CAMPUS HIGHLIGHT…DM IN THE NEWS…VOTER REGISTRATION…PUBLIC FINANCING VICTORIES…IDEA OF THE MONTH…MONEY ON MY MIND…QUOTE OF THE MONTH…FACTS YOU CAN USE…
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHT
Syracuse University’s Democracy Matters 30-member chapter has been busy this semester. They have signed up over 100 people during their club fair, registered 250 students to vote on National Voter Registration Day, and sponsored Presidential debate watch parties. The SU chapter is part of New York’s statewide campaign to “Demand Democracy,” calling for voting rights and public campaign financing. DMers are gathering signtures on the “DD” petition to send to NY State Senators, demanding a government of, by, and for the people.
In addition to getting students to the polls on Election Day, DMSU’s big November event will be a teach-in about Native American protests against the 1,172 mile crude oil Dakota Access pipeline. Their goal is to connect money in politics from the oil and gas industry to indigenous peoples’ rights. And in early December they will host DM Executive Director, Joan Mandle, for a presentation on “Who Owns Democracy,” discussing the impact of money in politics on the 2016 election. Great job Syracuse!
More Great Action Campaign Ideas.
DM IN THE NEWS
DM chapters are spreading the word through their school and local newspapers about their passion for getting big money out of politics and people back in.
In The Harvard Political Review’s article, All Talk, No Action? Clinton and Trump on Campaign Finance Reform DM member Blu Frankel wrote: “If we want our candidates to do more than make empty promises and tell us what we want to hear, then we as citizens need to do our part by participating in the democratic process. That means actively making our voices heard, voting with pride, and pushing our representatives to take action. We cannot allow corruption to become the norm; we cannot become apathetic…We have to vote – not just in the presidential election, but also in our congressional and local elections – for candidates who believe in democracy of the people, by the people, and for the people. We have to make sure our current representatives hear our voice. In short, we have to care.”
And in the Poughkeepsie Journal, the city’s major newspaper, Sam Beckenhauer was interviewed about the election and talked about the importance of grassroots activism’s pressure on politicians: “She [Clinton] is not immune to pressure from her constituents, so I think she will ultimately make decisions and create policies based on that pressure, said Beckenhauer, who is a Vassar College student in Poughkeepsie and co-president of Democracy Matters on campus.”
Click here for other articles by and about Democracy Matters.
VOTER REGISTRATION
Democracy Matters chapters like Westminster College in Utah and in Appalachian State in North Carolina have registered hundreds of students to vote this semester. As part of their voter registration campaign, Simmons College DM asked each student to put a pin on their hometown on a U.S. map. Insomnia Cookies’ donation of 150 cookies made the process more fun. When asked about why they think democracy “matters,” students wrote “I get a say in my future,” “Everyone has the right to a voice,” and “Michelle Obama is the greatest!”
STATE PUBLIC FINANCING VICTORIES
In Maine this year, 62% of candidates are using public campaign financing, up from 53% in 2014. Maine’s system allows candidates to choose to run without depending on big individual and corporate donors. Andrew Bossie of Main Citizens for Clean Elections reports that public financing has given “more power to Mainers who can’t afford big contributions.”
The California state legislature recently gave its citizens a greater voice in democracy. It passed a law recently that allows cities, counties, and the state itself to enact small donor public financing systems. Dan Smith (U.S. Public Interest Group) applauded the decision, stating that “public financing amplifies the voices of everyday people in our democracy. Across the country we’re seeing communities fight big money with innovative solutions that put voters in the driver’s seat.”
Read more about the California election reforms.
IDEA OF THE MONTH – GET OUT THE VOTE!
DM chapters are all reminding students how important this election is and getting them out to vote on Election Day with: Soapboxes in the quad; Parades to the polls; Reminders in mailboxes, under doors in dorms, on classroom whiteboards, and chalk on sidewalks; Class raps; Information on candidates; Transportation to polling places; Improv theater; Creative posters, and more… Students can – and will – make the difference!!!
More voter registration ideas.
MONEY ON MY MIND
In his column this month, Jay Mandle argues that the goal of public financing should be to “eliminate the connection between money and political outcomes, so candidates do not have to solicit private funds at all.” He advocates a system of full public financing where “candidates each receive the same amount of campaign funds.”
Read the full article and explore other issues of MOMM.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“I want them to understand that the measure of any society is how it treats its women and girls. And I told [the girls] that they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and I told them that they should disregard anyone who demeans or devalues them, and that they should make their voices heard in the world. Because let’s be very clear: Strong men – men who are truly role models – don’t need to put down women to make themselves feel powerful.”
Michele Obama, October 13th, New Hampshire rally (excerpt).
Read Obama’s entire speech here.
FACTS YOU CAN USE:
Presidential Candidates Issue Comparison
Find the candidates’ positions on important issues in the Nonpartisan Candidate Guide and share on your social media!
Supreme Court
Marge Baker, Vice President of People For the American Way, recently wrote: “We know that the next president will be shaping the direction of the Supreme Court on issues like money in politics, possibly for generations to come. But what we don’t know yet is what that direction will be.
We could have Supreme Court justices who understand that the Constitution is meant to safeguard the rights of all Americans – or we could have justices who protect the interests of the most wealthy and powerful among us at the expense of everyone else. In future years, our big money in politics crisis could get better – or it could get even worse – depending on what Americans decide on November 8.”
What 2016 Means for the Supreme Court’s Path on Money in Politics.
To honor our 2016 activists, we list ten Democracy Matters chapters in each E-News:
Southern New Hampshire University…Suffolk University…SUNY Binghamton…SUNY New Paltz…SUNY Oneonta…Syracuse University…Tufts University…Union College…University of Florida…University of New Hampshire…