Introducing the BOLD ReThink: Because Our Democracy Needs a System Upgrade

It is time for a bold rethink…

The murder of George Floyd and the demand of millions to redress structural racism have changed the national conversation. The Covid-19 crisis has also revealed how many American government leaders and agencies have been unable to meet the needs to respond to this crisis.

These crises have transformed what is possible and necessary to fulfill our responsibility to govern ourselves and our communities wisely in order to create a just and healthy world now and for future generations.

For nearly fifty years, right wing CEOs, corporations, and their front groups have engaged in a selfish experiment to redefine government, and that experiment has failed miserably to address the needs of We the People. Lewis Powell, Charles Koch, along with other multi-millionaires and billionaires have spent decades trying to shrink government, distort our democracy, and limit our power over corporations.

Guess what we got in return?

More racial inequality, devastating climate changes that are underway, under-funded and poorly coordinated public health systems, and multiple other systems failures that have left America behind and let American people down.

Many of us working on progressive issues — from public health and the environment to anti-racism to redressing poverty to fighting voter suppression — recognize that our struggles have common roots and also common solutions.

Whether it is real equality, climate change, the rights of students and teachers to have great public schools, the right wing has sabotaged democracy and the ability of government in a healthy democracy to do what it is supposed to do — create conditions that advance the well-being of all people and not just the wealthiest few.

In this new publication, BOLD ReThink, we seek to unmask the domestic enemies of our democracy, of the idea that We the People can hold corporations accountable and have better public policies that protect our health and well-being.

At the same time, we aim to develop and lift up solutions that build a robust democracy by strengthening vital institutions like our public Postal Service, public schools, public health, and more, while also protecting fundamental human rights like the right to vote and to dissent. We advocate for bold solutions that will help address the big challenges we face in 21st century America.

If you are interested in uncovering the common roots of the problems we face, rethinking the role of government, and designing innovative solutions, you’ve come to the right place.

For a taste of this work, read the expose of the Charles Koch’s role in staking efforts to privatize our Postal Service.

We’ll be posting more here on how these vital issues transcend issue area silos that separate us and how we can rally together to help make our democracy work for us all. Please bookmark this page and join us in spreading the word that we can do better — and we must.