I'm looking to find someone who can help me develop a website that will be for a national political reform movement.
Initially, the creation and teaching can hopefully be done in person, at least initially so that I can learn basic concepts of web development and how to make updates and edits as I add videos, pages, articles, a donation/supporter option, etc. to the website. If this isn't possible, for example, if we live far away from each other, we can work together on some kind of shared workspace program/app.
I'm NOT looking to hire a web developer/designer who just wants the content to design a website, and then sends me a bill. I want to learn so that I can do most of the changes in the future. Once the website is launched, I will ask you to make the website better, add more features that I'm unable to do, and help grow the popularity of the website and the movement. As funding comes in, the pay will increase. This is truly a start up movement.
This will only work if you truly want to help the cause: change the way we do our election system so that more reasonable people get elected who will eventually vote for Constitutional Amendments and state laws/statutes that get big money out of our election system, and that clarify that only people have constitutional rights - not corporations and other artificial entities (special interest groups like the NRA unions, non profits, Super PACs, and Independent Expenditure Committees).
I have basic skills in creating websites, but only through simple designs sites like Wix, Hostinger, Square Space, GoDaddy, and other premade develop/design sites. If using WordPress is the best solution, then let's go with that. You teach me as you create. If you have a better solution than WordPress, I'm all ears. I really want to learn more so that I can make simple changes to the website in the future in a way that is responsive to all the changes in our political world.
If you're a Trumper, we likely work have enough in common to work together effectively. If you're a Democrat, hopefully you recognize that the entire system (both major parties) is corrupt and that ending corruption needs to be the primary reform so that other reforms and issues can finally be addressed and improved. Both parties have a majority of politicians in state legislatures, statewide offices like Governor, and in Congress who choose to lean to the green (money/donations) instead of voting in a way that reflects the majority of ALL voters - not just the base of their party. I'm looking to work with someone who, like the movement, values common ground solutions.
The goal of the movement is to change our election system in a way that elects people who are willing to compromise and vote for what the majority of Americans want and value. To do this, our election system needs to be overhauled, not just tinkered with. Examples: use Top 4 (or 5) in the Primary Elections and then use Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in General Elections, use RCV in city and county elections (no need for a primary for smaller population elections), allow 4 days of early voting, change our Closed Primary system to Non Partisan/Open Primaries (like what we use in CA except for the presidential election) so that EVERYONE can vote in the Primary - not just people registered as Ds and Rs, create Independent Redistricting Commissions - instead of being drawn by whatever party is in charge after the census, changing the order of the states voting in the Presidential Primaries so that more states than just IA, NH, SC, and NV have influence, transitioning from an Electoral College to a Popular Vote (or at least use the Nebraska and Maine models that vote by awarding Electors by congressional districts and an additional 2 Electors to the overall winner) and several other reforms so that not just the Swing/Battleground states have the vast majority of the voting power and all the attention of the presidential candidates, and other reforms including allowing same day registration with ID. The goals: allow everyone to vote and change the system that the most preferred candidate wins - not just the candidate that wins due to Closed Primaries and votes being split between candidates that have similar appeal. Otherwise, we end up with more extreme candidates and those who are bought and paid for by the big donors - who will never vote for a bill that originates from the other party.
You will have the opportunity to be a part of a movement that passes important reforms that will have a lasting impact on public policy for decades to come.
I believe that 65-75% of us our moderate, don't really care about political affiliation, are willing to vote for people from different parties (if allowed in the primaries), know that we're stuck with terrible politicians and parties that are corrupt and resistant to change. It's the election system that creates this mess, as well as the influence of big money in our election system. If we change the election system and significantly reduce the influence of money in our election system, we will be able to elect reasonable leaders who represent (and vote for) our interests - rather than those of corporations, special interest groups, and the parties' own selfish existence. Also, those that are elected won't feel obligated to vote according to their funders, their party leadership, and people in office that hold a lot of power (Trump). As long as politicians believe they will be "primaried out", most politicians vote as they are told. Primaried out: lose their primary election to a more extreme candidate or someone who gets major funding and endorsements.
The pay (about $20 per hour) is clearly less than what you can get in typical web design project. Hopefully you realize that this is part volunteer and part paid - you have to believe in the mission and be OK with making less than normal rates. The pay will increase as the movement gets financial supporters.
I'm a teacher, a former elected official, and a former campaign manager for a statewide initiative in CA. I live in Monterey, and believe that the time is right (a perfect storm) to launch an election reform movement that will forever change our political system. I believe this movement will appeal to 70-80% of Republican and Democrat voters (and politicians if they are willing to ignore their party leaders and major donors), and almost all people registered with 3rd parties especially members of the Green Party and Independents/Decline to State.
When you respond, please tell me a little bit more about yourself, what appeals to you about being a part of an election reform movement, and share 1 or 2 websites that you've designed.
I'll respond, share more about the movement, and then we can figure out a time to talk and meet at a cafe in Monterey, where you're based, or somewhere in the middle truly common ground. :-) Talking by phone or video conference initially will work too.
Have a great day.