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  • Authoritarianism
    • What is Authoritarianism?
    • Warning Signs of Authoritarianism
    • Comparing Democracy and Authoritarianism
    • Why Are Republicans Adopting Authoritarian Practices?
  • Major Issues
    • Escalating Economic Inequality
    • The Impact of Big Money On Our Political System
    • Why are we so polarized and what can we do about it?
    • Media’s Impact on Democracy
  • Actions
    • What is needed for an effective democracy?
    • Build a Powerful Democracy Movement
    • Elect New Legislators
    • Reform Our Media to Better Support Democracy
    • Fix the Election System
    • Pass a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
  • Events
    • Partnering for Democracy in Massachusetts and Beyond
    • Democracy as a Spiritual Practice
    • The Democracy Movement: Where it Stands Today and Where it Needs to Go
    • Democracy in Chains
    • How Democracies Die
    • POTUS 1: The Next Fight for Democracy – Lawrence Lessig
  • Resources
    • Democracy Groups
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Reform Our Media to Better Support Democracy

To have a working democracy it is critical that the media provide voters with information that is accurate, unbiased, and comprehensive. That is what enables “we the people” to make good choices when we vote. 

Our current media is not meeting this fundamental need.

  • The country’s most watched cable channel, Fox News, has regularly promoted falsehoods about election results, Mr. Obama’s birthplace and other subjects.
  • Political reporting highlights the unusual, the violent – materials that increase our polarization. Rather than highlighting the good, it threatens us with the bad. It does this to attract more viewers and higher advertising revenue. See Click Here If You Want To Be Sad.
  • Local newspapers that have long provided us with information about local candidates, elections and malfeasance/corruption have been disappearing at a rapid clip.

For more information about these issues go to Media’s Impact on Democracy.

Addressing these significant issues is very challenging. Our fundamental right of free speech encourages a variety of opinions which is good for democracy. However, when we are brainwashed with negative political ads, untruths and half truths, this clearly is bad for democracy. We become polarized and unable to listen to each other. We don’t receive the information we need to make good voting decisions and decide to simply vote along party lines.

Here are some potential actions that could be taken to make improvements.

  • Reinstate the FCC fairness doctrine that required the holders of broadcast licenses both to present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that fairly reflected differing viewpoints. Structured debates could be encouraged.
  • Eliminate paid political advertising on broadcast media. Instead, require that candidates for election be given time to speak directly to their voters..This would also help reduce the problem of big money in politics.
  • Provide grants and other public support for local newspapers and local news sites on the internet.
  • Teach people to spot misinformation: How Finland Is Teaching a Generation to Spot Misinformation 

Our Mission

Reclaim Our Democracy is an inclusive, collaborative, multi-partisan movement. Our goal is to reclaim our democratic rights as citizens of the United States of America to have a government that truly represents and supports the needs and desires of all people.

Commentary

  • It is Time for Democracy to Strike Back Jan. 25, 2023
  • Two Takeaways from the Recent Midterm Elections that Every American Should Understand Nov. 22, 2022
  • A Real And Very Dangerous Conspiracy Oct. 14, 2022
  • It's Time to Fix the Senate Sep. 8, 2021
  • Back to Basics - #1 Priority for Congress and President Jan. 23, 2021
  • The Mitch McConnell Problem Dec. 18, 2020
  • Dear Mr. Trump: Your Contract Will Not Be Renewed Nov. 21, 2020
  • Today's Civil War Feb 16, 2020

Events

Democracy Festival at First Parish in Concord, Friday, May 19, 7:30pm and Saturday, May 20, 11:00am - 2:00pm

Meeting the Moment: Taking Action to Keep Our Democracy, January 6 and 7, 2023

Partnering for Democracy in Massachusetts and Beyond with Danielle Allen. Video now available.

Democracy as a Spiritual Practice, March 31 and April 14 videos now available

The Democracy Movement: Where it Stands Today and Where it Needs to Go, with Adam Eichen, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022 video now available.

Democracy in Chains, with Duke Professor Nancy MacLean, video of presentation

How Democracies Die, with Harvard Professor Steven Levitsky, video of presentation

Facebook

To read more about current democracy related news and events, please click here to visit the Reclaim Our Democracy Facebook group page.

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