Democracy, Electoral Reforms, Voting Rights (Also see Political Parties and Elections)

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Replace the Electoral College with nationwide Popular Vote

April 23, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

Trump is President even though more people voted for his opponent. This has happened several times in U.S. history because the Electoral College — not the total number of votes cast — decides who will be President. When the U.S. Constitution was framed, many compromises were allowed in order to get the various states to adopt it.  One of the compromises is the Electoral College.  It is very UNDEMOCRATIC because it gives states with small populations much more relative power than populous states.  The Electoral College gives each state the number of votes that is the total of its U.S. […]

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Nonviolent resistance is being used effectively in Algeria.

April 22, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

Mainstream media do a bad job of covering international news.  Hardly anybody in the U.S. knows that a campaign of nonviolent resistance has toppled a long-standing autocrat in Algeria. The article at the link below affirms the effective use of principled nonviolence in bringing down an oppressor. The Algerian people are using proven strategies and methods of nonviolent action. See many positive examples in this article! https://www.juancole.com/2019/04/algerians-nonviolent-resistance.html      

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“Ranked-Choice Voting Strengthens Democracy”

April 19, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

The May 2019 interview on “Glen’s Parallax Perspectives” series (see below for info about watching it through your computer or TCTV channel 22) promotes an increasingly popular reform to satisfy voters and improve our elections. To watch the interview, CLICK THIS LINK. To read a thorough summary of what we said in the interview and see links for more information, CLICK THIS LINK.   HERE IS A VERY BRIEF SUMMARY: Everybody knows that our nation’s electoral system is broken in many ways. The problems prevent us from having an honest, vibrant democracy. But a number of remedies do exist. The […]

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The Sentencing Project performs excellent research and advocacy. Here is their 2018 Annual Report.

April 13, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

For a long number of years I have been impressed by the very high quality of research and advocacy conducted by The Sentencing Project (www.sentencingproject.org).  I have been donating financial support too. In March 2019 The Sentencing Project released its 2018 Annual Report.  Among other things it shows how this great non-profit organization has been intelligently and vigorously been supporting what it calls “a rapidly growing consensus that we must reduce the country’s misguided reliance on mass incarceration.” Read their 2018 Annual Report at this link: https://www.sentencingproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Annual-Report-2018.pdf?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=3c52607d-63f7-47e6-b14c-7e3ac7965612            

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More federal judges overrule Trump’s census question about citizenship

April 12, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

Previously I have posted information on this blog about Trump’s desire to ask a citizenship question on the 2020 census.  Look for those posts on my blog’s “Immigration” and “Trump” categories. This is part of his racist, anti-immigrant efforts that intersects with the Republican Party’s intense corruption to deny fairness to people who live in Democratic localities.  It also intersects with the Trump/Republican hostility to truth and honest scientific inquiry, which the Census should be promoting. In early April 2019 a THIRD federal judge has stopped Trump’s citizenship question on the 2020 census.  See this article:  https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/4/5/1848049/-Third-judge-halts-Trump-Administration-s-citizenship-question-on-the-2020-Census?detail=emailLL In early March […]

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“Understand Venezuela. Protect its Sovereignty.”

April 3, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

Watch my April 2019 TV program on your computer or on TCTV. This month’s episode is:  “Understand Venezuela.  Respect its Sovereignty.” To watch the interview, CLICK THIS LINK. To read a very thorough summary of what we said (and many links for more information sources at the end), CLICK THIS LINK:  2019.04 Summary of Venezuela interview.   The April 2019 interview on “Glen’s Parallax Perspectives” series (see below for info about watching it through your computer or TCTV channel 22) provides fresh information and insights into the crisis in Venezuela. Venezuela is a sovereign nation – a real democracy – […]

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This cartoon shows the real power that people have over politicians

March 31, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

Politicians and the mainstream media want us to think that the politicians are powerful and we are merely “subjects” over whom they rule.  Actually, grassroots “people-power” is much stronger — IF WE CHOOSE TO USE OUR POWER. Thomas Jefferson and our nation’s other founders understood that “WE THE PEOPLE” are in charge.  We create governments and elect politicians to act on our behalf, but if they abuse the power we have loaned (NOT “given”) to them, we can pull our power back again and make better choices. A smart political cartoon makes a very clear point.  CLICK THIS LINK:  Cartoon […]

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The media keep failing to hold Trump accountable. Sign this petition.

March 29, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

During 2015-2016 mainstream news media gave Trump billions of dollars of free publicity.  They treated his campaign as entertainment and utterly failed to hold him accountable. Except for some fact-checking, they still let Trump dictate what issues they will cover, and his statements always are in the lead paragraphs. Now that the Mueller Report has been completed, mainstream news media are obediently repeating the deceptive propaganda voiced by Trump’s Attorney General William Barr.  Barr has a LONG HISTORY OF COVERING UP REPUBLICAN CRIMES, going back to the Reagan era.  That’s why Trump appointed him to be A.G. Barr “summarized” more […]

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WA’s U.S. senators Murray and Cantwell were VERY RELUCTANT to support HR 1, the anti-corruption bill.

March 28, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

American voters are VERY ANGRY AT THE PERVASIVE CORRUPTION AND ABUSES that have prevented honest democracy.  Finally in 2019 the Democratic majority in the U.S. House passed H.R. 1, a major pro-democracy reform bill that would: • REDUCE the influence of big money in politics by calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. • STRENGTHEN election integrity and voting rights by improving access to the voting booth, make Election Day a federal holiday, fund more secure elections, end gerrymandering, etc. • REFORM campaign finance and ethics laws that would keep elected officials and others holding office accountable. • […]

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Conservatism is fatally flawed. Now is the time to debunk conservatism.

March 24, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

Decades ago the U.S. had “liberals” who supported FDR’s New Deal and who tended to support labor and civil rights. Our nation also had “conservatives” who accepted the New Deal and who tended toward business interests instead of labor.  They were “conservative,” not cruel. But now the “conservatives” have run off the rails into extreme right-wing cruelty.  Many are blatantly sexist and racist (with Trump campaigning and governing without the “dog whistle” subtlety).  The Republican Party has effectively merged with the Religious Right, and some of those people want to impose right-wing Christianity as the U.S.’s national religion.  Nearly all […]

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How We Got into Our Current Crisis — and How to Get Out

March 16, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

This essay is long (29 pages) but worth reading because it is smart, insightful, and profound. Click either the Word version (the first link) or the .pdf version (the second link). How We Got into Our Current Crisis – And How to Get Out — THOROUGH article How We Got into Our Current Crisis – And How to Get Out — THOROUGH article

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Congress must take smart, strong new actions!

March 7, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

After this link about one of Congress’s major problems, I will provide links to proposals for how to solve the problems: How Congress Became a ‘Cathouse’ of Prostitutes Paying Off Their Pimps: https://www.opednews.com/articles/How-Congress-Became-a-Cat-by-Bernard-Starr-Blagojevich_Bribery-Influence-Peddling_Citizens-United_Citizens-United-Vs-Federal-Elections-Commission-181117-463.html   Public opinion polling keeps showing that the American people have VERY NEGATIVE views of Congress.  We must push Congress to stop its corruption, to become much smarter, to stop being so timid, and to take positive actions that serve the broad public interest (instead of rich donors and big business and the military-industrial complex).   This link goes to what www.Indivisible.org wants the next Congress to […]

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Why the U.S. House must push for VERY BOLD changes, not merely bi-partisan deals

January 25, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

Moderates want House Democrats to settle for bi-partisan deals with the Republican-dominated Senate. If the House Democrats do that, they will be rebuffing the voters who gave them a mandate for VERY BOLD changes. They also will FAIL TO IDENTIFY how progressive Democrats are much better than conservative Republicans. Even if the Senate fails to pass VERY BOLD House legislation, the points will be made, and 2020’s voters will see who is really on their side, vs. who is on the side of the oppressors. https://www.thenation.com/article/democrats-congress-fundamental-reforms/?link_id=7&can_id=1d662460c0abb8939c5044c82927552b&source=email-pledge-update-for-bold-reforms-naacp-protest-yemen-vote-populism-wins-roma&email_referrer=email_468235&email_subject=pledge-update-for-bold-reforms-naacp-protest-yemen-vote-populism-wins-roma

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Read George Lakey’s books and articles about nonviolence and grassroots organizing

January 25, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

Recently I heard George Lakey speak in Olympia, and I bought his latest book.  I’ve known George for decades, heard him speak many times, and took a weekend of nonviolence training from him several decades ago.  He is one of the whole world’s most highly respected organizers and writers about very savvy grassroots organizing. I encourage you to read the articles George Lakey writes about nonviolent grassroots organizing, strategizing, movement-building, social justice, and more.  He writes articles for www.wagingnonviolence.org, which posts many other people’s articles, too. You can subscribe at that link and have new articles sent to you. You […]

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Trump is trying to overthrow Venezuela’s democracy!

January 25, 2019 GlenAnderson 0

Trump is continuing the century-long and bi-partisan attempts of the U.S. government to oppose honest democracy and human rights in Latin America.  Now Trump is trying to overthrow Venezuela’s democracy! Trump has unilaterally declared a coup to overthrow Venezuela’s democracy.  Trump is recognizing the head of Venezuela’s opposition as “interim president.”  Trump’s example means WE – or ANY NATION – could simply ignore Trump and RECOGNIZE NANCY PELOSI AS THE PRESIDENT of the U.S. READ THIS SHORT ARTICLE:  https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/01/23/fears-us-backed-coup-motion-trump-recognizes-venezuela-opposition-lawmaker-interim?cd-origin=rss&utm_term=Fears%20of%20US-Backed%20%27Coup%27%20in%20Motion%20as%20Trump%20Recognizes%20Venezuela%20Opposition%20Lawmaker%20as%20%27Interim%20President%27&utm_campaign=A%20US-Backed%20Coup%20in%20Venezuela%20%7C%20News%20%2526%20Views&utm_content=email&utm_source=Daily%20Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&cm_mmc=Act-On%20Software-_-email-_-A%20US-Backed%20Coup%20in%20Venezuela%20%7C%20News%20%2526%20Views-_-Fears%20of%20US-Backed%20%27Coup%27%20in%20Motion%20as%20Trump%20Recognizes%20Venezuela%20Opposition%20Lawmaker%20as%20%27Interim%20President%27 SIGN THIS PETITION – and phone your U.S. Senate and House members:  https://afgj.salsalabs.org/opposeusregimechangeeffortsinvenezuela/index.html?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=e451c469-44eb-4427-8c6a-2cffd45cd00c   More than 70 scholars join Noam Chomsky […]