Good resources/references for politics/needed action for NC

[NRaleighLiberal]

This discussion thread is pinned.

At our meeting last night, many of you discussed important activism opportunities, resources we should familiarize ourselves with so that the left can effect positive change in NC....I am going to make this a sticky post and anyone who has good stuff/links/recommendations can post them in this thread.

[feat12515si]

1. nt

[unc70]

2. The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics

A useful book is "The Paradox of Tar Heel Politics" by Rob Christensen. UNC Press 2008.

This book covers mostly the period from 1890 up to 2008, but not the 2008 campaign.

Crucial background stories for anyone trying to understand modern politics in NC.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

4. +1

CRUCIAL reading for anyone wanting to understand the history of the politics of this place... and I guess even more- how it's so rapidly changing in such a short time.

( OH my... When I read it, it was the newest and truest...right after it came out! Been a few years, I guess! )

[handmade34]

3. The Vote Against Project

http://voteagainst.org/about

[how.to.holler]

5. NC current events & policy analysis

I rely on the Progressive Pulse (http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.com/), ProgressNC (http://www.progressnc.org/blog.html), the ACLU-NC, Appalachian Voices, and the NC Justice Center (ncjustice.org). The NC Justice Center doesn't get as much social media attention as the others--they really need an intern to render their dense policy analyses more Facebook-friendly--but they produce some good reports on economic justice issues.

Does anyone have a source for NC reproductive rights news that's lower-volume than Planned Parenthood? I love PP, but they send such an overwhelming amount of mail that I tune them out.

[mmonk]

6. As a gerrymandered voter, I propose to attack the new districts

that guarantee we lose in voting for legislative or US House representation. The only other solution I see is protest and civil disobedience.

http://www.proportional-representation.org/

http://www.fairvote.org/fair-voting-proportional-representation

[KoKo]

7. Here's some links and link to new "NC Alliance Against Fracking"

FrackFree NC goes live! The alliance of NC organizations working against fracking in NC has launched a website: Go to http://www.frackfreenc.org/ to learn more and sign the petition.

Also check out the calendar at http://organizenorthcarolina.org/code/calendar.html for additional events locally as well across NC.

Ongoing weekly vigils for justice and peace:
**Raleigh - Stop the Arms Race and Build a Culture of Peace Vigil. First Wednesday of every month from 12 noon to 1 p.m. in front of the Century Post Office on Fayetteville St. Posters provided. Now in the 31st year. Dutch lunch for those who can stay at the Mecca.
**Chapel Hill: 4:30 – 5:30pm, Fridays, corner of Elliott Rd and East Franklin St (919-942-2535).
Raleigh: 5:00-6:00 pm, Mondays, in front of Central Prison, corner of Hunt Dr. and Western Blvd, to end the death penalty (PFADP, AI-USA, NC-ACLU)

Please see NC Peace Action's website for other peace and justice issues and events http://ncpeaceaction.org/

[G_j]

8. NC POLICYWATCH

http://www.ncpolicywatch.com

[davidt2974]

9. Turn NC Blue

This is a new site being put together by some dedicated NC Democrats that is working to put together an issues-based collection of information and sources to help those canvassing or just to give a quick "info database" for those elevator-chats we all need to be having when possible.

http://turnncblue.org/

I'd also just mention that for anyone here who is in Gaston County, please get in touch with me as our local Democratic Party is working on a lot of new initiatives and we need to get "all hands on deck!".

Thanks,
David T.

[marions ghost]

10. Democracy NC

http://www.democracy-nc.org/our-issues/voting-and-elections/voting-rights/

PDF details effects of new voting laws on counties:

http://www.democracy-nc.org/downloads/EarlyVoteSDRID.pdf

Our Mission

Democracy North Carolina is a nonpartisan organization that uses research, organizing, and advocacy to increase voter participation, reduce the influence of big money in politics and achieve a government that is truly of the people, for the people and by the people. Democracy NC grew out of Democracy South which began as a project of the Institute for Southern Studies. For more than 20 years, we’ve taken on powerful industries and political leaders, regardless of party, and promoted reforms that expand public involvement in the political process. Here are highlights of some research reports, as well as formal complaints that we’ve filed against Democrats and Republicans since 1991.

- See more at: http://www.democracy-nc.org/about-us/#sthash.irwlv8Lc.dpuf

[NRaleighLiberal]

11. thanks for this.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

12. Some Groups:

http://aflcionc.org/ (NC State AFL-CIO)
equalitync.org (equality NC)
http://www.naacpnc.org/ NAACP of NC

[saynotoplutocrats]

13. Petition on Republican Medicaid Fraud

Tell Senator Wesley Meredith (R-Cumberland) to Come Clean About Medicaid Fraud Allegations:

http://act.progressnc.org/sign/meredith_medicaid

Recently released documents, as reported by multiple media outlets, show evidence that the State Senator Wesley Meredith (R-Cumberland) and his wife collected tens of thousands of dollars in government Medicaid and WIC assistance at the same time that financial records show his family income was around $100,000/year. Ask Senator Meredith to come clean about his welfare assistance and repay the government if the funds were obtained through fraud.

[barbtries]

14. i'm in Durham now,

so i joined the Durham Democratic Women
http://www.durhamdemwomen.org/

attended one procedural meeting, signed up for a couple committees, plenty of chances to be active. I am not yet sure they will satisfy my need for strong resistance yet. But we will be marching as a group on Saturday 11Feb2017 in Raleigh for the Moral March

i also attended a meeting organized through MoveOn, with Durham For Obama and Coalition for Health Care Carolina:
http://durhamforobama.org/original.php
https://www.healthcareforallnc.org/

i'm so scattered. I think, but i am not sure, that i am extremely interested in protecting the 1st amendment and see that issue as an immediate threat. but then so is women's reproductive freedom. so is destruction of the planet. so is warmongering, poverty, racism, immigration, it's all going to hell!

[littlemissmartypants]

15. Find Your NC government Reps

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/NC

http://m.house.gov/representatives/states.php?state=NC