Public Campaign - Democracy Matters

Texas-Sized Problem

Katie Schlieper — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:05:57 -0500

Laura Kelley of Rice University is founding a campus chapter of Democracy Matters to push for Clean Elections in the face of a campaign finance system that tilts the balance of power in favor of a wealthy few. She explains her support for full public financing of elections in this opinion piece for the student newspaper, the Rice Thresher (hehe).

Go Beyond the Vote

Katie Schlieper — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:10:44 -0500

We love ourselves some Adonal Foyle here at Public Campaign and this is why. Having just cast his first vote as an American citizen after years of dedicated activism on behalf of young voters, democracy, and Clean Elections Foyle -- who, in his spare time, plays center for the Orlando Magic -- is excited about the growing number of youth voters and aware that improving civic engagement doesn't end at the ballot box.

Democracy Matters! It does!

Adam Smith — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:19:30 -0500

This past weekend I was fortunate to be able to go to the 8th annual Democracy Matters summit in Albany, NY. I always have a great time when I go to this summit. This year there were over 150 students from campuses across the country.

First Vote

Katie Schlieper — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:35:25 -0500

Adonal Foyle, backup center for the Orlando Magic and founder of Democracy Matters, gets to cast his first vote as an American citizen tomorrow in Florida's presidential primary. The Orlando Sentinel talks with him about his path to the states, the importance of voting, and why we have to get big money out of politics.

Public Financing, Then Policy

Katie Schlieper — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:54:11 -0500

Jay Mandle, of Democracy Matters and Colgate University writes in Newsday today about the increasing dominance of wealthy contributors in elections depressing civic engagement: "Americans don't trust their government or political system. Cynicism about the motives and interests of our politicians is so deep that voters find themselves in an immobilizing contradiction."

Anyone Can Run?

Katie Schlieper — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:47:21 -0500

It's kind of asking for trouble to hang your argument for a reduced role of private money in politics on Stephen Colbert's short-lived presidential campaign and Fidel Castro's insights on democracy but this is still an interesting criticism of the campaign finance system from Bill Spaulding, a high school student and member of the Elmira Star-Gazette student editorial board.

Another Good Democracy Matters Piece

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:47:13 -0500

More from the students leaders of Democracy Matters, this time an editorial in the Brown Daily Herald by Rachel Forman and Colin Lentz: "Candidates are winning elections and lining the pockets of private contractors at the expense of the American people. Our political system needs help." The byline indicates Lentz and Forman will "dance for democracy" -- who'll take them up on it?

On Loan

Katie Schlieper — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:47:54 -0500

Abby Hemenway, the president of the Cornell University chapter of Democracy Matters writes in the Cornell Daily Sun about the connection between campaign contributions from student loan companies the rising debt college graduates must shoulder.

Money on His Mind

Katie Schlieper — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:37:16 -0500

Jay Mandle writes a regular feature for Democracy Matters called Money on My Mind. In this most recent entry he tackles why liberals in the Democratic party are having such a hard time promoting policies in which the federal government intervenes on social problems: a public distrust of government fueled by special interest intervention in government (powered by campaign contributions).

Vanderbilt Democracy Matters

Katie Schlieper — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 12:06:04 -0500

Aj Khandakar of Vanderbilt University continues the charge of Democracy Matters students getting the word out about money's influence on elections, and the Clean Elections solution. He writes this letter in the student paper about modern-day "Boss Tweed" politics and mentions a forum today where professors will comment on campaign finance and elections.