Thom Hartmann is an author, progressive political commentator, and a long-time supporter of Move to Amend--and he has a message for you.
"As the New Year approaches, Move to Amend is entering its second decade. Between the drawn out and divisive impeachment proceedings, and the neoliberal/conservative policies fueling the corporate takeover of our democracy that I report on daily, it isn’t surprising that many Americans are hoping 2020 will somehow bring a fresh start. Maybe some hope too.
And Move to Amend, well...this movement is giving me a reason to hope. Amid all of the chaos and uncertainty of this Congress and the current administration, our committed and passionate group of activists managed to end 2019 by topping their strategic plan goals of 65 cosponsors in the House, and with a commitment from a Senator to introduce the #WeThePeopleAmendment in 2020!
I remain hopeful about the future because of groups like Move to Amend. Working with a committed and passionate group of folks who understand the changes needed in the U.S. is rare and something that I am incredibly proud to support.
For the past decade, I have used my position in the media to help push for an end to corporate personhood and for the cause that Move to Amend leads across the country. Because I, like you, understand that corporate constitutional rights are standing in the way of every movement’s success -- from environmental justice and climate change action, to the for-profit prison system that incentivizes the warehousing of human beings -- and
we can’t win as long as these corporations have more rights and resources than we do.
I can tell you a hundred ways the #WeThePeopleAmendment would transform our system, but I know you won’t read an email that long. So, instead, I am going to ask YOU to take action today and help Move to Amend move forward and continue the work by donating today.
Move to Amend is the one group confronting corporate personhood head on and winning. Please join with me in supporting their work. Move to Amend needs to raise $150,000 to end 2019 in the black -- please join me in supporting this critical people's movement.
No one else is doing the work Move to Amend does. They're building a multi-cultural, intergenerational, cross-class movement through community education, barnstorming tours, internal movement education, direct action, passing ballot initiatives and resolutions in support of the We the People Amendment, alliance and coalition building, and convincing candidates through the Pledge to Amend campaign to support our amendment.
Move to Amend is on the frontlines of building a broad, deep, and diverse democracy movement, which we urgently need to grow in the New Year. Please join with me in supporting this work.
The Move to Amend analysis is spot on: Our problem is a structural one and requires a structural fix. Chipping away at the edges of corporate political spending is not going to change the hundreds of ways corporations are allowed by law to overrule human and community self-determination.
Many groups talking about “corporate personhood” are only working on the money in politics angle. History teaches us that’s nowhere near enough. The campaign finance system was already broken before Citizens United, so merely reversing the decision won’t actually fix the problem. The problem is corporations with 1st, 4th, 5th, and 14th Amendment rights, coupled with limited liability and other benefits. We must end corporate constitutional rights once and for all. Then the two major parties will offer up candidates people actually want to vote for, instead of perpetually voting out of fear.
For ten years, I’ve supported Move to Amend and I intend to keep it up. It’s one of the best investments in democracy I’ve ever made. Please join with me in supporting this critical work.
As we brace for the year ahead, Move to Amend is a light in these dark times. By engaging and empowering the real sovereigns of this nation—We the People—Move to Amend is providing a path forward which will ultimately deliver the promise of American democracy.
Hatred and oppression or real transformative democracy? It’s a no-brainer. Please contribute to Move to Amend today!
Yours in the movement to amend,
Thom Hartmann
P.S. Move to Amend needs to raise $150,000 to end 2019 in the black. Each year I help them raise nearly 1/3 of their annual budget in the final month of the year, and this year is no exception. If they don't make their goal it would be a real tragedy and setback for the democracy movement -- please join me in donating to Move to Amend today!
