Steven Hill

Divided We Fall, Part II – what’s causing the epidemic of political violence? It’s crucial to examine the deadly role of our antiquated winner-take-all political system, combined with the polarizing effects of toxic “unsocial” media

Divided We Fall, Part II – what’s causing the epidemic of political violence?
Winner-take-all elections = "if you win, I lose" is at heart of it, led to "power over" instead of "power together."Combined w toxic misinformation machines of "unsocial media"
democracysos.substack.com/p/divided-we...

Divided We Fall What happens when you combine polarized winner-take-all politics with a polarizing mass information system based on AI and "unsocial" media?

"Divided We Fall"-- what happens when you combine polarized WinnerTakeAll politics w/ a polarizing mass information system based on AI and "unsocial" media? 18th-cent representative democracy combined w/ 21st-cent communication technologies = post-democracy
democracysos.substack.com/p/divided-we...

Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump, and the backlash against women’s rise How Charlie Kirk conducted his politics and strategy was impressive; but his political and social views about women were straight out of the Old Testament

"Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump & the backlash against women’s rise"
Charlie Kirk's views re women were Old Testament. Contributed to increasingly hostile environment for women legislators, including harassment, intimidation, threats, violence. American Taliban
democracysos.substack.com/p/charlie-ki...

Investor-in-Chief: Trump’s Business Deals, Loyalty Scorecards, and the Rise of Neo-Socialist Capitalism The White House is using government control over the economy in ways that overturn traditional Republican values

"Trump’s new brand of Neo-Socialist Capitalism"
The White House is using govt control over the economy in ways that overturn traditional Republican "free market" values. Intel, NVIDIA, US Steel. Should Dems be learning from Trump's "visible hand"?
thefulcrum.us/business-dem...

With Charlie Kirk's murder, the US descends further into winner-take-all mayhem Will the sensible words of Utah’s Republican governor to find an “off ramp” be heeded? Or is it "1933" all over again?

"With Charlie Kirk's murder, the US descends further into winner-take-all mayhem"

Will the sensible words of Utah’s Republican governor to find an “off ramp” be heeded? Or will Trump seize on this and go full authoritarian? Is it "1933" all over again?
democracysos.substack.com/p/with-charl...

Making lemonade from the lemons of mid-decade redistricting With federal redistricting reform collapsed, and the Supreme Court gutting the Voting Rights Act, now is the time for a new and innovative strategy

"Making lemonade from the lemons of mid-decade redistricting"
With federal redistricting reform collapsed & Supreme Court gutting the Voting Rights Act, now is time for a new & innovative strategy: multi-seat districts w/ proportional ranked choice voting
democracysos.substack.com/p/making-lem...

Making lemonade from the lemons of mid-decade redistricting With federal redistricting reform collapsed, and the Supreme Court gutting the Voting Rights Act, now is the time for a new and innovative strategy

"We are facing a meltdown of American democracy, and inaction is not an option. Nor can we expect that, if we keep doing what we have always done, that it will somehow solve the problem."
- @stevenhill1776.bsky.social

We need proportional ranked choice voting via multi-winner districts.

Democrats are losing ground to Trump's Republicans nearly everywhere – it’s important to understand why Trump's authoritarian-style leadership and mastery of internet-based communications is popular and comforting during uncertain times

According to @NYTimes analysis, "Democrats are losing ground to Trump's Republicans nearly everywhere".
It’s important to understand why. Trump's authoritarian-style leadership &mastery of internet-based communications is comforting during uncertain times
democracysos.substack.com/p/democrats-...

Scandal-plagued Los Angeles badly needs a new democracy. Common Cause needs a new strategy. Here is a plan for both [Dear readers: DemocracySOS depends on reader support.

Scandal-plagued Los Angeles badly needs a new democracy. CommonCause needs a new strategy. Here is a plan for both. A charter commission in LA provides opportunity to re-make LA politics for the 21st century & establish a multiracial standard for the nation
democracysos.substack.com/p/scandal-pl...

Back to School Shopping? Expect Higher Prices, “Invisible” to the Consumer AI-driven "surveillance pricing" hides the price increases from stressed-out parents.

"Back to School Shopping? Expect Higher Prices, Invisible to the Consumer"
AI-driven "surveillance pricing" hides the price increases from stressed-out parents. Frustrated parents are getting fed up as #Walmart #Target tear off price tags to hide the hidden costs
thefulcrum.us/business-dem...

The collapse of Common Cause’s vision for US democracy And a real dilemma for reformers. State-by-state redistricting reform led to "unilateral disarmament" for Democrats. That's a warning to Pro Rep advocates

"The collapse of Common Cause’s vision for US democracy"
And a real dilemma for reformers. State-by-state redistricting reform led to "unilateral disarmament" for Democrats. That's a warning to Pro Rep advocates, who are contemplating a similar strategy
democracysos.substack.com/p/the-collap...

Using democracy to kill democracy—Trump takes a redistricting trick from Viktor Orbán Democrats’ unilateral disarmament via independent redistricting commissions is coming back to haunt them

"Using democracy to kill democracy—Trump takes a redistricting trick from Viktor Orbán"
Redistricting wars are newly erupting,courtesy of our winner-take-all electoral system. Democrats’ unilateral disarmament via indie commissions has returned to haunt them
democracysos.substack.com/p/using-demo...

Trump’s Health Care Law Could Double Premiums for Millions by 2026 Millions of Americans face skyrocketing premiums as ACA subsidies expire under Trump’s new law.

"Trump’s Health Care Law Could Double Premiums for Millions by 2026"
Millions of middle-class Americans face skyrocketing premiums as ACA subsidies expire under Trump’s new law. Get details from my article @fulcrum_us
thefulcrum.us/governance-l...

Democrats are their own worst enemy Democrats often oppose political reforms that would both empower voters AND help Democrats

"Democrats are their own worst enemy"
Dems criticize Trump as anti-democracy, but Dems often oppose political reforms that would both empower voters AND help Democrats. Dumb! Dems don't walk their talk on being pro-democracy. Details on #DemocracySOS
democracysos.substack.com/p/democrats-...

Another nail in Democracy’s coffin: “crafted talk” and “simulated responsiveness” [Dear DemocracySOS readers: this newsletter about US political reform is unique in the breadth and depth of its coverage.

Another nail in Democracy’s coffin: “crafted talk” and “simulated responsiveness,” used to fool We the People. Digital and AI communication technologies are sinisterly suited for manipulating voters. #DemocracySOS
democracysos.substack.com/p/another-na...

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill: Hidden Cuts, Legislative Tricks, and Who Really Pays the Price President Donald Trump received a great Fourth of July present -- he signed his administration’s signature piece of federal legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is a sweeping tax cut and...

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill used hidden cuts, legislative tricks, to hide who really benefited. Tax cuts (mostly for the rich) will kick in BEFORE Nov 2026 midterms. Cuts to Medicaid, food assistance, student loans, clean energy programs kick in AFTER midterms. Clever!
thefulcrum.us/governance-l...

Democracy done right in NYC mayor’s race using RCV Ranked Choice Voting freed up New Yorkers to pick the candidates they really like. An exit poll shows all demographics liked and understood RCV

"Democracy done right in NYC mayor’s race using RCV"
#RankedChoiceVoting freed up New Yorkers to pick mayoral candidates they really liked.It allowed an upstart candidate to build coalitions and win.An exit poll shows all demographics liked &understood RCV
democracysos.substack.com/p/democracy-...

When Taliban America arrested and tried women for voting Women’s rights have long been contested terrain. But in June 1873, one courageous women took on the patriarchy and won -- with lessons for today

152 yrs ago this month: "United States vs. Susan B. Anthony"
When Taliban America arrested and tried women for voting. In June 1873, one courageous women took on the patriarchy and won-- with lessons for today as we see US democracy eroding before our eyes
democracysos.substack.com/p/when-talib...

America’s urban majority has been disenfranchised—here’s how to fix it Why we need a City-State revolution that partitions the largest states to restore majority rule to the Senate and Electoral College

Now on #DemocracySOS:
Political scientist Thor Hogan's provocative plan for how to fix the disenfranchisement of America’s urban majority: partition the largest states to restore majority rule to the Senate and Electoral College ‪@thorhogan.bsky.social‬
democracysos.substack.com/p/americas-u...

Reformers' dilemma: which Pro Rep method for US democracy? As electoral reformers plot out “next steps,” the devil will be in the details. Here are some thoughts.

"Reformers' dilemma: which Pro Rep method for US democracy?"
As electoral reformers plot out “next steps,” the devil will be in the details.
#DemocracySOS offers some thoughts about which electoral system would allow for a robust & representative democracy
democracysos.substack.com/p/reformers-...

The reform pathway for Pro Rep and Ranked Choice Voting How do you get a city or state with millions of people to vote “yes” on changing the electoral system? Here is a guide for how to do that

"The reform pathway for Pro Rep and Ranked Choice Voting"

RCV lost in 4 states in 2024, so what's now the way forward for reform?
#DemocracySOS lays out a strategy blueprint for both RCV & PR
Here's how to get millions of people in cities/states to vote YES
democracysos.substack.com/p/the-reform...

The coming political realignment of the Democrats and Republicans Who are the real advocates for the working- and middle-classes? Is it a new generation of populist GOP leaders? Or the Democratic Party?

"The coming political realignment of the Democrats and Republicans"
Who are the real advocates for the working- and middle-classes? Is it a new generation of populist GOP leaders? Or the Democratic Party?
Where's Democrats "populism"?
Now on #DemocracySOS
democracysos.substack.com/p/the-coming...

Could Splits Within the GOP Over Economic Policy Hurt the Trump Administration? Who are the real populists speaking for the middle- and working-classes? Is it a new generation of GOP leaders? Or the Democratic Party?

Reflecting on House GOP's recently passed budget:
"Could Splits Within the GOP Over Economic Policy Hurt the Trump Admin?"

Younger economic populist wing (more pro-labor) vs traditional libertarian free market wing. Sign of an ideological realignment within GOP?
thefulcrum.us/business-dem...

I liked this article--it was very focused on cool ideas that work, and we need more of that right now.

"European democracies lead the way – with Children’s Parliaments" #ELB Steven Hill: Europe democracies’ staunch belief in a pluralistic democracy is evident in other ways. I recall interviewing the deputy mayor of Bonn, Germany, who told me about a remarkable institution...

“European democracies lead the way – with Children’s Parliaments” electionlawblog.org?p=149905

European democracies lead the way – with Children’s Parliaments As Donald Trump trashes American democracy, the democracies of Europe emerge as leading lights for the 21st century

"European democracies lead the way – w/ Children’s Parliaments"
As Trump trashes US democracy, democracies of Europe have incorporated various “little d” democracy ways for more representative &pluralistic systems such as Childrens Parliaments. Fascinating
democracysos.substack.com/p/european-d...

Are President Trump’s Economic Promises Falling Short? Donald Trump has promised a better economy. But so far he has delivered turbulence and uncertainty.

"Are President Trump’s Economic Promises Falling Short?"
Donald Trump has promised a better economy but so far delivered turbulence and uncertainty. 44 months to go, will Donald Trump turn it around? So far the numbers show little evidence that this is going to end well
thefulcrum.us/ethics-leade...

Will Democrats retake the House due to Trump’s bumbling? The architecture of winner-take-all elections make Democrats’ chances in 2026 an uphill climb

Will Democrats retake the House due to Trump’s bumbling?
There's a chance, but unfortunately the architecture of America's winner-take-all elections make Democrats’ chances in 2026 an uphill climb.
Dose of reality on #DemocracySOS
democracysos.substack.com/p/will-democ...

Trump's Project 2025 is a threat to democracy The White House is slowly dismantling one federal agency after another in pursuit of an audacious “soft overthrow” of US democracy

"Trump's Project 2025 is a threat to democracy"
The White House is slowly dismantling one federal agency after another in pursuit of an audacious “soft overthrow” of US democracy
Now on #DemocracySOS
democracysos.substack.com/p/trumps-pro...

Thanks to @blackgaynerd.com for showing such good taste! ;-)