FAQ 2

Q: What kind of organization is "The 80-20 Initiative?"

A: 80-20 is a national, nonpartisan cyberspace political organization dedicated to working for equality and justice for ALL Asian Americans (AsAms).

80-20 has the experience (founded on 9/27/1998), the foundation (over 700,000 supporters on its e-mail list), and an open, democratic, and transparent organizational structure, and the status to organize a powerful political voice.

80-20 is registered with the Federal Election Commission as a political action committee (PAC) and has the legal right to help elect or defeat political candidates. Civic organizations that enjoy tax-exempt status are FORBIDDEN to engage in political activities.

Q: What does "80-20" mean?

A: The name 80-20 was chosen to indicate the proportion of votes that is the most effective for an organization to gain political clout. We want to unite 80% of AsAm voters in each presidential election to support one presidential candidate. See below for information about how a voting pattern of 80-20 will work to gain us equal opportunity and political influence.

Q: What is 80-20's strategy?

A: To form a bloc-vote supporting the presidential candidate of a political party, based on his/her past record and specific written pledges of future actions to help AsAms achieve equal opportunity and justice.

If 80% of AsAms vote for and donate to the 80-20 endorsed presidential candidate, our collective votes will become a political force that cannot be ignored.

Q: How does the 80-20 idea work?

A: Here's how it works. The goal of 80-20 is to win equal opportunity for ourselves and for our children. That means an equal chance to get good jobs, high salary increments, and significant promotions.

APAs voted slightly in favor of Bush in '92 and slightly in favor of Clinton in '96. So long as an immigrant "underclass" votes roughly 50-50, no politician will bother to help the group win equal opportunity. To politicians, paying attention to a small constituent group that votes roughly 50-50 is like entering a small business deal with a puny margin of profit. On the other hand, courting a small immigrant group capable of delivering 80-20 is like chasing a small business deal with a huge profit margin of 60%. (The 80% vote obtained by the courting politician minus the 20% vote taken by the opponent yields a net gain of 60% of votes of our community.)

Hence, if we united to vote 80-20, a very different picture emerges.

AsAms are strategically located. We represent 6.5% of the voters in CA -- the state with the largest Electoral College votes and an early primary in the presidential election of 2000. CA is a must for any presidential candidate in year 2000. Winning the March 2000 CA primary creates so much momentum that it may be tantamount to winning the party nomination. Furthermore, CA has 54 electoral votes -- 20% of what's needed to be the next president.

If we unite to swing to either political party at an 8 to 2 ratio in year 2000, our block-vote will represent not only a business deal with a huge profit margin but also the deal that gives the winner a 51% controlling interest of the entire market. Our bloc vote shall be courted by politicians of both parties immediately, and with that we can win equal opportunity for ourselves and for our children!

American immigrants have traditionally relied on the political process to win equal opportunity. That was how the Irish did it. That was how the Polish, Italians and Jewish Americans did it. Recently, women and blacks flexed their political muscles and achieved important economic gains.

Q: What are the main issues that 80-20 is fighting for?

A: (1) To enforce Executive Order 11246 (EO 11246)

We seek to increase the number of Asian American executives in public and private establishments in compliance with Executive Order 11246, signed by President Johnson in 1965 to ensure representation of minority and women in executive positions at colleges/universities, government agencies, and private businesses. Asian Americans have been illegally left out in the enforcement of EO11246.

(2) To increase the number of Asian American Article III federal judges

In order to represent proportionally the Asian American population, there should be at least 39 Asian American federal court judges. 2004 data showed that there were only 6 Asian American federal judges for 13 million Asian Americans. The total number of federal judges is 875; African American judges is 88 or 10.7%; Hispanic judges is 54 or 6.5%; and the 6 Asian American judges representing 0.7% of the total federal judiciary.

We earnestly request your public support and commitment, backed by corrective legislative actions to give Asian Americans the same equal opportunity that all Americans deserve. Thank you for working with 80-20 to help make America a more perfect union.

Q: Why join 80-20?

A: 80-20 works tirelessly on behalf of you and your children to afford you A FAIR AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM. Think of 80-20 membership dues as insurance for your family’s future. It’s much cheaper and yet no less important than other insurance you buy! Membership dues are wisely spent on effective political education and persuasion in the general presidential election. This includes persuading presidential candidates to take pro-AsAm positions, promoting AsAm voter registration and turnout, organizing a bloc-vote in the general election, and paying our staff. All directors and officers are volunteers and not paid. We secure written commitments of action from candidates and only endorse those most committed to our rightful concerns and causes. We never stop working for you. But we need your financial support to do so!

Any US citizen or permanent resident can become a member. Only dues-paying members may vote on issues and candidates for 80-20 elective offices.

Q: How to join 80-20?

A: Please see our Membership page for detailed information.