- Justice Louis Brandeis
Fixing our dysfunctional economic and political systems is at the heart of creating a society that works for everyone not just the wealthy corporate elite. I will start with repairing our political system. There are several books listed on page 3 that speak directly to repairing our political system.
Here are three with the suggested repairs listed below:
A. 10 Steps to Repair American Democracy by Steven Hill.
B. The Political Fix: Changing the Game of American Democracy, From the Grassroots to the White House by Douglas E. Schoen.
C. Nation on the Take: How Big Money Corrupts Our Democracy and What We Can Do About It by Wendell Potter and Nick Penniman (2016)
A. 10 STEPS TO REPAIR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY by Steven Hill (2012):
1. Secure the Vote
* Mandate a voter-verified paper trail.
* Develop public-interest voting equipment.
* Professionalize and train election officials.
* Hire Impartial Election Officials.
* Establish a national elections commission.
2. Expand Voter Participation
* Implement automatic/universal voter registration.
* Make voting easier with elections on weekends/ holidays.
* Establish voting rights for Washington DC residents.
* Prohibit voter suppression/intimidation.
* Enfranchise ex-felons and prisoners.
* Establish voting rights for Washington DC residents.
* Prohibit voter suppression/intimidation.
* Enfranchise ex-felons and prisoners.
* Provide ballot access for minor parties.
* Enfranchise overseas voters.
* Enfranchise overseas voters.
* Make voting a right.
3. Increase Voter Choice with Instant Runoff Voting
* Use to elect single-winner races.
3. Increase Voter Choice with Instant Runoff Voting
* Use to elect single-winner races.
* Use to eliminate second round races.
4. Scrap Winner-Take-All Elections
4. Scrap Winner-Take-All Elections
* Use proportional representation for electing legislatures.
5. Direct Election of the President
* Pass a constitutional amendment for national direct elections.
* Take intermediate steps toward a national direct election.
6. Overhaul the U.S. Senate
* Abolish or modify the filibuster, Senate holds, etc.
5. Direct Election of the President
* Pass a constitutional amendment for national direct elections.
* Take intermediate steps toward a national direct election.
6. Overhaul the U.S. Senate
* Abolish or modify the filibuster, Senate holds, etc.
* Make Senate adhere more closely to the 'one person, one vote' idea.
* Reduce the power of the Senate to confirm and give it to the House.
7. Reclaim the Airwaves * Stop media consolidation.
* Subsidize daily newspapers and magazines.
* Restore Fairness Doctrine.
* Restore Fairness Doctrine.
* Return the airwaves to the public.
* Establish more robust public broadcasting sector.
* Establish more robust public broadcasting sector.
* Protect and expand community broadband.
8. Minimize Money’s Role
* Support public financing of campaigns.
* Support public financing of campaigns.
* Demand free media time for candidates on radio/TV.
* Set appropriate donation/spending limits.
* Set appropriate donation/spending limits.
* Include minor party and independent candidates.
9. Reform the Supreme Court
* Set judicial term limits of 15 to 18 years.
9. Reform the Supreme Court
* Set judicial term limits of 15 to 18 years.
* Establish mandatory retirement age of 70 to 75.
* Set higher confirmation thresholds of 60% or 2/3rd. * Televise hearings of cases for Supreme Court.
* Multiple appointing authorities besides president.
* Confirmation powers from Senate to House.
10. Restore Faith in Government
* Confirmation powers from Senate to House.
* Foster awareness of government’s accomplishments.
My Additional Suggestions:
11. Independent redistricting commissions
12. Lobby and Ethics rules
13. Disclosure and Transparency of Campaign Contributions
B. THE POLITICAL FIX: CHANGING THE GAME OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, FROM THE GRASSROOTS TO THE WHITE HOUSE by Douglas E. Schoen (2010)
1. End Gerrymandering permanently!
2. Ban all PAC contributions to congressional candidates!
3. Create a sensible and optional system of public financing for congressional candidates.
4. Free airtime for congressional candidates to dramatically lower the cost of campaigning and raise the level of discourse.
5. Bring real-time transparency to the system.
6. Raise the cap on individual contributions to congressional candidates.
C. NATION ON THE TAKE: HOW BIG MONEY CORRUPTS OUR DEMOCRACY AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT by Wendell Potter and Nick Penniman (2016)
1. Everyone participates.
2. Everyone knows.
3. Everyone plays by the same common sense rules.
4. Everyone is held accountable.
