No celebration on National Civics Day
No celebration on National Civics Day
Today is National Civics Day. October 27th commemorates the date the Federalist Papers were first published in 1787. These 85 essays were distinguished for their comprehensive analysis of the means by which the ideals of justice, the general welfare, and the rights of individuals could be realized.
For example, Alexandria Hamilton in Federalist Paper #1 condemned "the perverted ambition of another class of men, who will either hope to aggrandize themselves by the confusions of their country". Civics teaches us how our government should work. Unfortunately a majority of Americans don't have confidence that it is working for them.
Hamilton would condemn the money currently pouring into our current elections, both from the right and the left. Citizens are left feeling that elections are mainly influenced by those with the largest pocket books, with our general welfare sacrificed on the alter of profit by special interest who are overwhelming our elections with dark money and boatloads of cash to our elected officials and candidates. Justice to citizens, our general welfare and our rights as individuals are being overturned by the highest bidder.
Why Virginians Want Campaign Finance and Ethics Reform! Scandal reveals our lack of oversight.
Investigative journalists seem to be the only ones on the ball in highlighting deficiencies in our campaign finance and ethics system. Citizens have no ability to highlight malfeasance by legislators/candidates and there is no oversight by our institutions. Check out this article on a candidate for Richmond City Council who allegedly lied on his statement of economic interest, his campaign finance contributions, his campaign finance expenditures, the naming of his treasurer, and his residence.
Not one agency or official seems to be able to take action! There is seriously NOBODY minding the store!
It doesn't have to be like this!
Take Action and help us get some campaign finance/ethics bills passed in Virginia
Send your elected officials an email in support of campaign finance reform. It takes 2 minutes. Our legislators say constitutuents don't care! Do you? Click here.
JOIN US ON DEMOCRACY DAY IN RICHMOND, January 21st.
Do you support campaign finance and ethics reform, ranked choice voting, and access to the ballot? Come join BigMoneyOutVA and an informal coalition of good governance partners in advocating in support of these issues on our 3rd Democracy Day in Richmond. Join us at a Happy Hour also. Register here.
What do you know about the issue of money in politics? Test your knowledge in this short quiz which reviews Supreme Courts rulings on campaign finance reform and the history of state and federal legislation to regulate money in politics. Click here for the quiz. Once you answer the questions, you can check your score which is automatically calculated. Interested in more information about the questions/answers? Click here.
