Paul Hosse’s Post

Why can’t we take lobbyists and the PAC money out of our elections? Why can’t we give all politicians the same amount to run on and see who is the better manager? Like a game show. We can tune in each week before the vote:) All this PAC money is corrupting the government more. While the people who really need help have no influence other than their vote. We can’t fix a government for the people if the corporations and lobbyists own it. Fix democracy. #fixdemocracy

We are coming upon an incredibly significant election that will deeply affect the futures of most organizations in the social impact sector. If your organization has not started contingency planning, you should. Let's learn from the past and be prepared for whatever the future may bring. https://lnkd.in/gwxaF22T

The 2024 Presidential election is between two candidates who are both old and unpopular (and one is a felon). How can we build a community that looks beyond the two-party system and supports candidates who are truly serious about our country's future? The Independent National Coalition aims to elect working-class Americans to Congress, laying the groundwork for this vital movement. Will you join us in creating a better future? #2024Election #TwoPartySystem #IndependentCandidates #WorkingClass #PoliticalReform #FutureOfAmerica #JoinTheMovement https://lnkd.in/gXpdbc-v

Was already really enjoying this piece from Frank Soodeen before I realised I was quoted - then obviously it went up several further notches in my estimation... :) In all seriousness though, its a really excellent exploration of the methods and concepts we use to think about 'public opinion', how and why this has changed in recent years, and how their limitations and unequal availability impacts on our current politics. I'm hoping to write something myself soon that touches on some of these topics, and this does so much of the heavy lifting its going to make that task much easier. #polling #politics #narrative #publicopinion

🗳️Voting in the United States has a long history of exclusion as the first people able to vote in our young nation were only white land-owning men. In our history, through hard won fights we have expanded the right to vote to include: ·        Black men in the 15th Amendment in 1870 ·        American women in the 19th Amendment in 1920 ·        Elimination of Jim Crow era poll taxes designed to exclude Black folks with the 24th Amendment in 1964 The struggle to vote for Native Americans was fought state by state, during the 1960's. With the end of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943, Chinese immigrants and their US born children become to first Asian Americans eligible to gain citizenship and vote. In 1971, the 26th Amendment, lowering the voting age for all elections to 18. In addition, in 1984, the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act was passed, requiring accessibility in polling places. We still struggle in this country with voter suppression tactics, including violence and intimidation. Recently, ballot boxes in Vancouver WA, were targeted with incendiary devices designed to destroy ballots that were cast. Governor Inslee has activated the National Guard to be on standby as a precautionary measure. Now is a good time to check your ballot status to ensure it has been accepted, if you’ve already voted in Washington state. Track your ballot at VoteWA.gov. One thing I learned is that the system doesn’t allow the use hyphens in names. Initially my name did not show up! I guessed that my hyphenated name could be an issue for the system. I tested this by entering my last name without hyphens, and finally I could verify my registration and status of my ballot. This is another opportunity for our technology systems to be designed to better meet all our needs. For all those who can, please vote. Honor our history and our future. Every vote counts.  

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to reconcile the current political landscape with the basic tenets of our democracy—chief among them, that we have only one sitting president at a time. Yet, despite this clear constitutional fact, a troubling dynamic persists: former President Donald Trump, who no longer holds any official power, continues to exert an outsized influence over our political system. This raises a fundamental question: Are we too corrupt or too afraid to publicly and consistently affirm that Donald Trump is not the President? Despite his status as a former leader, we witness numerous politicians and public figures making regular pilgrimages to Mar-a-Lago, seeking his approval or aligning their policies to his preferences. This behavior creates the impression that Trump is still a central authority, even though he no longer holds office. The irony is profound. Our democratic system is designed to prevent the concentration of power in a single individual, particularly when that individual has demonstrated a willingness to challenge the very foundations of the system itself. Donald Trump attempted to undermine the 2020 election and continues to suggest that he alone should dictate the future of our democracy, a stance that is both dangerous and divisive. Moreover, Trump’s legal and ethical record further complicates the situation. He is a convicted felon, an adjudicated sexual offender, and has been widely discredited for spreading misinformation and falsehoods. Given these facts, the continued deference to him from certain politicians and leaders is both perplexing and concerning. Why do so many choose to follow, or at least not oppose, a man with such a track record? The answer likely lies in a mix of political self-interest and fear. Many politicians seem to believe that their electoral success depends on Trump’s approval or his base’s support, while others may simply fear the backlash of challenging him. This dynamic has left our country in a state where one former leader, whose attempts to subvert our democratic process are well-documented, continues to exert influence with little pushback. The solution is straightforward: our leaders need to fulfill their duties to the American public by upholding the principles of democracy, rather than catering to the whims of a former president. Stop answering his calls. Stop giving him free publicity. And if there’s anything left to discuss about Donald Trump, let it be the ways in which he represents a version of leadership that the country has already rejected—and the consequences of ignoring that reality. #NotThePresident #DoYourJob #OnePresidentAtATime #StopTheMadness #DemocracyNotAutocracy #TimeToMoveOn #ConvictedFelonDictatingDemocracy #AnswerToNoOneAsked

Tomorrow, Americans head to the polls to make their voices heard in a pivotal moment for our democracy. Business leaders know a fair and transparent election is essential to a thriving economy. That's why I'm joining other business voices to call for a safe and accessible election—and patience while every single vote is counted. Each vote matters, and together, they shape our future. Let's stand together to protect our democratic foundations, because our future depends on it. # ProtectTheVote #Vote https://bit.ly/3C9ErsK

American elections should be driven by voters, not wealthy special interests. It's time to end the flood of dark money in our elections. The Democracy for All Amendment empowers Congress and states to create fair campaign finance rules, ensuring voters—not special interest groups-determine American elections. This amendment would establish the Constitutional right to regulate campaign finances, reducing the undue influence of the wealthiest Americans, corporations and special interests. Only we have the power to fix our broken system. It's time to act NOW! https://lnkd.in/gvvpE38h

What to understand the insanity of the American election? Then read this interview I did with the brilliant Branko Marcetic which everything is explained. https://t.co/ZBYYrvLDGi

You say you don’t “do politics.” But you do. Some see voting as the quintessential act of politics, but those who don't vote are still involved in the political process. Politics isn't just: Voters going to the polls. Volunteers participating in elections. Politicians in DC passing legislation. It’s also: Local organizations tackling issues. Neighbors settling disputes. Families making decisions about finances, what to eat, and where to go on vacation. Politics is about how we, as citizens, build relationships and rules to manage and resolve conflicts with minimal force. As the late economist Steve Horwitz wrote, “Every time we engage in the conversation about what is wrong with the world we live in and how we might make it better, wealthier, more just, or more peaceful, we are being political.” According to political economist Vincent Ostrom, politics is about constructing rule-governed relationships that prevent and resolve conflicts in ways that minimize coercion through conversation, collaboration, and consent. So, elections and voting aren't really what politics is all about. They’re just a small piece of a much bigger picture. In fact, voting might be the least important and least effective form of political action. Read more in Steven Horwitz’s article ‘Don’t Do Politics? Think Again.’: https://lnkd.in/grGZPR-b