LIVING HEROES AND HEROINES OF MINE: A CHILD’S TAKE
Not budget meetings or any negotiations behind closed doors with our administration
Dedicated to all those supporters on http://oxtogrind.org/archive/336

I am as frightened as a child as I write this, for I fear that — appearing presumptuous — I will lose the crucial (deeply appreciated) support of prestigious, influential souls… which TOSCA* depends upon. And others. That must not happen!

*See http://oxtogrind.org/archive/331 and/or http://oxtogrind.org/archive/315 (depending on your background).

My living heroes and heroines — from Noam Chomsky, Arundhati Roy and Howard Zinn to Derrick Jensen, Mike Davis and Michael Parenti– all call for a revolution of sorts in the U.S. Well, I have created the basis for one. (1)

But those heroes and heroines of mine must go beyond giving me their imprimaturs for http://oxtogrind.org/archive/336. (2) They will know how to do so.

Keep in mind, if you will, that for the vast majority of those on board (99%?), TOSCA only requires ten minutes of heartbeats for the next year or so. Ten minutes total. (3)

For others, I’d like your kind consideration of what’s below:

1. Everyone must be told NOT to vote for either of the two major parties in the 2010 California gubernatorial election.

2. Everyone must be told that — even at the risk of losing gubernatorial ballot status for their party in 2014 — no votes should be cast for any of the gubernatorial candidates heading the tickets of marginalized parties (Green, P&F, American Independent, Libertarian, etc.). Even though we won’t be dependent upon citizens with affiliations.

3. Articles, lectures, concerts, etc. should flood alternative realms and beyond… urging citizens to recommend candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor… and to provide preferences for a dozen advisers in various fields. (4) Even though we will definitely NOT be dependent upon media coverage, internet connections, etc.

4. Without spending many heartbeats — this is ESSENTIAL! — on trying to recruit others who are not like-minded, citizens should be encouraged to contact me ASAP. (5)

I’m going to stop here because I don’t want to push the envelope with readers’ attention spans or with regard to time available. Besides, more is not necessary at this juncture. However, I should point out an A, B and C in closing. Points which I don’t think I underscored sufficiently in previous articles on TOSCA.

A. In the 2006 California Gubernatorial Election the total number of votes cast for other than Democrats and Republicans was way less than 500,000.
B. The number of what the Secretary of State calls invalid or blank votes was 219,643, more than the 205,995 pulled in by (the wonderful, highly competent) Peter Camejo and the Greens.
C. Voter turnout for REGISTERED VOTERS was a mere 39%, write-ins accounting for only a total of 365 votes! We’ll be a watershed write-in. A shoo-in.

I don’t know if you’re thinking what I’m thinking, but — at the risk of sounding terrifically presumptuous — I’ll say that you SHOULD. For only those totally bereft of political imagination and revolutionary zeal can fail to feel the potential in these numbers. What… can… be… done… now.

As long as one honors a new paradigm for going about our alternative business.

Please contact me for elaboration of the above (6)… or simply get busy along these lines.

Or… tell me what’s wrong with this. I am your child.

Blessings in solidarity,
Richard Martin Oxman
headburg@yahoo.com
P.S. What’s the alternative? More articles and books? More conferences? More blah blah?

Footnotes:
(1) There is nothing else of the sort on the table, as they say. If the reader knows of another viable path, please let me know, for I am not attached to TOSCA. Also, please note that I’ve left out some very important heroes and heroines who have spent significant amounts of heartbeats in the field, or outside the fold in that wretched width of cold. Cynthia, Ralph, Ali, Bill, Dahr, Jeremy, Jeffrey, John and Jennifer et al.
(2) Whether or not they live in California. Whether or not they live in the U.S.
(3) No meetings, no money, no buttons or leaflets, no marching in circles, no signatures, no intellectual masturbation, no nothing… but registering, passing the word, and voting. Ten minutes spread out over 365+ days.
(4) Indicating choices for advisers should cover what positions citizens want TOSCA to take. However, specific demands will be very welcome.
(5) What’s directly below outlines how simple and brief my contact with interested parties can be. It is taken from an early article on TOSCA.

A. You tell me what you want to change in the state. And what your immediate needs/concerns are.
B. You tell me who you’d like to be the next Governor of California. Ideally, it should be a non-politician; he/she will not have to “compromise” with disingenuous politicians.
C. We agree upon who we’re going to put into the Governor’s seat in Sacramento in 2010, and who is the best choice for Lieutenant Governor. If you like, you can recommend that certain people be considered as key advisers. Let me know if you want to be considered as a candidate, a paid or volunteer adviser (as part of the coalition described above).
D. You send me two other people to do the same.
E. You register to vote OR confirm your registration status.
F. Just prior to the 2010 election you remind your “two people” to do the same.
G. You keep me posted on your evolving personal needs, interests, etc. before and after the election.
H. You vote.

(6) I have “the means” worked out.