Just keep clicking those mice, folks. That's how we won in California, And that is how we are going to win here.
For crying out loud, these are politicians. At the end of the day, when the people actually speak out they MUST listen. The only thing the right wing ever had going for it was our own defeatism. They could prevail only as long as they could propagate the totally fraudulent myth that the people have no power, that the politicians will never listen to us, that there is nothing we can do about these all powerful corporations, all of that mental CRAP they ceaselessly push on their media monopolies, talking about "done deal" when it is against us, and all their so-called pundits pontificating with such faux certitude about how this or that will never happen when it is for us. Well, guess what? We are doing it.
At the press conference Tuesday, one of the presenters on the House side happened to mention that this issue polls well. Uh, DUH! I'm telling you the right wing is shaking in its socks right now. The people are on the move. And we are going to beat this drum in every election from now on, just like right wing thought it could make other pet issues their ticket to a permanent majority. Their little punk complaints have got nothing on this. This is the deciding moment of our generation, and we are going for it.
JB: So this could actually happen? It's not just a pipe dream? Frankly, I've been afraid to get my hopes up.
PEN: To hell with hope. This is about activism. Advocate or advocate not. Speak out or speak out not. But don't ever try to tell us what can't be done. There is a line at the end of Citizens United, The Movie, where a character asks a similar question. And the response . . . "There's one thing of which I am certain . . . there is nothing that can't be done, if the citizens are TRULY united." That's what this is all about.
Jim Hightower has a line, we'll credit him for it, and it goes something like this, "Those who want to talk about what can't be done should not interrupt those who are doing it."
And I just want to say a word to those who might complain that this latest proposed constitutional amendment does not go far enough, that it does not fix everything all at once, that it does not unequivocally state that corporations are not people for any and all constitutional rights purposes. There is plenty of time for that, this is a long term generational movement (though we will never be surprised when it happens at breathtaking speed) and nothing in the current language is in conflict with that. We are not going away.
Indeed, it is perfectly possible that this is not the final version of what will pass. But it is such a huge crack in the door, it does the biggest part of what needs to be fixed, we would be IDIOTS not to jump all over this, and to use support for this as a litmus test for which politicians need to be replaced. And then AFTER we gain those super-majorities, we can have full repudiation of corporate personhood as a further amendment or a parallel proposal.
JB: From your mouth to God's ear, PEN. For readers who have been energized by this piece and want to DO SOMETHING, have you got any suggestions to give this effort added momentum?
PEN: The most important action to take next is to BOMBARD (in a peaceful petition manner) the House members who are not already cosponsors of H.J.Res.119. Even if you have never submitted an action page before in your life, this is the one you cannot miss.
Cosponsor H.J.Res.119 Action Page: http://www.peaceteam.net/action/pnum1187.php
Senate count is already 48 co-sponsors, not just those who will vote to pass, but ACTIVE declared co-sponsors, and the few remaining holdouts there are really feeling the heat of the breath of the People right now breathing down their necks. Now is the time to raise every voice we can in the US House of Representatives, especially now in the two weeks left before the next recess.
JB: Is there anything you'd like to add, before we wrap this up?
PEN: Sure. I've already mentioned the Citizens United, The Movie project. This is intended as, among other things, a major mobilizing vehicle, to create an entertaining and exciting movie, a life imitates art model of activists succeeding, an empowering experience that will inspire more and more people to join this movement. And by the way, the proposed constitutional amendment for the purposes of the film will be the verbatim current text of H.J.Res.119, but WITH our own simple and short custom upgrade to fully address the corporate personhood issue, and your readers can find out more about the active production of this movie going on right now (aiming to complete principal photography by the end of August) at
Citizens United, The Movie, page: http://www.peaceteam.net/citizens_united2.php
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