This is the first in a series of programs focusing on values that promote or degrade democracy.  Competition and the obsession with winning is this month's value that is incompatible with democracy.  Byron Bangert comments on the role of competition and proposes that the spirit of public service is one of the most serious missing characteristics in today's elected officials.

Shades takes a new approach to promoting democracy.  See the ABOUT page on this web site.  No response yet from Sensenbrenner.  The Pork Book documents $29 billion in pork spending.  Here are nine things you should expect from your elected representatives:
1. You should expect your representative, when responding to a person's question, to finish by asking the person: Does that answer your question?
2. You should expect your representative to read every bill they vote on.
3. You should expect your representative to provide you with an up-to-date, annotated voting record.
4. You should expect your representative to provide you with an accurate version of the oppossition's arguments to demonstrate his/her understanding of all sides of an issue.
5. You should expect 24 hour service.
6. You should expect a three-day turn-around for responses to inquiries.
7. You should expect your elected representatives to offer full disclosure of all their finances as the price of serving as a representative.
8. You should expect your elected representatives to do everything in their power to give you the same level of healthcare that they give themselves.
9. You should expect your representatives to not become a paid lobbyist when they leave office - ever!

House Judicary Committee inquiry. Union leader talks about democracy. Letter puts Democracy and Republic in perspective. Thing #7 that you should expect from your elected representatives.

Rant on TV ads. Sweetwater.com recommended. Instant Runoff Voting introduced. Expectations 4, 5, and 6.

Vermont independence movement explored at vermontrepublic.org. Principle of secession explored at secession.net. The ugly truth about factory farming at themeatrix.com.

http://usbluepages.gov Micheal Greenman chairs@circainfo.org The People's Email Network usalone.com

League of Women Voters web site is recommended. A Democracy Conference is announced. David Sirota, his book, Hostile Takover, is introduced, his blog, The Corruption Digest is recommended. One more expectation is added to the list of things you should expect of your elected representatives.

An introduction to Project Vote Smart which has a lot of voting record information. IU Professor Jim Hart give his views of the relationship between democracy and community. One item is added to the list of expectations of elected representatives.

Update on franking by Congressmen. More on votng records. Media Matters podcast. The Death of Media and the Fight to Save Democracy (book). Beginning of a list of expectations from elected representatives. Rafia Zakaria reports on democracy in Iran.