Organizing and unleashing two-fisted democracy power at a treadmill pace

According to its last annual report, July 1, 2010-June 30, 201, the Center had net assets of $7,726,103 to be exact ending on June 30, 2011. Its board of directors numbered 20; its staff 45; and there were three apparently paid consultants. Many of the personnel are attorneys as would be expected given the nature of this organization. The list of its funding sources takes 13 pages and ranges from planned estate gifts to donors and foundations giving $100 to over $100,000.

I was not told why the Center would "not be able to participate." Lack of money or staff certainly can't be a valid reason. The Center is a financially able and well-staffed NGO, astonishingly so. Perhaps it is overbooked on the issues it already tackles? Perhaps it thinks its list of connections to 35 grassroots movements and alliances makes a real USCD superfluous? When I looked over that list I noted that most of the groups focus on single issues (e.g. prison reform) or limited geographical areas (e.g. New York City). One would think the Center; since it touts its links to coalitions could have at least opted for adding its name to The Democracy Coalition and thus giving it a boost. What would that minimal gesture have cost this wealthy NGO?

Profile of a Non-Responding NGO: Common Cause

Here are a few excerpts from an e-mail I sent on February 1 to Bob Edgar, a former member of Congress and the current president of Common Cause:

"Dear Bob, I got your auto generated, personally addressed request today for me to "---sign the petition---urging President Obama "to nominate new FEC commissioners now so that candidates and parties can be held accountable in 2012.' I agree with you that the FEC "is a dysfunctional mess.' But Bob, the FEC has been ineffectual and politicized and corporatized from the beginning. New commissioners will hardly make a noticeable difference. I have sent you several times for your consideration a proposal for Common Cause to take the lead in helping to create a U.S. Chamber of Democracy. I have so far never gotten a reply. I will try again."

Common Cause, www.commoncause.org , was founded in 1970 by John Gardner. I knew him personally. We were both psychologists and worked in the same place. His vision was to launch a "nationwide, independent, non-partisan organization for those Americans who want to help in the rebuilding of the nation." Over 40 decades later the purpose of his organization remains steady.

Common Cause concentrates on these focal issues: "money in politics;" "government accountability;" "elections and voting;" "ethics in government;" and "media and democracy;" and "international" (i.e., working to help emerging democracies in foreign countries).

According to its last annual report posted on the website the net assets of Common Cause as of June 30, 2008 were $3, 353, and 999. Its website currently lists 30 members serving on the national governing board; a staff of nearly 50; and over 70 "state leaders" in 35 states.

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).