Tag Archives: US Congress

The country’s most successful non-partisan congressional candidate Michael Moore announces 2022 campaign

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. /ScoopCloud/ -- In 2020 Michael Moore challenged incumbent Democrat Ilhan Omar for Minnesota's fifth congressional district. Moore was the only U.S. congressional candidate in the country facing both a Republican and Democratic candidate who received more than 9% of the general election vote. Today Moore's campaign announced they will again challenge Omar.

According to the Associated Press, Moore Received 37,979 votes in 2020 (*Note 1). Moore ran with a message of helping provide professional guidance and experience for a district stricken with a serious leadership void.

Moore's stunning debut into politics is impressive, taking into account he was competing in a field of candidates who raised and spent over 20 million dollars.

As a prominent business owner-born and raised in the 5th district, the 51-year-old Moore presents a uniquely non-partisan approach to problem-solving. With a platform of honest, fair, and responsive representation for all residents in the 5th district, including inclusive positions on social justice, income, housing, and economic equality.

A historical view of the 5th district shows transformative and enlightened representation by champions of inclusive and responsible politics. Moore seeks to foster community strength through partnerships and strategic reforms while working on dialing back the counter-productive and harmful hyper-partisan extremism.

Moore says, "We must stop allowing ourselves to be willingly complicit in this fake struggle of 'us vs. them,' 'good guys vs. bad guys.' This deliberately perpetrated illusion of a 2-party political system has been forced upon us by a political tag-team which no longer holds our interests as their highest priority."

The Michael Moore for Congress campaign has a virtual and in-person campaign kickoff planned on February 5, at their South Minneapolis HQ at 4600 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55407.

For more details, please visit https://www.usrepmoore.com/

SOCIAL

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXmOGL_-KxsHkvuO_N6ibEg

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moore4the5th/

* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MN5needsMickeyMoore

MEDIA CONTACT
Michael "Mickey" Moore
Michael Moore for Congress
Engage@usrepmoore.com
612-220-0233

*NOTE 1 https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/Index?ersElectionId=136&scenario=USRepresentative

PAID FOR BY MICHAEL MOORE FOR CONGRESS

In 2020 Michael Moore challenged incumbent Democrat Ilhan Omar for Minnesota's fifth congressional district. Moore was the only U.S. congressional candidate in the country facing both a Republican and Democratic candidate who received more than 9% of the general election vote. Today Moore's campaign announced they will again challenge Omar.

Related link: https://www.usrepmoore.com/

Phillip Snowden Formally Announces His Run for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District

MONROE, La. /ScoopCloud/ -- The Phillip Snowden Campaign announces, mentor and retired engineer, Phillip Snowden on August 29, 2020 will officially announce his candidacy to represent the hard-working people of Louisiana's 5th Congressional District. The announcement will occur at 11 a.m. in his childhood home of Dubach, Louisiana near the Hamilton Warehouse Event Center (124 Hico Street).

Mr. Snowden believes the people from Louisiana 5th Congressional District deserve a leader who will bridge us together and thereby collectively solve the problems which help to lead us out of this pandemic, increase access to affordable health care, have world class education, and infrastructure which rivals that in the best funded areas in our country.

"I will work to construct bridges between Louisiana communities and Washington, D.C. to ensure the government serve its' citizens not the opposite. My focus is delivering on America's promise to Louisiana's hard-working families up and down the financial ladder."

The public is welcome; however, we ask that you wear masks and employ social distancing. We encourage everyone to stay safe.

Those who are unable to attend can see the live stream from Facebook at the Phillip Snowden Campaign https://www.facebook.com/phillp.snowden.104.

Come meet the candidate, provide your suggestions, and hear his thoughts as well as positions on what's needed to build bridges between people and collectively address the hard problems that endanger our way of life, and our children's future in the district, Louisiana, and this nation.

More information visit our website: https://www.phillipsnowdencampaign.com/

Paid for by Phillip Snowden for Congress

The Phillip Snowden Campaign announces, mentor and retired engineer, Phillip Snowden on August 29, 2020 will officially announce his candidacy to represent the hard-working people of Louisiana's 5th Congressional District. The announcement will occur at 11 a.m. in his childhood home of Dubach, Louisiana near the Hamilton Warehouse Event Center (124 Hico Street).

Related link: https://www.phillipsnowdencampaign.com/

Tennessee’s 1st Democratic Nominee Blair Walsingham Announces the ‘Freedom Grant’

EIDSON, Tenn. /ScoopCloud/ -- Blair Walsingham, Democratic Congressional nominee in Tennessee's 1st District will award two "Freedom Grants," $500/month for one year to district residents. Walsingham says that her Freedom Grant, not dependent upon a vote for her, is intended to "empower individuals to move beyond survival." If elected, she will seek legislation for a Freedom Dividend, a monthly basic income of $1000 to Americans 18 and over.

Walsingham says that corporations thrive on benefits from tax dollars, and says, "It's time for taxpayers to thrive too." Walsingham cites direct cash distributions by Dolly Parton following the Gatlinburg fires, and per capita distribution in the nearby Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, as models of basic income. "In the EBCI, this practice improved quality of life and increased opportunity," says Walsingham, who interviewed Principal Chief Sneed for her podcast.

While basic income plans vary, Walsingham's plan is universal. "This dividend unites Americans with a shared benefit of citizenship," she says, pointing out that while her plan could eradicate poverty, the advantages are not just for low income households.

"Middle class Americans," adds Walsingham, "are suffering from debt and healthcare bills." A common rationale for basic income is automation in the workplace, which the McKinsey Global Institute says may eliminate 73 million jobs by 2030.

Interest in basic income has grown during COVID-19 after Congress passed a round of stimulus checks. A trial UBI in Stockton, Calif., showed that recipients increased spending on food by 12% from the same time last year.

More money in the hands of Americans means more spending. Walsingham says we can "replace the cycle of poverty with a cycle of prosperity," and that her campaign's Freedom Grant initiative is a step in that direction.

If elected, Blair Walsingham would be the first Democrat to represent Tennessee's 1st District in over a hundred years.

To learn more, visit https://blairforcongress.com/

About Blair Walsingham:

Blair Walsingham, candidate for U.S. Congress, TN-01, is endorsed by key community and national organizations, including former presidential candidate Andrew Yang. Running on a platform of health, freedom, and financial security, Blair is a veteran, small business owner, and resides in Hawkins County with her family.

*Link to images for media: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-0VA6dom6xN7b2b3_jR1dYE7eW01Vkhh

Paid for by Blair For Congress

Blair Walsingham, Democratic Congressional nominee in Tennessee's 1st District will award two "Freedom Grants," $500/month for one year to district residents. Walsingham says that her Freedom Grant, not dependent upon a vote for her, is intended to "empower individuals to move beyond survival."

Related link: https://blairforcongress.com/

Real Change: Expanding Congress to Include a Citizens Assembly

WASHINGTON D.C. /ScoopCloud/ -- An Assembly of 600 citizen-delegates is being established by NewUnity.Org and it is expected to eventually become a third-chamber of Congress via constitutional amendment, creating a tri-cameral legislature. The first session of the Assembly is scheduled to start in early 2020. Any U.S. citizen over the age of 18 can be a delegate to the Assembly, provided they satisfy some eligibility requirements.

The Assembly advances democracy and mitigates many of the issues that have plagued the political process. There are no special interests, no political parties and no big money donors involved in selection of delegates and therefore none of the conflicts of interests or compromises that afflict many who are elected to Congress. As a non-partisan body, the Assembly can reduce the polarization that permeates Washington and, indeed, the country.

There is no doubt Americans want real change. 66% of Americans say they want major structural change in government, according to a poll of Americans by U.Chicago Harris/AP-NORC which was released in May 2019. Reforming Congress is clearly the place to start. It has the lowest job-approval rating of any branch of government. Congress's approval rating is only 17%, according to Gallup Poll in Aug. 2019. For reference, approval of the Supreme Court is 51% and of the President is 39%, according to Gallup Polls as of September 2018 and August 2019, respectively.

These polls highlight the extent of America's frustration and disgust with the polarized state of politics and gridlock in government. Research by Greater Good at Univ of Berkeley in March 2019 describes the destructive impact that increasing polarization is having on America. In summary, the adverse impact includes: winner-take-all politics, demonization of opposing views, proliferation of partisan propaganda, increased stress and general distrust of government. As an institution whose members are not selected by political parties, the Assembly is a solution that can both improve democracy and unify the country.

Delegates will be chosen from a database of over 230 million adults by an independent non-partisan organization using a transparent selection process that is similar to selection for jury duty. Given the Assembly involves patriotic service to country, organizers believe many will consider it a supreme honor to serve their country.

As a group, Delegates will mirror the general population to a 99% confidence level with approximately 5% margin of error. A 55% super-majority of Delegates will be required to adopt any measure meaning, statistically, decisions of the Assembly are consistent with the majority of Americans 99% of the time. It is obvious that Congress, as currently structured, could not match the Assembly's 99% level of performance.

Furthermore, the Assembly's demographic composition will closely mirror America's whereas Congress' composition is very different. For example, in Congress, 25% are female vs 51% of America. Through its composition and its voting rules, the Assembly will be unique in reflecting the will of the people.

Direct participation in government by citizens is not a new concept. Citizens already participate directly in one branch of government, the judiciary, through jury duty. People who are called for jury duty are selected from a database of all citizens - a sort of lottery selection process modified with some eligibility requirements. Most Americans have been called to jury duty at some point in their life. Nearly 15% of American adults, over 30 million people, are summoned to jury duty each year, according to a study by the National Center for State Courts. The Assembly simply extends the concept of direct citizen participation to the legislative branch of government.

NewUnity.Org believes citizens should participate in making laws - not just administering them as a juror. Service in the Assembly may someday be referred to as 'Assembly duty.' As with jury duty, delegates will be compensated for service and expenses will be reimbursed.

Direct citizen participation alone would add a lot of value; but the Assembly does even more. Delegates are able to do research and they have access to data and resources to fully explore an issue. Then they debate the issue with other delegates who have opposing views and are equally well-informed. Some will be persuaded to change their original position on an issue. The outcome of this deliberative process are decisions that are well-considered and fully-informed. The government can look to the Assembly for guidance on what the American people really think about issues and policies - rather than relying upon polls of uninformed people. This clearly would be a significant improvement over the present situation.

The Assembly's model is applying, on a national scale, a concept that is being tested in Dallas this week at an event called America in One Room or A1R. Five hundred citizens have been selected to statistically mirror America and they will debate five major national issues over three days. A1R will show if citizens can come together to seriously debate and vote on major issues. Direct citizen participation has already been applied successfully in over 25 countries globally. A1R is a Helena Project and involves Stanford University's Center for Deliberative Democracy and NORC at the University of Chicago. Lessons from A1R will be useful in establishing the Assembly and other direct democracy initiatives. The New York Times published an Op-Ed about A1R in August and is expected to publish outcomes of A1R after the event. Lessons from A1R will inform the operation of the Assembly.

"Everyone will have the chance to be a modern 'Mr. Smith' as in the classic movie 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' - an ordinary citizen is able to have a meaningful impact on government," said Ms. Anderson, a spokesperson for NewUnity.Org. "The Assembly reflects the actual will of the people in the entire country rather than representatives that are influenced by their political party, special interests and reflect the narrow preferences of those in their district who happen to vote on one day." Finally, she stated, "New Unity.Org does not undertake this initiative with a view to favor, or disfavor, any political party. The Assembly's objective is solely to benefit America by bolstering our democracy. It is a solution that stems from a long-term general disenchantment with politics and government."

Standing up this new Assembly is a massive undertaking. It takes a large number of volunteers and millions of dollars of donations from individuals and institutions. NewUnity.Org is a grassroots effort. It is not backed by any corporation or special interests. It is not backed by any corporation or special interests. NewUnity.Org plans to raise over $2 million by the end of this year and to start the first session of the Assembly in early 2020. Those who volunteer or donate will be doing a patriotic contribution to American democracy. NewUnity.Org has opened a donation portal on its website.

The first session of the Assembly is expected to meet at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. NewUnity.Org is recruiting hundreds of volunteers to help achieve its mission. As an incentive, volunteers and donors will be granted a higher chance to be selected as a delegate to the historic first session of the Assembly.

About NewUnity:
NewUnity.org is a 527 non-profit organization. New Unity's mission is to promote direct democracy and advocate for non-partisan, independent voter participation in elections and government. See https://newunity.org for information about New Unity's mission and how to support it and follow us on Twitter @NewUnity_USA

An Assembly of 600 citizen-delegates is being established by NewUnity.Org and it is expected to eventually become a third-chamber of Congress via constitutional amendment, creating a tri-cameral legislature. The first session of the Assembly is scheduled to start in early 2020. Any U.S. citizen over the age of 18 can be a delegate to the Assembly, provided they satisfy some eligibility requirements.

Related link: https://newunity.org/