LIFE AFTER THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
You have survived the election process. Regardless of who gets elected, progressives have their work cut out for them.
Big Money still has too much power in US politics. The work to bring about clean, transparent government needs to continue. We need to protect each person’s equal voice.
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign headquartered in Madison is working for full disclosure of the donors who fund phony issue ad groups. Montana already has a law that requires such disclosure. Republicans and Democrats in Montana joined together to create the Bipartisan Montana Disclosure Act which will end the flood of “dark money” (money of nonprofit groups that do not name their donors). MDA passed in 2015 declaring that Montana people should decide their elections, not shadowy dark money groups.
Another issue is drawing the legislative districts. 2020 is the next year for re-districting, according to the 2020 census. Districts should be equal in population. They should honor the one-person one-vote concept.
Iowa already has nonpartisan legislative districts. For $2000 Iowa established the guide for non-partisan districts, which you can find online. On the other hand, Wisconsin in 2010 spent millions of dollars drawing the district maps in secret, to the advantage of the controlling political party.
Arizona’s Constitution calls for independent redistricting of congressional and state legislative districts. This was done by a committee of 2 Republicans, 2 Democrats and one independent. Arizona’s elections are more competitive now since the districts are more fair and equal.
“Small donor empowerment” is the plan to finance political campaigns. The government would multiply your gift to your favorite candidate by a factor of five or six, as they do in New York City. This would put democracy back in the hands of the people.
Move-to-Amend continues throughout the country. It declares that corporations aren’t persons and money isn’t speech. Already in Wisconsin, 78 communities have voted by lopsided margins, in favor of the amendment to the US Constitution. Nineteen more Wisconsin communities will vote on this on November 8. See what you can do to build this momentum in your community.