CONTINUED FROM LIK ROPER FOR PRESIDENT 2000...

 FOURTH: CITIZENS SHOULD HAVE MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THEIR VOTING POWERS ARE NOT DILUTED, OVER-RUN, OR NULLIFIED. SUCH MEASURES INCLUDE EASIER VOTER REGISTRATION, STATE-LEVEL BINDING INITIATIVES AND REFERENDUMS, PUBLIC FINANCING OF CAMPAIGNS, AND TERM LIMITS NOT TO EXCEED 12 YEARS.

 FIFTH: CITIZENS MUST HAVE FULL LEGAL STANDING TO CHALLENGE IN THE COURTS THE WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING. OVERLY COMPLEX, MYSTIFYING JARGON IN OUR LAWS AND PROCEDURES MUST BE SIMPLIFIED AND CLARIFIED SO THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS NOT SHUT OUT FROM UNDERSTANDING AND CHALLENGING THEM.

 SIXTH: CITIZENS SHOULD BE ACCORDED COMPUTERIZED ACCESS IN LIBRARIES AND IN THEIR HOMES TO THE FULL RANGE OF GOVERNMENT INFORMATION. INSERTS IN BILLING STATEMENTS FROM MONOPOLIZED UTILITIES AND FINANCIAL COMPANIES SHOULD INVITE CONSUMERS TO JOIN CONSUMER ACTION WATCHDOG GROUPS. THE PUBLIC, WHICH OWNS THE TV/CABLE/RADIO MEDIA AIRWAVES, WHICH ARE LEASED FOR FREE TO LARGE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES, SHOULD HAVE ITS OWN AUDIENCE NETWORK TO INFORM, ALERT, AND MOBILIZE DEMOCRATIC CITIZEN DEBATE AND INITIATIVES.

 SEVENTH: EFFECTIVE LEGAL PROTECTIONS ARE NEEDED FOR ETHICAL WHISTLEBLOWERS WHO ALERT AMERICANS TO ABUSES OR HAZARDS TO HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE, CONTAMINATION IN THE ENVIRONMENT, OR THE DEFRAUDING OF CITIZENS. SUCH CONSCIENTIOUS WORKERS NEED RIGHTS TO ENSURE THEY WILL NOT BE FIRED OR DEMOTED FOR SPEAKING OUT WITHIN THE CORPORATIONS, THE GOVERNMENT, OR IN OTHER BUREAUCRACIES.

 EIGHTH: WORKING PEOPLE NEED A REASONABLE MEASURE OF CONTROL OVER HOW THEIR PENSION MONIES ARE INVESTED, RATHER THAN IT BEING CONTROLLED BY BANKS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES.

 NINTH: SHAREHOLDERS, WHO ARE THE OWNERS OF COMPANIES, SHOULD NOT HAVE THEIR ASSETS WASTED OR WORKER MORALE VICTIMIZED BY OVERPAID EXECUTIVES WHO GIVE THEMSELVES BONUSES, GREENMAIL, AND GOLDEN PARACHUTES, SELF-PERPETUATING BOARDS OF DIRECTORS, AND A STIFLING OF THE PROXY VOTING SYSTEM TO BLOCK SHAREHOLDER VOTING REFORMS.

 TENTH: OUR COUNTRY'S SCHOOLCHILDREN NEED TO BE TAUGHT DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES IN THEIR HISTORIC CONTEXT AND PRESENT RELEVANCE, WITH PRACTICAL CIVICS EXPERIENCES TO DEVELOP THEIR CITIZEN SKILLS AND A DESIRE TO USE THEM, AND SO THEY WILL BE NURTURED TO SERVE AS A MAJOR RESERVOIR OF FUTURE DEMOCRACY.

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 *The Concord Principles outline the tools for enabling a better informed and strengthened civic participation by citizens in their roles as voters, taxpayers, consumers, workers, shareholders, and students.
 All political candidates should commit to these principles unless, that is, they just want your vote, but would rather not have you looking over their shoulder from a position of knowledge, strength, and wisdom.

 -RALPH NADER