https://masspirates.org/wiki/index.php?title=PirateCon_2017_Brainstorming_Session&feed=atom&action=historyPirateCon 2017 Brainstorming Session - Revision history2024-03-29T15:59:01ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.41.0https://masspirates.org/wiki/index.php?title=PirateCon_2017_Brainstorming_Session&diff=4601&oldid=prevSrevilak: initial revision2017-05-06T00:37:09Z<p>initial revision</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>We held a brainstorming session at PirateCon, to talk about ideas for<br />
expanding the party platform, along with goals for next year. As a<br />
brainstorming session, the goal was to get ideas down on paper, rather<br />
than to make decisions. This is a set of notes from that<br />
brainstorming session.<br />
<br />
= Next Year =<br />
<br />
Next year, we'd like to have a lot of pirates running for office. But<br />
how do we get there? There are advantages to running candidates for<br />
local office: selectmen, library trustees, the conservation<br />
commission, or the planning board. In those capacities, you'll get to<br />
know everyone in town.<br />
<br />
We've always supported the idea of ranked choice voting. Do we want<br />
to do anything with voterchoicema.org? They seem pretty organized,<br />
perhaps more organized than we are. We stand behind (and would<br />
probably endorse) what they're doing.<br />
<br />
Would we be willing to primary a republican? Probably not, because it<br />
would involve someone running as a republican, rather than a pirate.<br />
Plus, independents may not want to feel trapped in a two-party system.<br />
Lots of people are fed up with the two-party system. They want<br />
something else. Ideally, there'd be as many pirates running as<br />
republicans.<br />
<br />
60% of the Massachusetts legislature runs unopposed. We should have<br />
more contested elections. We should start legislative campaigns early<br />
-- during July or August -- before the main party campaigning kicks<br />
in. Putting pirate signs in people's front yards could help get us<br />
noticed.<br />
<br />
We could focus on issues of interest to small business owners: taxes,<br />
healthcare, and cutting out regulations and red tape. We could be a<br />
city/local party that's business and/or tax-friendly.<br />
<br />
= Finding candidates =<br />
<br />
People who are into reform may be the most likely to run. There could<br />
be reservations -- pissing off an incumbent who might try to get back<br />
at you?<br />
<br />
When recruiting candidates, we need answers to "what are you for". We<br />
need positions.<br />
<br />
Having more (third) parties working on common goals can be effective.<br />
<br />
Work with organizers that are working on pirate issues. Build<br />
alliances. Groups can maintain separate identities, even when working<br />
in alliance. Tabling at events is a good way to form alliances.<br />
<br />
Be sure to keep your word. If you say you'll do something, do it.<br />
<br />
Our policy could be a statement of principles: write a bunch of them<br />
down, and adopt the ones with the most traction.<br />
<br />
We should have a position on gay rights and issues of social<br />
inclusiveness. (We've marched in the pride parade for years; this<br />
should be one of our issues.)<br />
<br />
We can go after independent voting blocks: groups interested in school<br />
choice, veterans, suburban moms, seniors. Or the May Day coalition.<br />
<br />
We could go after government corruption, patronage jobs, and such.<br />
<br />
Why are people hesitant to run?<br />
<br />
We'd like to do more outreach, and form more local chapters.<br />
<br />
We could submit more testimony on legislation, and submit it to<br />
hearings.<br />
<br />
= Expanding the Platform =<br />
<br />
Our platform needs to address more issues. Ideas:<br />
<br />
* Environmentalism<br />
* Taxing pollution (rather than permits)<br />
* Conservation through captivity<br />
* Cutting middle-class taxes<br />
* animal rights<br />
* Dehumanizing corporations<br />
* A fairer tax system. Shift burden away from the middle class<br />
* Eliminate tax laws that allow corporations to have negative tax burdens.<br />
* Transportation. Potholes, more road capacity, replace intersections with roundabouts. General infrastructure; bridges and tunnels. Protected bike lanes. Making our roads less horrible. More civil engineering, less politics.<br />
* More fact-based analysis<br />
* Greater focus on regional planning. In Mass, we have the state government and city/town governments. Very little happens at the county level, but that regional perspective is very important for planning. Some state powers should be given to counties.</div>Srevilak