Political Reform: New America Events

CA EVENT: Blockbuster Democracy

Communications — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
10/14/2008 - 8:00am

Ninety-seven years ago this month (October 1911), Californians -- egged on by Progressive reformers -- added the recall, the referendum, and the initiative to the state constitution. As California completes its first century of direct democracy and prepares to vote on another ballot crowded with measures, is it time to reform the reform?

Californians treasure the right to decide public policy questions at the ballot. But there is growing concern about how direct democracy broadly, and the initiative specifically, work in practice. Voters tell pollsters that money and interest groups have too much power in the initiative process. Voters often suggest they are confused about the true effects of proposed ballot measures. State legislative leaders say that their discretion is limited -- and attempts at long-term planning are defeated -- by the tendency of voters to make budget and spending decisions at the ballot. Local officials encounter a similar problem when it comes to issues of land use.

There has been plenty of commentary about the problems with the initiative process. This event will offer ways to change it.

CA Event: Instant Runoff Voting in Los Angeles

Communications — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 02:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
06/02/2008 - 12:00pm

On Monday, June 2nd, the New America Foundation's Political Reformr Program held an engaging panel discussion and luncheon on instant runoff voting (IRV) in Los Angeles.

Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) is a critical electoral reform for the City of Los Angeles that allows voters to rank a first, second and third choice for each office. IRV elects majority winners in a single election without the expense and voter fatigue of a second election. IRV holds great promise to increase voter turnout while saving taxpayers $8 million dollars each election cycle (source: LA city clerk).

A broad coalition is coming together to support IRV, with endorsements from, amongst others, the League of Women Voters, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, labor unions, voting rights groups, neighborhood councils and political leaders like former Mayor Richard Riordan, labor leader Dolores Huerta, Anthony Thigpenn, and Antonio Gonzalez.

For more information about IRV in Los Angeles visit the website www.IRVinLA.org.

CA Event: Instant Runoff Voting and Minorities in L.A.

Communications — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
04/19/2008 - 10:00am

Currently, Los Angeles' local elections run on a wasteful, two-round election system. Last May, only 6 percent of voters turned out for the runoff election for the Los Angeles Community College Districts -- an election that cost taxpayers $5 million, or $40 per voter. For this reason, the LA City Council is seriously considering Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) for local elections.

By combining the general and runoff election into 1 single election, IRV will save millions of taxpayer dollars and help raise voter turnout. IRV allows voters to rank their choices, in order of preference (1-2-3). This way, if your first choice cannot win, your vote will go to your next choice.

Please join the New America Foundation/Political Reform Program and the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable for an engaging discussion on political reform and its impact on communities of color.

California Event: Repairing California Democracy

Communications — Tue, 22 May 2007 11:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
05/22/2007 - 12:00pm

There is a widening breach between most of the 35 million people residing in California and the fewer than 9 million who actually vote. Seven million Californians are eligible to vote but for one reason or another don’t bother. A small group of frequent voters, who are richer, whiter, older and hold different opinions on education, social spending, Prop.13, and more compared to their nonvoting neighbors -- form the majority that decides which candidates win and which ballot measures pass.

Thus, two Californias have emerged -- a small group that votes and a much larger group that does not, with only one side is electing political leaders who divide up the pie. The crucial challenge for California’s future is, how do we open up our political system so that it turns the non-voters into voters, and appeals to the broad interests of all Californians? What political reforms will allow California to realize its promise? Will redistricting reform accomplish it? If not, what other reforms are needed?

This event was held is in cooperation with the University of California Center Sacramento and the California Research Bureau. Video of the event is available at right, while an MP3 audio recording of Political Reform Program Director Steven Hill's presentation can be downloaded below.

California Event: Alternative Voting Systems

Communications — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 04:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
04/26/2007 - 7:00pm

The Alternative Voting Systems forum will look at a range of voting system methods, including the current numbered seat system used by Pasadena Unified School District as well as the geographic districts used by Pasadena City Council. Speakers will present information about alternatives such as instant runoff voting and choice voting, systems which allow voters to rank their candidates in order of preference (1,2,3). Attendees are encouraged to fill out and bring a copy of The Pasadena Weekly's clip-out IRV ballot. During the session, the audience will have the opportunity to participate in a mock election using the ballot which will be counted in front of interested observers.

To learn more about Instant Runoff Voting, please click here.

For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Lynne Serpe at (213) 480-0994 or serpe@newamerica.net.

This event is co-sponsored with the League of Women Voters Pasadena Area, Common Cause, Invest in PUSD Kids and the Pasadena Weekly.

Deliberative Democracy in California

Communications — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 12:00:00 -0500

A New America Event
02/23/2007 - 12:00pm

The conference, which was co-sponsored by the New America Foundation and CommonSense California, explored the emerging field of deliberative democracy, which uses tools such as citizen dialogues, deliberative polling and citizen's assemblies to engage regular citizens in policy issues. Deliberative democracy methods seek to break through partisan gridlock, overcome special interest domination, and rekindle a sense of civic ownership in the conduct of government.

The conference brought together leading policy makers and opinion leaders, provided a space to meet with experts in this field and to learn more about the various methods.

Ten Big Ideas for a New America

Communications — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 02:00:00 -0500

A New America Event
01/31/2007 - 11:00am

The recent turnover in Congress, combined with a wide open presidential election cycle, creates a rare opportunity to bring new ideas into the political process. The spirit of this new era will be captured by those -- from either party or no party -- who embrace innovative yet pragmatic solutions to the foremost challenges facing our nation.

At this event, the New America Foundation released a major new report outlining Ten Big Ideas for a New America, and offered brief presentations on nine of the 10 ideas. (Senior Fellow Jacob Hacker, author of the Universal Risk Insurance proposal, was testifying on Capitol Hill and was unable to attend.)

In addition, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) offered kenote addresses that explored their respective takes on the need for big ideas in American politics.

Video of the complete event is available at right, while MP3 audio recordings can be dowloaded at the bottom of this page. To jump directly to video of a particular keynote address or Big Idea presentation, please use the links below.

Every Baby a Trust Fund Baby

Closing the $700 Billion Tax Loophole

Instant Runoff Voting

Mandatory, Affordable Health Insurance

Tax Consumption, Not Work

A College Access Contract

A Capital Budget for Public Investment

A Universal 401(k) Plan

An Energy Efficiency Trading System

10 Steps to Repair American Democracy

Communications — Fri, 23 Jun 2006 05:15:00 -0400

A New America Event
06/22/2006 - 12:00pm

In his new book, 10 Steps to Repair American Democracy, author Steven Hill says that American democracy has been working about as well as the levees around New Orleans. Hill, who is director of the New America Foundation's Political Reform program, establishes that American democracy is rooted in outdated methods and practices, from voting equipment to the way we elect the President and Congress. He outlines ways for overhauling and reinvigorating our political system and presents a comprehensive vision for how American democracy could work, and the reforms that will take use there -- from a more robust election administration regime to a national election holiday to free airtime for candidates to direct election of the President, term limits for Supreme Court justices, media reform, campaign finance reform, instant runoff voting, universal voter registration, and the end of winner take-all elections.

10 Steps to Repair American Democracy, which has a foreword by the New Yorker's Hendrik Hertzberg, is a "one-stop" shopping guide to what's broken about democracy in the United States, and what Americans can do to repair it. Drawing on the author's 20 years of scholarship, journalism and advocacy, this book will change the way you think about American politics.

Reconnecting Californians to Their Government (Sacramento)

Communications — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 18:00:00 -0500

A New America Event
01/26/2006 - 12:00pm

This event is co-sponsored with the California Research Bureau.

Voters want change, despite the failure of last November's reform ballot measures. Political analysts have recommended a number of reforms, from redistricting, revised term limits, and open primaries to alternative election systems and the public financing of campaigns. But how do we change a system when powerful interests defend the status quo?

A model solution lies across the border in Canada. Called a Citizens Assembly, its strength lies in restoring power to the people. British Columbia recently delegated the task of basic political reform to its own citizens by creating a panel of 160 voters chosen at random (like a jury pool). The Citizens Assembly members spent several months studying the performance of their democracy and ultimately proposed a change for voters to consider on the ballot. In doing so, British Columbia took stale partisanship out of the political process -- something California badly needs.

This highly successful experience has been turned into bipartisan legislation that was introduced this year into the California State Assembly and is receiving broad attention. The Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters recently wrote that Governor Schwarzenegger "should stop negotiating the terms of his surrender to the Legislature and make the [Citizens Assembly] his new crusade." Join the New America Foundation as we discuss the political implications of using Citizens Assemblies here in California.

New America Foundation is sponsoring this event statewide, on January 24th in Los Angeles and January 25th in San Francisco. If you are interested in attending either of these other events, please email Lily Ho at ho@newamerica.net.

For more info about the proposal for a California Citizens Assembly, see this article in the Sacramento Bee.

Reconnecting Californians to Their Government (San Francisco)

Communications — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 22:00:00 -0500

A New America Event
01/25/2006 - 12:00pm

This event is co-sponsored with The Commonwealth Club of California.

A model solution lies across the border in Canada. Called a Citizens' Assembly, its strength lies in restoring power to the people. British Columbia recently delegated the task of basic political reform to its own citizens by creating a panel of 160 voters chosen at random (like a jury pool). The Citizens' Assembly members spent several months studying the performance of their democracy and ultimately proposed a change for voters to consider on the ballot. In doing so, British Columbia took stale partisanship out of the political process -- something California badly needs.

This highly successful experience has been turned into bipartisan legislation that was introduced this year into the California State Assembly and is receiving broad attention. The Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters recently wrote that Governor Schwarzenegger "should stop negotiating the terms of his surrender to the Legislature and make the [Citizens' Assembly] his new crusade." Join the New America Foundation as we discuss the political implications of using Citizens Assemblies here in California.

New America Foundation is sponsoring this event statewide, on January 24 in Los Angeles and January 26 in Sacramento. If you are interested in attending either of the other events, please email Lily Ho at ho@newamerica.net.

For more info about the proposal for a California Citizens Assembly, see this article in the Sacramento Bee.

Reconnecting Californians to Their Government (Los Angeles)

Communications — Tue, 24 Jan 2006 22:00:00 -0500

A New America Event
01/24/2006 - 12:00pm

This event is co-sponsored with University of Southern California Bedrosian Center on Governance

New America Foundation is sponsoring this event statewide, on January 25th in San Francisco and January 26th in Sacramento. If you are interested in attending either of these other events, please email Lily Ho at ho@newamerica.net.

For more info about the proposal for a California Citizens Assembly, see this article in the Sacramento Bee.

The Future of Policymaking in California

Communications — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 11:00:00 -0500

A New America Event
12/05/2005 - 12:00pm

California's increasing use of the initiative process raises new questions about policymaking and the role of representative government. This important discussion about California's Initiative Process and Our Future was cosponsored by the Public Policy Institute of California, the New America Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation.

Is California Governable?

Communications — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 12:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
07/26/2005 - 12:00pm

This event is sponsored by Zocalo and The Music Center in conjunction with the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation

At a time when basic public promises like an education, health care and home ownership are in decline, angry voters have weakened government with initiatives that limit terms in office, require super-majority budget votes and set minimum spending levels.

Four past governors of California will join us to discuss the future of governance in the nation's most populous state. Drawing on their own experiences in the statehouse, they will explore how Californians can make their state work again.

The Future of California's Democracy

Communications — Thu, 24 Feb 2005 15:00:00 -0500

A New America Event
02/24/2005 - 12:02pm

The half-day conference highlighted arguments and expert analysis surrounding recent proposals for redistricting and other electoral reforms. Distinguished panelists --including Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Assembly Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy -- previewed the upcoming public debate and discussed the performance and priorities of the California Legislature.

Forward Engagement

Communications — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 12:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
09/02/2004 - 12:00pm

The quickening rate of major new developments in all spheres of human knowledge and organization is challenging the adaptive capacity of democratic governance, and demands both conceptual and political innovation in the way we deal with the longer range future. Leon Fuerth argues that we need to develop a policy -- domestic as well as international -- that addresses longer range contingencies.

At this event, Fuerth introduced and discussed his idea of Forward Engagement, a methodology intended for practical application in governance. While it awaits trial, it has been a successful methodology for training young people interested in government to explore the policy implications of long range trends in science and technology, security, economics, and governance.

Campaign Finance Reform

Communications — Wed, 26 Jun 2002 12:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
06/26/2002 - 12:00pm

The Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 was signed into law in March. Much has taken place in the subsequent months to challenge the very existence and meaning of the law. Numerous plaintiffs, led by Senator Mitch McConnell, have sued the government claiming that the soft-money ban and campaign advertising provisions are unconstitutional. The Federal Election Commission, tasked with interpreting and enforcing the law, seems destined to misinterpret or ignore the Congressional intent to ban soft money and increase disclosure of campaign ads as it drafts new rules to implement the Act.

Senator John McCain on Free Air Time

Communications — Wed, 19 Jun 2002 18:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
06/19/2002 - 12:00pm

Senator John McCain will outline a new bill that would provide vouchers for political candidates to buy time on the nation's broadcast media, funded by a small fee on broadcasters who currently pay nothing to use the public airwaves. Broadcasters were given licenses -- at no cost -- to use spectrum now valued at $250 billion in return for in-kind "public interest obligations," such as educational and civic programming. However, the industry has increasingly shirked these obligations -- both cutting back radically on substantive campaign coverage and gouging candidates for political ads at inflated prices (a total of $1 billion during the 2000 elections alone). Our panel will debate this issue and examine Senator McCain's proposal for legislative reform.

A Radical Centrist Agenda?

Communications — Mon, 15 Apr 2002 12:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
04/15/2002 - 12:00pm

Can a centrist agenda be radical? Looking at both the UK and the US, John Gray argues that standard liberal and conservative policy mixes are inadequate responses to some of the central issues faced by both countries. In areas such as the proper scope and limits of the market, drugs, energy policy and the war against terrorism, policy and debate remain fixated in ideological positions that have become irrelevant and harmful.

John Gray is a professor of European thought at the London School of Economics and one of the most prominent political philosophers of our time. He is a regular contributor to the Guardian and the Times Literary Supplement, and his books include Isaiah Berlin, Enlightenment's Wake, and Voltaire and Enlightenment.

The Radical Center: The Future Of America Politics

Communications — Fri, 02 Nov 2001 11:00:00 -0500

A New America Event
11/02/2001 - 12:00pm

This event is the Washington, D.C. book launch of Ted Halstead & Mike Lind's The Radical Center: The Future of American Politics. James Fallows, Chairman of the Board of the New America Foundation, will offer opening remarks.

Advance Praise for The Radical Center:

"A political manifesto worthy of the Information Age."
-- SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN

"A provocative, thoughtful, and timely message for the political establishment and the governing class, The Radical Center should be mandatory reading for everyone in office and for those of us who cover them."
-- TOM BROKAW, NBC NEWS

"In this brilliant book, Halstead and Lind capture a new center visible to the next generation but never before expressed. Regardless of your political party, your future is here."
-- ERIC SCHMIDT, CHAIRMAN OF GOOGLE

"A milestone in political thinking. Nowhere else has the case for the irrelevance of the old categories of Left and Right been put so forcefully. The Radical Center is required reading for anyone who aspires to political literacy."
-- JOHN GRAY, AUTHOR OF FALSE DAWN

"Everyone agrees that we live in a revolutionary age in which technology is changing life as we know it. Now come Ted Halstead and Michael Lind with an ambitious agenda - to reinvent our politics for these new times. They offer a fresh and intelligent roadmap for America's future."
-- FAREED ZAKARIA, NEWSWEEK

"The Radical Center provides what the political establishment thus far has failed to articulate: a clear and coherent program of innovative policy ideas adapted to the Information Age. With a creative drive and passion like those of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, Halstead and Lind offer a bold vision of institutional transformation."
-- ERIC BENHAMOU, CHAIRMAN OF 3COM CORPORATION

"Halstead and Lind represent important and refreshing new voices of the generation to come, whose work will challenge received opinion about public policy."
-- FRANCIS FUKUYAMA, AUTHOR OF THE END OF HISTORY

"The Radical Center represents new thinking, combining lessons learned from the past with an optimistic view of the future. This book deserves to be read by thoughtful Americans of all generations."
-- JOHN C. WHITEHEAD, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF GOLDMAN SACHS

"Halstead and Lind offer us a new progressive center. I hope this book starts the wide-ranging debate that we need."
-- BILL JOY, COFOUNDER OF SUN MICROSYSTEMS

"The curse of modern politics is what the technology world calls ?legacy code? - inherited taboos, biases, and blinders that prevent most public figures from expressing, or even thinking, original thoughts. The Radical Center shows us how we could deal with a number of intractable public issues if we were willing actually to think about them rather than just operating by reflex and rote."
-- JAMES FALLOWS, CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW AMERICA FOUNDATION

God, Science, and American Politics

Communications — Wed, 17 Oct 2001 12:00:00 -0400

A New America Event
10/17/2001 - 12:00pm

When was the last time religious, moral, or social considerations triumphed over science? How will the culture war over stem cells and human cloning change the face of American politics? Is the American experiment -- the idea that God and progress would never clash beyond compromise -- on the brink of extinction? Can technology be stopped even if the democratic majority wanted to stop it? Join us for what is sure to be a lively discussion.