ALEC: Democracy's Arch-Nemesis: Carl Gibson

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/279-82/6656-focus-alec-democracys-arch-nemesBy Carl Gibson, Reader Supported News


18 July 201Reader Supported News | Perspective

n an 1864 letter to Col. William F. Elkins, Abraham Lincoln warned, "... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."

In the buildup to the bloodiest war of the 20th century, Benito Mussolini said, "Fascism should rightly be called corporatism, as it is the merger of corporate and government power." He is one of history's most reviled characters for good reason.

Now, corporations like Koch Industries are funneling money into the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a shadowy partnership between Republican legislators and corporate lobbyists. Essentially, ALEC's purpose is to pass laws that enrich corporate profits and investor returns by starving the government of revenue, rigging elections and union-busting.

Unlike the strictly bipartisan National Council of State Legislatures, ALEC's membership is rabidly partisan, with 103 Republicans and 1 Democrat. 98% of ALEC's funding comes from corporations, whereas NCSL is funded almost entirely through legislative dues. And though NCSL shares its views and advice on certain policy, it doesn't write legislation and forbids corporate influence on its activities.

ALEC provides "model bills" to state legislatures, all of which are previously seen by ALEC's corporate board. These model bills are aimed at taking the teeth out of government regulation, giving lavish tax breaks to the wealthy, and using the resulting budget deficits to privatize institutions like schools and prisons. These bills are introduced in multiple statehouses with no required disclosure about an outside group of corporate lobbyists originally crafting the legislation. Some of ALEC's notable alumni include Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Governor Scott Walker.

Some of ALEC's model budget bills would repeal capital gains taxes and estate taxes, fattening the pockets of millionaire hedge-fund managers and trust-fund brats while putting public goods and services under the knife. ALEC's 1995 "Sound Federal Fiscal Policy Resolution" falsely antagonizes higher taxes as the source of higher deficits (instead of the aforementioned tax breaks for the wealthy). This would steer lawmakers toward needless budget cuts that systematically starve the states of jobs and tax dollars, blow massive holes in the budget and create whopping revenue shortfalls.

ALEC's "Legislative Budget Audit Commission Act" would establish a panel in the event of one of these pre-packaged revenue shortfalls, tasked with specifically recommend privatizing or eliminating state agencies, and to present these proposals on January 15. Effectively, this bill would steer all initial legislative business, using revenue shortages as an excuse to eliminate public programs and public workers' rights to organize under the guise of "government efficiency."

By creating a unique legal grey area between lobbying for laws and writing laws, ALEC has enabled the plundering of our state coffers, leaving our tax dollars and public services at the mercy of corporate executives who aren't held accountable by the democratic process. ALEC is big business' tool to circumvent democracy, letting those with the most money write their own laws.

We should heed both Lincoln's and Mussolini's words, and not be afraid to point out fascism when we see it. ALEC's work is an affront to democracy, and its legislation must be soundly rejected in all statehouses if Lincoln's vision of the Republic is to prevail.

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Carl Gibson, 24, of Lexington, Kentucky, is a spokesman and organizer for US Uncut, a nonviolent, creative direct-action movement to stop budget cuts by getting corporations to pay their fair share of taxes. He graduated from Morehead State University in 2009 with a B.A. in Journalism before starting the first US Uncut group in Jackson, Mississippi, in February of 2011. Since then, over 20,000 US Uncut activists have carried out more than 300 actions in over 100 cities nationwide.

Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.

Pastor James Erlandson's shutdown speech, June 30th

Fight Back!  Stop the

State Government Shutdown

State Capitol Rotunda

June 30, 2011 

My name is……………….and I am pastor of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer here in St. Paul, and a leader in ISAIAH, 

Brothers and sisters, greetings to you as We the People gather on this most historic day here at our Minnesota State Capitol.  And it has been an amazing day in Minnesota – and it may become even more amazing and historic as the day goes on 

So why are you here – on this hot summer day,  just before the July 4^th Holiday weekend, when most Minnesotans are making preparations for a weekend of parades, barbecues, picnics,fireworks – and dare I say, camping? 

Why are you here today?  I assume it is not only to get inside out of the sweltering heat on this rare hot day in Minnesota? 

Some of you are here because you are angry – because our elected government leaders have not been able to compromise or come to a “deal” that will lead to a state budget that is “fair” for all Minnesotans, and keep very needed government services to its people open and running. 

Some of you are here because you planned to camp in a state park this holiday weekend, and if there is a state government shut down, state parks will close and your reservation will be worthless.  Perhaps you have come with the intent to camp outside on the State Capitol grounds?  Sorry – we have no reservations and no permit to do that today, either.  

Some of you are here because you are scared – afraid of what you, your family, or your neighbors will experience if and when this government shuts down, and takes away services that you depend on. 

Some of you are here because you have received notice from the State of Minnesota that you will be “laid off” in the event of a shutdown  - that your work for the State is deemed “not essential”.  Do we have State workers here?.........

Most of us know someone who works for the State who has received a layoff notice.  My next door neighbor received a letter two weeks ago.  So did the father of my daughter’s best friend.  So if you know of someone who has received their layoff notice, say their name now, outloud!........... 

All of us are here today because WE HAVE HOPE that the process of reason and compromise can still work, when enough public pressure is applied, and we can still avoid a state shut down – even if it takes negotiations till midnight. 

We the People have come to the people’s house, the State Capital of Minnesota, because this is the place for us to be in a democracy, speaking up for our values that all human beings are created equal, every human being is a child of God, and everyone has a voice in our democratic process.  Our elected leaders have not yet been able to negotiate an agreement to keep our state government going, with the responsibilities and services that this entails.  So we have come to speak, to keep up the pressure, to let them know that we are here, we are watching, and we expect our elected leaders to work on behalf of ALL the people of Minnesota.  Not just a few.  And we want them to know that we believe that ALL people of Minnesota need to share the burden of the cost of government and the things that we do here on behalf of all the people in this state. 

We are here to speak up on behalf of the most vulnerable people in this state – children, the elderly, the immigrant, the poor, who do not have a voice, so that they do not lose the essential services in health care, job training, housing and education that are threatened by the state budget being proposed.  We are here to say: DO NOT CUT these essential services for our most vulnerable people just so we can say “we balanced the budget without raising taxes”.    We say that if everyone pays their fair share in taxes, we do not have to make those drastic cuts, and we do not have to choose between education or health care.  If the wealthiest among us do not pay their fair share, then we faced with the choice of taking away services from those who need them most, who have no other options. 

For years in the past, the churches in Minnesota have been far too silent on issues such as this, trying to stay out of politics.  Or churches have only strayed into the political world on particular “moral issues”.  But we have come to see that in a world (and a state) where money brings power, that a budget is a moral issue!  A budget shows what an institution or a state values!  If we value stadiums over education, that is a moral issue!  If we value a pledge of “no more taxes” over the health and the lives of vulnerable human beings in this state, that is a moral issue.

So people of faith from many churches, synagogues, mosques, and other houses of worship are starting to make their voices heard.  Several faith based organizations, like ISAIAH, the Council of Churches, Jewish Community Action and others have stood with the people who experience poverty, and with working people in our unions, as they seek justice and fairness in jobs, health care, housing, and education.  Many people of faith stand with you today, they have been at the Capitol throughout the legislative session, and were here today rallying against a shutdown, and for a budget that continues our critical services for the poor and the vulnerable in this state.    

Because the God who many of us worship is a God of compassion, who seeks justice and fairness in our markets, in our courts, and in our communities – wherever people gather.  We believe that God has given our leaders in government a sacred trust and responsibility to make sure that all human beings are treated fairly, with dignity and respect, and that everyone has the opportunity for “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” 

So WE the People have come today to keep our hope alive, and keep the pressure on our elected leaders to come to an agreement that keeps the vital services of our state government working for the benefit of everyone.  No one wins in a state shutdown – so let’s not let that happen!  We need all our valued state workers to keep up their good work!  And we need a state budget that continues the critical services in health care, employment, housing, and education that so many people depend on.  We can do this when everyone pays their fair share! 

And we must do this peacefully, without violence or name calling.  In a short time they may shut the doors of this State Capitol, and the government shut down may take effect.  This does not mean that we cannot continue to speak up!  We will continue our work for justice and fairness in our state.  But if there is violence, no one will hear our words. 

So I close with the prayer that we can stay together as a people, and work peacefully – but with determination – for those things that we value most: a state of Minnesota where everyone can live in peace, with opportunity and justice for all.