Democracy for Sale

"People are fighting these same fights all across the country. North Carolina is the place I care about but, really, we all live in our own North Carolina."

Zach Galifianakis

Overview

North Carolina — perhaps more than any other state in the Union — has been transformed by the new and growing tidal wave of political spending. Zach Galifianakis, the comic star of “The Hangover” movies, travels back to his home state to investigate how North Carolina has become a bellwether for how the money of a few has come to dominate our democracy. Galifianakis investigates allegations that the current state government was put in power by moneyed interests and has thus carried out a program that only benefits its backers: cuts to education, healthcare spending and environmental protection; lowering of taxes for the wealthy and corporations; and the passage of laws designed to roll back access to the ballot.

Watch episodes 4 & 5 to view the full story.

The Issues

Clip: Zach Galifianakis learns about gerrymandering

Clip: Zach Galifianakis in North Carolina

Clip: Zach Galifianakis investigates money in politics

Solutions to Bridge the Divide

The 2016 Presidential election will be the first election since 1964 where Americans will vote without the full protection of the law. Although courts have been striking down voter ID restrictions on a state by state basis, including in North Carolina and Wisconsin voter restriction laws still exsist in state and local elections across the country, disenfranchising citizens on both racial and economic grounds.

Understanding your state’s voter laws early, registering to vote, and supporting and empowering your community members to vote are the most important thing you can do this election.