Mods: I was unsure if a politics-related rant was ok. If not: sorry!

Over the last month and a little, we’ve watched the disruption and/or dismantling of key US government programs and agencies - fundamentally undermining the power of Congress and the balance of power in the federal government. We’ve also started to see the Executive Branch ignore court orders - undermining the Judicial Branch and further erroding the balance of power.

We are watching this happen while our Congressional leaders take no meaningful action. There is no plan to restore balance to the federal government, no call to action for citizens to take, no one steering the ship. Our leaders have failed us in a spectacular way.

How did we get here? Well… everyday Americans are falling behind - driven by low wages, high cost of living, and economic instability. And we are watching big business and the rich influence our leaders in ways that are actively harmful to individual Americans.

In November people were given the option between the status quo or dramatic change. And people voted for change - albeit bad change. Desperate people do desperate things.

But the vast majority of Americans don’t want to get rid of democracy. They don’t want to break the international order. They don’t want someone who doesn’t meet the requirements to become president to boss the actual president around.

This is, at its core, a nonpartisan issue. We want the government to work for us again: of the people, by the people, for the people.

On several occasions I’ve seen or heard people asking “what can we do?” In the absence of direction from our leaders, I thought I’d share specific things that I am asking my representatives to actively support. Maybe, if enough of us ask, we can create the pressure and momentum required to enact change:

Re-assert Congressional power Enact a law (or laws) that increase transparency, demand accountability, and strengthen checks and balances. Override a veto if necessary. Why: this reestablishes the balance of power intended by our founders.

Limit or eliminate political donations Limit maximum annual donations (to candidates, parties, PACs and Super PACs) to $2k/year per entity or person - or get rid of them all together. Why: this ensures that our leaders are influenced by their constituents and not the highest bidder.

Set Congressional term and age limits Limit years in Congressto no more than 20 years and no older that 75. Why: this creates an ongoing rotation of leaders rather than people clinging to power.

These things won’t solve all of our problems, but will allow the American people to begin an actual dialogue without influence - from which we can tackle issues affecting the country.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.