2020 Annual Meeting Presentations
Our four presenters for our 2020 Annual Meeting were
David Delk - Deepening Democracy
Paul Cienfuegos - Environmental Justice
Regina Lopez - Human Rights
Chuck Collins - Economic Inequality
David Delk - Deepening Democracy
Paul Cienfuegos - Environmental Justice
Regina Lopez - Human Rights
Chuck Collins - Economic Inequality
September 10, 2020 session
Paul Cienfuegos - Environmental Justice
"Rethinking the Corporation, Rethinking Democracy"
"Rethinking the Corporation, Rethinking Democracy"
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* Book List to learn more about the Community Rights movement: HERE
* List of Local Laws (ordinances) that have been successfully passed in twelve states across the US since 1999: HERE
* A 12-minute YouTube Video introducing the basic concepts of Community Rights local law-making: HERE
* An archive of Paul’s Weekly Radio Commentaries/Podcasts: HERE
* Subscribe to the monthly Community Rights US newsletter: HERE
* Make a one-time or monthly Tax-Deductible Donation to Community Rights US: HERE
* Contact Paul Cienfuegos for more information: HERE
* List of Local Laws (ordinances) that have been successfully passed in twelve states across the US since 1999: HERE
* A 12-minute YouTube Video introducing the basic concepts of Community Rights local law-making: HERE
* An archive of Paul’s Weekly Radio Commentaries/Podcasts: HERE
* Subscribe to the monthly Community Rights US newsletter: HERE
* Make a one-time or monthly Tax-Deductible Donation to Community Rights US: HERE
* Contact Paul Cienfuegos for more information: HERE
- Can we have democracy when large corporations wield so much power and wealth under law?
- Can we reclaim from corporations the Constitutional rights of people?
- Can we exercise our right of local self-government to protect the health, welfare , and dignity of our citizens, our commons, and our future generations?
- How has the failure of federal and state government to act on environmental and social emergencies from mass evictions to small business failures to climate meltdown undermined democratic practices?
- How can local residents and their local government pass groundbreaking laws to address these societal crises?
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Audio file of Paul Cienfuegoes talk here
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David Delk - Deepening Democracy
How do we make democratic practices real in Oregon?
How do we make democratic practices real in Oregon?
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AMEND THE OREGON CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW LIMITS ON MONEY IN POLITICAL SYSTEM
OR Honest Elections Here
BM 107 Text here to amend the OR Constitution to allow limits on campaign contributions.
Vote Yes on BM 107 for Fair and Honest Elections website here
RANKED CHOICE VOTING
Information on ranked choice voting:
Ballotpedia | Common Cause | Fairvote
PUBLIC FUNDING OF CANDIDATE ELECTIONS
Common Cause | In the City of Portland |
NATIONAL RIGHT TO VOTE
The right to vote is the foundation of democracy, yet the U.S. Constitution contains no explicit right to vote. The Constitution should be amended to explicitly grant the affirmative right to vote to every citizen of voting age. Legislation has been proposed to create such a right. See HJR75 in the Senate (co-sponsored by OR Sen Merkley) and HJR93 in the House of Representatives (co-sponsored by OR Rep. Blumenauer).
Fairvote | Right to Vote Initiative
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT : MONEY IS NOT SPEECH AND CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE
HJR48 has been proposed as a US Constitutional amendment to state that money is not speech and corporations are not people. Oregon's US Representatives Blumenauer, Bonamici and DeFazio are listed has co-sponsors.
Move to Amend
Contact David Delk/OR Honest Elections for information on any of these and to get involved
503.232.5495 or davidafd@ymail.com
OR Honest Elections Here
BM 107 Text here to amend the OR Constitution to allow limits on campaign contributions.
Vote Yes on BM 107 for Fair and Honest Elections website here
RANKED CHOICE VOTING
Information on ranked choice voting:
Ballotpedia | Common Cause | Fairvote
PUBLIC FUNDING OF CANDIDATE ELECTIONS
Common Cause | In the City of Portland |
NATIONAL RIGHT TO VOTE
The right to vote is the foundation of democracy, yet the U.S. Constitution contains no explicit right to vote. The Constitution should be amended to explicitly grant the affirmative right to vote to every citizen of voting age. Legislation has been proposed to create such a right. See HJR75 in the Senate (co-sponsored by OR Sen Merkley) and HJR93 in the House of Representatives (co-sponsored by OR Rep. Blumenauer).
Fairvote | Right to Vote Initiative
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT : MONEY IS NOT SPEECH AND CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE
HJR48 has been proposed as a US Constitutional amendment to state that money is not speech and corporations are not people. Oregon's US Representatives Blumenauer, Bonamici and DeFazio are listed has co-sponsors.
Move to Amend
Contact David Delk/OR Honest Elections for information on any of these and to get involved
503.232.5495 or davidafd@ymail.com
- Is Oregon one of the best states for democratic practices?
- Why should OR voters approve Ballot Measure 107 to allow limits on money in politics and a ballot measure for redistricting reform (if it gets on the Nov 2020 ballot)?
- Shall the OR legislature enact specific limits on money in politics and enact public funding for state level political candidates?
- How and when should cities and counties enact limits on big money in politics?
- Shall the super quorum in the OR legislature be eliminated?
- Shall we consider other reforms to Oregon's political system?
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Audio file of David Delk's talk
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October 10, 2020 session
Video recording of the entire session here. Passcode required: by23iUP+
Chat Box from entire session here.
Regina Lopez - Human Rights
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Human Rights presenter, Regina Lopez is Exec. Director, PCUN, Oregon's Farmworker Union (PCUN is focused on building a stronger voice for all Latinx working families in Oregon, from farmworkers to young folks, so that we can collectively improve their well-being and increase prosperity for all.)
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- PCUN - Oregon's farmworker union.
PCUN is based in the heart of the Oregon Latinx community, and in one of the most vibrant agricultural areas in the state. We’re Oregon’s Farmworker Union, and we fight for low-wage workers, and Latinx families. - CAUSA - Oregon's Immigrant rights organization.
Causa works to improve the lives of Latino immigrants and their families in Oregon through advocacy, coalition building, leadership development, and civic engagement. Latino immigrants and their families are the heart of Causa and inspire, implement, and champion our work. - Farm Worker Ministry Northwest - We are a faith-based farm worker solidarity organization working for justice with the local farm worker community in the Northwest.
- United Farm Workers - UFW national campaigns include pesticide bans, farm worker visa reforms, and national legislation for immigration reform.
Chuck Collins - Economic Inequality
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- Institute for Policy Studies - Program on Inequality and the Common Good
- Report: "Inequality in America: Far Beyond Extreme" by Bob Lord
- Report: "Inequality in America: Far Beyond Extreme" by Bob Lord
- Oregon Center for Public Policy - Poverty and Inequality Sign up for their email newsletters.
- Oregon Tax Fairness - "We read the bills, so you don't have to"
- Other national organizations dealing with inequality, tax fairness and economic policy:
Summary of Chuck's talk
Chuck talks about how we address the concentration of wealth and power in America.
What reforms do we need to make besides reforms to make our democracy work for all of us
He talks extensive about the problem of hidden wealth - wealth that the wealthy have but which they use various mechanism to hid to taxation.
The top 1/10 of 1% (those with wealth over $25 M) have hidden their wealth in trusts, off shore tax havens and shell companies. This hidden wealth amounts to $25 - $35 trillion.
What do we do?
1. Enact corporate transparency laws
2. Enact progressive tax laws like the Sen Sanders Wealth Tax S4490 - 1 year tax on wealth of billionaires
3. Tax income from wealth at the same rate as we tax income from work (no tax loopholes for capital gains income)
4. Enact a millionaires surtax (10% of income of 1/10 of 1%; this could generate $600 billion over the course of a couple years)
5. Change laws on how we treat charity giving and the tax benefits for such giving. There is 1.2 trillion locked up in charities. We need to double the payout requirement from 5 to 10%.
Chuck talks about how we address the concentration of wealth and power in America.
What reforms do we need to make besides reforms to make our democracy work for all of us
He talks extensive about the problem of hidden wealth - wealth that the wealthy have but which they use various mechanism to hid to taxation.
The top 1/10 of 1% (those with wealth over $25 M) have hidden their wealth in trusts, off shore tax havens and shell companies. This hidden wealth amounts to $25 - $35 trillion.
What do we do?
1. Enact corporate transparency laws
2. Enact progressive tax laws like the Sen Sanders Wealth Tax S4490 - 1 year tax on wealth of billionaires
3. Tax income from wealth at the same rate as we tax income from work (no tax loopholes for capital gains income)
4. Enact a millionaires surtax (10% of income of 1/10 of 1%; this could generate $600 billion over the course of a couple years)
5. Change laws on how we treat charity giving and the tax benefits for such giving. There is 1.2 trillion locked up in charities. We need to double the payout requirement from 5 to 10%.
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Why We Must Protect Essential Workers From Billionaire Pandemic Profiteers Wednesday, Nov 18, 2020, Common Dreams
When billionaire owners and CEOs fail to fulfill their responsibility during this extraordinary time, it is the duty of elected officials and Congress to step in and enact public policies to protect essential workers and their communities. President-elect Biden should establish a Presidential Commission on Essential Workers with on-the-ground, diverse worker representation. Congress should pass the Essential Workers' Bills of Rights developed in collaboration with workers' organizations at the local, state, and federal levels. |
New Book by Chuck Collins
Available on presale by publisher. will be available at your local bookseller later March 2021.
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