Sometimes studies and polls teach us something new. And, sometimes, they simply confirm something we already knew.

This week, a new study confirmed that U.S. presidents serve the wealthy elite, and a separate poll confirmed that Americans are sick and tired of ultra-rich controlling our political system.

As a follow-up to last year's Princeton paper that said our nation is no longer a democracy, James Druckman from Northwestern University and Lawrence Jacobs from the University of Minnesota conducted a new study on the health of our democracy. Using documents and data from presidential archives, the team made the conclusion that "elites do most of the deciding" in our nation, because presidents "shirk citizen control."

According to their study, "presidents - Reagan, in particular - were highly attentive to the demands of privileged segments of the electorate with high incomes and other politically valued resources." And, any attention paid to public interest is more about shaping opinion to fit those goals, rather than to fit policy to public demands.

Considering these findings, it comes as no surprise that 84 percent of Americans agree that it's time to get money out of our political system. That's the stunning - yet unsurprising - result of a new CBS/New York Times poll that was released last week. According to that report, the American people are demanding change with "near unanimity."

The cause and effect here is clear. After decades of being manipulated and ignored by our elected leaders, We, The People want to take back control of our democracy. And, slowly, but surely, people all around our nation are working to achieve that very goal.

From protests to ballot initiatives to constitutional amendments, Americans are making sure that free speech only applies to actual voices. The data is clear on the effect of money in politics, and on our desire to overcome this corruption.

It's never too late to fight for our democracy, and that starts with getting money out once and for all.

-Thom

(What do you think? Tell us here.)

  

Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 10pm... Best of The Big Picture (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)

 

Be sure to check out our newest video: RESTORATION - narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio & Thom Hartmann, directed by Leila Conners / Visit GreenWorldRising.org to check out all the videos: CARBON, LAST HOURS & GREEN WORLD RISING - narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio & Thom Hartmann, directed by Leila Conners

 

Please enjoy a Best of The Big Picture show tonight

 

Friday's Daily Stack 

Hour One: If it's Friday, it's "Brunch With Bernie"... the honorable Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joins Thom with all the news from our nation's capitol and as always he'll be spending the hour taking your calls and answering your questions too...
Follow Bernie:    

Poll: "Americans' Views on Income Inequality and Workers' Rights" by New York Times/CBS News.

Article: "Sanders and Conyers Propose Youth Jobs Bill by Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Article: "Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement" (TPP) by EFF.

Article: "DNC will sanction 6 primary debates" by Elena Schneider.

Article: "Lincoln-Douglas debates", 1858 by Wikipedia.

Article: "Half of Older Households Have No Retirement Savings" by Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Article: "Investor-state dispute settlement" (ISDS).

Article: "Philip Morris Sues Uruguay Over Graphic Cigarette Packaging" by NPR.

FaceBook: "Northern Illinois for Bernie Sanders".

Article: "Oak Ridge National Laboratory" by Wikipedia.

Article: "2nd Amendment". A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

In for Thom for the rest of the show, progressive commentators Danielle and Shane-O.

 

Hour Two: How would more debates change our elections?
- John Nichols, The Nation Magazine  

Article: "More Debates Are Good for Bernie Sanders, Martin O'Malley, Lincoln Chafee-and Hillary Clinton" by John Nichols.

Article: "Lincoln Chafee's campaign résumé: 'Let's bring Snowden home'".

Article: "Clinton calls out GOP opponents by name on voting rights" by Dan Merica and Eric Bradner.

Article: "Democrats 'didn't act in good faith' over 2016 presidential primary debate limit " by Ben Jacobs.

 

Article: "Republican Presidential Debate Caps Upend 2016 Race" by Reid J. Epstein.

TV: "West Wing: The Debate".

Petition: "Debate Early and Often: Ask the Democratic Party to start the presidential debates." by Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Book: "End Unemployment Now" by Ravi Batra.

Site: Leslie Marshall Show.

Bill: "H.R.1314 - Trade Act of 2015".

Site: Read the TPP.

Case: "Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission" (2010).

Article: "Gun Restoration Rights Bill Approved By House, Would Allow Felons To Petition For Firearm Ownership" by Eben Blake.

Article: "WikiLeaks releases documents related to controversial US trade pact" (Trade in Services Agreement) by Sam Thielman and Phillip Inman.

 

Talk Radio News Segment:
- Bob Ney 

Book: "Sideswiped: Lessons Learned Courtesy of the Hit Men of Capitol Hill" by Robert Ney.

Article: "Ted Cruz apologises for Joe Biden joke after son's death " by AP.

Article: "Jeb Bush ready to leap into Republican race".

Article: "Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy", June 6, 1968 by Wikipedia.

Article: "Federal Data Breach May Have Compromised Millions' Data" by TRNS.

Article: "New Snowden Documents Reveal Secret Memos Expanding Spying" by Julia Angwin, Jeff Larson, Charlie Savage and Henrik Moltke.

Article: "TSA Chief Out After Agents Fail 95 Percent of Airport Breach Tests" by Tom Costello and M. Alex Johnson.

Law: "Patriot Act", 2001.

Article: "2001 anthrax attacks" by Wikipedia.

Site: Governor Free Don Siegelman.

Article: "TRNS News Notes - 6/5" by Victoria Jones.

Article: "TRNS News Notes - 6/4" by Victoria Jones.

Article: "Princeton Study: U.S. No Longer An Actual Democracy" by Brendan James.

Article: "Study: Yep, American Presidents Are Guided By Wealthy Elites" by Brendan James.

FaceBook: "Northern Illinois for Bernie Sanders".

Article: "Jonas Salk" by Wikipedia.

Article: "Senate passes 'don't call it Medicaid expansion' plan" (Florida) by Bill Cotterell.

Site: Florida House of Representatives.

Article: "Louisiana Teachers Using Bible As Text Books In Public School" by Travis Gettys.

Article: "Justice Scalia Blows Creationist Dog-Whistle During Graduation Speech At Catholic High School" by Ian Millhiser.

Article: "John Quincy Adams" by Wikipedia.

Article: "Josh Duggar inappropriately touched sisters, parents say" by CBS/AP.

Site: Washington State Coalition to Amend the Constitution (WAmend).

Article: "Congress Votes to Extend Federal Funds for Highways Through July" by Kathleen Hunter.

Monday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 12-3pm ET 

 

We'll have the latest news and information...everything you need to know to win the water cooler wars...

 

And, the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...

 

The Thom Hartmann Program, Occupying The Media 3 hours a day 5 days a week" for "we the people"

 

And don't forget...Democracy is NOT a spectator sport...it begins with you...

Free excerpt, read book for free at Truthout, buy the book!

The Thom Hartmann Program is a Charity Wine Partner with the Organic Wine Company. Purchase any wines and they will donate a portion of the proceeds to The Hunter School for children with autism, ADHD, and other learning challenges.

 

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Thom

    

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Sincerely,

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