Choiceless elections. Suspicious voting equipment. Partisan election officials. Superficial political debate. American democracy is suffering through its worst crises in generations, and most Americans don’t know what to do about it. Here, finally, is the plan – 10 steps to repair American democracy.

In his inspiring blueprint for renewing America, Hill makes a stirring call for national election standards, nonpartisan election officials, a voting day holiday, and other repairs to the nuts and bolts of our system. He takes it a step further, calling for the end of winner-take-all elections, fairer representation in the U.S. Senate, universal voter registration, public financing of elections, free air time for candidates, and new media regulations that will open up our politics and broaden political debate.

Drawing upon the author’s 20 years of democracy advocacy, scholarship, and two previous books, 10 Steps to Repair American Democracy outlines the looming problems with American elections and proposes ten specific reforms to reinvigorate our republic. It also includes a trenchant foreword by Hendrik Hertzberg, senior editor at The New Yorker.

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10 Steps to Repair American Democracy — Steven Hill

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“We are fortunate to have Steven Hill’s latest book, Ten Steps to Repair American Democracy, to help us find our political compass. He identifies ten critical problems with our democracy and offers concrete solutions to each one. Ten Steps is a blueprint for a reinvigoration of our republic.”
—from the foreword by Hendrik Hertzberg, Senior Editor, The New Yorker

“We know that American democracy is being run over a cliff—choiceless elections, screwy voting machines, brain-dead political debate, unresponsive government, etc. What’s a citizen to do? Here, finally, is the plan.”
—Jim Hightower, columnist and author of Let’s Stop Beating

Around the Bush

“Steven Hill’s new book is as practical as it is insightful, offering innovative ways to fix our broken political system. It’s an inspiring blueprint for reclaiming America. Read it, roll up your sleeves, and get to work.”
—Arianna Huffington, columnist and bestselling author of Pigs at the Trough

“In his timely new book, Steven Hill persuasively argues that much of what ails American politics is rooted in our antiquated methods and practices, from voting equipment to the way we elect the president … Anyone concerned about the state of our democratic system should read this book.”
—Trevor Potter, former chairman of the Federal Election Commission

“With this essential book, Steven Hill proposes a treatment plan for our ailing democracy that is as wide-ranging as it is necessary. This is the practical program for reform that we have been lacking. Read it. Embrace it. Make it the platform of your organizations and your parties.”
—John Nichols, Washington correspondent for The Nation

“10 Steps to Repair American Democracy is a terrific book, a much-needed owner’s manual for the citizen-owners of government in the United States.”
—Michael Lind, author of The Next American Nation

“Drawing on 20 years of advocacy and scholarship, Steven Hill outlines an information age overhaul for America’s agrarian-age electoral machinery. His ten innovative reforms, ranging from the nuts and bolts of how we count ballots to a whole new electoral system, add up to a compelling blueprint for a more perfect union in the 21st century.”
—Ted Halstead, president and CEO of the New America Foundation

“Ten Steps is a blueprint for a reinvigoration of our republic. Hill shows that there actually is a way we can keep faith with our Founding Fathers. The question isn’t: What, way back when, did Jefferson (and Madison and Hamilton) do? The question is: What would they do now? The answers begin here.”
— from the foreword by Hendrik Hertzberg, Senior Editor, The New Yorker

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction: America’s Faltering Republic
1. Secure the Vote
2. Expand Voter Participation
3. Increase Voter Choice with Instant Runoff Voting
4. Scrap Winner-Take-All Elections
5. Direct Election of the President
6. Overhaul the U.S. Senate
7. Reclaim the Airwaves
8. Minimize Money’s Role
9. Reform the Supreme Court
10. Restore Faith in Government: “Government is Good for You”
Conclusion: Renewing the American Republic

ABOUT THE BOOK

Choiceless elections. Suspicious voting equipment. Partisan election officials. Superficial political debate. American democracy is suffering through its worst crises in generations, and most Americans don’t know what to do about it. Here, finally, is the plan —10 steps to repair American democracy.

In his inspiring blueprint for renewing America, Hill makes a stirring call for national election standards, nonpartisan election officials, a voting day holiday, and other repairs to the nuts and bolts of our system. He takes it a step further, calling for the end of winner-take-all elections, fairer representation in the U.S. Senate, universal voter registration, public financing of elections, free air time for candidates, and new media regulations that will open up our politics and broaden political debate.
Drawing upon the author’s 20 years of democracy advocacy, scholarship, and two previous books, 10 Steps to Repair American Democracy outlines the looming problems with American elections and proposes ten specific reforms to reinvigorate our republic. It also includes a trenchant foreword by Hendrik Hertzberg, senior editor at The New Yorker. ery. His ten innovative reforms, ranging from the nuts and bolts of how we count ballots to a whole new electoral system, add up to a compelling blueprint for a more perfect union in the 21st century.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Steven Hill is the Director of the Political Reform Program of the New America Foundation and co-founder of the Center for Voting and Democracy. His articles and commentaries have appeared in dozens of newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, The Nation, Ms., Salon.com, and American Prospect.
His previous book, Fixing Elections: The Failure of America’s Winner Take All Politics, has been called by author Michael Lind “the most important book on American democracy that has come out in many years.” He has lectured widely in the United States and Europe, and has appeared on C-SPAN, Fox News, National Public Radio, and numerous radio and television programs across the nation and in Europe.
In 2004, he managed the successful campaign to pass instant runoff voting for Board of Supervisors elections in San Francisco. More recently, he also helped organize the successful effort to establish public financing for the city’s mayoral campaigns.

ISBN: 0-9760621-5-1
$11.00, soft cover
Sales inquires:
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800-788-3123, www.PGW.com
Book Info: www.10steps.org
Published by PoliPointPress
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