August 30, 2011
Summarized by Kevin Zeese [ed: who did a fantastic job!]
http://itsoureconomy.us/2011/08/782/
This is a session from the economic track of the Democracy Convention held on August 25, 2011 in Madison, WI. The session focused on democratizing money. The speaker was Greg Coleridge whose biography and contact information are at the bottom of the summary. I expanded on his comments and added some links to videos and websites that provide more information.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Democracy Convention — Day 5
Move to Amend
The Convention concluded yesterday. The major theme of the plenary was, “Securing Democracy through Constitutional Reform.” After lunch, there was a final Move to Amend strategy session on the work ahead over the next year. Nearly 50 people attended.
Here are 10 observations from Michael Greenman, Alice Faryna and myself (compiled as we’re driving home to Ohio) from these experiences:
1. We have won the cultural frame/meme that “corporations aren’t people.” Hardly anyone a few years ago knew about this concept. It is now much more commonly understood – and opposed by a large percentage of the general public.
2. The real challenge is not ultimately corporations. It’s us. It’s our own limited vision, thinking and actions, particularly concerning amending the Constitution – not just about corporate personhood, but also related to the right to vote and have our votes count, ending money being speech, promoting basic economic rights. We have to take ourselves seriously. We stand on the shoulders of giants. We have to act like it. Our starting point should be to convey that we can actually have what we want in terms of peace, justice and respect for the natural world.
3. We need a mature, serious, methodical and deliberative approach to create a democracy. It starts with US making peace with the world. This nation has grown out of a 500 year war against scores of nations of the world. It is coming to an end – around the world and here at home. The hypocracies and contradictions have never been clear. The ability to sustain a permanent war culture and economy is no longer possible. The new culture, political and economic system requires new rules, laws and constitution.
4. Working with NGOs inside the beltway or trying to lobby Congress given our small numbers is on this issue at this is virtually ineffective. As Richard Grossman said to David Cobb years ago after spending a frustrating session in DC: “I’m not going back to DC unless I’m a tourist or a member of a conquering army.”
5 We should be less concerned at this point with developing the exact constitutional amendment to abolish corporate personhood and money as speech than involving and honoring people and a devising radically inclusive processes for local education and action.
6. We have to relax and take care of ourselves. Democratizing the US Constitution in ways that authentically reflect our values of justice, peace and sustainability is a long-term project. We need to rush slowly.
7. It is shocking that the ACLU supported the Citizen United Supreme Court decision. They saw the issue through the lens of the first amendment rather than corporate constitutional rights. Only if one believes the fiction that corporations are persons is violating corporate free speech a constitutional violation.
8. We will not get where we want to go until we genuinely engage with communities of color. White must examine their unexamined privileges. We must also follow the direction of those communities we want to work with. We must also work to find common ground with principled liberals and conservatives.
9. It was incredibly exciting to engage with others in our sessions: brainstorming, networking, learning, conspiring. We developed a feeling of shared identity and common purpose as part of a growing movement. Being with others helped validate our work addressing what has been considered a “fringe” issue for more than a decade.
10. Throughout history real change (personal and political) has happened when it begins to feel chaotic, when normal and comfortable feelings and conditions are replaced with discomfort and uncertainty. When we begin to start feeling that all is chaotic, the opportunity for evolution is present.
Onward!
The Convention concluded yesterday. The major theme of the plenary was, “Securing Democracy through Constitutional Reform.” After lunch, there was a final Move to Amend strategy session on the work ahead over the next year. Nearly 50 people attended.
Here are 10 observations from Michael Greenman, Alice Faryna and myself (compiled as we’re driving home to Ohio) from these experiences:
1. We have won the cultural frame/meme that “corporations aren’t people.” Hardly anyone a few years ago knew about this concept. It is now much more commonly understood – and opposed by a large percentage of the general public.
2. The real challenge is not ultimately corporations. It’s us. It’s our own limited vision, thinking and actions, particularly concerning amending the Constitution – not just about corporate personhood, but also related to the right to vote and have our votes count, ending money being speech, promoting basic economic rights. We have to take ourselves seriously. We stand on the shoulders of giants. We have to act like it. Our starting point should be to convey that we can actually have what we want in terms of peace, justice and respect for the natural world.
3. We need a mature, serious, methodical and deliberative approach to create a democracy. It starts with US making peace with the world. This nation has grown out of a 500 year war against scores of nations of the world. It is coming to an end – around the world and here at home. The hypocracies and contradictions have never been clear. The ability to sustain a permanent war culture and economy is no longer possible. The new culture, political and economic system requires new rules, laws and constitution.
4. Working with NGOs inside the beltway or trying to lobby Congress given our small numbers is on this issue at this is virtually ineffective. As Richard Grossman said to David Cobb years ago after spending a frustrating session in DC: “I’m not going back to DC unless I’m a tourist or a member of a conquering army.”
5 We should be less concerned at this point with developing the exact constitutional amendment to abolish corporate personhood and money as speech than involving and honoring people and a devising radically inclusive processes for local education and action.
6. We have to relax and take care of ourselves. Democratizing the US Constitution in ways that authentically reflect our values of justice, peace and sustainability is a long-term project. We need to rush slowly.
7. It is shocking that the ACLU supported the Citizen United Supreme Court decision. They saw the issue through the lens of the first amendment rather than corporate constitutional rights. Only if one believes the fiction that corporations are persons is violating corporate free speech a constitutional violation.
8. We will not get where we want to go until we genuinely engage with communities of color. White must examine their unexamined privileges. We must also follow the direction of those communities we want to work with. We must also work to find common ground with principled liberals and conservatives.
9. It was incredibly exciting to engage with others in our sessions: brainstorming, networking, learning, conspiring. We developed a feeling of shared identity and common purpose as part of a growing movement. Being with others helped validate our work addressing what has been considered a “fringe” issue for more than a decade.
10. Throughout history real change (personal and political) has happened when it begins to feel chaotic, when normal and comfortable feelings and conditions are replaced with discomfort and uncertainty. When we begin to start feeling that all is chaotic, the opportunity for evolution is present.
Onward!
Sunday, August 28, 2011
MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR -- August 29-September 4
AUGUST 29
1786 – BEGINNING OF SHAY’S REBELLION
Sparked in large part by personal debt, nonpayment of salaries, and collapse of the national currency, farmers in Massachusetts led by Daniel Shays attack a US Armory. The lack of a focused response to the uprisings led to calls to reforming the Articles of Confederation. The Philadelphia Convention, which followed, rather than reforming the Articles of Confederation, created a new Constitution. While less democratic in many ways, formulated by all white, male landowners, the new Constitution empowered the government to coin its own money, separate from banks and financial institutions.
2005 – DEATH OF JUDE THADDEUS WANNISKI, AMERICAN JOURNALIST, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR AND POLITICAL ECONOMIST
“There was a big party at Morgan Stanley after the Mexican peso devaluation, people from all over Wall Street came, they drank champagne and smoked cigars and congratulated themselves on how they pulled it off and they made a fortune.”
AUGUST 30
1930 – BIRTH OF WARREN BUFFET, INVESTOR
"Derivatives are financial weapons of mass destruction."
AUGUST 31
1959 – ROBERT B. ANDERSON, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY UNDER PRESIDENT EISENHOWER
"When a bank makes a loan it simply adds to the borrowers deposit account in the bank by the amount of the loan. The money is not taken from anyone else's deposit; it was not previously paid in to the bank by anyone. It's new money, created by the bank for the use of the borrower." August 31, 1959
SEPTEMBER 1
1764 – PASSAGE OF BRITISH CURRENCY ACT
The Act banned Colonial paper money as legal tender, severally limiting commerce and widening the trade deficit between England and the Colonies. Colonists were forced by pay their taxes only in gold or silver. Many, including Benjamin Frankln, claimed this was one of the major causes of the Revolutionary War.
1894 – AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION CALLS ON BANKS TO STOP LOANING MONEY TO CAUSE FORECLOSURES
American Bankers Association memo (as submitted in the Congressional Record): “On September 1, 1894, we will not renew our loans under any consideration. On September 1st we will demand our money. We will foreclose and become mortgages in possession. We can take two-thirds of the farms west of the Mississippi, and thousands of them east of the Mississippi as well, at our own price... "Then the farmers will become tenants as in England..."
SEPTEMBER 2
1877 – BIRTH OF FREDERICK SODDY, NOBEL PRIZE RECIPIENT (CHEMISTRY) AND MONETARY REFORM AUTHOR
There is nothing left now for us but to get ever deeper and deeper into debt to the banking system in order to provide the increasing amounts of money the nation requires for its expansion and growth. Our money system is nothing more than a confidence trick... The "money power" which has been able to overshadow ostensibly responsible governments not the power of the merely ultra-rich but is nothing more or less than a new technique to destroy money by adding and withdrawing figures in bank ledgers, without the slightest concern for the interests of the community or the real role money ought to perform therein ... to allow it to become a source of revenue to private issuers is to create, first, a secret and illicit arm of government and, last, a rival power strong enough to ultimately overthrow all other forms of government. ... An honest money system is the only alternative.
------------------------------------------------
Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis, Alice Francini and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
1786 – BEGINNING OF SHAY’S REBELLION
Sparked in large part by personal debt, nonpayment of salaries, and collapse of the national currency, farmers in Massachusetts led by Daniel Shays attack a US Armory. The lack of a focused response to the uprisings led to calls to reforming the Articles of Confederation. The Philadelphia Convention, which followed, rather than reforming the Articles of Confederation, created a new Constitution. While less democratic in many ways, formulated by all white, male landowners, the new Constitution empowered the government to coin its own money, separate from banks and financial institutions.
2005 – DEATH OF JUDE THADDEUS WANNISKI, AMERICAN JOURNALIST, CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR AND POLITICAL ECONOMIST
“There was a big party at Morgan Stanley after the Mexican peso devaluation, people from all over Wall Street came, they drank champagne and smoked cigars and congratulated themselves on how they pulled it off and they made a fortune.”
AUGUST 30
1930 – BIRTH OF WARREN BUFFET, INVESTOR
"Derivatives are financial weapons of mass destruction."
AUGUST 31
1959 – ROBERT B. ANDERSON, SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY UNDER PRESIDENT EISENHOWER
"When a bank makes a loan it simply adds to the borrowers deposit account in the bank by the amount of the loan. The money is not taken from anyone else's deposit; it was not previously paid in to the bank by anyone. It's new money, created by the bank for the use of the borrower." August 31, 1959
SEPTEMBER 1
1764 – PASSAGE OF BRITISH CURRENCY ACT
The Act banned Colonial paper money as legal tender, severally limiting commerce and widening the trade deficit between England and the Colonies. Colonists were forced by pay their taxes only in gold or silver. Many, including Benjamin Frankln, claimed this was one of the major causes of the Revolutionary War.
1894 – AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION CALLS ON BANKS TO STOP LOANING MONEY TO CAUSE FORECLOSURES
American Bankers Association memo (as submitted in the Congressional Record): “On September 1, 1894, we will not renew our loans under any consideration. On September 1st we will demand our money. We will foreclose and become mortgages in possession. We can take two-thirds of the farms west of the Mississippi, and thousands of them east of the Mississippi as well, at our own price... "Then the farmers will become tenants as in England..."
SEPTEMBER 2
1877 – BIRTH OF FREDERICK SODDY, NOBEL PRIZE RECIPIENT (CHEMISTRY) AND MONETARY REFORM AUTHOR
There is nothing left now for us but to get ever deeper and deeper into debt to the banking system in order to provide the increasing amounts of money the nation requires for its expansion and growth. Our money system is nothing more than a confidence trick... The "money power" which has been able to overshadow ostensibly responsible governments not the power of the merely ultra-rich but is nothing more or less than a new technique to destroy money by adding and withdrawing figures in bank ledgers, without the slightest concern for the interests of the community or the real role money ought to perform therein ... to allow it to become a source of revenue to private issuers is to create, first, a secret and illicit arm of government and, last, a rival power strong enough to ultimately overthrow all other forms of government. ... An honest money system is the only alternative.
------------------------------------------------
Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis, Alice Francini and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Democracy Convention -- Day 4
Diversity and Diversity
Attending the Convention is an impressive collection of people from across the county concerned and working on diverse issues using a range of strategies and tactics. “Democracy” is defined in different ways with varied degrees of emphasis. Subsuming corporations to We the People is also seen from various lights.
I participated in a range of gatherings:
1. It starting in the AM with participating on a panel addressing water as a fundamental right for people and nature – from local to global. To indigenous people, as explained by Alberto Saldamando of the International Indian Treaty Council, rights are not as much granted or endowed as they are fought for and claimed. In fact, rights are seen as collective more than individual. Property, too, is a concept to indigenous people not of ownership, but of relationships. Corporate ownership and commodification of water, therefore, is an alien concept.
I reported on the status of Ohio’s effort to comply with the Great Lakes Compact, which seeks to legalize how 8 states and 2 Canadian Provinces manage the use of and protect the Great Lakes Basin’s water supply the compact requires each state to decide by 2013 how Lake Erie waters are to be used. Earlier this summer, the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation that would allow businesses with withdrawal up to 5 million gallons of water a day from Lake Erie before needing a permit – a blatant violation of the original compact. Gov. Kucinich vetoed the legislation after public and media opposition, as well as criticism from former governors Taft and Voinovich. A revised bill is likely to be reintroduced later. I also spoke about the general trend in Ohio to privatize/corporatize many public assets in the state.
Nancy Price and Ruth Caplan from the Alliance for Democracy followed with descriptions of legislative attempts to protect California water supplies, successful resistance by Bolivians and others to corporatize water, passage of local ordinances in the US proclaiming that water has rights, and how global water corporations have sought to control water sources and systems by formed global groupings (from the Multinational Agreement on Investments, to the General Agreement on Trade and Services to the World Trade Organization to Bilateral Trade Agreements).
I concluding by affirming how corporations seek to escape democratic control in 3 ways: by shifting decision making from a lower level of government to a higher level (i.e. state to nation, nation to international), by shifting decision making from legislators to the courts, and by shifting decision making from the legislators to regulatory agencies.
2. The afternoon began with an impressive plenary on racial equality in the struggle for democracy and against corporate rule. Panelists shared their visions of what racial equality looked like in democracy, whether they felt we were moving forward or backwards in the struggle for racial equality, what specific work for equality they were involved in, and specific recommendations they felt we needed to be doing for racial just democracy. On the last point, a few of the suggestions were:
- Commitment to more self-work to address racism and white privilege among white participants
- Integration of race, gender, class and ability in all our analysis
- Acknowledgement that we will not share the same exact vision for the future
- Authentic inclusion of people of color in our organizations and work
- Real individual and organizational support for communities of color in their organizing activities
- Address fundamental structural impediments to equality (of which corporate personhood is one)
3. The afternoon ended with an intense 3-hour workshop on connecting mental health and racial oppression, which was a deeply moving sharing of personal experiences and assessment of macro blockages to self-expression – which included both governmental and corporate sources.
4. Diversity was in full mode this evening as conference participants mingled with incoming first year students on the main campus at the University of Wisconsin for an evening of music.
It the goal of the day was to stretch, bend and push our intellects and emotions by forcing us to be in unfamiliar yet supportive places, it was very successful.
Attending the Convention is an impressive collection of people from across the county concerned and working on diverse issues using a range of strategies and tactics. “Democracy” is defined in different ways with varied degrees of emphasis. Subsuming corporations to We the People is also seen from various lights.
I participated in a range of gatherings:
1. It starting in the AM with participating on a panel addressing water as a fundamental right for people and nature – from local to global. To indigenous people, as explained by Alberto Saldamando of the International Indian Treaty Council, rights are not as much granted or endowed as they are fought for and claimed. In fact, rights are seen as collective more than individual. Property, too, is a concept to indigenous people not of ownership, but of relationships. Corporate ownership and commodification of water, therefore, is an alien concept.
I reported on the status of Ohio’s effort to comply with the Great Lakes Compact, which seeks to legalize how 8 states and 2 Canadian Provinces manage the use of and protect the Great Lakes Basin’s water supply the compact requires each state to decide by 2013 how Lake Erie waters are to be used. Earlier this summer, the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation that would allow businesses with withdrawal up to 5 million gallons of water a day from Lake Erie before needing a permit – a blatant violation of the original compact. Gov. Kucinich vetoed the legislation after public and media opposition, as well as criticism from former governors Taft and Voinovich. A revised bill is likely to be reintroduced later. I also spoke about the general trend in Ohio to privatize/corporatize many public assets in the state.
Nancy Price and Ruth Caplan from the Alliance for Democracy followed with descriptions of legislative attempts to protect California water supplies, successful resistance by Bolivians and others to corporatize water, passage of local ordinances in the US proclaiming that water has rights, and how global water corporations have sought to control water sources and systems by formed global groupings (from the Multinational Agreement on Investments, to the General Agreement on Trade and Services to the World Trade Organization to Bilateral Trade Agreements).
I concluding by affirming how corporations seek to escape democratic control in 3 ways: by shifting decision making from a lower level of government to a higher level (i.e. state to nation, nation to international), by shifting decision making from legislators to the courts, and by shifting decision making from the legislators to regulatory agencies.
2. The afternoon began with an impressive plenary on racial equality in the struggle for democracy and against corporate rule. Panelists shared their visions of what racial equality looked like in democracy, whether they felt we were moving forward or backwards in the struggle for racial equality, what specific work for equality they were involved in, and specific recommendations they felt we needed to be doing for racial just democracy. On the last point, a few of the suggestions were:
- Commitment to more self-work to address racism and white privilege among white participants
- Integration of race, gender, class and ability in all our analysis
- Acknowledgement that we will not share the same exact vision for the future
- Authentic inclusion of people of color in our organizations and work
- Real individual and organizational support for communities of color in their organizing activities
- Address fundamental structural impediments to equality (of which corporate personhood is one)
3. The afternoon ended with an intense 3-hour workshop on connecting mental health and racial oppression, which was a deeply moving sharing of personal experiences and assessment of macro blockages to self-expression – which included both governmental and corporate sources.
4. Diversity was in full mode this evening as conference participants mingled with incoming first year students on the main campus at the University of Wisconsin for an evening of music.
It the goal of the day was to stretch, bend and push our intellects and emotions by forcing us to be in unfamiliar yet supportive places, it was very successful.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Democratizing Constitutions Around the World
[This is my handout distributed at a workshop today on lessons learned on social movements to change the US Constitution.]
In exploring how to democratize the US Constitution in the future, we need to not only look at US movements in the past. We must also examine the efforts and movements of other people and nations in the present.
MOROCCO
- Following massive protests connected to the Arab Spring, the government was forced to draft changes to the Constitution that weakens the power of the King – creating an independent prime minister, an independent judiciary and provides equal rights for women.
- In July, 98% of voters approved the changes in a national referendum.
EGYPT
- Mass popular revolution beginning in January, 2011 led to ouster of Hosni Mubarak and call for more democratic Constitution – forcing a national referendum.
- In March, nearly 80% voted in support of constitutional amendments paving the way for democratic elections for a new parliament and president within six months. The referendum divided Egyptians between those who said the reforms were sufficient and others who said the constitution needed to be complete rewritten.
ICELAND
- The 2008 economic collapse was blamed in part by a failure of government and regulatory agencies to oversee financial institutions plunder of the economy and collapse of most banks.
- Massive popular uprisings led to call for new constitution.
- November, 2010 popular election to elected 25 people to form Constitutional Assembly. "This is the first time in the history of the world that a nation's constitution is reviewed in such a way, by direct democratic process," says Berghildur Erla Bergthorsdottir, spokeswoman for the committee entrusted with organizing the Constitutional Assembly. "It is very important for ordinary citizens, who have no direct interest in maintaining the status quo, to take part in a constitutional review," said Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir. "We are hoping this new constitution will be a new social covenant leading to reconstruction and reconciliation, and for that to happen, the entire nation needs to be involved."
- Assembly composed of regular citizens, with the exception of current officeholders and stakeholders.
- Assembly is currently drafting a proposed new constitution. They are using ideas from 1,000 randomly chosen Icelanders — aged 18-89 — who offered their views in 2010 on what should be in the constitution. The Assembly is also accepting ideas from their Facebook page, which covers the weekly meetings in real time.
VENEZUELA
- President Hugo Chavez issues decree in 1999 ordering a referendum to ask people whether a Constituent Assembly should be held to reform the Constitution. Passes with 82% of vote.
- Nationwide elections of 131 members in 1999 of Assembly representing the nation as a whole, regional districts and constituencies, and indigenous populations.
- Only 3 months for public input.
- Three branches of government expanded to 5. It incorporated the idea of popular sovereignty (such as frequent referendums), social responsibilities, the right to rebel against injustice, and the eternal independence of the republic from foreign domination. It also embedded certain human rights (free education , free health care, access to a clean environment, and the rights for minorities, including indigenous people, to their own cultures, religions, and languages).
- 26th Constitution approved by 72% of voters in national referendum in December, 2009.
BOLIVIA
- National referendum for a new Constitution was passed by 90% of voters.
- Drafted by the Constituent Assembly, an elected body that met for 18 months, beginning in 2006. The Constitution was further modified by an Editing Commission before being present to Congress in December 2007
- The Constitution (Chapter Three of Title I) defines the forms of democracy—participatory, representative and community-based—and structure of government. It also establishes a separation of powers between four branches of government: legistlative, executive judicial, and electoral.
- 17th Constitution approved by 64% by national referendum in 2009.
ECUADOR
- Following 2006 election of President Rafael Correa, he called for a referendum to form a constitutional assembly to write a new constitution. The April 2007 referendum passed - 80%
- Elections of new assembly, September, 2007, 130 members.
- Assembly developed a draft consisting of 494 articles, including Rights of Nature.
- 20th Constitution passed in September, 2008 by a 64% to 28% majority in a national referendum
Lessons for us in the US
Following significant uprisings and social movements that have demanded societal change, people haven’t simply called for changing faces, political parties or laws. They’ve called for changing constitutions. We need to do the same. We need to overcome the culture and fear that has caused us to avoid addressing constiutional injustices and to codify our aspirations.
----------------------
More information: Greg Coleridge, Director, Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee, 2101 Front St., #111, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221, 330-928-2301, gcoleridge@afsc.org, http://www.facebook.com/greg.coleridge
In exploring how to democratize the US Constitution in the future, we need to not only look at US movements in the past. We must also examine the efforts and movements of other people and nations in the present.
MOROCCO
- Following massive protests connected to the Arab Spring, the government was forced to draft changes to the Constitution that weakens the power of the King – creating an independent prime minister, an independent judiciary and provides equal rights for women.
- In July, 98% of voters approved the changes in a national referendum.
EGYPT
- Mass popular revolution beginning in January, 2011 led to ouster of Hosni Mubarak and call for more democratic Constitution – forcing a national referendum.
- In March, nearly 80% voted in support of constitutional amendments paving the way for democratic elections for a new parliament and president within six months. The referendum divided Egyptians between those who said the reforms were sufficient and others who said the constitution needed to be complete rewritten.
ICELAND
- The 2008 economic collapse was blamed in part by a failure of government and regulatory agencies to oversee financial institutions plunder of the economy and collapse of most banks.
- Massive popular uprisings led to call for new constitution.
- November, 2010 popular election to elected 25 people to form Constitutional Assembly. "This is the first time in the history of the world that a nation's constitution is reviewed in such a way, by direct democratic process," says Berghildur Erla Bergthorsdottir, spokeswoman for the committee entrusted with organizing the Constitutional Assembly. "It is very important for ordinary citizens, who have no direct interest in maintaining the status quo, to take part in a constitutional review," said Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir. "We are hoping this new constitution will be a new social covenant leading to reconstruction and reconciliation, and for that to happen, the entire nation needs to be involved."
- Assembly composed of regular citizens, with the exception of current officeholders and stakeholders.
- Assembly is currently drafting a proposed new constitution. They are using ideas from 1,000 randomly chosen Icelanders — aged 18-89 — who offered their views in 2010 on what should be in the constitution. The Assembly is also accepting ideas from their Facebook page, which covers the weekly meetings in real time.
VENEZUELA
- President Hugo Chavez issues decree in 1999 ordering a referendum to ask people whether a Constituent Assembly should be held to reform the Constitution. Passes with 82% of vote.
- Nationwide elections of 131 members in 1999 of Assembly representing the nation as a whole, regional districts and constituencies, and indigenous populations.
- Only 3 months for public input.
- Three branches of government expanded to 5. It incorporated the idea of popular sovereignty (such as frequent referendums), social responsibilities, the right to rebel against injustice, and the eternal independence of the republic from foreign domination. It also embedded certain human rights (free education , free health care, access to a clean environment, and the rights for minorities, including indigenous people, to their own cultures, religions, and languages).
- 26th Constitution approved by 72% of voters in national referendum in December, 2009.
BOLIVIA
- National referendum for a new Constitution was passed by 90% of voters.
- Drafted by the Constituent Assembly, an elected body that met for 18 months, beginning in 2006. The Constitution was further modified by an Editing Commission before being present to Congress in December 2007
- The Constitution (Chapter Three of Title I) defines the forms of democracy—participatory, representative and community-based—and structure of government. It also establishes a separation of powers between four branches of government: legistlative, executive judicial, and electoral.
- 17th Constitution approved by 64% by national referendum in 2009.
ECUADOR
- Following 2006 election of President Rafael Correa, he called for a referendum to form a constitutional assembly to write a new constitution. The April 2007 referendum passed - 80%
- Elections of new assembly, September, 2007, 130 members.
- Assembly developed a draft consisting of 494 articles, including Rights of Nature.
- 20th Constitution passed in September, 2008 by a 64% to 28% majority in a national referendum
Lessons for us in the US
Following significant uprisings and social movements that have demanded societal change, people haven’t simply called for changing faces, political parties or laws. They’ve called for changing constitutions. We need to do the same. We need to overcome the culture and fear that has caused us to avoid addressing constiutional injustices and to codify our aspirations.
----------------------
More information: Greg Coleridge, Director, Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee, 2101 Front St., #111, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221, 330-928-2301, gcoleridge@afsc.org, http://www.facebook.com/greg.coleridge
Democracy Convention – Day 3
Arts and Democracy
Real democracy is achieved, in part, through skills and knowledge. The Convention has supplied plenty of both. But inspiration, creativity and joy essential for attracting and nurturing people over the long haul is supplied through the arts. There's been many examples of artistic expressions and avenues for participation today and this week.
- The wonderful folk musician, Anne Feeney, is here. Two of her great songs are, “A corporation cannot pass the belly button test” and “End corporate welfare as we know it.”
- The Madison chapter of Raging Grannies brought the house down when they performed “Corporations are Persons Now!” Lyrics for the song are at
http://raginggrannies.madisonwi.us/songs/45%20Corporations%20are%20Persons%20Now.pdf
- Many conference attendees have participated in the daily “Solidarity Sing Alongs” held every weekday at the Wisconsin State Capital. Today, about 100 people participated.
- A wonderful play, “The Prosecution of Judge Waite,” was staged this evening. Morrison Waite (from Toledo, Ohio) was the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court at the time of the 1886 Santa Clara vs Southern Pacific Railroad ruling which first granting corporations constitutional rights…sort of. It was a clever medium for explaining the legal historical origins of corporate personhood.
- A woman in her 20’s at this evening’s plenary quoted at length from Lawrence Goodwyn’s “The Populist Moment” – the definitive work of the Populist movement of the 1870s-1890s. The section addressed one of Goodwyn’s key lessons behind the empowerment of the southern farmers for self-governance – their ability to develop radical self-respect
- Buttons, bumper stickers, t-shirts, and many other artistic forms of political expression are on most tables here.
Real democracy is achieved, in part, through skills and knowledge. The Convention has supplied plenty of both. But inspiration, creativity and joy essential for attracting and nurturing people over the long haul is supplied through the arts. There's been many examples of artistic expressions and avenues for participation today and this week.
- The wonderful folk musician, Anne Feeney, is here. Two of her great songs are, “A corporation cannot pass the belly button test” and “End corporate welfare as we know it.”
- The Madison chapter of Raging Grannies brought the house down when they performed “Corporations are Persons Now!” Lyrics for the song are at
http://raginggrannies.madisonwi.us/songs/45%20Corporations%20are%20Persons%20Now.pdf
- Many conference attendees have participated in the daily “Solidarity Sing Alongs” held every weekday at the Wisconsin State Capital. Today, about 100 people participated.
- A wonderful play, “The Prosecution of Judge Waite,” was staged this evening. Morrison Waite (from Toledo, Ohio) was the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court at the time of the 1886 Santa Clara vs Southern Pacific Railroad ruling which first granting corporations constitutional rights…sort of. It was a clever medium for explaining the legal historical origins of corporate personhood.
- A woman in her 20’s at this evening’s plenary quoted at length from Lawrence Goodwyn’s “The Populist Moment” – the definitive work of the Populist movement of the 1870s-1890s. The section addressed one of Goodwyn’s key lessons behind the empowerment of the southern farmers for self-governance – their ability to develop radical self-respect
- Buttons, bumper stickers, t-shirts, and many other artistic forms of political expression are on most tables here.
It’s Football Season at ALEC
We know that late summer represents the beginning of football season.
At a plenary session at the Democracy Convention last night, a Wisconsin state legislator spoke about his experience of joining the American Legisltative Exchange Council [ALEC] and attending -- actually more like infiltrating -- their most recent national conference.
He spoke of a session where a politician publicly stated that ALEC was like a football team where politicians are the players and corporations are the coaches.
At a plenary session at the Democracy Convention last night, a Wisconsin state legislator spoke about his experience of joining the American Legisltative Exchange Council [ALEC] and attending -- actually more like infiltrating -- their most recent national conference.
He spoke of a session where a politician publicly stated that ALEC was like a football team where politicians are the players and corporations are the coaches.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Democracy Convention – Day 2
Democratizing Money, Democratizing the Constitution and Building a Democracy Movement in the USA
It was a dizzying day of education and action in Madison. Here are 10 reflections of my experiences, observations and comments.
1. Plenary sessions are streamed live on DemocracyConvention.org. Watch the first 2 days plenary sessions and other workshops at http://www.theuptake.org/2011/08/24/democracy-convention-live-from-madison-wi/
2. People are increasingly interested in taking control of our corporatized money system. The workshop on Democratizing Money was wall-to-wall with people. I spoke on the need, as affirmed in the Constitution, to retake power and authority to coin money through issuing and circulating US debt-free money. This would unshackle our nation from the economic dependency of banking corporations via interest payments. I shared information about HB 6550, the National Emergency Employment Defense [NEED] Act and the work of the American Monetary Institute. A description of the NEED Act is at http://monetary.org/create-jobs-and-improve-the-economy-through-public-control-of-our-money-system/2011/01
3. A movement to fundamentally amend the US Constitution, or any other movement, must address issues of race, white privilege, class and other issues that divide people who have been oppressed. That was the clear message of several presenters at the daylong Move to Amend Affiliates Gathering. At least 50 people pre-registered for this 2-day skill-building and strategy session.
4. There were several very informative skill building sessions addressing Earned Media and Lobbying Public Officials at the MTA Affiliates Gathering. These will soon be posted on
www.movetoamend.org (probably in the Tool Kit section). There were also several excellent handouts provided. One focusing on corporate personhood “Talking Points” will be posted on www.movetoamendohio.org in the next few days.
5. Madison and Dane county, Wisconsin have paved the way in passing ballot initiatives calling for an end to corporate personhood and the legal doctrine that money is speech. Other communities have worked to pass variations of such resolutions. Many more are in various stages of development.
The following reflections are based on the evening plenary, Building a Democracy Movement in the USA.
6. Ben Manski, Chair of the Convention, said the fundamental question of our time is “Who rules?” A democracy movement must be built to win, to acquire the capacity to self-govern.
7. George Friday of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee and Green Party felt the 3 most important steps to take in when we return home are (1) pass resolutions against corporate personhood and wanting our war dollars to come home, (2) build relationships with people unlike ourselves, and (3) have a party. It’s very important that is these troubled times that we take care of ourselves.
8. Dr. Margaret Flowers, one of the key organizers of the upcoming October 6 Stop the Machine actions in DC and key single-payer activist, believes lobbying and working on elections at the present time is basically worthless as our political system is broken. The disconnect between supermajority public views and political votes on taxing the rich, ending the wars, corporate welfare, creating jobs, clean energy, getting money out of politics prove the point that corporations and the military have captured our public officials. We must build a grassroots democracy movement.
9. Nichols, author and writer for the Nation and Progressive, quoting Walt Whitman, said democracy is not of the vote but of the human spirit. It has almost nothing do with the voting booth but whether we are human beings. Politics isn’t ultimately about voting but of equality. He very assertively spoke about the success of people who have created their own media and helped them “leap over” corporate media – and called for all of us to become more adept at using all communication technologies. He also said we must overcome our fear of the Constitution. It’s protected us a little bit. But we’ve got to mess with it. Get money out of politics. People are people. Corporations are corporations. And people are superior to corporations.
10. Finally, I observed to David Cobb this evening that the movement against corporations has come along way over the past 15 years. The energy directed at corporations is now rapidly evolving. For years, when activists at all focused on corporations, it was directed on one or more “harms” or “abuses” (the list of which is virtually endless). What we are now seeing is an evolution to awareness and energy focused on redressing corporate rights. That is quite a shift – from a defensive one-at-a-time approach to an affirmative declaration that human beings alone (include nature as well) should possess inalienable rights. It’s been quite a ride. And it’s just beginning!
It was a dizzying day of education and action in Madison. Here are 10 reflections of my experiences, observations and comments.
1. Plenary sessions are streamed live on DemocracyConvention.org. Watch the first 2 days plenary sessions and other workshops at http://www.theuptake.org/2011/08/24/democracy-convention-live-from-madison-wi/
2. People are increasingly interested in taking control of our corporatized money system. The workshop on Democratizing Money was wall-to-wall with people. I spoke on the need, as affirmed in the Constitution, to retake power and authority to coin money through issuing and circulating US debt-free money. This would unshackle our nation from the economic dependency of banking corporations via interest payments. I shared information about HB 6550, the National Emergency Employment Defense [NEED] Act and the work of the American Monetary Institute. A description of the NEED Act is at http://monetary.org/create-jobs-and-improve-the-economy-through-public-control-of-our-money-system/2011/01
3. A movement to fundamentally amend the US Constitution, or any other movement, must address issues of race, white privilege, class and other issues that divide people who have been oppressed. That was the clear message of several presenters at the daylong Move to Amend Affiliates Gathering. At least 50 people pre-registered for this 2-day skill-building and strategy session.
4. There were several very informative skill building sessions addressing Earned Media and Lobbying Public Officials at the MTA Affiliates Gathering. These will soon be posted on
www.movetoamend.org (probably in the Tool Kit section). There were also several excellent handouts provided. One focusing on corporate personhood “Talking Points” will be posted on www.movetoamendohio.org in the next few days.
5. Madison and Dane county, Wisconsin have paved the way in passing ballot initiatives calling for an end to corporate personhood and the legal doctrine that money is speech. Other communities have worked to pass variations of such resolutions. Many more are in various stages of development.
The following reflections are based on the evening plenary, Building a Democracy Movement in the USA.
6. Ben Manski, Chair of the Convention, said the fundamental question of our time is “Who rules?” A democracy movement must be built to win, to acquire the capacity to self-govern.
7. George Friday of the Bill of Rights Defense Committee and Green Party felt the 3 most important steps to take in when we return home are (1) pass resolutions against corporate personhood and wanting our war dollars to come home, (2) build relationships with people unlike ourselves, and (3) have a party. It’s very important that is these troubled times that we take care of ourselves.
8. Dr. Margaret Flowers, one of the key organizers of the upcoming October 6 Stop the Machine actions in DC and key single-payer activist, believes lobbying and working on elections at the present time is basically worthless as our political system is broken. The disconnect between supermajority public views and political votes on taxing the rich, ending the wars, corporate welfare, creating jobs, clean energy, getting money out of politics prove the point that corporations and the military have captured our public officials. We must build a grassroots democracy movement.
9. Nichols, author and writer for the Nation and Progressive, quoting Walt Whitman, said democracy is not of the vote but of the human spirit. It has almost nothing do with the voting booth but whether we are human beings. Politics isn’t ultimately about voting but of equality. He very assertively spoke about the success of people who have created their own media and helped them “leap over” corporate media – and called for all of us to become more adept at using all communication technologies. He also said we must overcome our fear of the Constitution. It’s protected us a little bit. But we’ve got to mess with it. Get money out of politics. People are people. Corporations are corporations. And people are superior to corporations.
10. Finally, I observed to David Cobb this evening that the movement against corporations has come along way over the past 15 years. The energy directed at corporations is now rapidly evolving. For years, when activists at all focused on corporations, it was directed on one or more “harms” or “abuses” (the list of which is virtually endless). What we are now seeing is an evolution to awareness and energy focused on redressing corporate rights. That is quite a shift – from a defensive one-at-a-time approach to an affirmative declaration that human beings alone (include nature as well) should possess inalienable rights. It’s been quite a ride. And it’s just beginning!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Democracy Convention – Day 1
Opening Ceremony / Keynote Addresses
The Democracy Convention in Madison, WI opened tonight with a moving performance of the Call for Peace Native American drum dance group. Two dancers, from tribes located in Wisconsin, combined ritualistic music with dance, including a Circle Dance with more than a dozen hoops, symbolizing unity and harmony of all people of all races and backgrounds.
Mayor Paul Soglin of Madison provided greetings to the hundreds of attendees. Observing what has taken place in Wisconsin since the beginning of the year, he said the actions of Governor Walker over the last 6 months was the result of what happens when we don’t pay attention. The 2 lessons he’s learned since the beginning of the year are (1) investing in infrastructure and education is what improves society and (2) we can’t let conditions take care of themselves.
Ben Manski, Chair of the Convention and Director of the Liberty Tree Foundation, felt that the event was the culmination of hard work of many people involved in many individual movements for democracy that had matured – beginning with resistance of the WTO in Seattle.
Tom Hayden, drafter of the Port Huron Statement which called for participatory democracy, not simply representative democracy in the 1960’s, commented that democracy in the US today is fragmented with our democratic structure build on a historical and present destruction of people and cultures – from Native Americans to the nation’s we are at war with at the moment.
There is a current conflict between the progressive and reactionary forms of populism, Hayden said. Democratic movements always divide over those who’ve been radicalized and want more and those who are moderate and are content with modest gains. Victories of any size also fragment movements. The ruling class is also divided in times of social turmoil – between moderates who are willing to make concessions and solidify most of their power and wealth and those who are absolutists, feeling that to give in on any demand represents a loss of status and power. These absolutists make up a countermovement – which is what we’re experiencing today with attacks on progressive/populist economic and political programs and rules.
One of the major struggles between progressive populist movements for democratic change and counter-movements is over memory, since a large part of current movements is based on the memory and lessons learned from earlier ones.
He said authentic social change always begins with participatory democracy on the margins and ends up impacting representative democracy (elections). Unlike other nations, one device that has always undercut the growing movement for democracy has been war. The US frontier/expansionist culture has been effective at distracting attention from domestic concerns and diverted class and social conflicts by pushing people of color and the poor off “to the frontier” to fight wars or settle lands.
He was encouraged by the recent AFL-CIO statement against the Afghanistan war but cautioned us to pay attention to the “Long War” Pentagon doctrine (calling for perpetual war for 80 years – we’ve 10 years in). The domestic effects of this Long War doctrine are reductions of civil liberties (and difficulties in organizing) and in further domestic economic and social deterioration.
He ended by noting the similarities between the 1950’s and today. Just as the awareness and actions of the Beatniks and Montgomery bus boycotts were the precursors of the organizing for peace and civil rights of the 1960’s, what happened in Madison earlier this year may very well be the precursor to the more profound movement for change in the period ahead.
Cheri Honkla, founder of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union in Philadelphia and organizer of many poor-people’s marches nation-wide, was the final speaker. She said we are living in truly historic times. We must stop trying to adjust to a lower standard of living. To be silent in these times is to betray the millions who are without work, health insurance, or a home while bankers received trillions.
She said fear is being used as a weapon to silence and terrorize us. History has shown when people are no longer immobilized by fear, movements happen. Overcoming fear has allowed thousands of families she has worked with to take over abandoned homes and fight foreclosures. Our quest should be to create an entirely new cooperative society – where people are in control of banks and other institutions that currently oppress people.
By the way, Honkala is running this November to become Sheriff of Philadelphia – so she can stop throwing people our of their homes due to foreclosures.
On a personal note, I have the good fortune to be staying in a cohousing community in Madison called Arbco Commons. With the inspiration and perspiration of several Quakers and others, the 3-year old 40-unit facility is a center of intentional community living and activism in this area. More information about the community is at http://www.arboretumcohousing.org/
The Democracy Convention in Madison, WI opened tonight with a moving performance of the Call for Peace Native American drum dance group. Two dancers, from tribes located in Wisconsin, combined ritualistic music with dance, including a Circle Dance with more than a dozen hoops, symbolizing unity and harmony of all people of all races and backgrounds.
Mayor Paul Soglin of Madison provided greetings to the hundreds of attendees. Observing what has taken place in Wisconsin since the beginning of the year, he said the actions of Governor Walker over the last 6 months was the result of what happens when we don’t pay attention. The 2 lessons he’s learned since the beginning of the year are (1) investing in infrastructure and education is what improves society and (2) we can’t let conditions take care of themselves.
Ben Manski, Chair of the Convention and Director of the Liberty Tree Foundation, felt that the event was the culmination of hard work of many people involved in many individual movements for democracy that had matured – beginning with resistance of the WTO in Seattle.
Tom Hayden, drafter of the Port Huron Statement which called for participatory democracy, not simply representative democracy in the 1960’s, commented that democracy in the US today is fragmented with our democratic structure build on a historical and present destruction of people and cultures – from Native Americans to the nation’s we are at war with at the moment.
There is a current conflict between the progressive and reactionary forms of populism, Hayden said. Democratic movements always divide over those who’ve been radicalized and want more and those who are moderate and are content with modest gains. Victories of any size also fragment movements. The ruling class is also divided in times of social turmoil – between moderates who are willing to make concessions and solidify most of their power and wealth and those who are absolutists, feeling that to give in on any demand represents a loss of status and power. These absolutists make up a countermovement – which is what we’re experiencing today with attacks on progressive/populist economic and political programs and rules.
One of the major struggles between progressive populist movements for democratic change and counter-movements is over memory, since a large part of current movements is based on the memory and lessons learned from earlier ones.
He said authentic social change always begins with participatory democracy on the margins and ends up impacting representative democracy (elections). Unlike other nations, one device that has always undercut the growing movement for democracy has been war. The US frontier/expansionist culture has been effective at distracting attention from domestic concerns and diverted class and social conflicts by pushing people of color and the poor off “to the frontier” to fight wars or settle lands.
He was encouraged by the recent AFL-CIO statement against the Afghanistan war but cautioned us to pay attention to the “Long War” Pentagon doctrine (calling for perpetual war for 80 years – we’ve 10 years in). The domestic effects of this Long War doctrine are reductions of civil liberties (and difficulties in organizing) and in further domestic economic and social deterioration.
He ended by noting the similarities between the 1950’s and today. Just as the awareness and actions of the Beatniks and Montgomery bus boycotts were the precursors of the organizing for peace and civil rights of the 1960’s, what happened in Madison earlier this year may very well be the precursor to the more profound movement for change in the period ahead.
Cheri Honkla, founder of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union in Philadelphia and organizer of many poor-people’s marches nation-wide, was the final speaker. She said we are living in truly historic times. We must stop trying to adjust to a lower standard of living. To be silent in these times is to betray the millions who are without work, health insurance, or a home while bankers received trillions.
She said fear is being used as a weapon to silence and terrorize us. History has shown when people are no longer immobilized by fear, movements happen. Overcoming fear has allowed thousands of families she has worked with to take over abandoned homes and fight foreclosures. Our quest should be to create an entirely new cooperative society – where people are in control of banks and other institutions that currently oppress people.
By the way, Honkala is running this November to become Sheriff of Philadelphia – so she can stop throwing people our of their homes due to foreclosures.
On a personal note, I have the good fortune to be staying in a cohousing community in Madison called Arbco Commons. With the inspiration and perspiration of several Quakers and others, the 3-year old 40-unit facility is a center of intentional community living and activism in this area. More information about the community is at http://www.arboretumcohousing.org/
Democracy Convention Final Invitation
Received this late yesterday...
One thousand caring, committed people, ready for democracy.
Hundreds of workshops and panels.
Two hundred presenters.
Nine conferences.
Five days.
One Convention.
http://www.DemocracyConvention.org
It all begins tomorrow. If you are moved to walk, pedal, drive, locomotive, or fly to downtown Madison, do it. Because the world begins again tomorrow.
At noon, registration opens up at the Atrium of the downtown campus of Madison (Area Technical) College. Come on down, check in, get your commemorative button (and name tag). Meet other convention goers. Visit the people staffing the informational, book, and chotchke tables.
At 7:00pm, the Call for Peace Drum and Dance troop open the convention with inspiration. They will immediately be followed by Madison Mayor Paul Soglin's welcome to the city. And then our two incredible keynote speakers, Tom Hayden and Cheri Honkala.
The convention runs through Sunday. You will be amazed at the intensity and breadth of the offerings at this gathering. I hope you'll also note that everything at the convention comes back to one common challenge: Building a democracy movement for the U.S.A..
We have posted everything on the website. Check it all out at http://www.DemocracyConvention.org
And then --depending on where you hail from-- come on down, over, or up to the Democracy Convention in Madison.
In Solidarity,
Ben Manski
Executive Director, Liberty Tree
Chair, Democracy Convention
One thousand caring, committed people, ready for democracy.
Hundreds of workshops and panels.
Two hundred presenters.
Nine conferences.
Five days.
One Convention.
http://www.DemocracyConvention.org
It all begins tomorrow. If you are moved to walk, pedal, drive, locomotive, or fly to downtown Madison, do it. Because the world begins again tomorrow.
At noon, registration opens up at the Atrium of the downtown campus of Madison (Area Technical) College. Come on down, check in, get your commemorative button (and name tag). Meet other convention goers. Visit the people staffing the informational, book, and chotchke tables.
At 7:00pm, the Call for Peace Drum and Dance troop open the convention with inspiration. They will immediately be followed by Madison Mayor Paul Soglin's welcome to the city. And then our two incredible keynote speakers, Tom Hayden and Cheri Honkala.
The convention runs through Sunday. You will be amazed at the intensity and breadth of the offerings at this gathering. I hope you'll also note that everything at the convention comes back to one common challenge: Building a democracy movement for the U.S.A..
We have posted everything on the website. Check it all out at http://www.DemocracyConvention.org
And then --depending on where you hail from-- come on down, over, or up to the Democracy Convention in Madison.
In Solidarity,
Ben Manski
Executive Director, Liberty Tree
Chair, Democracy Convention
Monday, August 22, 2011
Reports from Democracy Convention
The First Annual Democracy Convention
August 24-8 / Madison, WI
If you want to strengthen democracy where it matters most -- in our communities, our schools, our workplaces and local economies, our military, our government, our media, our constitution -- you will find something inspiring in Madison this August.
More than one conference, this first Democracy Convention will house at least nine conferences under one roof. As the great progressive reformer Fighting Bob La Follette said, "democracy is a life," and "involves constant struggle" in all sectors of society. With the 2011 Democracy Convention, we recognize the importance of each of these separate democracy struggles, as well as the need to unite them all in a common, deeply rooted, broad based, movement for democracy. More than 500 people have already registered.
http://democracyconvention.org/about-convention
http://democracyconvention.org/
I’ll be participating in 3 workshops during the Convention:
At the EARTH DEMOCRACY Conference
Water: A Fundamental Right for People and Nature: Local to Global
http://democracyconvention.org/session/water-fundamental-right-people-and-nature-local-global
At the CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM Conference
Lessons from the Past: Abolitionists, The Women’s Movement, Organized Labor
http://democracyconvention.org/session/lessons-past-abolitionists-women%E2%80%99s-movement-organized-labor
At the ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY Conference
Democratizing Money
http://democracyconvention.org/session/democratizing-money
[the list of presenters has changed]
Between workshop presentations, I’ll be attending many sessions at the Constitutional Reform Conference , which is sponsored by Move to Amend (the organization formed last year to amend the US Constitution to abolish never-intended corporate constitutional rights).
Reports (hopefully daily) will be posted here.
Links will be at:
http://www.facebook.com/greg.coleridge
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Northeast-Ohio-American-Friends-Service-Committee-AFSC/118469198182768#!/groups/123055735045/
August 24-8 / Madison, WI
If you want to strengthen democracy where it matters most -- in our communities, our schools, our workplaces and local economies, our military, our government, our media, our constitution -- you will find something inspiring in Madison this August.
More than one conference, this first Democracy Convention will house at least nine conferences under one roof. As the great progressive reformer Fighting Bob La Follette said, "democracy is a life," and "involves constant struggle" in all sectors of society. With the 2011 Democracy Convention, we recognize the importance of each of these separate democracy struggles, as well as the need to unite them all in a common, deeply rooted, broad based, movement for democracy. More than 500 people have already registered.
http://democracyconvention.org/about-convention
http://democracyconvention.org/
I’ll be participating in 3 workshops during the Convention:
At the EARTH DEMOCRACY Conference
Water: A Fundamental Right for People and Nature: Local to Global
http://democracyconvention.org/session/water-fundamental-right-people-and-nature-local-global
At the CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM Conference
Lessons from the Past: Abolitionists, The Women’s Movement, Organized Labor
http://democracyconvention.org/session/lessons-past-abolitionists-women%E2%80%99s-movement-organized-labor
At the ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY Conference
Democratizing Money
http://democracyconvention.org/session/democratizing-money
[the list of presenters has changed]
Between workshop presentations, I’ll be attending many sessions at the Constitutional Reform Conference , which is sponsored by Move to Amend (the organization formed last year to amend the US Constitution to abolish never-intended corporate constitutional rights).
Reports (hopefully daily) will be posted here.
Links will be at:
http://www.facebook.com/greg.coleridge
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Northeast-Ohio-American-Friends-Service-Committee-AFSC/118469198182768#!/groups/123055735045/
Sunday, August 21, 2011
MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR -- August 22-28
AUGUST 23 1935 – PASSAGE OF US BANKING ACT
The law made the FDIC a permanent agency and raised the deposit insurance level to $5,000.
The Federal Reserve System was reformed with the transformation of the Federal Reserve Board of Directors to the Board of Governors. All board members were appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and the term of service was expanded to 14 years. Open-market operations were formalized in the Federal Open Market Committee and the Governors were allowed to determine interest rates and bank reserve requirements. These “reforms,” however, were window dressing. The power and authority to issue money as debt was retained in the hands of the private Federal Reserve and private banking corporations. Keeping reserve requirement decisions in the hands of the Fed only invited speculation and risk (reserve requirements are the ratio of money banks lend in excess of money they actually possess “in reserve” to cover loans. Banks loan many times the amount of funds in their reserve).
AUGUST 24 1916 – BIRTH OF ROBERT DE FREMERY, AUTHOR, RIGHTS VS PRIVILEGES
"It is not obvious that there are serious defects in our banking system and our tax system that deprive most of us of fundamental rights and bestow enormous privileges on others? How many riots must we endure? How many prisons must we build? How many of our rights must we lose? How many of our young people must be sent away to fight in foreign wars before we decide that enough is enough?"
1922 – BIRTH OF HOWARD ZINN
"Whether you have a Republican or a Democrat in power, the Robber Barons are still there…Under the Clinton administration more mergers of huge corporations took place that had ever taken place before under any administration…Whether you have Republicns or Democrats in power, big business is the most powerful voice in the halls of Congress and in the ears of the President of the U.S."
NOTE: National talk show host Thom Hartmann recently spoke out in support of the National Emergency Employment Defense [NEED] Act, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, which calls for the issuance and circulation of US debt-free money to fund infrastructure programs. To read more about the NEED Act, go to http://moneyreform.wordpress.com/2011/01/
Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis, Alice Francini and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
The law made the FDIC a permanent agency and raised the deposit insurance level to $5,000.
The Federal Reserve System was reformed with the transformation of the Federal Reserve Board of Directors to the Board of Governors. All board members were appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and the term of service was expanded to 14 years. Open-market operations were formalized in the Federal Open Market Committee and the Governors were allowed to determine interest rates and bank reserve requirements. These “reforms,” however, were window dressing. The power and authority to issue money as debt was retained in the hands of the private Federal Reserve and private banking corporations. Keeping reserve requirement decisions in the hands of the Fed only invited speculation and risk (reserve requirements are the ratio of money banks lend in excess of money they actually possess “in reserve” to cover loans. Banks loan many times the amount of funds in their reserve).
AUGUST 24 1916 – BIRTH OF ROBERT DE FREMERY, AUTHOR, RIGHTS VS PRIVILEGES
"It is not obvious that there are serious defects in our banking system and our tax system that deprive most of us of fundamental rights and bestow enormous privileges on others? How many riots must we endure? How many prisons must we build? How many of our rights must we lose? How many of our young people must be sent away to fight in foreign wars before we decide that enough is enough?"
1922 – BIRTH OF HOWARD ZINN
"Whether you have a Republican or a Democrat in power, the Robber Barons are still there…Under the Clinton administration more mergers of huge corporations took place that had ever taken place before under any administration…Whether you have Republicns or Democrats in power, big business is the most powerful voice in the halls of Congress and in the ears of the President of the U.S."
NOTE: National talk show host Thom Hartmann recently spoke out in support of the National Emergency Employment Defense [NEED] Act, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, which calls for the issuance and circulation of US debt-free money to fund infrastructure programs. To read more about the NEED Act, go to http://moneyreform.wordpress.com/2011/01/
Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis, Alice Francini and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR -- August 22-28
AUGUST 23
1935 – PASSAGE OF BANKING ACT
The law made the FDIC a permanent agency and raised the deposit insurance level to $5,000.
The Federal Reserve System was reformed with the transformation of the Federal Reserve Board of Directors to the Board of Governors. All board members were appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and the term of service was expanded to 14 years. Open-market operations were formalized in the Federal Open Market Committee and the Governors were allowed to determine interest rates and bank reserve requirements. These “reforms,” however, were window dressing. The power and authority to issue money as debt was retained in the hands of the private Federal Reserve and private banking corporations. Keeping reserve requirement decisions in the hands of the Fed only invited speculation and risk (reserve requirements are the ratio of money banks lend in excess of money they actually possess “in reserve” to cover loans. Banks loan many times the amount of funds in their reserve).
AUGUST 24
1916 – BIRTH OF ROBERT DE FREMERY, AUTHOR, RIGHTS VS PRIVILEGES
"It is not obvious that there are serious defects in our banking system and our tax system that deprive most of us of fundamental rights and bestow enormous privileges on others? How many riots must we endure? How many prisons must we build? How many of our rights must we lose? How many of our young people must be sent away to fight in foreign wars before we decide that enough is enough?"
1922 – BIRTH OF HOWARD ZINN
"Whether you have a Republican or a Democrat in power, the Robber Barons are still there…Under the Clinton administration more mergers of huge corporations took place that had ever taken place before under any administration…Whether you have Republicns or Democrats in power, big business is the most powerful voice in the halls of Congress and in the ears of the President of the U.S."
Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis, Alice Francini and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Citizen Power or Corporate Power in Ohio
Have corporations become too powerful? This is a relevant question during this time of rapid increase of corporate consolidations, intellectual property protections, movement of factories and money, lobbying and campaign contributions, tax breaks, deregulation, and influence over health care, education, housing, food, prisons, transportation and the environment.
“Corporatization” of our society is not inevitable or irreversible. Corporations were not supposed to reign. The early history of the United States and of Ohio is of citizens clearly defining and closely controlling corporate behavior. It is a history that is outlined in Citizens over Corporations, A Brief History of Democracy in Ohio and Challenges to Freedom in the Future, produced by the Ohio Committee on Corporations, Law and Democracy, a project of the American Friends Service Committee of Northeast Ohio.
The American Revolution was not a revolution simply against a tax on tea or the King of England. It was also a revolution against the British “crown” corporations that ran the colonies – such as the Massachusetts Bay Company, Maryland Company, Virginia Company, and Carolina Company.
Following independence, the colonists “constitutionalized” or “democratized” these corporations, converting them into states with elected representatives. From their experiences, the colonists knew to keep corporations on a short leash. Therefore, they entrusted the essential task of corporate control to the one group who was closest to the people -- state legislators.
When Ohio became a state in 1803, the state legislature acting on behalf of the public used their power to create and define corporations. Early Ohio acts creating corporations one at a time stipulated rigid conditions. These privileges, not rights, included:
• Limited duration of charter or certificate of incorporation,
• Limitation on amount of land ownership,
• Limitation of amount of capitalization, or total investment of owners,
• Limitations of charter for a specific purpose (to amend its charter, a new corporation had to be formed),
• The state reserved the right to amend the charters or to revoke them,
• Corporations could not engage in political activities.
In many instances, after a corporation built a turnpike and once the corporation recovered its costs and a fair profit, the charter of certificate of incorporation was dissolved and the turnpike became a public road. In other instances, the charter exempted the poor, voters and churchgoers from turnpike tolls.
A second way people exerted power and control over corporations through the Ohio legislature was by repealing entire or portions of corporate charters that violated terms of their incorporation. From 1839-1849 the legislature effectively dissolved several enterprises. Turnpike corporations and banks were the most common targets; others included silk and insurance corporations.
In an 1842 act to repeal the charter of the German Bank of Wooster, the state legislature stated:
It shall be the duty of the court of common pleas... or any judge of the supreme court...to restrain said bank, its officers, agents and servants or assignees, from exercising any corporate rights, privileges, and franchises whatever...and force the bank commissioners to close the bank and deliver full possession of the banking house, keys, books, papers, lands, tenements, goods, chattels, moneys, property and effects of said bank, of every kind and description whatever...
From the 1830’s through the 1912 Constitutional Convention, the Ohio Supreme Court and various lower courts ruled on hundreds of cases that affirmed the sovereign rights of people and their elected representatives to define corporations and their actions. Cases ranged from sweeping decisions on corporations in general; to more specific decisions on an entire category of corporations (like railroads); to very specific decisions addressing a particular corporation. Many decisions reinforced previously passed state laws or provisions of state constitutions. In one case, the Ohio Supreme Court stated,
The corporation has received vitality from the state; it continues during its existence to be the creature of the state; must live subservient to its laws, and has such powers and franchises as those laws have bestowed upon it, and none others. As the state was not bound to create it in the first place, it is not bound to maintain it after having done so, if it violates the laws or public policy of the state, or misuses its franchises to oppress the citizens thereof.
State courts imposed penalties for abuse or misuse of the corporate charter that were often more severe than a simple plea bargain or fine. They included ousting the corporation of its claimed privileges to perform certain actions. The most severe penalty, common from the mid-1800’s through the 1920’s, was to revoke the corporate charter and dissolve the corporation itself. The legal device used to achieve these penalties was a quo warranto proceeding.
The most well-known quo warranto case in Ohio history involved the efforts by two Republican Ohio Attorneys General to revoke the charter of the Standard Oil Company, the most powerful U.S. corporation of the time, for forming a trust. In the 1892 argument to revoke its franchise, Ohio Attorney General David Watson argued,
Where a corporation, either directly or indirectly, submits to the domination of an agency unknown to the statute, or identifies itself with and unites in carrying out an agreement whose performance is injurious to the public, it thereby offends against the law of its creation and forfeits all right to its franchises, and judgment of ouster should be entered against it.
In a 1900 ruling to dissolve a dairy company, the Ohio Supreme Court said,
The time has not yet arrived when the created is greater than the creator, and it still remains the duty of the courts to perform their office in the enforcement of the laws, no matter how ingenious the pretexts for their violation may be, nor the power of the violators in the commercial world. In the present case the acts of the defendant have been persistent, defiant and flagrant, and no other course is left to the court than to enter a judgment of ouster and to appoint trustees to wind up the business of the concern.
Corporations didn’t take this entire citizen self-governance and revocation business sitting down. Corporations fought back against legislative and judicial charter revocations and limitations, confronting the law at every point. They hired lawyers and created law firms. Corporations rewrote the laws governing their creation. They advocated replacing specific chartering rules with general incorporation laws (as Ohio did in 1842) with minimal reviews, perpetual life spans, limited liabilities and decreased citizen authority. Judges redefined corporate profits as property. The courts declared corporate contracts and the rate of return on investment as property. Judges and the legislature redefined the common good to mean corporate use of people and the earth and commons to maximize production and profit.
In Ohio, laws and court cases favorable to corporations were passed and decided over a period of decades. If corporations couldn’t get favorable treatment by the legislature, they focused their energies on the courts where they had a greater chance for success.
The corporate counter attack to citizen aspirations and values for self-governance achieved a significant victory in 1886. That year the U.S. Supreme Court (including three Ohioans) ruled in Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Corp. that a corporation was a natural person under the U.S. Constitution, protected by the 14th Amendment. It was the 14th Amendment, passed in 1868, which provided freed slaves rights of due process and equal protection under the law -- rights of persons.
With corporate profits, consolidations, tax breaks and political influence following the Citizens United vs. FEC decision at or near record levels today, it is time to reexamine the fundamental relationship between citizens and corporations. Challenging corporate constitutional “rights” is a legitimate and essential task of self-governing people. The time has still not yet arrived when the created is greater than the creator. We Ohioans must learn our history and use it to rethink and reassess our actions today. What is left of our democracy is at stake.
-------------
Copies of Citizens over Corporations are available for $2.00 each plus $1 postage. Order from Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee, 2101 Front St., #111, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 [Check payable to AFSC] Phone: 330-928-2301 Web: http://www.afsc.net
Monday, August 15, 2011
Too bad Mitt Romney isn't visiting Ohio soon
Mitt Romney’s declaration that “corporations are people” flies in the face of our nation’s and state’s founders who intended corporations to be creations of the state, subordinate to real human beings, and not able or capable of being involved in politics. Corporations were intended solely to provide useful goods and services.
Too bad Mr. Romney is not going to be in Northeast Ohio during the next few weeks. If he was, he would have an opportunity to attend educational meetings in Cleveland, Lakewood and Cleveland Heights where the absurd 2010 Citizens United vs FEC Supreme Court decision — anointing corporations with never-intended First Amendment rights — will be exposed and organized against.
Local supporters of Mr. Romney and every other presidential candidate, as well as the general public, are invited to these open public meetings. For details on each gathering, go to http://afsc.net/neoevents.html
Too bad Mr. Romney is not going to be in Northeast Ohio during the next few weeks. If he was, he would have an opportunity to attend educational meetings in Cleveland, Lakewood and Cleveland Heights where the absurd 2010 Citizens United vs FEC Supreme Court decision — anointing corporations with never-intended First Amendment rights — will be exposed and organized against.
Local supporters of Mr. Romney and every other presidential candidate, as well as the general public, are invited to these open public meetings. For details on each gathering, go to http://afsc.net/neoevents.html
Sunday, August 14, 2011
MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR - August 15-21
AUGUST 15
1769 – BIRTH OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
“When a government is dependent upon banks for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation, since the hand that gives is above the hand that takes. Money has no motherland; financers are without patriotism and without decency; their sole object is gain.”
1971 – PRESIDENT NIXON CLOSES “GOLD WINDOW”
Richard Nixon issues Executive Order 11615 freezing wages and prices. Foreign-held paper dollars are no longer converted for gold, thereby nullifying the Bretton Woods Agreement.
AUGUST 20
1935 – BIRTH OF RON PAUL, US CONGRESSMAN
Referring to the Federal Reserve, he stated, "maybe there's too much power in the hands of those who control monetary policy? The power to create the financial bubbles. The power to maybe bring the bubble about. The power to change the value of the stock market within minutes. That to me is just an ominous power and challenges the whole concept of freedom and liberty and sound money."
---------------------------
Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis, Alice Francini and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
1769 – BIRTH OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE
“When a government is dependent upon banks for money, they and not the leaders of the government control the situation, since the hand that gives is above the hand that takes. Money has no motherland; financers are without patriotism and without decency; their sole object is gain.”
1971 – PRESIDENT NIXON CLOSES “GOLD WINDOW”
Richard Nixon issues Executive Order 11615 freezing wages and prices. Foreign-held paper dollars are no longer converted for gold, thereby nullifying the Bretton Woods Agreement.
AUGUST 20
1935 – BIRTH OF RON PAUL, US CONGRESSMAN
Referring to the Federal Reserve, he stated, "maybe there's too much power in the hands of those who control monetary policy? The power to create the financial bubbles. The power to maybe bring the bubble about. The power to change the value of the stock market within minutes. That to me is just an ominous power and challenges the whole concept of freedom and liberty and sound money."
---------------------------
Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis, Alice Francini and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
Friday, August 12, 2011
MovetoAmendOhio - Summer Actions Everywhere!
1. New Move to Amend Local Affiliates – Columbus and Medina
2. Upcoming Community Information/Organizing Meetings – Cleveland, Lakewood, Cleveland Hts
3. Labor Day parade -- Barberton
4. Tabling -- Akron
5. Stand up for Ohio Festival – Move to Amend Ohio table - Columbus
6. Democracy Convention – Madison, WI – Transportation from Ohio
7. Next statewide conference call – Saturday, August 20
ps – Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney and Corporate Personhood
--------------------------------------------------------
New Move to Amend Local Affiliates
Columbus: Contact Michael Greenman for list of actions
Medina: Contact Carolyn Boyce for a list of actions
------------
Upcoming Community Information/Organizing Meetings
Date/Time/Location/Address/Contact/Email
August 23/6:30 pm/Lakewood Public Library/15425 Detroit Rd/Susanna DeSorgo / sdesorgo@yahoo.com
September 1/7:00pm/Cleveland Heights Public Library/2345 Lee Rd/Greg Coleridge/ gcoleridge@afsc.org
September 6/5:30pm/Harvey Rice Library/11535 Shaker Blvd/Cleveland /Lois Romanoff/ loisromanoff@gmail.com
The short film, The Story of Citizens United vs FEC will be shown at each event followed by discussion of approaching groups and city councils for endorsement.
To schedule a meeting in your community, contact gcoleridge@afsc.org
------------
Labor Day Parade
Move to Amend Ohio will be marching in the Barberton Labor Day parade -- one of the largest Labor Day parades in Ohio. We will have our Move to Amend Ohio banner, Corporations are NOT People signs, flags of several kinds, and petitions. It’s Monday, September 5 — stepping off at 10 AM. If you’re able to march, RSVP gcoleridge@afsc.org for further details.
------------
Tabling
Move to Amend petitions have been at several festivals this summer. The next one is Saturday, September 3/10am –7 pm/Highland Square Arts Festival in Akron. If you can staff the table for any time, email ewatkins@afsc.org. Thank you!
-----------
Stand up for Ohio Festival -- Move to Amend Ohio table
On Saturday, August 20th, the biggest free concert to hit Ohio this summer will take place at the Ohio Fairgrounds. The Ohio Players, Grand Funk Railroad, Nikki Giovanni, and others will be performing, while informative speakers touch on a range of issues important to our jobs and communities.
Move to Amend Ohio has a table at this concert — which runs from Noon to 8:30 PM
We need volunteers to man/woman/staff the table. Can you help for an hour or two?
If so, please indicate what shift(s) you can be there
Noon-1:30 pm – already covered
1:30- 3:00 pm – already covered
3:00-4:30 pm
4:30 – 6:00 pm
6:00-7:30 pm
7:30-8:30 pm
Please email to gcoleridge@afsc.org
Further details of the event are at http://standupforohio.org/events/?event_id=36
---------------
Democracy Convention
August 24-8 / Madison, WI / http://democracyconvention.org
Registration is cheap. Host housing is available. Car/van pooling is available.
If interested in attending and would like a ride, contact gcoleridge@afsc.org or mgreenman@wowway.com
ABOUT THE CONVENTION
If you want to strengthen democracy where it matters most -- in our communities, our schools, our workplaces and local economies, our military, our government, our media, our constitution -- you will find something inspiring in Madison this August.
More than one conference, this first Democracy Convention will house at least nine conferences under one roof. As the great progressive reformer Fighting Bob La Follette said, "democracy is a life," and "involves constant struggle" in all sectors of society. With the 2011 Democracy Convention, we recognize the importance of each of these separate democracy struggles, as well as the need to unite them all in a common, deeply rooted, broad based, movement for democracy.
A NEW DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT
A new movement -- a democracy movement -- was born in the streets of Seattle on November 30, 1999. This movement's early years were not easy. Pro-democracy organizers faced crisis after crisis: the stolen presidential elections of 2000 and 2004; the militarization of America that followed September 11th; the destruction of the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Katrina; the Supreme Court ruling that corporations wield constitutional rights to buy elections; and today, an economic crisis that is being used to impose fiscal austerity and corporatization schemes on our states and people.
Through these difficult struggles, the new democracy movement has taken form, expanded, and matured. Now it is time for a coming-of-age celebration. This is the moment to unite in one location the many different efforts to build genuine democracy in the United States. And what better place to come together, and to rejoice, than in Madison, Wisconsin, the city and state that have inspired people everywhere to declare that "We are Wisconsin!"
The Democracy Convention is a project of the Liberty Tree Foundation and co-convened by the Alliance for Democracy, Progressive Magazine, and Move to Amend. We thank our local partners on our Host Committee, as well as our national partners whose support as Major Sponsors, National Sponsor, Co-Sponsors, Endorsers, and Conference Conveners, has been vital. To find out how your organization, union, business, or community can join us, click here: http://democracyconvention.org/sponsor-convention
Democracy is coming . . . to the U.S.A.
NOTE: Part of the conference will include a “Move to Amend Affiliate Gathering.”
Goals of the Gathering are:
*To solidify the relationship between MTA coalition members and the national campaign team
*To connect our coalition partners with each other
*To bring in new coalition partners
*To provide an opportunity for training and strategic discussion in support of the Move to Amend campaign
More information of the Affiliate Gathering: http://movetoamend.org/register-affiliate-gathering-august-2011
---------------
Next Move to Amend Ohio Conference Call
Saturday, August 20 @ 9 AM.
Phone # (new toll-free number): 1-866-256-1242 Access Code: 21676526
---------------
Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney and Corporate Personhood
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/us/politics/12romney.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB
“Corporations are people, my friend,” Mr. Romney responded, as the hecklers shouted back, “No, they’re not!” “Of course they are,” Mr. Romney said, chuckling slightly. “Everything corporations earn ultimately goes to people. Where do you think it goes?”
Colbert's 'defense' of Romney's 'corporations are people' comment
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/12/colbert-defends-mitt-romney-corporations-are-people_n_925277.html
Website: http://movetoamendohio.org
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ohio-Move-to-Amend/163413857048478
2. Upcoming Community Information/Organizing Meetings – Cleveland, Lakewood, Cleveland Hts
3. Labor Day parade -- Barberton
4. Tabling -- Akron
5. Stand up for Ohio Festival – Move to Amend Ohio table - Columbus
6. Democracy Convention – Madison, WI – Transportation from Ohio
7. Next statewide conference call – Saturday, August 20
ps – Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney and Corporate Personhood
--------------------------------------------------------
New Move to Amend Local Affiliates
Columbus: Contact Michael Greenman for list of actions
Medina: Contact Carolyn Boyce for a list of actions
------------
Upcoming Community Information/Organizing Meetings
Date/Time/Location/Address/Contact/Email
August 23/6:30 pm/Lakewood Public Library/15425 Detroit Rd/Susanna DeSorgo / sdesorgo@yahoo.com
September 1/7:00pm/Cleveland Heights Public Library/2345 Lee Rd/Greg Coleridge/ gcoleridge@afsc.org
September 6/5:30pm/Harvey Rice Library/11535 Shaker Blvd/Cleveland /Lois Romanoff/ loisromanoff@gmail.com
The short film, The Story of Citizens United vs FEC will be shown at each event followed by discussion of approaching groups and city councils for endorsement.
To schedule a meeting in your community, contact gcoleridge@afsc.org
------------
Labor Day Parade
Move to Amend Ohio will be marching in the Barberton Labor Day parade -- one of the largest Labor Day parades in Ohio. We will have our Move to Amend Ohio banner, Corporations are NOT People signs, flags of several kinds, and petitions. It’s Monday, September 5 — stepping off at 10 AM. If you’re able to march, RSVP gcoleridge@afsc.org for further details.
------------
Tabling
Move to Amend petitions have been at several festivals this summer. The next one is Saturday, September 3/10am –7 pm/Highland Square Arts Festival in Akron. If you can staff the table for any time, email ewatkins@afsc.org. Thank you!
-----------
Stand up for Ohio Festival -- Move to Amend Ohio table
On Saturday, August 20th, the biggest free concert to hit Ohio this summer will take place at the Ohio Fairgrounds. The Ohio Players, Grand Funk Railroad, Nikki Giovanni, and others will be performing, while informative speakers touch on a range of issues important to our jobs and communities.
Move to Amend Ohio has a table at this concert — which runs from Noon to 8:30 PM
We need volunteers to man/woman/staff the table. Can you help for an hour or two?
If so, please indicate what shift(s) you can be there
Noon-1:30 pm – already covered
1:30- 3:00 pm – already covered
3:00-4:30 pm
4:30 – 6:00 pm
6:00-7:30 pm
7:30-8:30 pm
Please email to gcoleridge@afsc.org
Further details of the event are at http://standupforohio.org/events/?event_id=36
---------------
Democracy Convention
August 24-8 / Madison, WI / http://democracyconvention.org
Registration is cheap. Host housing is available. Car/van pooling is available.
If interested in attending and would like a ride, contact gcoleridge@afsc.org or mgreenman@wowway.com
ABOUT THE CONVENTION
If you want to strengthen democracy where it matters most -- in our communities, our schools, our workplaces and local economies, our military, our government, our media, our constitution -- you will find something inspiring in Madison this August.
More than one conference, this first Democracy Convention will house at least nine conferences under one roof. As the great progressive reformer Fighting Bob La Follette said, "democracy is a life," and "involves constant struggle" in all sectors of society. With the 2011 Democracy Convention, we recognize the importance of each of these separate democracy struggles, as well as the need to unite them all in a common, deeply rooted, broad based, movement for democracy.
A NEW DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT
A new movement -- a democracy movement -- was born in the streets of Seattle on November 30, 1999. This movement's early years were not easy. Pro-democracy organizers faced crisis after crisis: the stolen presidential elections of 2000 and 2004; the militarization of America that followed September 11th; the destruction of the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Katrina; the Supreme Court ruling that corporations wield constitutional rights to buy elections; and today, an economic crisis that is being used to impose fiscal austerity and corporatization schemes on our states and people.
Through these difficult struggles, the new democracy movement has taken form, expanded, and matured. Now it is time for a coming-of-age celebration. This is the moment to unite in one location the many different efforts to build genuine democracy in the United States. And what better place to come together, and to rejoice, than in Madison, Wisconsin, the city and state that have inspired people everywhere to declare that "We are Wisconsin!"
The Democracy Convention is a project of the Liberty Tree Foundation and co-convened by the Alliance for Democracy, Progressive Magazine, and Move to Amend. We thank our local partners on our Host Committee, as well as our national partners whose support as Major Sponsors, National Sponsor, Co-Sponsors, Endorsers, and Conference Conveners, has been vital. To find out how your organization, union, business, or community can join us, click here: http://democracyconvention.org/sponsor-convention
Democracy is coming . . . to the U.S.A.
NOTE: Part of the conference will include a “Move to Amend Affiliate Gathering.”
Goals of the Gathering are:
*To solidify the relationship between MTA coalition members and the national campaign team
*To connect our coalition partners with each other
*To bring in new coalition partners
*To provide an opportunity for training and strategic discussion in support of the Move to Amend campaign
More information of the Affiliate Gathering: http://movetoamend.org/register-affiliate-gathering-august-2011
---------------
Next Move to Amend Ohio Conference Call
Saturday, August 20 @ 9 AM.
Phone # (new toll-free number): 1-866-256-1242 Access Code: 21676526
---------------
Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney and Corporate Personhood
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/us/politics/12romney.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB
“Corporations are people, my friend,” Mr. Romney responded, as the hecklers shouted back, “No, they’re not!” “Of course they are,” Mr. Romney said, chuckling slightly. “Everything corporations earn ultimately goes to people. Where do you think it goes?”
Colbert's 'defense' of Romney's 'corporations are people' comment
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/12/colbert-defends-mitt-romney-corporations-are-people_n_925277.html
Website: http://movetoamendohio.org
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ohio-Move-to-Amend/163413857048478
Monday, August 8, 2011
MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR - August 8-14
AUGUST 9
1836 – BIRTH OF ALEXANDER DEL MAR, AMERICAN POLITICAL ECONOMIST, HISTORIAN, NUMISMATIST, AUTHOR, DIRECTOR US BUREAU OF STATISTICS
"As a rule political economists…don't take the trouble to study the history of money; it is much easier to imagine it and to deduce the principles of this imaginary knowledge."
"There is no international law of money, and there never can be one - for the law of money is an important part of domestic law."
"These tremendous powers have been wielded with such a lack of scientific or financial skill, and in so narrow and selfish a spirit, that its arbiters have repeatedly plunged the commercial world into bankruptcy, and confiscated or inequitably redistributed its accumulated earnings, either for their own benefit or else to save themselves from the effects of their own blundering."
DelMar was a supporter of fiat money, money issued by the government as legal tender.
1868 – BIRTH OF PAUL WARBURG, US BANKER
Warburg guided the operations of the National Citizens League, an organization formed in 1911 with $5 million in contributions from the big New York banks (including those owned by Rockefellor and J.P Morgan) to establish an "educational fund." The fund financed respected university professors to endorse the concept of creating a private central bank, what became the Federal Reserve Bank, created by the 1913 Federal Reserve Act.
1929 – THE FEDERAL RESERVE BEGINS TO TIGHTEN THE MONEY SUPPLY – LEADS TO GREAT DEPRESSION
The Federal Reserve sharply raises the interest rate it charges local banks to borrow money (called the “discount rate”). At the same time, it begins to sell its government securities (remember, the Fed is not part of the federal government, despite its name, but rather a largely private entity controlled by 12 reserve banks which are controlled by banks). These actions were the seeds, which led to the Great Depression – as limited money in circulation prevents business and commercial transactions from occurring.
1989 – FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS REFORM RECOVERY AND ENFORCEMENT ACT (FIRREA) ENACTED
The law passed in response to the 1980’s savings and loan crisis – in which. FIRREA created the Resolution Trust Corporation, which bailed out failed institutions primarily through taxation. It also shifted regulatory authority from the Federal Home Loan Bank Board to the Office of Thrift Supervision within the Department of the Treasury.
It should be noted that more than more than a thousand felony convictions followed the savings-and-loan scandal of the 1980s and early 1990s. There have been virtually no investigations, let alone convictions, of those responsible for the 2007-2008 global financial meltdown triggered by US financial institutions.
AUGUST 10
1930- GEORGE GOODMAN, AUTHOR, “THE MONEY GAME”
[T]hose who live by numbers can also perish by them and it is a terrifying thing to have an adding machine write an epitaph, either way.
AUGUST 14
1935 – SOCIAL SECURITY ACT PASSES
Social Security, providing monetary benefits to older Americans and permanently disabled, is considered the single most important poverty fighting legislation in the history of the nation.
1989 –DEATH OF ROBERT B. ANDERSON, SECRETARY OF TREASURY UNDER PRESIDENT EISENHOWER
"We are completely dependent on the commercial banks. Someone has to borrow every dollar we have in circulation, cash or credit. If the banks create ample synthetic money we are prosperous; if not, we starve. We are absolutely without a permanent money system."
----------
Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis, Alice Francini and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
1836 – BIRTH OF ALEXANDER DEL MAR, AMERICAN POLITICAL ECONOMIST, HISTORIAN, NUMISMATIST, AUTHOR, DIRECTOR US BUREAU OF STATISTICS
"As a rule political economists…don't take the trouble to study the history of money; it is much easier to imagine it and to deduce the principles of this imaginary knowledge."
"There is no international law of money, and there never can be one - for the law of money is an important part of domestic law."
"These tremendous powers have been wielded with such a lack of scientific or financial skill, and in so narrow and selfish a spirit, that its arbiters have repeatedly plunged the commercial world into bankruptcy, and confiscated or inequitably redistributed its accumulated earnings, either for their own benefit or else to save themselves from the effects of their own blundering."
DelMar was a supporter of fiat money, money issued by the government as legal tender.
1868 – BIRTH OF PAUL WARBURG, US BANKER
Warburg guided the operations of the National Citizens League, an organization formed in 1911 with $5 million in contributions from the big New York banks (including those owned by Rockefellor and J.P Morgan) to establish an "educational fund." The fund financed respected university professors to endorse the concept of creating a private central bank, what became the Federal Reserve Bank, created by the 1913 Federal Reserve Act.
1929 – THE FEDERAL RESERVE BEGINS TO TIGHTEN THE MONEY SUPPLY – LEADS TO GREAT DEPRESSION
The Federal Reserve sharply raises the interest rate it charges local banks to borrow money (called the “discount rate”). At the same time, it begins to sell its government securities (remember, the Fed is not part of the federal government, despite its name, but rather a largely private entity controlled by 12 reserve banks which are controlled by banks). These actions were the seeds, which led to the Great Depression – as limited money in circulation prevents business and commercial transactions from occurring.
1989 – FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS REFORM RECOVERY AND ENFORCEMENT ACT (FIRREA) ENACTED
The law passed in response to the 1980’s savings and loan crisis – in which. FIRREA created the Resolution Trust Corporation, which bailed out failed institutions primarily through taxation. It also shifted regulatory authority from the Federal Home Loan Bank Board to the Office of Thrift Supervision within the Department of the Treasury.
It should be noted that more than more than a thousand felony convictions followed the savings-and-loan scandal of the 1980s and early 1990s. There have been virtually no investigations, let alone convictions, of those responsible for the 2007-2008 global financial meltdown triggered by US financial institutions.
AUGUST 10
1930- GEORGE GOODMAN, AUTHOR, “THE MONEY GAME”
[T]hose who live by numbers can also perish by them and it is a terrifying thing to have an adding machine write an epitaph, either way.
AUGUST 14
1935 – SOCIAL SECURITY ACT PASSES
Social Security, providing monetary benefits to older Americans and permanently disabled, is considered the single most important poverty fighting legislation in the history of the nation.
1989 –DEATH OF ROBERT B. ANDERSON, SECRETARY OF TREASURY UNDER PRESIDENT EISENHOWER
"We are completely dependent on the commercial banks. Someone has to borrow every dollar we have in circulation, cash or credit. If the banks create ample synthetic money we are prosperous; if not, we starve. We are absolutely without a permanent money system."
----------
Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis, Alice Francini and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html
Monday, August 1, 2011
MOVE to AMEND Ohio Update
5 ITEMS
1. Minutes from July statewide conference call
2. Website update
3. National Move to Amend webinars
4. Stand up for Ohio Festival – Move to Amend Ohio table
5. Democracy Convention
--------------------------------------------------------
Minutes from July statewide conference call
See attached. Thanks to Karen Hansen for facilitating and Michael Greenman for taking note.
Please read and participate where you can!
Our next call is Saturday, August 20 @ 9 AM.
Phone # (new toll-free number): 1-866-256-1242
Access Code: 21676526
-----------
Website update
Please visit our updated website -- www.movetoamendohio.org
Thanks to Jeff Klein for making the changes.
-----------
National Move to Amend webinars
Want to find out more about Move to Amend? Participate in a live webinar.
Orientation webinar: http://anymeeting.com/movetoamend/ED56D88086
Next Take Action Monthly webinar — August 2. More information at http://movetoamend.org/webinars
-----------
Stand up for Ohio Festival -- Move to Amend Ohio table
On Saturday, August 20th, the biggest free concert to hit Ohio this summer will take place at the Ohio Fairgrounds. The Ohio Players, Grand Funk Railroad, Nikki Giovanni, and others will be performing, while informative speakers touch on a range of issues important to our jobs and communities.
Move to Amend Ohio has a table at this concert — which runs from Noon to 8:30 PM
We need volunteers to man/woman/staff the table. Can you help for an hour or two?
If so, please indicate what shift(s) you can be there
Noon-1:30 pm
1:30- 3:00 pm
3:00-4:30 pm
4:30 – 6:00 pm
6:00-7:30 pm
7:30-8:30 pm
Please email to gcoleridge@afsc.org
Further details of the event are at http://standupforohio.org/events/?event_id=36
-----------
Democracy Convention
August 24-8 / Madison, WI / http://democracyconvention.org
Registration is cheap. Host housing is available. Car/van pooling is available.
If interested in attending and would like a ride, contact gcoleridge@afsc.org or mgreenman@wowway.com
ABOUT THE CONVENTION
If you want to strengthen democracy where it matters most -- in our communities, our schools, our workplaces and local economies, our military, our government, our media, our constitution -- you will find something inspiring in Madison this August.
More than one conference, this first Democracy Convention will house at least nine conferences under one roof. As the great progressive reformer Fighting Bob La Follette said, "democracy is a life," and "involves constant struggle" in all sectors of society. With the 2011 Democracy Convention, we recognize the importance of each of these separate democracy struggles, as well as the need to unite them all in a common, deeply rooted, broad based, movement for democracy.
A NEW DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT
A new movement -- a democracy movement -- was born in the streets of Seattle on November 30, 1999. This movement's early years were not easy. Pro-democracy organizers faced crisis after crisis: the stolen presidential elections of 2000 and 2004; the militarization of America that followed September 11th; the destruction of the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Katrina; the Supreme Court ruling that corporations wield constitutional rights to buy elections; and today, an economic crisis that is being used to impose fiscal austerity and corporatization schemes on our states and people.
Through these difficult struggles, the new democracy movement has taken form, expanded, and matured. Now it is time for a coming-of-age celebration. This is the moment to unite in one location the many different efforts to build genuine democracy in the United States. And what better place to come together, and to rejoice, than in Madison, Wisconsin, the city and state that have inspired people everywhere to declare that "We are Wisconsin!"
The Democracy Convention is a project of the Liberty Tree Foundation and co-convened by the Alliance for Democracy, Progressive Magazine, and Move to Amend. We thank our local partners on our Host Committee, as well as our national partners whose support as Major Sponsors, National Sponsor, Co-Sponsors, Endorsers, and Conference Conveners, has been vital. To find out how your organization, union, business, or community can join us, click here: http://democracyconvention.org/sponsor-convention
Democracy is coming . . . to the U.S.A.
NOTE: Part of the conference will include a “Move to Amend Affiliate Gathering.”
Goals of the Gathering are:
*To solidify the relationship between MTA coalition members and the national campaign team
*To connect our coalition partners with each other
*To bring in new coalition partners
*To provide an opportunity for training and strategic discussion in support of the Move to Amend campaign
More information of the Affiliate Gathering: http://movetoamend.org/register-affiliate-gathering-august-2011
1. Minutes from July statewide conference call
2. Website update
3. National Move to Amend webinars
4. Stand up for Ohio Festival – Move to Amend Ohio table
5. Democracy Convention
--------------------------------------------------------
Minutes from July statewide conference call
See attached. Thanks to Karen Hansen for facilitating and Michael Greenman for taking note.
Please read and participate where you can!
Our next call is Saturday, August 20 @ 9 AM.
Phone # (new toll-free number): 1-866-256-1242
Access Code: 21676526
-----------
Website update
Please visit our updated website -- www.movetoamendohio.org
Thanks to Jeff Klein for making the changes.
-----------
National Move to Amend webinars
Want to find out more about Move to Amend? Participate in a live webinar.
Orientation webinar: http://anymeeting.com/movetoamend/ED56D88086
Next Take Action Monthly webinar — August 2. More information at http://movetoamend.org/webinars
-----------
Stand up for Ohio Festival -- Move to Amend Ohio table
On Saturday, August 20th, the biggest free concert to hit Ohio this summer will take place at the Ohio Fairgrounds. The Ohio Players, Grand Funk Railroad, Nikki Giovanni, and others will be performing, while informative speakers touch on a range of issues important to our jobs and communities.
Move to Amend Ohio has a table at this concert — which runs from Noon to 8:30 PM
We need volunteers to man/woman/staff the table. Can you help for an hour or two?
If so, please indicate what shift(s) you can be there
Noon-1:30 pm
1:30- 3:00 pm
3:00-4:30 pm
4:30 – 6:00 pm
6:00-7:30 pm
7:30-8:30 pm
Please email to gcoleridge@afsc.org
Further details of the event are at http://standupforohio.org/events/?event_id=36
-----------
Democracy Convention
August 24-8 / Madison, WI / http://democracyconvention.org
Registration is cheap. Host housing is available. Car/van pooling is available.
If interested in attending and would like a ride, contact gcoleridge@afsc.org or mgreenman@wowway.com
ABOUT THE CONVENTION
If you want to strengthen democracy where it matters most -- in our communities, our schools, our workplaces and local economies, our military, our government, our media, our constitution -- you will find something inspiring in Madison this August.
More than one conference, this first Democracy Convention will house at least nine conferences under one roof. As the great progressive reformer Fighting Bob La Follette said, "democracy is a life," and "involves constant struggle" in all sectors of society. With the 2011 Democracy Convention, we recognize the importance of each of these separate democracy struggles, as well as the need to unite them all in a common, deeply rooted, broad based, movement for democracy.
A NEW DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT
A new movement -- a democracy movement -- was born in the streets of Seattle on November 30, 1999. This movement's early years were not easy. Pro-democracy organizers faced crisis after crisis: the stolen presidential elections of 2000 and 2004; the militarization of America that followed September 11th; the destruction of the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Katrina; the Supreme Court ruling that corporations wield constitutional rights to buy elections; and today, an economic crisis that is being used to impose fiscal austerity and corporatization schemes on our states and people.
Through these difficult struggles, the new democracy movement has taken form, expanded, and matured. Now it is time for a coming-of-age celebration. This is the moment to unite in one location the many different efforts to build genuine democracy in the United States. And what better place to come together, and to rejoice, than in Madison, Wisconsin, the city and state that have inspired people everywhere to declare that "We are Wisconsin!"
The Democracy Convention is a project of the Liberty Tree Foundation and co-convened by the Alliance for Democracy, Progressive Magazine, and Move to Amend. We thank our local partners on our Host Committee, as well as our national partners whose support as Major Sponsors, National Sponsor, Co-Sponsors, Endorsers, and Conference Conveners, has been vital. To find out how your organization, union, business, or community can join us, click here: http://democracyconvention.org/sponsor-convention
Democracy is coming . . . to the U.S.A.
NOTE: Part of the conference will include a “Move to Amend Affiliate Gathering.”
Goals of the Gathering are:
*To solidify the relationship between MTA coalition members and the national campaign team
*To connect our coalition partners with each other
*To bring in new coalition partners
*To provide an opportunity for training and strategic discussion in support of the Move to Amend campaign
More information of the Affiliate Gathering: http://movetoamend.org/register-affiliate-gathering-august-2011
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