Whereas, with the elimination of the linkage of free speech and the ability to purchase the means of communicating that speech, the Internet becomes the most logical public space to allow the free flow of information on issues of public interest which does not involve any immediate cost or ability to use money to control it.
Whereas, due to this growing importance of the Internet it is incumbent on the federal government to be proactive in making the Internet one of, if not the major media for the exchange of information involving the public interest and especially elections and ballot issues.
Therefore, be it resolved that –
A. The Federal government shall create and finance the permanent establishment of a public website designed and formatted to allow all candidates for elective office and ballot issues on every level of government to present their campaigns. Ballot issue websites shall include both pro and con parts to allow all sides to voice their opinions. It is the intent that the website become the central location for the distribution of campaign information and debate and a major way of replacing and/or limiting the need for large campaign contributions including the huge cost of campaigns to create their own websites. It shall have all of the facilities necessary for running a campaign including, but not limited to those listed and shall be updated as both technology and software programming advance giving all parties equal access and capability.
1. Campaign accounting and guidance designed in accordance of campaign finance regulations.
2. The ability to receive and log any and all campaign contributions which remain legal. It shall be the only legal method of giving or receiving such contributions and the use of any other means shall be considered an illegal bribe and punishable as defined elsewhere.
3. All candidates and issues shall appear side-by-side on the website.
4. The website will be accessible by zip code and will automatically present all relevant candidates and issues in that voting district.
5. Programming designed to allow the orderly and searchable information including the candidate’s bio and presentation of their platform issues and their responses to the campaigns of other candidates.
6. Each separate issue will be in the form of a blog in which only the candidate shall control and be responsible for the content of the initial statement, but providing a “comment” space at the end for public responses.
7. All comments must include the identification of the person making the comment who is responsible for the truth and accuracy thereof.[????? This is similar to letters to the editor and assumes a certain amount of personal responsibility is necessary for public comment]
8. The deliberate falsification of facts, deceit, intentional distortion of any public issue by any candidate or person publically responding to a candidate or ballot issue shall be illegal and punishable as defined elsewhere. [This doesn't really belong here, but it needs to be somewhere in the understanding of free speech. Swift boaters and birthers have no place in the public debate.]
9. Mail list which shall be automatically loaded with the names of all registered voters in all relevant voting districts, and including party affiliation and email address if agreed by the voter. [ Is this wise and necessary or is the availability of the info on the website being freely available to all enough – i.e. this leaves the individual in control of the info they receive and prevents an unlimited floor of “nuisance” emails.]
10. Voters may chose what information beyond their voter registration info may be given out and what, if any, contact may be made to them and by whom. E.g. they will or will not accept phone calls and/or emails. Any such communication to voters must be from the candidates themselves and acknowledged at the beginning of the contact.
contact us: wedonthavefreespeech@outlook.com
p.s. If
you want to read or share our complete introductory series and other blog posts
about this and other issues, see our Annotated Table of Contents below. Or if you have questions or comments,
email us.
Annotated Table of Contents
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/sign-the-pledge-big-out?source=c.em&r_by=14960502
Insist candidates vote for a single act of Congress
stating: “There is no relationship between speech and money stated or implied
in the US Constitution and therefore no such relationship exists” as the basis
of further reforms to limit the abuses of Big Money interests.
Best summary of the proposed “Recover our Democracy Act;”
its Constitutional basis; removing purported legal objections, public financing
of elections, limits on campaign contributions, public funding of federal
elections, preprogrammed campaign website, redefining a bribe and much more
Cut and paste text to share by electronic media to spread
the word on our plan
Our appointment being ignored while lobbyists immediately enter
our Congressman’s office
Being on the outside: Explaining the meaning of our logo…the
corrupting influence of Big Money
Political contributions, Citizens United Supreme Court
Decision, “We don’t
have free speech. We can’t afford it,” our
solution is an act of Congress,
“Backdoor money in politics, quid pro quo, “anything of material value
offered or given to, or received and accepted by any candidate, incumbent or
governmental employee under any circumstance shall be defined as a bribe,” penalties defined for candidates and government
employees.
Our early commentaries: Free speech is fundamental to
democracy, different views, uses and limitations of free speech, public
financing of elections, fair and balanced media coverage
Original free speech: freedom to speak our mind, power
to “buy” both the “content” and the “delivery” of “free” speech, "personhood" of corporations,
Supreme Court and Citizens United,
ownership of the media, points of view, political advertising, educational content,
bought speech,…
Trickle down economics, tax reductions, income disparity,
deregulation, power by changing belief systems, abuses, distortions and lies, is
it regulation or just bad regulation?, affording governmental programs and high
taxes, millennia of struggle by the rich to retain control vs. democracy,
85% of Democrats, 81% of Independents, and 76% of Republicans opposed
Citizens United
Humans speaking their mind
without fear, means of extending the reach of speech [meida], bought speech,
literally “free” speech decoupled from money, power of the media, corporate personhood,
limitations of free speech, campaigns and political speech, alternative communications
for elections: public financing, freedom of the Internet….
Figures on campaign
contributions given by largest lobbying corporations [6+ years old = pre Supepr
PACs]
One of our earliest posts:We don't have free speech
that has meaningful access to our own representatives. Our logo, our slogan, our chants, young adults, spreading
the word on the Internet, Obama’s election, making videos,
Largely unedited, free associated ideas on framing the legislation
Free public website designed
and formatted to conduct campaigns for office and public issues , FEC provided
bank account, and credit cards , campaign accounting system and
regulations, partial design specifications, real time public review access…
…the most logical
public space to allow the free flow of information on issues of public interest
“understanding the
power of corporations as a means of amassing power and money, the founding
fathers originally rejected the existence of corporations,” corporations
are not mentioned in the Constitution and have no protected rights; therefore,
Congress may limit or abolish corporations as deemed necessary for the public
good. Growth of corporate power, personhood of corporations and personal rights
attributed to corporations , theory of 14th amendment [due process]
applies to corporations,
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