The Stephenson Initiative.

[ReadTomPaine]

In honor of Andy’s ceaseless work on voting reform, I think any legislation formed by activists to address the concerns of verified elections be named in his memory. It seems a fitting, lasting tribute.

What do you think?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

1. i love it and ..watch Stephenson's "Votergate the Movie" here....

http://mistakesweremade.com/vid/votergatethemovie.mpg

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

2. Sounds like a fantastic idea!

[WLKjr]

3. has a good ring to it

The Stephenson Inititave - Voting Reform Act of 2***

[xultar]

4. I like it! He's such a kutie. I love that pic of Andy!

[Melodybe]

30. I think it is a great idea! I'm changing my democratic contract with

with America in honor of Andy.

For 2006 a Democratic Contract with America


1 The Stephenson Initiative: electronic voting machines MUST have an auditible paper trail, voting machine manufacturers must make their source code available to states using their equipment, and voting machines must be equally distributed proportional to population.

2 The Media Reform Act: the Telecommunication Act of 1996 must be repealed, media ownership must again be regulated and the Fairness Doctrine must be re-instituted.

3 The Fair Share Tax Act: the Bush tax cuts must be repealed, it is imperative that the congress work to eliminate the massive budget deficit and return to an era of balanced budgets and fiscal responsibility.

4 The Energy Independence Act: America must wean itself from its dependence on foreign oil, it is a matter of national security and environmental importance, we must focus on conservation and technology to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Jobs may be created in the field of energy conversion.

5 The Affordable Health Care Act: America must move toward an affordable universal health care system, the idea of profits over patients must be ignored, we must cut inflated drug and medical equipment prices and better regulate insurance companies.

6 The Ethics in Government Act: this bill seeks to reduce the influence of lobbiests in congress and governmental agencies, corporations WILL NOT be allowed to write policy (ie Enron writing our energy policy and pharmaceutical industries writing our drug prescription plan), their must be no conflict of interests for people appointed to head government agencies like the FDA, EPA, etc (pretty much all of Nancy Pelosi's recent bill on ethics).

7 The Decent Foreign Policy Act: the United States may NOT engage in preventive war, the administration may NOT for any reason lie to the American people under the guise of security, the United States will NOT condone torture and will adhere to the Geneva Conventions, a military draft may NOT be reinstated, an all volunteer army provides Americans with popular veto against any and all wars.

8 The Science for the 21st Century Act: promoting Government support for new scientific discoveries and development of technologies to improve the Quality of Life for all Americans, the government may NOT refuse to award grants to those studies that disagree with the current administration's agenda IE global warming and stem cell research.

9 The National Privacy Act: the unconstitutional aspects of the Patriot Act must be repealed, the US government my NOT use the armed forces to spy on American citizens,
the government has NO place in family matters (ieTerri Schiavo) unless a law is being broken, if the National ID is to go into effect it may not make available any personal information such as credit history, medical records, etc. Social privacy issues such as gay rights and abortion will also be protected.

10 The Real National Security Act: the national guard may NOT be sent abroad, our ports and harbors must be protected, and boarder patrol must be adequately funded to cut down the flow of illegal immigration.

11 The Corporation Accountability Act: Corporations must be stripped of personhood status, we must end incentives for corporations to move jobs overseas.

[ReadTomPaine]

31. Love this document you've created..

Was this born of an earlier thread? I'd love the link, if it's handy..

[Coexist]

34. excellent memorial to Andy.

[EFerrari]

5. Yes and we need a picture that doesn't say

Young Republican.

(Okay, Andy could never say Young Republican, even to the old hippie. :) )

[coffeenap]

8. Hey, no Young Republican looks that cute!

(i have the photo with him in a jester hat--how 'bout that??)

[EFerrari]

13. I've been looking for that one

:loveya:

[ReadTomPaine]

9. LOL! Forward another photo URL and I'd be happy to replace it!

I think his smile is wonderful, but I can understand your point :)

[EFerrari]

14. Nah, the one you used is perfect.

That smile could level a city block. :hi:

[Darth_Kitten]

6. Sounds great to me

:kick:

[coffeenap]

7. I love it and have passed on your suggestion to some of Andy's

close friends, in case they missed it here. Thanks--wouldn't it be wonderful to make a real change and have it done, literally, in Andy's name. He would be so happy.

[shireen]

10. count me in

I'd like to help. What can we do?

[Chicago Democrat]

11. How about a fund one of those Move on type funds?

Cause trouble for the neocons that Andy would be proud of?

[nashville_brook]

19. oh heck yeah -- how much would it drive them NUTS to know that Andy's

passing would generate MONEY. COLD HARD CASH -- the only language they understand. we need an Andy Bat with a goal... emails... move the bat just like during the Dean days.

what mechanism can we use? lets really think about this. i LOVE this idea!

[hedda_foil]

23. For those who want to donate to an election reform fund for Andy

Andy was a cofounder of VoteTrustUSA (www.votetrustusa.org) and was excited about taking up his role as our Training Director as soon as he was well enough. He was also one of my dearest friends.

In tribute to Andy, VoteTrustUSA is setting up a memorial fund for e-voting reform in Andy's name, to help us continue his work. If you'd like to contribute, please click on the "donate" button on our home page. All donations we receive this month will be dedicated to Andy's fund.

Joan Krawitz (aka hedda_foil)
Executive Director
http://VoteTrustUSA.org

[ReadTomPaine]

28. If DU'ers haven't already- please take the time to visit VoteTrustUSA.org

..and contribute if you can. When it comes to voting reform, these people are the genuine article. Thanks for all your work and dedication, Joan!

[hedda_foil]

33. Thank you, RTP.

I hope that DUers will visit.

[Booster]

12. Fabulous idea - Andy would be grinning from ear to ear if this

should come to pass. We'll all help.

[Sapphire Blue]

15. This should be DU's first 'official' activist action.

Please consider posting this in DU Activist Headquarters: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=106
& perhaps contacting Skinner directly.

[Book Lover]

16. Great idea! Nominated!

It's one of those "least we can do" things, and very fitting. Great idea.

[nashville_brook]

17. that gave me chill bumps! it's the best i've felt all day! i'm actually

excited. wow. what a great idea! like the Amber Alert. Megan's Law.

Andy's Ballots!

now i finally feel like i can cry.

[ReadTomPaine]

20. "Andy's Ballots" That's a keeper.

Thanks for that. Amber Alert and Megan's Law were precisely what I had in mind with this. I want everyone to speak his name wherever this subject arises and have it become synonymous with voting reform.

The ancient Egyptians believed that as long as people spoke your name, you were immortal. Let's help make Andy immortal and his legacy the hope for our future.

[nashville_brook]

25. so true about the Egyptians!

putting these two together -- andy and issue -- makes it sooooo REAL for me. to be able todo something "for andy" really puts the mustard on the pitch!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

22. "ANDY'S BALLOTS"

[Mythsaje]

18. Fitting

to give him a legacy he'd be proud of.

Be blessed, Andy, wherever you are.

[PretzelWarrior]

21. great minds think alike! lol I hadn't seen your thread

and when replying to the one about seattle newspaper article suggested something similar. Of course, this would only be fitting if it were a TRUE election and verified voting bill rather than some paper job to satisfy the masses.

[BamaBecky]

24. I do hope it happens and carries his name....great idea! n/t

[ReadTomPaine]

26. Kick for west coast DU'ers coming home from work.

[meganmonkey]

27. Wonderful idea!

And there couldn't be a more fitting tribute!

:toast:

[OneBlueSky]

29. support VelvetRevolution . . . from Andy himself . . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4051649

and wouldn't this be the perfect inaugural project for the DU Activist Corps? . . .

[DearAbby]

32. Excellent idea!

:thumbsup: