TCAN

The ‘pay to play’ game where you and your dollars decide which Presidential candidates stay on the island, um, errr, ballot, and who gets kicked off!


Here’s how it works.

1. Cultivate the feeling of a powerful mega-donor by deciding which presidential candidates you would like to ‘take out’ of the running.

2. Then, kinda like mega-donors do in real elections, buy influence in this contest. In our game, it’s in the form of "reverse votes" for $1 each. Remember, a "reverse votes" serves to kick out, rather than vote in. (Strategy tip: You might want to put $1 dollar each on 16 different candidates to leave only your favorite one standing. Or, heck, play big with $50 to run off the candidate who most drives you up the wall.) So, use your influence money to kick your opponents off the ballot before the final voting on Sept. 28-30.

3. Toss your head back, hands pressed together, and let go with a sinister ‘muuwhahah’ laugh, letting others know that you know you have the influence! (And political influence will never come cheaper, my friends! Or will it? TCAN is on the case with a Clean Elections solution.)

Just for the record: True Courage Action Network strongly opposes unlimited and unregulated money in politics. But the fact is, the current system in Texas allows mega-donors to have an undue influence on our democracy. One result is a “Battle of the Ballot” often takes place BEFORE ordinary citizens have their say by casting a single vote. So, just between us activists, we thought it would be fun to see what might happen if we all played this “reverse election” game to kick people out before they can be voted in, with stakes we can all afford. And better yet, this is all guilt-free: your money in this contest will do good, as it supports TCAN in its efforts to tame the often anti-democratic influence of mega-donors in future elections.

Some Details
TCAN is a nonpartisan 501(c)4 tax-exempt nonprofit corporation. Contributions are not tax-deductible because we actively seek to affect public policy. Your contributions help support TCAN’s Clean Elections project.

This game is to raise money, to raise awareness, and to have fun. The True Courage Action Network does not endorse any candidate or party and is not attempting to influence the real presidential election.

The first round has begun and will last one week. Votes are $1 each, but there is a minimum of $5 to play. The good news: there is no maximum!The second round will be quick, Sept. 28-30, with only four survivors candidates (two from each major party) to receive your votes. We’ll email you a reminder to vote when the second round begins on Sept. 28.

Be sure to tell your friends: surely, there’s a candidate they, too, want off the island, um, ballot! You may vote against one or against many; the strategy is up to you. You may come back to vote (and donate) as many times as you wish, and check on the candidates’ progress.

When you vote, you’ll have the opportunity to share your comments. Some will be featured on our website, as well as on political blogs around the state.

Ready … (get out your wallet for a good cause) … set … (pretend each $1 is $100,000 or so) … play!