We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can't have both!
- Justice Louis Brandeis
Economic inequality leads to political inequality (and vice versa) and results in a corrupt political system that does not solve important problem - like climate change, racial injustice, rising poverty, and widening of inequality - to name a few! We must work with, support, and publicize groups that are working on repairing our broken economic and political systems.
My short list of groups working on repairing our political system includes the following nine groups especially the first three:
* Brennan Center for Justice - HERE
* Common Cause - HERE!
* FairVote - HERE!
* Democracy 21 - HERE!
* Democracy Initiative - HERE!
* Demos - HERE!
* Every Voice (was Public Campaign) - HERE!
* Public Citizen - HERE!
* Reclaim the American Dream - HERE!
* Represent Us - HERE! (sign on to Anti-Corruption Act)
Here is a longer list of websites for groups that are working on repairing our dysfunctional democracy!
* ALEC Exposed - HERE!
* Alliance for Justice - HERE!
* Alliance for Democracy - HERE!
* Brennan Center for Justice - HERE!
* Campaign Legal Center - HERE!
* Center for Collaborative Democracy - HERE!
* Center for Media and Democracy - HERE!
* Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) - HERE!
* Center for Public Integrity - HERE!
* Common Cause - HERE!
* Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund - HERE!
* Democracy 21 - HERE!
* Democracy Matters - HERE!
* Democracy Rising PA - HERE!
* Demos - HERE!
* Every Voice (was Public Campaign) - HERE!
* FairVote - HERE!
* Fix Democracy First - HERE!
* Government is Good - HERE!
* Issue One - HERE!
* Institute for Policy Studies - HERE!
* League of Women Voters - HERE!
* Mayday - HERE!
* Move to Amend - HERE! (sign on against Citizens United)
* People for the American Way - HERE!
* Popular Resistance - HERE!
* Public Citizen - HERE!
* Reclaim the American Dream - HERE!
* Reclaim Democracy - HERE!
* Represent Us - HERE! (sign on to Anti-Corruption Act)
* Rootstrikers - HERE!
* State Integrity Investigations - HERE!
* U.S.PIRG - HERE!
Also, there are many organizations working on creating more economic equality in America. Here is a list and websites of some:
** Inequality .org is connecting the dots on a growing divide. Organization page for groups working on this issue.
** Too Much (HERE) is dedicated to the idea that our world would be more caring, prosperous, and democratic if we narrowed the vast gap that divides our wealthy from everyone else.
** United for a Fair Economy (HERE) raises awareness that concentrated wealth and power undermine the economy, corrupt democracy, deepen the racial divide, and tear communities apart.
* AFL-CIO Executive PayWatch has statistics about the CEO vs worker growing divide - Click HERE!
* Americans for Tax Fairness (2012) (HERE) is a diverse campaign of national, state, and local organizations united in support of a tax system that works for all.
* Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (1981) (Click HERE) to help shape public debates over proposed budget and tax policies and to help ensure that policymakers consider the needs of low-income families and individuals in these debates.
* Citizens For Tax Justice's mission is to give ordinary people a greater voice in the development of tax laws and against the armies of special interest lobbyists for corporations and the wealthy.
* Economic Policy Institute (HERE) works to produce research and ideas for shared prosperity.
* Everyday Democracy helps communities develop their own ability to solve problems by exploring ways for all kinds of people to think, talk and work together to create change.
* Free Speech for People is a national non-partisan campaign working to restore democracy to the people and to return corporations to their place as economic rather than political entities.
* Greenlining Institute's mission is to empower communities of color and other disadvantaged groups through multi-ethnic economic and leadership development, civil rights, and anti-redlining activities.
* National Priorities Project has all the information about how our money is spent.
* Progressive Values discusses our values.
* Open Secrets is a website of the Center for Responsive Politics is the nation's premier research group tracking money in U.S. politics and its effect on elections and public policy.
* Roosevelt Institute is developing progressive ideas and bold leadership in the service of restoring America’s promise of opportunity for all.
* Sunlight Foundation is using the power of the Internet to catalyze greater government openness and transparency.
* The Money Party is a site by Michael Collins which states his opinions about how corporatism works.
* The Other 98% believes the fundamental changes most Americans long for will be impossible until we end the stranglehold that big corporations and their lobbyists have on our democracy.
* Us Against Greed (HERE) has articles and info from Paul Buchheit.
* US Uncut (HERE) is a grassroots movement taking direct action against corporate tax cheats and unnecessary and unfair public service cuts across the U.S.
* Wealth for Common Good is a website of the 1% for an economy that works for everyone. - Click HERE!
* Who Rules America! Click HERE!
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