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A well-informed activist is an energized and effective activist. We've built a library of resources to view that could help improve your understanding of the issues. Take a look yourself, or share it to help convince friends! If you have any ideas for valuable reading resources please email allies@unitedagainstcorruption.us

Democracy at Risk

America Is Not a Democracy

by The Atlantic
If we rigidly hold on to the status quo, we will lose what is most valuable in the world we know, and find ourselves cast as bit players in the fading age of liberal democracy. Only by embarking on bold and imaginative reform can we recover a democracy worthy of the name.
Who governs? Who really rules? To what extent is the broad body of U.S. citizens sovereign, semisovereign, or largely powerless?
Now it’s just an oligarchy, with unlimited political bribery being the essence of getting the nominations for president or to elect the president. And the same thing applies to governors and U.S. senators and congress members.

Is America an Oligarchy?

by The New Yorker

Our Democracy Is Dying

by The Huffington Post

Corruption

Politicians’ Extortion Racket

by The New York Times
Consider this: of the thousands of bills introduced in Congress each year, only roughly 5 percent become law. Why do legislators bother proposing so many bills? What if many of those bills are written not to be passed but to pressure people into forking over cash?

There is a corruption at the heart of American politics, caused by the dependence of Congressional candidates on funding from the tiniest percentage of citizens.

When the government has a price tag, big money lobbying effectively reshapes policy. Koch brothers celebrate wins under Trump administration in leaked document.

"We’ve made more progress in the last five years than I had in the last 50," Charles Koch reportedly said. "The capabilities we have now can take us to a whole new level."

The people voted against corruption, the politicians said "not so fast". Cenk Uygur, the host of The Young Turks, breaks it down.

This poll suggests an overwhelming consensus amongst Democrats, Republicans, Independents and non-affiliated voters around the issue of corruption in the American election system and the need to institute tough, meaningful reforms.

Call for an Amendment

By Jim Leach, Nina Turner and Jeff Clements.

No matter which of the presidential candidates had prevailed in last month’s election, America continues on a perilous path toward plutocracy, a government of and for the rich and powerful.
What happens when Congress itself is the problem in politics? The framers of the Constitution thought of a solution for that very problem.

How to propose amendments: Article V of the US Constitution

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.

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