Msg # 356   
Date: 21 Sep 91  15:40:53
From: Annie Lamb
  To: All
Subj: CRD TO FORM THIRD PARTY
____________________________________________________________________________

N.O.W. COMMISSION VOTES TO RECOMMEND FORMATION OF NEW PARTY

Commission for Responsive Democracy, a project of the National
Organization for Women Foundation, Inc.

Sunday, Sept. 15, 1991

WASHINGTON, D.C.--The N.O.W. Commission for Responsive Democracy
overwhelmingly voted today by a 26 to 4 margin (with 1 abstention)
to recommend that the National Organization for Women provide
leadership with other vital constituencies to launch a new
political party in 1992.

The commission's decision follows a year-long series of public
hearings at which the commissioners heard testimony from more than
500 people on the noncompetitive nature of and corruption in U.S.
politics. The meetings were held in New York City, Atlanta,
Houston, Tampa, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

The testimony at the hearings came from a broad base of
constituency groups and individuals. Well represented in every city
were activists in the areas of the environment, human rights, civil
rights, lesbian and gay rights, criminal justice, peace, health
service providers, consumer advocates, elected officials and
academics, as well as feminists both inside and outside of N.O.W.
These individuals and organizations were unanimous in their belief
that major, drastic changes had to be made in the electoral process
immediately.

During the hearings, many suggestions regarding electoral reform
were offered, but it became clear that only limited and inadequate
electoral laws would pass without a declaration of political
independence. In addition, the majority of those attending the
hearings were clearly in favor of the formation of a new political
party.

The Commission for Responsive Democracy was charged by the 1989
N.O.W. national conference to investigate the formation of a new
party dedicated to equality for women and an expanded Bill of
Rights for the 21st Century. The Bill of Rights for the 21st
Century includes, but is not limited to:

1.   The right to freedom from sex discrimination.
2.   The right to freedom from race discrimination.
3.   The right of all women to freedom from government
     interference in abortion, birth control and pregnancy, and the
     right of indigent women to public funds for abortion, birth
     control and pregnancy services.
4.   The right to freedom from discrimination on the basis of
     sexual orientation.
5.   The right to freedom from discrimination based on religion,
     age, ongoing health condition or a differently abled
     situation.
6.   The right to a decent standard of living, including adequate
     food, housing, health care and education.
7.   The right to clean air, clean water, safe toxic waste disposal
     and environmental protection.
8.   The right to be free from violence, including freedom from the
     threat of nuclear war.

The recommendations of the Commission for Responsive Democracy will
be sent for discussion and approval to the N.O.W. National
Conference in June 1992 in Chicago. The decision of the N.O.W.
Conference, the supreme governing body of N.O.W., will be binding
on the organization.

-+-----------------------------------------------------------------
TEXT OF RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING FORMATION OF NEW POLITICAL PARTY

Commission for Responsive Democracy, a project of the National
Organization for Women Foundation, Inc., Sept. 15, 1991

"The Commission for Responsive Democracy finds that there is a
need for a new force in United States politics to ignite in the
United States the revolution for democracy that is sweeping the
world in order to politically and economically empower all people
of the United States.

"Fueled by the public disgust with the massive unprecedented
corruption, greed and hypocrisy in the Republican and Democratic
parties, the Commission for Responsive Democracy calls for a new
party and recommends to the National Organization for Women that it
provide leadership with other constituencies, grassroots activists
and those fundamentally alienated from the current system in the
establishment of a new independent political party dedicated to
equality, social and economic justice, demilitarization and a
healthy environment.

"This new party will include as part of its basic tenets internal
democracy, candidate adherence to the party's platform and
accountability to membership."


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