I just read today that the Wash. state government (members of both parties) are endorsing some 'independent' candidates. This is another way to make changes. And I'm not talking about another extremist party like Libertarians but a moderate, sensible party. I consider myself an independent and try to escape emotion as a way to see issues.

This was discussed ad nauseam over 25 years ago by population demographers. There are simply too many people vying for resources. Take into account all the competing needs, wants and, yes, cultures, politicians can't find a common playing field. They get into politics only to look after themselves and a core constituency. This is a product of overpopulation. The expression "no matter what your cause it is a lost cause unless we deal with overpopulation" applies here. Sorry.

Vote, recognize that we are being taken for a ride and back good representatives, finance elections with public money only , revoke corporations as being persons, reinstate regulations that protect the people from corporations,billionaires,wall street and banks,chemical companies plus gas and oil . These would be a good start.Oh yes term limits , prevent insider trading allowed currently by Congressmen and women, also make Congress abide by the same healthcare,banking rules that they make the average person.

By changing ourselves first ???

I am convinced that the public is responsible for the government it elects, and as such the public ought to demand that the money that is spent on major elections for national offices ought to come out of public funds with no additional monies available to those running for office from either personal or private sources.

What we have now is not a democracy it is a plutocracy where those who get elected think they owe a greater debt to those whose funding helped them get elected and who continue to fund their efforts than to their constituents. I think that their debt ought to be to the people not the NRA or Monsanto or other corporate interest or lobbying groups. I think much Partisan politics would become a thing of the past, and that elected officials would try to represent the interests of their constituency.

Sections of our Constitution needs to be updated, to bring them in line with today's concerns, for instance I am not for removal of the 2nd Amendment, but I don't see any reason for the distribution of military grade weapons to the general public.

Woody,, it will be hard work to get the progressives moving.