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| A MESSAGE FROM ADONAL Join me on February 5th for this year’s fantastic DM Summit! Connect with other DM students, alums, staff, and friends to share ideas, best practices, and expert information. The best part of the Summit is always the excitement of meeting others passionate about building the democracy movement that will change America. See you at the Summit! WHEN: SUNDAY February 5, 2023 @ 12:30 WHAT: “DARING TO DREAM” HOW: REGISTER NOW!! Email joanm@democracymatters.org CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS High School DM Clubs Troy NY Now in its 5th year at the Emma Willard School, DM continues to push back against voter suppression. With petitions, calls, and letter-writing campaigns, students urge New York state lawmakers to pass same-day and automatic voter registration. Emma DMers will travel to the capitol in March to press their demands by lobbying in person. India We’ve gone international! Two high schools in India will soon have their own Democracy Matters clubs. Lochan who lives in Cennnai, and Srina and Andulusia who live in New Dehli are excited about becoming leaders in their communities and helping others to have a voice in the key issues facing India and the world. https://www.democracymatters.org/high-school-leaders QUOTES OF THE MONTH M.L.King, Jr. “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. “https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html IDEAS OF THE MONTH Honoring Black History: DM chapters join with other campus groups each February to celebrate Black History Month. Our contribution this year is organizing actions and discussions to fight back against voter suppression. Actions: Mobilize students to contact their elected representatives with letters, phone calls, by social media and in-person lobbying visits to insist on reforms like same-day and automatic voter registration, as well as early voting and vote by mail. Discussions: DM students hold forums, faculty/student discussions and information sessions on voter suppression today – its forms, causes, and solutions. Valentine’s “Democracy” Day: This Valentine’s Day, DM clubs will create their own V cards full of hearts, and send them to their elected representatives.Some cards will thank the reps who support democracy: “You’ve won my heart this Valentine’s Day! Thank you for strengthening democracy by making registering and voting easier, not harder!”But other Valentines will have a very different message: “It’s Valentine’s day! But you’ll never be my valentine until you support voting reforms to create an inclusive democracy where every citizen can vote.” https://www.democracymatters.org/action-campaigns FINANCING A GREEN ECONOMY The billions needed to fund a successful transition away from fossil fuels will be available only if the powerful United States Central Bank (the Fed) agrees to reverse its “hands off” policy on climate change. https://www.democracymatters.org/money_on_my_mind/financing-a-green-economy FACTS YOU CAN USE The Small Donor Myth** Despite all the talk about small campaign donors, more than 98% of the winning Congressional candidates in 2022 received the vast majority of their funding from big donors. Only 11 members of Congress (2%) raised most of their funding from small donors. And only four obtained as much as 60% or more from small donations – Senator Bernie Sanders and Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Matt Gaetz. Much more typical were the 100 Congressional winners for whom small donations made up only 2% or less of their fundraising. Instead of small donations, millions from big donors went to these candidates. In short, as in the past, the billions of dollars spent in the last election came primarily from wealthy white males who made very large donations. It is their money – not the $200 or less contributed by small donors – that continues to influence who wins our elections and who makes our laws. Sadly, most of our voices – including that of small donors – are swamped by the big money that continues to dominate our politics.**Small donors are those who contribute $200 or less to candidates. https://www.opensecrets.org/elections-overview/large-vs-small-donations |