In the first six months of 2012, progressives have an unprecedented opportunity to make our issues, and our solutions to the economic crisis, central to the 2012 election, and to the future of our country. By taking advantage of this opening, we can win in 2012.
If progressive organizations and the netroots unite to demand action, Democratic-controlled states, cities, and counties can call special elections this spring that will give up to 40% of American voters a chance to participate in a national advisory referendum to save the American Dream.
Tens of millions of voters could tell Congress and the President to create millions of jobs, make the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share of taxes, reject corporate control of elections, reduce student, consumer, and homeowner debt, and reject cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits and to other programs people need to survive. In short, we need to act together to occupy the ballot for the 99%.
These special elections could help Democrats retake control of Congress; they can take place in two-thirds of the states and districts with competitive Senate and House races. When tens of millions vote against the Republican agenda this spring, they will vote against Republican candidates in the November election.
Below the fold are more details about how this can happen, some ideas for what millions of Americans could be voting on, and links to petitions to President Obama, Democratic members of Congress, and Democratic governors, asking their support for a national referendum this spring.
IN 2012, LET’S MOVE FROM HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS DEMONSTRATING TO TENS OF MILLIONS VOTING FOR PROGRESSIVE CHANGE
Millions of Americans are inspired by the courageous actions of Occupy Wall Street and the Occupy movement. By two-thirds and more, Americans support progressive solutions to the economic crisis. But the vast majority of those who support the goals of Occupy Wall Street are not involved in protests, and they do not have a way to powerfully express what they want and need.
Unless we create a different kind of election, the lives of the 99% are not going to be main focus of the 2012 election. The Republicans act only in the interests of the 1%. President Obama is running unopposed in the Democratic primaries, on a campaign platform that is only partly progressive. Most Democrats will not vote in a presidential primary whose outcome is a foregone conclusion. We now know that electing candidates and trusting to their promises is not enough to solve the economic crisis.
We need to create an election in which everyone who has suffered during the economic crisis, and every American, has the opportunity to vote directly to save the American Dream. (For compelling photos and stories of the 99%, see Occupy the Ballot photo essay.
Occupy movement activists have focused on occupying public spaces. In 2012, we can and must occupy the largest “public space” in a democracy, the ballot. We must occupy the ballot with our lives and our solutions.
The public strongly supports the main positions and goals of Occupy Wall Street. An October found overwhelming support for the following statements: "Wall Street and its lobbyists have too much influence in Washington" (86% support); “the gap between rich and poor in the United States has grown too large" (79% support); "executives of financial institutions responsible for the financial meltdown in 2008 should be prosecuted” (71% support); “the rich should pay more taxes” (68% support).
Several polls conducted over the past decade have shown consistent 4-1 support for direct votes, through ballot initiatives, where voters can demand action from government on the critical issues that affect our lives. Two-thirds to 80% of the public, depending on the issue, agrees with progressives on the solutions to the economic and political crises facing our country. Why should this overwhelming majority be denied a meaningful vote for change this spring when all the focus is on presidential candidates?
WE CAN CREATE A PARALLEL CAMPAIGN TO PUSH THE 2012 ELECTIONS IN A PROGRESSIVE DIRECTION
Special elections can be called by 15 Democratic-controlled state governments and by Democratic-controlled city and county governments elsewhere, especially in the 61 House districts represented by Republicans that Barack Obama won in 2008. If all these Democratic-controlled governments act, up to 40 percent of all Americans, in places with more than 130 million people, could vote in March and April in a national advisory referendum for jobs and economic recovery.
This will allow Democrats and independents to vote in a primary election that matters, one that will create a progressive agenda, help shape the Democratic platform, and help Democratic candidates win in November. It’s the best way to bring the goals of the Occupy movement into the 2012 election and to re-create the excitement of the 2008 election and the Obama campaign, but this time by voting directly for what we want and need, and not simply for candidates.
This referendum is being promoted by Initiatives for Democratic Change, a new strategy development group, whose aim is to help give everyone in this country a direct vote in 2012 for solutions to end the economic crisis and the threat of climate change. We believe that the economic, political and environmental crises afflicting our country will not be solved until the majority of Americans vote directly to solve them in ways that benefit the vast majority. Only with such a vote can we elect a government pledged to implement the will of the people, one that will create a new deal for the 99%. For more information, see Initiatives for Democratic Change.
We have been inspired by Occupy Wall Street and the Occupy movement, but we are not affiliated with them. We have no connection to the Democratic Party. As a small group, we do not have the capacity to organize the referendum, but we will have information, petitions, and open letters on the website to encourage and enable other groups and individuals to act.
WHEN A REFERENDUM IS POSSIBLE
A spring referendum is necessary in order to influence the election year as quickly as possible, and to create an agenda supported by the majority of Americans that can defeat the Republicans. Late March, more than seven months before the November election, is the earliest that most Democratic state and local governments can hold a special advisory election. We need an emergency mobilization of progressive organizations in January to make this happen. March 27 and April 17 are suggested dates for these special elections because they conflict least with nearby primary elections. For some states, an April special election date is more likely than a March one.
Note that not a single initiative petition signature will need to be gathered for these spring elections. The spring votes will not result from an initiative campaign in which groups spend months gathering hundreds of thousands of signatures. We are calling upon Democratic-majority governments to take emergency action to give the people a voice to solve the economic crisis. (Several states have scheduled special elections to deal with budgetary crises since the recession began.)
Another national referendum can be held to coincide with the November 6, 2012, general election. This will allow states and cities that did not participate in the spring referendum to do so, and for other progressive propositions to be placed before voters. These measures will reach the ballot through votes of Democratic-controlled governments and by signatures gathered on citizen-petition initiatives.
WHERE A REFERENDUM CAN HAPPEN THIS SPRING
These twelve Democratic-controlled states with over 80 million people can call special elections for March 27 or April 17, 2012:
ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, HAWAII, ILLINOIS, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON, AND WEST VIRGINIA
With enough popular pressure, we can push to get the referendum on the ballot in these three states, with 28 million people, where Republicans only control one house of the state legislature by a vote or two:
COLORADO, NEW YORK, OREGON
In addition to these fifteen states, hundreds of Democratic-controlled cities and counties in other states can give millions more voters an opportunity to vote for progressive solutions to the economic and budget crises.
WE CAN GIVE EVERYONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IN ALL 50 STATES
For states where citizen-petition initiatives are allowed, progressive solutions can get on the ballot that way for the November 2012 general election. But in Republican-controlled states, governments are likely to refuse to allow referendum votes this spring, denying 60% of Americans a vote..
There is still a way for everyone to have an opportunity to vote this spring, and that’s through an Internet ballot. Through the Internet and social media, progressive groups can distribute a ballot with the same ballot measures available to those in the special elections in Democratic states and cities. Community groups and progressive organizations can distribute them door to door and through their networks.
Working together, we can provide millions who otherwise would have no voice for change a vote to save the American Dream.
A REFERENDUM CAN OCCUR IN TWO-THIRDS OF THE STATES AND DISTRICTS WITH SWING RACES, AND HELP DEMOCRATS WIN IN 2012
Democrats need to win a minimum of 25 seats to retake the House, and to keep their net losses in the Senate to two seats to retain control of the Senate. Unless there’s a different kind of election, Republicans have a good chance to take control of the entire Congress.
A widespread referendum to save the American Dream this spring will make it much more likely that the Democrats retake the House and retain the Senate. When voters reject the Republican agenda this spring, they will be more likely to reject Republican candidates in the November 2012 election. When Democratic elected officials, including Congressional representatives and President Obama, support the referendum, they are much more likely to be re-elected.
Overall, referendum measures can be on the ballot, either by citizen petition or placed on by Democratic-controlled state and local governments, in about two-thirds of the competitive Senate and House races, the races Democrats need to win to control Congress. For more information, see Referendum can help Democrats win.
The key to retaking the House of Representatives in 2012 is to defeat many of the Republican representatives in the 61 districts they represent that Barack Obama won in 2008. State and local Democratic governments can call special elections for jobs and economic recovery this spring that will cover at least 42 of those 61 districts.
In more than 20 districts, Democratic-controlled cities and counties within those districts can call special elections that could include anywhere from 20 to 50 percent of the district population. To call elections covering an additional 18 districts, all it will take is a vote by the Democratic-controlled legislatures in California, Illinois, and Washington to create a statewide special election. For more information, see Winnable House districts.
REPUBLICANS ARE RIGHT NOW THREATENING THE JOBS AND LIVELIHOOD OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS; LET’S THREATEN THEIR JOBS
We can use the threat of referendum elections against Republicans in the fight now in Congress to provide extended benefits to the long-term unemployed. Next year, without an extension, 6 million Americans will lose their unemployment benefits, which for many of them is their only source of income.
By more than 3-1 (73-24%), Americans support renewing extended benefits for the long-term unemployed, including a majority of Republicans (based on an average of six polls). We can tell Republicans that if they do not agree to an extension, we will put renewing unemployment benefits on the ballot in Republican states and districts this spring. Such a threat can force Republicans to agree to extend these benefits and pass a payroll tax cut without voting to lay off hundreds of thousands of federal workers, as they have proposed, and without budget cuts that harm ordinary people.
Below is a petition to President Obama, urging his support for a referendum and telling him to stand up against Republican hostage taking on unemployment benefits and the payroll tax cut. We have similar petitions to Democratic members of Congress and to the 15 Democratic governors on our website. We are not expecting President Obama to lead the charge for a referendum, but we are calling on all Democratic elected officials, from city council members in small cities up to and including President Obama, to help give the American people a vote in a national referendum to save the American Dream.
PETITION TO OBAMA: STAND UP TO THE REPUBLICANS AND SUPPORT A NATIONWIDE VOTE TO SAVE THE AMERICAN DREAM
Dear President Obama:
I am one of the many millions who voted for you, worked for you, and donated to your victory in 2008. But after three years of economic crisis with no end in sight, I’ve had enough.
I WANT YOU TO SUPPORT SPECIAL ELECTIONS THIS SPRING THAT WILL GIVE TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS A DIRECT VOTE FOR JOBS AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY, A VOTE TO SAVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
The majority of Americans who are suffering in this crisis need jobs and help, not hundreds of billions in budget cuts. By margins of as much as 14-1, Americans say that jobs and economic recovery should take priority over reducing the deficit.
This month, Democrats are fighting in Congress to pass extended unemployment benefits and a payroll tax cut paid for by increased taxes on millionaires. Republicans are demanding that hundreds of thousands of federal workers be laid off, and that social programs be slashed, in return for agreeing to the payroll tax cut and extended unemployment benefits.
Don’t capitulate! If they persist, tell them: “Democrats will support special elections this spring that will place jobs, extending unemployment benefits, and tax increases on the wealthy on the ballot in Republican districts and states, where they will pass and expose to the nation the fact that you do not represent your constituents.”
President Obama: give the people who elected you, and the majority of Americans, the power to compel Congress to act, by helping create a nationwide vote for what the vast majority of Americans want and need. If all Democratic-majority state and local governments call special elections, almost 40 percent of the country could vote this spring for jobs, not cuts.
I WANT YOU TO PUBLICLY SUPPORT A NATIONAL REFERENDUM TO SAVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
Call the governors of the 15 Democratic-controlled states and urge them to call on their legislatures to schedule elections this spring to put this advisory referendum on the ballot.
Call on the Democratic members of Congress to support a referendum in their states and districts.
Stand up for democracy, with the vast majority of Democrats, and with the 99%. This is the way for you and Democrats to win in 2012.
WHO WE ARE: INITIATIVES FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE
Initiatives for Democratic Change was formed in 2010. Since the November 2010 election, we have systematically researched and developed the most powerful ways for the majority of Americans to vote directly for progressive change.
We are the only progressive group in the country promoting concrete ways for tens of millions, and potentially the majority, of Americans to vote directly in 2012 for jobs and economic recovery programs, and to reject the Republican agenda.
We have funded this project out of our own pockets. We need your support to continue to do this work. Your donation will make possible the outreach necessary to convince national progressive organizations and Democratic elected officials to create the national referendum to save the American Dream.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING GIVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE A VOICE AND A VOTE FOR CHANGE!
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