10 results for author: Matt Rothschild

MOURNING RGB

  Here at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, we remain in mourning at the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.   Among the many causes she championed in her career dedicated to equality and justice, two are right at the heart of our work here.   The first is reducing the influence of money in our politics. She told The New Republic back in 2014 that the worst decision of the Roberts Court was Citizens United. “The notion that we have all the democracy that money can buy strays so far from what our democracy is supposed to be,” she said.   And the second cause is ending gerrymandering.   In ...

GET BIG MONEY OUT OF POLITICS

  On May 19, the Lafayette County Board unanimously approved a resolution saying that it is in favor of amending the U.S. Constitution to overturn Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United that have given corporations an enormous sway over our political life.   In doing so, Lafayette County became the 164th community in Wisconsin to approve such a sentiment.   The Lafayette County Board resolution concluded:   “BE IT RESOLVED, that ‘We the People’ of the County of LaFayette, State of Wisconsin, seek to prevent and reduce the expansion of corporate personhood rights under the First amendment of the U.S. ...

SAY NO TO ARTICLE V

  Republican state legislators are proposing a reckless way to try to amend the U.S. Constitution—and for reckless purposes. The proposal for a convention of the states is often called an Article V proposal, after the article in the Constitution that establishes two ways for amending the constitution. One is the usual way, where two-thirds of the House and two-thirds of the Senate approve the amendment and then three-quarters of the states ratify it. The other way is for two-thirds of the states to call for a constitutional convention and then have three-quarters of the states approve what the convention proposes. It is this latter ...

GET RID OF GERRYMANDERING

  I’m happy to report that the movement to ban gerrymandering keeps gaining speed. One illustration of that fact is the executive order that Gov. Tony Evers signed on January 27 to create an independent, nonpartisan commission to draw what he calls “the people’s map.” Along with other advocates and activists, I was at the press conference in his office when he signed the order. He deserves our praise for that. Another illustration is the fact that legislation to give Wisconsin the Iowa Model of redistricting now has five Republican co-sponsors, which is four more than ever before. The five Republicans, who also deserve our ...

TEN TALKING POINTS TO END GERRYMANDERING IN WISCONSIN

We’re (Wisconsin Democracy Campaign) playing a key role in the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition, including writing up a handy toolkit for activists. Here’s an excerpt:   The Founders of our country fought the War of Independence over fair representation. Gerrymandering deprives Wisconsinites of fair representation.   The health of our democracy depends on the integrity and fairness of our election system. The more rigged the system is, the more cynical and apathetic the citizenry will become.   Wisconsinites believe in fair play. Wisconsinites, across the political spectrum, want to ban gerrymandering. A Marquette ...

TEN TALKING POINTS TO END GERRYMANDERING IN WISCONSIN

The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign is playing a key role in the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition, including writing up a handy toolkit for activists. Here’s an excerpt:   The Founders of our country fought the War of Independence over fair representation. Gerrymandering deprives Wisconsinites of fair representation.   The health of our democracy depends on the integrity and fairness of our election system. The more rigged the system is, the more cynical and apathetic the citizenry will become.   Wisconsinites believe in fair play. Wisconsinites, across the political spectrum, want to ban gerrymandering. A Marquette Law ...

GIVE US THE CURE

Our mission statement, at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, is quite simple. It goes like this: “We are dedicated to clean and open government and a full democracy, where everyone has an equal voice.”   Today, everyone doesn’t have an equal voice when the campaigns are the playgrounds of the corporations, the superPACs and the super-rich.   Today, everyone doesn’t have an equal voice when their voting districts are rigged by gerrymandering or when they’re smothered by voter suppression.   Today, everyone doesn’t have equal voice when there’s systemic institutional racism.   Today, everyone ...

TEN HEALTHY SIGNS THAT DEMOCRACY WILL PREVAIL OVER TRUMP

The Women’s Marches The Women’s March on Washington and in other cities on January 21 constituted a powerful shot across Trump’s bow. The Airport Protests The protests that erupted on January 28 at JFK, O’Hare, and other airports to defend refugees showed that Trump can’t get away with scapegoating. The Judges’ Orders One federal judge after another has ruled against Trump’s Muslim bans. The Marches for Science and the Earth Trump has galvanized scientists and environmentalists: “There is No Planet B.” The Press Gets a Spine After Trump declared war on the press and on truth itself, some members of the ...

GET MONEY OUT OF POLITICS

In the last five months, seven Door County communities have shown their support for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would get money out of politics and give citizens their voices back in our elections. The city of Sturgeon Bay, the towns of Baileys Harbor, Egg Harbor, Forestville and Liberty Grove along with the villages of Egg Harbor and Ephraim, all have unanimously approved resolutions backing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that proclaims that corporations are not persons and money is not speech. They are part of a tremendous grassroots movement in Wisconsin where 112 communities have voted, by overwhelming margins and with ...

12 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO RESIST TRUMP AND DEFEND DEMOCRACY

  Protest nonviolently. The women’s marches and the spontaneous rallies at the airports were great examples. Be creative and visual: Greenpeace’s “resist” sign behind the White House is a good example. Join organizations that are under assault. Planned Parenthood. Council on American-Islamic Relations. Standing Rock protesters. Labor unions. Environmental groups. Immigrant rights groups. Join organizations that are strategizing on how to resist. ACLU, Voces de la Frontera, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, interfaith groups, and others. Sign petitions against hate and pledge solidarity and nonviolent resistance. Sign a petition ...