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ttt1449-december_8_threat_to_democracy

Another mid-term election and more dismal news about the state of our democracy.  Voting participation, always low during mid-term elections, was lower than ever.  Even here in civic-minded Minnesota, participation, while higher than the national average, fell below turnout in 2010.  Meanwhile, campaign spending reached record proportions.  So called “dark money”—campaign contributions that are made anonymously—played a key role in both local and statewide races around the nation.  Here in Minnesota, outside money flowed into rural legislative races—and according to many experts, were a critical factor in the DFL loss of control of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

And what did all that money buy?  In too many cases, misdirection and triviality: the political equivalent of empty calories.  Meanwhile turnout declines as voters tuned out—and who can blame them?  There is a direct relationship between the decline of political participation and the increase in economic inequality.  And while members of today’s oligarchy don’t wear black hats and smoke long cigars, the result is the same. More power for the few—less for the rest of us.

So time to give up?  Fortunately, thousands of Minnesotans understand that democracy is an activity, not a thing—an imperfect inheritance that each generation has to protect and defend. TruthtoTell co-hosts Siobahn Kierans and Tom O’Connell will talk with three Minnesotans who are proving that the answer to rule by a few is participation of the many. 

Our guests: 

 Jeremy Schroeder, executive director, Common Cause of Minnesota www.commoncause.org/states/minnesota 

Justin Terrell, manager, the Justice4all campaign of Take Action Minnesota www.takeactionminnesota.org

Judy Stuthman, award-winning member of the Minnesota League of Women Voters www.lwvmn.

 

Guests:

 Jeremy Schroeder is executive director of Common Cause of Minnesota www.commoncause.org/states/minnesota 

 

 

 Justin Terrell is manager of the Justice4all campaign of Take Action Minnesota www.takeactionminnesota.org

 

 

 Judy Stuthman is an award-winning member of the Minnesota League of Women Voters www.lwvmn.org