CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS…VOTER REGISTRATION…MONEY ON MY MIND…IDEAS OF THE MONTH…DM SUMMIT…QUOTES OF THE MONTH…FACTS YOU CAN USE…
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS
Students Sign DM “Restore Democracy” Pledge
Over 500 students at Northeastern University signed the “Restore Democracy” pledge at a “Flow for Fair Elections” cookout and band concert organized by Northeastern Democracy Matters. Northeastern DMers also traveled to New Hampshire to help collect more pledge signatures there.
And when Bernie Sanders spoke at the University of New Hampshire last week, Democracy Matters chapter members were there to collect another 920 signed pledges. Other DM chapters are canvassing and tabling with the pledge – getting more and more signed every day.
Sign the Pledge online.
VOTER REGISTRATION PLUS
For three years in a row, Vassar College Democracy Matters has registered students to vote during their Freshman Orientation, and at the same time recruited new members for their DM chapter. This year they registered almost 2/3 of the entire class! And by the time school began, they had signed up 96 new students for the club. This month they’re continuing to offer voter registration and information about money in politics to students, and are organizing a campus-wide “Get out The Vote” campaign on election day.
Shout out to Vassar from the folks at TurboVote!
MONEY ON MY MIND
This month, Jay Mandle comments on two surprising developments: the surge of support for socialist candidate Bernie Sanders, and national polling data showing that almost half (49%) of young people report “positive” attitudes toward “socialism.” He explores the implications for a ”New American Socialism” that could challenge the political power of the richest 1% and reverse the country’s growing income inequality.
Read the full article and explore other issues of MOMM.
IDEAS OF THE MONTH – DEBATES AND PUMPKINS
October 13! The Presidential debate that’s most likely to have candidates talking about the biggest problem facing our democracy – money in politics – will be on October 13. DM chapters are organizing “Debate Watch“ parties, followed by discussions on how to get big money out of politics and people back in.
October 31! Celebrating Halloween is a great organizing opportunity – “Big Money in Politics is SCARY!!!” So get creative! Make and send Halloween cards to your state and Congressional reps. Table in costume with the “Restore Democracy” petition and Halloween themed signs. Hold a rally or improv skit in costume on campus about getting big money out of politics. Create and hang cool posters with Halloween themes. Write an article for your school paper linking Halloween and big money in politics! OR???
See more Action campaigns.
THE FANTASTIC DM SUMMIT – REGISTER NOW
Planning, networking, interactive workshops, strategizing, exciting plenary sessions, and much more. Be part of it all at the 15th Annual Democracy Matters National Student Summit on November 20th and 21st in Albany, NY.
Register now!
QUOTES OF THE MONTH
Stephen Colbert & Pope Francis
“The corrupting influence of money in politics because it means not looking out for the poorest, the least of my brothers.” Stephen Colbert (when asked what message the U.S. Congress most needed to hear from the Pope.)
“In the financing of electoral campaigns, many interests get into the mix, and then they send you the bill. Perhaps public financing would allow for me, the citizen, to know that I’m financing each candidate with a given amount of money.” Pope Francis
Read more.
FACTS YOU CAN USE
Presidential Candidates on Money in Politics
I. There’s a big problem and I support concrete and comprehensive solutions. Strong endorsement of both public campaign financing of elections and overturning Citizen’s United. Hillary Clinton, Larry Lessig, Martin O’Malley, Bernie Sanders
II. Support for a Constitutional Amendment to overturn Citizens United. Lindsay Graham, Jim Webb
III. Reduce the size and scale of the government. Rick Santorum, (Rick Perry), Scott Walker
IV. Increase disclosure of donors (often including support of unlimited donations). Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, George Pataki, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker
V. There is a problem, but I’ll have to get back to you on a solution. Ben Carson, John Kasich
VI. Lobbying reform. Jeb Bush, Rand Paul
VII. “I love the idea of campaign finance reform” but few specifics other than mentioning disclosure, public financing, anti-coordination laws, lobbying reform. Donald Trump – a category all his own!
The Good News: The problem is finally being acknowledged by EVERYONE!
The Bad News: Other than advocacy for public funding and overturning Citizens United, the so-called “solutions” are only lip-service – empty rhetoric that fails to challenge (or change) the political power of the 1%!
For more information go to: http://everyvoice.org/posts/2048
To honor our 2015 activists, we list ten Democracy Matters chapters in each E-News:
HOLYOKE COLLEGE…NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY…SARAH LAWRENCE COLLEGE…SIMMONS COLLEGE…SKIDMORE COLLEGE…SMITH COLLEGE…SPELMAN COLLEGE…ST. ANSELM COLLEGE…SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY…SUNY BINGHAMTON…
More Campus Chapters.