Peace and Freedom Party

by C. T. Weber

Be aware Californians, on your June 8, 2010, direct primary ballot will be a very dangerous proposition which appears very harmless. It is called the Top Two Candidates Open Primary. I had always thought the purpose of a primary was to allow each political party to select who would run in the general election against the winners of the other parties. However, the purpose of this proposition is to put all candidates, for the same office on the same ballot in the primary election. Here’s the killer: only the two candidates with the highest vote totals for each office, regardless of party preference, would then compete for the office at the ensuing general election. This will probably result in one Democratic and one Republican candidate for each office. However, in some cases it will be two Democratic candidates and in other cases it will result in two Republican candidates. Voters will be denied the opportunity to vote in the general election for candidates from the four smaller parties. The passage of the Top Two proposition will reduce your choices in the general election to only two.

During each month of 2009, the Democratic Party elected officials in Washington DC have abandoned one or more of the issues that got them elected. Peace went by the wayside fairly early, though there seemed some chance that some troops might be withdrawn. Reforming labor laws to give workers a real chance to organize into unions lasted a few weeks, but ended up on the scrapheap of political promises. Health care for all became health care for some, then no public health care expansion, and now we appear to be headed toward a "compromise" that will force everyone to further enrich insurance companies without actually requiring the privateers to provide health care for anyone. While some unemployed workers have the opportunity to collect unemployment insurance for a few more weeks, the jobs they want are simply not there, and neither Congress nor the President appear willing to lift a finger to provide any jobs.

January 29, 2010

I read with interest the article by Katrina Vanden Heuvel & Robert L. Borosage in the latest (Feb 1) issue of The Nation, with their description of how all is not well in Obama-land.

In 2008, Americans rejected the failed policies of the Bush administration and gave our first Black President a clear mandate for change, with bullet-proof Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress. The change we hoped for has not happened. Instead, the Obama administration and Democrats have used their mandate to gut nearly everything that progressives hold dear. In almost every arena, from the war in the Middle East to the issues of health care, global warming, and state torture, the Democrats are following Bush-like policies.

Not since 1964, and their refusal to seat the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, has the political bankruptcy of the Democratic Party been so starkly exposed.

The Nation is of course entitled to its political perspective and push more and continued support for Democrats. However, your readers are entitled to know that there are left alternatives. As the only working class, socialist party on the California ballot, the Peace & Freedom Party will be giving voters a clear alternative by running a full slate of candidates statewide as well as many congressional and local races.

The 2010 midterm elections offer Americans one chance to hold the Democrats accountable. It is important that there be a left electoral alternative, so people dont have to turn to the Republicans and the self-styled Tea Party Patriots to express their disgust for politics as usual.

Eugene E Ruyle
Peace & Freedom Party Candidate for Congress
Californias Sixth Congressional District (Marin & Sonoma Counties)

Voting and Elections

• Proportional representation to promote legislative representation of the wide variety of political viewpoints.
• Enact instant runoff voting (IRV) to eliminate runoff elections and provide for genuine majority support for those elected.
• Election should be by direct vote of the people. Eliminate the Electoral College.
• Enforce and extend voting rights for people of color, non-English speakers, and homeless people.
• Resident non-citizens should have the right to vote, particularly in local and school elections.
• Free and equal access to radio and television for all candidates.

Read more...