Resistance to Republican Efforts to Resurrect the Keystone XL Pipeline

Beginning at noon on Monday February 13, people are rallying in defense of President Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline. The goal is to send a half a million emails to the Senate in 24 hours encouraging Democrats to back their President. This effort is designed to counter Congressional Republicans who are working hard to override President Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL. In January Republicans forced the President to rule on the fate of the pipeline by holding America hostage over legislation extending the payroll tax holiday.

Video: The Koch Brothers are Oil Billionaires on a Maniacal Mission

The Koch brothers are oil billionaires who have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to increase their own profits through decreasing regulations. With a net worth of $43 billion the Kochs have already spent decades of their lives and over $324 million of their wealth exerting their influence. Here is a video from Brave New Foundation outlining the top five worst things this climate denying duo are doing to fulfill their self serving agenda.

Video: What do the Koch Brothers talk about at thier Secret Right Wing Retreats?

The Koch brothers are right-wing, climate change denying, oil billionaires. They hold secret retreats for rich conservatives. During one of these retreats Charles Koch was caught comparing president Obama to killed 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden. In this video, the Young Turks host Cenk Uygur shares more details.

Leadnow: Voting for Change in Canada

To help auger political change in Canada, Jamie Biggar and Adam Shedletzky are spearheading a new organization called Leadnow. The duo was inspired by Canadian national elections scheduled for May 2, 2011. They are seeking greater political involvment from Canadians. With the ruling Conservative government failing to heed the views of Canadians on issues like climate change, the need for change in Ottawa is urgent.

Leadnow is a grassroots movement that seeks to bring Canadians together to hold politicians accountable and take action for a cleaner future. Leadnow is Canada’s embryonic answer to Moveon.org, the US site that helped put Barack Obama in the White House in 2008.

In Leadnow's online surveys, thousands of Canadians are ranking the environment as the issue they most care about. According to these surveys the environmental issues that are most pressing to Canadians include:

-Establishing climate legislation to meet international and science-based targets
-Putting a price on global warming pollution
-Ending subsidies to fossil fuel companies
-Investing in renewable energy, energy efficiency and home retrofits
-Investing in creating sustainable economies in resource dependent communities
-Investing in public transportation and rail networks
-Protecting half of Canada's wild land and ocean areas

Using the revolutionary power of social media, the non-partisan site leadnow fights against voter apathy and generates debate about national values. At their site, users can rank policy issues, then pledge support to the party leader who conforms to the values of Canadians.

According to Leadnow, it's time to work together for change to combat toxic politics and divisions that are holding Canada back and hurting Canadians and the planet.

According to former Clerk of the Privy Council Alex Himelfarb, Leadnow.ca is exactly what Canada needs. “Leadnow addresses what has arguably been an infrastructure deficit: they provide the much needed opportunity to work with others from every region and sector of the country, to influence the political agenda by defining the Canada we want based on environmental stewardship, equality and justice," Himelfarb said.

“Our federal government is dividing us, damaging our democracy and failing to address the major challenges that face our country,” said Jamie Biggar, co-founder and Executive Director of Leadnow.ca. “Whether we’re talking about the lack of action for our environment, the unequal economic recovery, or the erosion of democratic values – this government is failing to take action on the issues that matter to Canadians. It’s time we work together for change.”

Canadians are coming together in support of political cooperation. Canadians are creating the Declaration for Change—a call for politicians to work together for progress on the major challenges facing our country.

A nationwide event took place from March 6-12, 2011, it was titled (Re)Generation: Voices for Canada. Canadians from across the country participated in face-to-face gatherings to discuss their hopes and ideas for their country and their future. Dozens of Canadian cities hosted events from coast to coast.

Through Leadnow, thousands of Canadians are sharing their values and ideas for Canada and politicians should take notice. The Declaration for Change has identified four major areas: reforming our democracy, protecting our environment, promoting equality and economic opportunity, and improving our systems of care. See the Declaration for Change online values survey.

Many of the people working with Leadnow.ca started organizing in the youth climate movement, and they have participated in many 350 events. They are excited because they know that if Canadians work together, they can change Canadian politics.

Leadnow is enriching Canada's democracy encouraging people to participate in a new kind of politics that asks people to lead. Click here to join the process online, share your views with politicians and see what Canadians want for Canada.

As explained by Jamie Biggar, "Our goal is to create a new way for Canadians to come together online to talk about their hopes and priorities for the country and create a really strong voice that's going to be heard in Ottawa. Today is the beginning of a new type of politics in Canada. We will no longer wait to be told who and what we should vote for. Leadnow.ca will enable people to take politics into their own hands - by coming together around shared values, and telling our politicians what they can do to earn our vote...We will be a united force in the next election, strengthening the voices of thousands of Canadians who want a different type of politics in Ottawa.”

See Leadnow on Facebook or follow them on Twitter. For more information, contact: Jamie Biggar, Co-Founder & Executive Director (jamie@leadnow.ca, 778-847-8205 - Vancouver) or Adam Shedletzky, Co-Founder (adam@leadnow.ca, 647-213-6591 - Toronto).

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Republican Gubernatorial Gains and Redistricting

Republican politicians are preparing to use redistricting to serve their own interests and ignore the public good. Although the ramifications largely escape public notice, the influx of Republican governors in the 2010 midterms will significantly influence redistricting. Republicans will control the redrawing of over 200 House districts, compared to only a few dozen for Democrats. This will make it even more difficult to get electoral support for President Obama's agenda, including energy and climate change.

Every 10 years, legislative district lines are redrawn, ostensibly to reflect demographic changes revealed by the census. The redistricting process is also the single most important lever for states to influence the composition of Congress. Ultimately redistricting determines electoral and legislative outcomes. With the exception of a handful of states, these decisions are made with little or no public input or accountability.

There are a total of 36 states on track for redistricting. While the number of Congressional seats is determined by population, each state has its own redistricting process. In 42 states the processes is done in the state legislature and then confirmed by the governor, sometimes the state supreme court. There are seven states that operate on commission systems that includes a review by other governing bodies. However, Arizona’s commission of non-elected residents does not need final legislative input or approval. The other seven states have just one Congressional district.

The midterm election of 2010 included three state ballot initiatives that dealt with redistricting decisions through independent commissions. California approved Proposition 20 and Oklahoma voters approved State Question 748.

Florida voters approved constitutional amendments requiring Congressional and state legislative districts to follow city, county, or geographical boundaries. The amendments also stipulate that districts must have similar population distribution, be compact, and must not favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent or disenfranchise any racial or ethnic group.

Republicans control approximately 204 districts, but the passage of Proposition 20 in California means 53 more seats are off the table for Democrats. The control of 27 districts in Florida depends on the outcome of litigation. Democrats control 47, as it stands, with another 27 in the New York State Senate, another 20 in Oregon, Minnesota, and Colorado and another 2 depending on the role Rhode Island governor elect Lincoln Chafee decides to play in the process. North Carolina counts toward the Republican total, as the governor has no sway over redistricting.

Controlling a governorship can often be a boon to a party in a presidential race. Politicians use redistricting as an opportunity to cut unfavorable constituents and potential challengers out of their districts. Incumbents can also use redistricting to move favorable constituents into their districts.

Transparency is the only way to hold politicians accountable for their redistricting efforts. Scholars at the Brookings Institution along with the American Enterprise Institute have consulted with an array of experts in redistricting issues to provide a set of principles for transparency and public participation.

The new slate of Republican governers are planning to gerrymander legislative lines behind closed doors and this does not bode well for America's democracy or the war against climate change.


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