VoteKat.org

ok folks
i’m not one for conspiracies nor to talk about what i’m about to, it’s scary and i wouldn’t want to drive people away from their citizen duties of political engagement.
however, it’s time to lay it down.
cointelpro still exists in some new manifestation w/some new agency and name
i’ve just kept doing my patriotic duty regardless
of the technological, psychological, physical, etc. attacks.
i’ve known, since Shaq 7 (animal rights activists) in early 2000s were grand juried, that my phone conversations are being recorded due to my close association w/EF! comrades who, when subpoena’d, sat and listened to his phone conversations being played in court.
i know Bill Holloway’s (Austin) bodyguard was out of town for family emergency when Bill was found dead in his home two weeks after another HUD corruption activist was found dead of the same cause in Houston.
there’s more but i’m skipping the email, internet, job, phone difficulties i’ve tolerated and cussed about for over a decade, they’ve escalated recently….
it took me a long while to recover after Bill’s death…and i didn’t “do” anything for what was there to do?
how else do u fight these nameless bastards except to keep going ..and i did.
i’ve run against a former HUD director’s wife when no one else credible would.
i’ve run against the Godfather of Bexar county politics when no one else credible would.
and i say none of this for props…it’s where i live and how i get media/public attention for Green Party ideas.
i got sued for gaining ballot access (promise to Bill no less) for associating with “republicans,” it is well known that i work w/anyone to further the cause of actually obtaining freedom and democracy.
it’s theoretically possible my car accident was not an accident, based on several factors.
i brushed the thot aside until now, in no small part due to the extent of my injuries.
so now i’m telling you all about this stuff i’ve kept close, cause it’s “crazy talk” to anyone who hasn’t experienced the harrassment.  i even feel crazy saying this out loud, but public space is the best place to voice one’s deepest fears, for if they are more than a result of paranoia, you are all witnesses in advance.
my only protection is in being public about this and even then…
this is not meant to frighten or worry anyone, but fyi and my peace of mind.  thx for listening, will keep posting and raging against the machine

in some places “street heat” has already been shut down (like Texas) where protesting costs money and requires a permit that is not cheap and can be refused (1st amendment doesn’t fly in the 5th Circuit Court) Besides, most ppl aren’t ready to break the law yet, as we’ve found since the local crackdown in 2006.

We need new strategies for these times. what they are will likely come from a younger generation…think outside the box, what hasn’t been possible or done before?

I personally would like to see a concerted organizing effort focused around election day that does one of three things depending on the law in that state regarding elections focused mainly on those who don’t vote as those who do are too set in their ways or will pick up on this movement and join in.

Occupy Government/Occupy Elections

The purpose is to have a third world country voter turnout on election day. With the purpose of Occupying the Elections combined with a Election Day Strike – don’t go to work, go to the polls and take people with you so there is a protest style contingent outside every poll where “poll workers” would be educating on the strategy and why, hopefully gathering others to the “protest” before or after they vote.

3 types of states:
1. those who have third parties (or can get ballot access over the summer – go petition now)
2. those who don’t but have a write-in option (some like TX have both, but write-ins have to file in advance to be counted)
3. those who have neither

In each one the common thread is setting up phone/email/txt banking through gathering contact information (NationBuilder has great software at somewhat reasonable price) from now until election day.

In states #1, eligible voters would vote for anyone but a D & R for President (and elsewhere of course)

In #2 states, eligible voters vote for “official” write-in candidates where filed, or if allowed, “unofficial” ones

In both cases the folks outside would do an exit poll – a vital component to ensuring more accurate results get published far and wide

in #3 States, the only option would be a boycott – don’t vote, and a tally (like exit poll) kept of those who come to boycott and poll workers would encourage those coming to vote to boycott and why.

If successful, the results WOULD do many things, 1. show the world that we do value democracy as those in other countries who are willing to die for the right to vote, 2. get a more accurate accounting of vote counts, 3. send a message that will be unavoidable, and 4. elect people to office who aren’t part of the corporate duopoly.

If you want to participate in the Green convention process, which is where you get to vote for candidates, etc., in Bexar County, then keep reading.

Precinct conventions are next Tuesday March 13 at 7pm in my driveway (ADA accessible) at 1522 W Elsmere Pl, 78201. If you want to be a voting delegate at the County Convention, we need to know by the time of the precinct convention so that we can nominate you. You do not have to attend the precinct convention to be nominated for the county convention. This is all that really has to happen at the precinct convention. Email bcgp@bexargreens.org or call 210-471-1791 and leave a message if you want to be a county delegate but won’t be able to attend precinct conventions.

If you want to vote on candidates to be placed on the general election ballot, you must be an elected delegate to the county, district or state conventions.

The County convention will be March 17 from 1-3p in the meeting room at Estela’s Mexican Restaurant, 2200 W Martin. Here candidates whose districts are fully in Bexar County will be nominated (or not), and delegates to the district and state conventions will be elected. To repeat, to vote here you must have been elected at the precinct conventions on March 13. You do not have to be present to be elected as a delegate to the district or state conventions.

District conventions will be March 24 and we’re still figuring out which other counties we need to meet with and how we’ll accomplish that, we’re hoping to use technology here. Candidates whose districts cross county lines will be nominated (or not) at these conventions.

State convention will be June 9-10. It’s looking like it may be in San Antonio if we can find a location. Here is where statewide candidates are nominated or not, presidential electors are elected, delegates to the national presidential nominating convention are elected, state officers are elected, national committee delegates are elected, and any bylaw changes are voted on. Platform changes are voted on in odd years only.

If you want to participate at ANY level and can’t attend the convention where you would be elected, then you MUST tell us BEFORE the convention date.

Email bcgp@bexargreens.org or call 210-471-1791 and leave a message as to what you want to be and how to contact you.

i’ve been working to update our local Green Party site, please check it out and comment!

That’s right folks, step right up & oust the corporate-tyranny

Deal only lasts until Jan. 2, 2012 at 5pm

Won’t u occupy the ballot for free?

More info – choose ‘Occupy Ballot’ on menu

A suggested parallel Occupation to Wall Street, Together – A Proposal in Progress (Heard NY is working on the same thing):

Challenging the  system has to be multifaceted.

So one facet that can be added, to the direct action in the streets, is running for office against every elected official, in 2012, who is not for the people.

The goal is to expose all of those who have been making policy decisions that are counter to the aims of the OWS movement by using the platforms given to candidates to talk about issues.

This is done by getting on the ballot. There are many avenues, some easier than others.

One way is to file as a D or R in the primaries (in TX before Dec 11) and challenge them there, but the scope of influence is likely to be low reward for effort.

Another way is to be a write-in, very little impact in most places, but best last resort due to late filing deadlines!

Another option is to find another party that is in line with your beliefs and has ballot access and file with them.

In Texas, the Green Party and Libertarian Parties have ballot access.

For both, you’d have to file by Jan. 2 to be on the convention ballot.  In the Green Party, you have to win against ‘none of the above’ to get on the General Election Ballot.

Either way, you’d have all this time to talk about your issues in venues of all sorts just by virtue of being a candidate.  It’s another tool in the toolbox.

It ads a couple of forms, over the course of a year, to your already existing activism, and, if you choose, gives you a tax-free, fundraising mechanism to fund your activism.

We’ve see the Police* around the States, and in other countries, use riot gear on those who are calling out for the end of rule by the “1%.”

There is still a glimmer of light coming through that hole being held open by Occupiers and their associated movements.

Let’s make it bigger and fully open the blinds.

Media and civic organizations take candidates seriously if they are serious and talking about issues.

This is a way to get more voices and choices heard during what can become a very exciting election year!

This is yet another Venue to reach the the 47% who haven’t yet heard that the time is NOW.

Filing Deadline in TX is Jan 2, 2012 for the Nov. 2012 General Election, December 12, 2011 for D&R Primaries.

Regardless of your vehicle of ballot access, we do recommend filing for an office that has the ability to change the laws that affect the issue(s) you are most passionate about!

More details available upon request, or by a search.

*Since it was violent, I chose not to link to the scenes of riot police attacking residents on the streets in Oakland, and other cities.

An Intro Pitch for Why to Consider the Green Party as your vehicle:

The Green Party Platform speaks to the very issues being brought forth by the OWS movement, with which we have been and do stand en solidaridad.

The whole point of the Green Party in the United States is to give justice advocates an electoral reach as a last ditch effort to prevent the fascist (corporate-controlled government) from finally taking hold so we can all create a better system in a Decentralized, Consensus-Based, Egalitarian, Non-Violent and Participatory Government that enables all Nature to thrive for Seven Generations or more.

So, think this sounds worth investigating, please check the state and/or national Green Party platform on issues. If you find yourself in agreement with all or most of it, we welcome you to consider using the Green vehicle to file as a candidate.

What race did the Green Party spoil in 2010?

If you are really concerned, help us convince someone to file legislation & lobby to get a law in 2011 that implements Approval Voting (scorevoting.org) and this will never-ever be a problem we have to waste bandwidth on.

Approval Voting is a simple method of preferential voting (you get multiple choices for each race) where you can express both approval and disapproval of each candidate.  It works with any voting mechanism. It is more democratic and representative of the entire community.

**Revision 12/16/11: after reviewing voting methods more, I recommend Range Voting instead of ‘Approval’ voting.

*a corporate website promoting the Democratic Party that is done as an independent expenditure, made possible with thanks to “corporate personhood” rulings by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCotUS) that make money equivalent to free speech and declare that corporations have the same rights as you and I, including the right to vote with dollars.

After the polls close, join Green Party peeps and kat campaign volunteers and supporters tonight at The Cove, 606 W Cypress.

Still time to volunteer, call 210-471-1756 Nicolas or 210-471-1791 kat

The Bexar Elections Department web site offers two ways to search for
your polling place on November 2nd.

WHERE TO VOTE SEARCH BY ADDRESS
This search uses street address to locate the assigned voting location
for an address.

http://apps.bexar.org/cfdocs/electionspublic/Where2Vote.cfm

WHERE TO VOTE SEARCH BY VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION
This search uses your birth date to find the voting location that the
Voter Registration office has on record.

http://apps.bexar.org/cfdocs/electionspublic/WhereIVote.cfm

The 1st link is best if you haven’t moved recently and have a current
blue voter registration card. The 2nd link is best if you have moved
and/or haven’t voted recently. It will let you determine at which
address you are registered and therefore, where you need to vote on
Election Day.

Both links will show you a map of the polling place location and give
you a link for a precinct-specific sample ballot.

Joel Mayer
Bexar County Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrar