Two-month reform news review

Well, our last general election day was just over two months ago, and our new class of representatives look to make the most of their new-born mandates.  Government reform issues often have a tough time moving through legislation; perhaps, this is a good time, at the beginning of a new session, for our legislators to earn the trust of us, their constituents.


Below is a list of voters' concerns in the news for the last two months.  Visit your own representatives and tell them you look forward to seeing how well they perform in office.


Nov 19 We need a more vibrant democracy, through reforms such as Instant Runoff Voting, re-districting reform and Proportional Representation

Nov 22 We need secondary school civics classes to prepare young, first-time voters

Nov 22 We need Early Voting (in elections), a mostly positive recent development in some states

Dec 09 We need to reform the U.S. Senate filibuster rules to restore majority party rights

Dec 09 We need to open up our voter registration activities

Dec 10 We need to stop the "revolving door" of easy access to lucrative-salary jobs from the public sector, who then lobby their former peers

Dec 10 We need to stop partisan abuse of the judicial nomination process in the U.S. Senate

Dec 10 We need democratic reforms in many states to increase competition with third party and Independent candidacies

Dec 12 We need campaign finance reform, to enable everyone to have an equal voice during our election seasons

Dec 12 We need to open up the dialog between our elected officials and we, the people on critical national issues, such as our nation's finances

Dec 13 Due to financial corruption of our U.S. Senators' election campaigns, we need to repeal the constitutional amendment of mandating a popular vote for U.S. Senator; we should instead have state legislatures elect them

Dec 15 We need less Executive Branch government secrecy, especially if it is done only for political expediency

Dec 26 Our elected officials must stop fundraising with donors affected by near legislative votes

Dec 26 We need a more transparent government, so that we, the people, can see what is happening with our tax dollars

Dec 26 We need presidential candidates that are more humble and honest with the American people

Dec 28 More states need to reform their judicial races' campaign finance laws, in order to increase the candidates' trustworthiness with the people

Dec 29 Our states' Secretaries of State (highest election official) need to be elected by non-partisan means and need to refrain from supporting or attacking campaigns

Jan 14 We need to democratise our petition gathering regulations on the local and state levels

Jan 21 Citizens can exercise more of their constitutional right to petition government when they see major wrongs

Jan 21 Our nation's businesses must stand against the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that liberalized   campaign finance law