The Wake

Democracy Matters, a student organization on our campus, is fighting for fair elections locally and throughout the state. Founder Jim Forrey believes that getting money out of politics is the only way there can be fair and open elections.

Democracy Matters is a non-profit and non-partisan national organization that works toward electoral reform. The U of M chapter is the local chapter of this national organization. The group currently has 20 active members. The U of M chapter first started in the fall of 2004 by then freshman Forrey.

Forrey thinks that issues like the war in Iraq can be traced to big business and money in politics. The problem of money running politics is sometimes overlooked because other popular issues like health care reform take center stage, Forrey says. When the wealthy elite run for election and win, it cuts out a whole section of the country, not allowing for a truly equal government, he says. Another reason why Forrey finds it important to remove financial divisions from politics is that grass roots campaigns are hindered and unsuccessful because their major party opponents have the ability to grossly outspend them in areas like advertising, leading to an unbalanced level of exposure to the smaller organization or candidate.

Democracy Matters is involved in various events on campus and works hard to keep students involved in civil action. A few ways they have accomplished this is by having lectures, debates, concerts, government events, letter writing campaigns and more. The group also works hard to stay active in non-partisan social action, Forrey says. Currently, they are involved in passing a bill called the Fair and Clean Elections bill that would allow for publicly funded elections in Minnesota. Publicly financed elections remove financial discrepancies from campaigns, making the politicians responsible to the voters and not to big money contributors. This type of legislation already passed in Maine, Arizona, North Carolina and Vermont. If passed, the bill would cost taxpayers less than a penny a day. Democracy Matters is also working with a few other groups to bring fair trade food and coffee products to campus.

The group’s biggest event of the year was Campus to the Capitol Week, which ended April 14. Forrey started the event with his group last year as a way to get more students involved in and aware of issues in politics. The event is Spring Jam for activists. The event is a coalition of social action student groups that serves as a forum for the groups to discuss their issues and goals.

“It is a way for similar student groups to communicate to each other better and work together,” Forrey says.

The weeklong event included speeches sponsored by different student groups, a fair trade lunch, a trip to the state capitol on Global Warming Day of Action and a party in the Superblock featuring local bands Kanser, Rise or Rust, The Hot Box, Cinema Eyes and more to end the week. There was also an activities carnival featuring information on all the groups involved, games, music, free food and an informal MSA presidential debate. Democracy Matters hosted a lecture on how money is affecting globalization with a speaker form Colgate University. All of the events were free. Forrey says that while putting on the event is a lot of work, it is worth it to be able to inform people of important social issues.

It is crucial to have a voice in government and the only way to do that is to have fair and open elections that allow all candidates the chance to represent the people, Forrey says. A lot of students do not realize that money affects every part of the system, which is why Forrey believes that the club is so important. He believes that students need to know is that any grievance they have can be traced back to money and politics.

The group meets every Tuesday at 4:45 p.m. in the Coffman Boardroom. Anyone interested in joining the group only has to come to a meeting to get on their e-mail list, Forrey says.

For more information on Democracy Matters, go to for the U’s chapter website or www.democracymatters.org for the national website.