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Part One:
Our guest is Adam Eichen of Equal Citizens. We discuss democracy reform and the emerging movement in the U.S. to reclaim our democracy. We recognize how every issue — from climate change to gun safety to health care to Wall Street reform — is tied to the core inequality in our political system:
If you have a lot of money, then your voice is loud and you have plenty of “air-time” in which to express your views. But if you’re a member of the 99%, your voice is either non-existent or ignored by candidates seeking political office.
American voters are not apathetic about these issues. Rather, they simply lack hope about the possibility of effectuating any changes. We need to show them that, indeed, there are solutions — politically feasible solutions — to each of the problems that are undermining our democracy.
Part Two:
We speak with David Dayen, executive editor of The American Prospect, about his article asking each presidential candidates to tell voters exactly what actions s/he will take on “Day One” of his/her presidency. Such questions could be more meaningful than asking a potential president what legislation s/he would propose to Congress, a *different branch* of government. The “Day One” questions directly relate to the president’s job description as head of the *executive branch* of government: enforcing the constitution and laws of the United States.
These questions would also give voters more insight into how their votes could actually make a difference in their lives. An American President has enormous executive power. We discuss many laws already on the books that a new president can begin enforcing on day one. A new administration can exercise its discretion to enforce a particular law more vigorously. Or it can allocate appropriated funds among possible programs in a way that (it believes) would better serve the general welfare. It can grant legal exemptions to — or institute more merciful or creative punishment for violations of — certain provisions of law. And a new president’s administration will be able to take any of these actions *without* having to ask Congress to begin the often arduous legislative process.
Finally, we consider AG Barr’s efforts to expand unitary executive authority, ignore Congress, and transfer dictatorial power to the executive.
