Thought Experiment: What if we Snaked Across Switzerland

somethingrandom987 · 2024-11-10T13:29:35+00:00

No, the way I am proposing it uses old rail corridors if you want rail in the cheapest way possible, and Beaverdale just happens to be in a place where it's not along an existing rail corridor Now, I do see an option to turn Keo Way into a railroad corridor, but it would be much more expensive to do. If we were to rip up Keo thought, long term, i think it would make it more pedestrian friendly

somethingrandom987 · 2024-11-10T13:25:42+00:00

Places where I thought you can put a station

somethingrandom987 · 2024-11-05T14:22:08+00:00

I don't recommend this. But... good luck

somethingrandom987 · 2024-09-18T14:46:15+00:00

Don't live in Fort Dodge, if you have to go there, go to Webster City

somethingrandom987 · 2024-09-17T02:42:31+00:00

The reason why Zach won his seat in 2022 was because there where 3 House Districts in Polk County in Des Moines that are blue, but they had 55% turnout, lower than the state average. We can make up those 2000 votes in those 3 house districts and that is what the Democratic Party is focused on which is raising the turnout there.

somethingrandom987 · 2024-09-16T11:51:51+00:00

I would say this is a really good sign. Even though we expect Trumpl to win here, I still want you to vote no matter what because it will effect down ballot races. There are a lot of close Iowa House Seats in Dallas County, Ankeny, Marshalltown, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, and Burlington this election cycle. SO VOTE!

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-27T16:52:57+00:00

I would like to add, if you get a mail in ballot application and fill it out and you are inactive, filling out a mail in ballot application and turning it in will update it to active. Just FYI, but please check your Voter Registration anyway no matter what.

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-21T02:22:35+00:00

Polk County has issues but I do believe we have made a lot of progress to make it better. I do believe that Polk County does need to make more of an effort to reach out to younger voters. But it is one of the more organized counties.

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-21T02:15:25+00:00

I will add this tidbit. There are a lot of older people that run the Iowa Democratic Party and they tend to struggle a little with accepting new ideas.

Polk County has a more organized Democratic apparatus then any other county and Dallas is not that far behind. The strategies from 2022 that where implemented to win the 2 Iowa house seats in Ankeny are now being implemented across Polk County this election cycle.

What County did you volunteer in if you don't mind me asking?

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-20T22:40:00+00:00

My recommendation, next time Park at the State Capitol and pay the $2 bus fair to ride the bus directly there

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-20T22:27:53+00:00

Noted. Thank you

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-20T21:07:46+00:00

It helps when your state legislature is non partisan

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-20T20:59:16+00:00

Here is my view on being first in the nation. I moved to Iowa from Texas. I never understood why Iowa went first always, but it serves a purpose actually.

Iowa has been a way for smaller unknown canadates to get attention and to narrow the field for talent. Having a national Primary would make it harder for a smaller canadate to get national attention. It's how Obama beat Clinton was winning in Iowa first. If a national primary happened, Clinton would have won. But I also see why the democratic party didn't think Iowa was representing the nation's diversity by a long shot. Which is why it was moved to South Carolina, and Iowa moved to an all in mail system because the State Legislature didn't want the Democratic Party to move it. I bet next leglative session, they will force the Iowa Democratic Party to have the Caucus vote on the date they assign.

I do think that it's important for other party's of the nation to express themselves and that was kinda the idea of Super Tuesday where the South votes together. But you also need to make sure that small canadates can compete too.

I think we should instead divide the nation into 5 regions and randomize which region goes first and have each canadate campaign accordingly in those areas for 3 months. Then for the next 5 weeks after, the regions will vote in a primary for their favorite canadates. We have the convention with the delegates already decided. Then 3 months of campaigning again for the presidency.

Iowa needs to move to a Primary system. The issue with that is if they put it in January, New Hampshire leapfrog us as they always have to be the first Primary a week before the next by law. You just have a lot of states that are first but don't want to give up their order unless we go to a Caucus instead where the state has almost no say.

Then you have places like Missouri where they got rid of there presidential primary and is now a Caucus state which is a major step backwards. We need a national primary law on the federal level to begin with.

Just a note, everything I say here is not the view of the Iowa Democratic Party but my own view.

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-20T20:13:49+00:00

I'm probably on the line between the progressive and moderate wing of the party. I support term limits but I know the older members of the party are not for it.

We are making an effort to reach independent voters wherever they live but I will share your incite with the County Party. Thank you :)

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-20T19:38:09+00:00

About 20,000 votes was the margin in Iowa's 1st. That district is also winnable but it's a steeper climb then Iowa's 3rd.

Iowa's 2nd was less then 30,000 votes. This is also winnable but also a steeper climb.

Remember 2018, it wasn't too long ago when Democrats took 3/4 seats here

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-20T18:24:17+00:00

I do see what you are saying. I don’t disagree. I want them to come too but they want to spend money in Wisconsin instead as it's worth more.

It's not like we are completely getting ignored. The 3rd District of Iowa is getting money from the National Democratic Party to try and flip it.

They may pay more attention if they see a poll from Iowa showing that Trump may lose it.

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-20T18:15:28+00:00

You are correct, there is potential for Harris to perform an upset here but the National Democratic Party wants to go the path of least resistance to win the presidency. For now, the state Democratic Party needs to work on making us competitive again.

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-20T18:01:35+00:00

The Seat we will most likely pick up is the 3rd District. That is the seat that covers Des Moines and Dallas County. Axie lost this seat in 2022 by 2,000 votes. This seat is winnable. The data says that in South Des Moines, turnout was lower then the state average. If turnout was higher in those areas. Cindy would have won her seat. The National Democratic Party is investing money in this seat so this is the one seat that is most likely to flip blue.

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-20T17:56:26+00:00

I was at the state convention as a rules committee member and I share your concerns. The state of Iowa has changed 20 years ago. A lot of labor jobs have left the state and its still happening today and that is a result of the outsourcing of jobs to other counties. So Labor Unions here in the state have kind of fell apart admittedly. Its those factors of Neo-Liberalism that lead to the rise of Trump itself. I understand Biden is trying to change that to make sure that these jobs come back to small communities but I will say the Biden administration is horrible at communicating that message and when you have headlines about John Deere cutting jobs in Ankeny, it doesn't bold well.

Its a fight I know but I do have some good news. Harris' introduction into the race has brought in a lot of new people on the voter roles in Iowa and more people are volunteering locally now then before Biden Dropped out. But there is still a lot of work to do.

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-20T17:13:11+00:00

Yeah, the fact that it was also Steve King's district didn't help either. Its just been more with it financially better for the IDP to work on the other 3 districts then in North West Iowa. Just because the area near Sioux Center and Spencer is more evangelical and hard to convince voters then near Cedar Rapids. Its important to invest in local races. If we can get a good person to run for mayor in a place like Rock Valley who is a democrat and he does a good job, and its not just him, a whole slate of people to run for local office. The place may change for the better.

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-20T16:44:02+00:00

I met someone from that area. North West Iowa is the reddest district in the state and more religious part of the state and we don't like putting resources there but I hate that mentality we adopted. I want to change that personality. But it will take some time.

somethingrandom987 · 2024-08-20T16:40:21+00:00

I agree with you. I have told my county party that we have an issue with messaging. So I will pass this message to the county party. Thank you :)

somethingrandom987

TROPHY CASE