proposed legislation and put together progressive ballot initiatives and got them on the ballot. I strongly believe in grassroots democracy and I think that is one very effective way to change public policies. Imagine a label GMO’s ballot initiative in all 24 states that have the initiative process. Imagine a tax on the 1%, an oil extraction fee on oil corporations, a state bank initiative, a publicly financed elections initiative , an overturn citizens united initiative, legalize hemp, marriage equality, rank choice voting and proportional representation, etc. etc. Many of these reforms are very realistic, it’s just a matter of writing the legislation, writing grants for funding, getting signatures, educating the public, working with alternative and independent media, mobilizing and community organizing, working with creative media teams, etc. etc.
Rocky and Jill inspired inspired us to come here to continue collaborating at midnight because they helped restore faith in democracy. Don’t mope, mobilize.
But I also agree that now we must start to mobilize in our local communities, in our local state senates and state legislatures, our city councils, our student governments, all of the above, yes! Rocky, Jill and Gary brought international awareness to major contradictions in Obama and Romney. But now that the election is over we must mobilize locally, regionally and nationally.
We need a national independent and progressive conference where we can all come together and exchange ideas and build up teams that can help get people elected locally. We can have a sustained and coordinated effort that works on a number of issues. Look at how successful ballot initiatives were in Colorado, Washington and Maryland and Massachusetts.
Imagine if we got together and drafted proposed legislation and put together progressive ballot initiatives and got them on the ballot. I strongly believe in grassroots democracy and I think that is one very effective way to change public policies. Imagine a label GMO’s ballot initiative in all 24 states that have the initiative process. Imagine a tax on the 1%, an oil extraction fee on oil corporations, a state bank initiative, a publicly financed elections initiative , an overturn citizens united initiative, legalize hemp, marriage equality, rank choice voting and proportional representation, etc. etc. Many of these reforms are very realistic, it’s just a matter of writing the legislation, writing grants for funding, getting signatures, educating the public, working with alternative and independent media, mobilizing and community organizing, working with creative media teams, etc. etc.
Rocky and Jill inspired inspired us to come here to continue collaborating at midnight because they helped restore faith in democracy. Don’t mope, mobilize.
The FilmGym commented
2012-11-09 21:51:24 -0700
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I agree with John. I think it’s important to start at least in one state unless of course a third party candidate gets a shot in one of the debates. But it’s important to start on a smaller level and get noticed from there, especially given the limited campaign budget. It can spread like a fire once successful and people will take notice. I’m a dual-citizen and part German and we have a system that works with 5 political parties. A newest member of the senate is the 6th party which came out of nowhere but worked it’s way from the ground up in one state until spreading throughout the entire nation. Now I’m aware that Germany has a very different system in tact in terms of media exposure and campaign budgets, but the idea of starting a trend that can eventually spread is always effective.
Also remember that we’re trying to change something that has been in place for over 200 years. It’s will take some effort but social media, if done right, can change that. I always amazed by the lack of collaboration of the different liberal forces though…the occupy wall street movement needed a leader and was a complete missed opportunity for any of the third parties. It’s fascinating to me since we all want the same thing yet none of the third parties really joined in or not enough to take leadership. That being said…there also needs to be more effective collaboration between the third parties to get their word out there.
What it comes down to of course is exposure. Rocky had my vote but most of my friends had never heard of him and didn’t know who he was. If they did, I’m sure they would have voted for him too but it was too late in the game. I really hope we can turn things around…we really need it. Best of luck.
Also remember that we’re trying to change something that has been in place for over 200 years. It’s will take some effort but social media, if done right, can change that. I always amazed by the lack of collaboration of the different liberal forces though…the occupy wall street movement needed a leader and was a complete missed opportunity for any of the third parties. It’s fascinating to me since we all want the same thing yet none of the third parties really joined in or not enough to take leadership. That being said…there also needs to be more effective collaboration between the third parties to get their word out there.
What it comes down to of course is exposure. Rocky had my vote but most of my friends had never heard of him and didn’t know who he was. If they did, I’m sure they would have voted for him too but it was too late in the game. I really hope we can turn things around…we really need it. Best of luck.
John Drake commented
2012-11-09 18:11:10 -0700
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These goals are all admirable and something we should all strive for, but it is time to get a grip on reality. Altogether, the minor parties only got 1.5% of the popular vote even though 40% of voters are registered as independent. If the Justice and Green Parties want to get anywhere in American politics, they need to stop aiming so high by focusing all of their resources into the presidency. They should attempt to build a reputation through local and state campaigns to make their national candidates more viable for voters. If people want this campaign to succeed, they need to get involved in mobilizing their communities.
Kady Newland commented
2012-11-09 17:23:20 -0700
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We need to reform Obamacare and make it affordable for the American People. Expanding Medicaid is a much better idea than expanding Medicare any senior can tell you, Medicare sucks and doesn’t cover much. Medicaid is better insurance than some of the better Corporate plans. We need to fight to keep our elected officials accountable to their constituents. We did gain some good victories on a local level as well, I am hopeful that we are gaining momentum as a movement of people who are sick of the Corporate dictatorship of the United States.
Calvin Leman commented
2012-11-09 10:03:14 -0700
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How do we get people to force Obama and congress to help people? Maybe Rocky can prepare a petition that millions of us would sign and send to Obama and all of congress. Other ideas on how people can force our government to be a democracy?
