Endorsements

The eligibility criteria for getting listed on this page is one or more of:

  • held or holding a public elected office
  • running for a public elected office
  • published something or received special recognition for public service

These are just guidelines. The final right to decide who is listed is reserved by The Democracy Foundation.

This is not an exclusive list. Other people who are not listed here may also endorse NI4D.

Chomsky, Noam

Biography: 

Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, political activist, author and lecturer. He is an Institute Professor and professor emeritus of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Endorsement:

I am writing to endorse formally the National Initiative for Democracy.

Noam Chomsky

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Ellsberg, Daniel

Biography: 

Daniel Ellsberg is a former American military analyst employed by the RAND Corporation who precipitated a national political controversy in 1971 when he released the Pentagon Papers, a top-secret Pentagon study of government decision-making about the Vietnam War, to The New York Times and other newspapers. He was a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award in 2006.

Endorsement:

I am happy to endorse the project. Daniel Ellsberg

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Gravel, Mike

Biography: 

Maurice Robert "Mike" Gravel is a former Democratic United States Senator from Alaska, who served two terms from 1969 to 1981. He founded The Democracy Foundation. In order to promote the National Initiative for Democracy, he ran for president in 2008.

Endorsement:

Marcus Cicero, over 2000 years ago, defined freedom as participation in power.

If you don’t participate in power, you are not free. Whoever has the power owns you. If you want to be free you have to participate in power.

Power is lawmaking; if you don’t participate in lawmaking, all you can do live by the laws that are made for you. Either you live by their laws or you go to jail. Those who make the law have the power to make you free. On election day, you give your power away.

Follow the logic: If freedom is participation in power and power is lawmaking, then freedom is participation in lawmaking.

The key to freedom is the National Initiative: it gives the people the tools to make laws, to vote on all the issues that effect their lives. Now THAT is freedom. The crux of the National Initiative is to share power and have freedom.

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Nader, Ralph

Biography: 

Ralph Nader is an American attorney, author, lecturer, political activist, and candidate for President of the United States in four elections. Areas of particular concern to Nader are consumer rights, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government.

Endorsement:

[original] For over a decade, given the failures of elected politicians, Mike Gravel has been engaged in some extraordinary research and consultations with leading constitutional law experts about the need to enact another check to the faltering checks and balances–namely, the National Initiative for Democracy, a proposed law that empowers the people as lawmakers.

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Stallman, Richard

Biography: 

Richard Matthew Stallman is an American software freedom activist, hacker, and software developer. In September 1983, he launched the GNU Project to create a free Unix-like operating system, and has been the project’s lead architect and organizer. With the launch of the GNU Project, he started the free software movement and, in October 1985, set up the Free Software Foundation.

Endorsement:

Direct democracy is one of the things we need to establish, to take back control of the US government from the megacorporations that effectively own it now.

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Atlee, Tom

Biography: 

Tom Atlee is founder and co-director of the non-profit Co-Intelligence Institute. Recently his work has focused on developing our capacity to function as a wise democracy, so we can turn our social and environmental challenges into positive developments for our society.

Endorsement:

I endorsed the National Initiative years ago.

Coheartedly,
Tom
author of THE TAO OF DEMOCRACY

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Beedham, Brian

Biography: 

Brian Beedham was the foreign affairs editor of The Economist magazine from 1964 to 1989 and has published extensively on the advantages of direct democracy.

Endorsement:

you are welcome to cite me as an endorser of Mike’s proposals. Best regards, Brian

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Bowman, Bob

Biography: 

Robert M. Bowman was a former Director of Advanced Space Programs Development for the U.S. Air Force in the Ford and Carter administrations, and a former United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel with 101 combat missions. He holds a Ph.D. in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology.

Endorsement:

I have always been a supporter of P II and all Mike’s efforts.  You may put me down as endorsing his Democracy Amendment.

Bob Bowman

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Crane, Robert D.

Biography: 

Dr. Robert D. Crane is Director for Global Strategy for the Abraham Federation: A Global Center for Peace through Compassionate Justice. In 2006, he was one of the two co-founders of The American Revolutionary Party. President Nixon appointed him in 1969 as the Deputy Director for Planning in the National Security Council, and President Reagan in 1981 appointed him U.S. Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. (Photograph by Diana Huntress)

Endorsement:

As one of the co-founders with Senator Mike Gravel of Philadelphia Two, the forerunner of The National Initiative for Democracy, I support its commitment to peace, prosperity, and freedom by compassionate justice through Direct Democracy and the Just Third Way.

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Dreissen, Ken

Biography: 

Ken Driessen has been everything from a first aide responder to a welder to a teacher, and he is now a candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s seventh district.  He is running as an independent, with the basic tenet of his platform being "direct participatory democracy," a concept which includes the National Initiative for Democracy.

Endorsement:

I certainly endorse the National Initiative…The NI is a good thing and politicians hate it because it takes back but a smidgin of the power they have abused from the beginning. I’d be proud to be listed as a supporter of the national initiative.

Ken

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Gates, Jeff

Endorsement:

Please give the good Senator my best regards and, yes, delighted to sign on.  I suppose I’m best identified as author, The Ownership Solution, Democracy at Risk; president of Shared Capitalism Institute.

All the best,

Jeff

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Gilbert, Alan

Endorsement:

Alan Gilbert, John Evans Professor, Graduate School of International Studies, University of Denver.

   Best wishes,
   Alan

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Haddock, Doris

Biography: 

Doris Granny D Haddock (a.k.a. Ethel Doris Rollins) is an American politician and liberal political activist from the state of New Hampshire. Haddock famously walked across the continental United States in 1999 to advocate campaign finance reform.

Endorsement:

Thanks for refreshing my memory of Senator Gravel’s National initiative.  I would be proud to endorse it.  Doris (grannyd) Haddock

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Hansen, Jeremy

Biography: 

Hansen earned his Master’s and Doctorate degrees while holding full-time positions in the field of information technology. He moved to Vermont after receiving his PhD and accepting a position at Norwich University. He teaches a variety of topics in computer science and information security, and conducts research on privacy in social networks, and security of medical systems.

Endorsement:

By providing an antidote to the hyper-partisan gridlock that we find in many places in American government, the Citizen’s Amendment and the Citizen’s Legislative Procedures Act together are a great first step to ensuring that we have a functional, effective system that is more responsive to the needs of citizens.

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Hawken, Paul

Biography: 

Paul Hawken is an environmentalist, entrepreneur, journalist, and best-selling author. At age 20, he moved to Boston to study macrobiotic philosophy under Michio and Aveline Kushi. He then dedicated his life to changing the relationship between business and the environment, and between human and living systems in order to create a more just and sustainable world.

Endorsement:

This looks good. Please count me in.

Paul Hawken (author, businessman)

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Hayden, Tom

Biography: 

After over forty years of activism, politics and writing, Tom Hayden still is a leading voice for ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, erasing sweatshops, saving the environment, and reforming politics through greater citizen participation. Learn more at his website.

Endorsement:

I endorse. Tom Hayden — tomhayden.com
 

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Henderson, Hazel

Biography: 

Hazel Henderson is a futurist and an evolutionary economist. She is the author of several books including Building A Win-Win World, Beyond Globalization, Planetary Citizenship (with Daisaku Ikeda), and Ethical Markets: Growing the Green Economy. Henderson is now a television producer for the public television series Ethical Markets.

Endorsement:

I hereby endorse the National Intiative for Democracy.

Best regards,
Hazel Henderson
www.hazelhenderson.com
www.calvert-henderson.com
www.ethicalmarketplace.com

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Hill, Julia Butterfly

Biography: 

Julia Butterfly Hill is an American activist and environmentalist. Hill is best known for living in a 180-foot-tall, 600-year-old California Redwood tree for 738 days between December 10, 1997 to December 18, 1999. Hill lived barefoot in the tree, affectionately known as "Luna," to prevent loggers of the Pacific Lumber Company from cutting it down.

Endorsement:

From: Roxanna Super
Subject: Re: Endorse Nat’l Initiative for Democracy??

Thank you for your patience.

Julia has taken the opportunity to read the information that you have provided and after careful consideration she would like her name added as an endorser for the National Initiative for Democracy.

Please let us know if there is anything else that you need.

Thanks,
Roxy

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Holthaus, Nicholas

Biography: 

Nicholas (Nico) Holthaus is a writer, teacher, and producer of social impact documentaries, political exposés and narrative films. He is the executive producer of the national Main St. Inc series, and the forthcoming Dear America documentary on the National Initiative.

Endorsement:

In my research, travels and work around the country–primarily through political and social impact documentaries–I find that there are legions of well-meaning "reform groups." And regardless of their political leanings, the members of all of these groups have a common denominator: to reverse and eliminate the control corporate entities have on our legislation (and therefore on our lives). I firmly believe that the National Initiative for Democracy is the vehicle that can not only unite these groups in a common and positive, actualized vision, but has the best chance at real social, economic, educational and legislative reform. We all can do it, and we all will do it.

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Jacob, Paul

Biography: 

Paul Jacob is an activist, organizer, and advocate for legislative term limits, initiative and referendum rights, and limited government in the United States. He writes a weekly column for Townhall.com and his short radio commentary feature, "Common Sense," is syndicated by the Sam Adams Alliance on over 120 radio stations around the U.S. He has held positions with the Libertarian Party (United States), U.S. Term Limits, Americans for Limited Government, Citizens In Charge and the Sam Adams Foundation.

Endorsement:

let me express my gratitude to Philadelphia II and the Democracy Foundation for their bold work in bringing forward this proposal and for their inspiring confidence in the common sense and intelligence of the people. Congratulations to Senator Mike Gravel and all those involved in creating the National Initiative for Democracy.

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Jingozian, Michael

Biography: 

Michael Jingozian is the founder and CEO of AngelVision Technologies. In 2007, they were voted "One of the 15 Best Small Companies to work for in Oregon." Recently, AngelVision was ranked the 120th fastest growing company in the United States by Inc. Magazine. Jingozian is also the founder of RESET America, which is a group dedicated to breaking the 2 party monopoly and increasing the number of candidates who run on 3rd party tickets to secure 3rd party ballot access and participation in national debates. He is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Libertarian National Committee and is on working on a book titled, "Story Pollution," to increase awareness for why American voters continue to support politicians who do not represent their best interests and what can be done to change these views and elect people who are committed to creating a more sustainable world.

Endorsement:

I endorse the National Initiative for Democracy for many reasons. First, I have had the great honor of meeting and campaigning with Senator Gravel while running for the Libertarian Party’s Presidential nomination and I had the opportunity to talk to him in person about the National Initiative and why it makes sense for America. My work in "Story Pollution" is about challenging ways of thinking that keep us in the past and to work, instead, for a future that sees a breakdown in the 2 party system and is more hospitable to 3rd party candidates who seek public office. The National Initiative makes it possible for people to realize their potential to affect change, which could inspire a new generation of people who hold opinions not supported by either of the 2 major parties to run for local, state and federal government.

Not only is the National Initiative in line with democratic ideals in that it recognizes the power of the people to make laws, it also allows people to recognize their own power to serve themselves rather than just sending elected officials to Washington. I grew up in Massachusetts and during that time, there was no such thing as a voter initiative. When I moved to Oregon, I experienced, first-hand, the difference between a state with no voter initiative policy and one that put power into the hands of the people to make decisions regarding their own future. Not only does this foster a sense of community because people are able to collaborate and to think about the best way to govern themselves, but it also allows for a more responsible government on the part of the state representatives who realize that they do not hold all of the cards. The people are inspired and engaged in the process.


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Kearns, Michael Shawn

Biography: 
  • Intelligence Officer (Retired) [United States of America, 1977-1997; Australia, 2001-2008]
  • High-tech entrepreneur and corporate executive (Silicon Valley, Wash. D.C., and Overseas [Middle East, Asia/Pacific], 1997-2001)
  • Educator (University Lecturer and Asst Professor, Political Science, History, Geography, Physical Science, and Leadership Studies, 1985-present)
  • PhD (abd) The Educational Psychology of Leadership Studies in America (1824-2010).
Endorsement:

Political Leadership is the most power-laden and valued language-game exercised within the American corporate milieu today. The NI4D campaign is essential to getting our citizen’s voice back through Direct Democracy and Self Governance. Our American Republic must adopt Direct Democracy NOW! if we have any chance of returning Political Leadership into the hands of We the People… so please, support NI4D today.

As of Aug 2010, Candidate for U.S. Congress, 6th District of Colorado

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Kierig, Lee

Biography: 

Lee Kierig is an Architect and published author living in Montana. He has been highly involved as an activist for the re-creation of humanity through a functional reckoning of the inherited force philosophy that has only served to oppress the people throughout history by destroying the Public Trusts Domain, all life and Earth. Claimed, principles of Democracy are severely diminished, with the popular sentiment of the people dismissed in favor of the elitist few and corporate control of the governance, while themes of aggression continue unabated and while World population continues growing beyond sustainable limits. Lee has been active toward these causes since the early 80’s, particularly in their relation to achieving True Sustainability. He holds a Masters degree in Architecture and has held positions in local government as President of the local Planning(not) Board; a board member of the Bitterroot Human Rights Alliance and a concerted advocate for Responsible Liberty for all people of Earth.

Endorsement:

I wholly endorse this call for True Democracy and support this campaign in any manner that I am able. Our time is, indeed, now upon us.

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Knapp, Thomas

Biography: 

Knapp serves as the St. Louis County Libertarian Party’s Normandy Township committeeman, and as a federal appointee to my local Selective Service System board. In the 2008 election, he was a candidate for US House Representatives for Missouri’s 2nd District and won 2.3% of the vote.

Endorsement:

"While many libertarians distrust democracy and fear its devolution into mob rule," he says, "it seems unlikely to me that the American people would legislate as corruptly and incompetently as their representatives in Washington have. The National Initiative provides for a period of deliberation and debate, with any new law [constitutional amendment] requiring affirmation by voters in two separate elections. Meanwhile, we frequently hear that Congress has passed new legislation without waiting for it to be printed so that they can actually read it."

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Lerner, Michael

Biography: 
Endorsement:

I’d be happy to have Mike Gravel write something about this for TIKKUN magazine, and to have you list me as one of the endorsers of this proposal.

       Rabbi Michael Lerner

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Morehouse, Ward

Biography: 

Ward Morehouse is an author, publisher, activist, and a co-founder of POCLAD, an American anti-corporate research collective. Morehouse is a well-known activist who has worked on the Bhopal Gas accident in India and is the founder of Apex Press.

Endorsement:

Ward Morehouse

President, Council on International and Public Affairs and author of Abuse of Power and other books on corporations and democracy. 

Co-founder and co-director of POCLAD

 

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Murphy, John A.

Biography: 

John Murphy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from St. Joseph’s University and an MBA from Drexel University. He was an adjunct professor in the MBA programs at Temple University, Rutgers University and St. Joseph’s University, and he is a past president of the Philadelphia chapter of the American Marketing Association. He was an independent management consultant for 14 years. In 2008, he ran for Congress for PA-16 and lost to Joe Pitts.

Endorsement:

I endorse it wholeheartedly.

John Murphy

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Nissani, Moti

Biography: 

Dr. Nissani holds degrees in genetics, philosophy, and psychology. He left genetics in 1980, not wishing to carry out recombinant DNA research. Since then, his research and teaching defy specialization, involving such diverse fields as history, politics, media, science education, history of science, the greenhouse effect, and medicine. During the 1995-96 academic year, he served as a Fulbright Scholar at Tribhuvan University, Nepal and in 2000 served as an advisor to that university’s honors program. He also authored Lives in the Balance: The Cold War and American Politics, 1945-1991 (Hollowbrook Publishing, 1992). [Curriculum vitae]

Endorsement:

OF COURSE

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Oddo, Joseph

Biography: 

In 2008, Mr. Oddo ran for Congress in Northern Virginia’s 11th district. He was not elected.

Endorsement:

I sat down to dinner four years ago with Mike at his favorite Chinese Restaurant in Rosslyn and endorsed NI4D. I advocate for it anytime the subject of our broken democracy is mentioned. I authored the National Election Reform Platform as posted on www.IndependentAmerica.org

Please affix my name to the endorsement page – much appreciated.
Thanks.

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Perkins, John

Biography: 

Author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. New York Times Bestselling Author of Hoodwinked. For more information, see the biographical information posted on his website.

Endorsement:

I am happy to endorse the National Initiative for Democracy.
 

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Reichel, Matt

Biography: 

Matt Reichel graduated from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and has been a peace activist, involved with organizations like Illinois Peace Action and National Peace Action, since 2000.  He worked on Dennis Kucinich’s presidential and congressional campaigns in 2008, and in 2009 he ran unsuccessfully for Congress in a special election in Ilinois’ fifth congressional district.  He won the Green Party’s primary and won about seven percent of the vote in the general election.

On February 2, 2010, Reichel won the Green Party primary for the same seat, and he is currently running a general election campaign.

Endorsement:

I am undoubtedly a supporter of the National Initiative for Democracy, and
would like to officially endorse it.

I am a big fan of his [Mike Gravel].

Sincerely,

Matt Reichel

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Rensenbrink, John

Endorsement:

Yes, I endorse with enthusiasm the National Initiative for Democracy.

John Resenbrink
Co-founder of the National Green Party; author of "Against All Odds: the Green Transformation of American Politics", and Professor Emeritus, Bowdoin College.

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Seeger, Pete

Biography: 

Peter Seeger, better known as Pete Seeger, is a folk singer, political activist, and a key figure in the mid-20th century American folk music revival. As a member of the Weavers, he had a string of hits, including a 1949 recording of Leadbelly’s "Goodnight Irene" that topped the charts for 13 weeks in 1950. However, his career as a mainstream performer was seriously curtailed by the Second Red Scare: he came under severe attack as a former member of the Communist Party of the United States of America. Later, he re-emerged on the public scene as a pioneer of protest music in the late 1950s and the 1960s.

Endorsement:

Yes, I’ll join the endorsers of Sen Mike Gravel’s Nat. Init. for Democracy

Pete Seeger

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Smith, Sam

Biography: 

Is a writer, activist and social critic who has been at the forefront of new ideas and new politics for more than four decades. He has been editing alternative publications since 1964, longer than almost anyone in the country. He covered the capital during all or part of ten presidencies. Read more here.

Endorsement:

yeah, sign me on. . .


i worked with the dc statehood party to get these [initiatives] in DC back in the 1970s.

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Solomon, Norman

Biography: 

Norman Solomon is an American journalist, media critic and antiwar activist. Solomon is longtime associate of the media watch group Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR). In 1997 he founded the Institute for Public Accuracy, a national consortium of policy researchers and analysts which works pro-actively to provide alternative sources for journalists, and serves as its executive director. His weekly column, "Media Beat", has been in national syndication since 1992.

Endorsement:

Yes, please add me to the list of endorsers. Norman Solomon author and syndicated columnist on media and politics

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Stephenson, Neil Kiernan

Biography: 

In 2008, Stephenson ran for Congress in Michigan’s 10th district. He did not win, but vowed to try again.

Endorsement:

Stephenson has included NI4D in his platform and received an endorsement from Senator Mike Gravel.

Udall, Brad

Biography: 

Brad Udall is director of Western Water Assessment, one of seven RISA (Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments) programs funded by the Office of Global Programs at NOAA.

Endorsement:

count me as an endorser of the National Initiative. best, Brad

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Wasserman, Harvey Franklin

Biography: 

Harvey Franklin Wasserman is an author, journalist and advocate for renewable energy. He has been a strategist and organizer in the anti-nuclear movement in the United States for over 30 years. He has been a featured speaker on Today, Nightline, National Public Radio, CNN Lou Dobbs Tonight and other major media outlets. Wasserman is senior advisor to Greenpeace USA and the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, an investigative reporter, and senior editor of The Columbus Free Press and freepress.org.

Endorsement:

i endorse the national initiative for democracy.

harvey wasserman

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Welton, Kent

Biography: 

Kent Welton is an author, activist, musician, and artist.

Endorsement:

Yes, it is the only route left to rescue us from corporate fascism embedded by the corporate media and privatized money powers.

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White, Gilbert Fowler

Biography: 

Gilbert Fowler White (1911-2006) was a prominent American geographer, sometimes termed the "father of floodplain management" and the "leading environmental geographer of the 20th century" (Wescoat, 2006).

Endorsement:

I am glad to join in endorsing the National Initiative

                          Gilbert

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Williams, Byron

Biography: 

Byron Williams has spoken throughout the country, he has appeared on numerous television and radio news programs, including CNN, ABC Radio, Fox News, MSNBC, and National Public Radio. He is a featured writer on The Huffington Post, and serves as a member of People for the American Way’s African American Religious Affairs and is religious co-chair for the National Black Justice Coalition.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science; his masters’ thesis at the Pacific School of Religion of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA emphasized a theology of liberation.

Endorsement:

You have my permission to add my name.

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Winger, Richard

Biography: 

Richard Lee Winger has been for the last forty years the leading advocate in the United States for minor political parties, in particular for more equitable laws allowing access to the ballot for minor parties. Though he has no formal education in law, Winger is regarded as a formidable authority on election law, having testified as such in countless court cases across the country, and having been published in journals ranging from the Journal of Election Law to the Fordham Urban Law Review. Since 1985 he has published Ballot Access News, a monthly newsletter covering developments in ballot access law and among the minor parties generally.

Endorsement:

I agree that the national initiative is very desirable, but I can’t see how to get it. We can’t even get any more states to accept the initiative. The last time was in 1983, Mississippi.

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Zinn, Howard

Biography: 

Howard Zinn is an American historian, political scientist, social critic, activist and playwright, best known as author of the bestseller A People’s History of the United States.

Endorsement:

       Yes, I will be happy to endorse the Democracy Amendment. Howard Zinn

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