Listen Now: https://podcast.app/interview-with-move-to-amends-and-create-real-democracys-greg-coleridge-e356639550 

Capitalism and the Market Economy

Summer Reading Circle

Join Move to Amend and individuals from other organizations this summer to read and discuss Jonathan McMillan’s 2024 book, Capitalism and the Market Economy: Bringing Back Together What Banking Pulls Apart. Two times for reading circles are being offered to accommodate an international audience. Each group will be 3, 90 minute sessions discussing 1/3 of the book.

Capitalism and the Market Economy (2024) identifies and critiques the systemic flaw in today’s market economy—namely, banking corporations’ legalized power to create money out of credit. The book provides a concrete action plan to create a more sustainable, democratic, and fair economic system.

Welcome to our July newsletter, coming to you a little later than usual because we've been deeply engaged in critical, on-the-ground work in Washington, DC.!!

Our National Co-directors, Jennie Spanos, Katie Krasinski, and Alfonso Saldaña, alongside dedicated team members, spent the latter half of June and early July advocating for H.J.R. 54, the We the People Amendment, and standing in solidarity with our partners. We are excited to share our experiences and successes from this intense period of advocacy.

Affiliate Spotlight: Sandy Bolzenius, Miami County, and Santa Clara County Affiliates Lead the Charge for Change

In a powerful display of grassroots activism, Move to Amend's dedicated leaders and volunteers have once again proven their unwavering commitment to ending corporate rule and advocating for a government that truly represents the people. This month, we shine our spotlight on two extraordinary efforts: Sandy Bolzenius' inspiring journey to Washington, DC, and the tireless advocacy of our Miami County, Ohio, team, and the determined efforts of our Santa Clara County, California, affiliates.

“There are weeks where decades happen” might be the only way to describe this past week (though many would argue this feeling has been present for many months now). The Supreme Court has just concluded a whirlwind of devastating rulings, reminding us of their purpose: to ensure that corporations and the super wealthy will always have “more” Constitutional protections at the expense of the rights of individuals, communities and nature.

Make no mistake: the Supreme Court is an illegitimate institution that has primarily functioned as an enemy of “We the People” across history.

Move to Amend exists to correct some of the most egregious doctrines generated from the Supreme Court over our country’s short history, such as the dubious notion that “corporations are people, entitled to Constitutional rights” (Santa Clara County vs. Southern Pacific Railroad, 1886),  “money is free speech, protected by the First Amendment” (Buckley vs. Valeo, 1976), and their infamous love-child Citizens United vs. FEC, 2010 – which made crystal clear that corporations have the “right” to flood unlimited amounts of money, without disclosure, into our already-corrupted political system.

So it should be no surprise that in this past week, this (bought) Court has further legalized political bribery, handed regulatory power from federal agencies over to corporations, and granted total immunity to the president. All of this and more, while declaring open season for cities and counties to criminalize the rapidly-growing segment of the population who cannot afford skyrocketing housing costs and are forced to live outside with nowhere else to go. 

- What Went Down -

Bribery & the Appearance of Corruption
In Snyder v. US, the unelected judges gutted an existing federal anti-corruption statute by ruling it is NOT bribery for a state official to receive gifts as a reward for a particular state action, as long as the gift is made after the action.

Regulatory Power
Overturned a 40-year old ruling known as the Chevron decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, which facilitated federal oversight of environmental regulations, public health measures, worker and consumer protections, when laws were not clear. Now, the Court has effectively grabbed that power for itself — ruling that judges have the final say over such regulatory actions, regardless of their scientific qualifications or knowledge of the measure. This decision is expected to “shock” the court system with billions of dollars worth of legal challenges against all-manner of regulatory law that might limit environmental destruction, wage theft, unsafe working conditions, price-gouging, or other unhealthy practices that protect everyday people and our habitats– a massive win for corporate rule with far-reaching implications.

Our time in Washington, DC has been both inspiring and impactful. We've engaged with key congressional offices, celebrated Juneteenth in Anacostia, and stood firm in our advocacy at the Supreme Court. Now, we need to take our efforts to the next level - but we need your support!

Recap of our time in DC so far... 

Move to Amend is a proud cosponsor of the Veterans for Peace (VFP) historic walk from Maine to Washington, DC.

The walk in now in Maryland. Join the walk for an hour, day or longer if you live anywhere near the route. See the schedule and route HERE.

Greg --

The enthusiasm of the political science professor was legitimate. She’d never heard of Move to Amend, but after learning that we were educating and organizing to increase people power by abolishing “corporate personhood” and “money as free speech,” said loudly at the end of a session where she presented: “We need to work together!” 

This pronouncement was a recurring takeaway experienced by Move to Amend Board Member Daniel Lee and Co-Director Greg Coleridge who attended the annual conference of  the Law & Society Association in Denver in early June. 

The “we need to work together” theme arose in numerous contexts during the 4-day conference.

Today, June 19th, is Juneteenth—a day of profound significance in our nation's history. As we celebrate this pivotal moment of freedom and justice, we also reflect on the ongoing struggles for equality that remain. In this spirit, we reach out with an urgent and exciting update for this week’s We the People Wednesdays action.

Happy We The People Wednesday!

This We The People Wednesday, the Move to Amend National Team is excited to introduce Cole Bennett - our newest Co-Director / Political Justice Director!

After finishing a year-long National Fellowship with Move to Amend and earning a Juris Doctorate from the Georgia State University College of Law, Cole is eager to shift his efforts to using his political and legal expertise full-time to eliminate corporate constitutional rights, pass the We The People Amendment, and build the foundation of a lasting democracy movement within the burgeoning political hub of Atlanta and across the entire southeast region.