Wednesday, October 30, 2013

RCV is Dangerous for the IP and We Still Support It

NOTE: This was originally posted on the Independence Party of Minnesota website in May of 2012. 

Ranked Choice Voting and the Independence Party of Minnesota

MYTH: Ranked choice voting is an easy shortcut to successful elections for the Independence Party and its candidates.

So many people I speak with assume that our support for RCV is because of the lift it would give us in the voting booth.  The fact is that the very benefit of RCV that most people believe would help us is a real and dangerous challenge to the IP.  Let me explain.  It is absolutely true that RCV will make it easier for the public to vote for the best candidate.  That helps the IP.  At the same time, RCV allows practical progressives and reasonable Republicans to run practical and reasonable campaigns without having to seek shelter in the Independence Party.  Under RCV, you can have libertarians, tea-partiers, evangelicals and moderates on the same ballot, and all of them with the letter R next to their name.  Heck, RCV even opens up the opportunity for fiscally responsible Democrats to get onto the ballot.

FACT: With RCV, Minnesota’s moderate mainstream voter may find reasonable representation in any of the three major parties. 

So, if RCV is so dangerous for the Independence Party, why are we so outspoken in our support for it?  Because it is the right thing for Minnesota.  While our short term goal is to get Independence Party candidates elected to the State Legislature, the Party’s long term goal has always been to provide ALL Minnesotans a voice in state government.  Until RCV is incorporated into state elections, the IP will continue to fight for representation for the majority of Minnesotans whose voices are ignored by the other two major parties.  And when RCV is the voting method for all state races, the Independence Party will remain the centrist voice in Minnesota politics. 

Sometimes doing what is right requires us to do something dangerous.

Mark Jenkins
Chair
Independence Party of Minnesota

Tuesday, October 01, 2013

It is Time to Reboot Our Government

What do you do when your computer freezes up and stops working for you?  You reboot it, right?

It is time to reboot our government.  

So how do you reboot government?  You do it with the same three steps you use to reboot your computer, Ctrl-Alt-Del.  

Ctrl: Control political campaign spending.  Pass legislation that will make public office a noble, and attainable, goal for all citizens instead of a repulsive partisan media storm that only serves to elevate extremists and embitter citizens to the whole political process. 

Alt: Create the political Alternative you wish to see.  Too few individuals control who runs for office, who gets elected, and what issues are brought before the American public.  YOU can change that.  We need every mainstream Minnesotan to flood the political caucuses in February.  We need a flood of mainstream candidates to step forward and take back our government for all Minnesotans, not just the loudmouthed extremists to our right and left.  And lastly, we need a flood of effort and money to be targeted at the candidates that are brave enough to stand against partisan paralysis and stand up for all Minnesotans of all social, economic and political backgrounds.  

Del: Delete your fear that change is not possible.  Change is possible, if, and only if, YOU take action.  Delete your fear that your one voice can't change opinions or outcomes.  You will be surprised how few voices control politics in Minnesota already.  Delete your fear that new political vision won't work.  You have seen what is, or isn't, done under the old standard for many, many years.  Lastly, delete your belief that our political problems will eventually get better, somehow.  Until YOU take action to create the political system you want, you have to accept responsibility for the system you have. Delete your doubt in the impact that YOU will have when you fight for a better state and country.

It is time to Ctrl-Alt-Del our government.

Join me and the Independence Party of Minnesota in the fight to reboot government and get our state working for all Minnesotans again.