By: Jordan Vandenberge
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/in-depth/painesville-issue-1-grassroots-group-pushing-to-send-message-against-corporate-campaign-contributions

PAINESVILLE, Ohio — The Center for Responsive Politics preliminarily projects the total cost of the 2020 election cycle to be $10.8 billion, roughly a 50% increase in spending compared to the 2016 election when adjusted for inflation. If the projections hold true, political spending this election cycle would equal about a third of Ohio's annual budget ($32.4 billion). As large sums of money and political influence have largely become synonymous with one another, a small but passionate group in Painesville is trying to put a stop to it.

On their ballots this November, Painesville voters will decide Issue 1, a proposed ordinance by petition that would declare the need for a constitutional amendment that would clamp down on political contributions by corporations, unions and Super PACs. The ordinance would also declare that money is not the equivalent of speech.

Essay Contest - Two Winners

Media Literacy and Democracy

Pierrette Dagg 

2.29.20 

From public awareness of a candidate to media buying power, the spread of misinformation, and media literacy education, campaign spending can be an indicator of an election’s outcome. However, there is a mixed opinion in scholarly articles which examine whether or not a candidate’s likelihood of winning an election can be linked to the amount of money spent during an electoral competition. According to Bonneau (2007), in State Supreme Court elections, an incumbent’s campaign spend does not influence an election’s outcome; however, a challenger’s spending can impact the results (p. 497). Other scholars, such as Nice (1987), have posited that campaign spending is more effective for certain political parties than others. More research is needed on the links between campaign financing and electoral outcomes. 

An additional area of inquiry must include the ways in which mass media advertising impacts public awareness of political contenders. Capitalistic systems do not promote a democratic society. Media and advertisements are dominated by those with the largest buying power, which could influence voters’ political awareness and positions. Links between awareness and financing are not the only issue when examining the connections between money and mass media. DeMarrais et. Al. (2019) wrote, “In short, the rise of news and fake news across social media and the ability to spread false information across many platforms demand that we understand how the platforms are used and how they ought to be used” (p. 317). The spread of misinformation by the most affluent candidate or party can be just as impactful as standard campaign advertising.  

Research regarding media literacy for adults, educators and students will also be conducted. DeMarrais, et. Al. (2019) said, “Because the majority of Americans get their information from local television news, what becomes important is consideration of who owns the majority of that news medium” (p. 317). I believe that a public understanding of the implications of media ownership on society has lain fallow and is fertile ground for work by activist scholars.

Questions that need to be addressed include: Does the amount of money a candidate spends impact the outcome of an election overall? How does media spending influence a race? Can media literacy and an understanding of who owns the media impact these outcomes? What are the implications of these questions on a democratic society? One potential framework to provide a lens for discourse on the topic could include Beane and Apple’s (2007) “values and principles of democracy,” which include the “open flow of ideas” and “critical reflection and analysis.” Without an understanding of financing and media influence on election results, these democratic principles will be unachievable.  I urge Toledo City Council to support efforts to support public awareness of media ownership and its impact on democracy, as well as supporting media literacy within the general citizenship. 

Sources: 

Apple, M. and Beane, J. (2007). “The Case for Democratic Schools.” In Apple, Michael W. and James A. Beane. 2007. Democratic Schools: Lessons in Powerful Education (pp.5-8, 14-19). Heinemann 

Bonneau, C. (2007). The Effects of Campaign Spending in State Supreme Court Elections. Political Research Quarterly, 60(3), pp. 489-499.  

deMarrais, K., Brewer, T. J., Herron, B., Atkinson, J. (2019). Philanthropy, Hidden Strategy, and Collective Resistance (p. 317). Myers Education Press. Kindle Edition. 

Nice, D. (1987). Campaign Spending & Presidential Election Results. Polity, 19(3), pp. 464-476. The University of Chicago Press on behalf of the Northeastern Political Science Association. 

Rachel Avina

Feb. 25, 2020

Democracy Day Essay

I am not a politician, nor am I an activist. Simply put, I am a citizen. Some days, I feel like that title holds more weight. It is the sacred duty of all citizens to uphold the law and to revise the law when it is corrupt. A corporation is not a citizen. But through the justice system, five Supreme Court judges determined in their ruling on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that corporations have personhood. “Corporate personhood” grant corporations constitution rights and legal standing, something previously reserved solely by the people. These rights allow Marathon Petroleum to give $2.5 million to politicians in Washington, D.C. The Tobacco Industry exercises its rights by slipping $29,400 in Kevin McCarthy’s back pocket. Each back scratch and under the table handshake is legal, protected by the First Amendment right to free speech. Defined by the Constitution, freedom of speech is the ability to talk and express freely without fear of punishment. However, companies convey free speech through donations and money. Actions like these give businesses power over our elections and officeholders. Corporate America has put a price tag on our elections, and it’s in the billions. Compromised representatives threaten our democracy. The law is no longer objective, and it is the people that suffer the consequences, not corporations. All of this begs the question; Are your representatives for sale?

Our election system is broken because of the destructive influences of money in politics and the misguided notion that corporations may claim constitutional rights. With these rights they are able to spend tremendous amounts of “dark” money through organizations and PACS to support the candidates who will serve their needs. And their primary need is profit. While profits are essential in a capitalist system the needs of “we the people” should be primary since we are also a democracy.

Move to Amend Ohio Network Quarterly Education Program

September 26, 2020

Presenters:

William Phillis - Executive Director - Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding 

Joe Logan, President, Ohio Farmers Union

Video of program at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9NC14n5nLY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bZme9AlpEY&fbclid=IwAR0iYO-eq5NHrCY65zcyMVx_q_r7W5MPCRZMPYh0hHPpEEnPXhd_wXI0xiY

The current health and economic crises are exposing our nation's underlying and long-standing democracy crisis. While public attention focuses on meeting people's basic survival needs, big corporations and the rich are using the pandemic as cover to increase in multiple ways their profits and power.

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Ohio Move to Amend is a state network of advocates and affiliates working together to build the movement across the Buckeye State's 88 counties. 

For more information on how to get involved, contact: 
Mary Sue Gmeiner, 937-813-8436, ohio@movetoamend.org 

Communities in Support

Resolution Language

Call on Congress to pass an amendment to the U.S. Constitution declaring that:

√ Only human beings, not corporations, are legal persons with Constitutional rights, and

√ Money is not equivalent to speech, and therefore regulating political contributions and spending does not equate to limiting political speech.

Additional provision inbBallot Initiatives

√ Annual or biennial city-sponsored public hearing on the impact of corporate personhood and money as speech on the community and its citizens.

To inquire about launching a city council resolution of ballot initiative campaign in your community, contact us at ohio@movetoamend.org!

Endorsing Organizations

Ohio’s Congressional Delegation:

U.S. SENATE

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

1st District: Steve Chabot Cosponsor: NO Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 322 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3076 Contact View District Map	2nd District: Brad Wenstrup Cosponsor: NO Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 1527 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5161 Fax: (202) 225-5163 Contact View District Map	3rd District: Joyce Beatty Cosponsor: NO Pledge Signer: YES DC Office: 2368 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-1880 Fax: (202) 225-5914 Contact View District Map	4th District: Jim Jordan Cosponsor: NO Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 2312 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: 202-225-2511 Fax: 202-225-5444 Contact View District Map
5th District: Robert Latta Cosponsor: NO Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 406 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3311 Fax: (202) 225-4335 Contact View District Map	6th District: Bill Johnson Cosponsor: NO Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 2311 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-7163 Fax: (202) 225-0566 Contact View District Map	7th District: Bob Gibbs Cosponsor: NO Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 2446 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-6265 Fax: (202) 225-3394 Contact View District Map	8th District: Warren Davidson Cosponsor: NO Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 1107 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-6205 Contact View District Map
9th District: Marcy Kaptur Cosponsor: YES Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 2186 Rayburn Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4146 Fax: (202) 225-7711 Contact View District Map	10th District: Michael Turner Cosponsor: NO Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 2082 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-6465 Fax: (202) 225-6754 Contact View District Map	11th District: Marcia Fudge Cosponsor: YES Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 2344 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: (202) 225-7032 Fax: (202) 225-1339 Contact View District Map	12th District: Troy Balderson Cosponsor: NO Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 1221 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5355 Contact View District Map
13th District: Tim Ryan Cosponsor: YES Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 1126 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5261 Fax: (202) 225-3719 Contact View District Map	14th District: David Joyce Cosponsor: NO Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 1124 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-5731 Fax: (202) 225-3307 Contact View District Map	15th District: Steve Stivers Cosponsor: NO Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 2234 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-2015 Fax: (202) 225-3529 Contact View District Map	16th District: Anthony Gonzalez Cosponsor: NO Pledge Signer: NO DC Office: 1023 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-3876 Fax: (202) 225-3059 Contact View District Map

Home | Announcements | Events

OHIO: Painesville Issue 1: Grassroots group pushing to send message against corporate campaign contributions

Posted by Greg Coleridge · October 19, 2020 9:51 AM

OHIO: Kent Democracy Day forum is Wednesday

Posted by Greg Coleridge · October 06, 2020 10:13 AM

OHIO: Letter to the Editor: Urges participation in Democracy Day

Posted by Greg Coleridge · October 06, 2020 9:58 AM