Can’t keep up – it’s spreading like wildfire! Quite incredible. There’s a few easy ways we can join in.
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(1) 2011-03-25 Democracy in Canada: Sign the Declaration of the Voices-Voix Coalition
NOTE: I sent an email to the organizers of this event. Suggested an addition to the Declaration, based on the Myth of Democracy – – it’s actually large corporate interests working hand-in-glove with some Government officials and bureaucrats — they’re the ones calling the shots. Cries for democracy whistle in the wind – – he who pays the Piper calls the tune. If the issue of corporatocracy is not addressed, we will not recover our democracy. Surely to God we know this. John Kenneth Galbraith articulated it very well. See APPENDED excerpt from “The Economics of Innocent Fraud”.
Jane Jacobs describes the process. When a society fails to maintain a separation of powers between Government and Business the inevitable outcome is corruption – democracy fails. See 2010-02-11 Manipulators without conscience. This is your food… Jane Jacobs on separation of commerce and governance and 2009-11-04 (JK Rowling, Woodhouse, Jacobs. Universities & Values.)
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(2) 2011-03-25 Fair Vote Canada announces federal election results! (Terrific work. Thanks to the people at FVC. All you have to do is forward this email to your network OR — sign the petition OR — . Make the first-past-the-post system an election issue when political parties knock on your door – – but read Wayne’s message. It’s all there. I love it when someone ELSE is doing the organizing!)
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(3) 2011-03-24 CETA: NAFTA on Steroids – Cross Canada Tour (It is VERY important to stop CETA. If you think the corporations had a lot of power before, if they ever get CETA, we will have almost full corporate control. There’s a great coalition of Canadians working their butts off on this one. Maude Barlow (Council of Canadians), Terry Boehm (National Farmers Union), Cathy Holtslander (Beyond Factory Farming) and others. Cathy has a list-serv – see the posting – – it’s an easy way to keep informed. You won’t find it in the newspapers, not likely. From our network – info on CETA, see 2011-02-08)
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(4) 2011-03-25 Millions Against Monsanto launches an on-the-ground campaign. Off the net onto the streets.
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(5) Maine Town Declares Food Sovereignty (This one is for you, Jackie! down there in Ohio.)
Food Renegade http://www.foodrenegade.com/maine-town-declares-food-sovereignty/
by Kristen M.
March 15, 2011
Old-timers in our network will remember the outrageous (2008) “SWAT TEAM RAIDS OHIO FOOD CO-OP“. We followed the developments — Jackie Stowers participates in our network. This action in Maine is good news – – I become very uneasy when there is the flagrant abuse of democratic rights that happened over food in the Stowers’ home. People have to take back, before it is too late.
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Seems to me, the preceding items are evidence: Democracy has been kicked into gear in North America. Hallelujah! Join in the battle. Spread the good news!
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APPENDED: Excerpt from 2004-09-13 J. K. Galbraith, “The Economics of Innocent Fraud”. PPPs (Public Private Partnerships)
“The accepted distinction between the public and the private sectors has no meaning when seriously viewed. Rhetoric, not reality. A large, vital and expanding part of what is called the public sector is for all practical effect in the private sector. . . .
In recent times the intrusion into what is called the public sector by the ostensibly private sector has become a commonplace. Management having full authority in the modern great corporation (INSERT: as opposed to the Board of Directors), it was natural that it would extend its role to politics and to government. …
At this writing, corporate managers are in close alliance with the President, The Vice President and the Secretary of Defence. Major corporate figures are also in senior positions elsewhere in the federal government; one came from the bankrupt and thieving Enron to preside over the Army. …
For some years there has also been recognized corporate control of the Treasury. And of environmental policy. And there is more … (INSERT: Galbraith goes on to the role of corporations in U.S. Dept of Defence and Foreign Affairs. I won’t copy that here – the article about Halliburton below is example. “Some of the President’s Monsanto Men” written in the Idaho Observer and on web-sites is another example of this corporate “intrusion”. I have used the word “infiltration” in the past.) …
“The blurring of the difference between the private and corporate sector and the diminishing public sector proceeds. …
“As the corporate interest moves to power in what was the public sector, it serves, predictably, the corporate interest. That is its purpose.”
“One obvious result has been well-justified doubt as to the quality of much present regulatory effort. There is no question but that corporate influence extends to the regulators. …
“Needed is independent, honest, professionally competent regulation – again, a difficult thing to achieve in a world of corporate dominance. This last must be recognized and countered. There is no alternative to effective supervision. …”
Galbraith concludes his book by saying that the greatest human failure is war.