With Liberty and Justice for All

The morning of May 22, 2012, I went to see my kindergartener in a patriotic assembly for Memorial Day. The principal instructed us to turn and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Something I have said so many times, but I really heard the words today.

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Voting is not an option

People in other nations are dying in the street for the right to a fair vote. In America eligible non-voters are given a flippant “If you don’t vote you can’t complain.” slap on the wrist. It’s not enough. Voting is not an option, it’s a duty.

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Gerrymandering Kills Democracy

There are many parts of the political process that are kept in the shadows. Civil Citizens may not know about them or only know of them in a vague way. Gerrymandering is one of them. Gerrymandering is when redistricting commissions draw voting districts in bizarre shapes for the purpose of having a “safe” seat for a political party. The district will encompass a population known to favor a particular ideal or party.

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Understanding Political Will

Political will, what an elected official is willing to do. How to deal with it when it is with you? How to deal with it when it’s against you? Find out in this informative Civil Citizen blog.

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Political Strategists: Knowing a candidate’s political strategist can tell you more about them than any speech.

Political strategists make and break political careers. They hold a lot of political power but are able to avoid much of the public scrutiny that would normally accompany a position of power.

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How to fire an elected official before the next election.

The recall tool is a powerful tool in the Civil Citizen’s tool kit. It is the nuclear bomb of the tool kit not to be used lightly or for minor infringements on an elected officials part. It is the shadow side of a Democratic system that someone is not going to be happy with a legislative decision. If one were to recall any elected official that offended some one the recall elections would get costly and ridiculous and would stop the ability of a government to do its work.

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Defining Brinkmanship

What are they doing? A question not only on the lips of many Americans but also around the world as they watch the game of political chicken being played on Capitol Hill today. The name of the game is brinkmanship and it is a good word and technique for Civil Citizens to know.

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When Talking Points Attack

It’s important for every Civil Citizen to know about talking points. Talking points are specific points that a politician, political party or special interest group wants you to know. Like an advertisement there are varying levels of truth to these statements. We have seen some masters of the talking point, I must say many from the Republican Party.

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Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid too expensive? What can be done?

There has been a lot of discussion lately about what is called entitlements in Washington. These are social safety nets but in place in the past to help the poor and the elderly who are no longer able to work. Before these types of things were taken care of, either by extended families or by the Church. Yet in the past century people have looked to the government to provide services by using taxpayer money to take care of these important needs.

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America promises nothing.

With the July 4th holiday last weekend I thought about America. What is it about America? What does America promise citizens and people all over the world that take a chance and come to try their luck at the American Dream?America promises nothing, sometimes nothing can be a good thing.

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