[Peace-discuss] Afghanistan referendum, plan B

[Robert Naiman]

So, between the state legislature tightening the procedures, and us
failing to know about it and get the jump on the deadline, the
township process appears to be closed as a path to getting a
referendum on the Afghanistan war on the ballot in November.

However, I have a proposal for a plan B.

I believe it to be the case that it is within the power of city
councils to place advisory referenda on the ballot. A former member of
the Urbana council confirmed to me that this is so.

Ordinarily, that might not be a great opening, since city councils
might not be supportive of putting such questions on the ballot.

But in this particular case, we have a unique card to play: our goal
is to support the position of our Representative in Congress.

I asked Tim about this. I said, what if we could tell people that you
support this, maybe that would help us get it on the ballot.

He said: you can tell people that I have absolutely no problem with
it. I want to hear what the people say.

He said: probably the question you will get is people asking you, why
do you want to do this, if this is already his position.

To which my answer is: 1) because I want to educate public opinion
about the fact that public opinion wants the war to end. I think that
for a referendum that said, "Congress should establish a timetable for
the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan," we might be able to get
70-75% of the vote in Champaign-Urbana. I think that would be
newsworthy. 2) I think with a strong demonstration of public backing,
Rep. Johnson might be encouraged to lead nationally even more
strongly. 3) I want to reach Durbin. 4) I want to set an example for
other towns.

If I were to propose this to the Urbana City Council, would others be
supportive? Could we get any folks who live in Champaign to make a
similar ask of the Champaign City Council?

P.S. the debate on the Kucinich resolution is expected to be
Wednesday. Rep. Johnson plans to speak. Hopefully, we can catch it on
C-span...





-- 
Robert Naiman
Policy Director
Just Foreign Policy
www.justforeignpolicy.org
naiman at justforeignpolicy.org

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