Here is what we should be demanding of our candidates:
1. Demand that your candidates do not surrender (concede) on November 8th even if the early returns suggest they can't win. CANDIDATES should insist that ALL the votes are counted, and all election irregularities are investigated, before they concede. Tell the people we believe in the system, and that every vote counts. If our candidate is the likely winner, supports a complete vote count for the likely loser if they want it; this is about building the long-term trust of the people. There should not be such a rush that the system breaks down. We don't need expensive and flawed voting machines; we just need more people who can count.
2. Demand that from now until election day, all our candidates start rallies and fundraisers by asking any veterans and service members to stand and be recognized. (Let's see if the Republicans are willing to copy us on this; I can hear the crickets chirping.) Then pledge to them that you will work to break up the military industrial complex that puts the bulk of the military budget in the hands of huge defense contractors, and ignores the basics like body armor for the troops. Pledge that you will stop outsourcing traditional military functions like food service and transportation; paying a civilian $600 a day to drive a truck in Iraq is a slap in the face to the service members serving there, and only benefits Halliburton.
3. Demand that our candidates commit to restoring traditional ethics rules in congress. Have them pledge that they will work to create a truly bipartisan ethics committee; that they will staff it with members who are respected; and that they won't be afraid to go after a member of their own party.
4. Demand that they pledge to perform their oversight function over the executive branch, and pledge that they will be responsive to the concerns of the minority party regarding that oversight obligation.
OURS IS A GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE. LET'S MAKE IT CLEAR TO THE POLITICIANS THAT THE PEOPLE WANT IT BACK.