This is getting old, passe, but keep it up for now to show range & depth....
| Subject: |
2012: Apocalypse or Opportunity |
| From: |
Colorado Move to Amend <michael@comovetoamend.org> |
| Date: |
Wed, Mar 07, 2012 8:55 pm |
| To: |
walt@civicsatisfaction.org |
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| | | 2012: Apocalypse or Opportunity? |
Dear walt,
This issue of the newsletter is packed with many very good articles focused on issues of democracy, government, and corporate power as they affect our lives, our planet, and our futures.
Consider this an archive of valuable information which you can come back to time and again, and which you can share with those who are not as informed as you.
In this issue we celebrate a very successful national Occupy The Courts event. Nationwide the participation was in the 10s of thousands, with over 130 cities participating. A special thanks to Steve Justino of Colorado Move to Amend for his role as national coordinator for this remarkable occasion. See Occupy The Courts side link.
End Corporate Rule. Legalize Democracy. Move to Amend.
Best regards,
Michael David Melio
"I believe that Banking Institutions are more dangerous to our Liberties than Standing Armies. If the American People ever allow Private Banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the Banks and Corporations that will grow up around [the Banks] will deprive the People of all Property until their children wake-up Homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the Banks and restored to the People, to whom it properly belongs" -- Thomas Jefferson
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| | Events and Meetings
| | Meeting: December 8th, 630pm (map here). On Thursday, March 8th, and every 2nd Thursday of the month, Colorado Move To Amend will hold our monthly meeting at Panera Bread in Arvada at 77th Ave and Wadsworth Blvd at 630pm (map here ) . You are welcome. We are working on several campaigns, tactics, and strategies, including local City resolution sponsorships, public banking, poltical theatre, educational slide show presentations, and collaborative events with other like-minded organizations. So if you would like to participate or learn more please come. The Public Banking Institute is hosting the inaugural Public Banking in America Conference in Philadelphia, April 27-28, 2012 in response to the growing demand for monetary and banking reform in the public interest. Find out more here: http://www.publicbankinginamerica.org/ |
| Occupy the Courts - Colorado
| Many of you could not make our first annual Occupy the Courts event, commemorating the 2nd Anniversary of the egregious SCOTUS decision in Citizens United v. FEC. But thanks to Fran Shure, and my editing job, you can experience the excitement and energy that the occasion offered. A special thanks to Steve Justino, Colorado Move to Amend co-chair, who organized this nationwide event. And special appreciation goes to Daphne Goodwin and Denver MTA who were instrumental in making this event possible. Here are the speeches of those who presented at the State Capitol. The video of the remaining speakers have to be edited and will be available in a forthcoming newsletter (over 3 hours of video!).
Occupy the Courts 1/20/2012:
Representative, Lois Court http://youtu.be/z7hQ25n1_Ow
Senator Morgan Carroll
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZXc30rBimE Senator Ken Gordon - Lobbying http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDEGhPQADS0 Stephen Justino - (Co-chair Colorado MTA) - Interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhtrpSGVA60&feature=related Maria Amaro - Interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31jE4zZmK_s Michael David Melio - (Director Colorado MTA) - Interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56ThlQbQSXg Andy Rose (sp. Rhodes?) - Interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1UguvIMZuI Senator Ken Gordon - Speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS_47Hi02ZI Elena Nunez, Common Cause - Speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE6l51VyNQk Maria Amaro Speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=nPpMtRRYiMg Joe Miklosi - Speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-A6hZM_upc Michael David Melio - Speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgAZV95g1WE Raging Grannies - performance http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9CUGBHKEOQ |
| Political Art Fundraiser | | "Money Mountain" ... by Daniel Lowenstein Money Mountain Image. The piece is 3'10" high X 11'2" wide X 11" deep. 85% of the sale will be donated to Colorado Move to Amend. The suggested sale price is $1000, OBO. It has a 1/4" paneling backing. It is made from carved styrofoam, covered with paper mache, covered with synthetic stucco, and painted. it weighs 85 pounds. It is weather conditioned so it can be displayed outside. Thank you Daniel Lowenstein! |
| Resources | | We recently compiled a very good list of videos and books, some available FREE online. Here it is Resources for Democracy |
| Move to Amend - News
| In 2012, Move to Amend hopes to add 50 or more additional cities to the Move to Amend movement, by City Council vote or preferably by ballot initiative. Join Madison WI, Boulder CO, Missoula MT, New York City NY, Portland OR, Los Angeles CA, and other cities, and establish a Move to Amend Affiliate in your city or community. Click this link to get started: http://movetoamend.org/affiliate
Moyers: Why 'We The People' Must Triumph Over Corporate Power Bill Moyers reminds us that repairing American democracy begins with reasserting that corporations do not have the same constitutional rights as citizens.
Montana State Supreme Court: Citizens United Not Welcome Here Sam Ferguson, Truthout: "The Supreme Court of Montana has held that Citizens United does not apply to Montana campaign finance law. The Court upheld the constitutionality of a 1912 voter initiative - the Corrupt Practices Act - that prohibits corporations from making contributions to or expenditures on behalf of state political candidates and political parties.... Montana ... is the only state court so far to uphold a ban on corporate political expenditures in the wake of Citizens United." Also, David Cobb interviewed by Thom Hartmann. on this development.
In Montana, Corporations Aren't People
The Real History of 'Corporate Personhood': Meet the Man to Blame for Corporations Having More Rights Than You The real history of today's excessive corporate power starts with a tobacco lawyer appointed to the Supreme Court.
The Lewis Powell Memo- Corporate Blueprint to Dominate Democracy
Corporations Are Not People by Jeffrey Clements Most Americans don't realize that the idea that "corporations are people" and "money is speech" are concepts that were never, ever considered or promoted or even passed by any legislature in the history of America.
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Notable Organizations
| Clean Slate Now
Established by Colorado Senator Ken Gordon, CleanSlateNow.org will tell you who the candidates are who forego special interest money, creating an environment where people, not money, will determine the outcome of elections. You won't get change from candidates and institutions funded by banks, insurance companies, unions, big oil and pharmaceutical companies.
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| | David Cobb on democracy, persons, and the Constitution. | | If you haven't heard David Cobb of Move To Amend lecture on the origins of the Constitution and Corporate personhood, you are in for a real treat. Watch his video here. |
Sign the Move To Amend petition here. I leave you with my mantra for a better world: - Reuse, reduce, recycle, remember the earth.
- Relocalize the economy; subsidize local American jobs.
- Go green, eat green, grow green, be green.
- Build democracy, establish community, vote.
- Abolish corporate personhood.
Democracy is not something you believe or a place to hang your hat, it is something you do. You participate. If we stop participating democracy crumbles. (paraphrasing Abby Hoffman).
Best regards,
Michael Melio
Colorado Move to Amend
Legalize democracy. End corporate rule. Move to Amend. |
| | | | | | | | Colorado Move to Amend | 8219 W. 90th Place | Westminster | CO | 80021 | 
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| Subject: |
News from the campaign to end corporate rule... November 2011 |
| From: |
Colorado Move to Amend <michael@comovetoamend.org> |
| Date: |
Tue, Nov 08, 2011 7:10 am |
| To: |
walt@civicsatisfaction.org |
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| | | Democracy uprising in the USA! |
Dear walt,
In this issue:
- Events: Occupy the Courts! (see Events below)
- OWS - The Occupy Wall Street movement has spread around the country from New York, to Boston, Chicago, Washington D.C., and Denver. The people are fed up with the bank bailouts, mortgage foreclosures, corporate welfare, and political corruption, and they are taking to the streets. Democracy is rising! Colorado Move to Amend and the Affiliates in Denver and Boulder support the Occupy Wall Street uprisings. And we will collaborate with them to bring about the structural changes required to end the corporate corruption of the government through non-violent resistance.
- See this great piece of art from Daniel Lowenstein, and if you buy it, Colorado Move to Amend will be give 85% of the proceeds! Thank you Dan Lowenstein.
- The latest dirt on corporate power and corruption, and what we can and are doing about it.
We're on Facebook & Twitter!
End Corporate Rule. Legalize Democracy. Move to Amend.
Best regards,
Michael David Melio
"I believe that Banking Institutions are more dangerous to our Liberties than Standing Armies. If the American People ever allow Private Banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the Banks and Corporations that will grow up around [the Banks] will deprive the People of all Property until their children wake-up Homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the Banks and restored to the People, to whom it properly belongs" -- Thomas Jefferson
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| | Events and Meetings
| | Meeting: November 10, 630pm (map here). On Thursday, November 10th, and every 2nd Thursday of the month, Colorado Move To Amend will hold our monthly meeting at Panera Bread in Arvada at 77th Ave and Wadsworth Blvd at 630pm (map here ) . You are welcome. We are working on several campaigns, tactics, and strategies, including local City resolution sponsorships, public banking, poltical theatre, educational slide show presentations, and collaborative events with other like-minded organizations. So if you would like to participate or learn more please come. Meeting: Denver Metro Move to Amend meets regularly on the 1st Thursday of each month. For further details and location contact Daphne Goodwin or Stephen Justino.
Events - Occupy the Courts! Big event planned for January 20, 2012 to commemorate the 2nd Anniversary of the now infamous Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC. Colorado Move to Amend, Denver Metro Move to Amend, and several allied organizations will be staging a protest-march at noon on Friday, 1/20/2011, starting at the State Capitol marching to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to call for an Amendment to the Constitution to abolish 'corporate personhood', in an ongoing movement to end corporate rule, and restore the rule of the people. Stay tuned!
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| Local News
| | Boulder rejects Corporate Personhood: Message similar to Occupy Wall Street's, says councilman. Article here.
Boulder, Colorado Occupies the Ballot Box and Calls for End to "Corporate Personhood". Story here.
Ballot Initiatives 2B and 2C pass, opening up a greener energy future for the City of Boulder citizens. Read here .
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| Political Art Fundraiser
| | "Money Mountain" ... by Daniel Lowenstein 
The piece is 3'10" high X 11'2" wide X 11" deep. 85% of the sale will be donated to Colorado Move to Amend. And Colorado Move to Amend will donate 40% of the proceeds to the YES on 2H campaign. The suggested sale price is $1000. It has a 1/4" paneling backing. It is made from carved styrofoam, covered with paper mache, covered with synthetic stucco, and painted. it weighs 85 pounds. It is weather conditioned so it can be displayed outside. Thank you Daniel Lowenstein! |
| Resources | | Gangs of America: The Rise of Corporate Power and the Disabling of Democracy ... by Ted Nace
This highly readable book will take you through an historical tour of how corporations have come to dominate the political system of the United States. From the "corporate managed" Jamestown settlement in 1607 to recent Supreme Court rulings (to 2003), you will learn the sordid history of corporate power.
Free online book: http://www.gangsofamerica.com/gangsofamerica.pdf Institute for Local Self-Reliance http://www.ilsr.org/
The Institute's mission is to provide innovative strategies, working models and timely information to support environmentally sound and equitable community development. To this end, ILSR works with citizens, activists, policymakers and entrepreneurs to design systems, policies and enterprises that meet local or regional needs; to maximize human, material, natural and financial resources; and to ensure that the benefits of these systems and resources accrue to all local citizens.
[Boulder residents should find the Institute's article on "Democratizing the Electricity System - A Vision for the 21st Century Grid" very useful as they will vote on their energy future in November. http://tinyurl.com/DemocratizeEnergy ]
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| Wall Street vs. Main Street | | Naomi Klein, author and activist, speaks on Occupy Wall Street: a time to be fearless. http://tinyurl.com/NaomiKleinOWSfearless
Chris Hedges, 16 others arrested in Occupy protest at Goldman Sachs http://tinyurl.com/ChrisHedgesArrestAtOWS |
Banks, banksters, and banking.
| | Banking Has Become an Oligopoly Instead of a Competitive Business -- And That's Really Bad News for Us 99% ... By Lynn Parramore High banking fees are just the tip of the iceberg. Here's what went wrong with the banking industry and what we can do about it. http://tinyurl.com/BankingBecomesOligopoly
Move your money. Huge movement to hit the "too big to fail" banks where it hurts. Join the millions who are putting their money in safer, friendlier, locally owned banks and credit unions. http://www.moveyourmoneyproject.org/
Bank Transfer: 650,000 Answer the Call
As the social media-sparked Bank Transfer Day approaches, the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) reports that over 650,000 people have joined credit unions in the last four weeks.
Read Article here
Revealed - the capitalist network that runs the world AS PROTESTS against financial power sweep the world this week, science may have confirmed the protesters' worst fears. An analysis of the relationships between 43,000 transnational corporations has identified a relatively small group of companies, mainly banks, with disproportionate power over the global economy. http://tinyurl.com/CapitalistNetworkRunsWorld
HOLY BAILOUT - Federal Reserve Now Backstopping $75 Trillion Of Bank Of America's Derivatives Trades http://tinyurl.com/FedBackstopping75TrillionBoA
Wall Street Isn't Winning - It's Cheating ... By Matt Taibbi Think about it: there have always been rich and poor people in America, so if this [Occupy Wall Street] is about jealousy, why the protests now? The idea that masses of people suddenly discovered a deep-seated animus/envy toward the rich - after keeping it strategically hidden for decades - is crazy. Story here. An Alternative Model to Private Profiteering on Wall Street: Public Banks by Ellen Brown "Publicly owned banks were instrumental in funding Germany's 'economic miracle' after the devastation of World War II. Although the German public banks have been targeted in the last decade for takedown by their private competitors, the model remains a viable alternative to the private profiteering being protested on Wall Street today." Read the Article here.
Ten Reasons Not to Bank On (or With) Bank of America by Nomi Prins "There is no shortage of hatred for the biggest banks. Indeed, the Occupy Wall Street movement is leading a national revolution against these Byzantine, powerful Goliaths for the economic devastation they have caused. This makes it difficult to choose the worst of the bunch. That said, a strong case can be made that Bank of America deserves the title of the nation's most despised bank. Here are ten reasons to take your money out of Bank of America - and park it at a credit union or community bank near you." Read the Article here.
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The Economy
| Unemployment Statistics: According to Shadowstats.com, the real unemployment rate is 22.2%, which is more than double than what corporate media claims. It seems that the government is keeping people in the dark about the real unemployment rate to make people believe that our economy is improving, so that the government is praised for its success in lowering unemployment. http://tinyurl.com/RealUnemploymentFigures
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| Alternatives | | Life Among the 1% ... By Michael Moore And now, all of a sudden, I had three million bucks! What would I do with it? Moore here. |
| Corporatism and the Environment
| | Keystone XL pipleline: Carbon time bomb 12000 people surround White House to protest the Keystone XL pipeline. Story here.
Debate on Fracking: Was Syracuse Right to Ban the Controversial Natural Gas Drilling Process? Story here.
Biggest jump ever seen in global warming gases The global output of heat-trapping carbon dioxide jumped by the biggest amount on record, the U.S. Department of Energy calculated, a sign of how feeble the world's efforts are at slowing man-made global warming. Story here
Union of Concerned Scientists award winning cartoon:
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Corporations and Political Corruption
| Bill Moyers Speaks
'Our politicians are little more than money launderers in the trafficking of power and policy'. Bill Moyers traces the history of the 40-year crusade by the rich against the institutions, ideas, and laws that helped create America's iconic middle class - and delivers a powerful broadside against the corrupt political system that has allowed itself to be bought off. Here
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Notable Organizations
| Clean Slate Now
Established by Colorado Senator Ken Gordon, CleanSlateNow.org will tell you who the candidates are who forego special interest money, creating an environment where people, not money, will determine the outcome of elections. You won't get change from candidates and institutions funded by banks, insurance companies, unions, big oil and pharmaceutical companies.
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| The Big Picture
| | Thom Hartmann: As World Population Reaches 7 Billion, What Will Save Us From Ourselves? There is a way to heal our broken world -- but it won't come from new technologies, a new leader or political party, the Rapture, or space aliens. http://tinyurl.com/PopulationSevenBillion
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| Move to Amend
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Thom Hartmann interviews Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap of national Move to Amend (www.movetoamend.org ) on Corporate Personhood; discusses forthcoming actions and events.
Move to Amend Easy Links |
| David Cobb on democracy, persons, and the Constitution. | | If you haven't heard David Cobb of Move To Amend lecture on the origins of the Constitution and Corporate personhood, you are in for a real treat. Watch his video here. |
Sign the Move To Amend petition here. I leave you with my mantra for a better world: - Reuse, reduce, recycle, remember the earth.
- Relocalize the economy; subsidize local American jobs.
- Go green, eat green, grow green, be green.
- Build democracy, establish community, vote.
- Abolish corporate personhood.
Democracy is not something you believe or a place to hang your hat, it is something you do. You participate. If we stop participating democracy crumbles. (paraphrasing Abby Hoffman).
Best regards,
Michael Melio
Colorado Move to Amend
Legalize democracy. End corporate rule. Move to Amend. |
| | | | | | | | | | Colorado Move to Amend | 8219 W. 90th Place | Westminster | CO | 80021 | 
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----------------------------------------------------
| Subject: |
Public viewing of 'The Corporation' Part II |
| From: |
Colorado Move to Amend <michael@comovetoamend.org> |
| Date: |
Mon, Jun 06, 2011 1:20 am |
| To: |
walt@civicsatisfaction.org |
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| | | Colorado Citizens organizing to oppose the rule of corporations. |
Dear walt,
Members, Friends and Supporters of Colorado Move to Amend (CoMTA): This Thursday, June 9th, and every 2nd Thursday of the month, Colorado Move To Amend will hold our monthly meeting at Panera Bread in Arvada at 77th Ave and Wadsworth Blvd at 630pm (map here) . You are invited. We are working on several campaigns, tactics, and strategies, including local City resolution sponsorships, public banking, poltical theatre, educational slide show presentations, and collaborative events with other like-minded organizations. So if you would like to participate or learn more please come. (see Agenda below). UPCOMING EVENTS: Colorado Move to Amend is collaborating with 350.org, Move On, Argus Fest, and Health Care for All Colorado in a public showing of the award winning documentary, "The Corporation" Part II: Wednesday, June 8, 5:30 p.m. - 7:50pm DENVER Mercury Cafe, 2199 California St, Denver CO Download the poster for this event here. For more information contact Michael Melio, Director, Colorado Move to Amend CO. End Corporate Rule. Legalize Democracy. Move to Amend. We're on Facebook & Twitter! Best regards, Michael David Melio "History records that moneychangers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling money and its issuance." - James Madison (4th President, and principal architect of the Constitution). |
| | Agenda for June 9th Monthly Meeting at Panera Bread | - Introductions
- Public Banking Update (Ken Roberts and Michael Melio)
- David Cobb tour - debriefing.
- Resolutions updates: Boulder, Lafayette, Centennial
- New Affiliates: Colorado Springs, Fort Collins
- Move On and Colorado Move to Amend viewing of "The Corporation"
- Juneteenth Festival
- Other business
Meeting will be held at Panera Bread in Arvada at 630pm, Thursday, June 9th. |
| Colorado Groups / Representatives examine Public Banking | | The interest for Public Banking in Colorado is growing, as representatives of several organizations, including Colorado Move to Amend, Public Banking Institute, Colorado Enterprise Fund, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, Colorado Progressive Coalition, Rocky Mountain Micro Finance Institute, and Bell Policy Center, gathered together with 2 Colorado State Representatives on Thursday, June 2nd, to discuss if and why a "Main Street Partnership Bank" (aka "Public Banking") is necessary. All those who spoke agreed that funding to the State institutions has nearly dried up; loans to small business and other needy institutions are down sharply, and there appears to be no end in sight to the downturn. We will keep you posted of further developments in this area. Colorado Move to Amend's mission statement calls for an End to Corporate Rule. Upon careful analysis of the current economic and political realities in the United States, we have concluded that the major Banks (which are also the so-called 'Federal Reserve') are the largest corporations driving the country into massive debt, corrupting the political process, starving the States and small businesses of funding, while fueling the speculators and gamblers on Wall Street. Hence, we are working on Public Banking as one solution to this problem. For more information on Public Banking, please see this website: www.publicbankinginstitute.org If you are interested in helping with this project, please contact Michael Melio, or Ken Roberts for more information. |
| Exxon Mobil: the corporate 'person' whose corporate 'free speech' fouls the air, water, and earth. | | Watch the video of their activity in the Canadian "Tar Pits" here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoKW771tG_Q |
| A Song for our times: "Call it Democracy" by Bruce Cockburn | | Canadian artist, Bruce Cockburn, may be the only singer / song writer to write a song about the International Monetary Fund, the "IMF". Warning, the "f" word is used. Watch and listen here  | | Bruce Cockburn "Call it democracy" (w/ subtitles) |
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| David Cobb on democracy, persons, and the Constitution. | | 
If you haven't heard David Cobb of Move To Amend lecture on the origins of the Constitution and Corporate personhood, you are in for a real treat. Watch his video here.
|
Sign the Move To Amend petition here. I leave you with my mantra for a better world: - Reuse, reduce, recycle, remember the earth.
- Relocalize the economy; subsidize local American jobs.
- Go green, eat green, grow green, be green.
- Build democracy, establish community, vote.
- Abolish corporate personhood.
Democracy is not something you believe or a place to hang your hat, it is something you do. You participate. If we stop participating democracy crumbles. (paraphrasing Abby Hoffman).
Best regards,
Michael Melio
Colorado Move to Amend
Legalize democracy. End corporate rule. Move to Amend. |
| | | | | | | | | | Colorado Move to Amend | 8219 W. 90th Place | Westminster | CO | 80021 | 
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