Campaigns
Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis
The novel coronavirus has not only created a massive public health crisis, but also exacerbated the flaws in our political and economic systems that stack the deck against average Americans in an unfair way.
With our friends at U.S. PIRG, we're working to protect public health, consumers and our democracy, and we’re advocating for action to keep Americans safe, healthy and financially stable.
Right to Fair Repair
You might have noticed it already: Many of the things we buy today just aren’t built to last. They break, they’re impossible to fix yourself, and the company that made them wants to charge an arm and a leg for a repair. The company tries to convince you that it’s better to just buy a new device — it’s less hassle.
You’re not imagining things. Phones, laptops and even tractors built today are often full of parts and software that manufacturers don’t make available to independent repairers, so the company can keep a monopoly on repair. That forces many users whose devices just need minor repairs to trash them and spend hundreds of dollars on new ones.
Protect your Data, Control your Credit
Equifax ignored a security researcher's warnings long before the breach, stored unprotected data on public-facing servers and, incredibly, used "admin" as an internal password and username. And they’re not the only company that’s lost massive amounts of our sensitive data recently. In 2019, hackers were able to access 100 million Capital One credit card applications and accounts. Marriott, Target and Google have suffered similar breaches.
Breaches like this will happen again. It’s clear: We need more control over our data, more tools to protect ourselves from theft, and stronger repercussions for companies that lose our information.
End Anonymous Companies
Most businesses have nothing to hide, but if you do have something to hide, it's easy: You just set up an anonymous shell company -- which in America, requires less personal information than it takes to get a library card.
Fair Share is currently working with our allies across the country to advance a common-sense step which ends secret company ownership. This reform will help law enforcement go after criminals, save the public money, and make sure that everyone plays by the same rules.
End Childhood Hunger
When kids are hungry, they struggle to learn. When kids don't learn, they struggle in life. Still, 16 million American kids are at risk of going hungry every day. That’s 1 out of every 5 kids. We can and we must do better.
For decades, Republicans and Democrats have come together to support programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Fair Share Education Fund is working to reduce childhood hunger by increasing access to programs like SNAP that successfully provide food and income support to children and families.
Make Corporations Pay Their Fair Share
Big corporations — including GE, Burger King and more — are using their lobbyists and campaign contributions to rig the tax system in their favor, and some pay nothing in taxes.
That costs the rest of us $100 billion per year in lost taxes.It's about time that rich corporations start living by the same rules as the rest of us. We're working to ensure that corporations pay their fair share of taxes.
Get Big Money Out of Politics
Our democracy should give each of us a voice — and government should look out for all of us. But unlimited campaign spending allows corporations and the richest Americans to rig the system in their own favor and against the average voter.
Things are this way since the Supreme Court decided, in the Citizens United case, that corporations are people, and that they and the wealthy can spend as much as they want on elections. That’s just wrong. Corporations are not people, and they shouldn’t get to buy our democracy.
Keep Wall Street In Check
We can’t afford another Great Recession, which is why Fair Share supports the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Consumer Bureau). Set up to watch out for predatory and deceptive behavior in the financial industry it has returned $12 billion to 27 million Americans who were victimized by shady lending or financial trickery.
Some in Congress are pushing to shut down the Consumer Bureau. We are pushing back.