[Sosfbay-discuss] How Did Party in Berkeley Go? Anybody Get a Good Picture of Deacon Alexander?

[Gerry Gras]

I doubt that anyone on this list can give definitive answers.
But I know who to talk to to find out, if necessary.  I have
gone to a few of their events.  Do you want me to ask?


Caroline Yacoub wrote:

> Okay, we have four years. I would start tomorrow gathering signatures 
> and donations, if I knew
> 
> 1)where to get a signature sheet


I bet that they won't be available until sometime after
Prop 15 is passed.


> 
> 2)how to file it when it's full


That info should be available about the same time
as the petitions.


> 
> 3) where to send donations 


Ditto.

> (how do you keep track of them so you can 
> prove you have $5 donations and not a couple of corporate donations?)


Now that is a very good question.  I know that that point
has been raised before, and I don't remember hearing a
good answer.  I remember thinking it would help if people
paid their $5 by check, but what if someone does not have
a checking account?  Maybe they just require the signature
gatherer to certify under penalty of perjury that they
received $5 from each signee.

Gerry


> 
> I'm up for that kind of action. I'm perfectly happy to be a foot 
> soldier. I don't want to take a class in how to run a campaign. I'm 
> willing to bet there is somebody out there who can answer my simple 
> questions. Well, why don't you?
> 
> Caroline
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> From: Gerry Gras <gerrygras at earthlink.net>
> To: Brian Good <snug.bug at hotmail.com>
> Cc: sosfbay-discuss at cagreens.org
> Sent: Mon, February 8, 2010 6:41:43 PM
> Subject: Re: [Sosfbay-discuss] How Did Party in Berkeley Go? Anybody Get 
> a Good Picture of Deacon Alexander?
> 
> 
> 
> Brian Good wrote:
> 
>  >
> 
> 
> <clip>
> 
> 
>  >
>  >    I was disappointed that so many people abused the strategy session to
>  > engage in long rambling reminiscences and I fell asleep twice during
>  > that. 
> 
> 
> I did not attend.  The main reason I would have gone would have been
> for the strategy seesion.  Sounds like I did not miss much.
> 
> 
>  > I'd had little sleep the night before, and because my car had
>  > broken down on the trip up I stank of antifreeze, so I didn't feel very
>  > sociable, and I didn't even think of bringing up my strategy issues:
>  >
>  >    1.  A public finance (Prop 15) campaign would be a great organizing
>  > vehicle.  If we get just 15,000 $5 donations we get a million dollars to
>  > run a professional Secretary of State campaign, just like a real party. 
>  > If paid staffers choose to use their pay for political activities these
>  > funds could be a real energizer for the party.  Since we have 111,000
>  > registered Greens today, if we can't get the 15k donors in four years we
>  > should just give up.
> 
> 
> Or change the org from political party to something else.
> 
> Good point.
> 
> 
>  >
>  >    2.  Campaign Finance reform.  The average congressional rep takes in
>  > $1.5 million per election, and according to Lawrence Lessig, spends 40%
>  > to 60% of her time raising that money which, because of gerrymandered
>  > safe seats, they don't need.  Much of this money goes to the Democratic
>  > party, and much is paid to consultants who get enormous sums with little
>  > transparency.  Since fundraising success is a factor in gaining
>  > committee chairmanships and other perks, Reps have to spend their time
>  > as party fundraisers instead of solving our country's problems.  The
>  > Dems suck.  We don't.
> 
> 
> I am not sure what your point is.  I assume that you are trying to
> argue for the need to work on campaign finance reform.  If so,
> I agree.  I expect to be working for Prop 15, and supporting
> the national Fair Elections effort.
> 
> 
>  >
>  >    It was great to hear the inspiring story of how in the early days
>  > 79,000 people were persuaded to register for a party that didn't yet
>  > exist.  During 2003 antiwar demonstrations it was said that people
>  > crowded the registration tables four deep to sign up.
>  >
>  >    Ray said that continuing to run campaigns where we get 5% of the vote
>  > was just guaranteeing that we'll continue to be ineffective.  It seemed
>  > that few people wanted to hear that. 
> 
> 
> I wonder why.
> 
>  > It was nice to see a reunion
>  > amongst the old timers, people chattering excitedly.  But it reminded me
>  > of 9/11 Truth conventions where people go to have their dissenting
>  > beliefs reinforced by like-minded people.  I wonder if there's something
>  > cultish about continuing to convince each other that it's enough just to
>  > pull in a few thousand votes.  If we are to convince the mainstream that
>  > we are a viable alternative instead of a perennial protest vote, we need
>  > to convince ourselves of that first.
> 
> 
> Seems reasonable.
> 
> Gerry
> 
> 
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  >
>  > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  > To: sosfbay-discuss at cagreens.org <mailto:sosfbay-discuss at cagreens.org>
>  > Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 19:40:12 -0500
>  > From: alexcathy at aol.com <mailto:alexcathy at aol.com>
>  > Subject: [Sosfbay-discuss] How Did Party in Berkeley Go? Anybody Get a
>  > Good Picture of Deacon Alexander?
>  >
>  > I'm surprised this e-list isn't crackling with news about the 20th
>  > Anniversary party up in Berkeley.
>  >
>  > How did it go?
>  >
>  > B.T.W. did anybody get any good pictures of Deacon Alexander?  I would
>  > like to post one on my blog.
>  >
>  >
>  > Alex
>  >
>  >
>  > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  > Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. Get it now.
>  > <http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469228/direct/01/>
>  >
>  >
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