[CFR-Announce] Try the Oregon Campaign Finance Reform Online Petitioning Web

[Money is Not Democracy]

Ness Blackbird of The Peaceful Nation has set up on online petition 
distribution system for our Oregon Campaign Finance Reform Initiative, 
Petition 53, which places limits on political campaign contributions in 
Oregon.

    *Because Oregon is one of only 6 states with no limits at all on
    campaign contributions, our state and local governments are
    dominated by corporations and wealthy individuals who make huge
    campaign contributions--and get back anything they want from the
    politicians.*

Here is the link to get to the system:

                http://www.peacefulnation.org/index.php?campaign=1

If this pass-along/multiplier technique succeeeds, it will be a powerful 
way for Oregonians to gather signatures on progressive ballot measures.

*More Info*

The new system, which has never before been tried, prints out a 
certified petition cover sheet and signature sheet for Petition 53, with 
your name and address already printed on it as signer and as 
circulator.  It also allows you to help get other involved by alerting 
them to this convenient way to get and sign the petition.

Here's how it works: You join the campaign and agree to nominate at 
least two more people to join the campaign, who in turn agree to get two 
more people to join, and so forth.  This results in an exponential 
growth of the campaign, so that in a short while (in theory) all 
Oregonians who want campaign finance reform will have joined.  This is 
an entirely new way to gather signatures and depends on each person 
encouraging their "nominees" to follow up up by getting two of their 
friends involved.

You can then use the web site to print out a petition cover 
sheet/signature sheet that has been approved by the Oregon Secretary of 
State.  The signature sheet will already have your name and address 
printed on it, as the circulator and as the #1 signer.  If you have 
already signed Petition 53, just draw a line through the #1 signature 
slot and use the sheet to get signatures from others.  *Before folding 
and mailing the sheet back to us, be sure to date your signature, as 
circulator, _after_ you have collected as many signatures on the sheet 
as you can.*  Even if you only collect one signature--your own--please 
send in the sheet.

Since law requires that every petitioner have a copy of the text of the 
measure, the system provides a link for downloading the text of Petition 53.

*Here is a message from the author of the system, Ness Blackbird:*

    One of the cool things about this is that the system will
    automatically track the number of people who have signed up because
    of you, the people you signed up, the people they signed up, and so
    forth.  You could be indirectly responsible for thousands of signatures!

    Once you join the campaign, the system will automatically tell you
    every 3 days whether the two people you nominated have joined the
    campaign.  The system will generate a unique link for you to give to
    your friends.  When they join by clicking on that link, the system
    will stop sending you reminders. 

    Here's the link you should click on.  Remember that this isn't the
    same as the link to send to your friends -- the system will give you
    that. 

            http://www.peacefulnation.org/index.php?campaign=1

    Thanks again for all your help!  If you have any trouble with the
    system, please let me know.  My email is also on the website.

    The system is a part of the Peaceful Nation website, a global
    democracy project.  You don't have to join the Peaceful Nation to
    join the campaign.  If you would like to start your own campaign on
    the Peaceful Nation website, drop me an email.

        Ness Blackbird, Webmaster
        The Peaceful Nation
        503 281-0236
        admin at peacefulnation.org


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