Will you form a large party that takes a stand on many issues or will you form a small party that has one issue that is meaningful to them?

Will you form a large party that takes a stand on many issues or will you form a small party that has one issue that is meaningful to them?

· Large parties like the Democratic Party and the Republican Party have platforms that encompass major issues – in Texas members of larger parties have platforms that address, at least, the following – see page 106 in your book for examples of the Texas Democratic and Republican Party Platforms:

· Stronger states’ rights vs. stronger national rights

· Education

· Taxes – should taxes be more or less – should you put higher taxes on things like cigarettes and alcohol and lower taxes on food?

· Abortion

· Death Penalty

· Immigration

· Citizenship

· Minimum Wage

· Healthcare

· Smaller parties may take on one major issue like the following and hope to gain momentum in a certain issue area. Remember that smaller parties can actually impact major change – smaller parties may not survive themselves “forever” but they can make the larger parties have to contend with the issue they bring to the forefront of voters’ minds. For example:

· A party that is totally focused on the environment.

· A party for the Animals (gained 2 seats in the Dutch Parliament in 2006).

· A party totally focused on immigration and has platform for how to fix it.

· A party totally focused on healthcare for all people and a plan on how to get it.

· A farmer/labor party where the goal is to promote the interest of farmers and growers.

· A “splinter party” that splinters off from a larger party because you disagree with an issue – i.e. you identify with the democrats but really want to be pro-life so you have democratic party ideals but are pro-life.

· EXAMPLE of a party that started on a grassroots level and has grown much larger: Green Party

· Example of a small party that started small and is growing in momentum.

· Grassroots parties that are created in classrooms just like this can gain momentum and grow and change the way people think and vote.

· Started in Denver, Colorado, in 2000.

· Focus overall on the environment, social justice, human rights, peace.

· Here is their platform now – taken from their website www.gp.org. Visit the website if you want more details on each of their “10 Key Values” below:

1. GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY

2. SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

3. ECOLOGICAL WISDOM

4. NON-VIOLENCE

5. DECENTRALIZATION

6. COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMICS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE

7. FEMINISM AND GENDER EQUITY

8. RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY

9. PERSONAL AND GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY

10. FUTURE FOCUS AND SUSTAINABILITY

Elections, Campaigns, and Voting in Texas

In this chapter you are reading about voting and elections in Texas. There is a lot of valuable information in this chapter about our election system and how it works. A discussion on voting and elections is not complete without forming an opinion on negative advertising. Some people think negative advertising works and reveals important facts about candidates that they do not want you to know. Some people think negative advertising distracts from the real issues in the campaign and frustrates voters. Form an opinion about negative advertising as you study this chapter and think about it in light of the information you are learning as you read.

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