Empower the Masses

 
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”-Alice Walker
During yesterday evening’s convention roundtable plenary, Jill Stein presented the inverse to Alice Walker’s statement: “The greatest way to acquire power is to recognize that you have it.”  The other eight roundtable participants repeatedly echoed Stein’s idea:  Empower the masses, and we’ll strengthen democracy where it matters most... in our communities, our schools, our workplaces and local economies, our military, our government, our media, and our constitution.  This animated discussion took place at Madison’s Inn on the Park.  The discussion participants included the following: George Friday, Jill Stein, Leah Bolger, Leland Pan, Margaret Flowers, Norm Stockwell, Richard Monje, Roshan Bliss, Victoria Collier with moderator Ben Manski.
Among the nine delegates, there was no question about the current system’s inability to solve some of the biggest hurdles to strengthening democracy.  The system prevents local participation in decision-making processes; privatizes and monetizes our educational system; fragments communities and peoples; discourages and disengages young people, prisoners, undocumented workers, people in Guantanamo; locates money and power in the 1%; silences community media; and creates an “economic” draft in which the youth attempt to avoid student debt by enlisting in the military to pay for education.  The silver lining, though, is the opportunity to create a new, vibrant society from this crisis.  As one delegate remarked, there is no coincidence that the Chinese character for crisis is also the character for opportunity. 
The final question for the delegates was, “How do we make the Democracy Movement real?  How do we make it a question of ‘which side are you on’?”  Responses were poignant and created the blueprint for realizing our vision for a new society.  Some responses included the following:

1. Educate the public.  Too many people equate democracy with capitalism.  It’s okay to challenge capitalism, which is not the same thing as democracy.
2. Make the ballot box honest.  Elections cannot be rigged, and the peoples’ voices must be heard.
3. Bridge the inter-generational gap.  Younger people feel completely cheated by the system.  Youth must know that the older generation has not just benefitted from this system and then turned its back on them.  They need support and encouragement.
4. Create a new, resilient, green economy that ends the wars for oil
5. Stop the Trans-Pacific Partnership!  The Trans-Pacific Partnership will fundamentally change the global economy in a way that further entrenches global corporate power and gives multinational corporations the power to challenge national environmental, labor and consumer protection laws in a rigged court system.  A global campaign is underway to stop the TPP. Learn more about what it is and how you can join the campaign to “Flush the TPP.”  

What do you think?  What are your ideas for making the Democracy Movement real?  We
welcome you to comment and share your thoughts with us.