CAMPUS HIGHLIGHT…OCCUPY CAMPUSES… MONEY ON MY MIND… THE ENVIRONMENT…QUOTES OF THE MONTH…MAD AS HELL…FACTS YOU CAN USE…
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHT: JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY, Charlotte NC
Democracy Matters is new this year at Johnson C. Smith University, but Mecia Moore and her members are making a big splash on campus. They organized a “March for Democracy” as part of the school’s Homecoming Parade – handing out DM buttons and information. They’ve “dorm stormed” and tabled each week, run a successful voter registration drive, and organized a “Democracy Workshop” facilitated by DM’s field director, Anita Kinney. For Halloween they handed out facts about money in politics attached to candy treats. Congratulations to the great JCS Democracy Matters chapter!
Read more Action Campaigns.
OCCUPY CAMPUSES
Many Democracy Matters chapters have participated in the new “Occupy” movement – taking part in events from Syracuse NY to Huntington WV and State College PA, as well as creating their own support events on campus. Everywhere, DMers are pointing out the need to change the campaign financing system. Here are just a few examples:
Binghamton University (NY) – The pictures you see are of the Democracy Matters’ “Occupy BU” event. It highlighted students as part of the 99% and the role of money in politics. The chapter strung fake dollar bills with students’ comments written on them on a long clothesline in the center of the campus. Their demand was to get big private money out of politics so the voices of the 99% could be heard.
Boise State University (ID) – In addition to participating in “Occupy Boise” and joining its education committee to spread the word about public campaign financing, Democracy Matters members have brought “Occupy” back to their campus by holding informational meetings and rallies.
Colgate University (NY) – With Colgate’s debate team, the Democracy Matters chapter co-sponsored a lively “Occupy Wall Street” debate. And DM is planning a
student/faculty “Occupy” Teach-In for later this month.
Oklahoma University of Arts and Science (OK) – Molly Tracey and her chapter have been working with “Occupy Oklahoma City.” They participated in a “Support Occupy” march on campus, and are collecting student signatures on a petition to send to their elected officials demanding “Elections not Auctions.”
Sonoma State University (CA) – Democracy Matters coordinator, Brandi Robinson, organized carloads of Sonoma students to travel to Santa Rosa in order to participate in the Occupy movement there. Sonoma DM is holding follow-up meetings on campus and planning a rally and march.
Spelman College (GA) – Democracy Matters, in coalition with “Occupy Spellman” is building awareness by organizing on-campus General Assembly discussion meetings. Students are focusing on issues of poverty, inequality and the importance of getting private money out of politics. DM is working with other colleges in Atlanta to create a powerful voice for students in the larger Occupy movement.
Read about “Occupy Binghamton.”
MONEY ON MY MIND
In this month’s column, Mandle credits the “Occupy Wall Street” movement with re-setting the political agenda. It has focused attention on inequality and the control of politics by wealthy donors. Its success means that the American people are more likely to respond positively to calls for reform than at any time in the recent past.
Read the full article and explore other issues of MOMM.
DON’T FORGET THE ENVIRONMENT!
As the harm done by corporate money in our political system is increasingly exposed, the role of the energy sector should be near the top of the list. Through their huge campaign contributions and political spending, energy interests play a central role in “convincing” politicians to ignore mounting hazards to us and our world.
A recent NY Times article reported that the United States is “the one significant outlier” on the world stage in responding to climate change. Washington refuses to seriously address the issue, even while other countries including Australia, India, Europe, and “even China” have legislated to control emissions.
Because of the political clout of energy industry wealth, Congress also remains stubbornly silent in the face of more immediate threats to both our health and the environment – fracking, oil spills, nuclear accidents, mountain-top removal, and more.
As a flyer created by one Democracy Matters chapter recently proclaimed: “CAUTION: CORPORATE SPENDING MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH!”
Read the NY Times article, “Where Did Global Warming Go?”
QUOTES OF THE MONTH: Recent Wall Street bankers’ comments on “Occupy Wall Street:”
A long-time money-manager stated he “was disappointed that members of Congress from New York, especially Senator Charles E. Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, had not come out swinging for an industry that donates heavily to their campaigns. ‘They need to understand who their constituency is,’ he said.” And from a disdainful top hedge-fund manager: “Most people view it as a ragtag group looking for sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll.”
Read the NY Times article, “In Private, Wall Street Bankers Dismiss Protesters as Unsophisticated”.
“MAD AS HELL: GET MONEY OUT”
Over 200,000 people have already signed an on-line petition started by MSNBC’s host, Dylan Rattigan, to get money out of politics. And on a new TV station, “Current TV,” Cenk Uygur’s “The Young Turks” program also is strongly advocating stopping the corporate take-over of our democracy by big campaign spending. Both Rattigan and Ugyur are passionate advocates for building a wall between big private money and our democracy. And thousands of people watch them every day!
Check out www.getmoneyout.com and http://current.com/shows/the-young-turks/
FACTS YOU CAN USE:
Even as protests over its political influence grow louder, Wall Street remains one of the leading sources of money in the 2012 race for the White House.
The Center for Responsive Politics reports that the financial sector ranks among the top three sectors backing major Presidential contenders. These donors rank No. 1 in contributions to three of the Republican contenders: Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and Jon Huntsman. Of these, Romney has been the top recipient of campaign cash from employees of the five biggest Wall Street banks. Donations from the financial sector comprise almost a quarter of his funding.
The financial sector is also important – ranking No. 2 – in donations to Republicans Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachman, and Herman Cain. And even for President Barack Obama and Ron Paul – candidates who have relied the least upon the financial sector – it still ranks as their No. 3 largest financial backer.
Read the Miami Herald article, “As Rage at Wall Street Rises, Its Moneymen Shower Candidates with Cash.“
To honor our 2011 activists, we list 10 Democracy Matters chapters in each E-News:
Providence College…Sonoma State University…Spelman College…St. Lawrence University…St. Michael’s College…St. Olaf College…SUNY Geneseo…Syracuse University…Towson University…Union College…
More Campus Chapters.