Although the barriers, put up by the ruling elite, make running in national elections next to  impossible for Pirates in the US, the situation in some states is different. Pirates in Massachusetts and Wisconsin are putting up candidates in Tuesday’s elections for the respective state governments.

In Wisconsin Joseph T Klein is the Pirate candidate for the state party.  His platform includes;

• Peace – through agitation against the deployment of Wisconsin National Guard troops in overseas conflicts without a full congressional debate and declaration of war.

• Human Rights – through the proposed enactment of equal rights for all Wisconsin citizens, for pay, housing, and marriage.

• Internet Freedom – through changes in Wisconsin telecommunications laws to allow municipal Internet cooperatives.

From the  Massachusetts Pirate Party two candidates have put their names forward so the people of the state can vote Pirate. Noelani Kamelamela and Joseph Guertin have had very good publicity including a rather biased article in the world renown Boston Globe and a sensational review in The Open Standard. Issues include:

• Cheaper high-speed municipal internet
• Open Government
• A Fair Economy
• Elimination of  government surveillance
• Restoration of the Bill of Rights
• Responsible Education Funding
• Rethinking the Drug War
• Bringing a livable wage to Massachusetts
• No special treatment for corporations
• A competent, transparent government accountable to the people

Although they do not expect to win, they are taking the opportunity to get the Pirate name and message out to the American people. However, we have had surprise wins in Pirate politics before.

Featured image: CC BY-SA 3.0 Massachusetts Pirate Party

This article updated with a link to the Open Standard

About Andrew Reitemeyer

I joined the Pirate Party of Lower Saxony in Germany in April 2012, once I found out that non citizens were welcome to join and become active members of the Party.
I joined the Pirate Times soon after it was started as a proof reader and am now an editor and author. Since then I have returned to my native New Zealand and joined the Pirate Party of New Zealand.
Politically I come from the libertarian left and have, up to now, not regarded any political party as having a solution for the democratic deficit that envelops the world. With the advent of the Pirate Party, which truly embraces grass roots democracy, I have found a political home. The Pirate Times is a way I can contribute to furthering the Pirate Movement around the world.
Skype: frithogar

 

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Although the barriers, put up by the ruling elite, make running in national elections next to  impossible for Pirates in the US, the situation in some states is different. Pirates…