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80/20 Initiative & PAC: Promoting Equality and Justice for all Asian
Americans
EON Member
A national, nonpartisan political action committee dedicated to
equality and justice for all Asian Americans
The 80/20 Initiative was originally formed by
concerned leaders in the Chinese American community to increase the
representation of APAs in all facets of American society through
creating a broad-based, pan-Asian American coalition for
fundraising, political lobbying, and bloc voting. A national,
nonpartisan organization initially focusing on Chinese Americans in
particular, it aspires to mobilize 80% of all APA voters to act together
as a swing vote for the party most supportive of APA needs/goals in the
2000 elections.
Upon reaching critical mass, 80-20 will focus its
resources in the states with large numbers of electoral college votes
and large concentrations of APAs (CA, NY, NJ). Its strategy then
includes the following measures:
- Publicly declare to the Republican and Democratic parties of its
concern with the under-representation of APAs in policy-making
positions in all public and private sectors.
- Urge both parties to issue policy statements indicating their
intent to take positive actions to remedy this problem, producing
measurable results by July, 2000.
- Withhold financial and other resources to presidential
candidates until they have issued a written statement committing to
support our goals of equal representation.
- Endorse the presidential candidate of the party that has been
most successful in removing the barriers and in placing APAs into
policy-making positions in public and private sectors by July, 2000.
- Reach out and solicit the participation of the APA communities
throughout the U.S. to actively raise funds and get out the votes
for the endorsed candidate.
80-20's 4-Point
Declaration
If elected, the candidate commits to:
1. Direct cabinet officers to work with
Congress in holding public hearings regarding the validity
of the statistical data strongly suggesting discriminatory
practices against APAs in workplaces.
2. If data were shown to be valid, he will
issue a public statement to affirm his administration’s
intention to vigorously prosecute all cases of racial
discrimination against APAs in the workplace.
3. If the data were shown to be
valid, he will work to induce the lifting of the glass
ceiling so that APAs can be well on our way to equal
opportunity.
4. Give due recognition to the services
and talents of APAs by appointing qualified persons to
policy-making positions to the judicial and executive
branches of the federal government.
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MAKING GREAT USE OF THE NET
80-20 first came to our attention through its very
effective and civilized use of a self-limited/-regulated e-mail
broadcasting campaign. After requesting the "privilege" of
delivering a few-part series explaining its cause and strategy, it then
signed off with invitation to join a voluntary subscription service,
which we encourage Villagers to consider joining.
Since then, 80-20 has maximized this medium in a
variety of ways to achieve its goals -- so effectively that it was a
highlighted model of online activism in the book, Click to Democracy,
by Syracuse University professors Steve Davis, Larry Elin, and Grant
Reeher. By swiftly building a vast email network and offering
clear, focused strategies to promote political action, 80-20
has become a leading political voice for Asian Americans. It
continues to seek volunteer assistance in developing and promoting its
website, starting a spin-off political webzine, collecting e-mail
addresses, and getting (and reaching out to) APAs on the Web.
Its site is a well-stocked toolbox for those interested in becoming
active participants in the political process. It contains for
example FAQs on such topics as starting PACs, listings of contact
information for political candidates, statements on eliminating the
glass ceiling, and more. For more information, be sure to check it
out at
www.80-20initiative.net.
Readings by and about 80-20 @ Asian-American Village
(Readings temporarily removed)
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Opinion: Our Common Quest for Political Clout
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Declaration on the 2000 Presidential Election (English &
Chinese, other languages soon)
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Why 80-20 Could Have Endorsed Bush and Why We Endorsed Gore
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Movement to Remove Coble Offers Many Ways to Say "Get Lost!"
Four different strategies, options, for online action and
petitions
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80-20 Open Elections Invite APAs to Get Political
P.A.C. seeking fresh blood, new leadership for its political
efforts
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80-20 to Help APA Candidates Fight Racist Campaign Attacks
Resolution vows organizing, media, and fundraising to defeat
offenders
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Can You Keep a Nuclear Secret?
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80-20 Initiative Calls for a "Sea of Flags"
PAC calls for a "Sea of Flags" on July 4 to "erase
'foreigner' image"
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Clicking to Democracy
Click on Democracy, a new general-audience book on
political uses of the Internet in Election 2000, spotlights APAs'
role in pioneering online activism
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