Sender: "Bruce Schuman"
Subject: Is corrupt money in politics the ONE issue that can unite Americans?
Date: Mon, Mar 24, 2014
Msg: 100857

From: List for transpartisan leaders and innovators [mailto:TRANSPARTISAN@LISTS.THATAWAY.ORG] On Behalf Of Evelyn Messinger Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2014 10:17 AM To: TRANSPARTISAN@LISTS.THATAWAY.ORG Subject: Re: [TRANSPARTISAN] Is corrupt money in politics the ONE issue that can unite Americans?

I see now that my money in politics post might be taken as a partisan statement, and I regret if I gave people that impression. My point was that when an issue has a large degree of public support that crosses partisan lines, as does the perception that there is too much money in politics (polls have put the number at over 75%), it could be a starting point for transpartisanship.

Not sure what the takeaway is - is attempting to rally Transpartisans around an issue the wrong approach, or will debating the specifics of an issue like this create a transpartisan consensus?

Evelyn

On Fri, Mar 21, 2014 at 7:43 AM, Andrew Rockway wrote: > Some great ways to share your feelings/opinions without spending money: > > Call/write your Congressperson > Write a blog > Write a letter to the editor > Discuss political issues with your friends, peers, co-workers, etc. > > None of these involve spending millions to curry influence. And, > despite what the Supreme Court says, if an action is limited to a > small minority, it's not really a right. I think most Americans recognize that. > > > Andrew Rockway > Program Associate > Jefferson Center > (651)209-7672 (office) > (224)392-1093 (direct) > > > On Fri, Mar 21, 2014 at 12:25 AM, Steven Rubenstein > wrote: >> >> No, this is not "the one issue" the community could unite behind -- >> because it is not just one issue. >> >> You need to define which money you are talking about -- lobbyists, >> direct campaign contributions, party contributions, third party expenditures, etc. >> >> The problem with suggesting money itself is the problem is that you >> take away people's right to free speech and to share their views. >> Yes, there may be too much money in politics. But who are you to say >> that I do not have the right to share my feelings on the best course >> of action for this country? If you take out money, then who is allowed to share their opinions and how? >> >> While you may disagree with the Koch brothers, you would probably >> hate them less if the situation were reversed and Sierra Club had >> inordinately more money to spend influencing voters than the Koch >> brothers do. (For the record, I am a tree hugger.) >> >> I think the bigger problem is not the money per se, but that it is >> too easy to hide who is actually spending it. That is something >> everyone could probably agree on. >> >> cheers, >> >> Steven Rubenstein >> Agreedis.org >> >> >> >> On Thu, Mar 20, 2014 at 12:24 PM, Evelyn Messinger >> >> wrote: >>> >>> Briefly: my name is Evelyn Messinger. I am a television and web >>> producer whose work focuses on bringing citizens into the >>> policy-making process by leveraging their opinions via media - see >>> our website below my signature. >>> >>> If there is one issue that unites left and right in fundamental >>> agreement on a problem and a solution, it is the corrupting >>> influence of money in politics. The transpartisan movement could >>> look at this issue as a case study and perhaps a way to seek >>> practical avenues to engage the public. >>> >>> This post is inspired by a new campaign from http://Represent.us - >>> which sponsors an "Anti-Corruption Act" among other things - to hold >>> a nationwide march on April 15 to "turn tax day into representation >>> day." This is the group most likely to have a real impact using a >>> grass-roots approach, because they are dedicated and professional, >>> as this video shows: >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGECjjoJ3KE#t=137 >>> >>> Liberals and conservatives emphasize different aspects of this >>> problem, with conservatives focusing on the venal actions of >>> politicians and liberals on the greedy demands of corporations, but >>> there is surprising agreement on both sides, even among many elected >>> leaders, that the rules of campaign finance should be changed. See >>> this video we produced at both the Republican and Democratic 2012 >>> Conventions on the topic: >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDIkiD3irBA&list=PLC4B2F48B04494A6A >>> (disclosure: we worked with Represent Us on this project). >>> >>> You would think that this degree of support would lead to change, >>> but there are two problems: extremely powerful vested interests in >>> maintaining, and even expanding, the current system; and the fact >>> that money in politics, a root cause of many concrete problems, is >>> more abstract than the problems themselves (my mortgage is under >>> water, my kid's college tuition is going through the roof, I pay for >>> 3000 TV channels but spend most of my viewing time watching >>> commercials.) >>> >>> Is this the one issue that our transpartisan community could united >>> behind? >>> >>> Thanks and regards, >>> >>> Evelyn >>> -- >>> Evelyn Messinger >>> http://citizenschannel.org >>> +1.415.377.6278 >>> >>> ############################ >>> >>> To unsubscribe from the TRANSPARTISAN list: >>> write to: mailto:TRANSPARTISAN-SIGNOFF-REQUEST@LISTS.THATAWAY.ORG >>> or click the following link: >>> >>> http://lists.thataway.org/scripts/wa-THATAWAY.exe?SUBED1=TRANSPARTIS >>> AN&A=1 >> >> >> >> ________________________________ >> >> To unsubscribe from the TRANSPARTISAN list, click the following link: >> http://lists.thataway.org/scripts/wa-THATAWAY.exe?SUBED1=TRANSPARTISA >> N&A=1 > > > > ________________________________ > > To unsubscribe from the TRANSPARTISAN list, click the following link: > http://lists.thataway.org/scripts/wa-THATAWAY.exe?SUBED1=TRANSPARTISAN > &A=1

-- Evelyn Messinger http://citizenschannel.org +1.415.377.6278

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