Thursday, March 15, 2012
Political Planning
Dear friends: I’m in grad school for a Masters in Public Health (MPH).
I needed to write about the “PRECEDE-PROCEED” health planning model with an example of my choice for a mid-term exam. I turned in something similar to this. This is a slightly tweaked version from my actual mid-term answer. Enjoy…
One example of a Precede-Proceed application may be an intervention upon the political-economy. There have been studies that suggest that the political-economy influences poverty and income inequities in a society. The political economy is influenced by participation in mass movements, unions, political parties, and electoral systems.
Let’s assume that a mass movement has appeared arguing against the concentration of political and economic power in the hands of a few people in society, maybe the top 1%. Health promotion workers being concerned about the prerequisites of health as mentioned in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion get together to see how they can form a health promotion program in support of this movement. They looked at how to work on healthy policy, supportive environments, community action, individual skills, and reorienting medical services.
The ultimate desired result as expressed by the mass movement is an equitable society. Health promotion workers offer to provide support on these issues and develop a “healthy society” intervention. Listening to participants of the movement, and also having conversations with people from non-profits, social justice organizations with paid staff, the few radical elected officials, and other public health workers the health promotion healthy society team will develop a menu of well-researched issues which contribute to the concentration of power and resources, or toward an equitable society (depending on how research has been done previously), then present that to the stakeholders.
They also look at previous research and decide to provide health education on how political systems, economics, racism, sexism, classism, party in power, unions, and mass movement influence health. There is plenty of scientific evidence that supports the idea that a strong “Left” movement will make a difference in income equity, health, and general quality of life. They take diffusion of innovation theory, theory of freeing, and other health models and apply it to create a strong impact for health education approaches.
Electoral systems, laws around ballot access for political parties, and laws concerning unionization are identified as barriers to implementation of a “healthy society” intervention. Laws around gathering in public are also identified as barriers. Banking laws, especially mortgage lending laws, are seen as huge barriers as well. General distrust of unions, political parties, politicians, and a weakening of democracy by the two-corporate-party system is another huge barrier and interventions specifically around this start getting planned to present back to the group.
This information is taken back to a movement “general assembly” where the information is shared and is then discussed over the course of several meetings. The assembly feels ownership sufficiently to engage the health promotion team with planning around increasing participation in the mass movement, and decreasing the concentration of power through mandatory public financing of all elections. The health promotion team delves back into the literature and begins to design specific interventions that will help get more people involved in the mass movement, and also looks at the process for changing electoral financing laws, and other issues prioritized.
The general assembly creates a “healthy society” working group that meets regularly. Process evaluation is done at every meeting. It is decided that that every three months there will be some impact evaluation. Since this is not a funded project the members of the movement ask the health promotion workers if they would invest time in training a variety of people in evaluation so that an outcome evaluation may be done at the end.
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KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Grad School, Health, Real Democracy
Monday, November 28, 2011
11/28/11
I will be so happy to get some time off. May 12, 2012 is supposed to be graduation time. That will be good. I've done more walking and plan to get back on the workout train as soon as all my projects are turned in. Hopefully the month will go well enough so I can have a habit re-started. Once there is momentum it tends to keep me going.
The current impulse is great. What I find interesting is that specific issues are still being fought for without looking at what the pre-conditions for change in other places have been. One example is this article by Vicente Navarro about the privatization of politics.
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Real Democracy, Workout
Monday, October 31, 2011
Halloween Reflections on (Un)Occupy
One was going to the Country Club area and hearing tons of Spanish from the parents while their kids went trick or treating! It was sweet at this particular moment in history. Friends were discussing dressing up as zombies with signs saying "we are the 1%." The other was making sure that we find out what the richest census tract is in Albuquerque and going there for the taking of the treats.
After having participated in a few General Assemblies (GAs as short) I am starting to get it. The effort at direct democracy is important. It fits the sentiment that has grown against the two corporate sponsored parties. Even some of the liberal and progressive radio talk show hosts have begun to talk about more choice. They stop short of proposing proportional representation as a solution. Another option that might work is instant runoff voting as a local an intermediary improvement.
What I like is knowing that the direct democracy work is not new nor necessarily a "white hippy" thing like many people assume or report. It has been working in many places for a long time. The participatory budgeting was implemented because the Brazilian Workers' Party took over Porto Alegre, Brazil and implemented an increasingly democratic practice. It has even started in Chicago. Some schools also use direct democracy - youth power!
Here in Burque people are working on specifics to some degree. There is the Anti-capitalist conversations, Socialist Drinking Club, Stop Foreclosure work, Solidarity with the Oakland call for a General Strike, an electoral reform affinity group, and more.
What is not being discussed openly, mainly out of some politeness, is the bottom line. There are many people and communities that were doing poorly while the economy was doing "great." People fighting for the health and self-determination of their communities while others went about their business. These folks now get fairly upset even hearing the word privilege. Which is unfortunate. Things will not change as fast without them.
The reality with this "crisis" is the reality of many different moments in US history. When things get tough for Middle-Class, White folks then it is important. It's tough to say, and likely tough to hear. It is probably tougher to go beyond hearing and to listening and transforming.
Part of it is attempting to say it in a way that is not about hate, resentment, or anger. Just a reality. One that needs to be discussed and overcome.
Some of us have been struggling a long time. Part of what happens is that the establishment will soon throw out bones that get enough people feeling like, "I'm OK, things are good again." Then slowly things may slow down. The concern for communities that have been struggling with persistent poverty for decades may start to wane. Any concern for the issues Indigenous people have been dealing with for centuries may fade quickly - as that is where the (un)occupy name stemmed from. Seemingly some of the most difficult feelings to deal with as well.
Concern about racism may move back to the "we had the Civil Rights movement" already mind-frame and complacency may set in. Maybe the rhetoric about dealing with racism, colonization, sexism, homophobia, the homeless, etc... will all just fade to where they were the last time a large number of Middle-Class people felt comfortable.
OR - maybe this will not be THAT moment again. Maybe this will be the moment where we decide to fight until we have democracy in which we ALL get to participate. Maybe this is the moment where we decide to fight for REAL equity and address racism, sexism, colonization, homophobia, and of course classism fully instead of bailing out early once we get some improvements. Maybe this will be the moment where we stand together until everyone gets a fair share of human needs. Maybe this will be the moment where we truly re-invent society and not just accept even a large amount of us getting better off. Maybe THIS is the moment where we say that NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND EVER AGAIN!!! SOLIDARITY!
Labels: Real Democracy, Solidarity
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Electoral Reform draft
OCCYUPY ESPA asked for an article on electoral reform - here is what I sent them.
It is time to reform our electoral system. When you think about quality of life, health, and fairness in our society we can easily blame corporations – and we are justified to do so. Another thing we can blame is our electoral system. Private money, lack of choice, and lack of access are literally making us sick.
Our electoral system is very old – the first of modern European-based democracies. Thinking that it is the best is like thinking a Model-T car is the best because it was one of the first cars. Improvements have been made to vehicles and to democracy. We should use those.
Some of those improvements would help out our economic situation as well. Since those elected to power often set the regulations, or lack of regulations, on our economic system. Given the legit distrust for the electoral system and politicians we need better ways to regulate them – more democratic processes.
One of the most easily to think of given the corporate power in America is the implementation of mandatory public financing for all elections. Imagine if each of the cities standing in solidarity right now were to win this. People power would have a better chance over money power. Now, we can’t pretend that those with money would not look for ways to use that resource to undermine democracy. What would be different is that there would be a system to minimize that.
If this were to be implemented nationally it would have a huge impact. Even locally it would mean that one does not need to be well off to run for office. Currently there is almost no representation by working-class elected officials. If this happens in one city because of this movement that is still progress. If this happens in many cities in one state that will be a shift toward a democratic culture for that state. If this were to happen in ALL of the cities currently it would be an important shift toward national implementation. That would mean that elected officials would no longer have to be millionaires to run for office. I don’t know about you – I would prefer to be “represented” by a union laborer than someone who can spend a million dollars on a campaign.
There is a great deal of research that shows that countries with proportional representation distribute the resources of society better, are happier, and healthier. That is a major shift for US politics. Proportional representation is something that was not thought of at the time of the founding of the US. One thing that could start us along that road locally would be “Instant Runoff Voting.” Also known as “Rank Choice Voting,” this system makes sure that there are not “wasted” votes when there are more than two candidates. Having this seemingly minor reform would transform those who could run.
As it stands now many “progressive” political machines will discourage good candidates from running in order to be able to beat Republicans. This so-called progressive approach actually gives New Mexicans, and Americans LESS CHOICE! That is how dysfunctional our current voting system is. And instead of challenging it liberals and progressives just try to beat it by eliminating choices.
Ending photo ID for voting, easing ballot access laws, and same day voter registration would also help out in creating a more democratic electoral system.
For those of you who vote – again I ask you imagine what it would be like for each of our cities to win instant runoff voting and mandatory public financing.
Labels: Chicana and Chicano Votes, Real Democracy
Sunday, October 09, 2011
10/09/11
One thing I've noticed is that many people are talking about breaking out of the two party system. You can register for other parties. Registering with "no party" or "independent" does not tell people running campaigns where you stand on the issues.
You can register with the following parties in NM by placing the three letter abbreviation in box 5 of your NM voter registration form:
La Raza Unida de Nuevo Mejico (LRU)
New Mexico Socialist Party (SNM)
New Party of New Mexico (PNM)
Peace and Freedom Party (PAF)
Socialist Labor Party (SLP)
Socialist Workers Party (SWP)
Worker's World Party (WWP).
KEEP LEFTING!
Labels: Raza Unida, Real Democracy
Monday, October 03, 2011
10/03/11
During one of the meetings we discussed this not being a new movement. This really is an opportunity to connect movements. Today we had a conversation on both electoral politics and direct democracy. We also talked about the rank voting process going on in Minnesota.
I keep walking around more and more. Homework and all of that is going OK. I want to work out today but I'm very tired.
It was a fun and tough weekend. Had good gigs and also a lot of challenges.
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Instant Runoff Voting, Real Democracy, Solidarity
Monday, November 08, 2010
11/8/10
Loading and unloading is also always a great workout!
As a random aside, I found out that Obama as a Senator sponsored an Instant Runoff Voting bill.
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Musica y Musicos, Real Democracy
Monday, October 25, 2010
Get out and Vote!
Why? Check out the video - 30 years of this has gotten us what we have now.
Keep Lefting!!!
Labels: Hell In Handbasket, Real Democracy
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
James Thindwa on Bill Moyers
Labels: Hell In Handbasket, Real Democracy
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Support Employee Free Choice Act!
MILK
Friday, March 06, 2009
IRV Elevator Speech
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
3/3/09
Also, I sent to my City Councilor - Consejero Rey - a big request to my congressperson. Hope that goes well. Even though it is just an ask the thought of messing up the paper work stressed me out. It would bother me to lose a shot at getting millions for the International District because of something stupid on a form.
I'll add a quote for the day...
The extent of coverage provided by a country's health services is directly related to the level of development of that country's democratic process (and its power relations).
The United States is the only developed country whose government does not guarantee access to health care for its citizens. It is also the developed country with the least representative and most insufficient democratic institutions, owing to the constitutional framework of the political system, the privatization of the electoral process, and the enormous power of corporate interests in both the media and the political process.
As international experience shows, without a strong labor-based movement willing to be radical in its protests, a universal health care program will never be accepted by the US establishment.
Vicente Navarro
Keep Lifting and Keep Lefting!!!
Labels: Hell In Handbasket, Real Democracy
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Another Proud Father Moment
Labels: Real Democracy
Letter to Change.gov
Here is the text:
Essentially my vision for the country is of family. A family that cares for each other. One that sees that caring requiring responsibility to act, and to act with strength.
I see a country rich enough that no one should be working for a living and still having to deal with below-poverty-wages. I see a country where corporations do not charge people in order to keep them from attaining health care. I see a country where fairness rules and everyone has access enough to run for office if they choose, and the ability for voter choice to have many options in finding someone that truly represents their interests.
I envision an America where everyone pays their fair share of taxes for the benefits we expect. I envision an America where everyone has the opportunity for a quality education. I envision an America where unions are supported in organizing for workers' rights.
I look forward to a society where government lives up to its moral responsibilities in serving all and reducing the inequalities that cause so many illnesses. I look forward to a society where all neighborhoods have adequate resources so they can be healthy and safe. I look forward to poison-free communities.
My vision is that government lives up to its responsibilities in order that those of us who are not elected officials know our voices will have impact. My vision is that government is moral and eliminates the barriers to participation at all levels. My vision is that government is caring, responsible and strong enough to serve everyone, including the homeless family, the recent immigrants, and those struggling to make ends meet.
Labels: Real Democracy
Monday, November 17, 2008
Nov. 17, 2008
I'll just have to try and catch us up later.
Here's something on "Healthy Democracy" - there's no analyses on the two-party system, but there is stuff in there about Universal Registration. At least they support part of what the rest of the world's democracies have.
Labels: Real Democracy
Friday, November 14, 2008
Support Albuquerque's Educational Assistants
The Union is saying that they didn't have anything to do with the walk out. And the new Superintendent is already using the "these people" language.
Youth are the most important asset for any community. Educational Assitants are a part of developing that precious asset by supporting their education. If they are not being paid a basic living wage then we show a lack of value and concern for our children.How much we invest in the empowerment of our children through their education says a lot. We invest a large percentage of the NM State budget into education, but obviously we either need more, or need to see where we can invest in educators before administrators.
Support the Educational Assistants, support Unions and support the Employee Free Choice Act!
I had dreamed up an add showing a golfing CEO and Janitor saying "who really works harder?" - but this ad rocks. I would still stick with working class, but hey - the point gets across. (Full Image)
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Hell In Handbasket, Real Democracy
Monday, November 10, 2008
Why did I join La Raza Unida - Nov. 7, 2008
Caring is the core of Raza Unida. That caring places a responsibility to act – to care for ourselves and for each other. Part of that responsibility is to develop the strength to act on that caring.
Because we care we have a responsibility to do something and that requires us to build the capacity to take action! We have the responsibility to express our values of caring. We have the responsibility to act on those values. And we have the responsibility to build the strength to be caring.
That strength will come from us moving beyond our issues into a broader sense of humanity. This will mean bringing those things we are most passionate about together. Strength will mean putting our values and our people in charge of our world. We've recently seen the potential of putting issues second to unity and power.
Now is always a good time to make government and our society play its most important roles – protection and empowerment. Protection from abuse and oppressions, empowerment to attain our full human dignity. Join La Raza Unida and help us work together for the caring, safe and healthy world we all want to enjoy and leave for future generations!
As for "What do we do now?" Here's an answer that sounds promising - GO BIG!!!
Labels: Chicana and Chicano Votes, Movimiento Chicano, Raza Unida, Real Democracy
Thursday, November 06, 2008
November 6, 2008
I'm really happy to have been able to stand for who closest represented me over the wave. That means I really appreciate all the people who got people out. I did some, what I could do as a volunteer. It will be easy now for the "critiques." People will be critizing those who didn't do MORE to get the vote out for Obama, people will criticize those who did, people will critizice Obama himself!
There will be a clamor to "get on board" or "get with the program." I think there is only one program - it is time to make America a place where people care about people again!
For me that means we have to clarify internally with La Raza Unida that we exist because we care about people. We need to care for ourselves and others and acting on the responsibility that comes with that caring. It also means that we have to become strong enough to act on that responsibility.
We have to hold government to their key roles - protection and empowerment. Protection comes as regulation of business practicies, pollution, and ill health among other problems. Empowerment will come as giving all of us fair access to the common wealth. Business gets more return on roads, the internet, and other infrastructure - they should pay their fair share so the rest of us have access to quality schools, health care, and real political participation.
I'll keep clarifying that for myself and for others.
Here's some more on Electoral Reform, and COMPLETE Presidential Results! (Funny how in the fight for "democracy" many so-called progressives ignore and marginalize other peoples' voices.)
Keep the comments coming and KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Real Democracy
Friday, October 31, 2008
October 31, 2008
Dia de Los Muertos event in the South Valley will be on Sunday at 4pm!
In the Obama infomercial he talks about a living wage. Hopefully we see that. Hopefully we will at least index the minimum wage to inflation. And maybe Democrats will prove they are democratic and remove some of the barriers they have put in the way of democracy by opening up elections and voter options!!!
KEEP LEFTING!!!
Labels: Chicana and Chicano Votes, Real Democracy
