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Greg Coleridge published City fulfilled Democracy Day obligations in 2021, law director says in Ohio News 2024-03-15 11:41:58 -0700
City fulfilled Democracy Day obligations in 2021, law director says
https://www.scriptype.com/2023/04/19/city-fulfilled-democracy-day-obligations-in-2021-law-director-says/
April 19, 2023
by Melissa Martin
March 7 city council meeting
Brecksville City Council and the city’s legal department said there will not be a city-sponsored Democracy Day in 2023, even though the ballot issue, approved by voters in 2012, specified a 10-year term.
The determination was made March 7 after city resident Bob Belovich questioned council and the administration about city ordinance 129.03. The ordinance stipulates the “biennial public hearings will continue for a period of 10 years through February 2023, or until a constitutional amendment reflecting the principles set forth in section 129.02 is ratified by three quarters of the state legislators.”
Democracy Day is a biannual public hearing before city council and the mayor. It examines the impact of political contributions of corporations, unions, PACS and super-PACS on the city.
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Greg Coleridge published The other “AI” threat to democracy in Announcements 2024-03-10 07:48:16 -0700
The other “AI” threat to democracy
The proliferation of Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly feared as a growing threat to our elections through the creation of “deepfake” texts, photos and videos that look and sound real that further diminishing truth and accountability. AI-generated political ads have already appeared, resulting in calls for regulation and prohibition of what is estimated to be $12 billion in political ad spending this year. Not knowing what public information is real or fake not only threatens elections, but the ability of us all to be informed to hold elected officials accountable and to organize independent movements for change.
But another “AI” is already a threat to the 2024 elections, which will deepen during the current primary election season. The lobby organization, AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and its affiliated political groups are expected to spend $100 million this election cycle opposing candidates they feel insufficiently support Israel, which has intensified since the start of the war in Gaza. AIPAC’s related groups include AIPAC PAC; the United Democracy Project, its Super PAC; the Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI); and others.
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Greg Coleridge published Leaflet and Petition on Primary Election Day in Announcements 2024-03-06 07:32:41 -0800
Leaflet and Petition on Primary Election Day
Please consider spending an hour or so at a polling location on primary election day in your state to hand out leaflets and collect signatures on the Move to Amend petition.
Go HERE to find out when your primary election day takes place.
The leaflet states, “We need to elect better representatives. But we also need to expand the growing peoples’ movement to end corporate constitutional rights by enacting HJR54, the We the People Amendment.”
Our petition declares, “We the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizen United ruling and other related cases, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.”
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Greg Coleridge published Can you leaflet & petition on Super Tuesday to end corporate rule? in Announcements 2024-02-26 05:57:08 -0800
Can you leaflet & petition on Super Tuesday to end corporate rule?
You live in one of 16 places that will vote on March 5, “Super Tuesday, the day when the greatest number of states and territories hold their political election primaries or caucuses.
Please consider spending an hour or so at a polling location to hand out leaflets and collect signatures on the Move to Amend petition.
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TOLEDO, OH: Democracy Day 2024
The program will be live streamed. To watch, go to Toledo.Legistar.com and click on "in progress."
WHENMarch 20, 2024 at 4:30pmWHEREToledo City Council Chambers
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Greg Coleridge published DEGROWTH by Monetary Reform: Money for the People by the People in Events 2024-02-20 14:41:45 -0800
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Banks Bank on War Profits
10 January 2024 | Greg Coleridge
posted at https://www.monetaryalliance.org/banks-bank-on-war-profits-2024/
There are many reasons why nation-states start or join wars. Controlling natural resources is certainly one of them.
Whatever the reasons, banking corporations and other financial institutions in the U.S., among many corporate sectors, profit enormously from wars – causing massive harm to people, communities, the planet, and self-described “democratic” political systems.
This equation may best describe the reality: Dollars = Debt + Destruction + Defense
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Greg Coleridge published Will the Supreme Court disqualify a corporation from being a person? in Announcements 2024-02-12 14:37:43 -0800
Will the Supreme Court disqualify a corporation from being a person?
The Supreme Court heard arguments last week whether Donald Trump should be disqualified under the 14th Amendment to be President.
At issue is whether Trump’s (in)actions on January 6, 2021, should prohibit him from becoming President again based on the text in Article 3 asserting that any officer of the United States who has previously taken an oath to uphold the Constitution should be disqualified if they “have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”
While legal scholars disagree whether the 14th Amendment applies to Trump, can the same be said about whether any part of the 14th Amendment should disqualify a corporation from being a constitutional person?
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Anniversary of the E. Palestine train disaster
Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of the Norfolk Southern Corporation train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Twenty railcars crashed carrying vinyl chloride and other hazardous material. A controlled burn was conducted by local officials to supposedly avoid an explosion. Toxic contaminants polluted the community and the surrounding area, include down-wind into Pennsylvania. As this recent article describes, "This story isn't over."
Since the E. Palestine derailment, accidents have increased for the top five freight railroad corporations. Yet, no Congressional legislation has passed to prevent similar disasters.
The story the corporate media hasn't adequately ever told, however, is what we shared last year following the disaster -- the lack of authentic democracy. It's retold below.
Note: The We the People Amendment is HJR54 is the current 118th Session of Congress
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East Palestine Train Derailment Caused and Worsened by Real Democracy Derailment
The Norfolk Southern Corporation train derailment and subsequent hazardous chemical release into the air, water and land in and beyond East Palestine, Ohio are the inevitable result of multiple anti-democratic realities in the U.S. Many are interconnected and are the same for the roughly 1000 train derailments per year, most recently in Michigan.
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Greg Coleridge published Letters: Money is not free speech and a corporation is not a person in Ohio News 2024-01-30 05:10:21 -0800
Letters: Money is not free speech and a corporation is not a person
Akron Beacon Journal | Jan 28, 2024
Jan. 21 marked the 14th anniversary of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. The ruling increased the amount of money spent in political elections from the very rich and corporate entities, drowning out the voices of people to be heard by elected representatives who didn’t politically contribute.
Many, if not most, people believe Citizens United was the first time the court ruled that “money equals free speech,” as well as the constitutional right of corporate entities to donate politically. It wasn’t.
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‘We the People’ Amendment needed
Miami Valley Today, January 20, 2024
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To the editor:
January 21 is a good day to reflect on the state of our democracy. Why? Because it’s the 14th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.
The court’s 5-4 decision upheld two misguided notions: The first, that a corporation has inherent, inalienable constitutional rights same as you and me. The second, that money spent on political campaigns is protected speech.
These interpretations of the U.S. Constitution thwart democracy in two ways: First, something created on paper through a state charter often has more power than flesh-and-blood people (think companies given the right to dump fracking wastewater in communities where residents object). Second, those with the most money have greater access to lawmakers and influence over laws and policies that affect our wallets, let alone our health (think Akron-based FirstEnergy Corporation, the company behind the largest public corruption scandal in Ohio history).
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Greg Coleridge published The 2024 election money train is on the move. in Ohio News 2024-01-30 05:06:01 -0800
The 2024 election money train is on the move.
Dayton Daily News | Jan 20, 2024
The 2024 election money train is on the move. I receive emails every day asking for money from candidates near and far. How about you? Of course the dollars that you and I send in are only a small portion of the money being contributed to candidates. Of greater concern is the money given by corporations, trade associations, political action committees, unions—all attempting to have influence over their chosen candidates.
Jan. 21 is the 14th anniversary of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, the Supreme Court ruling that is widely recognized as ushering in all this money. After Citizens United, we saw the creation of SuperPACs and “dark money”— donations that are made in secret— making it almost impossible to follow the money.
History tells us that this problem started long before Citizens United. In 1886, the Supreme Court gave standing to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company under the 14th Amendment. Later decisions added the 4th Amendment, the Commerce Clause, the 1st Amendment and more. Political spending became a form of free speech in 1976, thus protecting corporate entities from spending restrictions.
Move to Amend is an organization dedicated to ending corporate constitutional rights and money as a protected form of speech. We have legislation in the U.S. House to amend the Constitution, the We the People Amendment, HJR 54. Ask your representative to co-sponsor. Learn more about our efforts and sign our petition at movetoamend.org/motion.
- Mary Sue Gmeiner, Dayton
https://www.daytondailynews.com/ideas-voices/letters-to-the-editor-jan-20-2024/PCVNB7SQEZF4JFYJRH7K2I5RGI/
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Greg Coleridge published Overturning Citizens United won’t be enough to restore citizens’ political voice in Ohio News 2024-01-30 05:02:34 -0800
Overturning Citizens United won’t be enough to restore citizens’ political voice
Cleveland.com | Published: Jan. 10, 2024
The Jan. 21, 2010, “Citizens United” Supreme Court decision has reduced democracy in our country. Federal election spending was $14.4 billion in 2020, up from nearly $5.3 billion in 2008, according to Open Secrets. The flood of spending by the super-rich and corporate entities has drowned the political voices of most people.
It’s a mistake, however, to believe that the following originated with Citizens United:
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Greg Coleridge published A proposal to restore power to the American people in Ohio News 2024-01-30 04:58:50 -0800
A proposal to restore power to the American people
Chronicle Telegram: Elyria and Lorain County Ohio
January 13, 2024
The anniversary of the Citizens United vs. FEC decision by the U.S. Supreme Court is coming up on Jan. 21. It will be 14 years since that damaging ruling was made.
Citizens United is simply the latest in a long line of anti-democratic Supreme Court decisions that have empowered the super rich and corporations to trump the ability of we the people to make decisions protecting our lives, communities and the natural world. What’s needed is not simply a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizen United, but rather the proposed We the People Amendment that would abolish the bizarre constitutional doctrines of “money equals speech” and “a corporation is a person.”
We need to put the people back in we the people. The We the People Amendment (House Joint Resolution 54) has been introduced in Congress. Please encourage U.S Rep. Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green, or your representative to co-sponsor it.
Kathleen Hazelton
Oberlin
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Greg Coleridge published Help with our Inside and Outside strategies to end corporate rule in Announcements 2024-01-26 06:18:01 -0800
Help with our Inside and Outside strategies to end corporate rule
Fundamental social change has always involved a combined inside and outside approach – supporters inside governing institutions promoting and defending real change that’s initiated by organized people in grassroots movements. Advancements in women’s rights, civil rights, labor rights, and environmental protections are just a few of the movements throughout our nation’s history that have followed this blueprint.
This is exactly the strategy Move to Amend pursues in working to end corporate rule and the corruption of massive spending in political elections.
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Greg Coleridge published Ending Citizens United doesn’t End Money as Speech and “Corporate Personhood” in Announcements 2024-01-21 05:28:14 -0800
Ending Citizens United doesn’t End Money as Speech and “Corporate Personhood”
Today marks the 14th Anniversary of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Supreme Court decision. The ruling permitted corporations and labor unions to make unlimited “independent” political contributions (i.e. spending for or against candidates that are not made in consultation or cooperation with them, their campaigns or any political party).
The super rich could also shield their political “donations” (more like political “investments”) in “dark money” organizations, nonprofits not required to disclose their donors.
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Greg Coleridge published MLK: Will we be extremists for hate or love? in Announcements 2024-01-15 03:46:40 -0800
MLK: Will we be extremists for hate or love?
On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, this MLK quote feels relevant:
At Move to Amend, we've never shied away from the labels "radical" (which means exposing and changing the root/core/foundation of problems) or "extremist." Why? Because we are already living under extreme conditions.
What other choice do we have but to be extremists and radicals when corporate rule is widening and deepening, the climate is collapsing, far-right and hate-based authoritarian ideology is becoming more acceptable, and our government isn’t doing enough to address our acute crises?
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Greg Coleridge published You’re part of a growing & inevitable movement to end corporate rule: 2024 Plans in Announcements 2023-12-27 13:52:21 -0800
You’re part of a growing & inevitable movement to end corporate rule: 2024 Plans
There’s never been a more urgent time to end the power of corporations to dominate our lives, harm our communities and destroy the natural world.
- Exxon-Mobil and other fossil fuel corporations knowingly destroy our climate.
- Big agricultural corporations poison our food (i.e. glyphosate by Monsanto).
- Insurance corporations deny our health care coverage.
- Military contractor corporations spend more of our tax dollars to build more weapons used to wage perpetual military conflicts.
- Big Tech corporations spy on us and have divided us against one another.
- Well Fargo corporation defrauded millions of customers.
- Purdue Pharma corporation killed hundreds of thousands from pushing opioids.
The list is endless.It’s all been and remains incredibly profitable. Virtually all of it has been or is legal.
Yet, there’s never been a more opportunistic time to end the power of corporations.
People are fed up and angry. They’re seeing through the corporate PR. And there’s increasing awareness that corporations are too big, monopolistic, unaccountable and powerful.
That’s why there has never been a more appropriate time for Move to Amend to expand our education, advocacy and organizing in 2024.
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Greg Coleridge published Veterans for Peace Director Supports Move to Amend at Peace Rally in Announcements 2023-12-12 18:34:18 -0800
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Greg Coleridge published NAFTA at 30 / "Corporate Personhood" at over 100 in Announcements 2023-12-08 06:01:41 -0800
NAFTA at 30 / "Corporate Personhood" at over 100
Thirty years ago today, President Bill Clinton signed legislation supporting U.S. entry into the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Removing restrictions on trade between the U.S., Mexico and Canada, NAFTA was aggressively opposed by organized labor, environmental organizations, and many “good government” groups for two major reasons.
First, NAFTA’s provisions prioritized “trade” of goods and services produced by multinational corporations over protecting workers, consumers and the environment.
Second, disputes brought by corporate investors directly against foreign nations over claimed “barriers to trade” were decided by unelected and unaccountable Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) "tribunals" largely composed of corporate-friendly members -- beyond the reach of citizens or even national legislatures or courts.
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Working Together for Real People Power
Why I support Move to Amend
Friends,
I’ve been privileged during my life in many ways. Near the top of the list has been the opportunity to work and become friends with incredible people across the country who’ve selflessly shared their time, talents and treasures to help others and to change the underlying conditions that harm people, places and the planet.
The separate and increasing numerous and interrelated economic, social, political and environmental problems that have been blatantly exposed in 2020 share several root causes. One of them is that people lack fundamental rights to make important decisions affecting their lives. This absence of our right to decide is due to a sad truth: we’ve never lived in an authentic democracy/democratic republic. We the People have never included all the people.
Making matters worse has been courts granting corporations constitutional rights (“corporate personhood”) that overturn passed laws and the constitutional right of wealthy individuals and corporate entities to spend huge sums of money to influence elected officials and public policies. Both prevent our ability to protect our health and safety and the welfare of our communities, country and ecosystem.
This needs to fundamentally change. That’s why I work and support Move to Amend, calling for the We the People Amendment and for real democracy. Please help me reach my personal goal of raising $5000 by the end of the year to support our efforts.
I’ve been working to end corporate constitutional rights for 25 years -- before most people ever heard of “corporate personhood” and more than a decade before the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. It began when it struck me that all the peace, justice and environmental problems I was working on for a social action organization in Ohio wasn’t addressing the core issues of: Who governs? Who decides? Who has the power to determine the kinds of laws and regulations we have? The answer to all these questions was “Not us, not people."
Past and present “surface” problems will never be solved unless we address the root solutions of abolishing corporate constitutional rights (“corporate personhood”), big money in elections (caused by the constitutional doctrine that money in elections equals free speech) and democratizing our Constitution. This will only happen by building a grassroots and racially, gender and age diverse democracy movement -- which is Move to Amend’s mission. Over 700 communities across the country have passed resolutions and initiatives in the spirit of the We the People Amendment while 75 Congressional Representatives are Amendment cosponsors.
We don’t chase the headlines or shift our strategy based on where major foundations this year want to put their money. We’re able to focus on root causes because we’re politically and economically independent -- not funded by corporations, big foundations, political parties, governments or billionaires. Instead, we depend on our supporters to help us continue the work.
The pandemic may have financially hit you hard. It did us. All staff, including me, worked as volunteers and went on unemployment for many months. It’s critical we get back on track for the start of 2021.
Please make an investment (it’s more than a donation or contribution) to help us together work for real people power to achieve justice in all their forms, a livable world and authentic democracy.
Thank you for considering.
Onwards and Upwards!