Source: http://www.calpirateparty.org/the-blaaarrrg
Timestamp: 2017-02-25 07:06:12
Document Index: 474901335

Matched Legal Cases: ['§2', '§2', '§3', '§4', '§3', '§2', '§2', '§2', '§4', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§2', 'art 2']

California Pirate Party - The Blaaarrrg
Constitution of the Pirate Party of the United States: Open For Debate
Below please find a draft of the proposed constitution for the Pirate National Committee. As a member of the PNC, the California Pirate Party has to ratify the constitution for it to be effective. Our goal is to use this public space to publicize the proposed constitution and generate discussion about its components. We are open to any opinions or feedback. We will be reading the constitution and discussing it for the next week. On Monday, August 20, we will decide whether or not to ratify the PNC constitution during our weekly meeting. Please provide any feedback or join the conversation before then! Proposed Constitution: PREAMBLEWe, the Pirates of the United States of America hereby unite in common purpose to promote open culture and oppose monopolies; to protect individual privacy; to put people before corporations; to support open and transparent government based on solid evidence and reasoning; to guarantee equality to all people; and to organize ourselves according to our shared values.For our values, we have been derided as “pirates”. For our hope that every person may be free to access all of human knowledge, we have been called “pirates”. For our belief that one need not ask permission to participate in governance, industry, culture, and other aspects of society, we have been called “pirates”. For our insistence that citizens should not be surveilled and distrusted as if they are criminals, we have been called “pirates”. For our rejection of authority and profit-seeking when it does not serve the common good of all people, we have been called “pirates”.We reclaim this label of “pirate” and abjure its derogatory, incendiary implication. We are Pirates. We stand for the liberty, equality, and solidarity of all human beings, and against all threats they may face.We are Pirates, and we hereby establish the Pirate Party of the United States of America. ARTICLE I: Pirate Party of the United States of America Section 1: NameThis Constitution shall govern the association known as the Pirate Party of the United States of America, hereinafter referred to as the Party.Section 2: MissionThe Party shall:Give voice to the Core Values of the Party.Adopt and promote statements of policy which implement these Core Values.Nominate and assist in the election of Pirate candidates for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States, and support Party and Party-endorsed candidates for public office.Promote the growth of state and local Pirate Parties, and assist in their activities.Engage in any other activities incidental or related to the above.Section 3: Core ValuesWe, the Pirates of the United States of America, form the Party on the basis of the following Core Values:We stand for open culture. No one should have the power to prevent the free exchange and expression of ideas, tools, or works.We stand for transparency and openness. Government activities should not be hidden from the public.We stand for individual privacy. The amount of oppression in a society is inversely proportional to its privacy protections. #Individuals must be free to make personal decisions that do not harm another person.We are anti-monopoly. No monopoly should be able to prevent works, tools, or ideas from: being freely used, expressed, exchanged, recombined, or taught; nor to violate individual privacy or human rights. A creator's right to be compensated for their work or idea is only acceptable within these limitations.We stand for individuals over institutions. Universal human rights apply only to human beings, and not to corporations, limited liability organizations, or other group entities.We are a post-ideological meritocracy. Policy and decision-making must be based on evidence and scientific reasoning. The approach that works best, or the person who does the best job, must be chosen over the alternatives. Where possible, we avoid making decisions or selecting leaders based on tradition, popularity, authority or ideology.We are egalitarian. We believe in equality and a level playing field. We accept input from all sources, and we value all people equally.We actively practice these values. We hold ourselves accountable for our own adherence to these principles. ARTICLE II: Pirate National Committee Section 1: PurposeThe fundamental purpose of the Pirate National Committee, hereinafter referred to as the PNC, is to serve as the governing and organizing body for the Party.The PNC shall adopt the most open, inclusive and egalitarian procedures and technologies available for running the Party’s web presence, for collaboration, and for conducting its own meetings.Section 2: Written PoliciesThe PNC shall maintain written procedural and operational policies external to this Constitution, hereinafter referred to as the Bylaws, which it can adopt by a simple majority vote, and which will cover operational and procedural details, subject to the powers delegated to it by the Constitution but not appropriate for inclusion in in the Constitution itself.Section 3: PlatformsThe PNC may adopt such optional platforms and policies as it sees fit by a majority vote. It may further enhance these mandatory platforms with optional positions by a simple majority vote.None of the PNC’s optional platforms or positions shall be imposed on member states or individual members. Party members are free to disagree with optional platforms and policies.Section 4: No Confidence MeasureAt any time during a PNC meeting, any Member State’s Representative or acting Representative may call for a vote of No Confidence on the grounds that the PNC’s processes are fundamentally unfair or fatally flawed, and that new Officers are needed. Once seconded, there shall not be a delay of more than 30 minutes in voting on such a motion, and it requires a ⅗ (three-fifths) majority to pass.If a No Confidence measure passes, then the following sequence of events shall occur:The terms of all PNC Officers shall end immediately.The Representative who motioned for the No Confidence measure shall act as Temporary Captain, and the Representative who seconded it shall act as Temporary First Officer and Quartermaster.The Temporary Officers shall immediately facilitate the selection of new permanent Officers.No other motion shall come before the PNC until new Officers are selected. ARTICLE III: Membership Section 1: CompositionThe PNC shall be composed of:The Officers set forth in Art. IV, hereinafter referred to as Officers.At least two delegates from each State Pirate Party which meets the qualifications set forth in Art. III §2, hereinafter referred to as Representatives. A State which sends Representatives to the PNC shall be considered a Member State with Representation in the PNC for the purposes of this document.At least one delegate from each State Pirate Party which does not yet meet the qualifications set forth in Art. III §2, hereinafter referred to as Observers. A State which sends Observers to the PNC shall be considered an Observer State for the purposes of this document.At least one delegate from each Subcommittee formed by the PNC as set forth in Art. V, hereinafter referred to as Subcommittee Liaisons.Section 2: State EligibilityIn order to be eligible to send Representatives to the PNC, a state must:Be home to a Pirate Party which is actively attempting to grow.Adhere to the Core Values.Appoint one Primary Representative and at least one Alternate Representative, both of whom must be active members of the state’s Pirate Party.Regularly send a Representative to attend PNC meetings.Maintain an active web presence with an easy method of contact by prospective members.Apply for Representation, as set forth in Art. III §3.Ratify the PNC ConstitutionSection 3: RepresentationThe process by which states may apply for Representation in the PNC is as follows:The Applicant State shall ask a current Representative in the PNC to be a Sponsor for their application.At a PNC meeting, the Sponsor shall move to grant Representation to the Applicant State, which shall pass by majority vote. At least one prospective Representative from the Applicant State shall attend this meeting.If the motion passes, the prospective Representatives from the Applicant State shall be declared Representatives to the PNC. The Applicant State shall be declared a Member State of the PNC.If the motion does not pass, the prospective Representative(s) from the Applicant State shall be declared to be Observer(s), and the Applicant State an Observer State. The Applicant State shall be informed by the PNC what actions it must take to be eligible for Representation.At the PNC’s discretion, an Observer State may be granted a Probationary Membership, as set forth in Art. III §4, by a majority vote.Alternatively to Art. III §3.1, the Sponsor may move to declare the prospective Representative(s) of the Applicant State to be declared Observer(s), in the event that the Sponsor does not believe that the Applicant State is eligible for Member State status.Section 4: ProbationA State may be declared, by majority vote of the PNC, a Probationary State if any of the following conditions are met:1. No Representative from the Pirate Party of the State attends two consecutive PNC meetings, or:2. If the Pirate Party of the State no longer meets the requirements set forth in Art. III §2.The following subsections describe the Probationary process:3. The status of Probationary State shall persist for a minimum of one month.4. After this month, the PNC shall review whether or not the Pirate Party of the Probationary Member State meets the requirements set forth in Art. III §2.5. If the PNC finds that the Pirate Party of the Probationary State meets the requirements set forth in Art. III §2, the Probationary State shall be declared a Member State. Otherwise, the Probationary State shall be declared an Observer State.6. In the event that the Pirate Party of the Probationary State has been dissolved, has become inactive, or is otherwise uncontactable, the PNC may use its discretion to eject the Probationary State from the PNC instead of declaring it to be an Observer as per Art. III §4.5.Special cases:7. At any time throughout the probationary period, the Representatives of the Probationary State may voluntarily declare their state to be an Observer, ending the Probationary process.8. If the Pirate Party of a State does not adhere to the Core Values, the PNC shall not put the State on Probation but shall eject it by a ¾ (three-fourths) majority vote.Section 5: Voting RightsOfficers and Subcommittee Liaisons shall not participate in PNC votes, unless the Officer or Subcommittee Liaison in question is also acting as a State Representative.All other PNC participants shall vote according to the Bylaws.Section 6: Registration of RepresentativesAll primary or alternate Representatives of each Member or Observer state must be registered with the Captain or Quartermaster. ARTICLE IV: Officers Section 1: PositionsThe PNC shall be facilitated by the following Officers:The Captain or Chairperson, who shall manage all administration and operations of the PNC, act as the chairperson and spokesperson of the Party, and facilitate PNC meetings.The First Officer or Vice-Chair, who shall assist the Captain in managing the administration and operations of the PNC, and conduct business on behalf of the Captain or the Quartermaster in the event that the Captain is absent or incapacitated.The Quartermaster or Secretary, who shall keep records of the minutes and logs for meetings, tally votes, and maintain a database of the members who compose the PNC as set forth in Art. III §1.Section 2: EligibilityTo be eligible to hold one of the positions set forth in Art. IV §1, a candidate must be an active member of a Pirate Party based in a Member State of the PNC.To be eligible to hold the position of Captain set forth in Art. IV §1.1, a candidate must not be a Representative of a Member State, or must abdicate the role of Representative upon election as Captain.Section 3: NominationTo nominate a Candidate for one of the positions set forth in Art. IV §1:The prospective Candidate may nominate himself or herself, and a Representative or Officer must second this nomination; or:A Representative or Officer may nominate the prospective Candidate, and the prospective Candidate must accept this nomination.After nomination:A Candidate may withdraw their candidacy at any time before the election.Section 4: ElectionElection of Officers shall occur:For all Officer positions, once every year at the Annual Meeting set forth in Art. VI §2.For an Officer position which is vacated out of schedule, as soon after the vacation as possible.The election procedure for an Officer position shall be as follows:Officers shall be elected by Schulze Method via silent ballot.Representatives to the PNC shall be eligible to vote in the election.Prior to the election, the PNC shall elect an Election Committee of at least three persons to supervise the silent ballot, and to independently calculate the results. ARTICLE V: Subcommittees Section 1: Purpose, Membership, and OperationsA Subcommittee shall be a working group formed by act of the PNC to achieve a specified purpose.A Subcommittee shall be composed of active members of any Pirate Party located in a Member State or Observer State.Upon a Subcommittee’s creation by the PNC, the PNC shall delegate one or more of its members to act as Subcommittee Liaison to the PNC.The PNC may specify the operating procedures of a Subcommittee and any criteria for its membership not otherwise specified in this Constitution. Any operating procedures or membership criteria not specified by the PNC shall be determined by the members of the Subcommittee.Section 2: Creation and DissolutionThe PNC can create Subcommittees as it sees fit by a simple majority vote.The PNC can disband Subcommittees by a ⅔ (two-thirds) majority vote. ARTICLE VI: Meetings Section 1: PNC MeetingThe PNC shall meet as frequently as its members shall decide, but not less than once per year.The PNC shall use the most effective and most inclusive collaboration tools available to meet and vote on decisions.The Captain shall act as facilitator, with the First Officer serving as backup and the Quartermaster as second backup.A quorum shall be 50% of all states, Probationary states, and Observer states, where Member states are counted as one and Probationary and Observer states are counted as one-half.The PNC meeting will end with a passed motion to adjourn.The PNC shall maintain written rules and policies to govern the conduct of the PNC meetings and other formal meetings of the Party.Section 2: Building State PartiesThe Party shall hold such meetings and/or social gatherings as may be needed to build the membership of the party at a state and local level.The Party shall use all means at its disposal to provide support to such groups as shall arise at a state level, as well as locally, nationally and internationally to support this goal of facilitating the creation of State Parties in all 50 States and every US Territory. ARTICLE VII: Amendment and Ratification In general, this Constitution can be amended by a ⅔ (two-thirds) supermajority vote of the PNC. Initial ratification requires the same majority vote of the temporary PNC. The exception is that a ¾ (three-fourths) vote of the PNC is required to ratify each individual Core Value, to amend or remove existing Core Values, or to add new Core Values.Following ratification by the PNC, this initial Constitution or any amendment to it must be ratified by ⅔ (two-thirds) of State Parties using their own internal ratification procedures. The votes of Pirate Parties located in Observer States and Probationary States are not counted for Constitutional ratification or amendment. ARTICLE VIII: Dissolution Dissolution of this PNC by consent shall require the unanimous agreement of the Member States together with a simple-majority vote (50% + 1) of Member States and Observer States at a General Meeting which has been publicized at least 30 days in advance to all Member States and Observer States of the PNC for the purpose of taking this vote.Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the PNC, after all of its liabilities and obligations have been paid, satisfied, and discharged, all of the assets of the PNC shall be distributed for such educational, charitable and scientific purposes as the Member States (or such other persons as may be in charge of liquidation) shall determine. If an agreement cannot be met for the disbursment of funds, then a court of arbitration may be consulted.
Pirate Party Disclosure 1.1: Donations and Fundraising
The California Pirate Party is growing faster than we imagined. It is tremendously exciting to be part of a global movement that promotes radical democracy and creative solutions for our collective problems. New methods for public engagement help us connect with the idea that life IS politics, and digital communication gives us a microphone to realistically build support for a political party that can challenge the established order. The individuals who operate the California Pirate Party every day are passionately committed to this movement and we will do everything in our power to facilitate its success. We stand for transparency, and we plan to publish regular updates about all of our expenditures so that the public can see how California Pirate Party money is being spent. Unfortunately, we cannot succeed without the resources to fund our public activities and events. As a political organization, we depend on public donations as our main source of revenue. Therefore, this is the first of a series of blog posts intended to provide a list of items that we are trying to acquire for our operations and keep you updated about the assets that the California Pirate Party owns. Please contact us if you are willing to donate any of the following items to help the California Pirate Party! Any money donations we receive will be used to purchase these specific items (so long as they are not donated): Office Supplies Paper Pens Tables Chairs Laptops Copy/Fax machine Physical office space Merchandise CAPP Tshirts CAPP bumper stickers USB drives CAPP logo stickers Pirate Party flags Eye patches Pirate hats Business cards Lighters Hoodies Debate materials Microphone Video camera Portable podium Easel Audio projection (speakers) CAPP Functionality Liquid Feedback Server space Web development set up Domain registration fees WebcamsPlease let us know if you are willing to donate anything of this nature. If you donate money to the California Pirate Party, these are the items that we will be spending that money on. We will provide regular updates about which items we have acquired and additional items we may need in the future.By donating to the California Pirate Party, you will be placed on our donor list (optionally of course). As a donor we will provide you with regular email updates about our progress and a formal letter of thanks. This is the often the most difficult, and yet one of the most important aspects of succeeding as an organization. We truly appreciate any support you can provide. We ask that no one donate more than $100 cash in the true spirit of democracy. Thank you so much! Contact us about a donation here!Donate cash to the California Pirate Party here!
Introducing the Pirate Party Media Network
Pirate Party Analysis: Food and Famine, Part 2
In the previous food and famine blog post, classist and racial undertones were examined as contributing factors to the growing famine plaguing poor and minority communities in California and the rest of the world. When confronted with this dilemma, our current two party system creates solutions such as the 2012 Farm Bill. The House is currently debating a version of the bill that would allow up to $3.5 billion to be cut from food stamps for migrant communities. Under the guise of “laziness” or “immigrants who don’t contribute”, the public either submits to passivity in the face of these representations or colludes with them. The conservative rhetoric that attempts to depict food stamp recipients as non-contributing leeches makes it easier to justify revoking assistance for minority communities, especially in the name of balancing the budget. According to Lorrie Goldin, MSW, “Food stamps keep people from starving. They offer a modicum of stability to families trying to make ends meet. According to the latest Census Bureau figures, food stamps lifted 3.9 million out of poverty. Department of Agriculture statistics indicate that almost 50 percent of recipients are children. Another 25 percent are elderly or disabled. Contrary to rhetoric characterizing recipients as lazy, 30 percent work.” In many ways, access to food is a debate of representations: either food stamp recipients are lazy and don’t deserve handouts, or they are people who are suffering in the midst of an economic crisis and need government assistance to get back on their feet. This is where pirates, as a metaphor for political mobilization and ethics, come in. A better solution to this problem begins by thinking like a pirate. Historically, pirates were groups of ostracized individuals who raided the rich to survive. It wasn’t a matter of creating profits as much as a means to survive. They functioned outside the confines of capitalism, sailing from city to city to plunder from the Spanish imperialists. The idea of taking back from dominant society and using it to benefit the people parallels the actions of a nonprofit group known as the Green Guerillas in 1970’s New York. Facing poverty, violence, and many other problems, a large stretch of abandoned businesses were turned into community gardens. Within 10 years, their total farm land spanned 67 miles and was valued over $1 million. Their story can be read here. Community gardens provide an affordable way for people living in an urban setting to have cheap and often free access to healthy food. In communities where access to fresh fruits and vegetables is limited, merely expanding the possibility to purchase food is essential. The Green Guerillas took this step further by handing out the produce they grew for free. This is reflective of pirate ideology, in such a way that pirates would share their spoils with each other. It was a way to make their floating community a functional unit that could continue plundering those in power. Pirates, much like the Guerillas, were/are independent from the functions of capitalist food production. Instead of having to participate in a system that keeps prices artificially high, both Pirates and Guerillas changed their relationship to those entities by casting them as an optional route to well-being. The items they would usually buy could be grown at little to no cost. It’s in this way that community gardens change the relationship people have with industrial food producers. In the most ideal way, industrial farming should be an option instead of a necessity to those who are able to organize and participate in community gardens. Community gardens can also be an important starting point in challenging the rhetoric that casts minorities as the “lazy freeloaders,” not by directly answering those claims back with statistics, but by refusing to participate in the very system that put them there to begin with. After all, setting up and maintaining gardens is no easy task. It is the opposite of lazy. As with the previous installment of Food and Famine, it should be noted that the way labor intersects with proper access to food is not a forgotten point. Individuals working long hours or multiple jobs may not have the ability to help work on community farms, let alone cook the foods they need to be healthy. The purpose of this installment is to open space to begin a discussion on the ethics and policy proposals that can help change the nature of the discussion and the pragmatic responses within food politics. What we propose is just as important as the thought process that yielded the policy. It is necessary for pirates to endorse and enact policies that help ensure equal access to food, and to be critical of how we reach solutions. Though the Green Guerillas probably did not invoke piracy as the driving ethic to begin communal gardens, what they did is reflective of how policy and community coalitions should be approached. It’s of the utmost importance for pirates to utilize this frame of thought when crafting and advocating policies related to food accessibility. One might argue that we should use this approach for any topic that impacts the communities we live in. - Mistress Ching(Please direct any questions about this post to calpirateparty@gmail.com)
Pirate Party Interview: Shane Hamlin, Washington State Co-Director of Elections
Marc Strassman provides another wonderful interview related to online voter registration. Earlier last week, Strassman spoke with Shane Hamlin, co-director of Elections for Washington State. Strassman and Hamlin discuss online voter registration in Washington and the process for implementing these new systems. California Pirate Party supports online voter registration throughout the state of California. We hope that Marc's interview with Mr. Hamlin will help start a dialogue that streamlines the process of creating online voter registration in California. 14 Comments
The Pirate Hour: Debut Episode, July 10, 2012
The California Pirate Party proudly presents the first episode of our new video series "The Pirate Hour". The goal of the Pirate Hour is to speak with intellectuals and public figures in a democratic open space to share ideas and information. For the first episode, we were tremendously lucky to speak with David Bollier, author and activist for the commons. Bollier has written 6 books and several other publications regarding the commons and our collective digital future. In 2009, Bollier published "Viral Spiral: How the Commoners Built a Digital Republic of Their Own." He founded the Commons Strategy Group and the public interest group Public Knowledge. Bollier currently maintains a website and blog at www.bollier.org.Please check out the video of our first episode of the Pirate Hour. We discuss the commons, digital rights, the pervasive aspects of corporate control of knowledge, and strategies for the Pirate Party and others to challenge the privatization and commodification of ideas. We thank Marc Strassman for moderating the Pirate Hour, and we thank David Bollier for taking the time to speak with us! Tune in next time when we speak with Joe Mathews, reporter for NBC Southern California!
Pirate Party Analysis: The California Student Debt Crisis
California is a beautiful place to live and a tremendous state for higher education. The dream to provide access to quality public education in our state is partially realized by 3 separate institutions: the University of California system, the California State University system and the California Community Colleges. This does not include the huge number of excellent private colleges throughout the state. Universities and colleges in California provide a staggering amount of quantitative and qualitative benefits, but they are also starting to crack under the weight of student debt. Every year the financial standing of the California school system loses footing while state and federal officials demand more investment for a degree. The problem is that the price of an average college degree raises each year, but the number of degrees granted is not rising with it. In other words, California's higher education system is overheating and something must be done to relieve the pressure.Student debt is a vortex that hovers over its victims, haunting them at each turn of their professional lives. I've acquired an education from a a private university in California. I escaped with my degree with less than $20,000 in student debt, which is pretty amazing for an expensive small private school. I then acquired a law degree from a university in the UC system. That one put me over $250,000 in student debt, a combination of private and public loans managed by a number of different organizations. I had to apply for a loan to take the bar exam, which was another $10,000. Finally, I obtained a masters degree from a university in the CSU system, which added another $20,000. As of July 2012, I owe various banking institutions close to half a million dollars for my education. I haven't made a dent and I am currently on forbearance and making interest only payments. These loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. These loans cannot be forgiven. My family co-signed for my loans, and they are legally on the hook with me. The saddest part is that I am far from alone. Thousands of students just like me are pumped out of the California education system every year, and it is getting more expensive just to keep up the pace. Erica Perez writes that "Students at the University of California will pay more than three times what they paid a decade ago for the upcoming school year. At California State University, tuition has doubled since 2007." According to Perez, professional schools are also among the highest student debt producers. Art institutes, Culinary art schools and professional trade schools can be particularly egregious. Here is a chart that shows the highest debt producing schools in our state. See the chart here.The California Budget Project shows that lawmakers in our state have been continuously cutting the state's education budget for 10 years. This has terrible consequences for lower income families who depend on student loans to provide an education for their children. As unemployment and low wages rise, students feel trapped between accepting predatory loans and foregoing higher education altogether. Making matters worse, the price of school goes up, but essential resources are simultaneously cut from universities. Academic programs and extra-curricular activities are being cut across the state while the price of attendance keeps rising. The California Pirate Party is heavily influenced by the academic debate community and a few of us are graduates and former debaters for the University of Redlands, which cut the debate team during the budget crisis around 2009. Debate programs are possibly the best resource for promoting public intellectualism and critical thinking skills...and yet they are being cut all over the nation to trim university budgets. Many scholars argue that California's downward slide began with the passage of Proposition 13, which froze property taxes throughout the state and severely limited the amount of annual funds raised for education. California's public education system was the shining jewel of the United States until the 1980s, when the effects of Proposition 13 limited California's ability to keep up with other states. We face a unique problem in California because our state spends more money per incarcerated prisoner than on each student. The Pirate Party believes that crime is connected to education. By investing in education now, California can reduce the amount of crime and ultimately save money from prisons.California is hardly the only state facing a student debt crisis. According to the Project on Student Debt: "Two-thirds of college seniors graduated with loans in 2010, and they carried an average of $25,250 in debt. They also faced the highest unemployment rate for young college graduates in recent history at 9.1%. Our new report, Student Debt and the Class of 2010, includes average debt levels for the 50 states and District of Columbia and for more than 1,000 U.S. colleges and universities." See the specific data for student debt at each university in California here.The editors of the Nation write that "The student loan crisis has had two effects. The United States, once the leader in the percentage of college graduates age 25 to 34, has dropped to sixteenth among thirty-six developed nations, with more and more students dropping out because they can't afford the rising costs. The second effect is ruinous debt: the average indebted college graduate is $25,000 in hock. Total student debt exceeds $1 trillion — now greater than credit card debt. And student debt is inescapable. Bankruptcy rarely extinguishes it; even Social Security payments can be garnished in case of delinquency." Obama made some gains by federalizing student loans and administering them through the Department of Education. However, Obama's solution is like putting a band-aid over a shotgun wound. The truth is that students all over the nation are accepting loans that are more abusive than sub-prime mortgage loans, yet impossible to discharge. Combined with record unemployment, it is inevitable that a large number of students will default on their loans. This can destroy a student's ability to obtain future loans for education and a home. Mass student defaults also threaten the American economy in a similar way as the sub-prime mortgage loans that were mismanaged by large banking institutions. As one of the largest sources of individual debt in the nation, the student debt monster is creeping closer to pushing our frail economic position past the point of no return. The California Pirate Party recognizes the need to develop solutions to the student debt crisis immediately, and to advocate on behalf of students across the country.The California Pirate Party believes that every citizen is entitled to high quality education resources at an affordable price. We do not think that students should be forced to accept years of indentured servitude in order to get a B.A. As such, we are developing strategies to raise more money to spend on the California school system. Specifically, we believe something must be done about the massive prison population in our state. By reducing the number of incarcerated prisoners, we can save money that can be redistributed to education. One potential way to raise more money for education is to legalize and tax possession of marijuana. By legalizing and taxing marijuana, California will have a brand new source of revenue. Additionally, decriminalization would lead support for releasing prisoners who are incarcerated for non-violent marijuana related offenses. These strategies, combined with other methods for reforming California's budget, may provide a solution for the army of indentured students that are pumped out of California universities each year. The magnitude of this problem cannot be overstated. Student debt threatens to destroy individual lives and the national economy. It is disheartening that such a massive issue does not receive more attention in the public eye. The California Pirate Party aims to change the game and to raise awareness about student debt throughout the state. There are many opposing arguments that say something like "students get loans and waste the money on beer and big televisions...I worked 3 jobs to put myself through school and its your fault if you use loans to be lazy...." The problem is that these arguments do not account for structural factors that make students feel they are obligated to accept loans. While banking institutions have no problem "educating" students about their obligations under the terms of their loans, there are much fewer resources for students to devise alternative strategies for financing their education without accepting predatory loans. We propose an educational campaign to teach students about the dangers of education loans, and also advocating for legislative change that reforms student debt in California. More than anything, the California state legislature must pass responsible policies that account for the rising price of school, the rising prison population and the effects of Proposition 13. 34 Comments
County-based online voter registration expected in California by August, 2012
A plan to allow California citizens to register to vote online hit a big bump in the road back in August of 2010, when Secretary of State Debra Bowen cancelled a contract with Catalyst Consulting Group to build the VoteCal database needed to make online registration possible.A February 17, 2011 article in the San Jose Mercury reported that the “’VoteCal’ statewide online database system [is] now delayed at least until 2015.”According to Shannan Velayas, spokesperson for the Secretary of State’s Office, wrote in an July 2, 2012, e-mail toEtopia News that:“VoteCal is currently in the procurement stage of the process. Of course, the project is following the standard state process and there will be more information to provide once a contract is awarded.”Nevertheless, Californians ought to be able to register to vote online on a county-by-county basis by August, 2012, thanks to legislation introduced by California State Senator Leland Yee (SB 397) and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on October 7, 2011.This legislation was strongly supported by California Common Cause, and is expected by them to encourage the political participation of Internet-savvy and younger citizens. Adam Keigwin, Senator Yee’s chief of staff, says he expects the system to be available in “late August.”Cecilia Gomez Reyes, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, also said that the program allowing online voter registration should be operating in that jurisdiction by August, 2012. Being able to register new voters online, or to persuade already-registered voters to change their party affiliation online, ought to provide a boost to the state’s nascent California Pirate Party, which has initiated a campaign to register 104, 000 voters as members of that group in order to qualify as an officially-registered political party under California law.By Marc StrassmanCross posted from Etopia News
California Pirate Party Response to the Trans Pacific Partnership Treaty
San Diego Hilton Bayfront, Stage 13 NegotiationsMy name is Travis Cochran of the California Pirate Party. I am here on behalf of Pirate PartiesInternational. The Pirate Party is a global progressive political organization dedicated to internetfreedom, democracy, and the resources necessary to guarantee both. Under normal circumstances,we would be excited to be here at a stakeholder’s meeting for the 13th round of negotiations to theTPP. Under normal circumstances, this would be a tremendous opportunity to have an intelligent andtransparent policy discussion about the merits and implications of the different provisions within thetreaty. Unfortunately, there is nothing normal about the way in which this treaty is being negotiated andthe ways in which its proponents are pursuing its ratification.The United States is crippling the democratic process by demanding that the full text of thetreaty is kept secret and not released until four years after its ratification. This is a troubling move that,not only has dangerous consequences, but sets a perilous precedent for the future of internationaland corporate policy. Allowing the government and its corporate interests to construct and implementthe TPP without full disclosure of all of its tenets circumvents the fundamentals of open debate andequal representation that our nation was founded upon. Corporations and lawmakers are able touse this veil of secrecy to create juridical and judicial frameworks that benefit their interests at theexpense of a majority of Americans, our international trading partners, and the principles of democracy.Furthermore, continuing the gag order on the contents of the TPP for several years after its ratificationguarantees that the individuals and organizations most harmed by the treaty have no voice to opposeits policies. Four years of mandatory compliance with the treaty creates the conditions for publicacceptance, in spite of destructive consequences.We find it incredibly ironic that it is left up to pirates to point out that the government’s pursuitof the TPP as it is written is antithetical to transparency and fairness. While I will be discussing some ofthe articles within the leaked version of the TPP that pertain to intellectual property, it is important tonote that anything we discuss today will be futile so long as the text of the treaty remains confidential.We have no way of knowing whether or not the articles we highlight today have been changed, deleted,or otherwise edited. That is why, before we begin to talk about specific sections of the agreement, wewould like to make it clear that our first demand is that the full text of the TPP and all of its negotiationsbe made available to the public. Transparency and debate are the bedrocks of democracy and a failureto freely disseminate the contents of the treaty and negotiations render all other discussions moot.But since we’ve already taken Monday off for this event, we might as well present ourobjections to what we think is included in the TPP.First, Article 4.9 proposes that circumventing copy protection on any media would be a criminalact. Currently, a number of fair use exemptions exist that allow individuals to use licensed work fora number of reasons from software experimentation, to study, and parody. The article as proposedin the leaked copy would close these exemptions and make any use of the work that is not explicitlyallowed in the license illegal. Not only does this stifle innovation and scholarship, but it also threatensthe media rights of individuals as they currently exist. Suggested wording allows corporations to provideconsumers with media locked to only a single use or device. Consumers might be forced to pay formultiple licenses for each work if they would like to use it in multiple ways. For instance, an individualwho purchases a new iPod might be forced to repurchase the rights to the works they already own ifthey would like to put them on their new iPod. This allows corporations to gouge the pocketbooks of thepublic and slow down the free flow of information and ideas.Second, Article 6 discusses the fair use of copyrighted material and suggests removing many ofthe exceptions that currently exist. The leaked US proposal recommends closing the exception for thetransient copying of a file, which would criminalize temporarily storing files in the cache while streamingmedia files. Closing this exemption would dramatically increase the time it would take for individuals toaccess and re-access media, which uniquely limits artists and researchers.Third, Article 10.2 states that there must be a presumption that the rightsholders’ claims tothe right is valid unless evidence to the contrary is produced. Giving presumption to the organizationthat makes the claim disrupts the patent process by encouraging the submission of frivolous patents. Arecent trend known as ‘Patent Trolling’ occurs when a company files for a number of vague and obviouspatents in an attempt to catch new products in violation of their copyright. This has been taken toextremes, such as when a company called Eolas Holdings attempted to file a patent for “any programthat allowed access to the interactive web.” This means anything that is accessed via the internet wouldowe that company a licensing fee. This claim was thankfully struck down by the courts; however,Article 10.2 will make it less likely that future frivolous patents are overturned, since presumptionwill now rely on the company that made the claim, which in this case would be Eolas Holdings.Entrepreneurship and individual inventions would be discouraged because producers would have topay for costly litigation to avoid paying licensing fees on nonsensical patents. Under the new concept ofpresumption, the burden would fall on the individual inventor to prove that the so-called patent theywere accused of violating is actually invalid.A similar phenomenon is happening on sites like YouTube and would only be exacerbated giventhe new provision. As of now, YouTube relies on an automated system for copyright infringement inwhich someone that owns a copyright reports videos that violate their copyright. Recently, a companycalled Rumblfish had a video removed for containing a ‘sound recording’ that violated their copyright.After further investigation, the only thing similar in the video to their copyright was a bird call that wascreated in nature and thus excluded by law from copyright protection.Frivolous copyright and patent claims not only put a strain on the court system, but they alsodeter creativity and ingenuity. Such claims are a means for old media and corporations to squash newmedia and startups before they become legitimate competitors. Newer organizations and individualslack the financial and legal resources to defend their works from the war chests of these vulturecompanies.Additionally, this article insults the notion of innocent until proven guilty. Individuals will be ableto be removed from the internet and have their service cancelled after a set number of allegations. Thewording of the article does not even require proof that individuals have committed illegal acts, copyrightinfringement, or terms of service violations, in order to justify their dismissal from the web. Underthe TPP, mere accusations will meet the burden of proof necessary to expel someone from the majormedium of global communication.Fourth, Article 12.8 forces internet service providers to turn over personal information forindividuals accused of copyright infringement. At this point, this power is not even granted to lawenforcement individuals without a warrant. This article extends corporations and copyrightholders’powers beyond the individuals we currently trust to protect us and enforce the law, which begs toquestion how comfortable we all are with corporations having such policing capabilities.Fifth, Article 14 allows for borders and customs to seize and destroy goods that are suspectedof infringing existing copyrights, trademarks, or patents. Such wording gives customs and border agentsthe authority to seize and destroy goods wrongly and without good reasoning at the behest of UScompanies. This is particularly troubling in the case of generic medicine, which is being targeted in theTPP at the request of US pharmaceutical companies. Delaying the delivery of generic medication anddestroying part of the global supply has profound public health implications, especially for threatenedpopulations around the world that depend on these resources. Impoverished nations and nonprofitorganizations have limited budgets and generic medication is often their only hope to combat infectiousdisease, since their cost is sometimes as much as 99% less than the name brand medicine. This provisionin the TPP is a gut check moment for all of us and forces us to decide what we value most; do we valuethe profit margins of US pharmaceutical companies or the global pharmaceutical market and the lives ofmillions of individuals at risk right now?Sixth, Article 15.1 outlines criminal regulations for the use of copyrighted, trademarked, andpatented materials on a “commercial scale.” Regulating the commercial use of protected materialis reasonable. Where this article becomes outlandish and draconian is when it defines “commercialactivity.” The article defines Commercial Scale as: ‘significant willful copyright or related rightsinfringements that have no direct or indirect motivation of financial gain”. Basically, you do not have tobe engaged in any commercial activity at all in order to be guilty of committing criminal acts of rightsviolations on a commercial scale. Sharing music with friends can easily be interpreted as criminal activityunder such a questionably broad interpretation.Seventh and lastly, Article 15.4 criminalizes ‘aiding and abetting’ intellectual property crimes.Much like the previous article, the problem here lies in the proposed definitions. There are nodefinitions of what is included in ‘aiding and abetting.’ This opens the floodgates for a large number ofinnocent individuals to be surveyed or charged for intellectual property crimes for having nothing todo with the crime at all. For instance, proprietors of internet businesses or owners of hacked wirelessnetworks might be guilty of aiding and abetting criminal activity if it occurs on their servers or networks.The ambiguous nature of this provision creates a slippery slope that allows the criminalization of a largenumber of individuals just for being on the internet.The Pirate Party firmly believes that the freedom of the internet must be preserved at all costs.The internet represents a socioeconomic leveling agent that gives as much voice and power to a smallgirl in Jakarta as it does a rich oil tycoon in Dallas. In its purest form it is the epitome of the marketplaceof ideas, a true meritocracy of concepts and culture. If we open ourselves up to the possibilities of theinternet, then we can work collectively to make the world better, but some people do not want that.For some, this is destabilizing to the current world order and the current ideas espoused in mainstreammedia. The truth is, when given a level playing field and when exposed to a marketplace that rewardsgenuine creativity, innovation, and intelligence, the foundations of the old media and corporations beginto crumble. We are here to say let them fall. Let them turn to rubble. For it will not be the bankruptvoices in the boardroom that will be the architects of our future, it will be the legions of thought leadersand artists from Sao Paulo to Seoul, and San Juan to San Diego.Written byTravis CochranCalifornia Pirate PartyThe author would like to thank the following contributors to this work:Simon Frew, Deputy PresidentPirate Party AustraliaDavid Campbell, PresidentPirate Party AustraliaJake Ziering, PresidentCalifornia Pirate Party
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