Democracy Forum

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine     Engineer: Amy Browne Issue: Participatory Democracy Program Topic: Moochers and Freeloaders: Welfare for the Rich, Welfare for the Poor Key Discussion Points: a) We’ll discuss the relationship between free markets and democracy; b) Have the rules of government and markets have been rigged in favor of big money interests and corporations? c) Has populist sentiment has been played to generate resentment over welfare for the poor? d) Who is being served in American democracy today? e) What can ordinary citizen do? What policies should they support? Guests: a) Vanessa Williamson, Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution www.brookings.edu/experts/williamsonv?view=bio b) Garrett Martin, Executive Director of the Maine Center for Economic Policy MECEP Staff Bios The all-volunteer team at the League of Women Voters – Downeast who plan and coordinate this series includes: Linda Hoskins Ann Luther Marge May Pam Person Leah Taylor Linda Washbur