In a true democracy, power should reside in the collective voice of the people. This essential democratic principle has been seriously eroded due, in large part, to the corrupting influence of money and power. There are many reasons why we have essentially lost our ability to shape public policy for the public good. One of the primary forces that have led to the current political situation is the fact that much of political leadership takes its direction from those who contribute mightily to political campaigns that have become prohibitively expensive. The end result is the tendency of decisions on public policy to be tailored to corporate interests and the agenda of the powerful. This has had a tragic impact on the state of the region of the northwest and the nation.
Thankfully, there are many organizations that have been initiated to mobilize public opinion and action and counter this trend. The following is but a partial listing of some of these organizations -
Call for Action Against U.S. Poverty and Low Wage Work
The Politics of Poverty
Westside Interfaith Network
Sustainable Seattle
The Seattle Foundation
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington
Association of Washington Cities
CAIR - Promotion of Social Justice for Muslims in Washington State
Center for Women & Democracy
Community Center for Education Results (CCER)
Equal Rights Washington
Innocence Project Northwest
League of Education Voters
Citizen University
