Category Archives: Rick Hubbard

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Trump Train Falling Off the Rails

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I can see the tide turning. On Tuesday, voters in an Iowa county that supported Trump by a 17-point margin in 2020 voted to elect Democrat Kimberly Sheets to the position of county auditor. Sheets captured 66.5% of the vote over her Republican opponent who had spread false conspiracy theories about the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the 2020 presidential election. Iowa’s county auditors oversee elections.[1]

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan scheduled Donald Trump’s D.C. trial on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election for March 4, 2024.[2] As hard as he tries, Trump will not be able to hide his disgraceful betrayal of our democracy until after next year’s presidential election.

Last Thursday, Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee set October 23rd for the trial of Kenneth Chesebro, one of 18 defendants charged alongside former President Trump with various acts of conspiracy to overturn the state’s 2020 election results.[3] While Trump may not be on trial in this latter hearing, it will expose to the American people a great deal about his alleged criminal wrongdoing in the 2020 Georgia election.

Finally, the wheels are coming off the treacherous Trump train. But even if Trump is found guilty in all four criminal cases now pending against him, it will not fix our broken democracy.

That is why it’s imperative that we, the people, need to get to work now to fix our democracy. That’s a very tall order. Many measures, beginning with open primaries and the right to vote and have our votes counted for everyone over 18, will be required to repair our democracy. While what’s required won’t happen overnight, if we want to save our country from autocratic rule, there is no time to waste.

Where to start and what to do? For some practical answers to those questions, attend the ‘Fix Our Democracy’ rally on the eastside of the Roundhouse in Santa Fe this Friday at noon. Rick Hubbard, who is alerting Americans to the urgent necessity to come together and repel the imminent danger to our democratic way of life, will be the featured speaker.

Hubbard, an 81-year-old retired lawyer and political activist, is Walking Across America to Fix Our Democracy. Obviously, he can’t do it alone. This is a critical time in our country and if we ever were going to help save our democracy from authoritarianism, now is the time to step up and get involved.

Show your support and attend the rally this Friday at noon and bring a friend or two with you. Urge all your friends and colleagues to be there. Please send this notice to as many people as you can. For more information, see the press release below.

Bruce Berlin

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/. Join the movement to revive our democracy. Together we can save the soul of America.

For immediate release

CONTACT: Rick Hubbard Cell: 802-999-3905 

Email: fixdemocracy@rickhubbard.org 

This 82-Year-Old Could Be at Home Complaining About Dysfunctional Government.

Instead, He’s Walking Across the Country to Fix Our Democracy.  

 Many Americans think that our government and political system isn’t serving the common good. Instead of properly serving constituents, our elected representatives spend countless hours raising money and becoming beholden to special interests. However, one man is taking to America’s roads to say that all is not lost, and “we the people” have the power to rescue our democracy. 

Retired Vermont lawyer and businessman Rick Hubbard started his Walking to Fix Our Democracy quest from Pasadena, CA in October of 2022. He will arrive in Santa Fe, NM Friday morning, September 1, and will speak at the east side of the Roundhouse at 12 noon hosted by Indivisible Santa Fe, RepresentUs New Mexico, Common Cause New Mexico and Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America.  The nonpartisan event is free and all are welcome.

Hubbard traveled through California, Nevada and Arizona before leaving the road in December 2022 when his life-partner Sally had a relapse of her cancer and later passed away in April 2023.  After putting her affairs in order, Rick returned to the Walk in August 2023, starting in New Mexico with the intention of arriving in Washington, DC after the January 2025 inauguration and a new Congress is seated.  

Hubbard’s project is not just about one person, however.   Walking to Fix Our Democracy is a national effort to engage, activate, and support citizens to fix our democracy.  Rick wants to empower voters across the land to walk and advocate in their own communities to demand proper representation.   

“We can make our political system fairer, more inclusive, more competitive, and more representative. Our walk is a nonpartisan effort to make the case in communities across the U.S. that fixing our democracy first is the quickest and most effective way to unlock progress on issues important to us all: Climate change, health care, education, infrastructure, the freedom to vote, campaign financing, and much more,” says Hubbard. 

Walking to Fix Our Democracy has several purposes: 

  • Raise awareness about the need, and ways, to avoid autocratic rule of government. 
  • Spotlight state and local democracy activist efforts along the route. 
  • To encourage short walks for the same purpose on specific, coordinated dates in communities across America. 
  • To encourage candidates for Congress and other levels of government to make fixing our democracy their lead issue, starting with the passage of the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. 

Hubbard considers this project as an opportunity for high school and college age youth to amplify their voices and concerns about how government functions and its accountability, both locally and nationally.   “I have a request for youth to tell me what to say or ask on their behalf, when I speak with the media, our elected and potential representatives, and the American people,” he stated. 

As Hubbard walks, he encourages citizens of all ages to walk with him, organize local walks, invite him to speak to groups, high schools and colleges, and share his effort via social media.  “My logistics are mostly a volunteer effort,” said Hubbard.  “I depend on volunteers as I travel to help drive the RV, organize events and help get the word out.  This walk, like democracy, isn’t a spectator sport!  It won’t be successful unless we all do our part to make it work,” he said. 

See the schedule and how to get involved by visiting the website at http://www.fixourdemocracy.us

[1] https://iowastartingline.com/2023/08/29/iowa-voters-oust-conspiracy-theorist-from-county-elections-post/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork

[2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/08/28/trump-jan-6-trial-date/?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wp_news_alert_revere&location=alert

[3] https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4169484-fulton-county-da-seeks-oct-23-start-date-in-trump-georgia-trial-after-speedy-trial-request/

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Walking Across America to Fix Our Democracy

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Many Americans believe that our government and political system do not serve the common good. And, they are correct. Instead of properly serving constituents, our elected representatives spend countless hours raising money and becoming beholden to special interests. (See my book at breakingbigmoneysgrip.com)

However, Rick Hubbard is taking to America’s roads to say that all is not lost, and “we the people” have the power to rescue our democracy. A retired Vermont lawyer and businessman, Rick started his Walking to Fix Our Democracy quest from Pasadena, CA in October of 2022. He will arrive in Santa Fe, NM, Friday morning, September 1, and will speak at the east side of the Roundhouse at 12:10 p.m. hosted by Indivisible Santa Fe, New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics and Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America. The nonpartisan event is free and all are welcome.

Hubbard traveled through California, Nevada and Arizona before leaving the road in December 2022 when his life-partner, Sally, had a relapse of her cancer and later passed away in April 2023.  After putting her affairs in order, Rick returned to the Walk in August 2023, starting here in New Mexico with the intention of arriving in Washington, DC, about the time of the January 2025 presidential inauguration and the seating of a new Congress.  

Hubbard’s Walk to Fix Our Democracy is a national effort to engage, activate, and support citizens to fix our democracy.  Rick wants to empower Americans across the land to walk and advocate in their own communities to demand the right to vote and proper representation for all citizens. 

“We can make our political system fairer, more inclusive, more competitive, and more representative. Our walk is a nonpartisan effort to make the case in communities across the U.S. that fixing our democracy first is the quickest and most effective way to unlock progress on issues important to us all: Climate change, health care, education, infrastructure, the freedom to vote, campaign financing, and much more,” says Hubbard. 

Walking to Fix Our Democracy has several purposes: 

  • To raise awareness about the need, and ways, to avoid autocratic rule of government. 
  • To spotlight state and local democracy activist efforts along the route. 
  • To encourage short walks for the same purpose on specific, coordinated dates in communities across America. 
  • To encourage candidates for Congress and other levels of government to make fixing our democracy their lead issue, starting with the passage of the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. 

Hubbard considers this project as an opportunity for high school and college age youth to amplify their voices and concerns about how government functions and its accountability, both locally and nationally.   “I have a request for youth to tell me what to say or ask on their behalf, when I speak with the media, our elected and potential representatives, and the American people,” he stated. 

As Hubbard walks, he encourages citizens of all ages to walk with him, organize local walks, invite him to speak to groups, high schools and colleges, and share his effort via social media.  “My logistics are mostly a volunteer effort,” said Hubbard.  “I depend on volunteers as I travel to help drive the RV, organize events and help get the word out.  This walk, like democracy, isn’t a spectator sport!  It won’t be successful unless we all do our part to make it work,” he said. 

Come to the Roundhouse in Santa Fe on Friday, September 1, at 12 noon to hear Rick speak and join him in the effort to Fix Our Democracy. To learn more about Rick and the Walk to Fix Our Democracy go to https://www.fixourdemocracy.us/.

Bruce Berlin

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/. Join the movement to revive our democracy. Together we can save the soul of America.

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Where Do We Go from Here?

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Last week’s blog featured Rick Hubbard’s 16-month walk across the country “to sound the alarm to the American people about the urgent need to fix our democracy.” (See https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog/.) Unfortunately, this past week Rick had to suspend his Walk.

Rick was about 40 miles east of Flagstaff, Arizona when he got word that Sally, his partner of 30 years, was very ill. As important as the Walk is to Rick, he knew that he had to go back to Vermont immediately to support her. At the same time, Rick vowed that he would return to his Walk as soon as he could. When that will be is anybody’s guess.

Prior to Rick’s suspending his Walk, I spoke to him about focusing the message of his cross-country journey. We agreed that the freedom to vote was the crucial point he needed to promote on his Walk. That is, to fix our democracy we must protect and expand the freedom to vote, which includes at least these elements:

  1. The right of all citizens to vote and have their votes counted,
  2. Open primaries where everyone can vote regardless of party affiliation,
  3. The elimination of gerrymandering,
  4. The elimination of voter suppression efforts,
  5. Ranked choice voting (For an explanation of this process, see https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10837.)
  6. A Required minimum of 14 days of early voting all across the country,
  7. Easy access to drop boxes for voting in all districts, and
  8. Elimination of the Electoral College and the adoption of the national popular vote for president and vice president.

The goal is to make the freedom to vote a fundamental right just as public education is in our country.

The outcome of 2024 election will be critical to the future of our nation. It will determine whether the country moves further toward autocracy and fascism, or more in the direction of a functioning democracy. Guaranteeing and expanding the freedom to vote will go a long way toward the latter objective.

Still, it is obvious that we will not achieve the eight elements listed above in the next two years. Rather than scattering our energy and resources by trying to accomplish all eight, I believe we would be better off concentrating on two or three in the short time before the 2024 election. Which two or three to go for would be determined by which ones are:

  1. most likely to gain the greatest popular support,
  2. most likely to be achieved, and
  3. most likely to secure our democracy.

I’d like to know what you think. Please email me your choices in ranked order at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com and I will publish the results in next week’s blog. To build a strong democracy movement, we need to establish our priorities. What are our most pressing goals? If you feel something is missing from the above list, feel free to add it. I look forward to hearing from you.

Bruce Berlin

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/. Join the movement to revive our democracy. Together we can save the soul of America.

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Walking Across America to Fix Our Democracy

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On October 1, 2022, Rick Hubbard, a life-long activist, left Los Angeles and began walking across the country to sound the alarm to the American people about the urgent need to fix our democracy. His walk also aims to stimulate media attention to the critical issues facing our nation. Rick plans to complete his journey with a special event on the steps of the Capitol in Washington in January of 2024.

Turning 81 this month, Rick is a native Vermonter, retired attorney and former member of the National Governing Board of Common Cause. He has a long history of bringing vital national issues to the public’s attention. Over two decades ago, Rick walked for a week with Granny D, who crossed the country in 1999-2000 to highlight the need for campaign finance reform. Then he did a 450-mile jaunt in Vermont advocating for the same initiative. He’s also walked in New Hampshire and from Philly to D.C. for democracy reform.[1]

Rick sums up the need to fix our democracy like this:

Congress isn’t working for most people. Our political system gives many incentives to act in ways that place their own re-election interests, those of their wealthy and influential campaign funders, and those of their political party above the common, broad interests of the American people.[2]

Here’s what he believes we need to do to fix our democracy:

  • Reform our political process to get more competition, more turnover, and better representation for our common good and the future of our nation.
  • Work with others to support those in Congress willing to pass national standards, including the For the People Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, DC Statehood.
  • Ratify a Constitutional Amendment to transform our political system and move our country closer to realizing the true promise of democracy.[3]

You can read more about the issues Rick believes we need to address by going to his website https://www.fixourdemocracy.us/.

Rick will be walking through New Mexico in late January and early February 2023. The entire route of his walk can be found on his website. He plans to hold public events in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Vegas as well as in every state on his journey.

Clearly, Rick needs all the help he can get. This is a critical time in the history of our democracy. We all need to pitch in and do whatever we can if we want our American democracy to survive.

If you would like to volunteer or donate to support the Walk to Fix Our Democracy, it’s easy to do at https://www.fixourdemocracy.us/. If you would like to help organize one of the New Mexico events, contact me at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Bruce Berlin

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/. Join the movement to revive our democracy. Together we can save the soul of America.

[1] https://www.rickhubbard.org/author/

[2] https://www.fixourdemocracy.us/faqs

[3] Ibid.