A Return to Common Sense: Seven Bold Ways to Revitalize Democracy

by Michael Waldman

"Waldman's book is a call to arms, which everyone who cares about our democratic system should read, absorb, debate, and then use as a signpost for change."
- Doris Kearns Goodwin "With Thomas Paine's gift for brilliant brevity, Michael Waldman tells us exactly what's wrong with our democracy and exactly how to fix it in the time it takes to watch a movie."
- Jonathan Alter, Newsweek, author of The Defining Moment

IMAGINE AN AMERICA IN WHICH a vast number of people routinely vote; where voting is easy, accessible to all, and fair; in which campaigns know they cannot win by dividing slivers of the electorate, but by energizing large numbers behind their plans and ideas. This America is Seven Steps Away. A Return to Common Sense presents the Brennan Center report on the most critical flaws in our current democratic process and the bold reforms that will revitalize our nation. A Return to Common Sense is a passionate call for change, a road map for restoring the vision of the Founding Fathers and renewing the great spirit of America where the people run the government and the government works for the people. "Seven eminently practical suggestions that cut to the heart of how politics actually works in this country― and that promise reforms which can actually work."
- Sean Wilentz, Princeton University, author of The Rise of American Democracy "Michael Waldman's book is a clarion call for reinvigorating voter participation and other key aspects of our democracy."
- Representative John Conyers, Jr., member of Congress

Genres: Politics

174 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2008

Reviews

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good thoughts but...

Written by a former speech writer for President Bill Clinton, A Return to Common Sense: Seven Bold Ways to Revitalize Democracy features a series of suggestions for how to improve democracy in America. His seven suggestions are:

1. End Voter Registration as We Know It.
2. Rocking the Vote. (issues such as voter ID, changing election day, changing the primary system.)
3. Stop Political Hacking. (use electronic voting machines but with scan-tron type backups.)
4. Campaign Finance Reform (public financing based on the NYC model)
5. Gerrymandering (stop the creation of "safe" districts for both Democrats and Republicans)
6. Flunk the Electoral College (recommends not changing the Constitution but rather going around it at a state level)
7. Restore Checks and Balances (more Congressional oversight of the Executive branch)

I have no problem with many of these suggestions but Waldman is a bit simplistic in some of his recommendations. For example, he suggests a national voter registration system but has no plans for how local election officials should deal with local registrations.

He bemoans the fact that fundraising is so important to the modern Congress and the election system that demands an endless supply of funds. He also is bothered that Congress does not do enough to oversee the Executive Branch (with some justification, in my opinion) but on page 128 belittles the efforts of Congress to investigate the Clinton Administration's use of White House Christmas Cards to fundraise. Huh, you'd think he'd be all for oversight and limiting fundraising...

Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...

[Paddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, and tells you how messed up the American electoral system is.