Political Action SP11: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:48, 10 May 2011

Social Justice

Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination

Social Justice Scales <ref> University of Wyoming College of Education "Social Justice Research Center." Web. http://www.uwyo.edu/sjrc/ </ref>

To gain an applicable and comprehensive definition of social justice, one must look at it as a multi-faceted concept that includes the following: “the creation of just relationships at all system levels, the development of structures that provide for equality of opportunity, the facilitation of access to needed information, services and resources, and the support of meaningful participation in decision-making for all people.”<ref> Doerr Center for Social Justice Education & Research. What is Social Justice? Saint Louis University. 2011. Web. 11 April 2011. http://www.slu.edu/x12275.xml</ref>

Summary of Authors' Essential Points

Gar Alperovitz

Wealth: Alperovitz refers to Kevin Phillips who establishes that wealth “’…reaches beyond its own realm’ to control political power and government at all levels”. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (2)</ref> In the United States wealth is concentrated in the upper class allowing the top 10% of the population to control and manage 80% of the country’s wealth. Wealth comes in many forms, of either money or property and how this is owned and controlled is the real center of power in our political economy.<ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (5)</ref> Current trends demonstrate “…that the ownership of wealth must benefit the vast majority directly”. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (5)</ref>

Liberty: Liberty in itself is not what is needed in this day and age but “equal liberty”. ‘Equal liberty’ is “…and idea that also reaches beyond legal and constitutional protections to consider the capacities and real-world conditions of the vast majority”.<ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (39)</ref> In order for such liberties to function, they require 3 inputs from society:

1) “First, liberty requires institutional and structural support for individual economic security to replace that which at least in theory was once provided by entrepreneurial property.

2) Second, it requires support for the community-wide conditions needed to nurture the intermediate associations and civil society organizations that are essential to sustaining a culture supportive of liberty.

3) Third, it requires greater amounts of equitably distributed free time (without which little real freedom of choice is possible) and support for individual development (without which the capacities needed to exercise real freedom must inevitably be limited).”<ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (40-41)</ref>

Democracy: Alperovitz raises the idea of democracy, by examining it on a small scale and a large scale. He begs the question: “It is possible to have Democracy with a Big D in the system as a whole of you do not have real democracy with a small d at the level where people live, work, and raise families in their local communities”. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (43)</ref> Without local level democracy, society wide democracy cannot function effectively. He also stipulates that for meaningful democracy to exist, it requires a level of greater equality amongst the citizens. Currently our economic system arranges society in an intentionally unequal stratification. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (51)</ref>

Alperovitz's Ideals

Alperovitz discusses several suggestions to evolve the system’s current political-economic developments: “First, that there is now way to achieve movement toward greater equality without developing new institutions that hold wealth on behalf of small and large publics. Second, that there is no way to rebuild Democracy with a big D in the system as a whole without nurturing the conditions of democracy with a small d in everyday life—including the economic institutions that allow and sustain greater stability of local community life…[Also] that there is no way to achieve a meaningful individual liberty in the modern era without individual economic security and greater amounts of free time—and that neither of these, in turn, is possible without a change in the ownership of wealth and the income flows it permits”. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (233-234)</ref>

Alperovitz's Reforms

In his concluding remarks Alperovitz leans towards Pluralist Commonwealth Models by stating that: “The Pluralist Commonwealth model holds, beyond this, the democratic control of large economic enterprise—a central problem confronting all political-economic systems—can never be achieved without transforming and making public the ownership of large-scale wealth and without developing a new culture—and further, that this can only be done by building on the four key elements. Without local democracy; there can be no culture of democratic practice; without security and time, there can be only a weak citizenry; without decentralization, it is difficult to mobilize democratic practice and accountability; and without major and far-reaching new forms of wealth holding, there can never be adequate support for the conditions and policies needed to build a more egalitarian and free democratic culture. Finally the model is based on the judgment that greater equality, greater individual economic security, greater amounts of free time, and –upon this basis—the reconstitution of a culture of common responsibility are ultimately required if we are ever to reorient our community and national priorities in general”. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (234)</ref>

Alperovitz also discusses that reform needs to happen in a “step-by-step nonviolent change” and like revolution the process will reorient the development of different institutional structures to replace traditional corporate formations over time. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (235)</ref> Alperovitz calls this conjunktur, which “designates a coming together at one movement in time of diverse trends to create new, unforeseen, and often dramatic opportunities for change”. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (237)</ref>

G. William Domhoff

Domhoff's Ideas By Chapter

Chapter 1: Class and Power in America: Domhoff examines social class and its relation to power as he notices the wealth disparity with the top 10% controlling 80% of the wealth and power in the American capitalist system. Due to the invested economic and social capital by the upper class and corporate classes they are able to maintain their status quo in the wealthy class.

Chapter 2: The Corporate Community: The corporate community is made up of interlocking networks between the members of boards of directors, with individual corporations at the center of these networks and at the center of influence.

Chapter 3: The Corporate Community and the Upper Class: The corporate community is intricately intertwined with the upper class through the perpetuation of upper class organizations, exclusive country clubs and good old boys clubs. These clubs provide an informal and calming environment in which to socialize and make personal or business connections.

Chapter 4: The Policy-Planning Network: Domhoff holds that the policy planning process begins among the power elite in CEO offices and board rooms and those discussion spill over into the government where they are enacted. Domhoff believes the main component to the networks make them especially effective in influencing policy, is their interaction and influence with foundations, think tanks, university research institutes and policy discussion groups. Power elites are individuals who work as directors, or trustees in corporations and non profits and whose power is most concentrated because they sit on multiple boards.

Chapter 5: The Role of Public Opinion: Despite the fact that public opinion is not swayed easily by the media, the elite have created an intricate opinion shaping network, through their control of the mass media industry to legitimize their power to the other classes and manipulate public opinion and push their own agenda.

Chapter 6: Parties and Elections: Domhoff elaborates on the ability of the elite to manipulate political parties and the electoral system in order to maintain their power. The two party system is controlled by the elite which is contradictory to the American Dream that anyone can become president. In reality, presidential candidates are able to run for office because they already belong to elite institutions which enable them to make connections, accumulate resources and money.

Chapter 7: How the Power Elite Dominate the Government: Through lobbying and the special-interest process, corporations can use their financial and power resources to sway policies in the direction they so choose. As a result, recommendations in the policy planning process reach the government in several ways: 1) People within the policy planning network are often members of committees advising on policies; 2) Corporate executives and experts are prominent on presidential and congressional commissions when appointed to make recommendations; 3) Corporate leaders have personal contact with elected members of organizations with access to the government; 4) Power elites occasionally serve as informal advisers to the president in times of crisis; and 5) Elites that are appointed to government positions can endorse policies from their colleagues and employees in the policy-planning network. <ref> Domhoff, G. William. Who Rules America?: Challenges to Corporate and Class Dominance. 6th Ed. McGraw-Hill: University of California, Santa Cruz, 2010(179-180)</ref>

Chapter 8: The Big Picture: Domhoff discusses different theories of power but identifies with the class domination of power theory. He explains that domination is “the institutionalized outcome of great distributive power”. <ref> Domhoff, G. William. Who Rules America?: Challenges to Corporate and Class Dominance. 6th Ed. McGraw-Hill: University of California, Santa Cruz, 2010(210)</ref> In the United States, the distributive power of the upper and dominant class is based on structural economic power it has gained from being made up of high level executives and business owners.

Domhoff's Reforms

Chapter 9: Potential Challenges to Class Domination: Domhoff encourages those whom are opposed to class domination or racial exclusion by would engage in social movements outside the electoral system to try and gain new rights. <ref> Domhoff, G. William. Who Rules America?: Challenges to Corporate and Class Dominance. 6th Ed. McGraw-Hill: University of California, Santa Cruz, 2010(225)</ref> Domhoff also provides advice to the government in that it will have to decide whether it does or does not want to support unions or forms of paternalism (such as improvements in health insurance and other social benefits) or support the corporate community. <ref> Domhoff, G. William. Who Rules America?: Challenges to Corporate and Class Dominance. 6th Ed. McGraw-Hill: University of California, Santa Cruz, 2010(230)</ref>

Yates

Ideas In Michael D. Yates' work, Why Unions Matter, Yates describes the importance of unions in creating a fair and equal workplace for the individual in a capitalist society. Yates discusses that unions were originally created as a way for workers to band together in solidarity to improve conditions,<ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009. (185) </ref> reduce inequality in incomes and benefits,<ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009, (185) </ref> and change the relationship between labor and management.<ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009. (42) </ref> Unions use the method of "collective bargaining"<ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009, (186) </ref> to come to an agreement about wages, hours and terms of conditions<ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009, (83) </ref> between workers and their employers.<ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009, (185) </ref> In his work, Yates also analyzes the relationship between unions and politics to encourage a push for labor politics.<ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009. (134) </ref> He writes how labor is not fairly represented in government since the American two-tiered party system is mainly supported by big business. <ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009, (124) </ref> Yates also details how the labor politics has yet to be a major competitor in the political sphere.<ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009, (114) </ref>

Reforms Yates describes the need for labor to have an ideology that provides it's workers with an identity.<ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009, (205) </ref> In addition he emphasizes that labor develop it's own political party so that the needs of the working class are met. <ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009. (134) </ref>He concludes that labor politics must fight for the necessities to include in every workplace such as employment as a right, creating meaningful and fulfilling work, basic needs provided by the community, democratic control of production, shorter hours of work, a healthy and clean environment, wage and income equality and no discrimination in the work place.<ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009, (205-207) </ref>

Bowles, Edwards & Roosevelt (BER)

Efficiency: According to BER, “The term efficient is applied to a labor process if the effort, time, intelligence, creativity, raw materials, natural environment, information, and machinery used in it are applied in a way that enhances people’s well-being by equipping them with the things and the free time needed to lead a flourishing life.” <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (62) </ref> “The efficiency of labor refers to

how much output can be produced as a result of a certain level of work effort.” <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (558) </ref> Two shortcomings that are often overlooked with regards to efficiency are the effects it has on the natural environment, and the fact that household labor and the amount of effort labor take are often not taken into account.

Fairness: “…means that people in an economic system suffer the burdens and enjoy the benefits of that economic system equitably.” <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (64) </ref> According to BER a fair economic system would distribute both benefits and burdens equitably. They maintain that although equality is endorsed, that the equality of opportunity to live a good life is the real goal of equitably redistributing burdens and benefits in society. <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (64-65) </ref> The idea of fairness will always be controversial, especially with regard to wealth. Nevertheless, equal opportunity is simply the opportunity and the freedom to remove impediments within society that can be surmounted.<ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (65) </ref>

Democracy: “…is a process with three characteristics: the exercise of power is accountable to those affected by it, civil rights and personal liberties are guaranteed, and citizens have relatively equal access to political resources and influence.” <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (66) </ref>Democracy can manifest itself in society: in a corporation, in a government and in an economy. “A democratic firm is one that is owned by its employees and run by people who are elected by the employees.” <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (557) </ref> “Democratic government is a way of organizing a government based on (1) accountability of officials through elections with widespread and equal voting rights and (2) civil liberties and personal freedoms.” <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (557) </ref> “The third criterion for assessing an economic system is democracy. One important part of this criterion questions the extent to which the economic system promotes (or hinders) the democratic functioning of the government.” <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (65-66) </ref> However, with regard to economic systems, it must be kept in mind that economic systems are also judged by efficiency and fairness as well. For example an economy can be efficient and undemocratic and unfair, such as slavery. <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (67) </ref>

Project Vote

Mission & Goals

Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination

Project Vote <ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>

Project Vote is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization devoted to providing resources to teach, encourage, and assemble marginalized groups such as low income, minorities and youth to vote. <ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>

Actions Taken

Since 1994 Project Vote has helped register more than 5.6 million low-income and minority voters through it's voter registration and Get-Out-the Vote programs. Project Vote has also taken actions such as advocacy, legal services, and research to ensure that minority groups are not prevented from registration and voting. <ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>

Get Out the Vote Historically the number of underrepresented American voters increased in the 2008 elections, but voter turnout has declined between presidential and mid-term elections. In order to combat this, in 2010 Project Vote worked with its partners in 12 states to encourage voters. They will focus on Black and Latino voters, new registrants and Americans under the Age of 30, all who were a large turnout in the 2008 election. <ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>

Election Administration Program The Election Administration Program (EA) is create to ensure that public policy grants access to the ballot. The program protects it's constituents rights by engaging in legal action when necessary. As a long term goal Project Vote is devoted to breaking down barriers that bar underrepresented voters from partaking in the registration and voting processes and also to encourage participation in elections. <ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>

Public Agency Registration Program The Public Agency and Registration Program is a joint action taken by Project Vote and Demos, a voting rights and electoral reform policy organization. This program was created to uphold the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which demands that states must offer voter registration to those in public assistance programs. The Public Agency Registration Program takes legal action when necessary to enforce the NVRA.<ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>

How does Project Vote's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?

Wealth Project Vote serves to combat Alperowitz's ideas of concentrated wealth that only serves the elite class. Project Vote sees that low-income and minority Americans are isolated from the electoral process. In order to combat the inequality in voting, Project Vote serves to encourage and include more minority Americans to have a more equal representation. <ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>

Liberty Project Vote is devoted to the creation of what Alperowitz calls "equal liberty" by taking the initiative as a nonprofit organization to encourage and include minorities to partake in voting and registration. Project Vote has noticed various types of problems within the electoral system such as voter fraud and voter intimidation which compromise the liberty of American citizens. In order to combat these flaws, Project Vote serves as an advocate for minority groups who wish to take part in the vote so that their voices are heard and reflected in government. <ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>

Democracy Alperowitz proposes that a greater equality must exisit among it's citizens in order to have democracy.<ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (51)</ref> Project Vote incorporates this idea of equality in democracy into their mission. They encourage the equality of democracy by encouraging and giving resources to groups who have historicallly been shut out from government to take part in the electoral process. Project Vote has allowed marginalized individuals to have a voice in order to make a more equal democracy. <ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>

How does Project Vote's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?

Project Vote incorporates some of Domhoff's ideas into their ideals to include minority groups into the American electoral system. Domhoff believes that the elite are able to manipulate the current political and economic spheres to their advantage.<ref> Domhoff, G. William. Who Rules America?: Challenges to Corporate and Class Dominance. 6th Ed. McGraw-Hill: University of California, Santa Cruz, 2010. </ref> Project Vote tries to counter act this overwhelming disparity of the ruling elite class by emphasizing the right to vote to minority American citizens in order to change the makeup of the legislature so that there are more representative leaders of America's constants. Project Vote has taken on Domhoff's idea of a social movement for change to spread education and encouragement to vote which they deem necessary for a change in government. <ref> Project Vote. Project Vote. PV, 2011. Web. 7 May 2011. http://projectvote.org/home.html </ref>

How does Project Vote's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?

In his book, Yates discusses the importance of creating a fair and equal workplace for the individual in the capitalist society. Although his point pertains to the work place, Project Vote is attempting to enforce a fair and equal opportunity to vote for all individuals in capitalist America. By fighting against extra restrictions that would deter or prevent people from voting such as: required photo identification at the voting booth, proof of citizenship in order to place a vote, limitations on voter registration drives, a repeal of election day registration, a reduction in early voting, Project Vote is adamantly attempting to protect the access of voters to their right to vote without hassle. Project Vote understands the politics of fighting such initiatives is to engage in the politics and litigation processes it requires but also to fight an idea with another idea. To further the cause to enable people to vote and get their person represented Project Vote supports and promotes methods that enable registration such as: online registration, paperless registration, automatic registration (when a citizen comes of age), national voter registration enforcement, pre-registration abilities for youths, and the restoration of voting rights. All of these initiatives enable the individual, not corporations to empower themselves for or against which ever cause they are adamant about. Be that union laws, the environment, community changes or national change. Regardless Project Vote attempts to empower all unregistered voters, but especially young people of voting age, underrepresented groups such as minorities and low income individuals. This is in order to ensure that representation is truly elected and is representative of those whom elect them and not just the few that bothered to vote. Like Yates, Project Vote wants to provide each individual with an identity, with which they can represent themselves by voting in their community.

How will Project Vote overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?

Although Project Vote does not specifically address the social justice element of efficiency in the context in which Bowles, Edwards and Roosevelt discuss it, Project Vote by its very nature is an organization, thoroughly dedicated fairness. Project Vote strives to enable all voters to be able to vote so they can represent themselves. This is in order to maintain and continue the stability of the democratic system America fundamentally functions on. Without votes, no politician would be elected, nor would the country be able to make any progress towards the future to improve the country or represent its citizens needs and wants as the dynamics of the nation and the international system change. Project Vote is fighting against inequality and attempts to generate fairness by encouraging and enabling people to vote.

Are the goals of Project Vote consistent with the ideals of social justice?

Project Vote is an organization that functions in a manner that takes social justice and its ideal into account. Not only does the organization promote the concept of the equal opportunity, and enables more access to information for the voting process and enables more participation in the decision-making process and politics in America for every voter. Project vote promotes equal opportunity to vote by pursuing individuals whom would ordinarily not have the opportunity to vote such as minorities, young people and low income individuals. This enables a more accurate representation of America's population and diversity in the voting process both locally and nationally as demographics, people, opinions and trends change. Through its initiatives, Project Vote has made great strides in promoting democracy, equality and the ability to vote and in doing so enables a step towards a more empowered and more equal access to vote in America.

Center for Voting and Democracy (FairVote)

Mission & Goals

FairVote <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

Center for Voting and Democracy also known as FairVote is an organization created to reform elections so that every vote is respected. FairVote seeks to optimize voter turnout, ballot selection and provide fair representation. FairVote is a think tank that utilizes research, analysis, education, conferences and by working with reformers, leader and the media in order to implement ideas into policy. FairVote categorizes it's changes into three groups. The first change they desire to achieve is "fair access to participation," which encourages voter registration, the right to vote and provides education for younger generations. FairVote also strives to hold "fair elections," which have more transparent and accountable electoral administration. The organization also supports "fair representation," which supports various forms of proportional voting such as "choice voting" in the various types of elections. <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

Actions Taken

FairVote uses four methods to maxmize it's impact: (1) FairVote engages in research about American elections (2) FairVote aids to lay the foundation for local, state and national reform coalitions and also assists policymakers who agree with FairVote's reforms (3) FairVote aids reform campaigns to show that there are alternative options (4) FairVote brings high profile media coverage to the reform policies that they have suggested

1) Fair Elections

National Popular Vote for President:This idea seeks to address the issue that presidental candidates mainly focus on a small piece of American voters and leave the majority of the voters out of the election process. FairVote advocates for the National Popular Vote for President or direct election of the president to give the majority a voice in the elections by providing an equal vote. <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

Instant Runoff Voting: FairVote encourages majority rule through "instant runoff voting," which is a ranked voting system which gives preferential voting to a pool of candidates. FairVote encourages this system in cases where there are a multitude of choices and high turn out eleections. <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

Presidential Nominations: FairVote advocates for change to the presidental nomination system calling the system chaotic and confusing. FairVote therefore advocates for a new more transparent and democratic system to be implemented. <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

2) Fair Representation

Choice Voting/Proportional Representation: FairVote advocates the use of "choice voting" which provides majority rule and fair representation while also increases the validity of the ballot. Fairvote desires to have a representational government of the American voters.<ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

Fix the House: FairVote is in the process of creating a list of ideas to reform the structure of the House of Representatives. Some items which they will include on this list will be increasing the size of the house and reevalutating the districts to go from " single-seat jurisdictions" to "multi-seat super districts." <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

3) Fair Access to Participation

Right to Vote in the Constitution: Even though the right to vote is a key part of American democracy FairVote still deems that there are many issues with this idea in American government. In order to uphold the right to vote, FairVote insists on the equality and ability of every American citizen to vote so that no citizen will be unable to partake in the voting process. <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

Universal Voter Registration: FairVote also advocates for the use of a universal voter registration system registers all eligible citizens instead of a system where citizens must register themselves. FairVote claims that this system would get rid of the issues of voter rolls. <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

How does FairVote's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?

Wealth FairVote has noted how historically the wealthy have historically benefited from the American electoral system. FairVote seeks to combat Alperowitz's notion of the wealthy upper class' power and dominance. Through their goals they seek a more free and fair democratic electoral system that will serve the needs of its people and not just the wealthy upper class. <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

Liberty FairVote meshes it's ideas to seek a more democratic electoral system so that it can uphold Alperowitz's ideas of "equal liberty."<ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (39)</ref> FairVote strives for a democratic system that addresses the needs of the American people. FairVote looks at the current electoral system and sees various flaws within the system which have compromised the a free and fair voting system. The organization therefore serves as a tool to look into the ways that the electoral process needs to be reformed in order to grant more freedom and the value of a vote to all American citizens. <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

Democracy FairVote sees that through the current voting system leaves an unrepresentative American government. FairVote therefore takes into account Alperowitz's idea to include a greater equality.<ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (51)</ref> FairVote implements it's tools of research and education to seek and point out the issues within the American government system in order to make a more representative and democratic government. <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

How does FairVote's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?

FairVote tries to combat Domhoff's idea of an unequal society by taking intitiative to reform and readjust the voting and electoral system into a more free and fair system. <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref> Domhoff holds a theory that it is the elite who are able to manipulate the electoral system to their advantage and therefore the government is run by elite interests.<ref> Domhoff, G. William. Who Rules America?: Challenges to Corporate and Class Dominance. 6th Ed. McGraw-Hill: University of California, Santa Cruz, 2010</ref> FairVote implements policies through the categories of fair elections, fair representation and fair access to participation. These three methods allow a fairer electoral system which spreads the power and influence from the concentrated elite to the rest of the people. FairVote has implement a fair elections initiative which advocates for reforms in the election and nomination of president so that everyone has a say who they believe should be in power. Under the fair representation method, FairVote advocates for a new voting method and changes to the House of Representatives which would make the legislature more representative of the American people and not just the upper classes. Fair Vote also has set up an initiative to protect and enforce the voting rights of all American citizens which grants them equal influence in government. FairVote ensures that every participant has a voice and that the country is not just represented by Domhoff's elite class.<ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

How does FairVote's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?

Yates advocates for the importance of labor unions and the labor movement to become more a part of American government.<ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009, (205-207) </ref> The current American government two-tiered system which do not represent the needs and desires of all American people. FairVote advocates for a changes in the electoral system which would give the labor movement more chance in government. FairVote has come up with some ideas such as the "Instant Voting Runoff System," a system which ranks candidates by preference. This system allows for more candidates to run and encourages more voter participation. Therefore if used there could increase the labor turnout and participation in elections. This also allows the labor parties more of a chance for they will only have to raise funds for one election. FairVote has created systems like these that gives more incentive and more push for the labor movement to become a part of the government. <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

How will FairVote overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?

Efficiency Many of FairVote's reforms would increase the efficiency of the American government system. FairVote's system's advocates a more free and fair electoral system which simultaneously decreases the inefficiencies of voting. Systems such as the "Instant Runoff Voting" system decrease the amount on money spent on elections allowing more money to be spent elsewhere such as on social spending. FairVote is also advocating for a reform of the House of Representatives allowing more efficient and equal representation of the American people. The ideas that FairVote put forth decreases the inefficiencies such as money and time that are spent during the election process which allow these resources to be allocated elsewhere. <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

Fairness Bowles, Edwards and Roosevelt advocate for equality of opportunity and for the benefits in society to be equally distributed. In the current political system, the power is concentrated among a class of elites who hold power over the political and economic spheres. <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (64) </ref> The FairVote mission is to advocate for a more fair representation of the American people. Through a multiple of different reforms, FairVote seeks to redistribute and make the electoral process more equal rather than having the system concentrated. These reforms therefore redistribute the benefits and power in society on a more representative level. <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

Democracy Bowles, Edwards and Roosevelt determine that democracy consists of a civil rights and personal liberties and a equal access to political resources and influence. <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (66) </ref> In the current system, FairVote has determined that there are many problems within the current electoral system which inhibits the ability of everyone to partake in the electoral system. But FairVote puts forth ideas to make a more free and fair democratic system. They advocate for new election systems that distribute the power of the vote and put new ideas for voting systems such as the "Instant Runoff Voting" system. FirstVote also works to ensure the protection of voting rights of all American citizens. FairVote desires to strengthen the American democratic institution by proposing reforms for a more equal electoral system.<ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

Are the goals of FairVote's consistent with the ideals of social justice?

FairVote is consistent with the ideals of social justice for they promote the idea of equality of opportunity, access information, and participation in decision-making for all people.<ref> Doerr Center for Social Justice Education & Research. What is Social Justice? Saint Louis University. 2011. Web. 11 April 2011. http://www.slu.edu/x12275.xml</ref> FairVote utilizes three different levels; fair access to participation, fair elections, and fair representation, to achieve a more equal electoral democracy These measures allow more equality of opportunity by increasing and ensuring more fair electoral system so that every person's vote counts. FairVote seeks to spread access of information of electoral by bringing immense media attention to electoral reforms. Throughout many of it's plans for reform FairVote also is determined to increase voter participation and equality for all people. Therefore through the definition of social justice, FairVote has taken great strides to ensure equal voting opportunity and participation. <ref>Fair Vote. Fair Vote. FV, 2001. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.fairvote.org/</ref>

Independent Progressive Politics Network (IPPN)

Mission

Independent Progressive Politics Network. <ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref>

The Independent Progressive Politics Network (IPPN) is network of groups and individuals who strive to create an alternative political party or an alliance of political parties that seek to change the country by unifying people in opposition in various forms of discrimination such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and age discrimination. <ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref>

Goals

The Independent Progressive Politics Network seeks to: (1) Provide democracy throughout the IPPN (2) For the leadership of the IPPN to be accountable (3) To achieve a makeup in representation of parties whether it be on state, local, national levels and movements dealing surrounding a variety of issues such as gender, race, youth, disabilities, LGBTQ rights, etc (4) To be a body that provides solidarity with similar movements for justice (5) to provide a diverse representation of leadership for people of various races, ages, genders and employers (6) to improve communication and support among independent parties<ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref>

The Independent Progressive Politics Network put forth eleven ideals which they see will create unity. (1) People's Power: this goal is the belief that the American country is is need of movement for social and economic change by people who are compiled and organized into democratic groups. IPPN believes that through these democratic groups that the nation's issues will be uncovered and resolved. (2) Progressive Unity: IPPN believes that a movement for change in the social economic sphere through a diverse groups of people in a unified and national movement. (3) Economic Justice: IPPN believes in the creation of a fair, just and sustainable society which spreads basic economic rights for all such as the standard of living, the right to education, and equality of wealth. (4) Economic Democracy & Workers' Rights: IIPN encourages the labor movement and their right to organize, utilize collective bargaining, to strike, to receive a "living wage" and to work in a clean environment which is democratically run by the workers and not by capitalists. (5) Political Democracy: IPPN supports a reform of the current electoral system so that it represents all racial and political minorities and not just the elite. In order to make these changes IIPN proposes reforms so that the electoral system will benefit everyone. These reforms include equal media access to all candidates, public information on election spending, voting rights for immigrants, instant runoff voting system, and proportional representation. (6) Human Rights for All People: IIPN deems that equal rights should be granted for all and is against discrimination whether it be based on a variety of categories such as age, race, class, religion, gender, etc. They also support the women's right to choose and are against violence directed at women and children. (7) Equal Justice: IPPN believes that the current judicial system is flawed with discrimination which hurt racial minorities and lower classes. They call for a retraining and redevelopment of the police and judicial system where individuals are given punishment for their criminal activity and not their identity. They also seek a restructuring of the legal system whether it be lawyers, police or judges so that these individuals represent the larger makeup of the outside community. (8) Peace & Anti-Imperialism: IPPN rejects the current militaristic society and deems that the large amount of money that is put into military spending could be decreased and distributed into social spending. (9) Sustainable Environment: IPPN believes in the creation of a more sustainable democratic economy so that everyone benefits and not just a wealthy few. They desire to put into action a "Jobs for the Environment" program providing alternative energy saving and organic methods in opposition to the unsustainable economy today. (10) Opposition to Racism ad Sexism and Support for Diversity and Equality: IPPN believes incorporates race into every part of their organization and is in firm belief that everyone should be against racial and gender discrimination. (11) Political Independence: IPPN supports candidates who agree with the priniciples above who are outside of the elite dominate American two-tiered party system. They also support working class solidarity across international boundaries to inbit the power of multi-national corporations. <ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref>

Actions Taken

Independent Progressive Political Party Network incorporates a variety of people whether they be of different, color, gender of age into leadership positions in IPPN and alternative political party movement. IPPN also provides various outlets for information and further discussion such as a newspaper, web site, provide online discussion, hold conferences and engage in other activities.<ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. On their website they have released information for independent parties such as a manual on how to proceed for an effective electoral campaign. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref>

How does IPPNS's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?

Wealth Alperowitz idea of wealth is that it permeates its boundaries into the political sphere allowing those who have wealth to also have political clout. <ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (2)</ref>IPPN attempts to counteract this idea by creating a coalition of independant parties that seek to restructure the current political sphere so that the power is not only given to the wealthy. They want to redistribute the power to the American people, a belief that the nation was built upon and incorporate more diversity by race, ethnicity, gender, age, etc to do so. <ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref>

Liberty Alperowitz believes in this idea of "equal liberty" so that all not the few receive these benefits.<ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (39)</ref> IPPN serves to achieve this equal liberty by redistributing the power structure to all people.<ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref> Alperowitz also believes in the support for economic security and the support for community wide conditions to aid organizations which are essential for the community.<ref> Alperovitz, Gar. America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth Our Liberty, and Our Democracy. John Wiley & Sons, Inc:New Jersey, 2005 (40-41)</ref> IPPN serves to meet both of those standards through a variety of their goals. They seek provide the people with economic justice so that every person receives their right to earn a living wage and to live and work in acceptable conditions. On many levels IPPN also seeks to redistribute the composition of the representatives so that it serves the needs of its people.<ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref>

Democracy IPPN meshes with Alperowitz's ideals of democracy by serving to redistribute power on both local and a national level and deem both as imperative to a democratic change. IPPN adheres to its goal of Political Democracy which calls for the reconstruction of the democratic system so that it is actually representative of each areas constituents by their identity. IPPN also serves to combat Alperowitz's idea of unequal stratification by proposing a re modification and restructuring or the economic system making the workplace more democratic so that it is run by the workers and not by capitalist greed.<ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref>

How does IPPNS's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?

IPPN tries to counteract some of Domhoff ideas which say that the elite control the political and economic spheres by class domination.<ref> Domhoff, G. William. Who Rules America?: Challenges to Corporate and Class Dominance. 6th Ed. McGraw-Hill: University of California, Santa Cruz, 2010(210)</ref> IPPN is made up of independent parties that serves as an option to what Domhoff explains as the two-tiered party system that is backed by the elite. It's mission as this party is to be made up as a diverse group in order to serve the needs of it's constituents rather than the elite class. IPPN believes that it's makeup would be a more accurate depiction of the American citizens and that they would serve the needs of it's people. IPPN also was created to make a more equalized and representative power in economic as well as the political sphere by staying strong in their ideals of economic justice, by which ensures economic rights for all and also the ideal of a economic democracy which puts the control of the corporation into the hands of the people. IPPN incorporates Domhoff's idea that there is a need for a social movement and calls for a change within the entire political and democratic spheres so that they are more representative of the American People. <ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref>

How does IPPNS's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?

IPPN seeks to incorporate some of Yates' ideals of the power of the need for change in the workforce and the labor movement into their mission.<ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009. </ref> The first ideal that IPPN puts forth is economic justice which allots basic economic rights for everyone. IPPN has also fosters the idea of economic democracy & workers' rights which encourages people in the work place to be given and to use their right to organize and strike. It also encourages some ideals that Yates discusses such as to use collective bargaining so that workers can receive a wage that they can live off of and to work in a clean environment. IPPN also believes in worker solidarity and the worker collective ownership of the workplace.<ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref> Yates proposes the idea of a labor movement and labor party into the political sphere. <ref> Yates, Michael. Why Unions Matter, 2 ed. Monthly Review Press: New York, 2009. (134) </ref> IPPN seeks to combine the goals of the labor movement into it's goals to create unity and give rights to workers and also a variety of it's other constituents. <ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref>

How will IPPN overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?

Efficiency Many of IPPN's reforms propose new ideas which according to Bowles, Edwards and Roosevelt's definition of efficiency which relieves more resources and while providing necessary materials for the larger public. <ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (62) </ref> One such proposal for reform is the IPPN's promotion for a peaceful and non-militaristic society. Through this reform, IPPN pushes for less military spending which would provide more funds to be spent towards social spending. This reform would contribute to a more efficient society because it would put money towards funds towards those who actually need them and would get rid of current inefficient systems which are inhibiting the social spending towards the needy. Another example of an efficient reform would be IPPN's ideal of a "Sustainable Environment." This idea proposes that a more sustainable democratic economy to be created so that it benefits the larger population. Through this ideal IPPN also proposes a plan for "Jobs for the Environment," which would create more jobs which contribute to a sustainable environment and economy. These are just some examples of how IPPN contributes to BER's notions of efficiency. <ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref>

Fairness In order to be in a fair system, Bowles, Edwards and Roosevelt claim that there needs to be equality.<ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (64-65) </ref> IPPN promotes the importance of fairness in economic, political and social spheres. IPPN does this in these three different levels. In the economic sphere IPPN advocates for economic rights for all. In the political sphere, IPPN also advocates for anti-discrimination and for a more fair representation of minority groups involvement in government. On a social level, IPPN wishes to grant human rights for all people and for a restructuring of the judicial and criminal system so that it is based on unjust acts rather than discrimination of identity. This ideals put in place by IPPN strive to achieve a more fair political and socioeconomic structure.<ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref>

Democracy Bowles, Edwards and Roosevelt describe a “Democratic government is a way of organizing a government based on (1) accountability of officials through elections with widespread and equal voting rights and (2) civil liberties and personal freedoms. IPPN sees that the current democratic system as unjust and not based off of the majority of the American people's desires."<ref> Bowles, Samuel, Richard Edwards, and Frank Roosevelt. Understanding Capitalism: Competition, Command and Change. 3rd Ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2005 (557) </ref> Their goal is to make the entire democracy more representative of the diverse opinions and needs of the nation's people. In order to enact these changes IPPN encourages the idea to revamp the electoral system. Some of the reforms in the electoral system include equal media time and access, making election spending public information, voting rights for immigrants, an instant runoff voting system where deemed fit and proportional representation in legislative bodies. IPPN believes that these reforms will enact more change that the current American government needs to undertake inorder to meet BER's definition of democracy. <ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref>

Are the goals of IPPN's consistent with the ideals of social justice?

IPPN serves to create a more socially just world that adheres to the definition of social justice which states that there must be “the creation of just relationships at all system levels, the development of structures that provide for equality of opportunity, the facilitation of access to needed information, services and resources, and the support of meaningful participation in decision-making for all people.”<ref> Doerr Center for Social Justice Education & Research. What is Social Justice? Saint Louis University. 2011. Web. 11 April 2011. http://www.slu.edu/x12275.xml</ref> IPPN strives to meet this definition by serving as an independent party which would provide a more diverse and comprehensive representation to fit the needs of it's constituents. The organization encourages a restructuring of government systems so that there is more minority representation. IPPN fits the facilitation of information element by providing various forms of media which provide information and discussion about elections and the need to remodel the current economic system. IPPN also provides participation for all people by emphasizing the need to make a more diverse electorate. IPPN serves as an alternative party that is aligned with the ideals of social justice to serve the needs of the overall majority. <ref> Independent Progressive Politics Network. Independent Progressive Politics Network. IPPN. Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.ippn.org/ </ref>

Midwest Democracy Network(MDN)

Mission

Midwest Democracy Network <ref> The Midwest Democracy Network. "About the Network." Web. http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/about_the_network/ </ref>

The Midwest Democracy Network is a coalition of advocates for political reforms that are committed to the improvement of democratic institutions in Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan. All participants in the alliance believe in values that fundamentally support the functioning of a healthy democracy, especially those that embrace: "honesty, fairness, transparency, accountability, citizen participation, competition, respect for constitutional rights and the rule of law, and the public’s need for reliable information." <ref> The Midwest Democracy Network. "About the Network." Web. http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/about_the_network/ </ref> These values must be protected, supported and reinforce in order to enable the effectiveness of a democratic government. To achieve such ends, organizations that participate in the Midwest Democracy Network seek to: "reduce the influence of money in politics, keep our courts fair and impartial, promote open and transparent government, create fair processes for drawing congressional and legislative districts, guarantee the integrity of our election systems, promote ethical government and lobbying practices, and democratize the media." <ref> The Midwest Democracy Network. "About the Network." Web. http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/about_the_network/ </ref> The overall mission being to strengthen the democratic system in this region and promote the real values that democracy embodies and symbolizes in America.

Goals

The MDN has a number of shared goals but ultimately it wants to create a healthy democratic system by creating a sense of belonging, but also enabling the ingredients a healthy requires to be successful and function smoothly such as: trust and fairness that emerge from an open democratic process. For the MDN, building trust in a government requires transparency and accountability of the government. Trust also promotes fairness, freedom and choice as well as the sovereignty of the people and not the strength of money. If America is to be a healthy democracy, the freedoms of its citizens must be protected, enabled and respected. The freedoms of speech, to peaceful demonstration and to participate in the democratic process are essential to keep America turning towards corruption and tyranny. The power of America must always rest with the people and their knowledge should empower not only them but their decisions and participation in the democratic system. According to the MDN, all of these aspects should be implemented in government and society in order to maintain and flourish a healthy democratic system in America today. <ref> Midwest Democracy Network. "Shared Values." 2010 Web. http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/shared_values/ </ref>

The bedrock of a healthy democracy ultimately rests on: "a sense of belonging, which depends on careful nurturing of the bedrock democratic values of trust, fairness, choice, freedom, and knowledge. These shared values depend on: An open, accessible and trustworthy democratic process; A clean, transparent and accountable government; Sovereignty of people, not money; Competitive elections; Freedom to speak and the ability to be heard; Freedom to participate in the democratic process; Every citizen’s right to know." <ref> Midwest Democracy Network. "Shared Values." 2010 Web. http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/shared_values/ </ref>

Actions Taken

The MDN engages in a variety of campaigns to expose problems within the democratic system and attempts to either fix them or make them known so that the governmental system in place can take measures to change the undemocratic or corrupt practices.

MDN is engaged in Campaign Finance Reform and often exposes loopholes in legislation or policy with problems within campaign financing in their respective states. For example: a Network partner in Illinois just found a loophole in Illinois legislation that allows some donations to go unreported such as amounts that are less than $1,000. <ref> Midwest Democracy Network. "$500,000 in campaign contributions go undisclosed in Illinois". May 2011 Web. http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/news/article/500000_in_campaign_contributions_go_undisclosed_in_illinois/</ref>

MDN also examines the problems within Election Law & Voting Rights and have noted how "Recent elections have revealed glaring faults in election administration systems across the country. Oversight of election authorities must be strengthened to ensure they are nonpartisan in their administration, while promoting full participation in our electoral process." <ref> Midwest Democracy Network. "Election Law & Voting Rights". 2011 Web. http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/issues/election/ </ref> In order to combat a lack of voter participation and voting availability a non profit in Michigan called VOTE created a poster to be available to nonprofits to display in their offices to encourage people to vote in in both English and Spanish. VOTE will also be holding a seminar online about how nonprofits can increase their ability to increase voter participation during elections. <ref> Midwest Democracy Network. "Nonprofit VOTE releases new voter registration poster." April 2011 Web. http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/news/article/nonprofit_vote_releases_new_voter_registration_poster/ </ref>

MDN recognizes that there are some problems with our Ethics in Government, it believes that "The public’s trust in state government is on the decline. To achieve public trust and confidence in an ethical government, the public must be able to depend on safeguards against corruption and meaningful checks and balances against abuses of political power." <ref> Midwest Democracy Network. "Ethics in Government." 2011 Web. http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/issues/ethics/ </ref> As a result of this decline, the MDN strives to reinvigorate ethics in the government and to demonstrate it to the people so as to renew their faith in the government. In Wisconsin MDN took note of a voting discrepancy with regard uncounted votes from Waukesha County. Approximately 14,000 votes were not included in official tallies. Although in the actual campaign it made very little difference in terms of percentage points for a candidate it nonetheless is a problem that our government should avoid in the future. <ref> Midwest Democracy Network. "Wisconsin Supreme Court update: recount and investigation called for amid “found” votes" April 2011. Web. http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/news/article/wisconsin_supreme_court_update_recount_and_investigation_called_for_amid_fo/ </ref> It is undemocratic to sway the vote by removing a county's opinions in the election altogether the MDN does its best to expose injustices such as these.

Judicial Independence is also an issue of concern for the MDN. The MDN states that "The influence of money in politics has spread to the judicial system and has created a real threat to the public’s perception of independent and impartial judges. A fair and impartial judiciary is essential in maintaining our government’s system of checks and balances, and preserving our rights." <ref> Midwest Democracy Network. "Judicial Independence." 2010 Web. http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/issues/judicial/</ref> Recently more than 100 law professors signed a letter demanding action from Congress to establish 'manditory and enforceable' rules of ethics to Supreme Court Justices. It also requests more standards and rules with regard to the circumstances in which an individual justice can step aside from hearing a case or should recuse a case. <ref> Midwest Democracy Network. "Law profs seek Supreme Court ethics and recusal rules." Feb. 2011. Web http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/news/article/law_profs_seek_supreme_court_ethics_and_recusal_rules/</ref> MDN publicizes events like these in order to demonstrate progress towards the democratic system they desire to be in place that would more equally and accurately represent, protect and enable American citizens to fulfill their roles in society.

How does MDN's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?

Wealth

Liberty

Democracy

How does MDN's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?

How does MDN's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?

How will MDN overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?

Efficiency

Fairness

Democracy

Are the goals of MDN's consistent with the ideals of social justice?

The Labor Party

Mission

The mission of the Labor Party is to represent the workers in the nation, whose interests are often not represented in the workplace. The Labor Party came together to defend the interests and aspirations from multinational and corporate interests by offering an alternative vision of a just society that values the working people, their families and the communities they reside in. The Labor Party strives to keep the American Dream of fairness, justice and equal opportunity, alive and well by protecting and ensuring the interests of the workers are represented. <ref> Labor Party. "A Call for Economic Justice: The Labor Party's Program". 2006 Web. http://www.thelaborparty.org/a_progra.html </ref>

Goals

The Labor Party recognizes that all workers have the rights to : “a decent paying job and a decent place to live; to join a union freely without fear of being fired or other retribution; to strike without fear of losing [their] job; Not to be discriminated against because of our race, gender, ethnically, disability, national origin, or sexual orientation, at work or in our communities; to free, quality public education for ourselves and our children; to universal access to publicly-funded, comprehensive, quality health care for all residents; to retire at a decent standard of living after a lifetime or work; [and] to quality of life in our communities enhanced by a fully funded public sector.” <ref> Labor Party. "A Call for Economic Justice: The Labor Party's Program". 2006 Web. http://www.thelaborparty.org/a_progra.html </ref> As a result of the knowledge of these rights and what every worker deserves the Labor Party strives to support initiatives that work in their interests. The Labor Party will pursue and support movements to: “1) Amend the Constituion to guarantee everyone a job at a living wage; 2) Pay laid-off workers two months severance for every year of service; 3) Restore workers rights to organize, bargain and strike; 4) End Bigotry: An injury to one is an injury to all; 5) Guarantee universal Access to Quality Health Care; 6) More time for family and community; 7) Protect our families; 8) Ensure everyone access to quality public education; 9) stop corporate abuse of trade; 10) End corporate welfare as we know it; 11) Make the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes; 12) Revitalize the public sector; 13) End corporate domination; 14) Build a just transition movement to protect jobs and the environment; 15) Enforce safety and health regulation with worker inspectors; [and] 16) Reclaiming the workplace: job design, technology and skill.” <ref> Labor Party. "A Call for Economic Justice: The Labor Party's Program". 2006 Web. http://www.thelaborparty.org/a_progra.html </ref>

Actions Taken

South Carolina gains its own Labor Party: The South Carolina Labor Party was created by union members and activists on September 23rd, 2006 and elected AFL-CIO president Donna Dewitt and Willie Legette as co-chairs to the new state party. 19 local unions and labor councils within the state endorsed the foundation of the Labor Party. As a consequence, South Carolina workers have their own ballot box, which marks a new stage in the Labor Party's history. <ref> The Labor Party. "The Labor Party: Home Page." Web. http://www.thelaborparty.org/index.html </ref> Finally, after much waiting, the South Carolina elections commission certified the South Carolina Labor Party as a political party of the state on September 14th, which was only possible because of the 10,000 signatures from certifiable registered voters to support this addition to the South Carolina democratic system. This has enabled a potential to change the face of politics in the state if not the nation in the future. <ref> The Labor Party. "The Labor Party: Home Page." Web. http://www.thelaborparty.org/index.html </ref>

The Labor Party is also doing its best to get in the press and spread awareness. In South Carolina the Labor Party made the front page of the local Orangeburg Times and Democrat. (See article <ref> The Labor Party. "Labor Party Launches Petition Drive to Gain Ballot Access." Web. http://www.thelaborparty.org/a_orange.html </ref>) Using the media to spread the message of the importance of fair and equal labor is one way in which the Labor Party attempts to spread its perspective on how society needs to change but also by publishing articles for party members and for the public to read about the benefits of the initiatives they are attempting to achieve, they are furtherin the positive impact the party could have, if more people just believed in it. It has great potential and the party hopes to continue to spread and make that potential a reality in the work place.

How does the Labor Party's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?

Wealth: Although the Labor Party does not specifically address the wealth disparity within the United States, the Labor Party does attempt to equalize opportunity to work and to improve working conditions for employed citizens. By extension and this representation it will enable workers to have better benefits, make money and accrue wealth over time

Liberty : With regards to liberty, the Labor Party takes great initiative to enable more (to use Alperovitz's words) 'equal liberty' . By enabling underrepresented groups to vote the Labor party is creating an institutional and structural support for individual workers security, which is one of the three necessary inputs to work towards equal liberty.

Democracy: The Labor Party believes in promoting democracy as a whole, however has focused more on tackling the lack of labor rights on a democracy with a small d scale. The Labor Party is first attempting to build local democracy by promoting the admission of a labor party into the democratic system. In South Carolina this has become a reality, and at this point, the Labor Party is attempting to gain more traction nationally by expanding into other states to gain certification as a official political party throughout the nation. The mission and goals of the Labor Party is to fundamentally empower workers in relationship to the 'over-empowered' corporations and redistribute the power amongst citizens to a more equal paradigm in American capitalism.

As Alperovitz suggests, the Labor Party is moving towards greater equality by developing an institution to represent the worker on behalf of the large public and by nurturing the idea of rebuilding democracy in the United States by starting with a community perspective and small d mentality to grow and form a new big D democracy in the future. The Labor Party is taking small steps towards this change to reorient America's capitalist system and providing other opportunities for future change.

How does the Labor Party's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?

With regards to Domhoff's ideas an reforms, the Labor Party embodies the change that he encourages to take place to improve America and move away from corporate dominated wealth, power and democracy. The goal of the Labor Party is to enable the redistribution of power throughout the United States from the wealth and power disparity the United States currently exhibits. The Labor Party attempts to empower individual workers through a representative party that encourages unionization. Although the Labor Party does not have a way to penetrate the upper class and power elite that control ultimate political parties and elections (as Domhoff suggests) the Labor party continues to attempt to penetrate the government on behalf of the little guy. Domhoff states that domination is "the institutionalized outcome of great distributive power" and the Labor Party is attempting to redistribute such power so that people other than the upper class can be represented and have their interests on the table for discussion and change as well. <ref> Domhoff, G. William. Who Rules America?: Challenges to Corporate and Class Dominance. 6th Ed. McGraw-Hill: University of California, Santa Cruz, 2010(210)</ref>

How does the Labor Party's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?

In his book Why Unions Matter, he encourages a push for labor politics. The Labor Party does just that but through a political entity dedicated solely to the working citizen, their rights and their safety on the job. Although labor politics has yet to become a major competitor in the political sphere, the Labor Party is attempting to move towards changing that status quo. The Labor Party supports unionization, labor representation and collective bargaining (which is ultimately what the Labor Party hopes to achieve better conditions profession-wide for working citizens) on a nation-wide scale. Yates also discusses the need for laboring citizens to have an ideology that provides them with an identity, and in the formation of the Labor Party, such an ideology and list of goals exists to represent and fight for the rights, equality, safety, health and lack of discrimination in the workplace.

How will the Labor Party overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?

Efficiency: Although the Labor party does not address the level of output produced from a certain level of work, it does address the concern of performing such tasks in a safe environment. If the assembly line is going so fast that workers are getting injured quite frequently, then that is something that the Labor Party would address but also the unions set up within that business or corporation. One aspect of efficiency that is often ignored is the effort labor requires. The Labor Party strives to represent the working people and their interests across the board including the dilemma of the company to sacrifice workers for the price of efficiency.

Fairness: The idea of fairness will always be a controversial issue especially with regard to the distribution of wealth within a capitalist society. Bowles, Edwards and Roosevelt maintain that a truly fair economic system would share and distribute the burdens and benefits of society equitably. Although the Labor Party does not pursue fairness along these lines, instead it strives to create an equal opportunity for workers to gain a living wage at their workplaces. <ref> The Labor Party. "A Call for Economic Justice." Web. http://www.thelaborparty.org/a_progra.html </ref> The Labor Party does not want to disrupt the wealth distribution but instead wants those that are often taken advantage of by the corporations and elites, to have a good job that pays well, has benefits and allows each worker enough money to have some leisure time to promote their own health.

Democracy: The Labor Party is parallel to one of aspects of Bowles, Edwards and Roosevelt's aspects of democracy. The Labor Party seeks to enable people to vote for their rights as workers and ensure labor civil rights and personal liberties are guaranteed. By enabling individuals to examine politics through a certain lens allows people to see just how their personal liberties are not necessarily represented in today's politics with regard to labor and the workplace. In an ideal democratic society democracy would exist not only in the government but also in businesses, corporations and in the economy. The Labor Party understands its commitment to democracy and that the struggle it has taken on puts it in a position against the corporate elite that will fight very hard to maintain their status quo of domination over the workers. The Labor Party wants to continue this fight in order to provide their children with a better future than they had and to hopefully influence not only places where the Labor Party resides but also areas where they have yet to become strong. " Real democracy includes all of us. We work in all kinds of occupations, and come from all racial and ethnic backgrounds. We are women as well as men. Every time an employer pays a woman less for the same or comparable work, we are all paid less. Every time a minority worker is denied a decent job or promotion, we are all denied promotion. When immigrants are scapegoated and denied full labor rights and civil rights, we are all scapegoated and denied our rights. We favor full rights for all, and we will tolerate no discrimination or other form of injustice based on race, religion, gender, ethnicity, disability, national origin, age, creed, sexual orientation, language, or political beliefs." <ref> The Labor Party. "A Call for Economic Justice." Web. http://www.thelaborparty.org/a_progra.html </ref> The Labor Party wants to make true and pure democracy become a reality and not just something America strives for.

Are the goals of the Labor Party's consistent with the ideals of social justice?

The goals and mission of the Labor party is consistent with the ideals of social justice. The Labor Party struggles to ensure the rights of workers are represented and represents the desires, wants and needs of the labor force in the United States. They fight in the interest of the hard working American and enable those citizens to examine their economic system, their community, their government and their country and gauge how successful the current systems and mechanisms in place are either successful or how they should be changed in order to benefit the majority of the population. The Labor party believes in the creation of a system that provides an equality of opportunity for all workers regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation or any other factor. The Labor Party recognizes that facilitation to reach this point in American democracy needs a great deal of elbow grease, however that is exactly what it is working so hard towards. It is attempting to facilitate and "support meaningful participation in [the] decision making [process] for all people." <ref> Doerr Center for Social Justice Education & Research. What is Social Justice? Saint Louis University. 2011. Web. 11 April 2011. http://www.slu.edu/x12275.xml</ref> Regardless of what the labor is or the type of person working the Labor Party wants to represent their interests in the political sphere so that their work can be a little easier and so workers receive the equality, benefits, compensation and treatment of respect they deserve.

The New Party

Mission

Goals

Actions Taken

How does the New Party's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?

Wealth

Liberty

Democracy

How does the New Party's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?

How does the New Party's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?

How will the New Party overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?

Efficiency

Fairness

Democracy

Are the goals of the New Party's consistent with the ideals of social justice?

The Working Families Party (WFP)

Mission

Goals

Actions Taken

How does the WFP's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?

Wealth

Liberty

Democracy

How does the WFP's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?

How does the WFP's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?

How will the WFP overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?

Efficiency

Fairness

Democracy

Are the goals of the WFP's consistent with the ideals of social justice?

References

Wiki markup cheatsheet

Website Created by Sam Baxendale, Mary Ann Eggers, and Elyce Nollette for Professor Barone's American Capitalism and Social Justice course ad Dickinson College.

@@ Line 249: / Line 249: @@
 MDN recognizes that there are some problems with our '''''Ethics in Government''''', it believes that "The public’s trust in state government is on the decline. To achieve public trust and confidence in an ethical government, the public must be able to depend on safeguards against corruption and meaningful checks and balances against abuses of political power." <ref> Midwest Democracy Network. "Ethics in Government." 2011 Web. http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/issues/ethics/ </ref> As a result of this decline, the MDN strives to reinvigorate ethics in the government and to demonstrate it to the people so as to renew their faith in the government. In Wisconsin MDN took note of a voting discrepancy with regard uncounted votes from Waukesha County. Approximately 14,000 votes were not included in official tallies. Although in the actual campaign it made very little difference in terms of percentage points for a candidate it nonetheless is a problem that our government should avoid in the future. <ref> Midwest Democracy Network. "Wisconsin Supreme Court update: recount and investigation called for amid “found” votes" April 2011. Web. http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/news/article/wisconsin_supreme_court_update_recount_and_investigation_called_for_amid_fo/ </ref> It is undemocratic to sway the vote by removing a county's opinions in the election altogether the MDN does its best to expose injustices such as these.
+'''''Judicial Independence''''' is also an issue of concern for the MDN. The MDN states that "The influence of money in politics has spread to the judicial system and has created a real threat to the public’s perception of independent and impartial judges. A fair and impartial judiciary is essential in maintaining our government’s system of checks and balances, and preserving our rights." <ref> Midwest Democracy Network. "Judicial Independence." 2010 Web. http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/issues/judicial/</ref> Recently more than 100 law professors signed a letter demanding action from Congress to establish 'manditory and enforceable' rules of ethics to Supreme Court Justices. It also requests more standards and rules with regard to the circumstances in which an individual justice can step aside from hearing a case or should recuse a case. <ref> Midwest Democracy Network. "Law profs seek Supreme Court ethics and recusal rules." Feb. 2011. Web http://www.midwestdemocracynetwork.org/index.php/news/article/law_profs_seek_supreme_court_ethics_and_recusal_rules/</ref> MDN publicizes events like these in order to demonstrate progress towards the democratic system they desire to be in place that would more equally and accurately represent, protect and enable American citizens to fulfill their roles in society.
 ===How does MDN's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?===

Political Action SP11: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:48, 10 May 2011

Social Justice

Summary of Authors' Essential Points

Gar Alperovitz

Alperovitz's Ideals

Alperovitz's Reforms

G. William Domhoff

Domhoff's Ideas By Chapter

Domhoff's Reforms

Yates

Bowles, Edwards & Roosevelt (BER)

Project Vote

Mission & Goals

Actions Taken

How does Project Vote's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?

How does Project Vote's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?

How does Project Vote's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?

How will Project Vote overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?

Are the goals of Project Vote consistent with the ideals of social justice?

Center for Voting and Democracy (FairVote)

Mission & Goals

Actions Taken

How does FairVote's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?

How does FairVote's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?

How does FairVote's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?

How will FairVote overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?

Are the goals of FairVote's consistent with the ideals of social justice?

Independent Progressive Politics Network (IPPN)

Mission

Goals

Actions Taken

How does IPPNS's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?

How does IPPNS's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?

How does IPPNS's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?

How will IPPN overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?

Are the goals of IPPN's consistent with the ideals of social justice?

Midwest Democracy Network(MDN)

Mission

Goals

Actions Taken

How does MDN's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?

How does MDN's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?

How does MDN's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?

How will MDN overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?

Are the goals of MDN's consistent with the ideals of social justice?

The Labor Party

Mission

Goals

Actions Taken

How does the Labor Party's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?

How does the Labor Party's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?

How does the Labor Party's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?

How will the Labor Party overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?

Are the goals of the Labor Party's consistent with the ideals of social justice?

The New Party

Mission

Goals

Actions Taken

How does the New Party's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?

How does the New Party's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?

How does the New Party's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?

How will the New Party overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?

Are the goals of the New Party's consistent with the ideals of social justice?

The Working Families Party (WFP)

Mission

Goals

Actions Taken

How does the WFP's initiatives parallel Alperovitz's thoughts?

How does the WFP's initiatives parallel Domhoff's ideas and reforms?

How does the WFP's initiatives parallel Yates' ideas and reforms?

How will the WFP overcome the shortcomings of Capitalism revealed by Bowles, Edwards, Roosevelt?

Are the goals of the WFP's consistent with the ideals of social justice?

References

Navigation menu

Search