This topic isn’t a new one here at the Tenth Amendment Center. We often discuss the left/right paradigm, and the sentiment of John Adams that; “There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.”

Who could have known those words would ring so true today.

I had the opportunity to spend some time with our friends at the Bill of Rights Defense Committee this weekend, along with a few coalition partners. I arrived at our Friday night reception to meet a bunch of really open, and friendly activists. As we headed into our weekend, several of those in attendance identified themselves to me as progressives. Early on, someone labeled me as the capitalist, libertarian contingent in the room. It turned out that for a few, capitalism and libertarians weren’t necessarily the most popular things going around. Fortunately, we were all there to learn and those things didn’t detract. I was able to share a little bit about coalition building, and the need for us to work together, regardless of where we have politically identified up until now.

Within personal bubble, I tend to be in contact with a lot more people who consider themselves to be politically on the right. I am very used to the bad arguments and misconceptions coming from that side. It was incredibly interesting for me to be with a group who almost wholly identifying with the political left. Turns out, they have some of the same misconceptions about the other side, as the other side has about them! Of course I already knew that to be true, but somehow, within the group, it seemed more profound.

As the realization of this sank in, I just felt sad. Because here was a room full of really fantastic people, doing good work. People with amazing perspective, great ideas, and intelligent things to say… and a whole group of people across the aisle were missing out on them. I personally benefited incredibly from the wealth of experience and thoughtfulness that was in that room. I considered a couple of people at home who could have used the experience even more than I. It was challenging for me, at times, because I had one or two preconceived notions of my own that I wasn’t completely aware of. More than challenging though, it was just really inspiring. I was impressed by the level of respectfulness that everyone showed to one another.

Greedy corporations and the overbearing, overreaching federal government are happy to keep us disagreeing over anything and everything. Gay marriage? Abortion? Race issues? Let’s stir some up! The truth is, they know that as long as we are fighting each other, we cannot be effectively fighting them. We MUST realize this, and work to find our common ground.

You know, it isn’t that hard.

No one wants to be subject to indefinite detention. Neither do rational people want their family members, friends, or neighbors to be unfairly profiled and arrested without just cause. Nobody wants to be the victim of police abuse. Everyone wants to be free to worship in their own way. We want to be treated equally. We want safe communities where we are not bullied, or coerced to spy on our neighbors, where we can grow healthy food, where our sheriff is a good guy. These are basic and important things, and we all agree on them. I bet if we started collaborating more, we would discover that we actually have a lot MORE to agree on than we have to disagree on. I bet that as peers we could even find ways to work out our differences and help our communities much better than the huge bureaucracies are doing.

I’m sure most of you reading this have heard someone quote Neimoller from WWII…

“They came for the Communists, and I didn’t object – For I wasn’t a Communist; They came for the Socialists and I didn’t object – For I wasn’t a Socialist; They came for the labor leaders, and I didn’t object – For I wasn’t a labor leader; They came for the Jews, and I didn’t object – For I wasn’t a Jew; Then they came for me – And there was no one left to object.”

I see this sort of thing already happening. By pointing fingers and blaming the guy on the other side, we become those who turn our face away when those same people are “taken.” I mean, after all, it’s their fault, right? But who’s next? The fact is, we are either all in this together, or we are fragments that can be picked off one by one. We need to find a way to look and see people, not democrats or republicans, or libertarians, or whatever label you use.

People who want to be free.

As free as possible, not living in fear of one another.

Read in Original Context: It’s Time to Set Aside Our Differences and Focus On Our Similarities | Tenth Amendment Center

One piece of legislation in which I have acute interest is HB 794– the Voter Freedom Act.  And there is some good news to report.  The bill just passed its third reading in the North Carolina House of Representatives.  That means it beat the “crossover deadline,” and is headed over to the North Carolina Senate for consideration.

The Voter Freedom Act would begin the process of fixing a longstanding inequity in the state of North Carolina.  Currently, our state has enormous legal barriers erected that are designed to prevent participation by third parties in the political process.  The legislation passed this week by the House would mandate the study of ballot access reform, and ultimately lead to recommendations for the General Assembly to adopt.  (The language in the bill, however, is a bit muddy.)

Yes, this is a gradual process.  But it is apparently what was politically achievable this year.

Disclosure: I happen to be affiliated with the Constitution Party of North Carolina.  A number of other third parties, however, also have an interest in seeing such legislation adopted.

It will now be very important for the North Carolina Senate to consider this legislation in good faith, and allow a vote.

My understanding is that some Republicans in Raleigh are concerned this type of legislation would represent a threat to the Republican Party.  Perhaps that is why the Voter Freedom Act is only a “study bill.”  But improved ballot access would also help third parties on the left side of the political spectrum–not just the right.

Political liberty is inconsistent with North Carolina’s status quo that allows only two political parties to possess a near-stranglehold on ballot access.  Voters ought to be free to choose from a wider range of options across the political spectrum.  And third parties should be free to compete.

North Carolina Senate– it’s your turn!

Dr. Joe Guarino is the Guardian‘s senior columnist.

Read in Original Context: Voter Freedom Act: It’s time | The Greensboro Gaurdian

The votes are in on HB794, Voter Freedom Act of 2013. The former ballot access reform legislation turned ballot access reform study bill passed the North Carolina House of Representatives today with a vote of 109-5. Now a Study Bill, the legislation still must be approved by the Senate and signed by the Governor. Once the bill passes all the usual legislative hurdles and makes it into law, the Joint Elections Oversight Committee will then be required to study the question of ballot access in North Carolina.

The following five representatives have shown their opposition to free choice and representative government (self-government) to the point they even opposed the Assembly studying the issue:

Rep. Rayne Brown (R-81): 919-715-0873
Rep. Tricia Cotham (D-100): 919-715-0706
Rep. Jeffrey Elmore (R-94): 919-733-5935
Rep. Carl Ford (R-76): 919-733-5881
Rep. Mike Stone (R-51): 919-715-3026

The bill’s current language would not even implement ballot access reform at this time, it simply would require the legislature’s Joint Election Oversight Committee to study the issue and recommend appropriate legislation in early 2014. If one of these members is your Representative please give them a call to express your disappointment in their lack of faith in the voter and their disregard for the freedom of every North Carolinian.

We wish to commend and thank Rep. Jason Saine, David Lewis, Paul Luebke and Rodney Moore, the bills Primary Sponsors who made the extra effort to keep ballot access reform alive during this session. We also want to thank the 105 other members who supported the bill’s passage in the House.

With the bill now in the State Senate we look forward to State Senator Dan Soucek taking up the bill and working to see it passed in the North Carolina State Senate.

Yesterday, the House Election Committee took up HB794, Voter Freedom Act of 2013. During the meeting, the Committee decided to turn HB794 into a Study Bill due to some unanswered questions and concerns from some members. The altered bill, a Proposed Committee Substitute for HB794 which passed unanimously, now directs the Joint Elections Oversight Committee to study all issues covered by the original Voter Freedom Act of 2013, including ballot access requirements for political parties and unaffiliated candidates.

While this was not our hope and outlook for HB794 and ballot access reform at the time, upon the recommendation of HB794’s Primary Lead Sponsor Rep. Jason Saine, and faced with the political reality of the situation Free the Vote North Carolina agreed to the change.

It seems that some in the Committee were determined to try to stop the bill from reaching the House floor at all. However, turning the bill into a Study Bill as Rep. Saine urged for should allow the legislation to live on to be brought back up in some form early in the 2014 Session of the NC General Assembly, hopefully still in time for the 2014 General Election. Had the bill not been altered into a Study Bill it is likely that it would have died in Committee yesterday and ballot access reform would have been put on hold until 2015.

Regretfully, it seems that some past supportive members of ballot access reform have allowed fear of competition to cloud their judgment, specifically fearing the possibility of the Libertarian Party continuing to enjoy ballot status in North Carolina. From what we have gathered this seems to be the primary motive behind the attempts to kill the bill.

Supporter and HB794 Primary Sponsor Rep. David Lewis also informed us that the State Board of Elections staff was having trouble responding to questions from the Committee regarding possible increased costs of primaries and elections if multiple parties were on the ballot. While this is a valid point of concern, the Voter Freedom Act’s language would have worked to minimize those additional costs, if any, and while cost is something to consider in any case Free the Vote North Carolina holds the position that cost should not outweigh the rights of North Carolinians.

Although this was not the desired outcome, we can view this turn of events not so much as a setback, but as an opportunity. There are some positive benefits to this situation. Voter Freedom Act sponsor Rep. Saine has informed us that the study commission will hold public hearings, and hear testimony from expert witnesses. This will give us the opportunity to demonstrate public support for these reforms. It will also allow us to counter the arguments and myths presented by opponents of ballot access reform.

The ideal outcome of this process may be that this joint, bipartisan committee produces a comprehensive ballot access reform bill that fulfills the objectives of HB 794. In addition, a bipartisan, bicameral bill will probably have a better chance of success.

The Joint Elections Oversight Committee has yet to be formed, however once formed will begin its work after the legislative session ends. Free the Vote North Carolina will be gearing up for a busy summer in the defense of every North Carolinian’s right to vote and self-government.

The Voter Freedom Act of 2013, HB794, has been added to the House Elections Committee calendar for their meeting tomorrow, May 8, at 1:00pm in room 643 of the Legislative Office Building.

Read in Original Context: Redistricting Reform Would Mean Fairer Elections for N.C. | The Voter Update

A group of Republicans and Democrats have introduced a bill in the state House that would set up a nonpartisan redistricting process. House Bill 606, titled “Nonpartisan Redistricting Process,” would take redistricting power out of the hands of the legislators and turn that responsibility over to division of the General Assembly.

The bill is sponsored by Representatives Paul Stam (R-Wake), Rick Glazier (D-Cumberland), Chuck McGrady (R-Henderson) and Deborah Ross (D-Wake).

Stam is the speaker pro tem and Ross is co-chair of the Democratic Conference. The bill currently has 39 sponsors.With such support, it is expected the bill will move quickly.

“Redistricting reform is one of the most impactful decisions the General Assembly can make this year,” said Brent Laurenz, executive director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education.

“It’s time for North Carolina to put voters first when it comes to redistricting, not politicians.”

“Having Democrats and Republicans draw up the new districts is like playing a State-Carolina football game where the players act as referees,” said J.J. Summerell, state Libertarian Party chair.

“We’ve seen the ugly result when politicians get to draw their own districts. Let’s have a neutral, honest, third party determine the districts.”

H606 would implement a redistricting process similar to what is used in Iowa. The Legislative Services Office would redraw district lines. But unlike the current system, they would not be able to use party registration of voters, previous election results, or incumbents’ addresses when crafting new maps.

Instead, the lines would be drawn based on population and to ensure compliance with federal and state constitutions and the federal Voting Rights Act.

The bill also requires that districts meet certain compactness standards and that they must be contiguous.

To ensure lines are drawn in a nonpartisan nature, the bill states that “no district shall be drawn for the purpose of favoring a political party, incumbent legislator, or member of Congress.”

If passed, the new system would not go into effect until after the 2020 census.

“For too long, both parties have used redistricting to shore up their own majority and weaken opportunities for their opponents,” commented Laurenz.

He said in the current system “politicians choose their voters, instead of voters choosing their politicians.”

Read in Original Context: Bill would set up nonpartisan redistricting process | Raleigh Libertarian Examiner

Read in Original Context: Redistricting reform legislation introduced | The Voter Update

Read in Original Context: Bills seek to shorten early voting, eliminate same-day registration | The Voter Update