Women Give Dems Big Bucks, Get Little in Return

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3554/context/archive

"In the 2006 midterm elections, men gave 73 percent of individual hard money contributions to candidates, party committees and political action committees. In the same cycle, men gave 72 percent of contributions of $1,000 or more, a figure that has not changed in a decade, according to the Women's Campaign Forum Foundation."

Elections in America: Millionaires Accusing Eachother of Elitism

http://alternet.org/election08/82268/?page=1

"What were Bush's qualifications for being the Voice of the Common Man, you ask? For one thing, he cleared brush. As the Washington Post reported in 2005, "President Bush's idea of paradise is to hop in his white Ford pickup truck in jeans and work boots, drive to a stand of cedars, and whack the trees to the ground." Cue up the Toby Keith CD, baby, we got a real workin' man on our hands!"

Hilarious!

The $3 Trillion Shopping Spree

A Submarine to Fight Al-Qaeda's Navy

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20080401_a_submarine_to_fight_al_qaidas_navy/

"This is not about the waste of taxpayer dollars—already pushing a trillion—in funding the Iraq war, which, while reprehensible enough, pales in comparison to the big-ticket military systems purchased in the wake of 9/11. In the horror of that moment, the floodgates were lifted and the peace dividend promised with the end of the Cold War was washed away by a doubling of spending on ultra-complex military equipment originally designed to defeat a Soviet enemy that no longer exists, equipment that has no plausible connection with fighting stateless terrorists. Example: the $81-billion submarine pushed by Sen. Joseph Lieberman, presumably to fight al-Qaida’s navy.

That’s the huge scandal the media and politicians from both parties have studiously avoided. But as the GAO’s authoritative audit details, the costs are astronomical. The explosion of spending on expensive weaponry after 9/11 had nothing whatsoever to do with the attacks of that day. The high-tech planes and ships commissioned for trillions of dollars to defeat an enemy with no navy, air force or army, and using $3 knives as its weapons arsenal, were gifts to the military-industrial complex that will go on giving for decades to come.

The Iraq war may end someday, but rest assured that major weapons systems, once commissioned, have a life-support system unmatched in any other sector of public spending. Rarely does the plug get pulled on even the most irrelevant and expensive war toy. Not while both Democratic and Republican politicians feed at the same trough, and when so much is at stake in the way of jobs and profit."

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Comcast Blocking: First the Internet - Now the Public

http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2008/02/25/comcast-blocking-first-the-internet-now-the-public/

So it turns out, Comcast - one of the largest telecommunications corporations in the country - uses their financial might not only to put politicians in their back pocket but to pay people to fill up seats in public hearings in order to deny access to those who oppose the internet legislation they want passes. This is just ridiculous! The pictures of the Comcast "sleepers" are pretty funny though.

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Uncle Jay Explains the News

Hilarious!

Another Year, Another $300 Billion

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/16/7719/

So far the federal government has spent $600 billion on wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (government accounts make it hard to separate the two). However this figure is just the “burn rate” spent on combat operations, such as transportation, equipment, supplementary combat stipends, and paying the 100,000 contractors employed to support the war effort.

That $600 billion figure ignores four major costs. First, there are additional war-related costs buried in places such as the non-Iraq defense budget. That budget has grown by $500 billion cumulatively since the beginning of the war. An estimated one-quarter of that growth is indirectly related to Iraq, including the increased costs of dealing with manpower shortages - recruiting and retaining soldiers and Marines.

Hillary's Bush Connection

http://realnews.org/index.php-option=com_content&task=view&id=59&Itemid=189.htm

In the Clinton's pursuit of power, there is no such thing as a strange bedfellow. One recently exposed inamorata was Norman Hsu, the mysterious businessman from Hong Kong who brought in $850,000 to Hillary Clinton's campaign before being unmasked as a fugitive. Her campaign dismissed Hsu as someone who'd slipped through the cracks of an otherwise unimpeachable system for vetting donors, and perhaps he was. The same cannot be said for the notorious financier Alan Quasha, whose involvement with Clinton is at least as substantial--and still under wraps.

Michael Pollan: Don't Eat Anything That Doesn't Rot

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/2/13/in_defense_of_food_author_journalist

Why do we eat what we eat? How are our food and dietary choices essentially made for us by food policies that favor one industry over another? Read or watch this interview with acclaimed author, Michael Pollan, author of "Omnivore's Dilemma" and "In Defense of Food." Very interesting stuff.

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Big Pharma Opens Wallet to Dems

http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/04/news/companies/pharma_votes/index.htm?postversion=2008030714

"Democrats have long served as the traditional enemy of Big Pharma, but in this presidential campaign, the left is taking the lion's share of drugmaker money.

"Democratic senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are the top recipients of donations from the pharmaceutical industry, according to The Center for Responsive Politics, a non-profit, non-partisan research group in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, donations to Sen. John McCain, who was recently endorsed by President Bush as the official Republican candidate, pale in comparison."

10,000 Maniacs: Oregonians Exercising Democracy Through "Voter-Owned Elections"

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/07/7531/

Voter Owned Elections is providing a healthy alternative to politics as usual in Portland. Months before a traditionally low-turnout election - a municipal primary, for goodness sakes! - more than 10,000 citizens are already involved giving seven relative newcomers to politics a chance to present themselves to voters. And for those voters, the rest of the campaign will be about what campaigns are supposed to be about - issues, positions, problems, solutions, and conversations between hopeful public servants and the people they seek to represent.

"All the people, that is; have-nots as well as haves; denim pockets as well as deep pockets. Because in Voter Owned Elections, when you ‘max out’ as a donor with a simple $5 contribution, you get more for your money, not less. You get choices. You get hope. You get fairness. You may just get the democracy you deserve."

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Missile Defense: 'Longest Running Scam' Exposed

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/edcut?bid=7&pid=295515

"I believe that the Ballistic Missile Defense program is the longest running scam in the history of the Department of Defense," Cirincione said. "This is an enormous waste of money, and if you leave this decision to the Joint Chiefs they won't spend anything near what this Administration is requesting. In fact, the last time the Joint Chiefs were asked about this in 1993, [they] recommended to then-Pres. Clinton that we spend only $3 billion a year on these kinds of programs, and of that $2.3 billion should be spent on efforts to intercept short-range missiles – the ones that are a real threat to our troops and allies…. We're no further along in our ability to actually hit a real ballistic missile now than we were 20 years ago."

Obama's Answer

http://citizen.typepad.com/watchdog_blog/2008/02/will-obama-opt.html

Reform groups sent an open letter to the Obama campaign encouraging him to enter into a public financing agreement with John McCain for the general election, if the two of them were the nominees of their parties. Here is the Obama campaign response.

Bradley: Bill Clinton's Financial Backers Could Pose Big Problem

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/06/bradley-bill-clintons-f_n_90283.html

Former Senator and Presidential candidate, Bill Bradley, talks about the financial conflicts of interest for the Clinton campaign.

Top Iraq Contractor Skirts US Taxes Offshore

http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2008/03/06/top_iraq_contractor_skirts_us_taxes_offshore/

"With an estimated $16 billion in contracts, KBR is by far the largest contractor in Iraq, with eight times the work of its nearest competitor.

"The no-bid contract it received in 2002 to rebuild Iraq's oil infrastructure and a multibillion-dollar contract to provide support services to troops have long drawn scrutiny because Vice President Dick Cheney was Halliburton's chief executive from 1995 until he joined the Republican ticket with President Bush in 2000."

Obama Raises a Record $55 Million in February

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0308/Obama_raises_55_million.html

Adonal Foyle's Orlando Magic Video

Adonal Foyle is not only an NBA basketball player but also the founder and president of Democracy Matters. This is a short video about his history.

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Daryn

How to Swim Against the Current

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080324/hightower_demarco

This is a great article about the corporate and political ethics of progressive minds. Through clean elections maybe we can insert some of this idealism back into government and start getting rid of some "for-profit-bottom line-money hungry" swindlers.

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The Cost of a Week in Hell

http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174902/william_hartung_the_cost_of_a_week_in_hell

This is going to sting a little bit!

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The Pentagon Is Financed Like Enron and Run Like General Motors

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/galloway/story/28973.html

"Pentagon procurement spending, according to the experts, is so totally out of control that no one even attempts to separate the good and necessary weapons programs from the bad, useless and even harmful ones. When money gets tight, the brilliant thinkers in the five-sided puzzle palace even starve good programs to feed bad ones.

"Under the Bush administration, defense spending has skyrocketed since 2001, but the money hasn't been spent wisely. With a recession looming, or already here, and the national debt heading north of $10 trillion, the next president and Congress may want to give serious thought to whether we can afford to go on spending like a drunken sailor on a defense establishment that's financed like Enron and managed like General Motors."

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The $2 Trillion Nightmare

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/opinion/04herbert.html?ex=1205298000&en=313294f8a18fd29b&ei=5070&emc=eta1

We are bankrupting our future! This is unacceptable!

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Obama Raps McCain on Lobbyists

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5isOFwdbq0tsqatW6vJpkDRTI1gMgD8V0BRH80

The Democratic presidential hopeful also said McCain's health care plans reflect "the agenda of the drug and insurance lobbyists, who back his campaign and use money and influence to block real health care reform."

In Defense of Lobbying

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/28/AR2008022803232.html?referrer=emailarticle

Krauthammer raises some good points and I think it is important not to attack lobbyists for the constitutionally protected right they have to do their job. For clean election advocates, the main issue is that the power of some lobbyists is greater than others based solely on the wealth that lies behind their interest. A lobbyists for Exxon/Mobil who wants to lessen regulation on CO2 emissions has just as much as right to "petition the government" as does a lobbyist for the Sierra Club. The difference is that the Exxon/Mobil lobbyists has a $50,000 bundled campaign contribution behind his/her argument, while the Sierra Club lobbyists has a $500 campaign contribution behind his/her argument. In other words, in a election system that relies on politicians raising private money for their campaigns, the power and influence of a lobbyist's voice is largely connected to the moneyed interest they represent. There in lies the problem: private financing of campaigns, not lobbying.

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Disaster Uranium: Democratic Presidential Candidates Backed by Nuclear Powerhouses

http://www.indypendent.org/2008/02/27/1504/

"The nuclear industry has helped bankroll the presidential campaigns of both Senators Obama and Clinton. Executives and employees of the Illinois-based Exelon have given Obama at least $221,517 — making Exelon Obama’s eighth largest contributor. Obama’s chief political strategist, David Axelrod, has also served as a consultant to Exelon.

NRG Energy is betting on Clinton. In September, NRG filed an application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to open the first U.S. nuclear plan in more than 30 years. NRG Energy has given Clinton nearly $80,000 in campaign contributions. The company’s president and CEO, David Crane, is a “Hillraiser” — a Clinton backer who has raised at least $100,000. NRG Energy has also given $175 million to The Clinton Global Initiative run by former President Bill Clinton."

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Obama's Lobbyist Line

http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/obamas_lobbyist_line.php

"The word “lobbyist” seems to have a particular meaning in Obama’s campaign vocabulary. His stump speeches imply that he is not taking money from people who want things from the government and push for them. The reality is that he has."

Campaign Contributions Nearly Double Old Record

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/25/AR2008022502576.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=newsletter

"This year's presidential contest has been groundbreaking in many ways, but none more than in the race for campaign cash."

There is an interesting foreshadowing of the "lobbyist" issue that Obama may face if he wins the Democratic nomination.

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The Three Trillion Dollar War

http://alternet.org/waroniraq/77663/

"The Bush Administration was wrong about the benefits of the war and it was wrong about the costs of the war. The president and his advisers expected a quick, inexpensive conflict. Instead, we have a war that is costing more than anyone could have imagined.

The cost of direct US military operations -- not even including long-term costs such as taking care of wounded veterans -- already exceeds the cost of the 12-year war in Vietnam and is more than double the cost of the Korean War."

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Map: Campaign Money Race

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/map/

Pretty cool map! If you feel like procrastinating, check out which states are funding this presidential race.

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Monsanto U: Agribusinesses Takeover of Public Schools

http://alternet.org/environment/76804/

Thanks to Bush's new cuts on public funding for land-grant schools, agribusiness is gaining a huge foothold in the future of our food.

Congressional Fundraisers Say No To Press

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8513.html

This is the dark underworld of politics and campaigns of which most people are not aware. Keep in mind that these politicians are holding these fundraisers while in office! A clear conflict of interest.

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McCain to Hammer Obama on Financing

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8548.html

This is a conversation that government reform advocates should welcome because it will bring to center stage the issue of money in politics. It is interesting because we have two campaign finance legislators who have different approaches to the issue. McCain, a co-sponsor of the 2002 BCRA, is in favor of capping the amount of money you can donate to a campaign. Obama, a co-signer of the Fair Elections Now Act, is in favor of full public financing of campaigns. Let's see what happens...

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Raw Politics: Show Me The Money

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/09/foreman.raw.politics/

"As a practical matter, an American with average wealth and income is about as likely to become president as I am to become Miss South Carolina."

Interview with John Rauh from Just6Dollars.org

This is an excellent interview with John Rauh, the president of Americans for Campaign Reform (www.just6dollars.org)

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Candidates' Earmarks Worth Millions

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021303635.html?wpisrc=newsletter&sid=ST2008021401593

Each American citizen pays anywhere between $200-$500 each year to fund pork-barrel projects and earmarks that secure tax-dollars for pet projects of those who contribute money to the campaigns of elected officials. If we could stop the influx of private money that funds the campaigns in this country, we could stop the wasteful spending in Washington. To get big money out of politics and to instead fully publicly finance every House, Senate, and Presidential race would only cost $6 per citizen per year, a small price to pay when compared to how much we end up spending for earmarks. Check out www.just6dollars.org.

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Campaign Finance Law More Than Pizza Money

http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news4530.html

This is a letter to the editor by Connecticut Common Cause Executive Director, Andy Sauer. It's a great example of how to respond to questions, concerns, and/or misinformation about clean elections.

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Students Gather for Democracy Matters Summit

http://capitalnews9.com/Default.aspx?ArID=110302

Over 150 students from 15 states gathered at the Holiday Inn Express in Downtown Albany for the "Democracy Matters" summit on Saturday.ALBANY, N.Y. -- Rising election costs and curbing political corruption were at the forefront of the seventh annual National Student Summit. Over 150 students from 15 states gathered at the Holiday Inn Express in Downtown Albany for the "Democracy Matters" event.

"We need a new way to finance our election campaigns, so it doesn't take millions and millions to be an elected official. Do you remember when they promised us in fourth grade, that anybody could be president? Now you have to be a multi-millionaire or you have to raise enough money to run for office and we want to change that,” said Joan Mandle.

Democracy Matters was founded in 2001 by NBA player and Colgate University grad Adonal Foyle and represents students from over 80 college campuses throughout the United States.

Money Makes the Candidates Go 'Round

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080208.wwcosimp08/BNStory/National/columnists

Only in the United States is the amount of money raised a badge of political legitimacy.

No one can understand U.S. politics or government without appreciating the centrality of money. House members and senators spend an unbelievable amount of time chasing it while they go about their legislative duties.

With the House up for re-election every two years, and Senate seats so coveted, incumbents are obliged to seek money every week, and sometimes every day.

Presidential candidates must scour everywhere for money.

Immigrants Come Here Because Globalization Took Their Jobs Back There

http://alternet.org/workplace/76076/?page=1

"Immigration reform cannot be separated from labor and trade reform. We can't fix the former without dealing with the other two. We must stop the exploitative NAFTAfication of such aspiring economies as Mexico and instead develop genuine grass-roots investment policies that give people there an ability to remain in their homeland. Then we must enforce our own labor laws -- from wage and hour rules to the NLRB -- so as to empower American workers to enforce their own rights.

"Eliminating the need to migrate from Mexico and rebuilding the middle-class ladder, here is an "immigration policy" that will work. But it requires us to go right at the corporate kleptocracy that now owns Washington and controls the debate."

Clinton Gets Most Lobbyist Money, McCain Most Help

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080204/pl_bloomberg/apnpwl7xnjik

"Even as they pledge to rein in special interests, the leading Democratic and Republican candidates are relying on lobbyists to bring in campaign cash by raising money from other donors, a technique known as bundling.

``These bundlers and advisers are central to the financial success of top presidential candidates,'' said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics. ``As such, they will essentially carry with them an IOU from the campaign.''

Big Money's Big Mouth

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008802060767

"I fundamentally disagree, as a lawyer and a citizen, with the notion that how much money one has or can raise determines their political worth. That to me seems antithetical to all the advances our democracy has made over the years in expanding suffrage. Our Constitution clearly sets age and residency requirements for those who can serve in public office. But nowhere are there economic prerequisites. Money may equal speech when you own a car dealership and need to advertise a Lincoln Day sale, but nowhere in the Constitution is the right to drown out the voices of ordinary people when it comes to running for elective office."

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One Day = $720 million

Our spending priorities are way out of whack. The military industrial complex and the oil and gas industries can force war as a tool for foreign policy down our government's throat because of their financial sway over the messages this country receives. This short film really lays out what potential we are sacrificing - in addition to the thousands of lives - at the expense of this war that did not need to and should not have been waged.

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Corporate U.S. Presidential Campaign Giving Surges

http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7279827

"Corporate America is pouring money into the U.S. presidential campaign at an unprecedented rate, with a torrent of donations coming from the businesses behind the subprime mortgage crisis.

"Facing a government crackdown over predatory lending and a troubled housing finance system, Wall Street and the real estate industry were among the top political givers in 2007, a campaign finance watchdog group said on Sunday.

"Leading all corporate donors in campaign donations as of the end of last year was investment banking giant Goldman Sachs, based on an analysis of Federal Election Commission records, the Center for Responsive Politics said."

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I Didn't Get Elected To Be A Fundraiser

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-commentarymurphy.artfeb03,0,3870632.story

"I'm a workaholic — I took this job prepared to work 16-hour days endeavoring to move forward the issues I and my constituents care about, like universal health care, land preservation and true energy independence. But with several hours of every day dedicated to raising the millions of dollars necessary for re-election, I simply cannot devote all of my energy to solving these problems.

"Moreover, our current campaign finance system feeds a growing perception of corruption in government and creates barriers to bipartisanship. Rarely do political contributions lead to direct quid pro quo transactions — donations for votes — and those that cross this line normally get caught. But private donations create an appearance of corruption in our public officials and erode the confidence and trust people have placed in government — without which no democracy can survive long-term."

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Do Wall Street Wheeler-Dealers Every Create Jobs?

http://www.cipa-apex.org/toomuch/articlenew2008/Jan28a.html

"A landmark new study, released last week at the annual Davos high-finance summit, scrutinizes the high-flying private equity industry — and complicates life for our global greedy.

"Last June, the biggest player on the private equity block, the Blackstone Group, opted to go that public stock route. The Blackstone boys offered the general investing public a chance to buy a minority stake in their wheeling-and-dealing operation. In the process, Blackstone’s top five executives had to divulge how many dollars that operation was stuffing into their pockets.

"The answer: $770 million over the previous year, a colossal sum that almost immediately thrust the private equity phenomenon onto America’s front pages.

"The private equity industry has been playing public relations catch-up ever since. Industry flacks have been working feverishly to rebut charges that private equity kingpins owe their astounding windfalls to job, benefit, and pension cuts at the companies they take over.

"How feverishly? In 2007, private equity groups started breaking Capitol Hill records for spending on lobbyists."

The Lessons of the Weather Underground

http://campusprogress.org/fieldreport/2450/the-lessons-of-the-weather-underground

This is an excellent piece written by former Democracy Matters organizer, Te-Ping Chen, who now works as a reporter for The Nation.

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The Stimulus Swindle

http://www.creators.com/opinion/david-sirota/the-stimulus-swindle.html

"Lately, though, the rhetoric has switched. Paulson now says there is an "urgent need" for action, and President Bush is demanding a "stimulus" package from Congress.

"And that gets us back to the critical question: Why the sudden shift? Because the group demanding help has changed.

"Before, it was just commoners complaining — regular homeowners, wage earners, troops coming home from Iraq, you know, the 99 percent of us who can't afford the thousand-dollar-a-plate political fundraisers.

"But now Wall Street is panicking. In the last month, the financial industry's profit margins dropped thanks to mortgage defaults brought on by irresponsible lending. And when the corporate executives who underwrite campaigns start whining, politicians develop "stimulus" schemes using the blight of layoffs, foreclosures and wage cuts to justify tax cuts for those doing the laying off, foreclosing and wage cutting."

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The Coal Truth on Candidates

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-biggers/the-coal-truth-on-candida_b_82269.html

"Let's face it: Every single presidential candidate with a veritable chance at victory, Democrat and Republican, is in the hip pocket of King Coal.

"The Republicans, of course, make no bones about their unfettered support for strip-mining and lax mining safety. Despite the undeniable fact that coal-fired plants in our country account for 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, drastic strip-mining techniques have laid waste to 450 mountains and adjacent communities in Appalachia--an area the size of some primaries states--and mining safety laws continue to operate on poorly enforced crisis management policies, Republicans proudly tout the Orwellian vision of Clean Coal, or more recently, Patriot Coal."

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Candidate's Plan to Curb Lobbyists Draws Skepticism

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/candidates_plans_to_curb_lobbyists_draw_skepticism/

"All government watchdogs agree that attempting to limit the ways lobbyists can influence members of Congress is a laudable goal, and that the new ethics law requiring more disclosure of lobbyists' activities was a useful step. But demonizing the lobbyists themselves will not fix a system that is rooted in the need for candidates to raise money, according to government watchdogs. Public financing of campaigns, they believe, is the only way to remove the financial connection between special interests and candidates.

"Lobbyists in and of themselves are not bad. We need lobbyists," said Bob Edgar, a former congressman who now heads Common Cause, a government watchdog group. "People like [Jack] Abramoff and [former House majority leader Tom] DeLay have really given lobbyists and lobbying a bad name," Edgar said, referring to the jailed super-lobbyist and the lawmaker who resigned from Congress after his ties to the disgraced Abramoff were exposed."

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Magic's Adonal Foyle Eager to Cast Vote

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-bianchi2708jan27,0,5170405.column

"If the rest of us had the political passion of Adonal Foyle, our country would be in much better shape right now. It is both refreshing and distressing that somebody who wasn't born here is more interested in the future of our country than 99 percent of the people who have lived in America their entire lives.

"He's always been interested in the political process, but he became engrossed in politics as a student at Colgate University. A few years ago, he founded an organization called "Democracy Matters" -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization to get college students and other young people involved in the electoral process. The main platform of Democracy Matters is campaign finance reform.

"Why campaign finance? It bothers Foyle that the No. 1 issue for legitimate presidential candidates isn't how to stop the war or how to remedy the worldwide oil crisis. He shakes his head. "The first issue," he says, "is always how much money can the candidate raise? If you want to restore hope and trust in government, you have to take the big-money influence out of the equation. There is so much corporate and private money given to the candidates that their policies are directed first and foremost to helping the people who finance their success instead of their constituencies at large."

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Edwards and Clinton Speak About Public Financing in SC Debate

Edwards really has taken the lead in raising the conflicts or interest that arise when tremendous amounts of corporate money is funneled into campaigns in order to influence the political process. At the same time though it seems like people are growing tired of his attacks on corporate America, not because they disagree with him but more so because they get it already and want us to move on. We can only move on once we pass public financing for campaigns and we can finally wipe the whole process clean of corporate lobbyist money and the corrosive impact it has on our democracy.

Mitt Romney's Lobbyist Connections

http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/01/6914_mitt_romneys_lo.html

"In fact, nearly every lobbyist who has endorsed Romney is peddling influence for the health care industry. They represent insurance companies like AIG and New York Life; trade groups like the Health Industry Group Purchasing Association and the Healthcare Leadership Council (which reps "chief executives from all disciplines within the health care system"); pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer; and other extensions of the American health care apparatus like the California Association of Physicians Groups, the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, the American Dental Association, and the Biotechnology Industry Association."

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Obama and Edwards on Campaign Finance - Nevada Debate

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Campaigning for Winners Can Give Lobbyists a Leg Up

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/012108dnpollobby.2c3e21c.html

"For lobbyists, the stakes are high – their clients collectively spend millions to shape legislation, influence regulation and compete for valuable government contracts.

"Whether recruiting donors or dispensing political advice, campaign trench-work can mean better access for clients if the candidate is elected."

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Dennis Kucinich's Fight to Bring Credibility Back to the Democratic Party

http://alternet.org/story/74268/

Hedges: Have we evolved into a corporate state?

Kucinich: I Look at it as the political equivalent of genetic engineering. That we've taken the gene of corporate America and shot it into both political parties. So they both now are growing with that essence within. So what does that mean? It means oil runs our politics. Corrupt Wall Street interests run our politics. Insurance companies run our politics. Arms manufacturers run our politics. And the public interest is being strangled. Fulfilling the practical aspirations of people should be our mission. How do we measure up to providing people with jobs? It was a Democratic president that made it possible for NAFTA to be passed, causing millions of good-paying manufacturing jobs that help support the middle class. . . .

Hedges: Are we hostage to corporate dollars? Isn't this the only way you can become president?

Kucinich: It would appear that way, although of course I have taken another path. Are they - whoever "they" are - hostage to corporate dollars? I think that's fair. Who are they? Well, you have to get the scorecard. I used to go to baseball games when I was a kid. There was a guy who would run up and down the aisles waving scorecards, saying, "Scorecards, scorecards, can't tell the players without a scorecard." Each player had a number and you knew there position. In order to know people's numbers here you have to go to Open Secrets [http://www.opensecrets.org] and see who is contributing to them and study their votes. Then you know what position they are playing, and more important than that, you know whose team they are on. To me this is the kind of disclosure that is essential. But let's go way over that and look at it from up here. This is why we need to change the Constitution and provide for public financing for elections.

MSNBC vs. Dennis Kucinich

http://alternet.org/columnists/story/74162/

"A quick search of Federal Election Commission data showed that employees of those three companies -- GE, NBC and Raytheon -- have contributed in total $68,656 to the Democratic presidential candidates. Most of that went to the three GE-approved candidates who were on the stage Tuesday night.

"In his farewell address, President Dwight Eisenhower famously said, "In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex."

"Add to that complex the media, with a company like General Electric, with its vested interests in selling weaponry and nuclear power plants, using its subsidiary, NBC, to exclude candidates like Kucinich, who is for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, no nuclear energy, no Yucca Mountain radioactive waste dump, and for single-payer health care. If there was a lovefest at the Las Vegas debate, it was between the corporate-funded Democrats and their sponsor, GE/NBC."

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Black Women Are Invisible This Election Season

http://alternet.org/reproductivejustice/73780/

"And yet, while a white woman and a black man now run for the most powerful position in world, that fact doesn't yet translate into possibilities for a woman of color. Her disadvantage -- money, connections -- is too deep."

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Political Reality Check: A Guide to Political Candidates' Humble Abodes

http://www.motherjones.com/photos/political-reality-check/

If you never understood the concept of the "wealthy, elite political class" then this photo essay of the candidates' houses should make it pretty clear.

Starting statistic - of the 100 Senators, 98 of them are millionaires. When the average American family of 4 brings in around $40k a year, it's no wonder most people don't think Washington has their ear to the needs of the people, after all many of our elected officials are so far removed from what most Americans live through and with every single day.

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'Democracy,' American Style

http://alternet.org/workplace/72717/?page=1

"We keep hearing about the relentless march away from democracy in Russia and Venezuela. It frightens us. The feeling is that democracy is essential for the betterment of the world, and that we Americans are living in a society that serves as the ultimate democratic model, where any citizen can gain the education and skills to rise to a position of wealth and leadership.

"The income gap in the United States is greater than anywhere else in the developed world. Conservative analysts attempt to justify the disparities as a necessary step to economic growth, arguing that the rich are being rewarded for innovation and risk-taking, while the poor experience smaller but meaningful gains. Everyone benefits in the long run."

Make no doubt about it...America has been steadily moving away from the ideals that our democracy promotes and towards a corporatocracy - where moneyed, private interests determine who our legislators are and what they legislate - that has created an ever increasing gap between the rich and the poor.

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Pentagon, Big Pharma: Drug Troops to Numb Them to Horrors of War

http://alternet.org/healthwellness/72956/?page=1

"The DoD is flirting with the idea of medicating soldiers to desensitize them to combat trauma -- will an army of unfeeling monsters result?"

This is a prime example of the "disaster-industrial complex" that Naomi Klein talks about in her book, The Shock Doctrine - a complex that is rooted in the for-profit interests that are controlling the workings of government. When we can publicly finance our democratic process, the public, as owners of their government, can ensure that the Pentagon and big Pharma are not in cahoots in finding ways to profit off of disaster and destruction.

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Primaries are Broadcasters' Big Payday

http://alternet.org/columnists/story/73431/

Over $2 billion will be spent in the 2008 presidential race, making it by far the most expensive presidential race in American history. Almost 1/2 of the money will go to paying corporate media to air campaign ads. About 40% of campaign expenditures go to television advertising. With the corporate media charging such high amounts for the candidates to us the PUBLIC airwaves further fuels the need for candidates to raise exorbitant amounts of money.

The Fair Elections Now Act would provide media vouchers to candidates who are publicly financing, a step that would rightly give the right to use the public airwaves back to the people as opposed to our political system being used as an opportunity to maximize profit for big media.

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FCC's Holiday Gift to Big Media

http://alternet.org/columnists/story/71705/

Unfortunately, big media won this battle and moved one step forward to corporate media consolidation, taking the public airwaves away from the public.

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Big Oil's Profits and Plunder

http://www.nader.org/index.php?/archives/1237-Big-Oils-Profit-and-Plunder.html

Ralph Nader sheds light on how big oil still holds congress hostage and continues to siphon tax payer money into their coffers through the subsidies and tax breaks that encourage a polluting and outdated energy source.

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Stiglitz Says GDP May Be Poor Indicator of Economy

http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/080108204123.gqqh9qms.html

"WASHINGTON (AFP) - Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel laureate economist tapped to head a new French study, said Tuesday he sees gross domestic product (GDP), the most often cited yardstick, as an imperfect indicator.

"'It's been particularly true in the US where GDP has been going up but actually most people not only feel worse off, their measure of income is actually going down," he said.

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Public Financing of Elections Would Lead Us Out of the Partisan Swamp

http://alternet.org/story/73011/

"Big money is driving up the costs of campaigning and preventing candidates who are strong on brains, people skills, independence and vision -- but who don't have access to deep pockets--from running for and winning office. Endless fundraising steals the focus of our leaders, requiring that they spend less time leading the nation to solutions that work for all Americans, regardless of their ability to make a political donation."

Nick Nyhart, President and CEO of Public Campaign, writes an excellent piece on how the money chase in politics fuels the partisanship of government that stifle progress in the political process. Candidates can free themselves from partisan loyalty and the need to secure funds from their party by instituting clean elections (public financing of campaigns) and instead run on platforms that are both independent and representative of their constituents.

No Small Change

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/07/AR2008010702262.html

"The only way to eliminate the disproportionate influence of lobbyists is to break Congress's nymphomaniacal lust for campaign funds. Otherwise, we will forever be getting remedies that sound good in a presidential debate but that don't really matter all that much (and that in any event affect only one branch of government, the presidency). Edwards won't take money from lobbyists, but he will take it from negligence lawyers; Obama is similarly chaste, but his hand is out to consultants and others who, while not registered as lobbyists, nevertheless represent special interests."

In this op-ed, Cohen hearkens back to a great American president who stood up to the emerging corporations in the age of growing monopolies; Teddy Roosevelt, who was the first sitting president to advocate for full public financing of campaigns. Things have only gotten worse since the era of the robber barons, and our country, democracy, and way of life has taken a turn for the worse as the maximization of profit has superseded the public good.

With all of these different candidates, both Republican and Democrat, calling for "change in Washington," we better start hearing more of them advocate for clean, fair, public funded elections if they want us to believe this change is coming.

King of the Crop

http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3445/

"In 2005, the federal government spent $9.4 billion in taxpayer money to promote corn production. The resulting cheap overproduction has driven small farmers off their lands in countries such as Mexico, because they were unable to compete with U.S. imports. This oversupply helps explain why, in 2000, U.S. residents consumed an average of 73.5 pounds of high-fructose corn syrup (up from 0.6 pounds yearly in 1970)."

Not only that, most people assume farm subsidies go to protect small, family farms, when in fact our tax dollars are going to subsidize big corporate agribusinesses such as Archer-Daniels Midland, who put small family farms out of business. Yet another example of how corporations and their interests are taking over our democratic processes and eroding the American way of life.

-peace-

Warning: Drug Ads Can Make You Sick

http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3455/

"A $4.2 billion annual industry incessantly reinforces this
medicalization of complaints through direct-to-consumer (DTC)
advertising."

We are the only industrialized country that allows direct-to-consumer (DTC) drug marketing and, sure enough, we also pay more for prescription drugs than all other industrialized countries as well...drugs that we probably don't need. Big Pharma strikes again.

Tax and Spend? Hell, Yeah!

http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3415/

Here is another article I found by Susan J. Douglas. Much of the article is based off of Paul Krugman's book, "The Conscience of a Liberal."

"Krugman’s foundational argument is that we must discredit the neocons’ insistence that government regulation is bad and that the state’s intervention to moderate the excesses of capitalism is unnecessary. He shrewdly notes how movement conservatives have for 40 years twinned this mantra with race-baiting policies and rhetoric that portrays poor people of color—not the rich white fat cats—as the problem.

"Krugman maintains that a majority of Americans are ready to revive the demand that it is government’s responsibility to protect its citizens and to prevent the consolidation of a plutocracy. Economic inequality has further corrupted our politics, but Krugman ends his book on a positive note: Movement conservatism has become “intellectually decrepit” while progressive politics gathers real steam.

"For years, Republicans tarred Democrats as “tax and spend liberals.” Just as gays and lesbians reclaimed the word “queer” as a move of empowerment, Democrats should embrace the “tax and spend” moniker. Taxing and spending is what advanced, industrialized countries do. And they do it to promote equitable societies.

"Yes, tax the rich and big corporations and spend it on the rest of America: Let’s spend it on healthcare for all, on decent schools for our kids, on environmental protections, on a consumer products safety commission, on universal pre-school, on a cure for AIDS and, most of all, let’s tax and spend to develop paths to peace."

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Beware the Credit Industrial Complex

http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3450/beware_the_credit_industrial_complex/

Should have posted this one before we did all our holiday shopping...

"The barely regulated banks are getting away with one usurious practice after the next: In addition to the subprime fiasco now threatening the entire economy, there are the extortionate service fees on your bank accounts and the escalating interest fees, late fees and truncated payment cycles on your credit cards. Millions of us now get credit card bills that give us 10 days—and those aren’t 10 business days—to pay up or get hit with a late fee. No wonder the credit card industry has been one of the most profitable in the country, earning on the order of $30 billion annually. The rates credit card companies charge retailers have gone up 85 percent since 2001, and those are passed onto us.

"In 2005, Congress passed the infamous bankruptcy “reform” act after major lobbying by the financial-industrial complex, adding to the enormous pressure many people are feeling from the mortgage-housing-credit crisis. Designed to protect creditors, the law makes it harder and more expensive to declare bankruptcy.

"It used to be that people in financial trouble could file under Chapter 7, which typically allowed them to keep their homes while other property was sold off to help cover credit card and medical debts. What pissed off the banks was that, after flooding everyone with offers to acquire even more credit cards, some of this debt would get massively reduced or written off under the old law.

"The new law forces people to file under Chapter 13, which requires them to accept a 3- to 5-year repayment plan on all debt. This may lead to even more foreclosures. And for those who still can use Chapter 7, it now costs twice as much to file as it used to. While many conservatives blame individuals for charging and borrowing irresponsibly, one of the major causes of going into such debt are the huge medical bills racked up by those without health insurance."

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Health Economics 101

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Time%20for%20change/264

This is a great article, written by a physician, that summarizes the problems with America's health care system. He also addresses some of the plans put forth by both Republican and Democratic candidates.

It is interesting in that he essentially endorses Kucinich's single-payer, not-for-profit, universal health care system (Medicare for all), by saying that it will create the best results for all people. Yet, he says it is not "politically viable", in that the private health insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies will use their financial power to ensure that a government-run system does not become a reality.

"The reason why the U.S. health care system is so expensive yet inferior to that of most developed nations

"There is a single cause that underlies most of the excessive cost of health care in the United States, as well as its inferior quality. That cause is the fact that most health care insurance in our country is supplied by private corporations.

"The main goal of private insurance corporations in the United States, as with all corporations, is to make a profit. They attempt to increase their profits in two ways that result in reduced health care: They attempt to withhold health insurance from unhealthy people, and they refuse to honor health care claims from their insured clients whenever they can get away with it."

Political Barriers to Universal Health Care:

"Before considering what an ideal universal health care system would consist of it is worth while to consider the political barriers to a government sponsored universal single-payer health care system:

"Insurance corporations
Insurance corporations make huge profits out of the current health care system. Every American who receives health insurance directly from the government (as in Medicare or Medicaid) represents reduced profits for insurance companies. Consequently, insurance companies are bound to provide fierce political opposition to any plan for increasing the government role in directly insuring people. They were a major factor in the defeat of the Clinton health plan in the 1990s.

"Pharmaceutical corporations
Pharmaceutical corporations also make huge profits out of our current health care system. U.S. citizens pay much more for prescription drugs than do citizens of other developed nations. An accountable U.S. government that supplied health insurance directly to its citizens would be likely to put an end to the excessive costs of prescription drugs in our country because it would have the power to bargain down prices."

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David Cay Johnston on How the Rich Get Richer

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17808622

"Investigative reporter David Cay Johnston explores in his new book how in recent years, government subsidies and new regulations have quietly funneled money from the poor and the middle class to the rich and politically connected.

"Cay Johnston covers tax policy for The New York Times, where he won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on that beat. His previous book, Perfectly Legal: The Covert Campaign to Rig Our Tax System to Benefit the Super Rich — and Cheat Everybody Else, was a best seller.

The new book, which expands the inquiry beyond tax policy into a whole range of regulatory machinery, is titled Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You With the Bill)."

Listen to the interview.

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Iowa Victories Scramble the Money Game, Too

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/us/politics/06donate.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin

The victories of both Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee in the Iowa Caucuses has increased the excitement of this monumental presidential race. These victories have also added an element to the money chase. One trend that is so evident in this race is that big money begins by backing their interests but also realizes the importance of backing a "winner". So we may see some shifting loyalties now that some candidates look a little more viable.

"In some cases, Democrats who supported Mrs. Clinton out of loyalty or conviction or because they felt she could win are now taking another look at Mr. Obama, Mr. Kramer said. Donors with enough resources can hedge their bets by giving the maximum $4,600 for the primary and general races to both Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton.

"The day after the New Hampshire primary, which is Tuesday, Mr. Obama will hold a Manhattan fund-raiser, with ticket prices ranging from $500 to $2,300. A big fund-raiser is scheduled for Los Angeles a few days later."

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McCain's Unlikely Ties to K Street (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2007/12/30/ST2007123002933.html

"It is common for politicians to court big money during a campaign. But private schmooze sessions such as the gathering in Utah pose a particular dilemma for McCain, who has spent a long career decrying 'special interests' and politicians who offer special access to them in order to raise money. As a presidential candidate this year, McCain has found himself assiduously courting both lobbyists and their wealthy clients, offering them private audiences as part of his fundraising. He also counts more than 30 lobbyists among his chief fundraisers, more than any other presidential contender."

It is no wonder McCain has shied away from the campaign finance issue now that he is running for president. It is truly unfortunate that in our current political system, someone as principled as McCain, cannot stick to his guns and fight against the special interests. You're damned if you do, damned if you don't in this system. It must be changed.

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The Story of Stuff

The Story of Stuff
http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Check out this excellent website and video/animation. I think you will all find it very useful and insightful for the work we do.

This GREAT 20 minute video/animation is about the production cycle of all the stuff we consume. The presenter packs a lot of useful information into the video, the most important being the CAUSE of this twisted cycle - corporations controlling governments instead of the people controlling governments. Notice that the overarching graphic throughout the entire animation is little government holding the hand of big fat corporations. This is of course where we come in! We are fighting to put people back into their rightful place as the deciders and play-makers in a democracy. In so doing, we can address all the problems that occur throughout the entire production cycle.

Anyway, this would be a great video to share with your members and screen for others on your campus since you can EASILY tie it into the work we are doing to solve the underlying/overarching problem of big money in politics.

Let me know what you think...I really enjoyed it!

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Money for Something by Dave Eggers

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/opinion/09eggers.html?_r=1&ex=1198040400&en=ddf27ea516e002b0&ei=5070&oref=slogin

Dave Eggers, author of "What is the What," and "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius," has an excellent op-ed in the NY Times about money in politics that references politicians from Ron Paul to Barack Obama. It is a short read that is very well written. Definitely check it out.

"We can try to clean it up (money in politics), like oil spilled in a bay, but as long as we use the substance in the first place, it will ooze its way into every aspect of our lives. There will be compromised decision-making abroad; there will be the growth and misappropriation of corporate influence; there will be the opting-out of millions of disillusioned youth, the void filled by the cynical and self-interested; and, in the most benign manifestation, there will be a very good man taking thousands of photos, with progressives who wish their support did not have a price tag, in exchange for the maximum personal donation allowed by law."

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USA Today: 5 Reasons for Public Finanancing

Here is a great piece from USA Today.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/12/our-view-on-ele.html

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War on Greed

You have got to check this out...Hilarious, ridiculous, and downright unacceptable all at the same time.

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Oil, Politics, and Bribes

http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/347/oil-politics.html

For those of you interested in connecting the issue of money in politics with the environment, be sure the check out this article and to forward it a long to any contacts you have in environmental clubs on campus.

"Political action committees, lobbyists and executives do not give money to politicians or parties out of an altruistic support of the principles of democracy," says Tyson Slocum, director of Public
Citizen's Energy Program. "They are savvy investors expecting a return on their investments. Politicians routinely deliver on campaign contributions that are provided to them... [by] giving goodies to the industry." And the size of those contributions matters.

In comparison, environmental groups and alternative energy production and supply companies, which didn't see similar benefits come out of the Republican Congress's legislation, have made paltry contributions. Environmental groups, such as the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters and the Nature Conservancy, which often push for policy that is punitive to Big Oil, have given nearly 11 times less than the oil industry since 2001. The disparity is not a strategic difference, but the financial reality for these smaller competing interests. Exxon Mobil, for example, reported the largest annual profit on record for a U.S. corporation in 2006, bringing in $39.5 billion. Comparatively, the nonprofit Sierra Club Foundation--which funds organizations in addition to the Sierra Club--reported income in 2006 of $29 million."

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The Problem with Youth Activism

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_problem_with_youth_activism

This should provide some food for thought. I would be interested to hear what you all think.

"They need to stay out of the student center long enough to figure out what their version of outraged activism really is. Small as it may sound, big change would happen if college students today could protect their purest intentions from the pacifying force of free pizza and resumé kudos. Our generation needs to step into our raw power -- the priceless power of being young and mad. We need to stay hungry long enough to get angry."

I think she has some good points in this article...some things I never thought about. I know some of you have had to jump through so many hoops this semester to get "recognized" by the school and ran the risk of de-activating as a result. The stamped fliers, the room bookings, the film permission, the receipt collection, are all time consuming elements of campus organizing that we are forced to deal with. Is this just the nature of activism for our generation or have we been duped?

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The FCC and Media Conglomeration

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/12/03/media_consolidation/index_np.html?source=newsletter

Corporate conglomeration of the media was one of the main issues that drove me to get more politically involved. It is, of course, also an issue that is closely linked to money in politics, in that large media corporations (Fox News Corps, Viacom, Clear Channel, Time/Warner, etc.) pay a large amount of money to get friendly politicians in office and sitting on the FCC so that rules and laws can be passed that allow them to swallow up local media. Michael Copps, one of my heroes when it comes to this issue, has spoken out vehemently against media conglomeration. Below is the main quote from this article, representing the civil rights and diversity issues embedded in this money in politics/media issue.

"We live in a country that is one-third minority right now in the United States of America. People of color own 3.26 percent of all full-power commercial television stations, so is it any wonder then that their issues are not given the kind of coverage that they may like to have? Is it any wonder that they're so characterized that when you see a news story about an African-American it's often about crime? Or when you see a news story about a Latino, it's about jumping over a fence to get into the United States? What about the many million more stories that have to do with the contributions that these groups make to the country and what's going on in their communities? And what are their issues? And this applies to women when it comes to ownership too. Diversity of voices depends on ownership. If you don't have diversity of ownership, you're not going to have diversity of voices. So it's important to the future of our country. Our future is our diversity. That's our strength. That's our opportunity going forward. Why should we have a media that doesn't reflect that?"

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Robert Reich Speaks the Truth

http://alternet.org/story/68927/?page=2

"Stop trying to get corporations to be socially responsible. Stop trying to achieve any particular social objective like global warming or a national healthcare system ... Put all of our efforts into a
citizen's movement for democracy. That would include the public financing of campaigns and would require any network, any broadcaster using the public airwaves to provide advertising for all candidates."
- Robert Reich

Among many things, Robert Reich was Secretary of Labor under the Clinton Administration, and in this interview he explains exactly the mission of Democracy Matters and the important of addressing the fundamental issue of money in politics and to enact public financing as the solution to ALL the problem we face as a country.

You must read this and pass it on to your members!

-peace-

Daryn

p.s. I also recommend checking out Benjamin Barber's new book, "Consumed," which addressed a lot of the same supercapitalism issues that chip away at our democratic processes and make us develop a civic schizophrenia.

Bringing Young People Back Into Our Democracy

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/23/AR2007112301302.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I thought the article below would reignite the organizer and activist inside of you after a much needed break. The article below is about how civic illiteracy has turned young people off to the democratic process and it mentions a lot of the common cynical beliefs young people have about America's political system, while at the same time reminded readers that young people have consistently been on the "front lines of revolution", as I like to say. One thing that inspires me about the clean elections movement, and the pro-democracy movement at large, is that it adheres to the belief of the founding framers that our democracy is always and will always need to be defended, reformed, and changed in order to protect the ideals that is promises. In other words, all citizens, especially young people, must always be engaged in ensuring that equality, fairness, and justice are the key elements of our democracy and that the political system allows those principles to be actualized.

Enjoy and spread to your members.

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What to do about Campaign Finance Loopholes

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071203/goldberg

I wish that this were a little more specific on how the system would work and spend less time talking about the loopholes in BCRA and the recent Supreme Court case...but whatever...

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US Spending on Iraq, Afghanistan Will Hit 1.6 Trillion

If this doesn't piss you off then I don't know what will?

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/071113/world/world_us_war_budget

The cost of this war, in lives and in money, is unconscionable
especially while at the same time Bush is sustaining tax cuts that
overwhelmingly go the richest people in this country, while the
poorest people are sent off the fight the war. If this is not an
oligarchy of the highest order then I don't know what is!

Also, he vetoed a 6 billion dollar spending bill that would increase
funding to health and education programs while passing a $40 billion
increase in non-war pentagon budget! WHAT!!???

I am angry! How bout you?

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Great Short Film about Clean Elections

I highly recommend you all check out this short 7 minute film! It really captures the essence, power and beauty of the clean elections system as a way to bring our Democracy back to the people! Hopefully it will get you inspired about the National Week of Action, which is mentioned in the article!

Another great idea for your tabling is to see if you can set up a laptop and some speaker and have this film looping on the side if people want to learn more about the system, while you are tending to other people.

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12 Questions with the Leage of Women Voters

http://www.local12.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=18590f01-3a74-411c-b050-cc92c5cdab17

Check out this article about the League of Women Voters, one of the co-sponsoring organizations behind the Fair Elections Now Act. Everyone should check out this article, especially students interested in increasing women voices in our political system.

8. What is the biggest problem with the American democratic system?

One of the big problems with democracy today in America is the harmful role of big money in politics - large campaign contributions by wealthy donors and special interests. Most candidates are forced to put much of their time and energy into asking for funds from wealthy individuals and organizations instead of working and meeting with voters on issues. Big donors and special interests receive more access to candidates, both before and after elections. The voices of ordinary citizens get drowned out. Because of this situation, more voters are becoming apathetic about elections. Fewer interested voters spells trouble for democracy which depends on an informed and involved public.
- Alice Schneider, LWVCA Director, Public Relations

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Newsweek Article: Dialing for Dollars by Anna Quindlen

http://www.newsweek.com/id/57336

This is a great article that you should pass on to your members.

"...as the totals have mounted, a few million giving way to tens of millions and then tens of millions more, the business of the American election has become, if not necessarily corrupted, at least swamped by big money. A series of scandals involving lobbyists and elected officials have proven to those in the cheap seats what they always suspected: you pay, you play. Bought and paid for? Anyone could be forgiven if they feel that way."

The article also talks about John Rauh, from Americans for Campaign Reform, which is one of the many organizations in the coalition working to make full public financing a reality at the federal level.

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NY Times Op-Ed: Death of a Machine by Paul Krugman

Below is a link to an interesting Op-Ed by Paul Krugman (NY Times)
about shifting corporate loyalties and how it may pose problems for
progressives.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/19/opinion/19krugman.html?ex=119345760...

"I’d put it this way: many progressives, myself included, hope that the next president will be another F.D.R. But we worry that he or she will turn out to be another Grover Cleveland instead — better-intentioned and much more competent than the current occupant of the White House, but too dependent on lobbyists’ money to seriously confront the excesses of our new Gilded Age."

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Blackwater and the Privatization of War Making

Some of you may be following the Blackwater story. This is a clear example of how money in politics generates policy that favors private economic interest over the public good. Check out this article to learn more about the ongoing story.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071001/ap_on_go_co/blackwater_iraq;_ylt=...

The main problems I see are that:

1) Members of our armed forces, who volunteered to defend the country are paid a FRACTION of what private mercenaries from companies like Blackwater are paid. Men and women in uniform are bound by a code of conduct, while private security firms work under much looser rules and regulations leading to a variety of abuses gone uncharged and uninvestigated.

2) The gross mismanagement of the war that has been sited by both Republicans and Democrats comes as a direct result from the privatization of war-making. People should never forget that defense contractors such as Halliburton, KBR, Lockhead Martin, etc. and private security firms (mercenaries) such as Blackwater have as their number one priority the fattening of their wallets, their bottom lines, and a motivation to make profit. These incentives come in
direct conflict with the concepts of just war theory. When the military-industrial complex (defense contractors and security firms) pump millions of dollars into campaigns they gain an overwhelming influence over decisions to go to war. Erick Price, CEO of Blackwater, was a huge campaign contributor to the Bush Campaign. Blackwater won a no-bid contract to provide security services in Iraq.

3) Over 1/2 of a TRILLION dollars has now been spent in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, much of which has gone to pay private contractors and mercenaries exorbitant salaries. A private Blackwater security guard working in Iraq makes almost half a million dollars a year. To quote Chalmers Johnson, "when war becomes that profitable you are going to see more of it.

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Edwards Announces One Democracy Initiative

http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/govt-reform/

John Edwards has announced his One Democracy Initiative, which in includes full public financing of campaigns, aka clean elections.

"Provide Full Public Financing in Congressional Campaigns: There is no public financing for congressional races, favoring candidates who are incumbents, have personal wealth, or have strong support from the wealthy and their corporate interests. Edwards will create full public financing for House and Senate races. Candidates who raise a certain number of $5 contributions will receive equal public financing and air time, while additional "fair fight" funds will help candidates facing self-financed campaigns and independent expenditures. States with these models-like Maine and Arizona-have reported more political accountability and candidates from more diverse backgrounds. [BrennanCenter et al, 2007]"

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Senators Push for Fund-Raising Amendment

Senators Push for Fund-Raising Amendment

By David D. Kirkpatrick <http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/author/dkirk/>

As the torrent of money flowing into the presidential campaigns is itself turning into an issue in the race, the revival of an unsuccessful attempt at a Constitutional amendment allowing more stringent campaign finance rules may put some of the candidates on the spot.

Senator Charles E. Schumer, Democrat of New York, and Senator Arlen Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania, have sent their colleagues a letter asking for co-sponsors of a bill that would in effect overturn the 1976 Supreme Court decision Buckley v. Valeo, which ruled that campaign spending was a protected form of free speech. It has bedeviled all subsequent attempts to limit the influence of political money.

A similar proposal received only 40 "yes" votes in the Senate six years ago and it is almost certain to fail again. But its may raise questions for former Senator John Edwards, a candidate for the Democratic presidential primary. He has recently called for "mandatory" public financing and spending limits for all campaigns, which the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional in Buckley v. Valeo, and he has sought to characterize his own decision to accept public financing as a matter of principle rather than necessity, pointedly criticizing his rival, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, for relying on private donations. But as a senator in 2001 Mr. Edwards voted
against the proposed amendment to allow such mandatory spending limits and Mrs. Clinton voted for it.

Among the Republican primary candidates, the revived proposal also might be delicate for Senator John McCain. He has carried the banner for campaign finance restrictions for decades and voted for the proposed amendment in 2001. But the idea of restricting campaign spending is unpopular among conservative Republican primary voters. Mr. McCain has not talked much lately about that aspect of his career, and the proposal could bring it back up.

The current presidential public campaign finance system was designed to get around the Supreme Court's decision in Buckley v. Valeo. Instead of imposing mandatory limits, the system seeks to induce candidates to accept voluntary spending caps by offering them taxpayer-funded grants if they do. This year, however, the leading candidates in both parties are planning to reject the public grants because they can raise and spend more by relying on private donations.

The Democratic front-runners all support updating the presidential public financing system to keep up with the pace of private fund-raising. But in an interview, Senator Schumer said the widespread rejection of the system this year "vindicates" the view that truly effective campaign finance restrictions will be impossible while Buckley v. Valeo stands.

-peace-

John Edwards to Accept Public Financing for Presidential Campaign

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/27/edwards.public.financing/i...

Big news. John Edwards is taking a principled stance and accepting public financing for his presidential race. Follow this link below to read the story and watch the interview. The funny thing about it is that I was just on a clean elections coalition conference call with the Edwards campaign educating them about the clean elections movement. At that very same time he was on CNN talking about need to stop the money chase that is weakening America's Democracy.

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What is Iraq Costing You?

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/63353/?page=2

Another article that could stimulate some dialogue amongst ourselves and your members.

"The War in Iraq has cost about $453 billion to date. That's pretty hard to grasp. Especially on my income and probably on yours. Let's bring that home and make it a little more understandable."

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Barabara Ehrenreich on the Health Insurance Industry

The link below will take you to an article written by Barbara
Ehrenreich (author of Nickel and Dimed) about the Health Insurance
Industry. Some interesting food for thought. I think her style is a
wee bit aggressive, but important none the less.

http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/63352/

Also, what are your thoughts on the Health Care issue? As she
mentions, Dennis Kucinich is the ONLY candidate promoting a single-
payer, not-for-profit, universal health care system. Why is it that
other candidates are not even entertaining this idea?

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Bill Clinton Talks About the Need for Public Financing

You should send this clip out to your members...or at least the ones that like and/or respect former president Bill Clinton. This is a clip taken from his interview on the Daily Show this past week where he talks about the need to change the way the chase for money influences our political system.

He said, "If we could find a way for them [politicians] and their competitors, the challengers, to run for election without making them go out five nights a week in this endless hunt for funds so they can be on television when someone attacks them I think American would work better."

He says even more poignant stuff so watch and see.

http://www.indecision2008.com/blog.jhtml?c=vc&videoId=103116

Be sure and check it out! This is a huge endorsement for the movement...to have a former president, in addition to every single Democrat running for president, and a number of Republicans in congress, talking about the need to fix the money in politics problem. It is the pro-Democracy movement that is creating this conversation!

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Big Money's Sway in 2008 Presidential Race

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6980589.stm

"Mary Boyle, communications director for Common Cause, a good-government reform group, explains how "bundlers" have become the new political power brokers. 'When you have the head of an oil company who's helping raise $200,000 for you, it's likely that person is going to have some access and influence to you that other members of the public don't get - and that's where you see the influence in policy,'" she says.

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Clinton Return $850,000 from Donor

http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/clinton-to-return-850000-from-donor/20070910195209990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

I woke up this morning and the first things i saw on the news was
this......very important and would show how our work is putting
preasure on our politicians.

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Representative Democracy vs. Corporate Democracy

http://www.campaignfinancesite.org/book/html/316.html

I was speaking with Zack Levine about an essay written by Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) about Representative Democracy vs. Corporate Democracy. He was writing this to support the McCain-Feingold bill, which is a first step towards public financing. He makes a really great analogy from his childhood, which I think works really well when you are talking to people about money and politics for the very first time.

Check it out and let me know what you think.

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Rolling Stone Article on Iraq War Profiteering

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/16076312/the_great_iraq_swindle

Not the best written article, but I never really expect Pulitzer material from Rolling Stone. But there is some good information in here none the less.

I particularly like the classic Rolling Stone eloquence of:

"This is the triumphant culmination of two centuries of flawed white-people thinking, a preposterous mix of authoritarian socialism and laissez-faire profiteering, with all the worst aspects of both ideologies rolled up into one pointless, supremely idiotic military adventure - American men and women dying by the thousands, so that Karl Marx and Adam Smith can blow each other in a Middle Eastern glory hole."

I feel like the author designed the entire article around his "glory hole" metaphor.

Anyway, check it out and share your thoughts.

-peace-

Clean Elections Movement Growing in Alaska

I found this article in the Anchorage Daily News. It looks like the
Clean Elections Movement is growing in the state of Alaska! Makes
sense considering the recent scandals facing many of their prominent
elected officials. It is also a solid little article off of which
most of you can base your own op-eds.

http://www.adn.com/opinion/compass/story/9256100p-9171085c.html

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Public Citizen on Ethics Reform Bill

Laura McCleery, from Public Campaign - one of the many organizations we partner with in our fight for clean/fair/voter-owned elections - as recently interviewed on WVOX. Click on the link below. It is a good interview and can provide you with some valuable info.

http://www.whitehouseforsale.org/Laura_on_WVOX.mp3

Also, be sure to check out www.whitehouseforsale.org

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Adonal Foyle Tribute Video

Those of you who attended the summit know that Adonal Foyle will be moving to the Orlando Magic this coming season. I found this video on YouTube and found it to be absolutely brilliant! Many folks in California will miss having him around. Check out the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hdOSUD-VLU

This is the man who created Democracy Matters and he truly is a magnificent individual!

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Clinton, Obama, and Edwards Clash on Lobbyist Money

You all have GOT to take a look at this video clip from the YearlyKos Convention in Chicago this weekend.

I was lucky enough to be in attendance at this convention and at this forum and this discussion/debate on money in politics was by far the most energetic exchange of viewpoints. In addition, the audience was most attuned to this topic vs. all others because they knew that it was at the source of whether or not policies that benefit the public actually get written and passed.

I left this forum knowing that Democracy Matters and the Clean Elections Movement has really made some significant progress, when every single Democratic candidate running for president raised their hand in support of public financing and is telling the American people that the system needs to change so that the game is no longer "rigged" as Edwards puts it.

The great thing is that our movement not only has a bill - The Fair Elections Now Act - in which we can rally around, but we also have a bunch of presidential candidates who will add to that bully pulpit and can get the message out to the rest of the country that the ways in which money enters and influence politics effects EVERYTHING else that they do while in office. Clinton - even though she like taking her lobbyist money - even says that we need the grassroots movement...well, Democracy Matters is already here and we are truly the LARGEST grassroots movement fighting for Clean, Fair Elections!

Enjoy!

-peace-

The Ethenol Scam: One of America's Biggest Political Boondoggles

I read this article in this month's Rolling Stone and found it pretty
interesting. I have been skeptical of the ethanol craze from the
beginning, but this article really lays that argument out. What do
you all think?

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/15635751/ethanol_scam_ethanol_hurts_the_environment_and_is_one_of_americas_biggest_political_boondoggles/print