"My Soul Looks Back in Wonder, Voices of the Civil Rights Experience" by Juan Williams

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By Joan Brunwasser (about the author) Page 2 of 2 page(s)

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In a way, the Bush administration has made it easier to become an activist. In fact, it's hard to settle on just one policy to oppose; there are, tragically, so many to choose from. Perhaps disgust with our government's response - to Katrina, Iraq, global warming, the failing economy, the cost of health insurance, massive job outsourcing, our fallen image in the world, the abridgement of civil liberties, Abu Graib, the erosion of traditional checks and balances – will lead the public to also examine the shameful way our elections have been torn from the hands of the voters and handed over to private corporations, high technology and their technician 'experts'. Over three billion dollars later, we have even less confidence in our elections than we did after the hanging chads debacle in Florida 2000. There is less citizen oversight, transparency or access to election records. If you doubt this, look at Alaska's two year fight to examine their 2004 ballots (and then the 2006 votes) http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3855 Florida's 13th Congressional race http://www.bradblog.com/?p=4097#more-4097 as well as the egregious happenings in the California 50th Congressional district primary in June: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=3353

While many voters breathed a great sigh of relief after November's clear repudiation of the Republican strategies and policies, their complacency is quite dangerously premature. Sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, the Democrats are not necessarily tuned in or responsive to the urgent need for meaningful election reform. There are a number of proposals out there that will be introduced very soon. But it is far from clear that any of them will do the trick to restore safe, accurate and transparent elections, despite the sponsors' claims. The August Zogby poll commissioned by election law attorney Paul Lehto revealed that 92% want the "right to view vote counting and obtain information about vote counting" http://wwwzogby.com/News/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1163 This is a startling and overwhelming majority of Americans. But, while our elected officials are supposed to reflect our views, they simply will not do it without a tremendous amount of prodding from their constituents.

As Susan Brownmiller writes in My Soul Looks Back in Wonder, p.161

"Change in this country comes from people's movements. It doesn't come from electoral politics or legislation. It starts with very special people who declare themselves soldiers in an unpaid volunteer army of the moral, knowing they can really make change."

This is the challenge that we face. Will people fight their own feelings of helplessness and apathy and step forward and mount a sustained effort to force change from the bottom up? We must demand accountability from our government. Otherwise, we are a sad excuse for a democracy. The Salt Lake Tribune quoted a native of Salt Lake City, who is interning in Washington this semester and who participated in the rally: "There's nothing more patriotic than coming out and voicing your opinion." http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5102265
I couldn't agree more.

Won't you join us?

Three "Quick Pick" actions for people ready to stand up and be counted:

• Sign the "Request by Voters" for thoughtful, thorough amending of the Holt Bill to achieve meaningful election reform http://www.wethepatriots.org/HAVA/requestbyvoters.php
• Sign the Velvet Revolution's Paper Ballot Campaign "a paper BALLOT for every vote cast in America" petition
http://www.velvetrevolution.us/Campaigns/PaperBallots/
Support Rep. Dennis Kucinich's HR 6200 "hand counted paper ballots, counted and posted at the precinct level" http://kucinich.us/node/1486

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Joan Brunwasser is a co-founder of Citizens for Election Reform (CER) which exists for the sole purpose of raising the public awareness of the critical need for election (more...)

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