I heard Hardy Merriman speak at a conference for MA Indivisible leaders last year - what an important talk! The talk and his written works gave us crucial info. Simon, I'm so grateful that you spoke with him that I have to thank you even before I listen to it!
Ok, now that I've listened to it, I knew it - a conversation with you, Simon, always takes the forest farther than other conversations. Hardy Merriman has studied and written about the forest and the trees; the talk I heard last year was more about the trees - fully appropriate for a room full of organizers. But, it is absolutely time for forest thinking as well. Dem leaders have to get this message; they just have to.
I take Merriman's point about multiple parties offering more stability in the long run (will learn and ponder more on that), but right now, the Democratic Party is what we've got and it has to rise to the occasion.
This is a very important interview. It feels like it could be a pivot point. Hardy's point about laying the groundwork for pro-democracy political reforms now, before the elections and transfer of power, so that there is a mandate for change, is a very powerful concept.
I agree with Simon 100% that we need to have a vision of the destination we are aiming for, a better world than before, not just getting back to where we were.
Great talk today! So much to mull over. I was struck by the idea that so many people just distrust the overall political system now—that trust plummeted after the Great Recession and never came back. And I was struck by the way, even now, portions of the Democratic Party try to hang onto a sort of “business as usual” model. We really need to lean into change and reform. So this is the kind of talk Democratic leaders need to hear and consider.
I agree one thousand percent! I, too, was shocked to learn the percentage of people who distrust the political system. It also got me thinking about mindfully and intentionally engaging the younger generation. I just spent time with my 2 college age kids and I always try to get an idea of where they and their people are at in terms of political engagement. Gotta engage the younger voters!
Agreed. I know my own trust's all but disappeared. I'm not talking about everything - I think the day-to-day housekeeping/clerical/gardening end of things still seems on track and I thank the loyal public servants who make that happen. It's the thinking end of things, the policies, the abysmal content of debate, the anti-intellectualism of most (but certainly not all) in evidence daily that's killed off our respect & broken our hearts.
I heard something I haven't heard anyone say — this could be the time for a third party. Could you expand on that, Simon, when you have time to reflect on the exchange you and Hardy had today. When I heard "third party" my heart skipped a beat and felt exhilarating.
Yes, more about a third party or more immediately how the Democratic Party can embrace more ideas. A disgrace that the party didn’t fully support Mamdani. There needs to be a clear platform.
I think this is where ranked choice voting could play some part. What we have now - two warring parties, oops, I mean polarized teams (each of which is also usually polarized) leading to never-ending electioneering and perpetual fund-raising - simply cannot be the best we can come up with.
One pro that I really like is the 'instant' runoff. Within a matter of hours or days you know who's won, and you don't have to have another election for the top 2 contenders (if no one got over 50%).
As far as being too complicated, once you've done it 1 or 2 times, it's a piece of cake. It does take a little getting used to.
You can also not vote for some of the candidates. We had one candidate on the ballot who had a lawsuit filed against him for misuse of political donations. He had won earlier elections and had name recognition but I thought he was dishonest and a bad candidate and although he ran as a Democrat, there was some evidence that he may have been MAGA, so I didn't rank him. But it's the sort of situation where if the voter is not very informed, they might vote on name recognition, so I think ranked choice helps weed out some of those type of candidates.
Also, the instant runoff does not give time for bad actors to pull shenanigans like Republicans did with the James Talarico in TX (although that may not be a great example).
One other thing about ranked choice is that it does encourage 3rd parties to run. I think we had 18 candidates for mayor here in Portland recently and most of them were not Democrats or Republicans.
Hardy Merriman is the best! Please have him on often. He's immersed in the practicalities of implenting large changes in attidudes and real possibilities.
Simon I really enjoyed this interview with Hardy! So sharp, right on the money. He’ll be a great asset to working toward the America we know we could be, re-imagining who we are and how to get there. Thanks for this.
Great conversation & I agree that Dems have to embrace more than kitchen table items. We want fighters! Maybe you both can create a blueprint that is representative of our current reality. Anti-corruption, overhaul & abolish ICE, accountability through court action & immigration reform to name a few.
WOW! Hardy Merriman, brilliant Man. I definitely like his thinking on Pro-Democracy and concrete ideas where he is going. Simon I think that is where you’re thoughts are heading as well. Please have him come back. Really enjoyed it.
what you said about Putin coaching the Evil one makes a lot of sense. Rigging the election, staging an assassination, etc. all from the Putin playbook.
Please do share this interview, for it is also links to other great ones for people to check out. Interviewing Marc Elias this week, will be #4 in the series!
As the interview was coming to a conclusion and you were highlighting the battle you are having inside with the insiders, I thought wouldn't it be great if you could hand deliver this interview to Jeffries and Schumer as well as the rest of the group you are trying to convince? Would it fall on deaf ears, or move the dial?
I heard Hardy Merriman speak at a conference for MA Indivisible leaders last year - what an important talk! The talk and his written works gave us crucial info. Simon, I'm so grateful that you spoke with him that I have to thank you even before I listen to it!
Ok, now that I've listened to it, I knew it - a conversation with you, Simon, always takes the forest farther than other conversations. Hardy Merriman has studied and written about the forest and the trees; the talk I heard last year was more about the trees - fully appropriate for a room full of organizers. But, it is absolutely time for forest thinking as well. Dem leaders have to get this message; they just have to.
I take Merriman's point about multiple parties offering more stability in the long run (will learn and ponder more on that), but right now, the Democratic Party is what we've got and it has to rise to the occasion.
Thank you, this is the analysis I have been waiting for.
This is a very important interview. It feels like it could be a pivot point. Hardy's point about laying the groundwork for pro-democracy political reforms now, before the elections and transfer of power, so that there is a mandate for change, is a very powerful concept.
I agree with Simon 100% that we need to have a vision of the destination we are aiming for, a better world than before, not just getting back to where we were.
Thanks for emphasizing the groundwork NOW
Great talk today! So much to mull over. I was struck by the idea that so many people just distrust the overall political system now—that trust plummeted after the Great Recession and never came back. And I was struck by the way, even now, portions of the Democratic Party try to hang onto a sort of “business as usual” model. We really need to lean into change and reform. So this is the kind of talk Democratic leaders need to hear and consider.
I agree one thousand percent! I, too, was shocked to learn the percentage of people who distrust the political system. It also got me thinking about mindfully and intentionally engaging the younger generation. I just spent time with my 2 college age kids and I always try to get an idea of where they and their people are at in terms of political engagement. Gotta engage the younger voters!
Agreed. I know my own trust's all but disappeared. I'm not talking about everything - I think the day-to-day housekeeping/clerical/gardening end of things still seems on track and I thank the loyal public servants who make that happen. It's the thinking end of things, the policies, the abysmal content of debate, the anti-intellectualism of most (but certainly not all) in evidence daily that's killed off our respect & broken our hearts.
Fabulously insightful and encouraging. Thank you!
I heard something I haven't heard anyone say — this could be the time for a third party. Could you expand on that, Simon, when you have time to reflect on the exchange you and Hardy had today. When I heard "third party" my heart skipped a beat and felt exhilarating.
Yes, more about a third party or more immediately how the Democratic Party can embrace more ideas. A disgrace that the party didn’t fully support Mamdani. There needs to be a clear platform.
I think this is where ranked choice voting could play some part. What we have now - two warring parties, oops, I mean polarized teams (each of which is also usually polarized) leading to never-ending electioneering and perpetual fund-raising - simply cannot be the best we can come up with.
I agree that ranked choice can help us get there.
Ranked choice is becoming more common in OR where I live. I really like ranked choice voting. Here's a link to an article describing the pros and cons of ranked choice voting: https://www.rankedvote.co/guides/understanding-ranked-choice-voting/pros-and-cons-of-rcv
One of the pros that's covered is that it reduces partisanship.
Thank you for that link, Anne. It's TERRIFIC! Much appreciated.
One pro that I really like is the 'instant' runoff. Within a matter of hours or days you know who's won, and you don't have to have another election for the top 2 contenders (if no one got over 50%).
As far as being too complicated, once you've done it 1 or 2 times, it's a piece of cake. It does take a little getting used to.
You can also not vote for some of the candidates. We had one candidate on the ballot who had a lawsuit filed against him for misuse of political donations. He had won earlier elections and had name recognition but I thought he was dishonest and a bad candidate and although he ran as a Democrat, there was some evidence that he may have been MAGA, so I didn't rank him. But it's the sort of situation where if the voter is not very informed, they might vote on name recognition, so I think ranked choice helps weed out some of those type of candidates.
Also, the instant runoff does not give time for bad actors to pull shenanigans like Republicans did with the James Talarico in TX (although that may not be a great example).
One other thing about ranked choice is that it does encourage 3rd parties to run. I think we had 18 candidates for mayor here in Portland recently and most of them were not Democrats or Republicans.
One other thing... there's only 1 election with ranked choice (so I assume that it would be cheaper).
Hardy Merriman is the best! Please have him on often. He's immersed in the practicalities of implenting large changes in attidudes and real possibilities.
Thanks for this fabulous interview!
Simon I really enjoyed this interview with Hardy! So sharp, right on the money. He’ll be a great asset to working toward the America we know we could be, re-imagining who we are and how to get there. Thanks for this.
Hardy Merriman, has a lot of good "how to information"
I love what Hardy Merriman had to say. You must have him again, and he must speak more broadly across Amrica. YES, YES, YES
YES!!! Merriman needs to become a household name. Wow!
Great conversation & I agree that Dems have to embrace more than kitchen table items. We want fighters! Maybe you both can create a blueprint that is representative of our current reality. Anti-corruption, overhaul & abolish ICE, accountability through court action & immigration reform to name a few.
Mr Merriman is speaking to all the issues of change I scream at my media listening space every day in frustration! Thank you!,
WOW! Hardy Merriman, brilliant Man. I definitely like his thinking on Pro-Democracy and concrete ideas where he is going. Simon I think that is where you’re thoughts are heading as well. Please have him come back. Really enjoyed it.
what you said about Putin coaching the Evil one makes a lot of sense. Rigging the election, staging an assassination, etc. all from the Putin playbook.
I’m forwarding this talk to my reps. No idea if they’ll even listen to it, but worth a try!
Please do share this interview, for it is also links to other great ones for people to check out. Interviewing Marc Elias this week, will be #4 in the series!
As the interview was coming to a conclusion and you were highlighting the battle you are having inside with the insiders, I thought wouldn't it be great if you could hand deliver this interview to Jeffries and Schumer as well as the rest of the group you are trying to convince? Would it fall on deaf ears, or move the dial?
Yes, it WOULD be great. Should be required listening for every single person in Congress!
Fantastic new conversation with Hardy Merriman, Simon. Lots of new distinctions to share. Thanks!