From Here to Democracy: Revoking Corporate Power and Building a Democracy Movement
Do you feel like you're struggling against problems caused by corporations, fighting one battle at a time, one after the other, without gaining ground overall? Can we make corporations "responsible?" Do you wonder where to focus your energy to the greatest effect? "From Here to Democracy" workshops are interactive small group (10-25 participants) who wish to grapple with illegitimate corporate power and corruption of democracy and seek to gain deeper understanding and tools for becoming more effective agents of change.
This workshop will prod you to question some of your basic assumptions, deepen your understanding, and ultimately help sharpen your focus and effectiveness as an active citizen. We'll work to develop strategies on how every campaign we wage can be part of a larger movement to dismantle corporate power and revive democracy. We also will develop local and regional strategy for organizing responses to the Supreme Court’s recent decision to give corporations the power to spend unlimited sums in efforts to elect or defeat candidates for political office (Citizens United v FEC). We will focus on the campaign to revoke corporate personhood via constitutional amendment and how to move California organizations, communities, opinion leaders and, ultimately, our elected officials to support the effort. Our morning discussion will cover:
- A brief history of corporations and democracy and corporate shaping of culture
- The nature of corporations -- getting to know the adversary
- Lessons of both successful and “failed” U.S. social movements
- Analyzing mechanisms of corporate rule and mechanisms of indoctrination into corporate thinking.
- Exploring avenues and models for reviving democracy vs. working on “corporate turf,” escaping the limits of our own preconceptions, and moving from damage control to asserting citizen authority.
- Bringing it home to our own work. Converted ideas into opportunities for successful organizing.
Most of the afternoon will focus on developing communications and action plans to effectively respond to the Citizens United ruling. After an overview of various campaigns and organizations, we will explore local, state and federal-level tactics and organizing and aim to emerge with a framework for Bay Area action. This workshop will be facilitated by Jeff Milchen, the founder of ReclaimDemocracy.org -- a national grassroots organization that has worked to revoke illegitimate corporate power for the past decade. ReclaimDemocracy.org is a partner in the Campaign to Legalize Democracy (MovetoAmend.org), a national coalition whose work includes working to revoke corporate personhood via constitutional amendment. Since launching in late January, Move To Amend already has amassed more than 60,000 endorsers. Workshop fee is on a sliding scale of $35 to $100 and includes lunch and refreshments. All contributions exceeding $35 are tax deductible. Contact info@ReclaimDemocracy.org or call 406-582-1224 to register, inquire or be notified of future opportunities.
