Austin Has the Right. So Should America.

When we hear about ballot propositions in Austin, it serves to unite us as a community in a common diologue. We debate. We deliberate. Then we go to the polls and decide. This makes this city ours. It tailors public policy to our liking.

Whether it's commuter rail, or subsidies for The Domain ... we come together and make our city what it is. Special interests have a way of co-opting any non-majoritarian system, and that includes Austin's system, if we're not careful. The initiative system here isn't perfect, but it's a valuable asset. How often would the issues we vote on get ignored if it weren't initiated by citizens?

Contrast Austin with the rest of America. Or the federal government. How often are issues ignored that a majority of Americans support? Health care? The wars? Medical marijuana? Labor issues? Take your pick. There are more issues the American public disagrees with their politicians about than one can list in a day. And they're being ignored. We're being ignored. And certain special interests are the only ones being heard.

Say we Austinized America. Say we finally united as a community in a common diologue as a country. What could we get done? Could we re-build our reputation on the global stage? What else?

We're working on a documentary to explain to Americans the possibilities of having a national initiative procedure in this country. I'm one of the writers for the film and I live here in Austin. This is an effort pioneered by former Alaskan Senator and recent presidential candidate Mike Gravel (click here to see a special message from the Senator). We're simply trying to raise enough money to travel and to cover the production costs, and I'd like for Austinites to have a chance to be instrumental in making this happen.

If you've felt particularly politically powerless lately, please consider what we're doing here and consider making a donation. Anything you can afford would be taking you one step closer to true political freedom. As Mike says, freedom is defined as "participation in power". In short, there are some efforts that are just more meaningful than others, and this is one of them.

If this resonates with you, please check out our website for more information. If you'd like to do more, please check out our get involved section, and help make the change that no politician would ever promise you.

Cheers, and hook'em.