The DNC is Failing Democracy – Demand Change!
The DNC is Failing Democracy – Demand Change!
The Issue
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) must not sacrifice fundamental democratic principles in a blind and deaf campaign to capture the nation’s highest office. We demand a process that’s fair, transparent and counts each vote, one that embraces the will of the people as the will of the party.
As of May 3, 2020, Bernie Sanders had 984 of 4,765 delegates. Joe Biden had 1,435. It’s easy to call Joe Biden the presumptive nominee, especially when all other candidates have dropped out. Though Sanders enjoyed the largest number of delegates before dropping out, Elizabeth Warren won 81, Mike Bloomberg 55, and Pete Buttigieg 25. In the first three primaries, Biden made a dismal showing, receiving 6 delegates to Buttigieg’s 14 in Iowa; zero to Sanders’ 9 in New Hampshire; and 9 to Sanders’ 24 in Nevada.
Then, for some inexplicable reason, Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the race. With only three states behind him, 47 to go and a couple of US territories, Buttigieg decided his odds weren’t good. Just one day later, Amy Klobuchar left the race. A day after that, Elizabeth Warren stepped down. Why would a candidate with any delegates who invested the immense amount of time and effort in driving a political campaign for president just drop out when there are months to go in the race? When millions of people have yet to choose a candidate? Why, if not to change the rules of the game to favor one player? Why if not to place Biden alone in the field and leave voters left with a shell of a democratic process, casting ballots while only one candidate counts?
In this America where elections are enslaved by corporate donors and their interests, where media is biased, truth is questionable, and civic dialogue is near impossible, it’s time for a political institution not just to talk about doing better, but to actually do better. It’s time for primaries that are transparent. It’s time to make all the votes count. It’s time to align actions with values. If campaigning on behalf of a minority of corporate interests against the public good is (indeed) the DNC’s means of survival, it’s time to say that’s wrong. It’s time to stop talking about the higher road and actually build it. It’s time to end the sale of democracy.
We are life-long democrats that are losing faith in your antiquated political machine designed to force all left-leaners into a mediocre middle to stand reluctantly behind visionless candidates bent on compromise, backing policies that are woefully inadequate in addressing the biggest challenges of our time—increasing economic inequality, climate change and public health. We believe that looking at health care models around the world that are delivering more at less cost is not radical—it’s rational. We believe creating safety nets for people is not extreme—it’s ethical.
To earn our vote—to have any chance at keeping our faith—we demand:
- A convention where the popular vote counts, one where we’re able to vote for any of the candidates that were available prior to Super Tuesday, before all rivals dropped out—before you likely interfered and muted so many voices. Allow us to democratically choose a candidate we believe in, or at least one we can believe honestly won the nomination.
- Disclose all of your funders, so we may at least know who’s interests you are serving.
- Within the next four years, transition away from corporate donors entirely and fully commit to representing the people.
As George Washington warned in 1796 upon leaving office and witnessing the development of our current two-party system: “The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.” We are the wise who wish to restrain it. We are the hopeful that believe it’s still possible for a party to rise above the mischief and fulfill the fondest wish of democracy—the true representation of the people.
The founding fathers, fomenting and surviving revolution, perhaps understood something we must re-learn: A people rewarded with legitimate avenues for political self-expression can rise and build a nation. What happens if they realize their vote is an empty party exercise, void of meaning?
Petition Closed
The Issue
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) must not sacrifice fundamental democratic principles in a blind and deaf campaign to capture the nation’s highest office. We demand a process that’s fair, transparent and counts each vote, one that embraces the will of the people as the will of the party.
As of May 3, 2020, Bernie Sanders had 984 of 4,765 delegates. Joe Biden had 1,435. It’s easy to call Joe Biden the presumptive nominee, especially when all other candidates have dropped out. Though Sanders enjoyed the largest number of delegates before dropping out, Elizabeth Warren won 81, Mike Bloomberg 55, and Pete Buttigieg 25. In the first three primaries, Biden made a dismal showing, receiving 6 delegates to Buttigieg’s 14 in Iowa; zero to Sanders’ 9 in New Hampshire; and 9 to Sanders’ 24 in Nevada.
Then, for some inexplicable reason, Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the race. With only three states behind him, 47 to go and a couple of US territories, Buttigieg decided his odds weren’t good. Just one day later, Amy Klobuchar left the race. A day after that, Elizabeth Warren stepped down. Why would a candidate with any delegates who invested the immense amount of time and effort in driving a political campaign for president just drop out when there are months to go in the race? When millions of people have yet to choose a candidate? Why, if not to change the rules of the game to favor one player? Why if not to place Biden alone in the field and leave voters left with a shell of a democratic process, casting ballots while only one candidate counts?
In this America where elections are enslaved by corporate donors and their interests, where media is biased, truth is questionable, and civic dialogue is near impossible, it’s time for a political institution not just to talk about doing better, but to actually do better. It’s time for primaries that are transparent. It’s time to make all the votes count. It’s time to align actions with values. If campaigning on behalf of a minority of corporate interests against the public good is (indeed) the DNC’s means of survival, it’s time to say that’s wrong. It’s time to stop talking about the higher road and actually build it. It’s time to end the sale of democracy.
We are life-long democrats that are losing faith in your antiquated political machine designed to force all left-leaners into a mediocre middle to stand reluctantly behind visionless candidates bent on compromise, backing policies that are woefully inadequate in addressing the biggest challenges of our time—increasing economic inequality, climate change and public health. We believe that looking at health care models around the world that are delivering more at less cost is not radical—it’s rational. We believe creating safety nets for people is not extreme—it’s ethical.
To earn our vote—to have any chance at keeping our faith—we demand:
- A convention where the popular vote counts, one where we’re able to vote for any of the candidates that were available prior to Super Tuesday, before all rivals dropped out—before you likely interfered and muted so many voices. Allow us to democratically choose a candidate we believe in, or at least one we can believe honestly won the nomination.
- Disclose all of your funders, so we may at least know who’s interests you are serving.
- Within the next four years, transition away from corporate donors entirely and fully commit to representing the people.
As George Washington warned in 1796 upon leaving office and witnessing the development of our current two-party system: “The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.” We are the wise who wish to restrain it. We are the hopeful that believe it’s still possible for a party to rise above the mischief and fulfill the fondest wish of democracy—the true representation of the people.
The founding fathers, fomenting and surviving revolution, perhaps understood something we must re-learn: A people rewarded with legitimate avenues for political self-expression can rise and build a nation. What happens if they realize their vote is an empty party exercise, void of meaning?
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on May 17, 2020