Civic Literacy

and Citizen Action

[This first section mostly attempts to describe what is, without a lot of political or historical context, and
without any argument as to what should be. See "Change What Needs Fixing" to go beyond that.]

A fundamental problem in America today is the widespread lack of knowledge about the mechanics of government at the federal, state, and local levels. People, for instance, often blame the President for inflation when decisions to raIse prices are made by corporate executives trying to maximize profits. Officials at the federal level are thought to be responsible for issues like utility rates that are set at a state or local level. .

Inequality in all its forms underlies many of the problems we face, but we can't address it until everyone knows the basic structure and function of the political system, broadly defined; the mechanisms available within and without the formal system to effect change; and what must change to reduce inequality. Otherwise, people are just grasping in the dark trying to understand what is going on, and at risk of being manipulated. They have to know where they are to get to where they want to be!