10 Steps to Repair American Democracy

by Hill,Steven

• ISBN13: 9781612051925
• ISBN10: 1612051928
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2012-01-30
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Following an economic tsunami of historic proportions, American democracy finds itself plagued by partisan polarization, a rigidly divided Congress, superficial political debate, and political paralysis. Even before the economic crisis, the United States was beleaguered by choiceless elections, out-of-control campaign spending, suspicious voting equipment, partisan election officials, even a partisan U.S. Supreme Court. Americans are growing increasingly frustrated and tuned out, as the middle collapses and the partisans take over. Just in time for the 2012 elections, 10 Steps to Repair American Democracy: A More Perfect Unionaddresses head-on the mine field built into our political system. In a brand new edition, political critic Steven Hill expands on his ten-step program to improve American democracy. He proposes specific reforms to give voters more choices at the ballot box, boost voter turnout, calm the Senate's filibuster gone wild ways, modernize our media institutions, turn off the spigot of corporate donations, and bring the U.S. government back to the mainstream. In the face of mounting cynicism about the American political system, 10 Steps to Repair American Democracyis a refreshing blueprint for how to resurrect our Founders' democratic vision. It will change the way you think about American politics.

Author Biography

Steven Hill is the former Director of the Political Reform Program of the New America Foundation and co-founder of the Center for Voting and Democracy. His articles and commentaries have appeared in dozens of newspapers and magazines, and he lectures widely throughout the U.S. and Europe. He was a leader of the successful efforts to pass instant runoff voting and public financing of campaigns for local elections in San Francisco, Oakland, and other locations.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. ix
Introduction Double Trouble: The Political Collapse That Preceded the Economic Collapse	p. 1
Secure the Vote	p. 9
Expand Voter Participation	p. 25
Increase Voter Choice with Instant Runoff Voting	p. 41
Scrap Winner-Take-All Elections	p. 59
Direct Election of the President	p. 85
Overhaul the US Senate	p. 99
Reclaim the Airwaves	p. 113
Minimize Money's Role	p. 133
Reform the Supreme Court	p. 149
Restore Faith in Government: "Government Is Good for You"	p. 165
Conclusion Renewing the American Republic	p. 179
Notes	p. 193
Acknowledgments	p. 211
Index	p. 215
About the Author	p. 221
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