Ohio’s democractic/self-determination “infrastructure”


From the local to the global, the ability of people to govern themselves is under assault. Some of the major sources of this attack are:

- Business corporations looking to make huge profits by converting what once had been “public” to “private” (“privatization, “ though a more descriptive term would be “corporatization”), including traditional public assets like water and sewer systems and now even schools.

- Individuals looking to increase their power, status, and/or privileges by concentrating decision-making from maany hands (We the People) to few (their own).

- A culture that reinforces notions that public policies are too complicated for ordinary people to understand (thus leaving policy making to experts), that distracts public attention away from self-determination toward the trivial and inane, that define certain arenas (economic in particular) as outside the scope of public input, that continues to erase memory of any/all historical examples of citizen control and definition of their lives, that keeps people separated from coming together to learn from one another and organize to (re)assert meaningful changes.

- Continual legal and constitutional definitions that further “enclose” and redefine “public” arenas as other “Ps”: “private,” “property,” “proprietary,” “privileged”— and thus beyond the reach of public planning, public shaping, and public evaluation.

- A national government that under the guise of “terrorism” has given itself permission to stifle dissent, intimidate dissenters and interrupt effort of self-determination.

But there is another side to this – a democratic/self-determination culture or “infrastructure.” In our communities and across the state exist alternatives to corporations, corporate governance and elite control.

Scores of documents, policies, institutions, structures and groups reflecting inclusiveness are in place – examples where those who are affected by decisions and policies have a legitimate role in the shaping and making of those decisions… or could if we made the effort. They are where We the People have a voice … or could have a real voice if we merely flexed our self-determination muscles.

Many of these documents, policies, institutions, structures and groups are built on the notion of the commons, broadly understood historically as any sets of resources (i.e. land, water, air) that a community recognizes as being accessible to any member of that community. Implied is that every member of the community with equal access to the commons has a voice in managing or maintaining them.

Not all of these are “governmental,” some are grassroots created and maintained alternative initiatives bypassing corporate and/or top down government versions of the same function. In the midst of dysfunctional, nonfunctional, undemocratic and/or corrupt state or corporate structures, these alternative grassroots initiatives represent “parallel” institutions that currently coexist with state or corporate power but could over time assume greater legitimacy, if not substitution, if they are more effective in fulfilling the needs of people and communities.

All together, this is what democracy [in Ohio] looks like!

Some of these are unique to Ohio, most are not. They are meant to inform and/or remind us what we may too often take for granted – that documents, policies, institutions structures and groups exist that are, once were, or for the very first time can become democratic/self-determining. When we fail to use them or be involved in them, they will wither and die. By our not being aware of them, they surely will be manipulated, eliminated or replaced by shells or shams controlled by corporations, top down government or the power elite.

The examples listed below are in no way equally “inclusive” or “democractic”—some, in fact, might quite rightly be argued to be at the moment not very inclusive or democratic at all. There are varying degrees of self-determination here, some more so on paper than in practice, some more so depending on the place, condition, and people involved. But all have democratic “openings” or possibilities. Where social change energies should be placed is a separate strategic question. They also reflect a basic human reality – institutions or structures, no matter how democratically constructed or configured, never alone ensure democratic outcomes. The commitment to and will of people in creating and nurturing authentic self-determination may be most important of all – the force needed to drive a wide and deep wedge into even the narrowest organizational democratic crack.

This directory is not meant to be useful primarily from a “consumer” perspective (i.e. in answering the questions, "Where's the nearest food coop?" or “Is there a public radio station in my town?”) but rather from a democracy/self-determination perspective. That is, it seeks to help readers value the democratic / self-determination openings which still exist or could exist with investment of activist energies. It also strives to reinforce the simultaneous need in working for social change to create or nurture alternatives while working to democratize existing laws, constitutions, policies, practices, and organizations. Finally, the goal of this directory is to stimulate awareness of and actions addressing the multiple threats to what are deemed “public” and available for common use by the constant and cancerous corporate and top-down governmental encroachment in the name of “privatization” or “corporatizaton.”

Democracy/self-determination is not just aims but processes, not just ends but also means. Listed are examples of both – documents, policies, institutions, structures or groups actually reflecting democratic/self-determining values and principles and/or calling for them, even if the callers are not themselves the perfect practitioners.

There is no presumption that this list is exhaustive. Huge gaps exist beyond our limited awareness. It’s an ongoing work in progress, meant and, in fact, expected to be amended by readers. Please send additions, feedback, challenges and critiques to GColeridge@afsc.org. Updates will occur regularly.

This is what democracy [in Ohio] looks like!

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This is What Democracy [in Ohio] Looks Like!: Ohio’s democractic/self-determination “infrastructure “ March 2008, 17 pp, Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee, 2101 Front St., #111, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221, Phone: 330-928-2301 · Fax: 330-928-2628

To download, go to http://www.afsc.net/PDFFiles/InfrastructureMarch08.pdf

Directed to Candidates for US Representative from Ohio

1. Do you believe that business corporations should be allowed directly or through corporate-sponsored Political Action Committees (PACs) to donate to or invest money in political candidates or issue campaigns? (Note: at one time in Ohio, they couldn't.) If not, what do you specifically plan to do about this if elected?

2. Do you believe that public officials should have the right to examine the financial books of business corporations (i.e. to prevent future Enrons and mortgage company collapses and/or to access the true profits of oil companies)? (Note: at one time in Ohio, they could.) If so, what do you specifically plan to do about this if elected?

3. Do you believe that business corporations should have the right to move toxic trash into communities from another state if people in those communities don't want it? If not, what do you specifically plan to do about this if elected?

4. Do you believe that people should have greater legal and constitutional rights than business corporations? (Note: at one time in Ohio, they did). If so, what do you specifically plan to do about this if elected?

5. Do you believe that the health care system in the United States should be patient-run / doctor-run or run by insurance corporations? If the former, what do you specifically plan to do about this if elected?

6. Do you believe that the public has ultimate control over the public airwaves rather than media corporations? If so, what do you specifically plan to do about this if elected?

7. Do you believe that the public or business corporations should be in charge of electronic voting machines that are used in public elections? If the former, what do you specifically plan to do about this if elected?

8. Do you believe the Iraqi people have a right to control their own oil reserves (and by extension the right to control their own nation), or that oil production and profit decisions should be placed in the hands of US and other western oil corporations? If the former, what do you specifically plan to do about this if elected?

9. Do you believe workers should have the right to free speech and free assembly (contained in the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights in the US Constitution) on corporate property? If so, what do you specifically plan to do about this if elected?

10. Do you believe the public has the right to know the ingredients of food they eat or that business corporations have “Free Speech” rights to not publicly release the ingredients of the food they produce? If the former, what do you specifically plan to do about this if elected?

Please mail completed survey by February 29 to Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), 2101 Front St., #111, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221 or fax to 330-928-2628 or email to GColeridge@afsc.org. Thanks!

Here’s what should “occupy” most of the time of George Bush’s State of the Union address tonight.

- - - - - -

My fellow Americans. Cabinet members. Congresspersons. Supreme Court Justices. Guests in the gallery who’ll I’ll reference in an attempt to score a political point.

I come before you tonight, my last State of the Union address, to share with you my reflections on a single topic – occupation.

The reality is that “occupation” much better describes US military actions in Iraq than “war.” Of course there remains brutal violence occurring in Iraq. The US military has killed, injured, and is responsible for the deaths of Iraqis by the hundreds of thousands. Nearly 4000 US troops have also been killed, tens of thousands injured. More than $720 million is spent every single day on the Iraq war according to my friends with the American Friends Service Committee — funds that could go to meeting the economic and social security needs in our communities. In addition, the US military is responsible for the destruction of Iraqi cities and villages, not to mention the natural environment as a result of US bombs, bullets, planes, tanks, guns and grenades. Killing, injuring and destroying are basic acts of war. The US is responsible for inflicting all these acts.

Yet, to call what is going on in Iraq simply as “war” is incomplete. The United States of America, with the backing of a vast majority of members of both political parties, has occupied a sovereign nation for nearly 5 years. We moved in and tried to take over the country in every way, beginning with the initial invasion, followed by the Coalition Provision Authority (CPA) led by my good buddy, Paul Bremer. The CPA issued orders and edicts seeking overall control of the economy, natural resources, public policies, politicians and basic governing rules. My administration has done all it can -- sometimes outwardly, other times behind the scenes -- to influence the Iraqi constitution, elections and candidates.. We currently are doing all we can to lock in the presence of US military bases for a generation or more and arm-twist the Iraqi Parliament to pass an Oil Law that will open up Iraqi oil reserves to US and other foreign based oil corporations. Invasion and control are among the basic acts of occupation. The US is responsible for all these acts.

Obviously, framing the US military presence in Iraq primarily as a “war” rather than an “occupation” has been pretty smart on my part … and those who invest in my administration.

Connected to “war” in our country are feelings of patriotism, loyalty and obedience to leaders like myself who come across as tough and strong. Implied in war is a threat to the homeland, providing ample opportunity to call for slashing domestic civil liberties, shifting federal spending to the military, and further consolidating my power. Snooping into your mail and email, listening in on your phone calls and arresting and holding people indefinitely is harder to sell under the guise of “occupying” a nation on the other side of the planet. It’s also much easier under the banner of war to create enemies – people to hate, and thus, an excuse to kill and destroy.

In contrast, an “occupation” of another people's country begs all sorts of discomforting questions, such as: “Why are we actually there?” “Why can’t people take care of themselves?” “Will we leave if a majority of people being occupied, as in Iraq, want us out?”

I’d rather not have to answer these questions. In plain and simple English, this is why we’re in a “war” and not an “occupation” in Iraq.

There’s a second type of “occupation” I want to share with you tonight, my fellow Americans.

It’s an occupation right here at home. It’s not a physical or military one of our cities, suburbs or rural communities by any foreign power. That kind of occupation is easy to see, obvious to everyone and, relatively speaking, easier to resist.

The occupation I’m talking about is much more insidious, one that involves invasion and control and ultimately, like a military occupation, threatens sovereignty, self-determination, and democracy.

Your public spaces, public arenas, public policies, and public trust have been invaded and have become controlled by a few people of wealth against the majority for a very long time. It precedes my administration. It includes Democratic administrations as well as Republican ones. The weapons of this form of occupation are not bombers, tanks or soldiers but the legal structure called the business corporation, aided by several sections of the United States Constitution.

Business corporations have over the past century amassed “rights” to invade and control (that is, occupy) vital parts of your lives, communities and society. Corporations occupy your health care space once reserved exclusively for patients and their doctors. They increasingly occupy your educational spaces once reserved exclusively for students and their teachers. Corporations increasingly occupy the nutrition spaces once reserved exclusively for farmers.

Corporations have invaded elections and political campaigns. They control the airwaves (television and radio) and major print media. They, not you, determine the majority of trade and investment, where plants and factories will move, who will be employed and who will not, what communities will thrive, which ones will suffer. They are threatening the heart and soul of life itself by claiming that human, animal and plant genes can be patented.

The list of arenas, my fellow Americans, within society where business corporations dominate would put any oppressive military occupation force with soldiers on every street corner to shame.

The wealthy few who run business corporations have expanded their occupying force thanks to the supply line of the US Constitution. Anti-democratic provisions in the Constitution (i.e. the Contracts and Commerce Clauses, no direct election of President, life-time appointments of Supreme Court Justices, and holding citizens indefinitely without charge in a national emergency) collectively place the rights of property above people. Corporate friendly Supreme Court justices anointed corporations with Bill of Rights (1st, 4th, 5th) protections over the past century – expanding the invasion and control of corporations into our politics, economy and culture.

Why am I telling you this? Freely admitting to it all? Simple. I’ve blown it on Iraq (no pun intended). As recently documented, my administration lied at least 935 times leading up to the Iraq war. My poll numbers are abysmally low. I want to salvage my legacy in some way.

This nation was founded by colonists who kicked out the occupation army of the most powerful nation on earth. Their task was simple compared to the one at hand. Yet, people are increasingly waking up, opposing my policies, but also increasingly questioning why they don’t have a real voice in what’s going on in their lives, communities and nation. Citizens are flexing their democratic muscles.

Herein lies hope for the future.

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While such thoughts are not likely to occupy the attention of George Bush during his address tonight, may they occupy ours.

I've only read through the first couple of chapters. A very well done piece with many suggestions — both long and short-term. Comments welcome on whether any of this is worth further discussion on a state-level. I’d be happy to help organize a meeting.

http://corporateethics.org/downloads/SCI_Report_September_2007.pdf
Strategic Corporate Initiative: Toward a Global Citizens’ Movement to Bring Corporations Back Under Control
by Michael Marx, Mari Margil, John Cavanagh, Sarah Anderson, Chuck Collins, Charlie Cray, Marjorie Kelly, Corporate Ethics International
There are tectonic stresses building beneath the surface of our society that threaten a global earthquake unlike any we’ve seen in recent history. Global warming is accelerating; fossil fuels are being rapidly exhausted; critical eco-systems have been severely damaged; and the income gap between rich and poor is increasing rapidly. The root cause of most of these problems can be found in the excessive power of global corporations. To solve these problems, we must bring corporations back under our control. This will be one of the greatest challenges our society faces this century.

A few years back, I received a sample copy in the mail of “The Progressive Populist”. It was not familiar to me but once I quickly examined it, I was amazed at the contents and even more amazed that up to now it had been such a well-kept secret.
Here in 24 page newspaper/journal format with no corporate advertising were articles by some of my favorite people: Jim Hightower, Normon Solomon, Ralph Nader, Amy Goodman, and the late, great Molly Ivins. Mixed in for eye/soul candy, were eviscerating cartoons by Matt Wuerker, Tom Tommorrow, and Ted Rall. It seemed that someone had sent to me my very own made-to-order publication. I now look forward to each new issue. It sometimes saddens me, often infuriates me, and above all, always informs and I believe, empowers me.

In the 60’s a wise person said: “Think globally, act locally.” This is the “globally” part with a home-spun, from the “American heartland”, edge to it. Reject the mass-media dis-information of corporate/cable news and take in the fresh air of independent, real substance that all progressives can put to use!

Greg Coleridge of AFSC has called this journal “…an excellent resource…should be required reading for progressives/populists”, and I believe he is right on. To get a free, sample issue, contact me and I will forward your address to the publisher. I called them and was assured that for sample issues they do NOT share your address. If you are led to subscribe, you can then inform them to not share your address and they will be happy to oblige. I personally am getting nothing out of this other than the satisfaction of hopefully getting other progressives informed about some of the truths revealed here that I find nowhere else.

Sincerely,
Bernie Bisheimer
(bernie9125@aol.com)

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvNvMWYx0Dc
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpdCtWE88Nc
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyupkbQqffI
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0P8gsd8h6s
Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzrrvcNeE_0

The 40 minute document is also on CD. Cost is $5. To order, send a check/money order to AFSC and mail to 2101 Front St., #111, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221.

Background

CorpOrNation exposes the historic corporate rise to power in Ohio, the barriers citizens have fought to create a true democracy for themselves, and detailed assessments of government influence by corporations through "corporate globalization." Spanning Ohio’s history from 1803 through present-day struggles between citizens and corporations, CorpOrNation suggests strategies for citizens to overcome current threats to citizen-led democracy and the corporate takeover of society.

Rich with analysis and history, CorpOrNation, produced by the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee, features interviews with people from the AFL-CIO, Ohio Public Interest Research Group, United Steelworkers, Ohio Family Farm Coalition, Farm Labor Organizing Committee, Program on Corporations Law and Democracy, and student activists discussing corporate farms, factory lockouts, “veggie libel” laws, and regional “free trade” agreements.

CorpOrNation is based on Citizens over Corporations: A Brief History of Democracy in Ohio and Challenges to Freedom in the Future, 96 page, Second Edition/Third Printing 2003 - detailing the legal and political history of corporations and citizen control and resistance to corporate power in Ohio.

If you want to know whether people are embarrassed about a decision or announcement needing to be made or are just trying to sneak something through hoping the public and media aren't paying attention -- just watch the day of the week or time of the year when those decisions or announcements are made. 

Friday afternoons after financial markets have closed for the weekend are often when companies announce they’ve lost millions or billions. Around Thanksgiving (usually after) is a popular time for corporate announcements of mass layoffs. 
Just before Christmas is when the US military attacked Panama and NAFTA was passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton. It’s also a popular time for mass layoff announcements by corporations. The Ohio General Assembly a few ago right after Christmas passed a major campaign finance “reform” package increasing individual contribution “limits” by 400% and permitting business corporations to be involved directly in elections for the first time in nearly a century. 

It happened again. 

Two days after Christmas 2007, the Ohio Supreme Court decided that the power of people like you and me to judge our peers in a court of law (otherwise known as juries) was significantly reduced. 

The Ohio Supremes on December 27 in Arbino v. Johnson & Johnson ruled that Senate Bill 80 passed by the Ohio legislature in 2005 capping personal injury awards was not a violation of the constitutional rights of plaintiffs (for example, people who are victims of medical malpractice).

By capping personal injury awards, the Supremes capped the right to decide of people who make up juries. Corporate-funded state legislators and state supreme court justices have made the decision for us. Citizens who compose juries no longer possess the authority to decide fair compensation for injuries suffered by our fellow citizens -- even after sitting through an entire legal case, listening to evidence and arguments presented by both sides, and ruling in favor of a plaintiff.

Justice Paul E. Pfeifer, in his written dissent (one of two Justices who voted against) asserted that the decision deprives plaintiffs of their right to a trial by jury and that nothing now prevents the Ohio legislature from further limiting damages to $1. "After today, what meaning is left in a litigant's constitutional right to have a jury determine damages?" 

This decision serves corporate interests of course. With citizens possessing little or no power these days to either (a) define corporate actions, or (b) regulate corporate abuse, the only alternative we have to respond to corporate harms are lawsuits. 

Now that is severely limited in Ohio.

It’s easy to look at this decision through several different lenses -- the specific case of Arbino v. Johnson & Johnson and the general issue of frivolous lawsuits being two of them. More instructive, however, is the lens of public power. 
Does this decision increase the authority of the public (namely those on juries) to make decisions in a court of law? To determine to what extent people who are harmed should be fairly compensated for personal pain and suffering and for economic losses? 

The answer to these question may suggest why the Ohio Supremes made their ruling two days after Christmas.

It also suggest that our work beginning in this New Year needs to be about doing all we can to uncap the commitment to expanding our right to decide. The Right to Decide — whether it’s our health care, jobs, education, community, media, energy, foreign policy, environment, vote counting systems, lawsuit damages, etc. — is the single most important issue in 2008.

Greg Coleridge [GColeridge@afsc.org]

Posted on Friday, January 04, 2008 at 12:52 PM 

You may have read the Magna Carta (considered to be the forerunner of the US Constitution) was auctioned off yesterday in New York City for $21.3 million. Some might think it strange to sell off what some consider to be one of the most sacred and historic democratic documents in the world. Really? Our government (pieces of it anyway in terms of policies, resources, protection, etc.) is auctioned off every day to the highest bidder in the form of campaign donations/investments and promises by wealthy individuals and corporations to politicians and regulators of jobs/income/favors. 

- Greg Coleridge GColeridge@afsc.org

Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 2:06 PM 

Electronic voting machines and voting machine corporations came under sharp criticism in a report issued last Friday by the Ohio Secretary of State. http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/info/EVEREST/00-SecretarysEVERESTExecutiveReport.pdf

Cuyahoga Country was singled out in the report as needing to scrap its Diebold corporation-manufactured machines prior to the March, 2008 elections. The county Board of Elections met on Monday to hear from the Secretary of State’s office, voting machine corporation representatives, and the public.

The real issue before the Board of Elections was the issue of authority – one of maintaining public authority to ensure that public officials and institutions are in complete control in the collection, counting and reporting of public votes during public elections in the democratic selection of public officials. 

Voting machine technology is private. It’s trademarked. It’s private property. 

Corporations manufacture the machines. 
Corporations program the machines. 
Corporations service the machines. 
Corporations “trouble-shoot” any problems with the machines. 
Corporations possess the proprietary “keys” to the machines. 
Corporations have the bottom-line authority over the machines. 
In short, vote counting has become privatized or, more specifically, corporatized. 

In the Project EVEREST report issued last Friday, Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner stated on page 73 under the General Conclusions and Background section, 3rd paragraph:

“It has been said that elections belong to the people. Excessive dependence on any voting machine company to operate the state’s elections, when that company’s voting system is subject to trade secret or propriety information claims, result in a loss of transparency that should exist to assure election officials and the public that a fair and accurate process has been implemented for democratic self-governance.”

Exactly.

She concludes that same paragraph by saying:

“The information available to the scientists who performed the assessments of this study is some of the most comprehensive information available to date for any such study. This was not accomplished without the assistance and cooperation of the voting machine companies whose equipment and software were studied”

This is precisely the problem – having to rely on or depend upon the assistance and cooperation of voting machine corporations. 

This is not public. This is not democratic. This is the main problem. Public “oversight,” public “monitoring,” public “advising,” public “watchdogging,” or any other word to describe the passive and deferential role the public has under the current vote-counting framework is unacceptable. It’s undemocratic. 

Issues of Touch Screen vs Optical Scan is akin to choosing between paper or plastic at the check-out line and calling it a real decision to save the environment – while SUVs and smoke stacks are destroying the Earth’s ozone. Obviously we need verified voting with a paper ballot but the choice as presented is a secondary concern.

The real issue is public authority. The real issue is whether or not the public, via Boards of Elections, can actually be in control of the voting machine technology, proprietary program “keys,” servicing and counting. In other words, can public entities be actively in charge rather than passively watching what’s going on. There’s a profound difference.

Public entities need to take over and totally control this technology. Public elections are too important to have private for-profit business corporations in charge. Vote counting needs to be open, transparent, and verifiable. 

The real choice is not paper or plastic. It’s authority. Citizen authority or corporate authority. 

Hopefully, all county Board of Elections across Ohio will be wise enough to make the right choice. 

- Greg Coleridge (GColeridge@afsc.org)

Posted on Thursday, December 20, 2007 at 2:03 PM