Democracy Matters

SEATTLE DEMOCRACY ELECTION VOUCHERS WORK!https://readsludge.com/2021/09/27/how-democracy-vouchers-increase-political-engagement/

How Democracy Vouchers Increase Political Engagement A new book explores how democracy vouchers, now in use in their third election cycle in Seattle, are being used by candidates to power their campaigns and are increasing the diversity of the donor base.

GUN SAFETY? NOT LIKELY.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/15/opinion/gun-control-safety-laws.html

Opinion | Why Are We Still Going Great Guns? The subject is guns. The password is safety.

"A recent report by a non-profit think tank reveals 55 of the largest firms in the U.S. paid, combined, less than zero in federal income taxes in 2020."
As my friend often says, it's socialism for the rich, harsh capitalism for the rest of us.
https://www.peoplesworld.org/.../less-than-zero-taxes.../

"A recent report by a non-profit think tank reveals 55 of the largest firms in the U.S. paid, combined, less than zero in federal income taxes in 2020."

As my friend often says, it's socialism for the rich, harsh capitalism for the rest of us.

https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/less-than-zero-taxes-being-paid-by-top-55-u-s-firms/

MARCHING FOR VOTIN RIGHTS 2021

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES PASSES THE "JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT" ACT

House Passes a Voting Rights Bill, but a G.O.P. Blockade Awaits in the Senate Named for the civil rights icon John Lewis, the bill is narrower than the Democrats’ sweeping elections overhaul that has stalled in the Senate, but faces similar obstacles.

DM's Enews is out! http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/210491/8c8ad2e1d0/116700000/6a19a08ec6/

JOIN US TO FIGHT FOR A REAL DEMOCRACY!

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO PASS "JOHN LEWIS ACT" AUGUST 2021

MARCH ON WASHINGTON AUGUST 28!
DEMOCRACY DEPENDS ON YOU!

March On For Washington and Voting Rights (Captioned)

MARCH ON WASHINGTON! AUGUST 28

Senate Republicans just made it clear beyond any doubt that they will not even debate meaningful voting rights legislation, let alone support it.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/republicans-use-filibuster-to-block-debate-on-democrats-e2-80-99-major-voting-rights-bill/ar-AALkgyv

Republicans Use Filibuster To Block Debate On Democrats’ Major Voting Rights Bill Republicans filibustered the For The People Act Tuesday evening, blocking the bill from proceeding to debate on the Senate floor. ...

It's those millionaires again ...telling lies!

The Big Money Behind the Big Lie Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy are being promoted by rich and powerful conservative groups that are determined to win at all costs.

Great article! Pass it in.

How to loosen the hold rich people have on our elections | CNN Dennis Aftergut and Fred Wertheimer write about a New Yorker feature entitled "The Big Money Behind the Big Lie" which talks about two dangerous threats to American democracy today -- election subversion and dark money.

AUGUST 5th WEBINAR - SIGN UP TODAY!

DEMOCRACY MATTERS PUBLISHES RE: WHY WE NEED PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FINANCING IN FOR THE PEOPLE ACT - S1
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/why-democrats-should-not-settle-slimmed-down-for-people-act

Why Democrats Should Not Settle For A Slimmed Down For The People Act This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news...

Terrific article by a Democracy Matters alum and member of DM's Board of Directors, Adam Eichen!

The For the People Act Isn’t Dead Don’t believe the pundits—there’s a growing grassroots movement to save American democracy and pass sweeping voting rights reform.

Great editorial by our allies!

Our civil rights, and Biden's legacy, are on the line | Opinion If President Joe Biden hopes to succeed with the agenda that the American people voted for and desperately need, he must abandon political caution and use all of the tools and power of the presidency to do what's right for Americans.

Americans LOVE "For The People Act."
Check out this poll!

Poll Numbers for H.R. 1 / S. 1 / For the People Act Poll Numbers for H.R. 1 / S. 1 / For the People Act

CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES ATTACK VOTING RIGHTS.

Opinion | The Supreme Court Abandons Voting Rights The Roberts court continues its attack against the Voting Rights Act.

Today's Horrible Supreme Court Decision!

Supreme Court Upholds Arizona Voting Restrictions The decision, a test of what remains of the Voting Rights Act, suggests that challenges to many new measures making it harder to vote may not be successful.

BIDEN'S PROCLAMATION ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 26TH AMENDMENT,
GIVING 18 YEAR-OLDS THE RIGHT TO VOTE!

Our Constitution recognizes that, as a Nation, we are constantly learning. Our Founders built that recognition into its original design, providing a mechanism to amend our Constitution as our Nation evolved. On July 1, 1971, our Nation ratified the 26th Amendment to the Constitution, lowering the voting age to 18. At the time, 18-, 19-, and 20-year-old Americans were fulfilling their civic duties: paying taxes, serving in our Armed Forces, acting as first responders, laboring in fields, factories, and service jobs across the country, and pursuing higher education. They were participating in our democracy and all of the responsibilities of citizenship in all ways except for one: they could not vote. A broad coalition, following in the footsteps of the suffragettes of the early 20th century and the civil rights activists of the 1960s, advocated, educated, and prevailed in persuading our Nation that those younger Americans were entitled to the right to vote. We also made a national commitment that the right to vote would never be denied or abridged for any adult voter based on their age.

My first race for the Senate was one of the first elections in which 18-year-olds could vote, and the energy and passion of Delaware's young people helped propel me to an unlikely victory.

Fifty years later, younger voters remain essential to our civic infrastructure. They are not only voting in our elections -- including at record rates in 2020 -- but winning them. Younger Americans are lending their talent and vision to school boards, city councils, and county commissions; teenagers are serving as State legislators and mayors, and we are the better for it.

Younger voters are not waiting to inherit the future; they are building the future themselves. Young Americans have been on the front lines in the fight to defend the right to vote and expand access to the ballot box for all eligible voters. Their civic engagement extends beyond voting -- with young Americans leading the calls for racial justice, climate action, gun violence prevention, and immigration reform among many other issues.

Despite the progress we have made, there remain persistent gaps in turnout between younger voters and their older counterparts. There is still more that we can and must do to deliver on the promise of the 26th Amendment. My Administration has made public service and civic education a priority, engaging younger Americans in our shared struggle for continual progress. I have directed Federal agencies to consider ways to make it easier to vote and to learn about voting, and to focus on the various ways that the Federal Government engages younger Americans, online and off. Today's youth are more diverse than past generations -- and laws aimed at suppressing voter turnout in Black and Brown communities also impact young voters. My Administration supports the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to protect the fundamental right to vote and make our democracy more equitable and accessible for all Americans.

Today, we honor the bipartisan expansion of voter enfranchisement. Let us continue our work to make the 26th Constitutional Amendment ever more meaningful in the months and years ahead.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 1, 2021, as the 50th Anniversary of the 26th Amendment. I call upon all Americans to participate in ceremonies and activities that honor the 26th formal modification of our national Charter, that recognize the contributions made by voters enfranchised by its terms, and that work toward full participation of all who are eligible to vote.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.


JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

STEPHEN COLBERT FOLLOWING SENATE REPUBLICANS (AND McCONNELL) BLOCKING THE "FOR THE PEOPLE ACT"

“Yes, the Senate’s founding purpose: to do nothing. It’s right there in Article I: ‘All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate, where one wizened, ancient turtle man, with no regard for anything but the self-preservation of his own power, shall, with his pockets stuffed with greasy bags full of money, strangle the hope of all who dare to dream of true democracy, and recognize April as National Jazz Month.’”— STEPHEN COLBERT, on Senator Mitch McConnell’s saying the Senate was fulfilling its “founding purpose”

REPUBLICAN FILIBUSTER BLOCKS "FOR THE PEOPLE ACT"
“There is a rot — a rot at the center of the modern Republican Party,” said Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader. “There is no principle behind these laws: not fraud, not election integrity, not security, not better election administration. The only principle is blatant partisan electoral advantage.”

Live Updates: Republicans Use Filibuster to Block Voting Rights Bill The move in the Senate dealt a blow to Democrats’ efforts to counter a wave of ballot restrictions in Republican-led states.

"You cannot count yourself as a champion of democracy if you only appear in the fall every two or four years. When we treat our democracy as a seasonal activity, we risk letting the rules be controlled by partisans who care more about winning than constitutional rights. We can work together to protect and strengthen our democracy, but only if we treat it as what it is: foundational, year-round work."

Our Democracy requires year-round work | Opinion You cannot count yourself as a champion of democracy if you only appear in the fall every two or four years.

"The I.R.S. records show that the wealthiest can — perfectly legally — pay income taxes that are only a tiny fraction of the hundreds of millions, if not billions, their fortunes grow each year."

READ ON...

Opinion | Fat Cats on a Hot Tin Roof Pay up, Monopoly Men; freeloading isn't cool.

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