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Now that the effort to leverage the Squad to #ForceTheVote on #MedicareForAll has failed, there are a lot of people on the left scrambling to figure out what our next move is.
Do we hold a big protest in DC? What about lots of protests in every city? Drives to unionize workers?
Do we hold a big protest in DC? What about lots of protests in every city? Drives to unionize workers?
...Do we try a #GeneralStrike again and try to force the system through our economic power to answer to us?
All of these are good ideas and worth trying. However, one critical piece is being overlooked: Many people, FUNDAMENTALLY, _still_ believe in electoral politics.
All of these are good ideas and worth trying. However, one critical piece is being overlooked: Many people, FUNDAMENTALLY, _still_ believe in electoral politics.
They EVEN think we can, by sheer pieces of paper, all by itself, VOTE to make the system respect the human rights of all. To be fair, many HAVE been convinced by #ForceTheVote's failure that the 2-party system (really, 1-party capitalist system with 2 factions) is a dead-end.
So, I see many jumping to "we need to form a 3rd party" (which is true, although we do already have @PeoplesParty_US and @GreenPartyUS, among others), but there are obstacles: one is #FirstPastThePost voting, which psychologically manipulates the masses into voting either D or R.
A very rich tycoon or billionaire COULD do well as an independent Presidential candidate even still (e.g., Ross Perot), but they would be extremely unlikely to support *progressive* policy. And they STILL may not win.
Multiply this difficulty over the entire Congress. Yikes.
Multiply this difficulty over the entire Congress. Yikes.
So, it's very clear that, short of revolution, we NEED to change the voting system away from #FirstPastThePost. Capitalism has a stranglehold on our government and will allow hardly any progressive bills to pass.
The least-resistance alternative system is #RankedChoiceVoting.
The least-resistance alternative system is #RankedChoiceVoting.
Now, EVEN IF you believe even RCV won't save us and we need a wholesale revolution to abolish capitalism, the fact that so many would-be comrades who you need to help you lead this revolution STILL believe in electoral politics is a problem for you. You haven't convinced them.
These comrades are unlikely to join you until even 3rd parties with #RankedChoiceVoting have been exhausted as an electoral means of system change.
Also, if you believe it can be done electorally, you STILL need #RankedChoiceVoting to unlock our voting system from the Ds and Rs.
Also, if you believe it can be done electorally, you STILL need #RankedChoiceVoting to unlock our voting system from the Ds and Rs.
So #RankedChoiceVoting is in the critical path for leftists *either way*:
1) If you believe in electoral politics, you need RCV, and
2) If you don't believe in electoral politics, you still need to "show the work" to your fellow comrades that even voting with RCV won't work.
1) If you believe in electoral politics, you need RCV, and
2) If you don't believe in electoral politics, you still need to "show the work" to your fellow comrades that even voting with RCV won't work.
Now, is there an easier way to get #RankedChoiceVoting other than having to passing it in every state? Why, yes, there is. Enter #NationalRankedChoiceVoting (NRCV).
Under #NRCV, you only need enough states to get to 270 electoral votes to win the Presidency.
This is a big deal.
Under #NRCV, you only need enough states to get to 270 electoral votes to win the Presidency.
This is a big deal.
How does it work? Essentially, only passing popular referendums in some of the states would enable their electoral votes to be awarded according to the combined popular vote of those states, via #RankedChoiceVoting! It's like #NationalPopularVote meets RCV!
This has several benefits, including:
Making the electoral college obsolete once enough states sign up to the pact
Eliminating the spoiler effect on a per-state basis
Eliminating the spoiler effect on a combined national basis (an effect easily overlooked by RCV campaigns!)
Making the electoral college obsolete once enough states sign up to the pactEliminating the spoiler effect on a per-state basisEliminating the spoiler effect on a combined national basis (an effect easily overlooked by RCV campaigns!)
If you want to learn more, please visit http://BreakTheDuopoly.org .
To summarize:
-- Organizing is still necessary no matter what
-- #RankedChoiceVoting is now firmly in the CRITICAL PATH for leftist movements
-- #NationalRankedChoiceVoting is the easiest way to get RCV nationwide
To summarize:
-- Organizing is still necessary no matter what
-- #RankedChoiceVoting is now firmly in the CRITICAL PATH for leftist movements
-- #NationalRankedChoiceVoting is the easiest way to get RCV nationwide
Join the movement!! #NationalRankedChoiceVoting
Website: http://BreakTheDuopoly.org
Follow on Twitter: @nrcvorg
Website: http://BreakTheDuopoly.org
Follow on Twitter: @nrcvorg
