April 2016 Enews - Democracy Matters

Enews

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHT…VOTER REGISTRATION…APRIL WEEK OF ACTION…SUPREME COURT…QUOTE OF THE MONTH…JOIN US IN DC…SAVING DEMOCRACY VIDEO…MONEY ON MY MIND…FACTS YOU CAN USE…

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHT
Democracy Matters students at Marygrove College in Detroit have built an exciting new DM chapter there. They have been especially successful in creating coalitions. They have worked with off-campus organizations including the NAACP, the Michigan Student Power Network, and the Public Transportation Workers Union. On campus, they have co-sponsored events with Women’s Studies, the Music Department, Black Lives Matter, Catholic Sisters, and the Black Student Union. Two teach-ins – on “Democracy 4 $ale,” and on the intersectionality of Black Lives Matter, money in politics, and black political mobilization – drew large audiences from both the college and the community.

In addition to all of this, the chapter led by Denzel Washington and Leo Kopack has collected hundreds of signatures on our “Restore Democracy” pledge. DM is an important source of open discussion at the college about critical issues, connecting them to the need for public financing of election campaigns and a real and inclusive democracy.

VOTER REGISTRATION
Registering students to vote is always important, but especially this year when young people have shown that they can have a strong impact on elections. Democracy Matters chapters are working with their student councils and administrations to ensure that every student has both the opportunity to register to vote and access to a polling place. We are proud to be part of the national effort to increase the youth vote.

For more information, visit http://civicyouth.org and http://activecitizen.tufts.edu/research/NSLVE

APRIL WEEK OF ACTION
Each year, Democracy Matters chapters throughout the country concentrate on one special week, holding campus teach-ins, film screenings, open mic speak-outs and poetry slams, pizza and politics discussions, class raps and more. This year our Week of Action coincides with the national mobilizations in Washington. In April, Democracy Matters students will be organizing to deepen democracy – on campus and off!

See more Action Campaigns.

SUPREME COURT
Democratic Senators and grassroots progressive groups supporting getting big money out of politics showed up on Capitol Hill with 1.3 million signatures calling on the Senate to #DoYourJob – fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Justice Scalia. “This is the kind of obstruction that galls the average American,” commented New York Senator Chuck Schumer.

The Supreme Court has enabled the extraordinary increase in the political power of wealth in our elections. The Court’s recent decisions, including Citizens United, have caused deep damage to democracy. They’ve allowed a small group of rich political donors to dominate the dialogue, agenda, and outcome of our legislative process. The views of the vast majority of the American people are ignored as big money determines our laws and social policies.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Most of all I don’t want big money to control government. Don’t vote for candidates that take money from big banks, oil, or weirdo billionaires – STOP!”
Adam McKay, accepting an Oscar for “The Big Short” (Oscar winner of Best Adapted Screenplay) on February 28.

Watch the Video.

JOIN US IN DC!
Show politicians and the American people that we want change – money out of politics, protection of voting rights, Supreme Court appointment and more! There’s still time to participate in one or more aspects of the Democracy Spring and Democracy Awakening marches, teach-ins, workshops, demonstrations, and civil disobedience. Democracy Spring April 2-15; Democracy Awakening, April 16-18.

http://www.democracyspring.org and http://democracyawakening.org

“SAVING DEMOCRACY FROM BIG MONEY” VIDEO
Check out this terrific video from Avaaz and spread the word.

Save US democracy from Big Money.

MONEY ON MY MIND
Donald Trump has harnessed the anger of many Americans left behind by an economy and political system dominated by the rich. To erode Trump’s base if he should become the Republican nominee, his opponent must strongly support changes in campaign financing that would significantly erode the political power of wealth.

Read the full article and explore other issues of MOMM.

FACTS YOU CAN USE: CAN YOUNG PEOPLE WIN THE ELECTION?
UCLA Annual Freshman Survey
Young people are showing their dissatisfaction with “politics as usual.” According to Tufts University’s CIRCLE report, “in both parties young people are not rallying around the frontrunners.” These young voters are having a significant impact on the Presidential campaign. They are turning out to vote or caucus in numbers that rival those in 2008, when their turnout in some cases tripled that of previous years.

But for too many, their alienation takes the form of ignoring politics altogether. The UCLA annual survey of Freshman attitudes reports that while over 70% of freshmen said that “helping others is important,” an alarmingly low 21% said that “influencing the political structure is important.” The sad fact is that young people typically vote in lower percentages than any other age group.

Nonetheless, the potential political impact of this group is enormous. While there are 39 million Americans over 65 who are eligible to vote, there are 46 million eligible voters between the ages of 18 and 29. These numbers represent the real possibility of countering the political power of wealth. Don’t Mourn. Organize!