55 Silver Linings: How Americans Are Passing Anti-Corruption Reform
June 15, 2017
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By: Samuel Beckenhauer Communications Intern, Represent.Us |
If you think it's impossible to fix America's corrupt political system, you haven't met a Represent.Us volunteer.
Represent.Us members aren't waiting for Congress to fix corruption. They're joining together and leading anti-corruption initiatives in their communities – and before you say it isn't going to work, read this: They're winning.
Last week volunteers passed America’s 55th anti-corruption win.
The reforms are led by Represent.Us chapters all over the country, from Tallahassee, Florida, to Vancouver, Washington. Volunteers have passed 30 anti-corruption resolutions in communities since January, and created Seattle’s new small dollar voucher system, which will give the voters – not just big donors – a voice in their elections.
Perhaps the most inspiring thing about these victories is the people behind them. Represent.Us volunteers aren't political operatives, they're normal people – students, retirees, veterans, and parents. Some are becoming politically active for the first time in their lives. And they're not waiting around for someone else to take care of corruption: they're stepping up and changing the political system.
Two chapters in Massachusetts have been responsible for passing 20 local anti-corruption resolutions this year alone. In Massachusetts, people can easily put items on the agenda at town meetings. So Represent Massachusetts chapters coordinated a big push.
These resolutions have passed unanimously in almost every location, proving that this isn't a partisan fight. No matter where Americans are on the political spectrum, we all want anti-corruption laws.
“It is not hard to pass a resolution in a town meeting. We thought it might be, but the process is quite simple…it has passed unanimously in almost every town.” - Vicki Elson, Volunteer, Represent Western Massachusetts
Excited to get started in your area? First thing's first: check to see if there's a Represent.Us chapter nearby that you can join.
If there isn't, then sign up to start a chapter. Represent.Us organizers will be there to answer questions and guide you forward.