#120 From Political Disgust to Action: Eric Liu

So many of us are furious at President Trump, Congress, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, The Democrats or the news media-- name your poison.Two thirds of Americans say they are dissatisfied with how things are going in this country today, compared with fewer than three-in-ten who are satisfied. This is a dramatic change from the 1990's, when most people had a positive view of national conditions.This show is an empowering response to anger and disgust. Eric Liu, founder and CEO of Citizen University, says that you're more powerful than you think. We discuss the stories, strategies and ideas raised in his timely book, "You're More Powerful Than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen"The key to fighting back successfully is to have a strategy and know how to read and write power,” but most people have no understanding of power and how to use it.   “I think the reality of American life, right now, is that so many people have neither the motivation nor the ability to read or write power,” Eric tells us. “They lapse into this “House of Cards” or dark conspiratorial vision that all politics are like "Scandal,” and out of that are born people like Donald Trump as President.”Eric's solutions:Learn how power is organized. Instead of spending your life online, join others who share a similar passion for change.Exercise your "we muscle.”Join a club or group and learn how to work with others on game-changing ways to improve the odds for a cause or a hobby that you care about.Vote. In his book, Eric Liu writes that voter turnout (in general) is rarely above 60 percent (at best).Keep it local. Eric argues that too much attention is given to power politics in Washington D.C. Often the best way to bring about change is in the neighborhood or city where you live.
Schools and colleges should improve civics education, giving students a much clearer understanding of grassroots democracy. 

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