General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Democratic majority's first order of business: Restore democracy
The Democratic majoritys first order of business: Restore democracy
By Nancy Pelosi and John Sarbanes
...In the face of a torrent of special-interest dark money, partisan gerrymandering and devious vote-suppression schemes, voters elected a House Democratic majority determined to bring real change to restore our democracy....
First, lets end the dominance of money in politics. For far too long, big-money and corporate special interests have undermined the will of the people and subverted policymaking in Washington enabling soaring health-care costs and prescription drug prices, undermining clean air and clean water for our children, and blocking long-overdue wage increases for hard-working Americans....
Next, lets make sure that when public servants get to Washington, they serve the public. Restoring the publics trust means closing the revolving door between government and private industries, and imposing strong new ethics laws to stop officials from using their public office for personal gain. To do so, we will expand conflict-of-interest laws, ban members of Congress from serving on for-profit boards, revamp the oversight authority of the Office of Government Ethics and prohibit public servants from receiving bonus payments from their former employers to enter government. Well curb the influence of high-powered Washington insiders by closing lobbyist registration loopholes that allow big-money power brokers and foreign actors to operate in the shadows. That way, well-connected special interests wont be able to steer the policy agenda away from the priorities of the American public....
We must renew the Voting Rights Act to protect every citizens access to the ballot box and restore the vital safeguard of pre-clearance requirements for areas with a history of voter suppression. We will promote national automatic voter registration, bolster our critical election infrastructure against foreign attackers, and put an end to partisan gerrymandering once and for all by establishing federal guidelines to outlaw the practice. No American should face hours-long lines, broken voting machines or rules rigged to keep their vote from being counted in our elections.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-democratic-majoritys-first-order-of-business-restore-democracy/2018/11/25/9aeb3dbe-ece2-11e8-96d4-0d23f2aaad09_story.html?utm_term=.5e9cee9b6d49
empedocles
(15,751 posts)Re-writing B. Franklin, 'great theme, if we can keep to it.'
Me.
(35,454 posts)sanity & big D democracy being restored. I wish I could recommend a hundred million times.
mcar
(42,210 posts)Me.
(35,454 posts)MrsCoffee
(5,801 posts)I didn't see this issue addressed on anyone's bold ten point plan.
sheshe2
(83,336 posts)I love our Democrats.
mcar
(42,210 posts)I love them too!
jcmaine72
(1,773 posts)mcar
(42,210 posts)Along with this excellent plan, House Democrats will be conducting real investigations so all will see the corruption. Running with impeachment with no chance of removal will hurt our chances. Passing legislation that will truly help this country will help everyone.
However, we mustn't forget who...or rather, what...is at the source of our democracy degradation problem. If impeachment isn't the ultimate goal of any investigation of Trump then what's the point?
mcar
(42,210 posts)and bring all the abuses into the open. Other members of the administration could be charged with crimes. Democrats will pass legislation in the House that will, as the op-ed states, restore democracy - and dare the Rs in the Senate to not bring the bills to a vote there, demonstrating that they have no care for ethics, morals or even democracy.
2020 is coming.