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Strengthening Democracy

A collection of 25 issues

A Useful Spot to Place Our Attention in 2024

This is part of a short series on how to navigate 2024. There are plenty of ideas to share, you'll know which lands for you. There was no wait to vote at the American Legion. Pretty quiet all morning, the woman at the folding card table told me

What To Do in 2024 Besides Give Money & Vote

The Buddhists talk about suffering as two arrows. The first arrow is what happens to us - we don't get the job, say. The second arrow is the meaning we make of it, how we respond to it - well, that's proof positive I'm

One Easy Policy Resolution for a Better Democracy

The grocery store was cheek to jowl. Lines of people with full carts, passing the time on their phones. I unloaded yogurt and hummus, red grapes, miles of cat food, overpriced cat litter (dogs, they say, have owners; cats have staff). My mind was already home, making lunch. The cashier

How to Call a Politician's Bluff

A great many politicians are in the business of introducing bills. A much smaller number of politicians are in the business of passing them. Last Congress, 17,817 bills were introduced. Congress has two-year sessions that start the January after an election. Each session is called - and they brought

Two Minutes for a Healthier Democracy

A few months ago, I was out for a walk with a buddy of mine who's a State Representative. We were talking shop and I asked him how many phone calls he got from constituents on issues. He represents about 9,000 folks, not exactly small potatoes here