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Pass initiatives to reform voting laws state by state, for instance. Also initiatives on how Congressional districts are drawn. We also need to focus on getting Democrats elected to key state offices, such as Secretary of State, to prevent the obstructionist tactics we saw Kenneth Blackwell pull in Ohio.
Residents of states where such antics have happened need to exercise their rights to recall or impeach public officials who don't do their duties, I believe.
We need to reform our party within, putting progressives onto Democratic committees to select candidates who aren't corporate sell-outs.
We need to educate the populace in every way possible--a task the mainstream media has made extremely difficult. But not impossible. If I ran the Democratic Party, I'd order direct mail pieces sent to every household in America. This is only a matter of raising enough money--no one can censor the U.S. mail--at least not yet.
There are hopeful signs that some conservatives and moderate Republicans are seeing the light. Last week a former moral majority leader spoke out to warn of the dangers posed by the Religious Right. A pastor in Austin, Texas, preached a sermon on the danger of fascism in America. All of us who belong to churches, synagogues, etc should urge our religious leaders to speak out from the pulpit and educate their congregations on the very un-Christian, anti-religious actions of this administration. The far right has shown us the power of stirring the righteous passions of the religious populace.
I've also wondered whether cities and counties are duty-bound to use equipment mandated by the state, or could they opt out of voting machines? It would be an interesting point for someone to research.
So there is hope, even amid the darkness.
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