Dear presidential candidates:

As you seek election to the highest office of the country, we are asking you to pledge allegiance to the American people. 

Our democracy is in crisis. Today, Americans have fewer protections to their right to vote than when the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965. Never before have corporations and special interests wielded so much power at the expense of ordinary Americans.

Each one of you has the opportunity to shape a new kind of government, where we address issues on the people’s terms — not the terms of corporations and the 1 percent who are trying to buy our elections.

We want you to prove that you will work for the people by rejecting fossil fuel money and speaking up for democracy on the campaign trail, so that we know your platforms come from your conscience and not from your biggest donors. Some of you have already pledged to reject money from fossil fuels, which we applaud; some of you have yet to take that important step.

Now, we’re asking you to sign The Pledge to Fix Democracy:

The Pledge to #fixdemocracy

I pledge allegiance to a democracy of, by, and for the people.

If elected, I pledge to fight for a people-powered democracy where every voice is heard, by defending the right to vote for all, and supporting common-sense measures like public funding for campaigns and overturning Citizens United, to ensure a government by and for the people, not the biggest donors.

And I will prove that I work for the people by refusing money from fossil fuel interests and by championing these solutions for a people powered democracy on the campaign trail.

Republicans or Democrats, we can all agree that the role of the president is to represent the people. We’re asking you to protect the right to vote for all Americans and to fight for commonsense measures to make sure that every voice is heard, not every dollar. In short, we’re asking for you to join us in making America the democracy it should be.   

Signed,

Greenpeace; 350.org; Center for Biological Diversity; Center for Popular Democracy; Climate Justice Alliance; Climate Parents; Common Cause; Democracy Initiative; Energy Action Coalition; Food and Water Watch; Friends of the Earth; Indigenous Environmental Network; Labor Network for Sustainability; Oil Change International; People for the American Way; Public Citizen; Rainforest Action Network; SumofUs; US Rebel Alliance; US Student Association; Colin Beavan, author of “No Impact Man” and “How to Be Alive”; Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and head stamper at StampStampede.org; columnist and author Jim Hightower; Bill McKibben, co-founder of 350.org; Gus Speth, former dean, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Source: The Hill