Talk...er, Vote Like A Pirate!

March 9, 2011 11:45 AM

Massachusetts has recognized the Pirate Party as an official political party and voters may register their party affiliation as "Pirate" effective immediately. The Massachusetts Pirate Party follows in the footsteps of the Swedish Pirate Party, which ran in 2006 in response to the ongoing copyright infringment struggles between the Pirate Bay and the Swedish government, and has spawned a larger global political movement. The Massachusetts Pirate Party sees its platform extending beyond copyright issues to include working against corporate personhood, increasing transparency in government, and maintaining personal privacy in the wake of the PATRIOT Act and other civil-rights-diminishments.
posted by briank (60 comments total)

MeFi's own?
posted by DU at 11:48 AM on March 9, 2011

the Esteemed Senator, Mr. Dastardly Blacksea (Rrrr)
posted by The Whelk at 11:49 AM on March 9, 2011 [5 favorites]

Good.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:51 AM on March 9, 2011

Don't blame me, I voted for Jack Sparrow.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:51 AM on March 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

All in favor say AAYYYYY!

All opposed say NARRRR!
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:51 AM on March 9, 2011 [4 favorites]

The Pirate Party is only a political designation. This means it's not an official Massachusetts party.

Political designations are created when fifty (50) registered voters file a form with the Secretary of the Commonwealth requesting that they, or any other voters, may change their registration to such designation (see MGL Ch. 50 Sec 1). Some of the more familiar political designations in Massachusetts include the Green-Rainbow and Socialist parties. Designations are often formed around a particular cause or ideology. Political Designation members do NOT participate in primary elections.

(from the city of Boston FAQ)

I only know this because the Green Rainbow party was demoted to "political designation" a little while ago. Not that I'm bitter.
posted by giraffe at 11:52 AM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

The only chance for democracy in America hinges on public financing of election campaigns and abolishing corporate personhood.

I like the cut of their jib.
posted by Joe Beese at 11:53 AM on March 9, 2011 [15 favorites]

Neat, I'll switch my registration. The only joy I was getting out of being an Independent was voting for the most insane Republican candidates during the primaries, but now considering that 1) all Republicans running in MA have to be nuts to begin with and 2) Scott Brown, that's probably not the best use of my vote.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 11:53 AM on March 9, 2011

Has the Internet led to an increase in "single issue" parties? I've known about the Log Cabin Republicans for a long time, for example, but they seem to be a much bigger deal now.
posted by roll truck roll at 11:53 AM on March 9, 2011

Is it a good idea to name a political party after an actual really, really bad thing that not only currently exists in the real world but that is a growing international problem?
posted by The World Famous at 11:54 AM on March 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

It's a great idea to name a political party that has a platform appealling mainly to younger people by using a name that is going to get a lot of media attention and lulzy "sure I'll join pfff oh wait this looks awesome".
posted by DU at 11:56 AM on March 9, 2011

It's a great idea to name a political party that has a platform appealling mainly to younger people

Is it a great idea to create a political party that has a platform appealing mainly to younger people?
posted by The World Famous at 11:57 AM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

MeFi's own?

No. James/Juliet.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 11:58 AM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

And it sounds better than "Massachusetts Keg Party."

Or, hm...
posted by Maaik at 11:59 AM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

Oh, deliberately obtuse. I get it now.
posted by DU at 12:00 PM on March 9, 2011

Oh, deliberately obtuse. I get it now.

Obtuse? How do you figure? I'm saying this is dumb and I'm explaining why. How is that obtuse?
posted by The World Famous at 12:01 PM on March 9, 2011

Is it a good idea to name a political party after an actual really, really bad thing...

It used to be that "pimp" was one of those most insulting things you could call a man. Now it's a compliment.
posted by Joe Beese at 12:03 PM on March 9, 2011

Meanwhile, their rivals, The Ninja Party, remain hidden in the shadows.
posted by yeloson at 12:04 PM on March 9, 2011 [6 favorites]

Great. Now maybe they can do something about those lousy no-seeding leechers.
posted by Burhanistan at 12:08 PM on March 9, 2011 [6 favorites]

It used to be that "pimp" was one of those most insulting things you could call a man. Now it's a compliment.

PROGRESS
posted by shakespeherian at 12:10 PM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

Is it a great idea to create a political party that has a platform appealing mainly to younger people?

The ones appealing mainly to older people are working out great then?
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 12:17 PM on March 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

James O'Keefe, the party's organizer, told Raw Story that the party is now in the process of training activists and building local chapters. (Not to be confused with conservative activist James O'Keefe, otherwise known as the "ACORN pimp.")

lol forever.
posted by elizardbits at 12:19 PM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

The most prominent member of the pirate party is probably Notch
posted by empath at 12:21 PM on March 9, 2011

YARRRRRRR!!!!
posted by AElfwine Evenstar at 12:21 PM on March 9, 2011

Next up, torrent.mass.gov
posted by BigHeartedGuy at 12:21 PM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

The ones appealing mainly to older people are working out great then?

They're accomplishing the only true objective of any political party: They get enough votes to win.
posted by The World Famous at 12:28 PM on March 9, 2011

I kind of want to see Camille Paglia write "as a registered Pirate, I...."
posted by norm at 12:29 PM on March 9, 2011

They're accomplishing the only true objective of any political party: They get enough votes to win.

I still don't see why it's not a great idea to try and put together a party and agenda that appeals to young people. Who knows, they might even get enough votes to win. Either way, at least they tried.
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 12:34 PM on March 9, 2011

I think the Kleptocrats can have the "Ninja Party" and the Teabaggers can have the "Zombie Party" (or would that be anti-zombie, since they hate brains so much, and run away like a scared girl when confronted with one?)
posted by symbioid at 12:36 PM on March 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

I still don't see why it's not a great idea to try and put together a party and agenda that appeals to young people.

You left out the word "mainly," which I think was an important part of the earlier comments.
posted by The World Famous at 12:37 PM on March 9, 2011

The only chance for democracy in America hinges on public financing of election campaigns and abolishing corporate personhood.

This should be a thing.

Which is to say this should be the thing we are demanding the Left do to pull this fucking pendulum/ Overton window back towards the center

Because the fact of the matter is that these two issues are the ones that the never get really considered and would have the biggest immediate impacts in helping to reform the fucked up political and economic landscape this country has had to learn to live with.
posted by quin at 12:43 PM on March 9, 2011 [10 favorites]

This is the most hopeful I have felt about honesty in politics in a long time.

Also, Mefi's own is getting kinda old. I don't think the folks at the top want to own any of us, or we're awfully cheap, arrrr.
posted by effluvia at 12:45 PM on March 9, 2011

I think this is awesome, and I would totally switch if I didn't attend Dem caucuses/conventions/etc.
posted by rollbiz at 12:47 PM on March 9, 2011

roll truck roll: "Has the Internet led to an increase in "single issue" parties? I've known about the Log Cabin Republicans for a long time, for example, but they seem to be a much bigger deal now."

Even if you can call the Log Cabin Republicans a party, they aren't a single issue party. It's just that they (as a group) disagree on one issue with the party that they are a part of. But then again, no party over certain size is monolithic on every issue.
posted by Plutor at 12:50 PM on March 9, 2011

Not to be confused with conservative activist James O'Keefe, otherwise known as the "ACORN pimp"

On the first segment of his radio show today, Sean Hannity said "of ACORN pimp prostitute fame".

True story.
posted by Joe Beese at 12:54 PM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

Worldwide the Pirate Party appears to have some groundswell with members elected to office in Germany, Sweden, Czech Republicand and Switzerland.
Of course this is Europe where political discourse is probably not quite as asinine as in the USA.
Anything which encourages people young or old into political understanding must be a good thing especially to overriding the apathy of a large percentage of the electoral roll.
posted by adamvasco at 12:56 PM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

Is it a good idea to name a political party after an actual really, really bad thing that not only currently exists in the real world but that is a growing international problem?

But enough about the Conservative Party...
posted by emmtee at 1:02 PM on March 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

Is it a good idea to name a political party after an actual really, really bad thing that not only currently exists in the real world but that is a growing international problem?

Like the Republican Party?
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:13 PM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

Bah! Too slow!
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:13 PM on March 9, 2011

GO AHEAD! THROW YOUR VOTE AWAY!
posted by tspae at 1:26 PM on March 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

Yeah ok the name is silly. But like the green political movement was needed so that environmental issues got at least some of the attention they deserve we need a political movement that brings attention to the growing issues around emerging technologies. This is why I am going to vote for the Pirate Party of Finland. In the parliamentary election on April 17th.
posted by Authorized User at 1:32 PM on March 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

Pahk the Cahhhhhh in Hahvahd Yahhrrrrrrrr^_rrrrrrrrrrr
posted by zippy at 1:44 PM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

Yeah, I was totally thinking of the wrong kind of pirate. Oh well.
posted by elder18 at 1:45 PM on March 9, 2011

So, does this mean anything? Like, right to be on the ballot or anything? Or is this like putting Jedi as your religion on a form?
posted by kafziel at 1:53 PM on March 9, 2011

But does the party have any planks in their platform?
Who will be forced to walk those planks?
posted by The Violet Cypher at 1:55 PM on March 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

James "ACORN Pimp" O'Keefe on the Colbert Report
posted by lemuring at 1:59 PM on March 9, 2011

wrong thread, lemuring?
posted by hippybear at 2:02 PM on March 9, 2011

nope... wrong James O'Keefe :#)

posted by lemuring at 2:04 PM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

As a direct descendant of Captain Morgan, I approve. Where do you sign up?
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 2:27 PM on March 9, 2011

Liberals vs the Empire

``This cartoon illustrates my greatest complaint about the Left in this country: that they're completely fucking useless. We've been playing drums and building giant puppets and "adbusting" while the Right has taken control of all three branches of the government and the media.''
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 3:16 PM on March 9, 2011

I hope this means people in MA will start calling file-sharing "protected political speech."
posted by paisley henosis at 3:28 PM on March 9, 2011 [1 favorite]

Could membership of a self-professed "pirate party" be considered probable cause for search-and-seizure on suspicion of copyright infringement?
posted by acb at 3:42 PM on March 9, 2011

Blazecock Pileon: "Liberals vs the Empire

``This cartoon illustrates my greatest complaint about the Left in this country: that they're completely fucking useless. We've been playing drums and building giant puppets and "adbusting" while the Right has taken control of all three branches of the government and the media.''"

Relevant Derrick Jensen
posted by symbioid at 3:57 PM on March 9, 2011

So, does this mean anything? Like, right to be on the ballot or anything? Or is this like putting Jedi as your religion on a form?

I was about to write that it has an effect on ballots, but I checked my 2010 ballot and apparently anyone can write anything they want in the "Party Affiliation" space, so no.

Also, take note that "Political Designation members do NOT participate in primary elections." When I switched from Democrat to Green-Rainbow I waived my right to vote in the 2010 primaries. I'd love to switch to Pirate now but I want the Commonwealth to give me a Green-Rainbow primary ticket, which has been my dream ever since I saw the election workers holding a pile of them as a little boy. If I see the Pirates doing cool stuff in the next few years, then I'll switch.
posted by shii at 4:23 PM on March 9, 2011

It's the Pirate Party! Just show up and grab one of the Green Rainbow ballots for yourself, and damn the torpedoes!
posted by whir at 4:30 PM on March 9, 2011 [2 favorites]

What Massachusetts pirates say: AHHHHH!
posted by adamg at 7:55 PM on March 9, 2011

Massachusetts allows voters to choose to identify with a party when they register to vote. As others have noted, this status allows you to vote in that party's primary, though voters who are not enrolled in any party can choose any party's ballot.

Having people register as Pirates helps us know who out there supports the pirate party and who we can contact to volunteer, be candidates, start local chapters, etc.

When choosing a party, simply enter Pirate in the space for Political Designation. You can pick up a voter registration form at your city elections office or town clerk’s office or request one be sent to you from the Massachusetts Elections Division at their voter registration request page. There is more info at our join us page - http://www.masspirates.org/blog/join-us

acb, My guess is that being a pirate voter is no more likely to mark you as a file sharer than being a green-rainbow voter would mark you as a member of Earth First! Of course if it does, tell us and we will be there to help stop such a legal case.

thsmchnekllsfascists, great points about the other parties. Of course love of civil liberties and privacy is not limited by age.

Thanks for the kudos and observations.
posted by jpokeefe at 8:23 PM on March 9, 2011 [3 favorites]

When choosing a party, simply enter Freetard in the space for Political Designation.
posted by mr.marx at 10:37 AM on March 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

When choosing a party, simply enter Freetard in the space for Political Designation.
posted by mr.marx at 10:37 AM on March 10 [+] [!]

Eponironic!
posted by entropicamericana at 11:10 AM on March 10, 2011

Thanks for stopping by jpokeefe. Good Luck.
posted by adamvasco at 1:45 PM on March 10, 2011