TakeItBack.org: A South Dakota group aims to take back the gov. from special interests

Hopefully groups other states will be doing similar things to fight back against the powerful influence of wealthy special interests.

Rick Weiland and Drey Samuelson Announce

TakeItBack.org

New Organization will support candidates and utilize the initiative and referendum process to take our government back


USA--Former U.S. Senate candidate, Rick Weiland, and former Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Tim Johnson, Drey Samuelson,
announced today that they were forming a nonpartisan organization called TakeItBack.Org, that will: 1) support like-minded candidates for public office and, 2) use the initiative and referendum process to advance needed political and policy reforms to take our government back from the stranglehold of wealthy special interests, and 3) recreate a government that is truly of, for and by the people again.

"We’re at a critical juncture, and neither of us feel comfortable simply watching from the sidelines, wringing our hands. The average citizen has, unfortunately, lost faith in our political system. Congress’ approval rating remains at an all-time low, voter turnout last year was the lowest since 1942, people feel that their vote no longer matters and that big money donors and paid lobbyists are calling the shots in Washington and in our state capitols. If we don't do something about it, and soon, our democracy could perish," Weiland said.

"We strongly believe that the ballot initiative and referendum process is an important tool allowing the voters a direct voice outside a legislative process that has been corrupted by wealthy special interests. In 1898, South Dakota was the first state in the nation to give its citizens the power to use direct democracy, their vote, to bypass the state legislature believing that legislators were not listening to their concerns,” Samuelson stated. “It's worth noting that it was such a good idea that 23 states followed South Dakota's lead. We believe that the wisdom of our ancestors is still relevant today, and that we can use the tools that they gave us to affect public policy and restore the people’s trust and faith in their institutions of government,” Samuelson added.

“We are still formulating the initiatives we plan to promote and refining the overall focus of the organization. We will make a more formal announcement in the very near future regarding TakeItBack.Org and our plan to use these efforts here in South Dakota as a demonstration project to set an example that the rest of the states can follow, just as they did over a century ago," Weiland concluded.


Rick Weiland is a former South Dakota U.S. Senate candidate and small business owner. Drey Samuelson is the longtime former Chief of Staff for retired South Dakota U.S. Senator, Tim Johnson.

http://www.takeitback.org/#!about-us-/chm7