Government
The Declaration of Independence tells us that ‘Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.’ For government to function as a democracy requires informed consent—informed citizens who participate in the decision-making processes of government, including elections.
The Seven Biggest Economic Lies
by Robert Reich [Text posted below] The Seven Biggest Economic Lies The President’s Jobs Bill doesn’t have a chance in Congress — and the Occupiers on Wall Street and elsewhere can’t become a national movement for a more equitable society … more
Statement from the NYC General Assembly
Following is the first collective statement from the New York City General Assembly, issued October 5 2011. As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. … more
Tim DeChristopher’s Statement to the Court
Grist | 27 Jul 2011—Before being sentenced on various charges involving a Bureau of Land Management auction of oil leases, Tim DeChristopher addressed the prosecution and the judge. Here’s what he had to say: Thank you for the opportunity to speak … more
Earth Charter
The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental ethical principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society in the 21st century. It seeks to inspire in all people a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for … more
What is “corporate personhood”?
The following introduction to the notion of “corporate personhood” is an excerpt from the ReclaimDemocracy site: Today, corporations wield immense power over our government, public lands, even our schools. But this was not the intent of our country’s founders. In … more
Ecuador Approves New Constitution: Voters Approve Rights of Nature
FROM: The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund Main Office: 675 Mower Road, Chambersburg PA 17202 West Coast Office: 126 NE Mason Street, Portland OR 97211 CONTACT: Mari Margil, Associate Director, (503) 284-2814, mmargil@celdf.org Ecuador Follows Lead of U.S. Communities: First … more
Back to the Future
If we could travel to 1961, we could listen to outgoing President Dwight Eisenhower warning of the military-industrial complex. [Actually, the penultimate draft of his speech was more accurate—he called it the military-industrial-Congressional complex.] His farewell address included more than this … more
Electronic Voting Machines
Some thoughts on what is needed to ensure the integrity of our votes if computerized equipment is used: 1. Open source code – Computer code in any machine used to record, count, or total votes should be available for examination … more
Democracy Schools
Are your local officials and solicitor telling you that there is nothing they can do to stop a project that threatens your community’s health and welfare? Would you like to learn how to make law and govern your own community? … more