I actually set out to write this before I realized it was July 4th, and now I’m thrilled at the fortuitous timing... because I want to write about a SOLUTION. I want to write about what can make our country (and therefore the world) a better place. There are so many issues that come through facebook posts and conversation and the 24 hour news cycle, so many problems, but almost none of them can be addressed without first addressing the problem of money in politics. How divinely appropriate that it happens to be July 4th when I decide to sit down and point out that there are, recently and finally, some very real solutions to improving this already great nation, revitalizing our core values, and clearing the way to make the world a better place. 1) There is a proposal going around that would accomplish a constitutional bi-pass of the electoral collage in favor of the popular vote that requires no constitutional amendment. This VERY real and doable proposal is explained simply and fully in a podcast I’ve recently discovered called “The Good Fight” (as a side note, it starts off with a short segment called “”Wins and losses,” a vehicle for reviewing the weeks news, which I wish it didn’t because it could alienate some listeners from the right of the political spectrum when this issue is really beyond partisanship. I wish it weren’t framed in terms of a fight, but I suppose that has its merits too, but anyway…) as well as a Facebook/youTube video meme that’s been making the rounds. EVERY AMERICAN should review this proposal and call their state congress representatives to voice their opinion about adopting it. Podcast here: thegoodfight.fm/episodes/23-the-plot-to-bring-democracy-to-america 2) I’ve been giving what I can to political campaigns lately. $3 here, $5 there, mostly to fight (and this time I agree with the word) the Koch brothers in highly contentious and strategically important districts. There are too many to list but another “The Good Fight” episode brought to my attention mayday.us , a “People’s SuperPAC.” Again, the full story is to be found in the podcast but to sum up: THERE’S ONE DAY LEFT IN THEIR DRIVE TO TAKE A STEP TOWARDS REMOVING CORRUPTION FROM THE POLITICAL PROCESS and every American should donate if they can. Podcast here: https://1000bulbs/product/86382/LED-XPAR30S271513T1D.html I pledged $10 in this case and created a “personal pledge page for friends to donate here:” https://my.mayday.us/t/ba40-Christopher-Darrow 3) This one, on the face of it, may be less immediately realistic, but ONLY because most of you won’t do this, but, I think the biggest single change we could make to alleviate the issue of big money in politics would be to limit campaign durations. Do not allow campaigns to begin 2 years before the election! 3 or 4 months, tops! So, EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN, no mater “what side of the fence” he or she is on, SHOULD CALL THEIR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS and demand time limits for political campaigns. There is huge power that stands in opposition to such reform, and it does so for a reason. Our votes count. Our calls count possibly more. Our hand written letters count even more then that. This system works to the extent that the populous engages the system… when they do not, they leave room in the ecosystem for the sharks. So make a call. Often. Write and mail a physical letter, at least sometimes, about the issues that matter to you. They know very well that each letter represents 20 calls and 1000 emails and 10,000 on-line petition signatures. (I’m making those numbers up from a rough memory of reading it, but those statistics are our there and every elected official knows them and pays attention to them.) At the very least, contact them about campaign finance reform. (Put them on speed dial.) Because thats what will give our country back to we, the people, and make true change possible, including sustainability issues, for which the clock IS running out. Happy Fourth of July. John Stewart for President. ---Christopher Darrow
Posted on: Fri, 04 Jul 2014 11:42:25 +0000