Persinger to challenge for McClellan’s seat

Yay!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Silver!

Silver is an interesting character, but I wonder if he is able to obtain enough signatures to run. He has some pretty radical views that will not appeal to the mainstream.

Here is a link to the Free Party’s platform: http://www.freeparty.us/

Okay, here is the platform:
• 6 Hour Work Day / 24 Hour Work Week
Passing legislation to limit the hours of labor to 6 hours a day and 24 hours a week, represents an immediate emancipation from the demands of a 40 hour work week. Workers shall receive no reduction in wages or benefits. 6 weeks paid vacation annually as a standard benefit.
• Currency Reform
Nationalize the currency, abolish the Federal Reserve System, and restore to the U.S. Congress the power to regulate the country’s monetary affairs for the benefit of society and the national happiness. Fix the legal rate of interest at 1%.
• Tax Reform
Institute a “Socially Beneficial Tax.” Citizens should no longer be taxed on their incomes unless they are in the top 1% of income earners. 99% of citizens would enjoy the total profit of their labor. Where as 1% would receive the top rate of 99% tax free and everything above that would be taxed at 98%. Such a tax policy promotes the free market, encourages innovation and creativity, and rewards hard work yet puts a reasonable cap on salaries that the majority of the public could approve. In addition, tax revenues would allow the government to invest in healthcare, education, jobs, infrastructure and providing the benefits of modern society to all.
• Election Reform
We supports the use of Instant Runoff Voting, citizen initiated referendums, ballot initiatives, recall elections, term limits and other measures to improve the health of our democracy and empower citizens to direct the government. We also support the direct election of judges to ensure democratic control of our justice system. Further, no one’s right to vote should ever be taken away, not even violent felons. In a democracy, the right to vote is the bare minimum right of all citizens.
• Co-op Revolution
Co-operative businesses, not government owned industries, are the ideal expression of economic organization because co-ops are locally owned and managed. Co-ops provide a structure for democratically controlled workplaces based on equality and equal distribution of profits.
• Land Reform
Aside from sunlight and water, our most precious resource is our land. Our current system has promoted an uneven distribution of the land and given great authority to individuals and corporations to determine the use of “their” land which in truth is our common resource, America. As an initial reform, non-farming land owners should be limited to owning no more than 100 acres. All lands held by corporations and foreign owners should revert to the nation. All reclaimed land should be paid for at “above market value.” New communities should be developed with the benefit of wise urban planning and government financing. A home for all.
• War Referendum
At a time of war, let the people who will be doing the fighting and dying vote whether or not to go war by putting the question directly to the voters. Let those who vote yes, be the first to volunteer to fight the war. Every person that doesn’t vote, shall have their non-vote counted as being against the war. Production of war materials shall only be conducted by the government, eliminate private profit motive for war.
• Regulate ‘Illegal’ Drugs
We advocate free treatment over incarceration. Drug use is a public health issue not a crime. Drug use should be discouraged as much as possible but people have an unquestionable right to live as they choose and to be free of unreasonable punishment at the hands of our government.
• Crime Reduction
When the basic needs of people are guaranteed to every man, woman and child as a matter of right, a major source of crime will be eradicated. Opportunities for meaningful employment and education will be plentiful. The citizen will be free to pursue his or her interests, both professionally and personally.
• Freedom to Live in the Country of your choice
Citizens have the right to travel and live where ever they want. National borders are arbitrary and a historical source of conflict. We favor a system of direct democracy that is strongest at the local level.
• Restore Original Copyright Law & New Provisions
We advocate the original exclusive use of your copyright for 14 years and after that period the copyright shall revert to the Public Domain. However, if anyone profits from your creation (over $500 annually) the original copyright holder shall be entitled to 50% of the profit.
• Abolish the Death Penalty
Make 50 years in jail the maximum punishment for any crime. The Death Penalty is a cruel and unusual punishment.

Anarchists Unite!

Uh, this “Free Party” has a few interesting ideas, but they are definitely way to radical for the mainstream. Are there any “real” candidates running?

That’s not my take from the site http://www.6hourday.org/. We have a standard 40 hour work week now but its not illegal to work more than 40 hours, but they do have to pay overtime after that. I’d love to get overtime at 30 hours.

Good God, I smell the patoulli oil from here. Isn’t government a required class Senior year of high school? Seems most of society slept thru it, or smoked thru it I should say….

That’s the beauty of democracy, Guilty Mom – you can vote for whoever you like.

BTW – You might have noticed that I did not even say whether I AGREED with this guy or not (don’t know who he is even) – just that I think the Free Party is pretty radical for mainstream America to stomach.

I’ve enjoyed the dialogue. I am simply one person who thinks the values of society are messed up. I think humanity is more important than money and I advocate an economic and social value system with that goal in mind.

If you think you can do better run for office yourself. It only takes 125 signatures to get on the ballot. The deadline is June 9. I encourage anyone to run for office. The more choices, the better.

In the last two elections, Jennifer McClellan’s name has been the only name on the ballot. Sham democracy especially when you see that her campaign is bankrolled by Dominion Power, Ukrops, Virginia Bankers Association, Virginia Auto Dealers Association, Anthem, Altria, lawyers, and realtors.

See more:
http://www.vpap.org/candidates/profile/money_in_donors/35804?start_year=2005&end_year=2009&lookup_type=year&filing_period=all

I believe, and I have been telling people I visit door to door, that corporations and business people have too much influence in our government and I believe government should be doing more for poor and working people like providing access to health care, education, and jobs.

Most of the folks I’ve spoken with so far agree with the sentiment. I created the Free Party Platform to explain my political outlook and to present to the public as concise prescription based on my understanding of the problems and my knowledge of other political movements of the past.

I support preserving the free market because it drives efficiency and progress and incentivizes individuals. But the folks at the top are benefiting from an economic and legal structure where wealth is afforded great privilege and power in determining the order of every day life.

How free are we when money is the lifeblood of society? What kind of society refuses food to the hungry, medical attention to the sick, or a home to the homeless?

At the bottom of it, I am a humanitarian. And I refuse to sit by and let others tell me this is the way it is supposed to be, or this is the way it will always be. And ultimately, I truly believe in democracy and that the majority of people are good, want to be secure in their life and possessions, and are willing to help others. However, when the whole of political life seems to serve only the interests of corporations and preserving the established financial oligarchy, I say “No thank you.”

As one of the only citizens who regularly attends Richmond City Council meetings, it is painfully apparent that citizens aren’t engaged in our government and the newspapers don’t give the public decent information to make informed decisions.

I am not a Communist. Communism seeks to establish a strong centralized government. I am an advocate of democracy that is strongest at the local level, of giving more power to citizens and taking power away from corporations. I support democracy in the workplace by my support for labor unions.

Keep an eye on the website. Shortly, I will be presenting a less ambitious platform for my House of Delegates campaign.

In theory, communism (sharing the WEALTH amongst “the people”) might not seem all that incompatible with democracy (sharing the POWER amongst “the people”).

So it has often struck me as odd that communism and democracy are so often presented as polar opposites on the same spectrum – with democracy idolized on one end and communism demonized on the other. However, this is not a good apples to apples comparison. It’s important to note that communism is an ECONOMIC system and democracy is a POLITICAL system.

Perhaps a better arrangement for comparison would be capitalism vs communism (economic approaches) and democracy vs dictatorship / totalitarianism (political approaches).

In the end, it might be argued that communism is not so much “evil” as it is ineffective in large societies… as seen in the examples of China, the Soviet Union, Cuba, etc.

Silver, you make a good point: It IS “interesting” that, for example, it was the normal custom of most “primitive” Native America societies to share resources with one another and even with strangers in need – while our “advanced” society allows business people in $2,000 suits to casually walk past homeless folks starving on the streets – without batting an eye. How can we call that “progress”? Fascinating question indeed.

But I ultimately find myself siding more with #19 in saying that we need to move away from lofty philosophizing and towards real, workable, common sense “bread and butter” solutions for an era of both tremendous global competition and daunting challenges right here at home.

Silver…are you out there?

Hello Bill,

Yes, I’m here. I even submitted a comment to the site. Twice in fact and it told me the comment had already been submitted.

John, is there some way to recover the comment. I don’t have time to rewrite it now. But briefly, I live in Oregon Hill which is part of the 71 District.

I am one of the most active citizens engaged with the Richmond City Council for the last 3 1/2 years, I’ve run for office many times before since 2002. I believe that citizens need to be involved in our government in order to have a meaningful democracy. I believe that corporations and the wealthy have too much influence in our government and have written the rules to benefit themselves.

If I actually got into office my views would be less ideological and more practical. One Virginia Delegate, a national economic restructuring does not make. What I would stand up for is upholding civil liberties, increasing citizen participation and promoting engagement in the political process, opening government, and empowering local governments and citizens.

I will be updating my website soon with issues I would be interested in pursuing if I were elected. My campaign only began about a week and a half ago. I have little money, no volunteers, and I am doing everything myself — from website, to paper work, to canvasing, to designing literature — in addition to my duties as an employee and still attending Richmond City Council meetings and doing my Council blog, http://www.richmond-telegraph.

One comment I made in my first response that I recall was that I thought it was silly for you to ask me to get off my soap box, politicians live on ’em.

Feel free to call me [683-7845] and tell me what your concerns are and what you think the Commonwealth can or should do for you or the community. If I agree, it may be an issue I can pursue. Regardless, your comments would be just a small sampling of what a Delegate is subjected to.

I’ve raised $290 to date, I could use some financial help.* Contribute online, http://www.votesilver.org or send a contribution to Vote Silver // PO Box 4299 // Richmond, VA 23220

*I am not accepting contributions over $100, in an effort to demonstrate the influence money has on politicians. Also individuals who donate $100 or less, their names are not required to be reported on Campaign Finance Reports, a cool way to promote anonymous activism so that my supporters can remain anonymous.

Silver, I will help to circulate a petition here in Church Hill, since you need signatures. John Murden knows who I am and can put you in touch with me offline. I’m working late hours this week and next week, so I don’t get home until nearly 11 p.m. and that’s too late to call you. Please contact John (you can use the ‘contact us’ link on this blog) and ask him to please share my phone and / or email addy with you. I’m a veteran of doing petitions over the years, did the first ones for Jean Cunningham, years ago, whose seat you are running for (she retired, Viola Baskerville had it for a while, and now McClelland).

Good luck!

If you truly believe in the stances taken by Silver, I urge you to be true to your viewpoint and sign the petition for him.

Likewise, if you do not believe in his positions, then do not sign the petition.

It is often the most radical who comment the most often here in cyberspace. I do not believe the wide majority of people who live in the City of Richmond espouse such radical views, but instead prefer a more moderate candidate.

To fairly represent this populace, it makes sense that you should represent the viewpoint of your constituency. I think Silver is gutsy, too. For me, he is more a fringe candidate and does not represent the concerns of most of the people here in our community.

The more people voting for “fringe” type candidates, the more it encourages others to do the same.. a snowball effect. The numbers are important, even if they are not winning numbers. The same reason a protest is important: not because a handful of people with signs can necessarily change the world – but because the impact of their presence is inspiring to everyone that passes by. Seeing real folks devoted to real change hopefully encourages others to get more informed, to find out what they can do to help out. I think election reform is vital; a tangible first step towards a real representative democracy. That right there is enough to win my vote.

I finally had time to find this link. A very basic commentary on the various forms of government.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkOcFVBoA-o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htTnD_Zl0bs&feature=related

I’ve yet to meet anyone in Richmond as authentically and selflessly engaged in politics for and by the people as Silver Persinger.

Personally, I will not sign a petition for someone I do not believe just so we have a “choice” on the ballot. If I disagree, there still is no choice in my opinion.

And, as Point Counter Point commented, I have written in None of the Above before.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a “None of the Above” as a ballot choice? Basically it would be a vote of no confidence. If NotA wins the most votes, a new election is cast a few weeks later.

It would take days to dissect a good portion of the “Free Party’s” platform as to why it simply is too far out-in-space to be a viable platform. It would be fun to do over a few or twenty beers. Maybe it makes more sense after a few brews?