The people have spoken and the name chosen by popular vote for a new activist group is Grass Roots Over Washington (GROW)!

One moment to quickly explain something about PlanetPOV and activism. PlanetPOV was envisioned to be a citizens’ think tank, a place for people to come together to discuss meaningful issues and collaborate to take action as they chose.

However, no member should ever feel obligated to participate in any particular initiative that’s not up their alley nor hesitate to create a new initiative at any time, even one with an opposing perspective to another.

The bottom line is that we would like The Planet to be a marketplace of ideas. At this point in history, Progressive activism is so needed. It is invited and encouraged to be created by one and all.

With that said, to those interested in this initiative, the next steps would seem to be:

a. Discussion of and vote to approve a Mission Statement

b. Discussion of and vote to approve the scope, strategies and activities of the group.

c. Discussion of and vote to approve the first protest.

To continue onward, here is a proposed Mission Statement, drafted by Cher. I took the liberty of a small revision, replacing “Main Street” with “grass roots Americans” to reflect and reference the name of the group:

“We are a group of citizens united to ensure the continuation of democracy, which is imperiled by the corporate takeover of our government.

We stand united against the corrupting power of corporate money – money that mutes our voices.

We insist that the voice of grass roots Americans be heard.

Our mission is to unite our country against the threat to our nation – the rise of corporate influence and the consolidation of the media.

We urge all Americans of any political party to join us in this one goal: “A government of the people, by the people and for the people.”

Please vote below:

[poll id=”32″]

From previous discussions, there seems to be consensus that GROW’s focus should be aimed at addressing the corporate domination of our democracy, media and economy.

There have been discussions on what the group should focus on, such as protesting and actively trying to address the SCOTUS decision allowing corporations to openly buy elections. Should that be the main or sole focus? Should there be additional corporate power issues as well, equal or secondary in importance?

There have been suggestions about creating YouTube videos and focusing on conceiving and performing media-savvy, eye catching and amusing protests to encourage media coverage to get the word out. What are your thoughts on that? Are there other approaches that should be implemented additionally or instead?

Your thoughts, ideas and feedback on what the specific aims and protests should be of this group would be invaluable, please feel free to share them below.

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choicelady
Member

Hi-

A little late to the table; was out of town trying to get over the Cold That Will Not Die (6 weeks and counting), but I LOVE this, and I thank everyone who has worked so hard getting it together. I do think it has a simple strength that will attract people and makes a serious point with a smiling countenance. Lovely!

Questinia
Member

I love our President. He makes all of the GOP look like mental midgets.

BUT! He needs to have emotion, indignation and drama. People don’t listen to intellect only.

GROW needs to be emotional… and intellectual. The GOP “appeals” to the gut even though their fare ends up being food poison.

Fuck you, GOP.

Chernynkaya
Member

Oops! Just read the last paragraph of your Post, AdLIb. where you brought up what focus and scope of the group.

I think we the scope of the group should be all activities and issues in which corporations have undue and undemocratic influence. That would include the corporatization of the press, etc.

But I strongly believe we should focus our efforts solely on the SCOTUS decision. I feel this way because we are a new group and we are a herd of cats, but I also think that once we gel and gain cred, we should work towards consolidating other groups working towards the same goal. In a way, if we were the group that formed a coalition of groups, I’d feel we did something amazing. So those are the goals as I see them, FWIW.

Once we have our sea legs, and have accomplished a few of our first steps, I would like to see us expand our goals.

Questinia
Member

Corporations are the government you can’t vote out.

bito
Member

Corporations are the government you can

KQµårk 死神
Member

At least it’s not GROAN “Grass Roots Over American Nation”

Seriously I think GROW is an excellent acronym that people will remember (you better check that it has not been used by another group now). GROW says in one word what progressives should be all about in my opinion, being grown adults who approach problems in a thoughtful way, growing our voices through positive advocacy and finally growing our country through continued progress.

I would just stay away from too many specific policy elements in a mission statement.

javaz
Member

Does anyone else look at the photo and think about getting out Bambu and listening to Pink Floyd while staring at a lava lamp?

http://www.internationaloddities.com/rolling-papers.asp

Chernynkaya
Member
javaz
Member

I’m guessing the first is from HAIR and love the wild clothes in the second – far out!

SueInCa
Member

Not Pink Floyd, but maybe Hendrix, Iron Butterfly or Cream

javaz
Member

It does depict a double-meaning for GRASS roots over Washington and GROW!

:mrgreen:

It’s Friday and I’m ready for the youtubes!

Blues Tiger
Member
Blues Tiger

Club Papers !!! not that I actually know anything about em… 😎

nellie
Member

Just throwing an idea out there after reading the comments.

We are a group of American citizens, united to ensure the continuation of our democracy, which is imperiled by corporate influence and interference in our government.

We stand against the corrupting power of corporate money — money that mutes our voices.

We insist that the voice of grass roots America be heard.

Our mission is to unite our country against corporate abuse. And to make sure our government is responsive to us — our families, our neighbors, our fellow citizens.

We urge all Americans — of any political party — to join us in this one goal: “A government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

Chernynkaya
Member

Looks good, Nellie.

SueInCa
Member

Looks good to me Nellie. And good choice for the name.

Blues Tiger
Member
Blues Tiger

Hey AdLib, If I may make a suggestion… Has “Grow” defined it’s mission? From experience I have learned it is best to work out the details of defining your mission first (just the basics) and then create your Mission Statement from defined mission… I am not sure but it kinda looks like the steps may be getting reversed…

Define your core values and goals and then the Mission Statement can relfect them not define them…

bito
Member

I have just been reading some of the articles and associated links by clicking from the Think Progress’s word cloud “corporate ethics.” http://thinkprogress.org/tag/corporate-ethics/ The forces we are facing are large, vast and wealthy. Many of them I never heard of or knew they existed. Some corporate groups are being formed right now to uphold the recent SCOTUS ruling: http://thinkprogress.org/2010/02/06/action-tank/

I am not writing this to dampen spirits but to inspire. I look at the “move-on” million faxes” and it barely got a peep in the corporate owned media. If a million is not enough, what is the number needed to gain notice?

Our group will have to include many movements coffee,tea,water,cola….Left right,center, to fight “corporate person hood.” Think of every non-corporate group that you can. It will take every one plus more speaking and fighting against this corruption of democracy. It will have to be huge to crack into corporate media.

We can fight this corporate take over of democracy. We can,We MUST fight this obscene take over of the American peoples voices.

(and this for Cher, “No belly button, No politics” 🙂 )

Chernynkaya
Member

Bito– 😆

And you are so right! There are many groups forming to fight this decision, and we need to find them and work together!! I will start looking– can you do some of that too? We can just list them here daily and then after our group has some credibility, we should contact them.

bito
Member

Both j’avaz and I have done simple searches by typing in “corporate abuse, fight/stop/corporate person hood… Many groups!!

If I may suggest,after we jell our group, we draft a letter to send the many groups? With a copy of Dr. Suits. 😉

Chernynkaya
Member

Definitely!

Chernynkaya
Member

I wish this thread were like the Vox Populi threads because than we’d have all the comments in one place. Any way to keep these comments together?

Blues Tiger
Member
Blues Tiger

*

Chernynkaya
Member

I believe you are correct– I retract my earlier comment. But my point was: What you said. 🙂

We do need to elaborate, and I think that the elaboration should not be in the original statement, but separate.

Blues Tiger
Member
Blues Tiger

*

Chernynkaya
Member

New email– at some point we should compile all these efforts, as they are part of our mission, right?

Dear “Cher”,

It’s been a month since the Supreme Court spoke.

Now it’s time for US to speak.

The Democratic Leadership has finally come out with a plan. And, thanks to your participation, the plan includes three of our proposals.

So far, the plan would:

* Stop foreigners from buying our government.
* Prevent government contractors like Blackwater from stealing our elections.
* Force disclosure to shareholders when a company wants to bribe and threaten elected officials.

The Supreme Court needs to understand that this is a democracy. OUR democracy.

It’s urgent that we act. I’m going to be speaking with a key congressional committee chairman, Rep. Bob Brady, with a simple message: Let’s go!

Chairman Brady is in charge of the House Administration Committee. Our bills are assigned to his committee. He needs to hear from all of us that saving our democracy just can’t wait.

Please join me. Call Rep. Brady’s office in the House Administration Committee and ask him to save our democracy. The phone number is 202-225-2061. Tell him that he needs to move the bill as fast as possible. You can also weigh in at the committee web site.

In the weeks ahead, I’ll be keeping you informed. I’m working to include all of our proposals in the final bill, and make it as strong as possible. After all, it’s not enough to disclose political looting and bribery. We must STOP it.

Call Brady’s office in the House Administration Committee and tell him to MOVE the bill: 202-225-2061

Seven out of ten Americans think corporations ALREADY have too much influence over elections.

Eight out of ten Americans want restrictions on corporate spending on elections.

Almost eight out of ten Americans think that shareholders should get to vote before their companies spend one dime on elections.

Call Bob Brady’s office at 202-225-2061 and tell him what you think. What we think.

Corporations are not people. Corporations do not breathe. Corporations do not fall in love. Corporations do not have children. Corporations do not lose their jobs. Corporations do not fight and die in war.

This is obvious to everyone but five justices on the Supreme Court.

Time to fight back.

Courage,

Alan Grayson

nellie
Member

I’d like to throw out a suggestion —

If anyone suggests a change to the mission statement, could you please rewrite the entire statement with your changes so we can see how it reads?

It helps people see how the change affects the overall concept.

Chernynkaya
Member

Nellie– 😎