As infuriating as it is to see the powers that be trying to stop us, I really believe it's only leading to a greater desire to fight among we the people. It's really a matter of organizing and mobilizing!
In addition to our subscription, we've contributed serious amounts directly to Democracy Defenders Fund thinking that this money may have a greater beneficial effect on the issues it litigates than money contributed to other current activities. We also contribute to Public Citizen to support litigation which contends with Republican attempts to dilute our rights.
We write checks out of our IRA's because both of these organizations as identified above are 501C-3 qualified. I'm not posting addresses here out of apprehension that I might get them wrong.
Please consider helping beyond to cost of subscription.
They both are on Act Blue, but if you handle 501C-3's with checks as we do, it would be good to get the best address from each of them. Public Citizen seems adept at handling this sort of thing, Democracy Defenders not quite. Democracy Defenders looks to me like a consortium of lawyers many of them working pro bono and with minimal fixed organization. Those are probably good signs, but I'd like it better if correspondence with them was a bit more sprightly.
But do send them something. It will almost certainly be spent in a well focused way.
I spent the summer of '64 doing voter registration in Norfolk, where I had just graduated from high school. The amazing spirit and resolve of the local Black students changed me forever, and it lives on. These terrible judicial decisions will not overcome - WE shall.
We Ohio voters passed an anti- gerrymandering amendment to our state constitution also, but the state legislator is ignoring it too. Representatives of the people? I think not!
Adding my voice to the chorus of encouragement and encomium. We're very proud to be Contrarian subscribers. On another topic, Jen Rubin hasn't appeared in these pages in several days (at least); here's hoping she's healthy, happy, and (perhaps?) on vacation.
This week's actions in VA and TN were so disheartening. Here's hoping there's enough anger by voters to overcome and win back Congress this fall. Keep up the great work on our behalf, thank you!
Of course, my right wing friends in VA are VERY happy with the VA Supreme Court decision. (Note: both are religious conservatives: one an anti-abortion Catholic and the other an Evangelical Christian.) I wish to say (but didn't). Maybe some of these conservative Virginians should just move to Tennessee. The politics is more compatible plus the cost of living is probably less, as an added bonus.
The recurrent problem of designing a fair electoral map, avoiding intentional gerrymandering, is not unique to the U.S.A., but is particularly difficult to resolve in a country as divided and partisan as ours is now. One solution, seldom considered and unlikely to be adopted, would be to use each state as a single district, with two senators, as now, but with the number of House representatives determined by the census and elected from competing lists of candidates put forward by parties that meet criteria set by the state government. This could make it possible for small and new parties to compete with the established national parties. Although the supposed link between a constituent and a single representative would be lost, each constituent could choose to address any one or more House representatives. The parties would have to forgo their safe districts and learn to share the state’s representation in D.C. There would be no need or possibility to design internal electoral districts to allow or reduce minority representation. Smart candidates would quickly learn to tailor their positions to appeal to minority voters as well
Why is it not OK for Virginia to redistrict, but it is being allowed in other states? If the Supreme Court chimes in on Virginia, will that ruling be applied to all states equally?
As infuriating as it is to see the powers that be trying to stop us, I really believe it's only leading to a greater desire to fight among we the people. It's really a matter of organizing and mobilizing!
I'm a native Floridian and furious. Thank you for immediately responding to this travesty. We stand together!!
Thank you, Norm et al. I am so thankful that your team responds so quickly to each new outrage. Stay strong!
In addition to our subscription, we've contributed serious amounts directly to Democracy Defenders Fund thinking that this money may have a greater beneficial effect on the issues it litigates than money contributed to other current activities. We also contribute to Public Citizen to support litigation which contends with Republican attempts to dilute our rights.
We write checks out of our IRA's because both of these organizations as identified above are 501C-3 qualified. I'm not posting addresses here out of apprehension that I might get them wrong.
Please consider helping beyond to cost of subscription.
Thank you. Will do.
They both are on Act Blue, but if you handle 501C-3's with checks as we do, it would be good to get the best address from each of them. Public Citizen seems adept at handling this sort of thing, Democracy Defenders not quite. Democracy Defenders looks to me like a consortium of lawyers many of them working pro bono and with minimal fixed organization. Those are probably good signs, but I'd like it better if correspondence with them was a bit more sprightly.
But do send them something. It will almost certainly be spent in a well focused way.
John
I spent the summer of '64 doing voter registration in Norfolk, where I had just graduated from high school. The amazing spirit and resolve of the local Black students changed me forever, and it lives on. These terrible judicial decisions will not overcome - WE shall.
NORM!! So need our pitbull litigators. Katie et al.
We Ohio voters passed an anti- gerrymandering amendment to our state constitution also, but the state legislator is ignoring it too. Representatives of the people? I think not!
Thank you Norm for standing up for our democracy!
Love all of you!!! ❤️❤️❤️
🙏🏼🇺🇸‼️
The Civil War never ended. It has been pursued through other means. The Confederacy is winning.
Hope the southerners enjoy working for scrip and living in company houses again.
Adding my voice to the chorus of encouragement and encomium. We're very proud to be Contrarian subscribers. On another topic, Jen Rubin hasn't appeared in these pages in several days (at least); here's hoping she's healthy, happy, and (perhaps?) on vacation.
Jen's son is getting married.
Mazel tov!
This week's actions in VA and TN were so disheartening. Here's hoping there's enough anger by voters to overcome and win back Congress this fall. Keep up the great work on our behalf, thank you!
Of course, my right wing friends in VA are VERY happy with the VA Supreme Court decision. (Note: both are religious conservatives: one an anti-abortion Catholic and the other an Evangelical Christian.) I wish to say (but didn't). Maybe some of these conservative Virginians should just move to Tennessee. The politics is more compatible plus the cost of living is probably less, as an added bonus.
The recurrent problem of designing a fair electoral map, avoiding intentional gerrymandering, is not unique to the U.S.A., but is particularly difficult to resolve in a country as divided and partisan as ours is now. One solution, seldom considered and unlikely to be adopted, would be to use each state as a single district, with two senators, as now, but with the number of House representatives determined by the census and elected from competing lists of candidates put forward by parties that meet criteria set by the state government. This could make it possible for small and new parties to compete with the established national parties. Although the supposed link between a constituent and a single representative would be lost, each constituent could choose to address any one or more House representatives. The parties would have to forgo their safe districts and learn to share the state’s representation in D.C. There would be no need or possibility to design internal electoral districts to allow or reduce minority representation. Smart candidates would quickly learn to tailor their positions to appeal to minority voters as well
Why is it not OK for Virginia to redistrict, but it is being allowed in other states? If the Supreme Court chimes in on Virginia, will that ruling be applied to all states equally?
Thank you for all you do and fighting for us.
Thank you for continuing to fight the fight!