The State of the Union Depends on the State of Our Democracy

Things feel pretty weird right now to Americans.

Since we celebrated the New Year, we have seen President Obama's executive action with rudimentary gun control measures met with widespread backlash from the gun lobby and its political supporters, a state of emergency in California due to a methane leak, and Virginia's GOP launched a pledge that would make it harder for minorities and the poor to vote. One thing we still have not seen, though, is a single Republican presidential candidate acknowledge climate change in the debates despite the historic climate deal in Paris just before the holidays.

The country will hear from President Obama tomorrow night during his the State of the Union address. As for the state of our democracy, we have serious work to do. The good news is that the American people have never been more determined to claim a democracy that represents the people and the issues that matter to us. From issue to issue, people power is winning, and claiming our democracy will be no different.

Today, Bernie Sanders became the first presidential candidate to sign a pledge launched by Greenpeace and more than 20 partners asking all candidates to support a people-powered democracy by protecting voter rights and rejecting campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry. This is the first step in a historic journey to restore power to the people in this country.

To understand the state of our democracy and what's fueling the growing democracy movement today here are three important realities we must face.

Reality 1: Money in Politics

Let's start with out-of-control money in politics and its inflated influence on our government.

Private money, from industries like oil and gas, is manipulating our democracy so egregiously that it is has almost ceased to be a real democracy at all. The passage of Citizens United in 2010 unleashed unlimited spending and corporate influence. Individuals can now donate millions to the candidate of their choice.

We have seen the consequences of this. For instance, not one question about climate change was asked during either the Republican or Democratic presidential debates just days after the world reached a historic climate deal in Paris. Despite her recent comments on fossil fuels and climate change recently, even Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton receives money connected to the fossil fuel industry via industry lobbyists who have bundled contributions to the campaign.

We experience the impacts of excessive corporate influence on our politicians on a daily basis -- from access to clean water and air to healthcare reform to student loans to gun control. The New York Times reported this fall that just 158 families have contributed half of the campaign money on the 2016 campaign trail. Where did all that money come from? Primarily the finance and energy industries, particularly oil and gas.

These contributors are not interested in protecting the environment, advocating for social justice or ending gun violence. They are only interested in protecting their sky-high profits.

The one percent is buying their candidates, while making it harder for the 99 percent to even vote in the first place.

Reality 2: Voting Rights

The right to vote is the foundation of democracy. Sadly, certain lawmakers have taken such major steps backwards in voting rights that it is harder for certain groups to vote in 2016 than in it was in 1965.

This will be the first presidential election year in which 15 states have new voting restrictions. These include photo identification requirements, cuts to early voting, and more registration restrictions including the elimination of same day voting registration. Who does this impact? Minorities, the elderly, the poor and students, primarily.

How did all this happen? The catalyst was the gutting of the Voting Rights Act by the Supreme Court in 2013. The Court voted to reverse parts of a crucial 1965 law that required lawmakers in states with a history of discrimination to receive federal permission before changing voting laws. What followed immediately were laws making it harder for underprivileged communities to vote, including birth certificate requirements and lack of voting booths near public transportation.

Congress's failure to restore voting rights since that decision means that a huge chunk of people in America -- those most impacted by things like climate change and social injustice -- are finding it hard to cast their votes at all.

Reality 3: People Power Is Changing Everything

If there is anything to take from 2015, it's that people-power is winning.

From protecting the Arctic from Shell's offshore drilling plans to the Black Lives Matter movement, people are becoming more active on the issues that they care about. And that is manifesting into real change- albeit sometimes slow given the political realities.

Both Maine and Seattle voters recently made historic stridesin passing initiatives that put more power in the hands of the people. Tallahassee, Florida, voters overwhelmingly supported a sweeping set of ethics and campaign finance laws. There have been major victories in voting rights in 16 states, including Maryland, Delaware and Vermont.

No matter where they currently stand, all of the presidential candidates are getting the message from thousands of supporters and nearly 20 organizations that it is time they support a people-powered democracy by saying "no" to fossil fuel money and supporting people's right to vote.

2016 just became the year we declare a democracy for the people of the 21st century.