Thank you for this podcast on the ballot initiatives. As you are aware we have had this for a very long time in California. so a few caveats. As Michael mentioned a lot of gross moneyed people, including people who don't even live in your State may bankroll a ballot initiative, then pour a few more billion dollars into TV ads to get it passed (personal opinion, if people would quit getting their voting decisions from 10 to 30 second TV blurbs all that money would be wasted. Of course, gulp, people would have to read think and fact check[Oh, the horror of it all]) Next if you're making a new law make it a single issue, don't embellish with add on laws. For example, if you want a law to reduce greenhouse gas, don't talk about wind power. Keep it simple, "Greenhouse gas levels must be lowered by 30% by the year 2035." Unfortunately in California, many of our environmental organizations, love to put out three part issues, reduce the greenhouse gas level, but don't use wind power because the sea gulls get injured, it's ok to use solar, but not hydro-electric..........No! KISS always works best. Make sure your ballot measure is unambiguous. And finally, in California, the ballot measures become part of the very cumbersome State Constitution - so make sure your issue is allowable under both the US Constitution and your State Constitution. If you are trying to amend an existing Article or Amendment state that and cite the Article/Amendment you are altering, otherwise it won't make it to the ballot. In California we used to have volunteers (I was one of them for more years that I care to remember) getting signatures to pass a ballot proposal, more and more the proposal initiators hire people at $5/ per signature. Bad idea, because most of these people haven't a clue what the ballot issue means or what would be the result of a win or loss. They are not emotionally invested in the measure, so, they really don't care. One other tip, Ironing boards make the best signature collecting tables, they are not too bulky, they are collapsible, easily fit into most cars, and if you don't have one your mom, grandma, or great-aunt probably does.
Please run on this! California has the best overtime pay laws. These should be nation wide. Laws that pay you if they take you away from your family. Laws that respect your time. Working families need a warrior.
Ballot proposal agreed. Got to stop gerrymandering. It's cheating. But then again, why is it that some of us are forced to cheat in order to just get by? I'm doing okay, but I have friends who take odd jobs off the books and that's how they survive. Social Security alone is barely enough to survive on as it is.
Thanks for a very informative podcast. Unfortunately, Texas doesn’t allow citizens led ballot initiatives to amend the state constitution. It can only come on the ballot after being passed by two thirds majority in both houses of the state legislature. With all the gerrymandering and voter suppression that the Republicans in the state legislature do, supported and encouraged by Republicans in statewide executive positions like Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General, they are unlikely to approve such a ballot initiative to end gerrymandering and voter suppression as was done in Michigan.
So what can we do in these circumstances that is viable in Texas?
I am so proud of you, Michael. I have moved back to Flint, after many years away. So have many in my family. My hope is that we will make a difference! As you have! Using the ballot proposal idea, you are right. And it worked! Many who had lost hope and were not voting came back to the polls to see those 3 proposals through! I love your ideas!
Always check history for answers. Our history looks good moving forward. We did not repeat the past like one man wanted the nation to do after watching the riots as a teenager. They shaped him. The riots in the 1960’s were rough and the ones from 2020 pale in comparison. The main reason is because of the Civil Rights Bills of 1964 signed by LBJ. One man however wanted to be re-elected like a Nixon in 1968 and he tried. He tried so hard but lost to a Biden. We are not repeating the past. The political back slides are growing smaller. That does not mean the rhetoric of hate and threats and violence will be gone. If people could march in the 1960 against all odds, we can today. The movement never ended and in a democracy it never does. Our march in 2024 may not as profound in its imagery. We simply will be voting in numbers never seen in this country because of the Freedom Marches.
The height in voter turnout was 1964 when the Civil Rights Movement was at its peak. By Reagan, the Republican Party suppressed the young vote with boredom. Trump has stoked the wrong fire. Nothing builds the fire in the belly of American youth more than a racist Republican. Talk about running the wrong campaign. Democrats, there are five territories and one federal district that have no representation in federal government. Diverse peoples ignored by social injustice.
Ballot proposals have always been a big deal in Colorado. These proposals brought us many nice things, including legal weed and magic mushrooms, the reintroduction and protection of wolves, and increased funding for education, among other important features of a free society. Many of these proposals are strictly local too. I think I’ve mentioned this before, but although I live in one of the few red districts in CO, democrats are mostly having great success here, and the state is growing more liberal every year. I could not be happier about this. We had what someone called an “extinction-level event” in the CO statehouse, where there is now a Democratic super majority. Anyway, I believe that the western red states you mentioned have ballot proposals written into their state constitutions because of this whole image of  the free and open wild west. This is why the states in the Rocky Mountain west who have remained red are so hard to flip, because they see Democrats as ruling over them. This is what has been ingrained into them, what has literally been beaten into their heads from birth. I heard some Republican say in a recent newscast that Nancy Pelosi ruled like a Gestapo or something like that. So yes, in the states that seem irretrievably red, ballot proposals are a good way to push through reforms that the state legislatures would never do themselves. 
We should top 50% youth turnout (18-24) in 2024 looking at trends. But I can look at that chart to see which ethnic groups are lagging behind. We need more young Latinos in races this time around. That is our biggest lagging group. Texas Texas Texas!
2020, about 1.5 million students were enrolled in private high schools or similar institutions in the United States. There were significantly more students enrolled in public high schools across the United States, at 15.3 million students.Dec 8, 2022
There are almost 17 million new voters who will all be available come 2024. We need more Democracy in those places now to build excitement. Half of those have graduated and moved on. We need enthusiasm in this voter pool!
Right next door in Indiana we have no ability to add anything to the ballot. Neither the initiative nor referendum as ever been adopted in our "fair" state - Indiana - as far as I am able to ascertain. The Republistupids have a complete lock on statewide government. Only in a few communities are there strong Democratic Parties, such as Monroe County and Bloomington. We also have "Right to Work" laws in Indiana which are anything but and serve to keep wages and benefits low. Our governor, a Republidiot, refuses to allow any consideration of cannabis legalization, even for medical purposes, as long as the federal government has cannabis classified as it has cannabis classified. Illinois taxes for out of state cannabis purchasers are quite high, something like 30%, and purchasers are limited as to amounts per day that can be bought. We have no anti-gerrymandering legislation so Democratic populations are arranged so they have as little political say as possible.
The mountain is high, the way is long for justice in Indiana.
Thank you for everything you do, Mr. Moore. You give us hope and stir us to action! Rock ON!!!
Thank you for this podcast on the ballot initiatives. As you are aware we have had this for a very long time in California. so a few caveats. As Michael mentioned a lot of gross moneyed people, including people who don't even live in your State may bankroll a ballot initiative, then pour a few more billion dollars into TV ads to get it passed (personal opinion, if people would quit getting their voting decisions from 10 to 30 second TV blurbs all that money would be wasted. Of course, gulp, people would have to read think and fact check[Oh, the horror of it all]) Next if you're making a new law make it a single issue, don't embellish with add on laws. For example, if you want a law to reduce greenhouse gas, don't talk about wind power. Keep it simple, "Greenhouse gas levels must be lowered by 30% by the year 2035." Unfortunately in California, many of our environmental organizations, love to put out three part issues, reduce the greenhouse gas level, but don't use wind power because the sea gulls get injured, it's ok to use solar, but not hydro-electric..........No! KISS always works best. Make sure your ballot measure is unambiguous. And finally, in California, the ballot measures become part of the very cumbersome State Constitution - so make sure your issue is allowable under both the US Constitution and your State Constitution. If you are trying to amend an existing Article or Amendment state that and cite the Article/Amendment you are altering, otherwise it won't make it to the ballot. In California we used to have volunteers (I was one of them for more years that I care to remember) getting signatures to pass a ballot proposal, more and more the proposal initiators hire people at $5/ per signature. Bad idea, because most of these people haven't a clue what the ballot issue means or what would be the result of a win or loss. They are not emotionally invested in the measure, so, they really don't care. One other tip, Ironing boards make the best signature collecting tables, they are not too bulky, they are collapsible, easily fit into most cars, and if you don't have one your mom, grandma, or great-aunt probably does.
You inspired me again. I emailed the White House!
President Biden,
Please run on this! California has the best overtime pay laws. These should be nation wide. Laws that pay you if they take you away from your family. Laws that respect your time. Working families need a warrior.
https://www.hourly.io/post/understanding-overtime-in-california
Thanks for reminding us that there are so many options. Anything is possible!
Ballot proposal agreed. Got to stop gerrymandering. It's cheating. But then again, why is it that some of us are forced to cheat in order to just get by? I'm doing okay, but I have friends who take odd jobs off the books and that's how they survive. Social Security alone is barely enough to survive on as it is.
Thanks for a very informative podcast. Unfortunately, Texas doesn’t allow citizens led ballot initiatives to amend the state constitution. It can only come on the ballot after being passed by two thirds majority in both houses of the state legislature. With all the gerrymandering and voter suppression that the Republicans in the state legislature do, supported and encouraged by Republicans in statewide executive positions like Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General, they are unlikely to approve such a ballot initiative to end gerrymandering and voter suppression as was done in Michigan.
So what can we do in these circumstances that is viable in Texas?
I am so proud of you, Michael. I have moved back to Flint, after many years away. So have many in my family. My hope is that we will make a difference! As you have! Using the ballot proposal idea, you are right. And it worked! Many who had lost hope and were not voting came back to the polls to see those 3 proposals through! I love your ideas!
ohhh... nice!! that was Norah Jones singing... loved it!! thank you!!
more great ideas, of course!!! Slay the Dragon is such an interesting and inspiring film!! See it!!!
Michael Moore,
Always check history for answers. Our history looks good moving forward. We did not repeat the past like one man wanted the nation to do after watching the riots as a teenager. They shaped him. The riots in the 1960’s were rough and the ones from 2020 pale in comparison. The main reason is because of the Civil Rights Bills of 1964 signed by LBJ. One man however wanted to be re-elected like a Nixon in 1968 and he tried. He tried so hard but lost to a Biden. We are not repeating the past. The political back slides are growing smaller. That does not mean the rhetoric of hate and threats and violence will be gone. If people could march in the 1960 against all odds, we can today. The movement never ended and in a democracy it never does. Our march in 2024 may not as profound in its imagery. We simply will be voting in numbers never seen in this country because of the Freedom Marches.
A working American platform will build a wave also. We should not have to make everything ballot initiatives.
Democrats,
The height in voter turnout was 1964 when the Civil Rights Movement was at its peak. By Reagan, the Republican Party suppressed the young vote with boredom. Trump has stoked the wrong fire. Nothing builds the fire in the belly of American youth more than a racist Republican. Talk about running the wrong campaign. Democrats, there are five territories and one federal district that have no representation in federal government. Diverse peoples ignored by social injustice.
https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/demo/p20-573.pdf
Ballot proposals have always been a big deal in Colorado. These proposals brought us many nice things, including legal weed and magic mushrooms, the reintroduction and protection of wolves, and increased funding for education, among other important features of a free society. Many of these proposals are strictly local too. I think I’ve mentioned this before, but although I live in one of the few red districts in CO, democrats are mostly having great success here, and the state is growing more liberal every year. I could not be happier about this. We had what someone called an “extinction-level event” in the CO statehouse, where there is now a Democratic super majority. Anyway, I believe that the western red states you mentioned have ballot proposals written into their state constitutions because of this whole image of  the free and open wild west. This is why the states in the Rocky Mountain west who have remained red are so hard to flip, because they see Democrats as ruling over them. This is what has been ingrained into them, what has literally been beaten into their heads from birth. I heard some Republican say in a recent newscast that Nancy Pelosi ruled like a Gestapo or something like that. So yes, in the states that seem irretrievably red, ballot proposals are a good way to push through reforms that the state legislatures would never do themselves. 
We should top 50% youth turnout (18-24) in 2024 looking at trends. But I can look at that chart to see which ethnic groups are lagging behind. We need more young Latinos in races this time around. That is our biggest lagging group. Texas Texas Texas!
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1096597/voter-turnout-18-24-year-olds-presidential-elections-historical/
HIGH SCHOOL VOTERS
2020, about 1.5 million students were enrolled in private high schools or similar institutions in the United States. There were significantly more students enrolled in public high schools across the United States, at 15.3 million students.Dec 8, 2022
There are almost 17 million new voters who will all be available come 2024. We need more Democracy in those places now to build excitement. Half of those have graduated and moved on. We need enthusiasm in this voter pool!
In case anyone be interested ten est tomorrow https://open.substack.com/pub/ejeancarroll/p/carroll-v-trump-1000-am-jan-i0th?r=p7yq2&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Michael
Since I can’t get information directly from people can people post somewhere of any developments of more democracy. Ballot initiatives etc.
Right next door in Indiana we have no ability to add anything to the ballot. Neither the initiative nor referendum as ever been adopted in our "fair" state - Indiana - as far as I am able to ascertain. The Republistupids have a complete lock on statewide government. Only in a few communities are there strong Democratic Parties, such as Monroe County and Bloomington. We also have "Right to Work" laws in Indiana which are anything but and serve to keep wages and benefits low. Our governor, a Republidiot, refuses to allow any consideration of cannabis legalization, even for medical purposes, as long as the federal government has cannabis classified as it has cannabis classified. Illinois taxes for out of state cannabis purchasers are quite high, something like 30%, and purchasers are limited as to amounts per day that can be bought. We have no anti-gerrymandering legislation so Democratic populations are arranged so they have as little political say as possible.
The mountain is high, the way is long for justice in Indiana.
Thank you for everything you do, Mr. Moore. You give us hope and stir us to action! Rock ON!!!