Americans today face twin threats to the integrity of our elections. The threats are multifaceted and formidable, involving all branches of government at the local, state and federal level – from legislative bodies, to governorships, to courthouses. The aims are clear:
- Manipulate the campaign finance system to get “the right people” elected.
- Manipulate the balloting process to make it harder for “the wrong people” to vote.
These measures must be confronted. But we also need long-term proactive and pro-democracy strategies of our own.
The “Money Out, Voters In” campaign embodies this long-term vision premised on the concept of political equality, of one person = one vote.
We believe in a democratic system where all Americans have equal access to the voting booth and where all Americans, regardless of wealth, can express their views to one another and their government on a level playing field.
Through A Guide to Democratic Reform, a new toolkit released today by People For the American Way, we provide the structural framework for enacting this vision. We do not have all the answers, nor could we. We must embrace an evolution of ideas, tactics, and legislative language to achieve our goals. Yet, as the local, state, and federal initiatives cited herein show, much of that work is already well-underway.
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