independentvoting.org

From: Robert Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 5:17 PM
Subject: Re: Is independentvoting.org receptive to the below message
To: "Independent Voting.org" <national@independentvoting.org>
Cc: bob friedman <_________>, markbodenhausen <________>

Thank you, Gwen. I look forward to finding ways to pressing our issues jointly.
Rob

On Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 2:27 PM, Independent Voting.org <national@independentvoting.org> wrote:

Yes, yes, and yes. Perhaps you'd find our campaign calling on Congress to hold hearings into the second class status of independents a helpful tool for engaging these issues. I'm sure Bob can tell you all about it and also check out the link to the "campaign" page and it's accompanying spokesperson training page through our website. And of course, lets stay in touch.

Gwen

On Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 5:15 AM, Robert Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com> wrote:

Thank you very much for the reply, Gwen.

First, yes, Harry Kresky's article is very interesting.

Here are my bottom line questions to independentvoting.org: Does the country have a big ailment in how its Congress gets elected, governs and stays elected, which ailment is of first priority for the country to have a national (and Congressional) debate about? If so, does the sitting Congress owe it to the country to initiate and carry out such a debate and to make a responsive proposal to the country for the country's consideration? Will Congress do that of its own accord? If not, should the American people rise up in unison and demand that Congress have this debate and make a proposal and threaten Congress with eviction if it is not responsive to that demand of the American people?

I think you know my answers to the foregoing questions and what I am trying to do, to wit, contact organizations such as independentvoting.org and try to ask them the foregoing questions and ask whether the organizations wish to join their voices with other organizations and persons in attempting to make the foregoing demand on Congress effectively.

I will stay in touch with independentvoting.org about this.

Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck


On Thu, May 31, 2012 at 5:01 PM, Independent Voting.org <national@independentvoting.org> wrote:

Hi Rob,

Receptive yes, but I think where we would advocate applying the pressure differs. Our focus would be on engaging the partisan nature of the process which locks out a vast portion of the voters (in particular independents). While it sounds nice, and certainly seems to be a good rallying point for those who are sick and tired of the inequities between those who have resources and those who don't, "getting the money" out of the politics is both fruitless given the current nature of our society and impotent without restructuring politics. In order to do that, we feel you have to work on opening up the process to new voices and coalitions.

Here's an article that appeared a while back in The Huffington Post by our counsel Harry Kresky which I think you might find of interest in this regard.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harry-kresky/an-independent-look-at-ca_b_548894.html

Hope you find this helpful.

Gwen Mandell



From: Robert Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, May 31, 2012 at 4:28 AM
Subject: Is independentvoting.org receptive to the below message
To: national@independentvoting.org
Cc: bob friedman <_______>, markbodenhausen <__________>

Dear Nancy and Gwen,

Would you please read this Voters' victory in 2012 blog entry of mine and advise me whether independentvoting.org is receptive to the message I am trying to purvey to voters and would be willing to express support for what I am doing?

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
Birmingham, AL