Richard Bailey — the former Coronado, California mayor, Instagram influencer, economics professor, endurance athlete and business owner — discusses the importance of focusing on policy over partisanship in local government.

Bailey emphasizes the need for independent voices to bridge the divide between Democrats and Republicans. The Coalition Purple discussion dives deep into the challenges posed by the realities of how political campaigns are financed.

And we swerve into the City of San Diego's precarious financial position, the natural tendences of government “bloat,” and what are the chances that common sense can return to politics. Bottomline, the question is whether Bailey is an optimist or a pessimist about the future of local politics.

Listen in for the answer!

Whatever you do, check out Bailey’s amazing Instagram videos where he quickly explains the challenges and potential solutions of local issues impacting San Diego. His handle is @richardbailey__

#GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #coalitionpurple @openprimariesorg #redistrict #policymaking #campaignfinance #SanDiegopolitics #politicaldivide

If you’ve been watching the news it’s probably not a surprise that this week’s episode is about gerrymandering. This political tactic is unacceptable during the best of times.

Doing it in retaliation against a rival state is a sure sign that we need change here in California.

Maybe it’s time for all states in America to become swingstates!

If voters were fairly represented by actual political partyregistration, California Democrats would lose nine of the 43 Congressional seats they currently hold. In Texas,Republicans would lose four seats of their current 25!

This is according to the Alarm Project, a non-partisan group that’s used computers to design districts simply by voter rolls (not political party).

We have an even better plan!

Imagine if all the dissatisfied voters in these districtsre-registered as Independent or No Party Preference. We could turn the gerrymandering process on its head and force the Uni-party to represent all Californians. Or Texans. Or all voters in nearly every state where gerrymandering is the norm.

Maybe then our local and state politicians will startfocusing on important issues like decreasing energy costs instead of playing self-serving political games. And politicians at all levels of government will fight harder to get our votes.

KEY TOPICS:

Texas never resolved its redistricting since the last Census.

California's redistricting could be more challenging than forTexas.

Gerrymandering is a scam of both parties.

The Alarm project… what fair districts could look like: https://alarm-redist.org/

A third political party could disrupt current gerrymanderingpractices.

Independent voters are becoming a larger demographic inCalifornia.

Cost of living is THE pressing issue.

How energy costs significantly affect the overall cost ofliving.

#GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #coalitionpurple @openprimariesorg #redistricting #gerrymandering,#costofliving #alarmproject

Attending a soccer match and watching the MLB All-Star Game inspired us this week. We need more positive experiences to bring people together. Especially if we are going to have conversations about complicated topics like immigration.

We think a new political party may be the easiest way to getpeople to come together to find solutions to our problems. The alternative is just more pendulum swings to one extreme or the other with each new administration.

We know that Elon Musk is polarizing but a central figuremay be needed to prevent a new party from disappearing into obscurity like Ross Perot’s Reform Party. It still exists but most people don’t know about it.

Getting Independents to coalesce around a “spoiler” candidate is harder than herding cats. Our hope is that Independents, moderates from the two main parties, and the politically homeless will support Elon’s America Party. But we need your help. Let’s get the word out to Elon. Or at least to Joe Rogan.

#GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #coalitionpurple @openprimariesorg #politicalreform #elonmusk #americaparty #socialsafetynet #campaignfinance

Could it be that the dawn of a new political party isfinally upon us? The Republican Party was a successful third party during the existential crisis of slavery. We’re hoping that Elon Musk’s America Party could be the solution we need during our current economic crisis.

We are in favor of a bottom up approach to local politics.This approach could also work in terms of reforming the existing parties. But a top down approach might be needed for the success of a new party.

Elon checks all the boxes in terms of what is needed to geta new party off the ground. He has the funding. He’s a recognizable figure with a clear vision of the governmental reforms he would like to implement. And he’san innovator who has shown that he’s capable of success.

But will he flame out like so many before him? Or go off the rails so far he turns many away. This episode is the first of what may be a series of “Dear Elon” episodes where we tell him what we think is needed to launch a successful party.

Join the Coalition and help us get the word out to him.

GOP & Dems love to distract you!

Coalition Purple is all about addressing problems that needto be solved. But we get it… it’s easyto get distracted.

This past week Sen. Alex Padilla crashed a press conferenceand Sen. Rand Paul was excluded from the White House Congressionalpicnic.

As this episode is being recorded Trump is planning topreside over a military parade on his birthday and that will be one of the mostbizarre moments in American history.

We’re here to remind people to look away from these shinyobjects and focus on what needs to be done.

For example, Elon Musk has stated that we need a newpolitical party in America and we agree. We have some advice for him if he actuallydecides to start a new party.

Keep it simple.

Focus on government efficiency and transparency. Candidatesshould commit to prioritizing calm, fair, objective, non-partisan auditing of governmentspending at whatever level they will serve (city, state, etc.).

Embrace the idea that a new party will be a minorityparty. And that’s OK!

You can’t improve the system without addressing the rootcauses of the problems. You don’t need to be Goliath. Be David.

There is no better time for a new political party. In fact,maybe we need dozens or hundreds of new political parties.

So, what say you Elon… or any rational human being that has a large platform to get it done?

There is an understandable parallel between U.S. politicsand the media.

For a long time a limited number of news outlets helped tocontrol and shape our political narrative. Despite participation from third party candidates the Democrats and Republicans have dominated most races.

Independents who have been elected to political office are few and far between.

Now that corporate media is starting to fall apart it isharder for them to control information. Will this less structured media environment lead to a less structured political system?

We hope so. It’s time to breathe new life into our stagnanttwo-party system. It’s time to stop listening to the fear-mongering mainstream media that only pushes divisive stories without any discussion of possible solutions.

We need a responsive and responsible government.If we all become more open minded and more politically engaged we have nothing to fear. #GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #coalitionpurple @openprimariesorg #politicalreform #thirdpoliticalparty

#incomeinequality #corporatemedia #newmedia

With all the talk about reigning in oligarchs and theircorporations, it’s important to point out that appropriate regulation requires responsible governance.

Voters need to demand responsibility from their electedleaders but unfortunately most Americans seem to be getting distracted. The people of the United States of America are not uniting and focusing on the same goals.

It’s time to return to consensus issues like funding medicalresearch. If the Trump administration is going to cut funding to educational institutions that do medical research and force pharmaceutical companies to slash prices how will we incentivize research and innovation?

The profit model of private companies has its downside butthe incentive of politicians to give funding to their campaign donors may not be much better.

Complex problems like this require innovative solutions andfor that to happen we need more voices in government.

These problems are not left/right issues so why should we asvoters be beholden to one or even two political parties? It is in our best interest to think independently and to support politicians who do the same.

It’s easy to blame our politicians for the current state ofU.S. politics, but at some point we need to hold ourselves accountable. It’s gotten to the point where we can no longer shame politicians into doing the right thing and that says a lot about the national psyche.

Politicians in Congress are currently abusing the power ofimpeachment and using lawfare to push their political agendas. When the opposing party comes to power at some point in the future these types of dysfunctional policies will continue.

The Democrats and Republicans have no motivation to reform so it’s time to change the political system. We need new parties that will focus on improving our political processes and putting an end to revenge politics.

It starts at the local level because that is where we havethe most influence. We need to support independent-minded candidates who have good policies.

There is no better time to get involved in localpolitics. We hope this episode will inspire people to familiarize themselves with their local leaders and attend some of their city council meetings or political events.