THANK YOU…CAMPUS HIGHLIGHT…FAIR ELECTIONS NOW…MONEY ON MY MIND…QUOTES OF THE MONTH…STUDENT APATHY?…FACTS YOU CAN USE…CONGRATULATIONS!
THANK YOU
In this year’s last ENews, I want to send thanks to all the Democracy Matters students across the country for their hard work. I am humbled by your organizing skill, your creativity, and your dedication. By highlighting the promise of publicly funded elections, linking money in politics to other social justice movements, and demonstrating what student activism can accomplish, you have moved us ever closer to a real democracy, with a government that is truly of, by and for the people. See you next Fall!
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHT
Like many DM chapters, Democracy Matters at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC uses the school’s newspaper to reach out to their campus. Last month, a long article entitled Democracy Matters Encourages Student Activism began:
“When freshman chemistry major Christa Adjei first saw a flyer for Democracy Matters hanging in Sanford Hall, she thought of it as nothing more than an opportunity for an internship. Little did she know, Democracy Matters would soon become a major part of her life.”
Under Christa’s leadership, DMers at Appalachian have hosted panel discussions, posted “potty politics” flyers in bathroom stalls, screened the “Koch Brothers Exposed,” and tabled weekly with DM information. Now they are planning a “Pizza and Politics Mixer” that, according to Christa, “will hopefully make politics less scary.” Go Appalachian DM!
For more student articles go to DM newsroom.
U.S. SENATE: FAIR ELECTIONS NOW
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) will soon introduce a Senate Fair Elections Now Act, a bill that would transform the balance of power in Congress and strengthen democracy by changing who pays for our elections – everyday people, not billionaires.
Hillary Clinton recently said she wants to “fix our dysfunctional political system by getting unaccountable money out.” If Clinton (and other Presidential candidates) intend to stop big money’s dominance, they need to endorse both the Fair Elections and the Government by the People Acts. These Congressional bills would provide public financing for election campaigns, making politicians accountable to us – not to their big donors.
Sign your name to show grassroots support for Fair Elections here.
MONEY ON MY MIND
This month, Jay Mandle points out that Hillary Clinton’s recent mention of money in politics is a response to the pressure from activists who have been pushing back against rising inequality and the highjacking of democracy by wealthy elites.
Read the full article and explore other issues of MOMM.
QUOTES OF THE MONTH
Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC) speech to Congress April 21st on the “gyro dude”:
“Mr. Speaker, last week, mailman Doug Hughes flew a gyrocopter onto the Capitol lawn to make a point about the influence of money in politics. I have seen it get worse and worse during my 20 years in Congress.”
Read more.
“This may be the first election in which billionaires pick a President.”
Adam C. Smith, Tampa Bay Times political editor, April 13, 2015
Read more.
STUDENT APATHY? GUESS AGAIN!
Fight for $15
College students everywhere are joining workers from fast food and other low-paying industries in the fight to raise the national minimum wage. Democracy Matters students from Guilford and Bennett Colleges joined rallies in Raleigh, Northeastern DMers rallied in Boston, and in Detroit, DM students from Marygrove College protested workers’ low pay.
Divest
Democracy Matters students are also active in the growing student movement to force universities to divest their investments in the fossil fuel industry. DM students at Harvard, University of New Hampshire, University of Mary Washington, SUNY/New Paltz, SUNY/Geneseo, Syracuse University and many other DM chapters have emphasized how the political spending of oil and gas companies keeps us dependent on environmentally-damaging fossil fuels.
Democracy Pledge and Petitions
New Hampshire and Massachusetts DMers have collected over 2,000 signed DM Pledge cards so far. The Pledge calls for restoring democracy with public campaign financing and an end to big money dominance of our democracy. Students in New York Democracy Matters chapters sent hundreds of student signatures to Governor Cuomo and their state legislators on petitions demanding an end to “pay to play.”
Light Brigade Actions
Democracy Matters students have been holding “light up” letters at busy Boston intersections that spell out “Money≠Speech.” Led by Northeastern University DM, three Boston DM chapters combined to turn out students for the actions and to let Boston know that big political money has got to go!
Read more about Divest Harvard.
FACTS YOU CAN USE: Congressmen Speak Out for Public Campaign Financing
“While we support a constitutional amendment to restore the authority of Congress, state and local governments to regulate campaign spending, it’s a long-term fight. But there is another way to dilute big money’s influence: we can set up a small-donor fundraising system to compete with today’s big-money politics.
“That’s the idea behind H.R. 20, the Government By the People Act. Under this proposal, Americans would receive a “My Voice” Tax Credit for small-donor political contributions, giving them the means to participate in funding campaigns. For candidates that agree to voluntary contribution limits, H.R. 20 would boost small donations with a “Freedom From Influence” Matching Fund, giving everyday citizens a voice that competes with wealthy donors.”
Excerpt from a Huffington Post article by Congressmen John Sarbanes, Mark DeSaulnier, Jared Huffman, and Jerry McNerney.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR GRADUATING DEMOCRACY MATTERS LEADERS!
Our deepest thanks go out to our graduating DM activists. We know they will continue the fight for a more just and fair society wherever they are. BEST OF LUCK to Celene Barrara (Bennington College); Marcia Black (Mangrove University); Fernando Citron (SUNY/New Paltz); Adam Eichen (Vassar College); Dan Gregorio (Boston University); and Kelly O’Meara-Morales (Sara Lawrence College).