- Justice Louis Brandeis
This Monthly Good Government (GG) 'Spotlight' page (posted on the 7th of each month) will focus on ideas that reduce our economic/political inequality and repair our dysfunctional democracy.
To join the list, email tomulrich41@gmail.com and ask to be added to the SU4D E-Newsletter list.
March 7, 2017
1. Strengthen Democracy by using Ranked Choice Voting (Instant Runoff)
^ Article - Ranked Choice increasing participation.
2. Reduce extreme economic inequality helps to reduce political inequality^ Video - Wealth Inequality in America
^ Social Sharables from Inequality .org on Wealth Inequality
^ Website - Americans for Financial Reform
February 7, 2017
1. Strengthen Democracy by using independent redistricting commissions for district boundaries and stopping prison gerrymandering..
^ Video - What is gerrymandering?^ Article - Understanding Congressional Gerrymandering!
^ Article - Imbalance of Power!
^ Resources on redistricting from FairVote!
^ Website - Prison Gerrymandering Project!
^ Article - Solutions to prison gerrymandering!
2. Reducing extreme economic inequality helps reduce political inequality
^ Video - Wealth Inequality Explained in 2 Minutes
^ Video - Wealth Inequality Explained in 2 Minutes
January 7, 2017
1. Strengthen Democracy by passing automatic voter registration in all states. Right now only a 4 or 5 (including Oregon and California) have it.
^ The Case for Automatic, Permanent Voter Registration - HERE!
^ Why we need Universal Voter Registration - HERE!
2. Reduce economic/political inequality
December 7, 2016
* Article - Common Cause on Early Voting
* Article - Absentee and Early Voting
* Article - States that allow early voting
* Website - Elections Project on Early Voting
2. Reduce economic/political inequality
* Article - 6 Worst Things About Trump Tax Plan
* Weekly E-Newsletter - Inequality Weekly
* Website - What repairs to economic system are needed?
November 7, 2016 - More on Increasing Voter Participation
* Article - Allow every citizen not incarcerated to vote.
* Video - Eric Holder on restoring ex-felon's voting rights.
* Article - Fight voter suppression by renewing the Voting Rights Act.
* Website - National Call to Action for a Moral Agenda
* Dysfunctional Government is very evident in the US Senate.
^ Article - Why we must reform the US Senate!
^ Article - How to Fix the US Senate!
^ Article - Solutions to Fix the Broken US Senate!
^ Article - Fix the filibuster!
^ Article - Solutions to Fix the Broken US Senate!
^ Article - Fix the filibuster!
September 7, 2016 - Minimize money's role in politics
* Require disclosure of all donations to candidates and elected officials!
^ Video - Senator Van Hollen on Campaign Donation Disclosure. (5)
^ Video - The Big Picture on Dark Money in political donations . (8)
^ Website - California Disclose Act.
^ Information about the California Disclose Act (AB700)
Aug. 7, 2016 - Strengthen Democracy by Making Voting Easier
* Move low-turnout odd-year local elections to join even-year elections.
^ Article - Move to even-year elections to improve voter turnout.
^ Article - How election timing affects voter turnout, outcomes.
* Allow same day voter registration.
^ Video on value of same day voter registration.
* Allow online voter registration.
^ Article on this issue.
* Use Ranked Choice Voting (Instant Runoff) to improve tone and participation.
^ Video - RCV helps the tone and participation.
* Allow same day voter registration.
^ Video on value of same day voter registration.
* Allow online voter registration.
^ Article on this issue.
* Use Ranked Choice Voting (Instant Runoff) to improve tone and participation.
^ Video - RCV helps the tone and participation.
^ Article - Ranked Choice increasing participation.
* More info at Stand Up 4 Democracy
* More info at Stand Up 4 Democracy
July 7, 2016 - Stop Gerrymandering with Independent Redistricting
* Article from Fair Vote on Redistricting!
* Article - What's wrong with gerrymandering?
* Image of 4 districts!
* Article - What's wrong with gerrymandering?
* Image of 4 districts!
* Article - Seeking to End Gerrymandering's Legacy!
* Resources on redistricting!* Plus - page on Fixing Democracy: Five (5) Places to Start!
June 7, 2016 - Government of, for and by the People
* Pass universal/automatic/permanent voter registration.
^ The Case for Automatic, Permanent Voter Registration - HERE!
^ Why we need Universal Voter Registration - HERE!
^ Video on Automatic Voter Registration - HERE!
Website - Brennan Center for Justice - HERE!Website - Common Cause - HERE!
Website - Stand Up 4 Democracy - HERE!
May 7, 2016 - Democracy or Plutocracy!
Chart - Democracy or Plutocracy - HERE!
Video - How to Fix America's Corrupt Political System - HERE (6)
Video - CBS Sunday Morning segment on Represent.Us - HERE! (6)
Website - Become a citizen co-sponsor of the American Anti-Corruption Act - HERE!
Website - FairVote - HERE!
Chart - Democracy or Plutocracy - HERE!
Video - How to Fix America's Corrupt Political System - HERE (6)
Video - CBS Sunday Morning segment on Represent.Us - HERE! (6)
Website - Become a citizen co-sponsor of the American Anti-Corruption Act - HERE!
Website - FairVote - HERE!
Website - Brennan Center for Justice - HERE!
Website - Stand Up 4 Democracy - HERE!
April 7, 2016 - Stand Up for Good Government
Book - American Amnesia: How the War on Government Led Us to Forget What Made America Prosper by Hacker and Pierson (2016) - HERE!
Book - Government is Good: An Unapologetic Defense by Douglas Amy - HERE! (3)
Article - Why We Need to Stand Up for Government - HERE!
Article - History of the Anti-government Campaign - HERE!
Article - What is Really Wrong with Government - HERE!
Resource - Finding and contacting your State and National elected officials - HERE!
March 7, 2016 - More on Extreme Economic Inequality and Corruption
* Book - Nation on the Take: How Big Money Corrupts Our Democracy and What We Can Do About It by Nick Penniman and Wendell Potter (2016) - HERE!
* Article - The Devastating Cost of Monetized Elections - HERE!
* Website - Center for Public Integrity - HERE
* Website - Center for Public Integrity - HERE
* Resource - The State Integrity Investigation - HERE
* Resource - How does your state rank for integrity - HERE!* Resource - Finding and contacting your State and National elected officials - HERE!
Feb. 7, 2016 - Extreme Economic Inequality Hurts the Democratic Process
* Book - Runaway Inequality: An Activist's Guide to Economic Justice by Les Leopold -
HERE! * Book - 10 Steps to Repair American Democracy by Steven Hill - HERE!
* Video - CBS Sunday Morning Features 'Represent.Us' - HERE!
* Infographic on size of the problem - HERE!
* Video - Reform 2020 - HERE!
Jan. 7, 2016 - Increase Voter Choice with Instant Runoff Elections
* Videos on how Ranked Choice Voting works - HERE and HERE!
* Where is Ranked Choice Voting is used! - HERE!
* Who supports RCV! - HERE!
* Websites on this topic - Fair Vote - HERE and Accurate Democracy - HERE!
* Call your elected official in support of government that works for We the People.
* Where is Ranked Choice Voting is used! - HERE!
* Who supports RCV! - HERE!
* Websites on this topic - Fair Vote - HERE and Accurate Democracy - HERE!
* Call your elected official in support of government that works for We the People.
Dec. 7, 2015 - Stop Media Consolidation
* Article - These 6 Corporations Control 90% of the Media in American - HERE!
* Article - Think Media Consolidation Is Good for Journalism? Think Again - HERE!
* What does media consolidation look like? - HERE!
* Website - Free Press.net is working on this issue - HERE!
* Article - Think Media Consolidation Is Good for Journalism? Think Again - HERE!
* What does media consolidation look like? - HERE!
* Website - Free Press.net is working on this issue - HERE!
* Action - Tell FCC to stop Time Warner and Charter merger - HERE!
* Article - Voting Equipment in the United States - HERE!
* Article - Computerized Vote Rigging Is Still the Unseen Threat to Demcracy - HERE!
* Electron Voting machines Pro and Con - HERE! (3+)
* Video - Election Theft in the 21st Century with Jonathan Simon! HERE! (28)
* Video on the Book - Code Red: Computerized Election Theft - HERE!
* Action - Call your elected officials in support of a mandated voter-verified paper trail.
Oct. 7, 2015 - Expand Participation with Universal Voter Registration!
* Video on Public Financing of Campaigns - HERE!* Article - Computerized Vote Rigging Is Still the Unseen Threat to Demcracy - HERE!
* Electron Voting machines Pro and Con - HERE! (3+)
* Video - Election Theft in the 21st Century with Jonathan Simon! HERE! (28)
* Video on the Book - Code Red: Computerized Election Theft - HERE!
* Action - Call your elected officials in support of a mandated voter-verified paper trail.
Oct. 7, 2015 - Expand Participation with Universal Voter Registration!
* Article - 7 Ways to Universal Voter Registration - HERE!
* Articles - How Oregon's New Law Can Change Voter Registration - HERE!
* Pamphlet - The Case for Voter Registrat*ion Modernization in 2015 - HERE!
* Articles - How Oregon's New Law Can Change Voter Registration - HERE!
* Pamphlet - The Case for Voter Registrat*ion Modernization in 2015 - HERE!
* Website - Brennan Center for Justice (HERE) on this and other reforms.
* Video - Some don't want everyone to vote - HERE!
* Action - Call your elected officials in support of Universal Voter Registration.
Sept. 7, 2015 - Public Financing of Campaigns
* Article - How the US Became an Oligarchy - HERE!
* Video - Some don't want everyone to vote - HERE!
* Action - Call your elected officials in support of Universal Voter Registration.
Sept. 7, 2015 - Public Financing of Campaigns
* Article - How the US Became an Oligarchy - HERE!
* Fact Sheet on Public Financing of campaigns from Public Citizen - HERE!
* Video on Clean Elections: Changing the Face of Democracy - HERE!
* Websites - Every Voice (HERE) and Public Citizen (HERE) are advocating for public financing.
* Action - Call your elected officials in support of public financing of campaigns.
