Today’s Good News: Claim Democracy 4: A Democracy Program
In the opening session of Claim Democracy, Josh Silver of Free Press – a former campaign finance reform maven – called for more focus. He worried that we’re getting “too far into the weeds” with a lot of complex issues, and that funders don’t get what this work is about. Laudably, he didn’t simply call for “messaging”as so many on the left do, but warned that we have to make political choices. We have to decide which issues will be pushed out front and which will fall to the back. With that in mind, I propose a 3-point program.
Another panelist, Jonah Goldman, noted that awareness is growing on the Hill among both staff and members, and some members deem the issue important enough to want to put their own stamp on it. I think the Hill is changing because the public demands it. People are really fed up, and while some fall victim to apathy, I think more and more are moved to action and ready for radical solutions. So here’s my quick prescription for choices and messaging, with some rationale thrown in.
Recipe for Better Government:
I. Get better candidates and officeholders.
II. Make sure everyone has the right to vote.
III. Make sure voters can elect the candidates they really want.
PROBLEM I: CANDIDATES AND OFFICEHOLDERS SUCK. People can’t run for office without big money from corporations and party hacks. When they get into office, they can’t support the policies they or their constituents want, only the ones that benefit their owners.
SOLUTION: PUBLIC FINANCING. It’s been proven to bring more diverse candidates, lessen the power of incumbency and party leadership, AND make policy more responsive to public desires. Government is hemorrhaging money to special interests through tax breaks, no-bid contracts, and earmarks. Regulations and legislation are made without any regard for the public interest. The rest of the developed world has it. We can’t afford not to do it.
PROBLEM 2: PEOPLE CAN’T VOTE. Our system throws up a myriad of roadblocks including felon disenfranchisement, byzantine registration procedures, dysfunctional voting machines, and more.
SOLUTION: VOTING RIGHTS EXPANSION AND ENFORCEMENT. Every citizen over 18 has a right to vote. Period. Whether they’re in prison, ex-offenders, people who moved since the last election, have dark skin or used an electronic voting machine. We need local and federal legislation, strong enforcement, and citizen vigilance to protect our rights.
PROBLEM 3: VOTERS DON’T HAVE A REAL CHOICE. From partisan redistricting to winner-take-all single member districts to information scarcity, the system conspires against voters and protects incumbents from competition. Huge numbers of people go completely unrepresented because they were in the 49% rather than the 51% that elected a winner. People feel they have to vote for the “lesser of 2 evils” or not at all.
SOLUTION: RANKED CHOICE VOTING AND MEDIA REFORM. Ranked choice voting ensures that single members have majority support (IRV/STV), and that multi-member districts are apportioned according to party strength (PR, Cumulative Voting), giving non-majority and “third” parties a seat at the table. Media reform ensures that more and better information about candidates and elections gets out to the public.
It seems to me that whatever sub-issue or issues a group would be working on, everyone could agree that we need change in these three areas. There could be joint funding plans, and coalition work around key state and local battles, media and messaging, and omnibus federal legislation.
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