Showing posts with label activists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label activists. Show all posts

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Tell US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow a vote on new FEC commissioners

Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington (CREW) has launched a new campaign website called Fix the FEC. Since early this year, the Federal Election Commission has been without a quorum of its commissioners (there are only two of the normal six commissioners), rendering many of it's regulatory responsibilities useless.

Fix the FEC is very well-designed and easy to use. First and foremost, it asks the public to send a letter to US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to let the senate vote in new commissioners to return the FEC to quorum. You can send your letter right from the site's homepage. Then, you can send a letter to your family and friends about the campaign from another webpage. Background information about the current FEC crisis, its latest news and an FEC violation tipline are also easily located on Fix the FEC.

I highly recommend you participate with CREW using this great activist campaign website, Fix the FEC.

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All Things Reform Netvibes Universe public page

I'm excited to share a new place to communicate and read the latest political news headlines: All Things Reform Netvibes Universe page. It is free and open to the public to use 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. I've spent quite a bit of time adding/dropping modules, rearranging them, changing colors, module sizes, etc.; I consider our public page now out of "beta" stage.

The purpose of All Things Reform's Netvibes is to encourage free and easy ways to communicate online to share the government reform message, and to easily keep up with the latest news headlines from the best sources.

Communications features:

  • a "Wall" module to leave short messages on the page
  • Meebo.com Rooms chat with video player module
  • Meebo.com Instant Messaging module for several apps
  • David Weller's Facebook.com page module
  • David Weller (poetspirit) Twitter.com posts timeline
  • Webware.com internet technology news

Political news features:

  • Activist reminders
  • All Things Reform action alerts
  • GovTrack.us introduced legislation
  • OpenCongress.org bill information
  • washingtonpost.com news
  • POLITICO.com news

Of course, the internet is always evolving with the introduction of new technologies, so I reserve the need to update the page as required. However, it is now ready to use at your leisure to help you in your political reform activism. Enjoy!

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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Sign the Voters First Pledge at Public Campaign Action Fund, for volunteer public financing of federal elections

Public Campaign Action Fund is running a Voter Pledge drive for clean elections for federal candidates. Clean elections is another term for volunteer public financing of candidate campaigns. It can save the candidates from "dialing for dollars" every day in order to keep their campaign money flowing; this allows them to focus their time and energy on their important issues they want to share with the voters.

Please sign the 2008 Voters First Pledge right now, at Public Campaign-- you can help increase the pressure on lawmakers and candidates to back this needed reform. Thank you

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Saturday, April 05, 2008

Participate in Fair Elections Action Week Monday April 14 to Friday April 18, 2008

The Fair Elections Now Coalition, a group of six public interest groups, is organizing this year's Fair Elections Action Week, which is Monday, April 14th to Friday, April 18. It will promote the Fair Elections Now Act (FENA) (S.1285) now being legislated in the US Senate. FENA would bring full public financing of elections to the US Senate.

Again, the dedicated web site for Fair Elections Action Week is at http://www.fairelectionsnow.org/. Learn what you can do now, by downloading their activist toolkit. Activists are encouraged to participate locally, across this great nation. Bookmark the site to keep up with the latest updates! Thank you

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Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Claim Democracy Coalition hosts Democracy Day Thursday Jun 5, 2008 in Minneapolis MN

The Claim Democracy Coalition will be hosting "Democracy Day" on Thursday, June 5, 2008, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It coincides with The National Conference for Media Reform, to be held Jun 6- 8 and hosted by Free Press.

As stated on the Democracy Day conference web site, its mission is:

Scheduled the day before the National Conference on Media Reform, Democracy Day is a major conference designed to build support among voting rights advocates, electoral reformers and movement organizations for a broader vision of democracy – one based on elections with universal and secure access to the polls, expanded ballot choices and public financing, on government with proportional representation and transparency and on local, state, and national institutions that engage and empower Americans between elections. Working closely with Liberty Tree, Public Campaign, Free Press and Common Cause, FairVote is organizing the conference.

Hundreds of pro-democracy activists and experts are anticipating information, action and involvement in this one-day event; you are invited to join! All of the details, including hotel accomodations, can be found via its dedicated web site.

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Monday, March 24, 2008

New citizen's Political Calendar on All Things Reform

We have a new Political Calendar at the top of this blog in the left column. It is a reminder for the average citizen on what to look forward to in Washington DC over the next year or so. If you click on a link, you will be taken to more information about the particular special day(s).

It will of course be continuously updated and improved with political dates of use to the US citizen.

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Sunday, March 23, 2008

Watch a slideshow video about the new Change Congress grassroots movement

Lawrence Lessig, founder of Change Congress, has uploaded a nice slideshow video of his recent talk concerning his web site's launch. As discussed here three days ago, Change Congress aims to bring reform issues to candidates and congress and lobby them until the issues are enacted in legislation.

There has been a great display of enthusiasm already for this new grassroots campaign; Mr. Lessig is world reknown for his path-breaking work as founder and head of Creative Commons, a new method to keep your copyright while inviting certain uses of your work.

I have added a badge proclaiming my support and aid to Change Congress; you, too, can sign up and, if you have a web site or blog, display one as well! Join us today! Thanks.

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Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Get involved locally with WhatDoTheyKnow.com and GroupsNearYou.com

mySociety.org is introducing two new citizen activist websites: http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/ and http://www.groupsnearyou.com/. Both focus on local activities, from your neighborhood, street or town. Meet and keep in touch with your neighbors and issues, and improve your quality of life. Even though mySociety.org is based in England, they are encouraging people around the world to: (1) find out what your local government bodies know about what is happening in your area, and (2) join or start a local citizens group and to add it to their online directory.

This is a chance for you to make a difference in your local community.

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Tuesday, November 27, 2007

All Things Reform now on Facebook!

In our continuing quest to build an activist community for government reform, All Things Reform now has a page at popular social networking site Facebook. It's at All Things Reform Facebook. Please, visit and say hi. I hope your stay is entertaining and helpful.

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Monday, November 26, 2007

Let's make 2008 a Fresh Start for Democracy!

Common Cause has devoted 2008 to the complete renewal of democracy here in the United States. Yes, that is a tall order. But if anyone can do it, it is the large membership of a very respected good government public interest, Common Cause. Let us all help Fresh Start for Democracy, by supporting and being active this upcoming election year! Here is their message:

Dear _,
After years of war, corruption, abuse of power, and disregard for
the Constitution and the rule of law, the American spirit has taken quite a beating. Help us launch a Fresh Start for Democracy.
Send an e-card to your friends with Bob's inspiring message!
It's time for renewal, time for civic-minded people all across America to join in launching a fresh start for democracy in 2008. We need to lift our sights, renew our passion for participation and act together to restore democracy's promise. That is what Common Cause's Fresh Start for Democracy Campaign is all about. In this critical year of transition for our country, we can't settle for modest improvements. We need fundamental change. Rampant corruption doesn't need to be scaled back. It has to be ended. Abuses of power don't need to become less blatant. They need to disappear. We're not looking to weaken the hold that special interests have on American politics. We're out to break their grip once and for all. In 2008, we've got a fundamental choice to make: Will we settle for modest change and incremental gains? Or will we demand the broad, all-encompassing fresh start for democracy that our country so urgently needs?As
it should be in a democracy, it's up to us. I urge you to join Common Cause in an all-out effort to reclaim the full promise of our democracy. Together, I know that we can spark a movement capable of producing the broad, powerful changes we need to enliven civic life in America and produce genuine, deep-seated progress on issues that will define our future. That's the promise of democracy. Let's work together to
achieve it.
Peace,
Bob Edgar
President, Common Cause
P.S. Help us spread the word by sending an e-card to your friends and family about our campaign for a Fresh Start for Democracy.

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Friday, November 09, 2007

Contact your representatives personally, for added impact

Just a note on this experiment in citizen activism that is All Things Reform. I understand that, if you take action from any public interest group's website, you may be added to their email database. I have done this for years now, and I therefore often get action alerts and other information by email.

However, now that All Things Reform copies much of the alert information for its blog posts, you can avoid privacy issues by avoiding contact with the public interest groups. Just read the blog post, and if you want to take action, just contact your representative personally, by telephone, email, postage mail or personal visit. In addition to keeping personal privacy, this personal method may make a more powerful statement by communicating privately with your elected official.

I can't supply this blog without information from these hard-working public interest groups issuing these alerts. However, if you want to stay off of their databases, use All Things Reform and communicate directly with your representatives. Use the widget in this blog's left column to find your own representatives' contact addresses, or use Yahoo! Capwiz.

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Monday, October 01, 2007

All Things Reform now on Squidoo!

Squidoo has provided All Things Reform a "lens", Reform Your Government, to share all of the things we have to offer. We are always looking for ways to spread the word about this blog-- about grassroots reform activism-- and we are grateful to Squidoo for providing this opportunity.

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Monday, September 17, 2007

FairVote 15 year Anniversary

FairVote is celebrating 15 years of "The Way Democracy Will Be". Based in Washington, D.C., FairVote promotes electoral reforms nationally and across the country; reforms include IRV (Instant Runoff Voting), Proportional Representation, Presidential Primary Reform, and NPV (National Popular Vote.) Here is their message and invitation to supporters on their upcoming celebration:

Three Exciting Opportunities
Help sustain our 15 years of reform advocacy.
To commemorate our 15 years of advancing bold reforms like proportional voting, instant runoff voting, a constitutionally protected right to vote, and fair presidential elections where every vote counts, FairVote is highlighting three exciting opportunities for our supporters. Read below about how you can get involved. There's never been a greater time to help build the pro-democracy movement than today, and with a presidential election looming, FairVote is needed now more than ever.

1. Save The Date: Claiming Democracy 2007 & 15th Anniversary Gala
Excitement is growing about FairVote’s upcoming Claiming Democracy conference on strengthening a pro-democracy movement, to take place in Washington, D.C. on November 9th to 11th. Fellow conference sponsors include election reform and media reform organizations like Demos, Free Press, New America Foundation, Public Campaign, and the Brennan Center. Details at ClaimDemocracy.com
On November 10th we will also hold our 15th anniversary banquet in D.C.’s majestic Union Station. This will be a special affair with leaders from FairVote’s history and high-profile supporters in attendance, such as former independent presidential candidate and FairVote chairman John Anderson, as well as appearances by New Yorker editor Hendrik Hertzberg, Daily Show correspondent Dan Bakkedahl, and Nirvana bass player Krist Novoselic. An evening of fine dining and great entertainment awaits all who attend, along with the winning videos from our Upgrade Democracy Video Contest! Stay tuned for more details at fairvote.org/gala – and please save the dates for these two exciting events!

2. Make a Video: Upgrade Democracy Video Contest
There’s still plenty of time to flex your creativity and submit your entry into FairVote’s first-ever Upgrade Democracy Video Contest! Tell us what you think ought to be done to improve elections by making a short video answering the question:
“If you could change anything you wanted about elections, what would our democracy look like?”
You could win $2000 and have your video seen by celebrity judges including filmmaker Richard Linklater (School of Rock, Dazed and Confused), political guru Donna Brazile, The Daily Show’s Dan Bakkedahl, MoveOn’s Eli Pariser, Nirvana bassist Krist Noveselic, and New Yorker editor Hendrik Hertzberg! The winners will be honored at FairVote’s 15th Anniversary Gala at the Claim Democracy conference.
To learn more about how to enter, visit http://www.upgradedemocracy.com/. The deadline is September 28, 2007, so spread the word and get filming!

3. Donate Items, Make a Pledge: 15th Anniversary Auction & Pledge Drive
Timed to coincide with our 15th anniversary celebrations this November, FairVote is holding an online charity auction to raise funds for our work. We hope that some of our loyal supporters, and maybe even some new ones, will make in-kind contributions of items and services for us to auction. Do you have a vacation home or timeshare to donate, or perhaps some rare or autographed items? Please pull them out of your attic and put them to work for democracy!
Pledges for FairVote: FairVote of course needs your 2007 donations to sustain our progress toward 'the way democracy will be,' but also seeks commitments of support for the coming five years -- a critically important opportunity to win reform at all levels of government. Please consider commitments in the form of gifts of stock, pledges of annual support and bequests in your will. Contact Ross Margulies at Ross [at] fairvote.org for more information, or to donate an item to our auction.

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