Jan 24, 2022·edited Jan 24, 2022Liked by Robert Reich
Prof. Reich, Clearly I will do all I can to help promote the promising actions you’ve listed. Nonetheless, seeing that you concluded today’s newsletter with a request for other ideas, based on my on-line conversations with a fellow subscriber, I would add to your list actions we can take to defend democracy at the state and local levels.
For example, we’ll need poll workers and other election officials—county clerks and election judges—who can help people to ensure that their votes are counted. We’ll also have to out-organize Republicans, who ruthlessly are organizing to fill state and local positions with their own people—people who don’t believe in free and fair elections. Perhaps some of us will run for office such as Secretary of State or maybe volunteer on campaigns, be they local, state or federal. After all, last Wednesday, we were only 2 votes shy of the 50 Senators we needed to pass federal voter protection legislation. Though I haven’t given up on getting some federal voter safeguards passed, I, nonetheless, think we need to get started mobilizing for democracy at the state and local levels.
Somewhat as an aside, I would be remiss were I not to repost my deep disappointment that President Biden, last Wednesday, did not call out Manchin’s and Sinema’s mere support for voting rights as hollow and performative, absent their resolve to do their part to figure out how the filibuster could be modified to pass the combined voter protection bill under regular order, even if it meant taking a long time to get an up or down majority vote.
Broadly speaking, excluding the far right, I believe Americans overall would galvanize around a much tougher, much stronger Biden. Nationwide, the country needs an Educator-in-Chief to educate people about what they’re losing every time Biden’s agenda is stalled.
The idea that I like most is for President BIden to declare the General Election day to be a federal holiday, etc.. Would it really be so simple? Why would he not do that?
The suggestions in the great article will give all of us a roadmap to action. Another question I often hear is “Where do I Volunteer?”
Below is a list of some great organizations that could get you started. I firmly believe that if everyone gets involved we can turn the tide away from those who are working day and night to subvert democracy.
I particularly like the notion of calling for the DOJ's more strenuous involvement in the current debacle, with regard to points 2 and 9 in this morning's essay. The Q-publicans want law & order, I say >give< it the hell to them! It seems the FEC should be brought to bear in that effort in some relevant way, as well. I also like points 5 & 6. because I agree that Biden should start taking a more muscular stand on the issue by exercising every bit of authority he has to help rectify the problem - not in appearance, but in deed.
Considering how events have played out, my gut reaction is that attempting to trifle with the 1887 Electoral Count Act is a non-starter that would waste time better spent on other pressing issues. For example, it's beginning to >appear< we're standing at the brink of WWIII! Face it, if they can't even change the filibuster, which I'm beginning to be persuaded is an unconstitutional veto power originally devised in support of slavery, then Manchin and Sinema get the opportunity to express their disingenuous support for voting rights knowing they'll never have to face the eventuality of >ever< being required to actually vote on the issue - which I'm already convinced they'd find some half-assed excuse to vote against, should that eventuality ever be allowed to arise.
If there is anything in the "voting rights" bill that actually "saves democracy," the Dems need to do a better job of specifically explaining how that works. The average American thinks everyone already has a legal right to vote and that this bill is just about eliminating voter ID, authorizing "vote harvesting" by activists, and federalizing local elections.
Other ideas? Yes! Blue state folks can contribute to our own to ensure we maintain our slim majorities. We can also contribute both time and money to critical campaigns across the country. If we could beat Kevin McCarthy in his re-election effort we could change history. If we can keep two Democratic senators in Georgia we are half way to a majority. If we can help Stacey Abrams win in Georgia voting rights there would be greatly enhanced. If we can boost the candidacy of Katie Hobbs in Arizona she may make my birth state a blue state again after 100 years on the right. Katie Porter in the California 47th District is coming up for election; let's help her too!
Sue the state legislatures and other vote suppressors for denial of civil rights. And BTW, is it possible to sue one’s own so-called representative for failing to represent his/her constituents? Mine is a seditionist Republican who won by 300 votes. He needs to go.
Address the voting machine issue that the Republicans have been complaining about with legislation to make vote counting completely transparent to the public: image all of the ballots, post images of the ballots on the website of the Secretary of State so that anybody can download and count them, and then save these images as public records for two years. Make the official vote counting software open source. Publicly observable ballot counting is by far the most important step we can take to preserve democracy but it is missing from your list. Ballots should never be counted in secret. Right now, publicly observable ballot counting may have bipartisan support.
It is very obvious that Biden needs to be on board for any of the measures you suggest to happen. He hasn’t been. I will also caution you that a partisan appeal like you are making where the Dems are the good guys and Repubs are the bad guys gets shafted both by Biden inaction and Democrats themselves.
This contradiction can’t be papered over. You can’t expect workers who have been shafted by Democrats on the $15hr minimum wage to work to get Democrats elected who don’t support their economic demands by invoking the end of democracy.
Fan Dancer, you are absolutely right! Kinzinger and Cheney voted with the Republicans against voting rights! Unbelievable. Imagine if they had not supported that?!
Prof. Reich, Clearly I will do all I can to help promote the promising actions you’ve listed. Nonetheless, seeing that you concluded today’s newsletter with a request for other ideas, based on my on-line conversations with a fellow subscriber, I would add to your list actions we can take to defend democracy at the state and local levels.
For example, we’ll need poll workers and other election officials—county clerks and election judges—who can help people to ensure that their votes are counted. We’ll also have to out-organize Republicans, who ruthlessly are organizing to fill state and local positions with their own people—people who don’t believe in free and fair elections. Perhaps some of us will run for office such as Secretary of State or maybe volunteer on campaigns, be they local, state or federal. After all, last Wednesday, we were only 2 votes shy of the 50 Senators we needed to pass federal voter protection legislation. Though I haven’t given up on getting some federal voter safeguards passed, I, nonetheless, think we need to get started mobilizing for democracy at the state and local levels.
Somewhat as an aside, I would be remiss were I not to repost my deep disappointment that President Biden, last Wednesday, did not call out Manchin’s and Sinema’s mere support for voting rights as hollow and performative, absent their resolve to do their part to figure out how the filibuster could be modified to pass the combined voter protection bill under regular order, even if it meant taking a long time to get an up or down majority vote.
Broadly speaking, excluding the far right, I believe Americans overall would galvanize around a much tougher, much stronger Biden. Nationwide, the country needs an Educator-in-Chief to educate people about what they’re losing every time Biden’s agenda is stalled.
The idea that I like most is for President BIden to declare the General Election day to be a federal holiday, etc.. Would it really be so simple? Why would he not do that?
Great list! I will promote your list this evening in my newsletter. Thanks for being so organized and encouraging!
You should speak directly to Biden. You have the gravitas that we don't have.....
The suggestions in the great article will give all of us a roadmap to action. Another question I often hear is “Where do I Volunteer?”
Below is a list of some great organizations that could get you started. I firmly believe that if everyone gets involved we can turn the tide away from those who are working day and night to subvert democracy.
Brennan Center for Justice
New York, New York 10013
brennancenter.org
Common Cause
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 833-1200
commoncause.org
Demos
New York, NY 10001
(212) 633-1405
demos.org
Fair Fight Action
Atlanta, GA 30307
https://fairfight.com
FairVote
Takoma Park, Maryland
fairvote.org
League of Women Voters
Washington, DC 200036-4508
(202) 429-1965
lwv.org
MoveOn.org:
Washington, DC
https://front.moveon.org/volunteer-with-moveon/
NAACP
https://naacp.org/find-resources/know-your-rights/democracy-voting
Rock the Vote
Washington, DC 2009
(202) 719-9910
rockthevote.com
Vote.org
Oakland, CA 9461
website: https://www.vote.org
Thanks! I will call my members if Congress and urge them to take the legislative steps that you recommend.
Hi Robert. I hope you don't mind...I sent your list of what to do to my representative to add to the idea bucket. Thank you!
I can’t stress how much I love this article! Perfectly useful! Simple and clear! Thank you sir!
I particularly like the notion of calling for the DOJ's more strenuous involvement in the current debacle, with regard to points 2 and 9 in this morning's essay. The Q-publicans want law & order, I say >give< it the hell to them! It seems the FEC should be brought to bear in that effort in some relevant way, as well. I also like points 5 & 6. because I agree that Biden should start taking a more muscular stand on the issue by exercising every bit of authority he has to help rectify the problem - not in appearance, but in deed.
Considering how events have played out, my gut reaction is that attempting to trifle with the 1887 Electoral Count Act is a non-starter that would waste time better spent on other pressing issues. For example, it's beginning to >appear< we're standing at the brink of WWIII! Face it, if they can't even change the filibuster, which I'm beginning to be persuaded is an unconstitutional veto power originally devised in support of slavery, then Manchin and Sinema get the opportunity to express their disingenuous support for voting rights knowing they'll never have to face the eventuality of >ever< being required to actually vote on the issue - which I'm already convinced they'd find some half-assed excuse to vote against, should that eventuality ever be allowed to arise.
If there is anything in the "voting rights" bill that actually "saves democracy," the Dems need to do a better job of specifically explaining how that works. The average American thinks everyone already has a legal right to vote and that this bill is just about eliminating voter ID, authorizing "vote harvesting" by activists, and federalizing local elections.
Other ideas? Yes! Blue state folks can contribute to our own to ensure we maintain our slim majorities. We can also contribute both time and money to critical campaigns across the country. If we could beat Kevin McCarthy in his re-election effort we could change history. If we can keep two Democratic senators in Georgia we are half way to a majority. If we can help Stacey Abrams win in Georgia voting rights there would be greatly enhanced. If we can boost the candidacy of Katie Hobbs in Arizona she may make my birth state a blue state again after 100 years on the right. Katie Porter in the California 47th District is coming up for election; let's help her too!
Sue the state legislatures and other vote suppressors for denial of civil rights. And BTW, is it possible to sue one’s own so-called representative for failing to represent his/her constituents? Mine is a seditionist Republican who won by 300 votes. He needs to go.
Address the voting machine issue that the Republicans have been complaining about with legislation to make vote counting completely transparent to the public: image all of the ballots, post images of the ballots on the website of the Secretary of State so that anybody can download and count them, and then save these images as public records for two years. Make the official vote counting software open source. Publicly observable ballot counting is by far the most important step we can take to preserve democracy but it is missing from your list. Ballots should never be counted in secret. Right now, publicly observable ballot counting may have bipartisan support.
One more! When you see these goof balls prancing around in their fake military gear, tell them the truth - they look ridiculous! LOL
It is very obvious that Biden needs to be on board for any of the measures you suggest to happen. He hasn’t been. I will also caution you that a partisan appeal like you are making where the Dems are the good guys and Repubs are the bad guys gets shafted both by Biden inaction and Democrats themselves.
This contradiction can’t be papered over. You can’t expect workers who have been shafted by Democrats on the $15hr minimum wage to work to get Democrats elected who don’t support their economic demands by invoking the end of democracy.
They don’t believe you.
Fan Dancer, you are absolutely right! Kinzinger and Cheney voted with the Republicans against voting rights! Unbelievable. Imagine if they had not supported that?!