SWWAP

The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign is a homegrown network of citizens fighting government corruption and working for fair elections, judicial integrity, media democracy, and open and transparent government. The Democracy Campaign pursues these objectives through research, citizen education, community outreach, coalition building and direct advocacy. WDC was founded in 1995 as a nonprofit, independent coalition of individuals and groups responding to the growing dominance of special interest money in the campaigns of state lawmakers. This webpage will highlight action alerts from the WDC. To Go To The WDC Website Follow This Link: WISDC.org

Move to Amend Wins Big at the Ballot Box: Americans Fed Up with Big Money and Undue Corporate InfluenceWednesday, November 7, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 CONTACT: Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, press@MoveToAmend.org, 707-269-0984 From Massachusetts to Oregon, Colorado to Illinois and Wisconsin, and Ohio to California, citizens throughout the country voted overwhelmingly yesterday for their legislators to pass a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling and declare that only human beings – not corporations – are entitled to constitutional rights and that money is not speech and campaign spending can be regulated. Residents in over 150 cities had the opportunity to vote on measures calling for an end to the doctrines of corporate constitutional rights and money as free speech, and in every single town the vote was supportive. Often by an overwhelming margin. In Eau Claire, WI the vote was 71% in favor of a measure stating, "Should the US Constitution be amended to establish that regulating political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting freedom of speech, by stating that only human beings, not corporations, unions, or PACs, are entitled to constitutional rights?" In largely conservative Pueblo, Colorado, where the city newspaper came out against the measure, residents still voted 65% in favor of Move to Amend's resolution, placed on the ballot by County Commissioners. Move to Amend volunteers in Massachusetts collected signatures to place the constitutional amendment question before one third of the population of their state. The "MA Democracy Amendment Question" passed by 79%. Voters in Mendocino County, CA where volunteers collected signatures to become the first California county to place a Move to Amend citizen's initiative on the ballot, explicitly voted to "stand with the Move to Amend campaign" by a 73% margin. Move to Amend resolutions also passed in several towns in Illinois and Ohio and Oregon, all by similar landslide margins. Montana voters approved a state-wide resolution by 75%. Another organization -- Common Cause -- put forward several measures calling for simply overturning Citizens United and granting Congress authority to regulate campaign spending. These measures also passed by a wide margin. In the state of Colorado, the Common Cause measure passed by 64% and in San Francisco approval was 80% and 72% in Richmond, CA. The group's measure in Chicago passed by 74%. Common Cause was also an active member of the MA Democracy Amendment Coalition. Move to Amend's position is that the Constitutional amendment must go beyond simply overturning Citizens United, "There is no reason for us to shy away from a true and lasting solution, rather than just band-aids," stated Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, a member of the Move to Amend National Leadership Team. "In every single community where Americans have had the opportunity to call for a Constitutional amendment to outlaw corporate personhood, they have seized it and voted yes overwhelmingly. Tuesday's results show that the Movement to Amend has nearly universal approval. Americans are fed up with large corporations wielding undue influence over our elections and our legal system. Citizens United is not the cause, it is a symptom and Americans want to see that case overturned not by simply going back to the politics of 2009 before the case, but rather by removing big money and special interests from the process entirely." Move to Amend is a national coalition of hundreds of organizations and nearly 250,000 people. The organization also boasts over 150 local affiliates across the country. The Resolve to Amend Campaign goal was to have 50 cities vote on the group's resolution.

On January 21, 2010, with its ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations are persons, entitled by the U.S. Constitution to buy elections and run our government. Human beings are people; corporations are legal fictions. We, the People of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights. TAKE ACTION! Sign The Petition @ Salsa3.SalsaLabs.com/o/50137/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=6883

Tell the FCC: Stop Rupert MurdochRupert Murdoch, the guy who controls the Fox News Channel, wants to expand his empire, and he's not letting FCC regulations get in his way. Embattled and under investigation in England for phone hacking, influence peddling and bribery, Murdoch has set his sights set on the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune, the major papers in the nation's second and third-largest cities, where Murdoch already owns several TV stations.1 Shockingly, President Obama's Federal Communications Commission is trying to change the rules so Murdoch can get exactly what he wants. Even worse, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is hoping the agency can pass these changes without you noticing. That's why we're joining our allies at Free Press and calling on the FCC to stop trying to change the rules for Rupert Murdoch. Tell FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski: No more media consolidation for Murdoch. Murdoch's media grab would be illegal under the current rules. But Chairman Genachowski is pushing the other commissioners for changes that would translate into a giveaway for Murdoch and other media barons.2 These rule changes wouldn't just benefit Murdoch. If the FCC changes the rules, one company could own the major daily newspaper, two TV stations, and up to eight radio stations in your town. And that one company could be your Internet provider, too. Sound familiar? It should -- the FCC is pushing the same Bush-era media consolidation policy that millions rallied against in 2003, and 2007, and was defeated in court just two years ago. The Senate even voted to overturn this consolidation policy back in 2008, rebuking runaway media concentration led by, among others, then-Senator Barack Obama.3 Take Action! Call Your Representatives, and sign the following petiton. images/386416_10151326624655610_414592143_n.jpg

images/386416_10151326624655610_414592143_n.jpg

Tell the FCC: Stop Rupert MurdochRupert Murdoch, the guy who controls the Fox News Channel, wants to expand his empire, and he's not letting FCC regulations get in his way. Embattled and under investigation in England for phone hacking, influence peddling and bribery, Murdoch has set his sights set on the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune, the major papers in the nation's second and third-largest cities, where Murdoch already owns several TV stations.1 Shockingly, President Obama's Federal Communications Commission is trying to change the rules so Murdoch can get exactly what he wants. Even worse, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is hoping the agency can pass these changes without you noticing. That's why we're joining our allies at Free Press and calling on the FCC to stop trying to change the rules for Rupert Murdoch. Tell FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski: No more media consolidation for Murdoch. Murdoch's media grab would be illegal under the current rules. But Chairman Genachowski is pushing the other commissioners for changes that would translate into a giveaway for Murdoch and other media barons.2 These rule changes wouldn't just benefit Murdoch. If the FCC changes the rules, one company could own the major daily newspaper, two TV stations, and up to eight radio stations in your town. And that one company could be your Internet provider, too. Sound familiar? It should -- the FCC is pushing the same Bush-era media consolidation policy that millions rallied against in 2003, and 2007, and was defeated in court just two years ago. The Senate even voted to overturn this consolidation policy back in 2008, rebuking runaway media concentration led by, among others, then-Senator Barack Obama.3 Take Action! Call Your Representatives, and sign the following petiton.

images/16010_10151365554448974_721701864_n.jpg Go To This Link To Sign A Petition and Find Out How To Get Sly Back On The Air!Secure3.Convio.net Link

Take Action! A Petition site has been set up by We Are Wisconsin. Please consider signing on. Action.WeAreWisconsin.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=8954

Action Alert – Same Day Voter Registration is being challengedWisconsin Republicans continue to make unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud without even a sliver of proof but their goals are crystal clear. By utilizing roadblocks like voter ID and the elimination of same-day registration, Republicans aim to disenfranchise students and people living in poverty who move often.
 Recently Scott Walker has endorsed elimination of same day voting. JSOnline.com News Link

Wisconsin Uprising Sites BloggingBlue.com - Blogging Liberally in the badger State. BlueCheddar.net - A progressive blog in Wisconsin. ScottWalkerWatch.com - Scott Walker Watch, commentary on the state of our Stare. Facebook.com/SolidaritySingAlong - Solidarity Singers meet each day at noon at the State Capital. Facebook.com/Monologues-of-Dissent - Open letters, excellent advice and unsolicited commentary, on politics, parenting, and the general state of affairs in Dairyland and beyond. WisconsinWave.org - The Liberty Tree Foundation began this project by circulating a call for a “Wisconsin Wave of Resistance”. Cops4Labor.BlogSpot.com - Full time detective and SWAT cop protecting and serving his community. Part time political and labor activist fighting for the 99%. Dedicated to the fight to remove the influence of money in our political system. Solidarity Sing Along - Each weekday at noon a Solidarity Sing Along begins. For over straight days, and the tradition continues. Scott Walker Watch - Keeping an eye on our Governor. United Wisconsin - putting people first.

Labor IWW.org - A union for all workers. Cops4Labor.BlogSpot.com - Full time detective and SWAT cop protecting and serving his community. Part time political and labor activist fighting for the 99%. Dedicated to the fight to remove the influence of money in our political system. AFLCIO.org - AFL-CIO - Good site with links to labor legislation, good and bad. SCFL.org - South Central Federation of Labor. The South Central Federation of Labor is an umbrella organization for labor unions in Dane, Dodge, Sauk, Columbia, Jefferson and Iowa Counties. Currently there are approximately 94 labor organizations, representing more than 30,000 workers, affiliated with SCFL.

Environment SierraClub.org - Sierra Club. Nature Conservancy The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. NRDC.org - The Natural Resources Defense Council. NatureNet.com/alnc - Aldo Leopold Center was Established in 1994 as an independent not-for-profit charitable organization, ALNC operates two innovative nature centers year-round (Monona and Black Earth). Local Environment USRWA.org- Upper Sugar River Watershed Association. CountyOfDane.com/lwrd - The Land & Water Resources Department (LWRD) consists of five divisions: Administration, Land Conservation, Office of Lakes and Watersheds, Parks, and Real Estate. Wisconsin.SierraClub.org - Local chapter of the Sierra Club. NatureNet.com/alnc - Aldo Leopold Center was Established in 1994 as an independent not-for-profit charitable organization, ALNC operates two innovative nature centers year-round (Monona and Black Earth).

Agriculture LandStewardshipProject.org - Sustainable agriculture is explored and encouraged. FoodFirst.org - Exploring hunger and the threat of genetically modified food sources. OrganicConsumers.org - A non-profit group working to keep integrity of organics and mandatory labeling of GMO-ingredients.

Fair Trade Products, Coops & Organics TuvaluCoffeeHouse.com - Fair trade gift Store in Verona, Wisconsin. Store.GXOnlineStore.org - Socially Concious Gift buying. FairTradeFederation.com - Conecting buyers with companies who sell fair trade products. GlobalExchange.org - Building people to people ties. CoopAmerica.org - Practical steps for using your consumer power for social change. TrilliumNaturalFoods.com - Trillium Natural Food Coop, Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin. VermontValley.com - CSA located in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin. PrairieBluffFarm.com - Organic Eggs & Meat from the Springdale farm of Steve and Beth Albert.

Election Fraud & Election Integrity "The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything." -Josef Stalin BlackBoxVoting.org - There are many good websites containing information on vote fraud and paperless e-voting. This is a good clearing house with website links on this issue. WisconsinWave.org - Dedicated to expanding voting rights to insure that every Wisconsinite can take part in our democracy. Join The Wave!

Voting InformationGo to our SWWAP "Voter Information" section: SWWAP.org/VoterInformation.

Entertainment DavidRovics.com - David Rovics, Singer Songwriter.

Investigative Reporting MotherJones.com - Hard hitting, no barred journalism. What else would you expect named after Mary Harris Jones. (To find out about this remarkable woman go to WomensHistory.About.com/od/motherjones.) GregPalast.com - This site contains the writings of Greg Palast, an award winning investigative reporter. His book, "Best Democracy Money Can Buy" should be required reading for every American. TheNation.com - The nation, edited by Wisconsin's John Nichols. Progressive.org - The Progressive is a monthly leftwing magazine of investigative reporting, political commentary, cultural coverage, activism, interviews, poetry, and humor. Published in Madison.

Media ReformToday 5 corporations control most of the news you watch, hear, or read in the United States. Some of these corporations make weaponry. Some of them own pharmaceutical stock. Some are owned by friends of the President. Do you really trust these corporations to service the best interests of the public first? Or do you think they might choose to service themselves and their friends instead? Check out some of these stories and decide for yourself. PublicIntegrity.org/telecom - The Center for Public Integrity's media watch page. Check to see who owns (local??) media.Fair.org - A National Media Watch Group dedicated to fair and honest reporting.MediaMatters.org - Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501©(3) progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media.The Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) is a non-profit investigative reporting group. Our reporting and analysis focus on exposing corporate spin and government propaganda. They publish...PRWatch.org - PRWATCH has been reporting on and exposing spin and disinformation since 1993.SourceWatch.org - Source watch is a collaborative resource for citizens and journalists looking for documented invormation about corporations, industry and people trying to influence pulic policy and opinion.

Media WORT-FM.org - Dane County's independant alternative radion station. This commercial free, people powered radio station transmits on 89.9 FM. TheMic921.com - The MIC has emerged as the progressive voice in Madison area. Madison.com/ct - The Capital Times is Dane County's Progressive Newspaper. Excellent State and Local News coverage.

Progressive News Service Organizations WisDC.org - Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. CounterPunch.org - Info coming soon. DemocracyNow.org - Democracy Now! is a national, daily, independent, award-winning news program airing on over 140 stations in North America. Pioneering the largest public media collaboration in the U.S., "Democracy Now!" the show is available on WORT radio 88.9 FM, Mon-Thurs at 1pm, or online from their website. They also offer an e-mail update service. Truthout.org - Truthout has many articles and op-eds which are not released on mainstream corporate media. They also provide a daily email service which keeps subscribers up to date. This service is free, and is operates with freewill donation. MoveOn.org - Democracy in action. This organization has created nationally, a direct action movement which serves to inform and garner response to important issues. They also have an email service which provides issues and suggested responses. AlterNet.org - AlterNet.org is an online magazine and information resource where pressing issues are subject to examination and debate. BuzzFlash.com - Another good link to breaking news. HuffingtonPost.com - The Huffington Post.

Progressive Links FightingBob.com - Wisconsin's progressive voice. JimHightower.com - Cutting edge commentary on current issues. Jim Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be, on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks. ProgressiveMajority.org - A future worth fighting for. An organization dedicated to promotion of progressive candidates and ideas. TheAllianceForDemocracy.org - Setting forth to end corporate domination, to establish true political democracy and to build a just society with a sustainable, equitable economy. AnswerCoalition.org - The anti-war and progressive movement that is fighting against. Citizen.org - National nonprofit public interest organization. LibertyTreeFoundation.com - Liberty Tree is uniquely committed to building a democracy movement for the U.S.A.

Local Progressive Groups SWWAP, SouthWest Wisconsin Area Progressives. You're There : ) Wisconsin Grassroots Network. Facebook.com/VeronaAreaProgressives - Verona Area Progressives. Facebook.com/pages/Oregon-WI-Area-Progressives- serving the Oregon Area SunPrairieAction.org - SPARC, Sun Prairie Action Resource Coalition. Grassroots Citizens of Wisconsin. Serving the Dodgeville / Mineral Point Area.

Local Environmment USRWA.org- Upper Sugar River Watershed Association. CountyOfDane.com/lwrd - The Land & Water Resources Department (LWRD) consists of five divisions: Administration, Land Conservation, Office of Lakes and Watersheds, Parks, and Real Estate.

Support Your Local Economy DaneBuyLocal.com- Dane Buy Local is a coalition of local independent businesses, organizations, and citizens in and around Dane County, Wisconsin, acting in alliance to keep our communities prosperous and sustainable. CSACoalition.org - a coalition of people invested in the vitality and strength of our community. Through education, outreach, community building and resource sharing, we are working to raise the bar on quality and accessibility of CSA shares in our region.