How to make grassroots political change (w/ Katie Fahey)
Jul 8, 2024
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Katie Fahey, Founder of Voters Not Politicians, discusses grassroots political change with Chris, highlighting the power of community organizing. They explore overcoming daunting challenges, bipartisan politics, building consensus, and the impact of redistricting in Michigan for fair representation.
Grassroots efforts can create real political change by empowering regular citizens to organize for a common goal.
Collaboration across party lines on fundamental issues like infrastructure can bridge political divisions and drive progress.
Engaging everyday Americans in political activism around shared values can lead to systemic change and fair representation.
Deep dives
Katie Fahey's Journey in Political Activism
Katie Fahey, a regular person, founded Voters Not Politicians and The People, initiating a campaign against gerrymandering in Michigan. She highlighted how gerrymandering allowed politicians to manipulate voting districts, leading to unfair election outcomes. Fahey's grassroots efforts resulted in creating an independent citizens redistricting commission, ensuring fair representation and bipartisan governance.
Importance of Civic Engagement
Growing up around veterans inspired Fahey's belief in civic duty and voting. She emphasized the importance of collaboration in politics, focusing on common values like clean water, air quality, and job opportunities. Despite political divisions, she highlighted bipartisan support for fundamental issues like infrastructure and education.
Community Engagement in Political Change
Fahey's success stemmed from engaging everyday Americans in political activism. By uniting people around shared values of fairness and transparency, she mobilized support to end gerrymandering. Emphasizing action-oriented strategies, she empowered individuals to contribute to systemic change.
Empowering People for Change
Fahey's approach involved celebrating small milestones, fostering a sense of community, and acknowledging shared goals for a better future. She highlighted the power of collective action in driving political change and encouraged perseverance amidst challenges. By focusing on engaging diverse perspectives and finding common ground, Fahey aims to create inclusive and transparent political systems.
Promoting Fair Elections and Civic Participation
Fahey advocates for innovative approaches like ranked choice voting to reduce polarization and enhance representation. Highlighting the need for democracy to evolve with societal changes, she supports citizen assemblies for inclusive policy-making. By addressing issues of voter suppression and partisan influence, Fahey aims to create a more equitable and responsive political landscape.
What can you do when a problem feels too daunting to take on? Enlist some help. Political issues can often feel too difficult to solve, but Katie Fahey–the founder of the grassroots organization Voters Not Politicians and executive director of the democratic reform organization The People–says we have more power than we think. This week, she talks with Chris about how a community of regular citizens can organize together for change… and have a real, lasting impact on the way their government works.