How to Overthrow Corporate Rule in 5 Not-so-easy Steps

This is an excellent piece.

How to Overthrow Corporate Rule in 5 Not-so-easy Steps

http://www.corporations.org/solutions/

Many people are spending a lot of their time volunteering to stop specific environmental threats, to address a specific labor issue, or to stop various other corporate abuses to our communities. The number of problems seems endless. Isn't there a faster way to save the world?

MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR February 13-19

FEBRUARY 19

1869 CONGRESS PASSES BILL PROHIBITING USING UNITED STATES NOTES AS SECURITY OR COLLATERAL IN ANY LOAN MADE THROUGH A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION
“That no national banking association shall hereafter offer or receive United States notes or national bank notes as security or as collateral security for any loan of money…and any national banking association offending against the provisions of this act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof in any United States court having jurisdiction shall be punished by a fine…” Approved February 19 1869

This was one of many attacks by bankers on the Greenbacks – public money issued by the Lincoln Administration. Public control of the money system meant banks couldn’t control it. Banking corporations wanted, as they had done prior to and after Greenbacks, print money out of thin air and then charge interest on top of it (otherwise known as “debt money”). Banks pressured Congress in a variety of ways to delegitimize Greenbacks. This law was one such way.


NO OTHER ENTRIES THIS WEEK…HOWEVER IN COMMEMORATION OF THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE “ARAB SPRING”

FROM THE KORAN (2: 275):
"Those who devour usury will not stand except as stands one whom the evil one by his touch hath driven to madness. That is because they say: 'Trade is like usury…but God hath permitted trade and forbidden usury."

Some features of Islamic banking principles (from the Associated Press, 1/2/97):

“Interest on deposits: Islamic banks pay no interest on deposits. Unlike fixed return promised by most Western banks, Islamic banks operate on principle of shared risk. Depositors can choose an account that guarantees their money but pays no dividend, or one that acts like an investment fund. Depositors in investment accounts share in the bank's profits, but risk losing money if its investments perform poorly.

Interest on loans: Islamic banks charge no interest on loans. Instead of lending money to commercial borrowers at fixed rate of return, Islamic bankers become partners, sharing in venture's profits and losses. Some Islamic banks also make mortgage loans, charging flat fees payable in monthly installments, with costs similar to traditional mortgages. But loans have no compound interest or late-payment charges, and borrowers are spared uncertainty of variable interest rates common in Western nations.”

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Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system, been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com
For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html

MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR - February 6-12

FEBRUARY 7

1870 HEPBURN V GRISWOLD US SUPREME COURT DECISION
The Court declared that certain parts of the passed Congressional Legal Tender acts in the 1860’s were unconstitutional. The Legal Tender acts authorized the government to issue paper money, “Greenbacks,” and recognized it as legal to meet financial obligations. The Court concluded, however, that a party to a contract could not use paper money as payment for a debt if the contract stipulated gold or silver as payment. The Court explained how the US Congress possessed the power to coin money, but that that power was different than the power to made paper money legal.

FEBRUARY 11

1847 – BIRTH OF THOMAS EDISON, US INVENTOR
“If our nation can issue a dollar bond, it can issue a dollar bill. The element that makes the bond good makes the bill good... If the Government issues bonds, the brokers will sell them. The bonds will be negotiable; they will be considered as gilt edged paper. Why? Because the government is behind them, but who is behind the Government? The people. Therefore it is the people who constitute the basis of Government credit. Why then cannot the people have the benefit of their own gilt-edged credit by receiving non-interest bearing currency… instead of the bankers receiving the benefit of the people’s credit in interest-bearing bonds?”

2004 – RON PAUL, US CONGRESSMAN, SPEAKING TO THE HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
He referred to the Federal Reserve by stating, "maybe there's too much power in the hands of those who control monetary policy? The power to create the financial bubbles. The power to maybe bring the bubble about. The power to change the value of the stock market within minutes. That to me is just an ominous power and challenges the whole concept of freedom and liberty and sound money."

FEBRUARY 12

1791 – BIRTH OF PETER COOPER, US INDUSTRIALIST, PHILANTHROPIST (FOUNDED COOPER UNION) AND GREENBACK CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT
"The substitution of greenbacks for National bank notes, would have the bounty now paid to banks, which, being invested as a sinking fund, would in less than thirty years pay off the whole debt of the country.”

1809 – BIRTH OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 16TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
“The money power preys upon the nation in times of peace and conspires against it in times of adversity. It is more despotic than monarchy, more insolent than autocracy, more selfish than bureaucracy.”
Under Lincoln’s administration, the US Government issued 450 million “Greenbacks” – interest and inflation free government-issued currency. They weren’t government bills, bonds or any other debt-bearing notes. They were actual US-based money.
“The privilege of creating and issuing money is not only the supreme prerogative of government, but it is the government’s greatest creative opportunity. The financing of all public enterprise, and the conduct of the treasury will become matters of practical administration. Money will cease to be master and will then become servant of humanity.”

1873 – COINAGE ACT PASSED BY CONGRESS (THE “CRIME OF ‘73”)
The Coinage Act removed silver as a form of currency (“demonetized) – leaving gold as the major form of US currency. The public didn’t realize at first what happened. With silver no longer a form of money, the overall amount of currency dramatically declined, causing the prices farmer’s received for their produce to drop (deflation) but the cost of their debts rise. Thousand of famers lost their land. Those who held silver also suffered. This was one of the sparks of the rise of the farmer-led US Populist movement.
______________________________________________________________________________________

Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system, been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com

Bill Moyers, Resolutions, and the March Primary Elections

We had an energetic conference call on Saturday. The meeting notes are below. Thanks to Michael Greenman from Columbus for preparing them.

BILL MOYERS

Bill Moyers supports Move to Amend. http://vimeo.com/35388815
Forward the link, share on social media, etc...

RESOLUTIONS

Several communities are looking into passing resolutions calling for an end to corporate personhood and/or money as speech — beginning with Athens. Draft language of the Athens resolution (as of a couple of weeks ago) is posted on our Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/MovetoAmendOhio

The prototype Move to Amend resolution language (their proposed 28th Amendment) is at
http://movetoamend.org/amendment

Contact 330-928-2301 or gcoleridge@afsc.org if you’d like some guidance or help.

MARCH PRIMARY ELECTIONS

The March primary elections are just a few short weeks away. One US Senate seat and all US House seats are up for grabs. It’s a great time to raise the issues of money as speech and never-intended corporate constitutional rights. Here are 4 ideas
1. Circulate the Move to Amend petition outside or inside debates, forums, meetings or anywhere else candidates will be attending. Download a petition at http://www.movetoamendohio.org/
2. Hand out a Move to Amend flier with the proposed 28th Amendment at the abovementioned events. Several fliers are available on their website -- the best one is a 1/2 page version with the proposed 28th amendment on one side with Move to Amend info on the other side.
3. Dress up as a corporation. Ask candidates if you should possess inalienable Bill of Rights protections. If outside where a Presidential candidate will be attending, hold a sign saying “I’m a person and am willing to be your Vice President!” Direction on constructing a corporate costume is at http://movetoamend.org/occupythecourts under “Instructions to Make a Corporate Personhood Costume,”
4. Request your candidates for federal office complete a survey asking if they agree with Mitt Romney that corporations are “persons” and should possess constitutional rights. The survey is at http://www.afsc.net/PDFFiles/CorpPersonhoodSurvey.doc [Note: Make sure to fill in the candidate’s name before handing or sending it to him/her.]

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Move to Amend Ohio Conference Call
Saturday, January 28 / 10 am - 11 am

Attendance: Dick Bozian (Cincinnati); Greg Coleridge (Cleveland); Michael Greenman (Central Ohio); Karen Hansen (Central Ohio); Doug Jambard-Sweet (Toledo); Mary Nichols-Rhodes (Akron); Carol Wagner (Akron); Robert and Sally Jo Wiley (Athens).
Agenda:
* Occupy the Courts reports / other local reports

-Columbus/Athens – (Michael and Karen) Friday 20 Jan – bitter cold – 120-125 people – lots of signs, great talks – Occupy Columbus – Athens (Democracy over Corporations) group – from several other locations – Met afterwards at Progress Ohio for Potluck. One politician plus three other candidates. Sally Jo – 15th Congressional district candidate was busy, told him his opponent was there!
-Dick – (Cincinnati) – very cold – two state representatives there, Occupy, League of Women Voters, AIR, Common Cause of Ohio; Interfaith Alliance. Very active group – building a coalition of all of them
-Doug (Toledo) – linked to MTA a couple of weeks ago. About 20 people at Federal Courthouse. Traffic responded.
-Greg (Cleveland) – 60-70 people in front of Courthouse, marched. 3 dressed as “corporations”. 1%ers had megaphones – showing that their voices were disproportionately loud. People in tunics: “End Corporate Personhood” on front. Money taped over their mouths showing their voices are silenced. AP was there and got pictures in national media.
-Carol (Akron) – 15-20 people. Spoke out slogans. “Money is not Speech”; “End Corporate Personhood”; coverage in local papers.

* Municipal resolutions

There are already a dozen or so around the country with various wordings.
-Athens – Sally Jo – Their proposal is before Athens City Council. It was discussed last week. On Feb 6 they will take a vote. Two women asked for language to be stronger: asking state and federal government to get on board! Will be first in Ohio.
Next going for County Commissioners – stretching into Vinton and Morgan Counties, trying to get groups going there.
One of our members ran and is on City Council, so very helpful.
(Greg will post language on Facebook and Web Site)
Columbus (Michael, Karen) – one of members is friend of City Council Chair – talking to him. Michael sent letter to Mayor suggesting Columbus could be first in state. No response.
-Toledo (Doug)– contact with liberal City Council Member. Indicated would like to get more popular support to bring resolution to city council. Suggested getting letters of support from civic groups. Going to Democratic Clubs to present the information. Not as widely publicized as in other communities.
-Cincinnati – (Dick) - Parallel initiative. At state level putting in petition for reform of redistricting.
-Cleveland – (Cuyahoga) (Greg) – City Council spoke at OTC so local MTA meeting on Tuesday will strategize how to approach City Council.
Greg – Suggestions: Take the time and figure out ways to maximize education and media attention. Worst is to have something passed quickly that no one knows about. What can we do to have a public hearing or a town hall meeting prior to that; a rally, a vigil, write letters before hand to get visibility?
-Sally Jo – talking about ours in city council for a month. Best approach is to write letters to the editor – once a week. Athens Messenger, Athens News – letters to the Editor. Encouraging “Mardi Gras” celebration on Monday.
-Carol – Plans for Akron City Council? Greg: Akron may not work, but County Council might be a good approach. Mary – Summit County Council – let’s pursue.
Greg encourages to post on Facebook Page: “Move to Amend Ohio”. Send to Jeff Klein at Toledo who does the web site: Jeff.warrenproffitt@gmail.com

* Proposal for MTA workshop at Ohio Rootscamp

-Karen – annual event – nationwide – every community puts together day-long meeting of grass-roots organizations. Come in morning, sign up for slot you’d like to make your presentation. Have one hour to make presentation and discussion. Hundreds show up. Very successful. About 8 tracks, each having 5 or 6 workshops.
Saturday, February 25 at Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, 390 Worthington Rd., Suite A.
– Michael and Karen– will discuss with Columbus group this morning.
Sally – friend who is banker could talk about problems. Also talk about resolution.
Karen will be point person – others contact her to link in. to be a part of the session: Klh.ohio@gmail.com 280-3631

* Ohio State Constitutional Panel formation

Greg - Columbus Dispatch described fact that every 20 years in Ohio there is to be consideration of a constitutional convention. State is looking at opportunity – doesn’t like the idea. Setting up commission – 12 legislators + 20 citizens from around the state to review the constitution and make recommendations to modernize, reform it. Anyone can submit their information to participate.
Opportunity to remove some of the powers of corporations?
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/12/29/state-constitutional-panel-is-forming.html
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_HB_188
Deadline is February 1! Get your information in if interested.
Good opportunity!

* Website/Facebook

Any reports, put them on Facebook.
Michael – Encourage people to “Friend” the site, and to add more local pages.
Web site manager Jeff Klein – contact to put items on the site: Jeff.warrenproffitt@gmail.com

* National MTA report
Karen – when make Ohio a formal state group? Greg – need to have affiliation by cities representing more than 50% of population. With 3 “C”s as affiliates, we would have enough. Columbus is an affiliate, Cleveland and Cincinnati are not yet. Go to MTA web site to download application process.
“United for the People” – coalition of groups supporting effort to get amendment. Number of different efforts – all deal with different aspects. http://united4thepeople.org/
Sign as many petitions as you can to get attention to this issue.
-Availability of names on petitions to affiliates? Greg says has availability to people who signed papers petitions and not to those who signed on line. Greg will check on availability.

*Upcoming Primaries in Ohio
-March 6 in Ohio
- Michael – Will make a card based on the letter sent to Ohio Congressional delegation to take to meetings asking candidates if they believe corporations are persons, yes or no, if no, what they will do about it.
-Dress up as a corporation with sign as “potential vice presidential candidate”. Multiple corps, saying “pick me” (at Presidential forums). With money hanging out of pockets.
-Hand out MTA flyers
-Half page sheet with amendment on back, simple statement on front (Greg will send out).
-Poster and bumper sticker available from MTA.
-Greg will send out letter to all congressional delegation – Take it to debates or meetings, get candidates to sign.
-Mary – Each in our area get team of people with corporate costume so when find out someone is in the area, get crash team to go to the event.
-Greg – MTA web site has instructions on how to make Corporate costume.

* Next meeting/facilitator

- February 18 – 4:00 – Karen Facilitate; Dick will take notes.

MONETARY HISTORY CALENDAR - January 30 - February 5

JANUARY 30

1835 — ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST US PRESIDENT ANDREW JACKSON
Three years earlier, Jackson called for an end to the Second National Bank of the United States by calling on Congress not to renew its charter. He vetoed a bill to renew the bank’s charter, saying the bank was guilty of fraud, corruption, controlling the money supply (expanding and contracting the supply of money to economically and politically benefit the bank) and because “beyond question...this great and powerful institution had been actively engaged in attempting to influence the elections of the public officers by means of its money.” Jackson ordered the US government to move its money out of the Second Bank. In response, the bank called in all its loans and ceased issuing new loans. An economic panic followed. In 1835, Richard Lawrence fired 2 guns at Jackson but both misfired. He claimed his assassination attempt was because, in part, "money would be more plenty.”

1882 — BIRTH OF PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
"[T]he real truth is…that a financial element in the large centers has owned the government ever since the days of Andrew Jackson."

1934 – PASSAGE OF GOLD RESERVE ACT
The US government ended minting and circulation gold coins. The bill required all holders of gold coins and certificates to surrender them to the US Treasury – at the price of $20.67 per ounce. Collectors and a few others were exempted. Federal Reserve Notes were no longer convertible (or backed) by gold coins.

2009 – US TREASURY DEPARTMENT PURCHASES STOCK FROM US BANKS
The U.S. Treasury Department purchases a total of $1.15 billion in preferred stock from 42 U.S. banks under the Capital Purchase Program.

JANUARY 31

1934 - PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT INCREASES VALUE OF GOLD
A day after the Gold Reserve Act is passed, President Roosevelt issued an executive proclamation which resulted in the value of gold increasing to $35 per ounce. This yielded a windfall profit for the US government and those who retained possession of gold.

FEBRUARY 2

2010- DEATH OF EUSTACE MULLINS, AUTHOR, SECRETS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE
"The Nation magazine was the only public organ so far as I can find out which printed out that the issue of the money of the U.S. was being turned over to a body of men who were neither elected nor answerable to elections."

FEBRUARY 3

1913 – RATIFICATION OF THE 16TH AMENDMENT, ESTABLISHMENT OF THE US FEDERAL INCOME TAX
The income tax provides a guaranteed and consistent source of income for the payment of any federal government function, including payment of interest on national debt. It was ratified earlier in the same year as passage of the Federal Reserve Act which turned over the nation’s money power to a private central bank. Many economists believe the dollar holds its value better than the Euro in times of economic
crisis since US interest payments from debt can be covered by US income taxes. There is no equivalent European income tax to cover Euro debts. This provides investors greater confidence in the dollar over the Euro.

1924 – DEATH OF WOODROW WILSON, 28TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATESAND SIGNER OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE ACT
"Some of the biggest men in the United States in the field of commerce and manufacture are afraid of something. They know that there is a power somewhere so organized, so subtle, so watchful, so interlocked, so complete, so passive, that they had better not speak above their breath when they speak in condemnation of it."
“A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is privately concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men who, even if their action be honest and intended for the public interest, are necessarily concentrated upon the great undertakings in which their own money is involved and who necessarily, by very reason of
their own limitations, chill and check and destroy genuine economic freedom. (1911)
[Note: Despite such misgivings, Wilson signed the Federal Reserve Act two years later]

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Why this calendar? Many people have questions about the root causes of our economic problems. Some
questions involve money, banks and debt. How is money created? Why do banks control its quantity? How has the money system been used to liberate (not often) and oppress (most often) us? And how can the money system be “democratized” to rebuild our economy and society, create jobs and reduce debt?
Our goal is to inform, intrigue and inspire through bite size weekly postings listing important events and quotes from prominent individuals (both past and present) on money, banking and how the money system can help people and the planet. We hope the sharing of bits of buried history will illuminate monetary and banking issues and empower you with others to create real economic and political justice.
This calendar is a project of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. Adele Looney, Phyllis Titus, Donna Schall, Leah Davis, Alice Francini and Greg Coleridge helped in its development.
Please forward this to others and encourage them to subscribe. To subscribe/unsubscribe or to comment on any entry, contact monetarycalendar@yahoo.com
For more information, visit http://www.afsc.net/economiccrisis.html

On The United Front - Mariategui

The united front does not annul the personality. It does not signify confusing or amalgamating all the doctrines into a single doctrine. It is a contingent, concrete practical action... [and] only considers the immediate reality outside of any abstraction and any utopia... everyone should keep his own affiliation and his own ideology... But all should feel united by class solidarity... the struggle against the common adversary, tied by the same revolutionary will and the same renovating passion... The variety of tendencies and precise defined groups is not something bad, on the contrary, it is the sign of an advanced period in the revolutionary process. What is important is that these groups know how to understand each other before the concrete reality of the day. They are not mired in byzantine reciprocal confessions and excommunications... They do not use their weapons or squander their time in wounding one and other, but rather combat the social order, its institutions, its injustices and its crimes.

It is up to us... to be the cause of class consciousness. This task belongs equally to socialists, syndicalists/trade unions, to communists and anarchists...

Jose Carlos Mariategui

From "May Day and the United Front" in Jose Carlos Mariategui - an Anthology - eds Harry E. Vanden, Marc Becker, MR Press 2011


Mariategui was the founder of the Peruvian Communist Party, was very much influenced by anarchism and syndicalism. His writings were an influence on Che Guevara. (See Motorcycle Diaries )

For more info see

http://www.marxists.org/archive/mariateg/

One Hundred Thirty Cities Across the US Protest on Anniversary of Citizens United

Sunday 22 January 2012

by: Britney Schultz, Truthout | Report
http://www.truth-out.org/one-hundred-and-thirty-cities-across-us-protest-anniversary-citizens-united/1327262241