The "democracy gap" in our politics and elections spells a deep sense of powerlessness by people who drop out, do not vote, or listlessly vote for the 'least worst' every four years and then wonder why after every cycle the 'least worst' gets worse. People need to be "Expert Voters" and "Expert Citizens."
The important work of our democracy does not end on election day, rather it begins anew once the votes are counted.
A civic agenda that starts to end the corporate domination of our country should:
* End ballot access obstructionism
* Open up the Presidential debates
* Public financing of campaigns
* Raise the minimum wage to $10 per hour
* Adopt single payer national health insurance
* Launch a nationwide public works and repair program
* Cut the huge, bloated, wasteful military budget
* Retire nuclear power, expand Renewable Energy to deal with climate change
* Crackdown on corporate crime and corporate welfare
* Adopt a carbon pollution tax and end tax escapes for corporations and the wealthy
* Reverse U.S. policy in the Middle East
* Repeal the Taft-Hartley anti-union law
* Adopt a Wall Street securities speculation tax
* End corporate personhood
* Defend, Restore and Strengthen the Civil Justice System
The world is a pretty dark place right now. Economic inequality off the charts. The climate emergency. Supreme Court corruption in the U.S. and corporate capture worldwide. Democracy in many nations coming apart at the seams. Fascism threatens.
It’s enough to make you wish for some powerful being to come along and save us. But the truth is this: no heroes are coming to save us.
The only path to real and progressive change is when well-informed, well-intentioned people—fed up with being kicked around by the rich, the powerful, and the wicked—get organized and fight for the better world we all deserve. That’s why we created Common Dreams. We cover the issues that corporate media never will and lift up voices others would rather keep silent. But this people-powered media model can only survive with the support of readers like you.
Can you join with us and donate right now to Common Dreams’ Mid-Year Campaign?
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Ralph NaderRalph Nader is a consumer advocate and the author of "The Seventeen Solutions: Bold Ideas for Our American Future" (2012). His new book is, "Wrecking America: How Trump's Lies and Lawbreaking Betray All" (2020, co-authored with Mark Green).
The "democracy gap" in our politics and elections spells a deep sense of powerlessness by people who drop out, do not vote, or listlessly vote for the 'least worst' every four years and then wonder why after every cycle the 'least worst' gets worse. People need to be "Expert Voters" and "Expert Citizens."
The important work of our democracy does not end on election day, rather it begins anew once the votes are counted.
A civic agenda that starts to end the corporate domination of our country should:
* End ballot access obstructionism
* Open up the Presidential debates
* Public financing of campaigns
* Raise the minimum wage to $10 per hour
* Adopt single payer national health insurance
* Launch a nationwide public works and repair program
* Cut the huge, bloated, wasteful military budget
* Retire nuclear power, expand Renewable Energy to deal with climate change
* Crackdown on corporate crime and corporate welfare
* Adopt a carbon pollution tax and end tax escapes for corporations and the wealthy
* Reverse U.S. policy in the Middle East
* Repeal the Taft-Hartley anti-union law
* Adopt a Wall Street securities speculation tax
* End corporate personhood
* Defend, Restore and Strengthen the Civil Justice System