Coalition Purple

It’s a new year but we have the same old problems here inCalifornia. We cannot get distracted by more sensational stories in places like Venezuela or even Minnesota. Many major U.S. cities have huge deficits. (We’re talking toyou, San Diego.) Overregulation and oppressive taxation will not solve this problem. Besides, our tax base in California is quickly disappearing. Most people have heard that the oil refineries are leavingbut apparently Leprino Foods, which supplies mozzarella cheese to all the major pizza companies in the U.S., is also leaving the state. No pun intended but maybe a double crisis - pizza and gas -will be what it takes to get Californians to vote differently. Let’s make 2026 the year we paint California purple! #GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #coalitionpurple  @openprimariesorg#statespending #californiaeconomics

Attack mode has become the norm for everyday discourse, and this can create situations where even friends and family are unable to listen to each other. Since we are in the middle of the holiday zone between Thanksgiving and the New Year we want to focus on what the holidays are supposed to be about. Thanksgiving should remind us of all the reasons we have tobe thankful, and the rest of the season should be about peace and kindness.When we are with people who have forgotten this we can commit to being the oneswho bring joy to those around us.We suggest one of two strategies for avoiding the status quothis holiday season. Instead of giving up alcohol for Dry December try taking a break from talking about politics. If that doesn’t work go to Plan B. When someone starts talking about divisive topics just state your views politely andengage respectfully with those who have opposing views. We suspect most people just want to feel comfortable havinga conversation so you might be surprised at the results. And however things turn out you can be at peace and enjoy the holidays!#GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #coalitionpurple @openprimariesorg #holidayconversations #civildiscource #politcalphilanthropy

Government hypocrisy has reached new heights in America. California legislators want to save democracy by ignoring voter-approved constitutional amendments that prevent politicians from redrawing congressional district lines. They don’t seem to understand that democracy does not exist if the California Constitution is meaningless.Meanwhile politicians in Florida plan to end all vaccine mandates for children in the name of bodily autonomy. This seems a bit inconsistent with their views on abortion but maybe ideological consistency is not one of their values. It’s important to reassess our values and to question “established” science but this must be done in a thoughtful way. A “let’s break it and then fix it” approach is simply a recipe for disaster. We need more centrists in government who will bring reasonable approaches to problem solving. We are well overdue for a new political party that will commit to responsible governance. #GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #coalitionpurple @openprimariesorg #redistrict #gerrymander #vaccines #publichealth

This week we talk with Dick Lucas. He’s running forCalifornia State Assembly district 51 which includes Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Westwood and West L.A.He is our kind of candidate because he focuses on issuesthat matter like housing, homelessness, and the economy. And he’s doing it without any funding from outside sources. In fact, he’s going to see what one man can do with just ingenuity, digital technology, and love for the state ofCalifornia and its people.He tells us that most people he talks to don’t know whorepresents them in Sacramento. Like us, he is on a mission to change that. Regardless of what happens in the next election, Dick Lucasis in it for the long haul. He’s committed to making positive change in our political system for the next 10 years. Check out the entire episode to hear his ideas about how we can all help to reform the system.  And subscribe to Dick's Instagram and YouTube channels at @dicklucas#GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #coalitionpurple @openprimariesorg #housingcrisis #californiapolitics #voterawareness #thirdpoliticalparty

Hey, what’s a non-political podcast these days without a discussion about California’s Prop 50 lawsuits, gerrymandering, and broader Constitutional concerns?  Digging deep, let’s face it that the two major political parties really aren’t about solving problems… but  exploiting structural problems like healthcare, immigration, and government shutdowns for their financial gain.John outlines a healthcare reform idea centered on individual health savings accounts and catastrophic insurance (oh, by the way, there is a community already doing this).  It’s going to take new creativity to solve the current insurance and political boondoggles that fuel division and dysfunction. Here’s an idea… let’s start by de-registering from the Democratic and Republican parties!

If Proposition 50 passes California will no longer have anindependent redistricting council. The turf war has begun and now every state will join in. When we have achieved maximum gerrymandering the Prop 50 advocates may end up saying “be careful what you wish for.”   Prop 50 is just the tip of the iceberg. In this episode wediscuss some court cases that are currently being heard that will significantly affect redistricting across the country.  Of course, in a republic we are supposed to choose ourrepresentatives. It seems the trend is to have politicians choose their voters.  We think this would be a lot harder if more people wereregistered as No Party Preference. We can’t stop the devious political tacticsbut we can make it harder for politicians to predict how we will vote.  Let’s paint the map purple.

Any mammoth organization or government is bound to be inefficient.  That particularly applies to the groups ofpoliticians that lead us today.  While there’s no doubt that inefficiencies exist in our federal bureaucracies… perhaps the biggest form of “waste, fraud and abuse” could be found in the political leaders we’ve elected.  They can’t complete the one job they have… keep government services operating!  Where do we go from here?  Well, we suggest supporting Independent voices who aren’t addicted to the hordes of cash behind the GOP and Democratic parties.  It’s time for our political system to go into rehab.  Plus, we yak about Homeland Security’s dubious role, why freedom of speech is being locked up by the tech companies and the slight hope of the ever-rising number of lawsuits.  Buckle up, pilgrim!#GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #coalitionpurple  @openprimariesorg,#governmentshutdown, #homelandsecurity, #censorship

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

There are so many important political issues we should befocusing on but problems will never get solved if we continue to be reactive instead of proactive. The ol’ slight-of-hand tricks to distract the public comesfrom the same playbook used by both the GOP and Dems.For example, even if the federalization of law enforcementin Washington D.C. is wildly successful it doesn’t address the root causes of homelessness, such as the lack of quality treatment for those with mental illness and drug addiction.When experiments like this are over will we learn anylessons? Or will we continue to focus on optics rather than long-term solutions?We know what the problems are, and we even have some ideasabout possible solutions. What we need is the political will to do something about it. It’s time for Americans to really start focusing on solutions at the local and state levels. Get to know your local and stateleaders and start supporting good candidates for these offices. If those at the top won’t get on board let’s start changingthings at the ground level.#GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #coalitionpurple  @openprimariesorg #lawfare #epstein #dctakeover #nationaldebt

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. 

It’s time to change our political mindset. We need to vote forsomething rather than against someone. In order to do that we need to stop overcomplicating things.For example, there is no need to discuss whether grade school teachers should address controversial topics if the majority of kids in that district cannot read or write at grade level. We are losing focus on the endgame. It’s time to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch.Before we can do that we must send a message to our elected leaders and to those who are considering running for office. Reregister as No Party Preference and start supporting Independent candidates.This will result in more choices at the ballot box. Goodintentions and great ideas are a must, but we need politicians who will follow through after the election with effective policies and measurable results.#GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #coalitionpurple @openprimariesorg #education, #literacy, #mental health, #drug addiction, #schoolcurriculum

In our everyday conversations we’ve heard more and morepeople state that Democrats and Republicans are actively trying to divide Americans. This gives us hope that more people will leave party politics behind and become true Independents.The founders of our country put a lot of thought intocreating checks and balances on government power. The biggest checks on the executive and legislative branches of government happen at the ballot box.Although our political opinions may differ, we need toassess our elected leaders in a nonpartisan way and remove those who fail to maintain the integrity of our institutions. We think a third party would make it harder to divide people and would cool down the temperature in our current politicalclimate. This will help us to focus on the big picture and to remember that each individual is a crucial part of our amazing system of government. #GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #coalitionpurple @openprimariesorg #dueprocess #immigration #fowardparty

We’ve analyzed the feedback from our viewers and it’s official: Coalition Purple is on the right track. Since about half the commenters think we are Trump loyalists and the other half think we are shills for the Democrats we figure we must be doing something right. At least we can all agree on one thing: we are both old. We welcome differing opinions and even dissent because we think that more people and more ideas are necessary in order to solve complex problems. It’s important to consider all aspects of an issue and in this episode we have a nuanced conversation about tariffs. It’s easy to take the side of one party or the other but we consider some of the downsides and potential benefits oftariffs if they are done right. We welcome your feedback and hope you willcontinue to share your ideas and constructive criticism with us.

A couple of recent polls support Coalition Purple’s theorythat Americans do not like their current political system. Both polls show satisfaction with the Democrats at record lows of under 30 percent. Not surprisingly (in our view) satisfaction with theRepublicans is not much higher than 30 percent. So that means well over half of Americans (about 62%) don’t like either political party. We can’t say we’re happy about this but at least the pollsprovide some objective evidence that what we have been saying is true: There’sno better time for a new political party. We think this new party should be one that is willing todeal with facts regardless of party ideology. At the end of the day the issues we are dealing with are “people issues” and not liberal or conservative issues. If we have just a few independent or third party candidatesin office the effect could be transformative. They could exist outside the influence of billionaires and they could have a “Ross Perot” effect on the policies of the two main parties. We hope these polls will influence people to take the firststep and re-register as No Party Preference. Send a message to Washington D.C. and to those politicians who are willing to take the leap and run as Independents. Medi-Cal article: https://calmatters.org/health/2025/03/medi-cal-shortfall-worsens/#GOP#RNC #DNC#independentvoters#democrats #republicans #nolabels#forwardparty #costofliving#healthcare #transparency #energycosts#infrastructure

Since we’re only a few months into the new administration we are taking a wait and see approach before assessing Trump’s policies. The economy always has ups and downs so we may not know the full picture until at least a year into his term.What we do know is that both Republicans and Democratsshould be able to agree on something.As far as the DOGE cuts are concerned, you could argue theyneed to just get it done or that they are moving too fast. But Congress should be able to agree on cutting at least 10% of such an enormous federal budget. That could be a starting point for bipartisanship. The Republicans also need to pass a budget. It’s kind of abig part of Congress’ job. Since the Republicans have control of both the Executive andLegislative branches now would be the time to show they are capable of governing. We recorded this the day before Congress passed a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown. The vote was mostly along party lines… which proved the GOP is taking advantage of its power while the Democrats continue to fumble along with little creativity to moderate the DOGE process. Just imagine if there were just a few more Independents around that could force discussions on solving problems versus constant partisan mood swings that impact our lives.If you agree, we’ll need more people to come over toCoalition Purple and support independent and third party candidates.

“On Again, Off Again” is the name of the game these days. Whether it’s tariffs, peace talks, or Supreme Court rulings, the only thing we can expect is that everything will change by tomorrow. Trump’s tariff strategies would perplex the most seasoned chess master. Will the tariffs of today be suspended and maybe even reinstated by next week? There’s no way to know.  Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has created a need for the Supreme Court to provide clarity regarding the separation and balance of powers betweenthe Executive and Legislative branches. We need this ASAP but they’ve avoided ruling on some of these important issues if a technicality allows them to throw the case back to the district court. (We’re talking to you, Justice Roberts.) And Congress can’t even come to an agreement about ending a war.  The Republicans are embracing chaos. The Democrats seem to have a complete lack of leadership. And, unfortunately, there is no third party or Independent coalition to incentivize the two sides to behave like adults.  We’re guessing that the majority of Americans would agree to end a war diplomatically and to eliminate waste, fraud and corruption from our government. We just need to start electing candidates who will listen to their constituents and work together to accomplish these goals. #DOGE #supremecourt #tariffs  #GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #commonsenseparty

It’s no surprise that this week’s main topic of conversationis the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Although we think it’s a good idea to audit the nation’sfinances, we also think the process should be thoughtful and measured.The reckless pace of the audits may result in a perceivedlack of transparency which is the opposite of what is intended.Mass layoffs may result in high unemployment and all thenegative effects on the economy that go along with it.Change on a scale this big has enormous effects. Slashinghuge government programs will cause immediate pain for many government employees and beneficiaries. Good leadership is crucial in order to mitigate the immediate pain and ensure that the end result is worthwhile.Our elected leaders have become entrenched in the ideology of their chosen parties and they refuse to acknowledge both the good and bad aspects of these audits. Partisan politics has led to a lack of creativity and imagination in government. We believe that if more Independentand/or third party candidates were participating in this debate in Washington, D.C. we would have a more balanced and bipartisan approach to this very necessary task of cleaning up inefficiency in government.

We hope Episode 47 can be an antidote to the chaos that is currently happening in Washington, D.C. In this episode we discuss some of the pros and cons of our judicial system. We agree there are benefits to a system that is designed to be outside the political realm, but acknowledge the downside of having no internal mechanisms for reigning in incompetent or corrupt judges. No issue is too small. We discuss current events like the elimination of the penny and the return of the plastic straw. Although we are environmentally conscious citizens who want to see less plastic in our environment, we admit that we both hate paper straws and we think this may be the only issue most people can agree on these days!And that’s what we do at Coalition Purple. We find ways to bring people together so we can forge a new path towards better governance. Which is something we need now more than ever. #termlimits #straws #judicialreform #GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #commonsenseparty

What happens when you get a recovering Democrat, a TexasRepublican, and a Libertarian-leaning Independent together? An amazing episode of Coalition Purple.This week we are joined by Ken Good, an appellate attorneyand bail reform advocate. He has years of experience in the area of bail reform, and he shares his ideas about why the current model in Texas has been successful.Our conversation about California’s most recent criminaljustice reforms led us down so many interesting paths we needed to go into overtime. Few would argue that creating safe neighborhoods should be a top government priority.  But at what cost of potentially impacting civil liberties when it comes to who stays injail and who can afford to pay bail?We want to thank Ken for taking the time to discuss somereally important issues with us. Although the three of us have different experiences and political views we still managed to have a good time discussing bail reform… and politics overall. #bailreform#GOP#RNC#DNC#independentvoters#democrats#republicans#nolabels#forwardparty#commonsensepartyWe hope you enjoy this episode as much as wedid. 

If you follow Coalition Purple you are probably exhaustedwith the unproductive conversations happening between two very divided camps.In this episode we discuss some sensitive topics with the kind of nuance wethink the subject matter deserves.We need to have a rational conversation about immigrationand the human beings who do the work that contributes to our economy and standard of living.Rather than argue about identity politics we would rathersee our elected leaders acknowledge that if the only way our economy can function is with black market labor then we have a problem.Wealth inequality and the rise of “oligarchs” is anothertopic that cannot be avoided. Call us crazy but we think this is a more nuanced conversation as well. Although we both agree we need to get corporate influenceout of government we have different ideas about how the one-percenters may contribute to society. The question of the week is: are billionaires always bad? Dowe all get poorer the day a tech bro becomes a billionaire or is it dependent on what else is happening in the economy? One thing we always agree on is that neither the Democratsnor the Republicans have an incentive to change. We hope you will join the Coalition and become part of the solution. #GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty commonsenseparty #draintheswamp

Coalition Purple went into overtime this week. There are so many important issues to discuss so we strayed from our focus on California politics. The recent gambit of dueling Presidential pardons is a big problem. The point of pardons is to provide checks and balances to governmental or judicial overreach. Unfortunately, they have turned into the conferring of immunity and we’re not sure that’s Constitutional. Healthcare is an incredibly important issue in our country and our system needs serious reform. The current incentive is on obtaining insurance so you can get care - especially pharmaceuticals - when you fall apart. We would like to see more focus on the health side of healthcare. There is a glimmer of hope if the Trump administration can focus on research regarding toxins in our food and in the environment. Of course, they will need to get moneyed interests out of the way and those corporations will not go down without a fight. The other hope on the horizon might come from the private sector. Mark Cuban’s healthcare model may not be perfect but we are intrigued with the idea of disrupting the current insurance model. We discuss our ideas about non-profit health co-ops and their potential to decrease costs and improve healthcare. As always, we emphasize the need for politicians who are not beholden to moneyed interests. At the local level we can help by supporting and voting for Independent candidates who can bring new vision and imagination to the stagnant world of politics. Changing the system at the national level is a lot trickier but we are hoping for a natural evolution within the two parties. We think the Bush/Cheney faction has more in common with the Biden/Pelosi faction than with Trump or Bernie Sanders. Maybe they will be shunted off into an Institutional faction of one of the parties. And we will leave you with this radical idea… We think Trump and Sanders have more in common with each other than with the Institutionalists mentioned above. Trump and Sanders may not have the same ideas but they seem to be beholden to their constituents rather than to a Party. It would be better to have collaboration between two coalitions who want to improve the lives of the American people even if they have wildly different ideas about how to get there. #GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #commonsenseparty #healthcarereform

We need to build and maintain better water infrastructure. And we need to get our electrical infrastructure safely underground. Yes, this is simple stuff. It’s easy to say it hasn’t been done because it’s so expensive, but if you think about how much we pay in taxes and how much we will need to spend in the aftermath of the Los Angeles fires it seems like a good investment to us. That’s the problem with California politicians. They are reactive rather than proactive. Which is why we think a third party - or even better - multiple parties could be a game changer. The current system rewards politicians who stick with a winning formula for reelection rather than politicians who are willing to explore new and innovative ideas and policies. Step #1: De-register from the two major political parties! Step #2: register as an Independent/No Party Preference! We think more parties means more ideas. Remember the Donald Rumsfeld matrix: you need to think about the known knowns, the unknown knowns, the unknown unknowns… you get the picture. And if you don’t, not to worry! We will be here next week with more ideas about how to change things here in California. LINKS TO STORIES WE MENTIONED: Maine campaign finance law explanation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dERp5c6gN9c Maine campaign finance law passed overwhelmingly: https://mainemorningstar.com/2024/11/06/mainers-vote-to-reform-campaign-finance-open-path-for-supreme-court-to-weigh-in/ Moment of Zen: Newt Gingrich thinks ‘goats prevent forest fires at Reagan Library’ are genius (you can fast forward to about 3:45): https://www.mediamatters.org/sean-hannity/fox-news-newt-gingrich-attacks-democrats-not-using-goats-prevent-california-wildfires #GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #commonsenseparty

Well, most will probably agree that 2025 has gotten off to a rocky start… especially here in Southern California. We first want to express our sadness and empathy for so many who’ve lost so much (if not everything…including their lives).  Wildfires are nothing new to us who’ve lived here for a while.  But this time things are different.  It’s been a sad lesson on how ill-prepared we are for major natural calamities… in terms of infrastructure.  Accepting the challenges of climate change. Our housing crisis.  Government spending priorities. And society which has often taken an apathetic attitude when non-sexy topics like water systems and fire stations are being considered. So, in this episode, we talk a lot about the “would’ve”, “should’ve” and “could’ve” possibilities that were missed that may have lessened this disaster.  It’s easy to point the blame at others including our political leaders.  But we also must accept who elected these leaders. We did. And we keep electing them over-and-over.  Perhaps we as a community should get fired up to try something different. #GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #commonsenseparty #lawildfires

We recorded the weekend before Christmas to wrap up 2024 here at Coalition Purple! And like our demands that politicians be more transparent... we're walking the talk in this episode! You get to experience our first major technical meltdown! No editing or sugar-coating here. You see us in our raw form as always. The end of the year is a good time to start embracing change so we discuss ways that our federal government can improve some of their big programs. They could start by transitioning out of unsustainable programs like Social Security. The Pentagon has failed its seventh audit in a row, so we’re pretty sure it’s time to reassess the budget for the military. As far as Medicare… well, that’s going to have to be another episode. We don’t get too distracted with Washington D.C. though because our focus is on local politics. This may seem bold but we think people might be ready for a Coaltion Purple in every House District in California! We know it can be scary to vote out the devil you know because their replacements might be worse. But calm those fears... Independent and third party candidates won’t be as powerful as the entrenched politicians so they won’t have the ability to wreak the same kind of havoc. We think that’s good news because change happens little by little. Happy Holidays to all our Coalition Purple friends! We wish you peace, happiness and good health in the new year and we hope to see you here again in 2025.

The winds are blowing here in California so naturally the power is turned off in some places in order to prevent fires. It seems like a better solution would be to fix the power grid infrastructure. We think some of the billions of dollars Gavin Newsom is spending on failing programs and lawsuits against his political enemies could be used for this purpose. California used to be a model for the rest of the country, but now we’ve become the poster child for what not to do. Homelessness has become a lucrative industry. Special interests dominate politics. And divisive issues are used as weapons in the culture war to divide us. Despite our political cynicism we think there is hope on the horizon. We may have reached the limit on how much money can be spent on a political campaign. The Democrats spent $2 billion on their Presidential campaign only to have Harris lose. They continue to make excuses, but no amount of money can make people feel better about the economy or our government institutions if their experience and common sense tell them not to. Maybe this hard lesson will force them to pay more attention to their constituents. In the meantime let’s not wait around and just hope for change. Join the Independent movement and start supporting good Independent candidates and third parties. Especially if their campaign promise is “We’ll Keep the Power On!”

The year is almost over and like most people we are reflecting on all the crazy events of 2024. This always happens at the end of the year. You get together with friends and family around the holidays and talk to people from different generations. We’ve decided it’s not just nostalgia when people from our parents’ generation talk about how good things used to be in California. We also remember when this state was affordable and when Californians and Mexicans crossed the border without a second thought about politics. Weekend in Tijuana? Heck yeah! Anyone who grew up in southern California knows about the rich cultural history and connections between those on either side of the border. Now we have to get past the noise created by the failure of the federal government to manage the border. Despite all the changes in California our politics remain the same. We support politicians who commit to green energy and warn us about global warming. They create bad policy that results in debt. Which leads to inflation. Which is followed by yet another money grab in the form of more bad policy. Which is usually described by politicians as some clever solution for global warming. Even on the national level you can say the more things change the more they stay the same. Trump will start his term with the promise of freeing American hostages just as President Reagan did in 1980. Democrats and Republicans were divided then and they remain as divided as ever. Our elected leaders know this and they use it to their advantage. There will be no reform of either party from within. They will continue to water down and chip away at the institutions that our founding fathers created. So let’s do something about it. We argue that a third party with a strong platform has the power to force change and effect policy even if they do not win an election. But first we need to commit to supporting them. We can start by reregistering as No Party Preference or Decline to State in order to send a message to Washington, D.C. We can become more engaged in politics by searching out opposing viewpoints and using our knowledge, experience, and common sense to assess politicians and their policies. We can support good Independent and third party candidates at the local, state, and federal levels whenever possible. Check out Episode 39 and let us know what you think about how a third party could positively influence politics. #GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #forwardparty #commonsenseparty #immigration

Because we have a freeform podcast at Coalition Purple, we’ve decided our motto is “Politics Without a Plan.” It occurred to us that this would also be a good description of California politics. Our politicians seem to focus more on raising money and maintaining power rather than creating good policy. Add a lack of imagination and you get problems like intractable debt, complicated bureaucracy, and power shut offs when the wind blows too hard. We think a third party could bring imagination back to politics. People from outside the bureaucracy can focus on the right priorities like fire prevention initiatives and improvements to our electrical grid. The power to change the narrative lies with us. We can start by refusing to demonize our fellow citizens. We can approach politics with open minds. We can consult various sources for our news. And we must stop paying attention to all those shiny objects politicians dangle in front of us to distract us. Yes, we want to stop global warming and save the world, but can we fix the electrical grid first? In the 1980’s Los Angeles was able to clean up smog and improve air quality because their elected leaders focused on achievable goals. Our problems are solvable. As voters we need to be more engaged at the local and state levels. We should support candidates who have good ideas and the right priorities. And remember what Denzel Washington said when it comes to the Democrats and Republicans: Don’t listen to either of those parties. They’re lying to you! #GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #2024election #forwardparty #commonsenseparty

Stuck in the Post-Election Doldrums? Here's a bright spot: At least the pollsters have stopped calling! Although we can't find anybody who's every talked to a pollster! Until Donald Trump takes office in January, a lot of people here in the United States are in political limbo. But fear not! This transition period hasn’t stopped Coalition Purple from having a stimulating conversation about politics. So grab a beer, or your beverage of choice, and join us. You’ll see that we don’t need to spend billions of slush fund dollars to have a good time! In this episode we discuss our opinions on Elon Musk’s election lottery and we predict the next controversial issue to be decided by the Supreme Court. Don’t be like all those people who waited until after the election to look up Harris and Trump’s tax plans. Stay ahead of the curve. Tune in to Coalition Purple. Let’s talk about what lies ahead and how we can help shape our political future. Not Blue. Not Red. Purple!

we’re still standing two days after the Presidential election and we’ve decided that November 5th should be known as Independent’s Day. After all, Independent voters decide the elections. And we are ok with that because we think there should be no “safe states” for any candidate.  So how do we change things so that candidates have to work for our votes? We decided if the candidates can come up with their own math for solving problems - like building 3 million houses, enacting $2 trillion spending cuts, and eliminating 95% of government bureaucracy, we can do our own math. We came up with this equation:  New Political Party + Engaged Voters = No Safe States for Bad Politicians  The most important part of this equation is that we need to be engaged. We can no longer rely on one politician or one political party to solve all our problems. And we cannot take it for granted that our news source of choice is going to give us accurate information. We need to put in the effort and educate ourselves.  The good news is that we might have a few options after Trump is out of office. Both the Democratic and Republican parties are fractured and it will be interesting to see how the left and right wings within each party realign themselves. Will one party become more moderate or will a new party emerge? We don’t know but we think now is a great time for people to coalesce toward the center and focus on more pragmatic solutions to our problems.  And we plan on being here to watch it all unfold. 

By this time next week the 2024 election will be over and we will have a new administration ready to takeover the White House… Oh wait, that’s too optimistic. This is the election that will go on and on and on. All we can say is that whenever it resolves each side needs to do some soul searching. And that includes all of us. The only way to end this madness is to stop contributing to it. At the individual level we can offer up rational discussions and we can support governmental and election reform. We can stop voting for people who perpetuate culture wars and absurd levels of pettiness. The two major parties are behemoths that no longer serve the people they are supposed to represent. We need more choices at the ballot box and we can start at the local level. So when the dust settles, come and join us at Coalition Purple. Let’s do something different. It’s time to come together and start solving some problems. We promise you’ll like it here. We are independent thinkers, we have a lot of fun, and everyone is welcome.

In this episode we reflect on our podcast journey. It’s taken us about a year, but we think we’ve finally figured out what we can do in future episodes to move things forward for third parties and Independent candidates. Check out the full episode for our ideas and let us know what you think.    We know this post-election reckoning is not going to be easy, and we are here to tell you not to get discouraged or demoralized. If you drop out of the political process, democracy fails and everyone loses.    Besides, there is hope! Bill has gone from yelling at his tv in frustration when candidates won’t answer questions to experiencing the thrill of voting for an independent candidate for the first time in his life. And why not take a chance on something you believe in? Fifty percent of people voting for the duopoly will have voted for a losing candidate. It’s just part of the process.    So after this election, take a deep Breath and get ready for a new reality. Polling shows that over 70% of people are dissatisfied with the direction of the country. So let’s start measuring politicians based on what they do and not what they say. Let’s get more politically engaged at the local level. And when the next election comes around we can all experience the thrill of voting our conscience. 

Bill is back in town and ready to discuss the important issues of the day despite his travel-weary brain. He’s no longer feeling braindead after John piqued his interest in a couple of recent lawsuits related to campaign fundraising and transparency regarding how our tax money is spent. The takeaways this week are... If you have an email account that you are no longer using, make sure it’s not being used to funnel money to a political campaign. And, why won’t the California State Controller release requested state spending information to the Open the Books organization? What exactly are they trying to hide? Maybe they’re just embarrassed that they spent over **$103 billion** dollars on schools this year and they still haven’t removed the asbestos from the buildings. It just proves John’s point that the economy is not a simple concept because EVERYTHING is the economy. It’s the sum total of all our actions and inactions. For more of these philosophical nuggets, check out the full episode. ** John mentions a $75 billion budget. The current spending is closer to $104 billion. Source: https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4929 #GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #2024 election #forwardparty #commonsenseparty

It’s official. Bill is going to have to go underground for a while. Getting rid of his contact information is the only way to escape the constant barrage of phone calls, emails, and flyers from his former political party. He’s tried hitting Stop and Unsubscribe, but it does no good. But never fear. We will still be doing our podcast. Here’s a list of things we agreed we should stop doing: 1. Roof work. 2. Buying plastic water bottles. 3. Supporting the Avocado Mafia. 4. Sending money to political campaigns. If you want to know our list of Do’s, you’ll just have to watch the episode! But we will say that the thing we agree on the most is that we can’t wait for this Presidential election to be over, because then we can start focusing on the really important issues facing California and the country. Let us know what you think our future Third Party should focus on. #GOP #RNC #DNC #independentvoters #democrats #republicans #nolabels #2024 election #forwardparty #commonsenseparty

Well, John forgot, but it’s our one-year anniversary here at Coalition Purple! We are celebrating a year since October 9, 2023 with 30 episodes under our belts. And for good reason. Although we have different political backgrounds and opinions, we still enjoy getting together for a beer and we see each other once a week to talk politics. We figure, if we can do it, why can’t everyone else? It’s all about compromise. For example, Bill will agree with John’s idea for a constitutional amendment to limit the Supreme Court to 9 members, but only if 25-year term limits are part of the deal. See how easy that was? Our 31st episode is chock full of other great ideas too. It’s too much to sum up here but we’ll give you a teaser. Here are 4 takeaways from this episode. 1. If you destroy an institution, it is gone forever. So be careful what you wish for 2. The answer to misinformation or speech you dislike is MORE speech - not censorship 3. The next 4 years will basically be a do-over for whoever gets elected President because they’ve both had about 4 years to show us who they are 4. You shouldn’t go on walks because it makes you think too much!! We hope you enjoy Episode 31. Happy New Year!

Just when we thought things could not get any crazier in our divided political world, we find out that even the Teamsters are not endorsing a Presidential candidate. If that’s not reason enough to have more political parties and coalitions, we’ll give you some more… Are we doxxing kids now? We’re not sure that this is the best way to deal with behavioral problems in the school system. Are government employee unions a good idea? The U.S. Postal Workers Union is openly endorsing a Presidential candidate during a time when many people mistrust the mail-in ballot system.  We’re lso wondering if we are bankrupting ourselves in our efforts to help immigrants. Are we killing the Golden Goose, so to speak? And, speaking of delicious dishes, what’s so bad about eating birds anyway? Not that we’re buying into any of the propaganda regarding the Haitian immigrant situation in Ohio. We’re just saying, let’s take a look at the real problems and not get distracted by the stories that are being promoted by the mainstream media. We’re not afraid to take a deeper look at what’s happening in the world. We hope you’ll join us.  If you’re a Republican who thinks the Haitian immigrants really do need protected status, that’s ok. And, if you’re a Democrat who thinks that the Remain in Mexico policy was a good one, you are also welcome here. Come on in… sit down… have a beer. And, most importantly, join the Purples!

We both survived the heat this past week, but things are still heating up in California. The fire and homelessness problems are still out of control here. Plus, we had to suffer through the Presidential debate, and we’re not sure anything of substance was really discussed. Yet, we keep voting the same way and for the same parties. That’s the definition of crazy, right?   A lot of Californians are unhappy. Some will vote with their feet and leave. For those of us who want to stay, we offer a challenge: What are you going to do about it? Our solution is quick and easy. Let's de-register, en masse, from the two major political parties. You can still vote the way you want to, but it will send a message to those in power when their voter rolls shrink. Besides, if you have No Party Preference, you can talk to anyone about politics. How can you have an argument if you don’t take sides? And, the best part is, no more fights at Thanksgiving!!

Two events in the past week got John and Bill focused on how a Third Political Party could break the logjam that keeps so many people fighting each other.   Yet again another senseless school shooting has most people saying “stop, we need to try something different.”  The reality is nothing has (or will) change in any meaningful way when extremists on each side of the gun debate continue to paralyze attempts at reasonable solutions. This is where a strong third party can play a huge role in protecting school children at the local level.  Listen in as John and Bill discuss personal situations that drive their suggestions. All within our simple grasp that won’t trample on anybody’s liberties… nor involve campus lockdowns so bad guys can’t come in or outlawing guns.   Topic 2 involves California’s near adoption of a law to provide down payment assistance for undocumented immigrants — a program that was vetoed soon after we recorded.  In a state where even well-paid citizens cannot afford a home, the idea of helping non-citizens buy a home seems like a totally tone-deaf idea.  Bill and John agree that every human being should have a safe roof over their heads.  But there are more reasonable ways to achieve this goal without driving housing costs up even more through nonsensical programs like California’s legislature was attempting.  Again, another simple spot to build coalitions among reasonable, empathetic and independent-minded voters to help Make America Sane Again.

Bill and John are at odds over the ethics of how the Dems and GOP conducted recent election primaries.  But one thing the boys agree on is that just having two choices really stinks.  The existing political machinery is simply not good for America… and the theatrics of it all (going on and on and on) is exhausting. But step 1 to get out of this hole is to start a bunch of civil discussions among neighbors. Friends. Co-workers.  Anybody and everybody.  Most will quickly see it’s up to the masses to change “the system” —and move from limited candidate choices to many legit ones through more political parties. Here’s a link to Chris Cuomo commentary on the deep money at the Democratic convention: https://youtube.com/shorts/8hwVf9WFWWE?si=OBCzR7nRLD_fqHKH

Most people naturally think presidential politics when considering a third party.  And usually that means 1) a third-party candidate would spoil things for a favorite candidate; and/or 2) the entire idea is futile because of the GOP-Democrat duopoly. So we again remind folks... here at headquarters that our focus is on the support for local and state third parties.  The local level is where the action is, and viable third-party candidates have a reasonable shot of winning.  In short, it’s the fastest and most straightforward strategy to do what needs to be done: Change how government operates!  Which admittedly is a topic that most people agree with… but don’t find sexy enough to get excited about compared to the debates over abortion, the southern border — let alone Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce updates. But we have hope!  Listen in to Bill and John as yak about breaking through the political white noise to make gerrymandering (and other wonky stuff) as intriguing as [add you favorite political topic here].

The party platforms of the Dems and GOP are largely ignored by most voters (hey, regurgitating history should be left to high schoolers).  All the words are repeated over-and-over in the “UniParty” platforms… pandering to voters’ emotions rather than focusing on how to get things done. Well, we’re taking a different approach for our dream third political party.  Focus on incentivizing leaders to do the right thing.  And focus on a few key “lesser-talked-about” issues that inspire many while having huge impact on the good ol’ USA… … like doubling down on diabetes therapies and prevention — a complication that can be largely managed and/or prevented.  Yet, it’s one of the biggest killers around as it has become a full-blown $400+ BILLION annual catastrophe.  We’re dealing with a major pandemic every year! John and Bill also list out other strategic initiatives (none of which require the heavy lift of changing the Constitution) that would quickly up the happiness level of society! The trick is to make these issues more sexy to voters… and create built-in incentive so politicians actually get the job done:  reduce government bureaucracy, reform ridiculous campaign finance laws, end gerrymandering through objective “geographical” boundaries, and create legislative districts by the number of voters, NOT the number of citizens.   Stay tuned… it’s a wild ride.

Political name-calling has gotten so ridiculous that now labeling your political opponent as [insert your least favorite dictator, cultural reference or school yard bully here] is as useless as a dead skunk (no offense to skunks).   Most normal people are now exhausted by the antics. They turn the channel when it comes to political discourse. But that leaves a huge void in terms of actual, constructive debates to help move the country forward. A key value for a respectable third political party is to avoid name calling. Criticism based on facts is absolutely 100 percent fair… it is politics after all!   But unsubstantiated references to demons — real and imagined — and childish trash talk are quite embarrassing for a country based on the premise of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”   All the more reason for focusing on local politics… where it’s much harder to look an opponent in the eye and call her or him a nasty name. Bravery seems to disappear once folks come out of the anonymous shadows of social media where being mean carries little risk.   We recorded this episode between the political firestorms of the attempted assassination of former President Trump and current President Biden ending his campaign. Yet, our overall discussion of avoiding the ugliness of political speech remains more relevant than ever.

Here’s the deal.  If you live in any state besides  Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona or Nevada, you can rest assured your vote for a third party presidential candidate will NOT threaten Joe Biden or Donald Trump. You see, the two major candidates have realistically won their share of the other 43 states regardless of your vote.  Trump will cruise to a win in places like Alabama, Nebraska and Texas.  Biden has already wrapped up California, New York and Washington. So, if you’re tired of the two-party system... vote or write in a third-party candidate (regardless if you’re a Democrat or Republican) in 2024 to send the message that you’re done on the limited presidential choices.  The only way to break the logjam is to end the duopoly of the GOP and Dems by threatening their hold on future elections.  You’re fooling yourself if you think your vote for Trump will make a difference in Oregon.  Same holds true for potential Biden voters in North Dakota.  The real power you hold is in NOT voting for EITHER candidate.  You’ll help launch a grassroots campaign to end the divisions in our country that the Dems and GOP just love to encourage. Hang on… this is a wild-and-wooly episode as Bill and John catchup on all the chaos after being off for a few weeks! #GOP #Democrats #Bipartisan #Republicans #ThirdParty #progressivepolitics #conservativepolitics

Season 2 | Episode 6 The groundswell of support for more political options beyond Dems and GOP has never been stronger. So, why do third parties and their candidates struggle to gain traction?  Well, it’s complicated as John and Bill discuss.  Quick look at history shows the policies of many third parties are wildly popular… only to be hijacked by candidates who go way too far with some radical ideas that turn people off.   There is hope that younger voters will figure their way out of this paradox?  The younger set certainly is frustrated with both major parties, and potentially hold the power to make much needed changes in our two-party system. But will they? Or will social media and AI continue to derail the process of moving the country away from the “UniParty.”   The guys also yak about why local transportation is another key topic that could propel third party candidates.  How good intentions behind policies turn bad. And the silliness of predicting the impact of AI when nobody really has control of it.   #GOP #Democrats #Bipartisan #Republicans #ThirdParty #progressivepolitics #conservativepolitics

Countries like Brazil, Austria and Nigeria require every citizen to enter non-military “public service” programs. The idea is to provide relatively low-cost support for vexing social problems like homelessness… and also build pride in the country and respect for other cultures. Could mandatory service be an answer to find needed human resources to help with everything from homeless programs to cleaning up rivers? The idea could be yet another third political party innovation that separates it from the no-new-ideas UniParty of the GOP and Dems. The U.S. has a long history of building civic pride in similar programs. Most military vets reflect with pride what their service meant to them. Many roads, public buildings, national parks and hospitals we still enjoy today were created through the WPA and CCC programs focused on helping the unemployed coming out of the Great Depression. The volunteer Peace Corp and AmeriCorp programs provide huge benefits at fraction of the cost.So why not make a one-year public service mandatory to create low-cost solutions to solve some of our most pressing issues like chronic homelessness? Check out the latest Coalition Purple episode. John and Bill tackle the idea! Use existing space to relieve unaffordable housing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOElvicXMfECountries with mandatory public service: https://news.sky.com/story/which-countries-have-national-service-and-how-does-it-work-elsewhere-13143261https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/10/31/us-democracy-mandatory-public-service-program-political-divides/ #GOP #Democrats #Bipartisan #Republicans #ThirdParty #progressivepolitics #conservativepolitics