US Pirate Party Reboots, Stressing Transparency, Privacy and Ballot Access Reform

From Poli-Tea:

The United States Pirate Party has completely revamped its website, which is perhaps the most outward sign of its renewed organizational push to grow its membership and cultivate state chapters across the country. The brand new forum page reveals initial activity in nine different states in addition to groups from Washington, Oregon, and New York –, but the Oklahoma chapter appears to be the furthest along in its efforts. The Pirate Party of Oklahoma has already filed necessary paperwork for recognition as an official political party and begun gathering the requisite number of signatures (over 73,000!) while simultaneously lobbying state lawmakers to reduce this burdensome petitioning requirement. In addition, the Pirates have endorsed at least one candidate for public office, namely, Stephen Collings, who is running for Congress as in independent in Tennessee's 5th Congressional District.

At Wikinews, Peter Coti has just published an interview with the Pirate Party's new administrator, Brittany Phelps. Phelps emphasizes three points of concern for the organization: transparency, privacy and ballot access reform . . .

The Pirate Party is also active in Canada, and obtained official party status last month, allowing it to field candidates in the next general election. Pirate Party Radio is the official radio show of the US and Canadian Pirate Parties, which is broadcast weekly and features discussion of "privacy, surveillence, anonymity, net neutrality, copyright reform, free culture, free speech, patent reform, open government and Pirate Party news from around the world."

Thanks to Glenn Kerbein, who is active in the party, for his input via email.