Ed Spire

Co-lead, Restore our Democracy Project, NWSOFA-Indivisible

Free Educational Speaker in Chicago

  • Democracy Under Duress

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    Right-wing populism is rising in many western nations, but here in the US it is beginning to actually threaten our democracy. This presentation points out why this is happening uniquely here in the US: Because the country is becoming a true multi-racial democracy, a transformation that no other country is undergoing. And the US constitution actually empowers the minority that wishes to stop this transition. MORE >

    We will discuss why this is happening, and what we need to change in our governmental structures to alleviate this attack on our democracy.

    And we must address these very thorny issues, starting now. Because the US will become a multi-racial democracy - or it won't be a democracy any more.

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  • The Shifting Balance: Supreme Court Rulings and Their Impact on American Democracy

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    The US Supreme Court is not just ensuring the laws are applied properly, and that they are constitutional, but the court is enacting policies they think are useful for our country - whether they are based on our constitution or not. MORE >

    Presidential Immunity and Accountability: One of the most consequential rulings was the Court's decision on presidential immunity. In a 6-3 judgment, the Court ruled that former President Donald Trump could be tried for actions taken as a candidate, but not for those taken while in office.

    Federal Regulatory Authority: In another significant ruling, the Court limited the regulatory authority of federal agencies. By overturning a precedent that had guided federal regulations for decades, the Court has made it easier for regulations to be challenged in court.

    Gun Control and the Second Amendment: The Supreme Court also made headlines with its decision to send several gun control cases back to lower courts for reconsideration. This move followed a major ruling that expanded Second Amendment rights, allowing for broader interpretations of gun ownership and use.

    Implications for American Democracy: These rulings collectively reflect a shift towards a more conservative interpretation of the law. The impact on American democracy is profound; will undoubtedly shape the future of American democracy for years to come.

    This presentation details the problems that SCOTUS is causing for our nation, and discusses what we can do about it.

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  • Immigration and our economy

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    There's a lot of discussion about immigration - legal and otherwise - since our two major parties have very different plans in this area. This presentation focuses on the economic impact of foreign-born workers - whether they are a net positive or a net negative for our economy, how they interact with programs like Social Security, etc. MORE >

    The discussion makes the point that immigrant workers are a critical component of our strong ecomony, and we should welcome them for that reason.
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  • Rising Economic Inequality: how much, why it happens, why it matters, and what we can do about it.

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    Economic inequality has been rising in the US for decades, damaging our economy and society in the process. This presentation will discuss how high it has become, why it happens, how it damages our country, and what we can do about it.

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  • What’s an Assault Weapon, and why are they so deadly?

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    There's been a lot of discussion lately about tighter regulations on assault weapons like the AR-15. If we are going to regulate these weapons, we will need a legal definition describing them. And instead of a definition that depends upon specific configurations or cosmetic appearance, we propose a definition based on the factors that make this class of weapons so deadly. MORE >

    This presentation focuses on the development of this class of weapons, the factors that make them so deadly, and how we can use those factors to legally define an "assault weapon" for future regulation thereof.
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  • Increasing Political Polarization and what we can do about it

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    Every decade, increasing gerrymandering has created more and more "safe seats", which have resulted in more and more extreme legislators on both sides of the aisle - creating a legislature where compromise is impossible, and very little legislative progress ensures. This presentation shows why this happens, and what we can do about it, using the recent example of the Alaska special election, utilizing a nonpartisan primary and a ranked choice voting general election, as an example of how to promote more moderate legislators and a more productive legislature. MORE >

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  • “Liberal” and “Conservative” – origin and evolution of these terms.

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    When and why did terms such as "liberal" and "conservative" originate? How have those terms evolved through the decades? Knowing where we come from, on both sides of the aisle, can give us the perspective necessary to chart our way forward in a manner that honors our past and leads to a useful future.

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  • School board disinformation

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    Our public school boards are under attack. Responsible school board members are being threatened, and reasonable school policies are being dismantled. We'll help you understand why, who is doing it, and what we can do about it.

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  • Our Antiquated Electoral College

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    Learn why we elect the US president via the Electoral College, how our Electoral College damages our demcoracy - and what we can do about it.

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  • Congress Doesn’t Care What You Think

    TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

    this presentation addresses the problem of unlimited political money corrupting our democracy. We explain the problem clearly, and discuss the causes and possible solutions, including steps that we can take in our own communities to begin addressing this structural problem in our country. The presentation is non-partisan and brings issues to light which are of concern across the aisle. MORE >

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