You CAN Make Difference in Dem Party Platform! A Million Signatures!

[KoKo]

Petitions to the Democratic Party

The Kucinich Campaign wants to make sure that Bush is defeated this year. But a weak Democratic Party that fails to meet today's challenges won't win the election.

To help align the party platform with the values of most Democratic voters, we are collecting signatures for 5 petitions, reflecting our most urgent national priorities:

* Iraq,
* Health Care,
* The Patriot Act (Civil Rights),
* A Department of Peace and
* Jobs/Trade, (NAFTA/WTO).

Our goal is to present a million signatures to the Democratic Party Platform Committee when they meet at the end of June, as a complement to our efforts on the ground at the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

Please sign these online petitions and email the links to others on your list. Then download the PDF versions, print them out and get as many signatures as you can.

* Return signed Petitions to the Cleveland office by June 1st.
* Get a few pages filled, mail them in and start working on another set.

You are the Grassroots. YOU Make it Happen!
http://www.kucinich.us/VolunteerAction/petitions.php

Click here for Tips, Script, FAQ and Instructions for Completed Petitions

http://www.kucinich.us/VolunteerAction/petitions.php


UN in and U.S. out of Iraq
Online Petition
Downloadable Petition

Universal Health Care
Online Petition
Downloadable Petition

Jobs and Trade
Online Petition
Downloadable Petition

Patriot Act
Online Petition
Downloadable Petition

Department of Peace
Online Petition
Downloadable Petition


Lets get to the Convention!

Volunteer Action ~ Do Something Now!

[cosmicdot]

1. done

I hope everyone will sign these. So many said they liked what Dennis stood for in the campaign although they supported other candidates ... this is a great way to give the people a place at the table.

:dem:

[KoKo]

2. Kick...I don't think you need to make a donation to participate unless

you want to. If the Petition appeals to you, please sign on. It would make for an "interesting" Convention...and not just a "rubber stamp."

[revcarol]

3. Time to make an impact on the Democratic Party.

I am going to take these to our monthly Dem meeting and a friend will take them to the Green Party meeting.

These are things most progressives agree on.

Dennis,:yourock:

[Guaranteed]

4. Sigh

Why is it I never see our representatives railing on the most important issue we're facing today, finding a fuel alternative to gasoline?

[BeFree]

7. Do ya mean a new energy source?

A source that is cleaner, leading to better breathing for asthma inflicted kids?

A source that will put jobs on Americans rather than wars for the control of a finite resource?

Ya mean a source of energy that ensures an individual's independence and freedom from centralized big businesses?

It'd be nice, eh?

[mobuto]

8. One Senator actually is

One Senator has outlined an ambitious plan to end America's dependence on foreign oil. He's prpposed a renewable energy trust fund, that would in short time help to reduce America's dependence on oil by two million barrels a day. By the year 2020, his plan would have 20% of America's energy provided by renewable means. Over the last twenty years, he's had the single strongest record on the environment of any US Senator.

Can you guess who he is?

[Guaranteed]

15. Yeah, that's nowhere near good enough.

We're going to be using twice as much oil by 2020, and a token 10 or 20 billion dollar program is not what I'm talking about.

[LWolf]

25. Dennis does.

For these petitions, he polled visitors to his website and his supporters around the country, and narrowed them down to the top 5. But he is a strong supporter of alternative, sustainable energy sources for all our energy needs.

http://www.kucinich.us/issues/energy.php

Thanks to advances in renewables, there are fewer technical obstacles to energy independence for our country. There are many political obstacles -- but the oil, auto and electric utility corporations wouldn't be directing energy policy in a Kucinich White House. I will spur research and investment in "alternative" energy sources such as hydrogen, solar, wind and ocean, and make them mainstream. Clean energy technologies will produce new jobs. We can and must double our energy from renewable sources by 2010. And we can very soon have hybrid and fuel cell cars dominating the market. When I was Mayor of Cleveland, I defended public ownership of utilities; as President, I would expand it.

As a peace advocate, I hope to launch a major renewables effort so that Middle East oil fields will not loom so large as strategic or military targets. There has to be a renewable energy portfolio of at least 20% by 2010. And that means introducing wind, solar, hydrogen, geothermal, biomass, and all of the options that must be available and need incentivizing. That also means withdrawing incentives for the production of nonrenewable energy. I'm not talking about building new hydro dams; I'm not talking about damming up more rivers and streams. We need to subsidize the development of new energy technologies. And I'm willing to do that through NASA, which has been of singular importance to our economy by developing technologies for propulsion, for aerospace, for materials, for medicines, and for communication. We need to fund NASA in, among other areas, a mission to planet Earth.

I have a long and consistent record of working for protecting the environment. I was active in helping draft the first environmental law protecting the air, as a member of the Cleveland City Council 30 years ago. I led the effort in Ohio challenging nuclear power as being unsafe, unreliable, and unsustainable, and I'm still leading the effort in challenging it. And, most recently, I was at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, advocating a plan with Mikhail Gorbachev for a Global Green Deal that would enable the introduction of $50 billion of new solar projects around the world. It will be a major initiative to use our country's leadership in sustainable energy production to provide jobs to Americans, to reduce energy use here at home, and to partner with developing nations to provide their people with inexpensive, local renewable-energy technologies.

As an environmentalist, my view is always holistic and global: a Kucinich Administration would launch a "Global Green Deal" -- a major initiative to use our country's leadership in sustainable energy production to provide jobs to Americans, to reduce energy use here at home, and to partner with developing nations to provide their people with inexpensive, local renewable energy technologies. As a citizen of Planet Earth, I want this project for the same reason I would sign the Kyoto climate change treaty -- because we need it for our children and our grandchildren.

[dusty64]

5. A good start,

sounds good.

[KoKo]

6. Kick.

:kick:

[Kanary]

9. A Great Way To Take Action

..but, for those of us in the situation I find myself in, we are even left out of *this* equation.

I'm very disappointed that shoring up the safety net is not considered one of the priorities.

Of all people, Dennis was one I counted on to speak to this issue.

Kanary, considerably bummed...........

[KoKo]

11. Kanary, if there is just one of these petitions you can agree with

could you sign up? If there's nothing you can support then I respect your principles. Unfortunately Kucinich is the ONLY ONE so far even trying to get something to input the Dem Platform.

I have to put this out because we are all Democrats. But, not all of us would agree with the petitions. That's okay.

For those of us who do...SIGN UP! PICK ONE!

[Kanary]

12. I guess you're not understanding me

Of course I agree with all of those.

But, if you saw that you were about to become extinct, wouldn't that matter to you?

Wouldn't it bother you to find out that nobody else seemed to even take note?

Wouldn't you appreciate having SOMEONE give a rip?

Kanary

[KoKo]

13. I don't understand you Kanary. Sorry...is it extreme cynicism taking over

I go through that myself sometimes. I would rather go to "extinction" kicking and screaming than to think I didn't do one last thing to help me survive.

Is that where we differ? You think doing anything is pointless?

:shrug: just asking.

[Kanary]

14. I'm completely at a loss for words

You know what the "safety net" is, yes?

You know that continual cuts to that "safety net" will result in the deaths of many people, yes?

I've written about this a lot, yet..... I guess there is such a huge gulf between middle-class people and poor folk like me that there is just NO understanding that some of us are on the edge of survival, and it's likely we'll just fall right off that edge.

Any more cuts and I won't survive.

Is that clear?

Yet, I'm supposed to agree that everything else is so much more important, even though I won't be alive to see it.

Would it matter to you?????

Do you care?

Does Dennis care?

Does it matter *any* where?

amazing....

Kanary

[denism]

19. It matters very much

I care. I am almost in the same boat.
It's the difference between having something to eat
and going hungry
having somewhere to stay
or on the streets
being dry and warm
or cold wet and ill

When you have next to nothing
a little less is
as you say
a matter of life and death

{{hugs}}

[Kanary]

20. Thank you, denism!

And, welcome to DU!

:hi: :hi: :hi:

:toast:

I guess it really is true that people have to experience it firsthand before they understand just how it affects a person, although I just don't get that.

This one issue has made me feel completely isolated here at DU. As long as I go along with everything else, then I'm fine, but if I express a view from the poverty side of things, then I'm either criticised or ostracised. And this is the DEM party? Yet, they want the votes of poor folk. How very.... interesting.....

Yes, a little less may be the end.......

Kanary

[newyawker99]

27. Hi denism!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[ldoolin]

10. Count me in on all five counts.

Done and done.

[GreenPartyVoter]

16. Done, and with pleasure! :)

[no name no slogan]

17. We're passing them EVERYWHERE, and we've already made a difference!

Every MeetUp, Democratic party function, convention, peace march, protest, union rally....

If we can walk into the platform committee meetings with as much support as possible, we may even see universal, single-payer healthcare make it back onto the party's platform.

We've already gotten one Minnesota Representative to sign on to Dennis's Department of Peace bill, which he announced at the MN CD5 convention to a rousing 5+ minute standing ovation.

We ARE making a difference, and will continue to do so long after November 2.

[Piperay]

18. Good as far as it goes but

I just wish the environment would make it to some of these lists. :-(

I'm going to participate anyway though, I just get frustrated because I think more should be made about the sorry state of the environment under the repukes. The Democrats should take this opportunity to show the differences between the parties on this most important issue. :think:

[Kanary]

21. How 'bout poverty issues?

Wouldn't that be a good way to show the differences?

But, I guess there aren't any.

Kanary

[no name no slogan]

22. Jobs/Trade covers a lot of that

DK is in favor of a full employment economy, with living wages as part of that. Don't know if this helps any, but it's still part of the message.

[Kanary]

24. It doesn't address the cuts to HUD and Section 8 housing

Or, the cuts to other programs that many people depend on in order to survive.

Those issues are being lost, and there doesn't seem to be any interest in it at all, so the cuts will continue, and get larger.

This *isn't* about "jobs" or "trade"

It's about further and further trashing of what pitiful amount is left of "the war on poverty"

Kanary

[no name no slogan]

26. Thanks for bringing this up

I agree that it's easy for us to get "myopic" in our views of the important issues. For me it's healthcare, as I no longer have it, and a pre-existing condition keeps me uninsurable. And on top of that, my medications cost over $300 a month: and if I don't take them, I don't function and could easily die.

It may be worth contacting the campaign about these, as not many people are aware of the cuts (although we really should be, as a party). I myself will talk to our local folk about this, as I think it's just as important as the other points Dennis ran on.

Thanks for the tip-- I appreciate it!

:hi:

[Kanary]

36. As I've said lately, I feel like an outsider, with my nose pressed

against the glass.

I have been shocked at the magnitude of lack of understanding.

So, that makes me appreciate your thoughtful note all the more. Your supportive words mean more than you know. It's been very painful.

Yes, I've considered writing to Dennis. But, there's not much he can do.............. it's already set. Had I known in advance what they were doing, *that* would have been the time to say something. I just wish that other people could hear how this is affecting some of us.

I'm with you completely about the health care, and sorry to hear how it's affecting you. The only consolation is that your needs are at least being heard.

I very much appreciate that you are willing to talk to others about this! Shall I send you the info I have?

Thanks again! :hi:

Kanary

[KoKo]

38. Kick.

Kick.

[LWolf]

39. I've been listening, Kanary.

As far as the petitions go, I believe he went with the issues we ranked on his website with our votes. I agree that poverty should be a bigger issue than it is in this election.

I know that Dennis addresses many facets affecting the poor; universal health care, a living wage, jobs in America, etc.

But there is more to it than that. We have such a long, long way to go.

[no name no slogan]

23. ...and the party IS listening!

I just talked to somebody who is in daily communication with the national campaign, and she said that the party leadership has been VERY receptive to Dennis' campaign and the issues he's raised.

We ARE making a difference! At my congressional district convention two weeks ago, we got our Congressman (Martin Sabo) to sign on to Dennis's Department of Peace bill, largely because of our work in our district! Dennis got around 35% of the vote in our CD, so our congressman knows that we're serious about his issues.

These issues are truly at the heart of what makes us different from the Republicans. It has been said before during this primary season that Dennis Kucinich represents the conscience of the Democratic Party.

Let's be true to our conscience and support these positions in our platform.

:D

[blindpig]

28. I'm a little disappointed

That DK didn't consider the environment a priority. Seems that even the best of us take the environmental voter for granted. It's a sure fire winning issue that bu$h can't hope to counter. In the end the environment is The bottom line.

[Desertrose]

29. actually people voted on his website on the issues

I do know the environment is very important to Dennis....and I agree...the environment is something we take for granted...hopefully we are waking up enough to make a difference before its too late.

:shrug: I guess there is so much to be done, we just gotta start somewhere.....

DK IS making a difference!!!

Peace
DR

[blindpig]

30. be assured

I've supported DK since I found out about him (here!).My reasoning being that although his LCV rating was not quite as high as Kerry or Holy Joe his more holistic approach to fixin' what ails us would have more lasting environmental benefits in the long run.
So Dennis's supporters chose those priorties? Jeez, what's an old Deep to do, surrounded by humanists?

[eridani]

32. Kerry doesn't need to hear about the environment

He's already pretty good on that subject.

[Bill Todd]

31. At least SOMEONE is trying to let the rank and file influence the platform

And applause is in order.

But why stop with just 5 issues, important as those 5 may be? If the party is actually listening (as at least one post here suggests), here's an opportunity to solicit input on the full range of issues that the platform should address, in fairly fine detail.

Would Dennis be likely to be receptive to suggestions for additions if we did some preliminary boiling-down here (or at his own website - I'd certainly be interested in visiting to work on this kind of thing)?

Bump, in any event (and yes, I did sign 4 of the 5 - the immediate withdrawal from NAFTA, rather than revising it, was the only reason for the one exception).

- bill

[flaminbats]

33. I have signed all five petitions.

I plan to get my friends in NYC to get as many signitures as they can. In the meantime I will get as many of my coworkers and relatives to sign my copies. I have quickly learned that even Republicans will usually sign the petitions regarding healthcare and jobs. Everyone else will sign them all. They always feel better about signing as long as they aren't giving away their telephone number, or making a long term commitment!

Republican voters always like to say Democrats should stand for this or that, and you can say "now here's your chance to make them!"

[eridani]

34. Kick

Spread the word!

[Vote Democratic2004]

35. A NEW CANDIDATE

It's not too late. We need a John Edwards, Gary Hart, even Hillary Clinton to stand up and accept the nomination at an OPEN CONVENTION in Boston. Kerry is not the answer. This is what we get with a short primary season and acting like kerry is the nominee MONTHS before he is.
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0417/mondo1.php

[LWolf]

37. I don't think so.

I don't think you discount the voter's choice. The majority have chosen John Kerry. I think you work from within the party to shape the platform and the direction. Kerry is not my choice, but when the convention is over, I will respect the choice of the party.

The idea is to bring enough delegates to the convention to influence the direction. If, for some reason, John Kerry could not accept the nomination, we wouldn't need John Edwards, Gary Hart, or Hillary Clinton to step forward. In case you hadn't noticed, we already have a nominee still actively campaigning, and working non-stop for the direction of the democratic party. His name is Dennis Kucinich.

Like Dennis, I will accept and support the people's choice, even when it differs from my own. I will continue to work for the highest good in other capacities.

[John_H]

40. With the exception of "Out of Iraq" the majority of these things will

be in the Dem platform.

Sorry, no can do "Out of Iraq." It's a political (and ethical) disaster. Wait. What could be less ethical than Chimp's occupation. Nothing. But just as unethical would be formulating policy on something that won't happen in a million years.

One of the greatest tragedies of Chimp's war is that it's too late for US out UN in. I'll put my anti-war credentials up against anyone, but like most Americans, I see that if Iraq descends into chaos, even MORE innocent Iraqis will die than will die under Chimp's illegal occupation.

In a perfect world the UN will ride in and save our collective ass. How clear can it be that they're not going to go in there no matter who's president? The French, Germans, Russians, and even Anan have written it in stone.

Chimp's made sure we're in it on our own and a platform calling for a pipe dream would be disaster.


The department of Peace SHOULD be in the platform--I signed that one in a heartbeat.