An Open Invitation to MoveOn.org from the Left (AKA anti-party) Wing of the Independent Movement
Co-authored by Harry Kresky and Jason Olson
On May 2, 2010 MoveOn.org launched its "most important campaign ever," an effort to "end the stranglehold that big corporations and lobbyists have on our government." MoveOn.org seeks nothing less than to "fix our democracy and put We the People back in charge."
The MoveOn.org "launch," while joining the growing chorus of those who are speaking out against the way the political process is working, ignores a critical factor that is both cause and effect of public disaffection with politics: the growth of the independent movement.
More than 40 percent of Americans now self-identify as independents. And for 15 years, the independent movement's progressive wing - IndependentVoting.org -- has mobilized independents for structural reforms that give voters as much power as the parties. For independents, it is the parties -- who are hardwired to big corporations, big money, and special interests -- that control government policy. Both parties use populist rhetoric when it suits them, but the hardwiring persists, no matter the message. If we want to "put people in charge," we have to break down the institutional control maintained by the parties.
But for MoveOn.org, independents don't seem to exist. Their strategy has been (and remains) to mobilize the most left leaning elements of the Democratic Party base. This is not, by the way, the strategy that brought Barack Obama to the White House. Independent voters propelled a new majority coalition, a coalition of African Americans, anti-establishment Democrats (including anti-the Democratic Party establishment) and independents. And open primaries and caucuses in the 33 states that permitted independents to vote were the key to Obama's success in toppling the Democratic Party establishment.
This may not be a coalition that MoveOn.org feels entirely comfortable with, not least because the progressive wing of the independent movement, which is anti-party, feels there is a special problem with the Democratic Party. It rails at the corporations and portrays itself as the party of the people, but clings to partisan and exclusionary notions of democracy and governance. If MoveOn.org is serious about revitalizing our democracy it can go beyond jeremiads against "big money" and "evil corporations," and join with us to support structural changes that bring our electoral system in line with where the American people are already at. This means giving up any kind of strategic bottom line of protecting the hegemony of the Democratic Party within progressive politics. MoveOn.org's base is much more independent than its leadership, in this regard.
Right now millions of Americans -- some 40 percent of the voting population -- self identify as independents. And millions of independents are disenfranchised by not having the right to vote in primary elections where the candidates we choose from in November are selected. For example, in California there are 3.4 million "decline to state" voters who cannot participate in primary elections unless a party specifically invites them in.
On June 8th California voters will go to the polls to vote on Proposition 14. If adopted, Prop. 14 would replace party primaries with a system in which all voters, regardless of party affiliation or non-affiliation, vote in a first round where all candidates appear on one ballot with their party preference listed next to their name, if they wish. The top two vote-getters go on to the general election ballot. This form of open primary makes it possible to build an Obama-style coalition that can win. Think what it would mean for MoveOn.org to urge its followers to vote yes on Prop. 14. We the People would be taking charge by voting to fully enfranchise 3.4 million voters.
In addition to open primaries, other structural changes sought by America's growing independent plurality are: nonpartisan administration of elections; nonpartisan redistricting; same day voter registration. The solution to the crisis in our democracy can only be more democracy.
The biggest impediment to the advancement of democracy in our country is the two major parties. By blocking efforts at structural change they seek to perpetuate (and in some cases reinforce!) a system in which smaller and smaller numbers of people -- the most ideologically committed party activists -- determine who we can elect to office and how and whether legislation is considered from Washington to City Hall.
MoveOn.org might feel that arrangement enhances its capacity to shape the outcome of elections, because highly mobilized groups can have outsized impact in a smaller universe. In this regard, MoveOn.org has more in common with the Republican-allied Tea Party movement than they'd like to admit. Each one is tethered to a major party, while attempting to influence its direction. But that strategy, whether employed from the "left" or from the "right," can intensify partisan battles and drive more and more Americans out of a political system in which they have no power. That does not put the people in charge. It relegates them to the margins.
Therefore, we, the undersigned, invite MoveOn.org to "move in" with the progressive wing of the independent movement. Together we can fix our democracy by backing the structural political reforms which give power to the people, not to the parties.
______________
Jackie Salit is President of IndependentVoting.org, a national association of independents with organization in 40 states.
Harry Kresky is the country's leading legal advocate for independent voters. He currently represents independent voters in Idaho in federal litigation regarding open primaries.
Jason Olson is the Director of IndependentVoice.org, a California based organization of independents representing the state's 3.4 million "decline to state" voters.
Working with MoveOn is a huge mistake. I can see working on issues here and there, were we happen to agree, but aligning with them... its absurd. They're mostly partisan zealots, the very type that most independents disdain.
Aligning with them is just going to lead to the mass of independents sick and tired of hyperpartisan crap like MoveOn sells not taking you seriously as a force for the independent movement any longer.
Look to the center. THAT is where your focus should be. Not fringe groups.
As an Independant I often do not agree with Move-On but I am fascinated and impressed with their ideals. Now you want to subsume them into your Progressive party platform. A look at their website shows many positions that conflict with the Obama Administration. For example, they want an exit strategy for Afghanistan and Move-On is against confirming Bernake.
Move-On is a vital part of American politics. They do not need to join the Progressive wing of any group.
Which is exactly why they need to move away from the Democratic party... and align w/ Progressives who also want an exit strategy for Afghanistan and were against the confirmation of Bernanke.
As an independent for two decades, I have never been comfortable associating myself with MoveOn. But because of the bush administration I was more than willing to passively support their mission.
But now, as far as I'm concerned, MoveOn's mission is accomplished.
It's time to move on MoveOn. There are still things that need to be fixed but the original MoveOn mission is over.
How about now we let a coillation of independents and progressives lead us back to prosperity?
(Based on hope)YOU ARE SO FANNED!
Looks like IndependentVoting.org is going to have to run with this on your own.
Good luck on that.
R/ PRONESE
Sorta like the tea bag movement thought and said nothing about Bush's running up a record deficit and greatly increasing the size and scope of government, but cried like spoiled children less than a year after Obama was elected claiming he did worse things in 8 months than Bush did in 8 years.
Is that what you're saying? Or is it:
A comparing of Bush sending people to Iraq, a country that didn't attack us and had nothing do with 9/11 with Obama getting healthcare and financial reform passed in spite of an obstructionist partisan congress, because sending people to die in a needless war is exactly the same thing as signing into law watered down bills that might actually help a few people.
peptopinkboots
Flagged as clueless
HST...flagged as MORE clueless.
I'm not friendly to proposition petitions either, I seldom stop to sign them and if they make it to the ballot, I vote against them most of the time. If you want me to support a proposition, it will have to do away with all super majority requirements and term limits. We've made a mess of our government with propositions here in California, maybe we should just stop doing that.
If you Independents want to participate in the primaries, then form your own party and hold your own primary to select your best candidate. That's what the rest of us do. And stop trying to sell the myth that you're not partisan because you obviously are. Prop 14 is just a way for you to shoulder your way in, and the rest of us out, without having to qualify as a political party. Come on; do this the right way!
I'm afraid that just won't change. They don't get a dime from me.
By not voting for independents because they can't win... you are actually guaranteeing that they won't win.