10 Steps to Repair American Democracy

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, The Nation and Salon.com.

• Introduction; Chapter 1 Secure the Vote; Chapter 2 Expand Voter Participation; Chapter 3 Increase Voter Choice with Instant Runoff Voting; Chapter 4 Scrap Winner-Take-All Elections; Chapter 5 Direct Election of the President; Chapter 6 Overhaul the US Senate; Chapter 7 Reclaim the Airwaves; Chapter 8 Minimize Money’s Role; Chapter 9 Reform the Supreme Court; Chapter 10 Restore Faith in Government; conclusion Conclusion;

“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