<strong>Dear Santa,</strong>

All I want for Christmas is the restoration of our Democracy.

<strong>There are three simple things that would restore our Democracy's infinite strength and potential for an equitable society.</strong> These are bi-partisan issues and should be easy for both Democrats and Republicans to support and pass, but haven't been acted on yet due to the meddling of special interests. I'm hoping that Santa can help put these issues under the tree of our elected Congressmen. If he can't help, then maybe you can put my wish under the nose of Congress and the public by joining with me.
<strong>
Christmas Wish List:
1. Strengthen Federal Labor Law to protect Americans and law abiding companies.

2. Promote Voter Education and Election Reform.

3. Employee Ownership and participation in the long term success of companies.</strong>

The first one, <strong>Strengthen Federal Labor Law</strong>, has already passed the House but is stalled in the Senate by Republicans. The Employee Free Choice Act may be stalled, but it is ripe for a compromise to help ordinary Americans and law-abiding companies!

A compromise between Democrats and Republicans to pass Section 4 of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) will strengthen penalties for violations of labor laws.

The EFCA is currently stalled in the Senate due to objections by Republicans over changes in procedure for recognizing a union found in other sections of the EFCA. A compromise and passage of Section 4 of the EFCA would ensure that companies that follow the law are not put at a disadvantage against companies who see the weak penalties as an invitation to violate the law.

Republicans generally favor the enforcement of law, and to oppose this would be politically offensive to those who believe Americans have the basic human right to organize. This includes many Republicans who are part of the permanent Government and belong to the unions which help ensure good wages and benefits for civil servants. Moreover, most American workers are able to vote. All corporations whether American or multinational cannot vote, but they can use money to influence elections (see item &035;2 Election Reform).

But Republicans also would like labor reform. A Republican cause from 1998 actually is in the best interests of employees and small business, as well as law abiding big businesses that are harmed when their less-ethical brethren violate the law. Inflation adjusting the National Labor Relation Board (NLRB) jurisdiction limits helps everyone and keeps government small and efficient.

The jurisdiction limits for the NLRB have been stagnant since 1959 and inflation now includes almost half of small businesses under federal law causing massive delays in enforcement. <strong>In 1959, the limit of $500,000 gross retail income was equal to $3.3 million.</strong> Although over 32% of private business was unionized in 1959, only large businesses where employees are anonymous were included under the jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations Board. Another stagnant jurisdiction limit of $50,000 in interstate trade excludes only the smallest businesses and discourages our dealings with out-of-state vendors.

Although some will claim that unions need to be able to organize all employers, the reality is that at a mom and pop shop the typical worker can afford to buy a round of beer for a majority of the company. This is not true at a big box store where workers are truly anonymous and a union would be necessary to get the attention of management. Employees simply don't need Federal protection of their right to associate when they work with each other every day.

<strong>2. Promote Voter Education and Election Reform.</strong>

I generally support the efforts of the non-partisan group http://www.commoncause.org which is working to pass the Fair Elections Now Act among other election reform initiative:

Corporations and wealthy donors have too much influence on federal lawmakers, thanks to their campaign contributions.

Under Fair Elections Now, campaigns will be about people and ideas, not who can raise the most money.

Fair Elections Now would stop the money chase by providing public campaign funding for Congressional candidates who agree to strict spending limits and to only accept small contributions from individuals.
Please support the Fair Elections Now Act currently being considered in Congress.
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<strong>3. Employee Ownership and participation in the long term success of companies.</strong>

I support the benefits of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP) as a way to involve employees in the long term success of the companies that they work for. About 11,000 companies have these plans, including high tech manufacturer W.L. Gore, Inc. More at: http://www.agilepeople.org/employee_ownership.htm

Thanks Santa for considering my request. I know you get a lot of wishes for better wages and benefits, job security, withdrawal from Iraq, end of genocide in Darfur, action on global warming, money for education, etc. But I think if you just gave me my wish, then we could tackle those problems as empowered voters and employees.

Maybe you will join with me to advocate for these positions:
Sign the petition to Congress
Read more and join up:
Agilepeople- Americans for Effective and Equitable Government

Merry Christmas and Liberty and Democracy for all!
-JR