|
John --
All of
America has been rocked by the scourge of gun violence, and perhaps no
group more than Gen Z. The rise in school shootings over the past two
decades has forced young Americans to face firsthand the fears and
anxieties surrounding this appallingly familiar problem, with little
of the resources or power to change or improve the
situation.
This
week, more than a thousand Nashville-area students used the power of their collective voices
to demand stronger gun laws, following the horrific mass shooting at a
Nashville private school on March 27. The students walked out of their
schools and assembled outside the Tennessee State Capitol, chanting,
“Do your job!” and “This is what democracy looks like!”
They
weren’t alone. They were joined by other citizens with the same
concerns who’ve been left frustrated over a lack of action. Tennessee Forward Party State Lead Shannon Rasmussen was one of
them. From the steps of the Statehouse, she said:
“People of every cohort, every background, every race, and every
political leaning are working together in Nashville to make their
voices heard. Forward is leveraging our recent experience in the
General Assembly and our proximity to the movement to educate people
about how they can be involved. We’re working to find the
representatives who want to solve problems—and to take note of those
who don’t. We’re listening to the voices around us and celebrating the
civic engagement that’s happening, because it’s the only thing that
will change our broken system.”
Well
said, Shannon!
But
instead of working on the pressing issue of gun violence, the
Tennessee legislature instead voted today to
expel two Democratic House members for interrupting a floor
session and using a bullhorn to lead chants for gun control.
It marks just the fourth time
since the end of the Civil War that House members have expelled their
elected colleagues.
Now, we
understand and have the utmost respect for democratic rules and norms.
But when they’re exploited solely to hurt the other “team,”
at the expense of doing the
people’s business, we have
a problem with that. It’s that kind of partisan gamesmanship that
doesn’t move us Forward.
Meanwhile, in Florida (where the Forward Party is now official!), Leslie Villegas testified against a pair of state bills,
astutely noting:
“Nearly 100% of electoral districts in Florida are
uncompetitive, guaranteeing that only one party can win the district,
and many candidates run unopposed. Most of you are here today only for
this reason, including the leadership of this committee. Voting you
out is not possible. I ask you to consider and respect the majority of
your constituents.”
Tell ‘em
like it is, Leslie!
Forwardists are out there making their mark. Got a similar story
to share? Let us know.
A
word about 2024
One more very important bit of Forward
Party news: This week, our Executive Board formally announced that we
will not run a presidential candidate next year. Our
plans as an organization are focused on the longer project of
strengthening our democracy through competition, and we can't afford
to be distracted from that goal. For our full statement on this
decision, please click
here.
OTHER NEWS &
VIEWS
RCV takes a step forward in
VT
The Vermont Senate has
advanced a bill that would implement ranked-choice voting in Vermont
for presidential primary elections beginning in 2028. A study
committee comprised of lawmakers, representatives from the Secretary
of State’s Office, municipal governments, and other stakeholders will
convene to take a closer look at how widespread RCV would operate in
Vermont. The bill faces one more Senate vote before moving to the
House. —VT Digger
More ranked-choice voting
news:
Open primaries worked in
Chicago
“In Chicago’s
recent mayoral primary election, the use of an open primary system
allowed for a more diverse and inclusive candidate pool, resulting in
a more competitive election, with a wider range of candidates vying
for the mayorship. In an open primary system, all registered voters
are allowed to participate in the primary election, regardless of
their political affiliation. In short, open primaries ensured that all
Chicagoans have a say in who (or who won’t) the next mayor could be.”
—Dariel Cruz Rodriguez in The Fulcrum
More open primaries
news:
WI liberal wins state Supreme
Court seat
Wisconsinites
on Tuesday elected Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz as their
newest justice on the state Supreme Court. She defeated conservative
justice Dan Kelly in a contentious race that could have major
ramifications for policy in the state going forward. Wisconsin has
some of the most gerrymandered electoral maps in the country, but the
new majority could change that. Litigants will almost certainly bring
a gerrymandering case, and given the justices' 10-year terms, the
liberal court will have a say over not only the current maps but also
the maps drawn after 2030. —Reason
More gerrymandering
news:
We can solve our political
divisions
“We live in a
country of incredible diversity; our upbringings and experiences
define our opinions on politics, policies, and the country we want to
live in. We have a tremendous amount to learn from each other.
Unfortunately, prominent politicians and news outlets profit off
dividing us across cultural lines. Political parties raise money off
painting the policies of the other side of the aisle as a plot to turn
America into an apocalyptic hellscape. The manufactured outrage,
cultural division, and social media-incited breakdown in constructive
dialogue make America seem irreparably divided. It may sound naive to
say this, but we agree on more than it appears.” —Ryan Bernsten in
The Fulcrum
Since the
Forward Party launched, we’re sure you’ve heard the negative
criticisms lobbed our way. We don’t take it personally. Change is
hard, and we get it. If it ever gets you down, remind yourself of
this: it’s not about us. What the critics are actually reacting to is
the faulty system that relegates anyone new or different to “spoiler”
status. Then hold your head up high and keep moving
Forward.
All the
best,
The Forward Party Team
P.S. If
you haven’t seen it yet, please check out our amazing new website!
|
