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?

Would be great if John could interview them for CHPN.

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

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

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

I think it’s always good to have other choices, hence I sign almost all petitions presented to me.

I look at the Free Party platform and I see many ideas that have failed in practical implication. They sound “good” on the surface, but in actual application in other countries and societies, they have failed miserably. This is basically an ungovernable platform.

If he wants to run on that platform, have at it, but don’t expect a lot of votes.

I’ll go out on a limb: If no GOP or viable independent runs, he’ll get 425 votes. If someone else runs-175 votes.

Let’s face it, the Democratic nominee has the election pretty much locked up unless there is a “party” war that splits the vote. That is one of the problems of creating “black majority aka Democratic” districts- no choices, no discussion, no options, no viable alternatives. Ditto the GOP where “conservative white districts” were created when black population was lumped together.

I will show up and cast my vote for the candidate of my choice or “none of the above”.

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.

But just to be clear, it has NOT been my intent to imply that Silver is claiming to be a communist. The main thrust of my comments here has been to say 1) I welcome new ideas but 2) I think the Free Party platform is probably too radical to be accepted by mainstream America.

In my attempt to make those two points, I’ve alluded to some of the objectives outlined in the Free Party platform (i.e. redistribution of land, guaranteed housing for all, and a tax structure that would effectively cap the amount of income a person could earn), which sound pretty closely aligned with approaches espoused by various communist manifestos.

It is not my intent to “win” the “debate” (or “pissing contest,” if you will) – just to engage in the dialog. And, I actually give Silver credit for sticking his neck out by contributing his thoughts to the public forum. The willingness to speak one’s opinions – even in the face of potential opposition – takes courage and is a vital component of successful democracy.

Good luck!

John, is there some way to recover the comment.

You got caught in the auto spam filter, sorry about that. It’s been retrieved.

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.

I do live in the 71st District, in Oregon Hill.

Politicians live on soap boxes so it’s ridiculous to ask me to step off.

If you read my comment above you’d see that I plan to announce my state platform soon.

Most of the issues I deal with currently by my participation with the City Council are not ideological but simple good government things like promoting open government and citizen participation.

I don’t understand your getting mad at me for sharing my deeper vision “pie in the sky” as you call it — it is only fair that voters should know what I believe and where I am coming from. If you want to get an idea of state issues I’m interested in pursuing a good starting place is my 2007 campaign for State Senate when I ran against Donald McEachin, which by the way had been the first time the seat had been contested in 40 years!

I’m not pie in the sky. I’m one of the few people I know who has given serious consideration of how our government and economic systems are framed. And the only citizen that has attend so many Richmond City Council meetings regularly, three out of the last 3 and a half years; and actually going back to 2003. So I am painfully aware of what the city government has been up to. Check my Council blog I’ve been working on since January. That’s my effort [and it takes a considerable amount of time] to open the government to average citizens and trying to hold government officials. http://www.richmond-telegraph.blogspot.com

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.

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.

Even if you don’t agree with the general platform of a candidate, the reasons for their position is always worth consideration. How are different lives being affected by current policies that make them feel that this alternative would be of greater benefit to the population? To ask these questions from a neutral & nonpartisan point of view is of extreme importance.

Politicians are not required to be economists, scientists or engineers — they are simply the voice of the people.

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.

The communal approach seemed to work well for small communities like those in pre-Columbian Native America. But it generally failed in larger societies like the Soviet Union, China, Eastern Europe, etc. What’s differenet about the Free Party angle that will make it work where earlier efforts fell short of the mark?

Simply put, this won’t fly. Communism is a bad word here in the US of A.

Let’s get real, folks.

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