Reform in the United States: Democracy Chronicles supports reform when it’s important to the democracy

Democracy Chronicles is committed to democratic reform in the United States.  However, reform is not necessarily the right course in every instance.  For example, while many countries in Europe are parliamentary democracies, it is not necessarily a type of reform that crucial to the United States.   As a general rule at Democracy Chronicles, we will support reform when it is both important to the democracy and possible to accomplish.  It is vitally important to have Americans vote and participate in elections.  We believe these are uncontroversial changes that should be acceptable to Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Read the list below and give us your thoughts and ideas in the comment section.

1. Ballot access is an issue that needs urgent reform.  Access to Voting booths should be quick and easy.  People should have access to absentee ballots and increased time to vote when possible.  Voter registration is an issue that needs a solution.  The U.S. government should have a simple system to know who is eligible to vote in elections and who is not.

2. Campaign Finance Reform is another pressing issue.  The Citizen’s United ruling has weakened rules on transparency of large donations and this must be reversed.  We will host discussion on different systems of alternative systems of campaign finance including public financing of campaigns and even limits on donations.

3. Redistricting or gerrymandering is a huge problem.  Politicians in power use the current system for their own benefit to ridiculous proportions.  It is time for a transparent, independent commission for redistricting to ensure that no one is tampering with the election process behind closed doors.

4. Barriers to third party participation have also been erected that prevent them from getting on ballots.  Also, major media companies give limited coverage of third parties, often preventing them from participation in the debate process.