02/29/2016 – Five years ago the “Citizens United” Supreme Court ruling unleashed unlimited, and often secret, corporate cash into the political process and elections. Now just 158 families will contribute over 50 percent of the billions being spent on the 2016 presidential election cycle. Just two anti-union billionaire industrialists, the Koch brothers, announced that they plan to spend $900 million in the 2016 election cycle!
Our elections are literally being bought and sold.
Concurrent with this development, voter suppression is on the rise, with an explosion of voter ID laws and other roadblocks to working people’s ability to exercise our right to vote.
At our 2014 National APWU Convention resolutions were overwhelmingly passed calling for overturning Citizens United, getting money out of politics and defending the right to vote.
In order to help implement these resolutions, the APWU has joined the “Democracy Initiative,” a network of over 60 national organizations that seek to restore our democracy. It was founded by the Communication Workers of America, NAACP, Common Cause, Sierra Club and Greenpeace. The many diverse organizations, from labor to environmental, civil rights to faith-based, all have come to the realization that none of our legislative goals will be reached if the corporations completely control our elected representatives. That is true for us as well, as we seek postal reform, fixing the pre-funding crisis, restoring service standards and getting a USPS Board of Governors that seek to build the institution, rather than destroy it. Many of the organizations in the Democracy Initiative are also part of the Grand Alliance to Save the Public Postal Service.
This spring the democracy movement is stepping it up with a national action dubbed “Democracy Awakening 2016.” Rise Up To Save Democracy will take place in Washington, DC, from April 16-18. It will include teach-ins, protest, direct action, trainings and music.
You can get more information at DemocracyAwakening.org or you can TEXT RISEUP to 69866.
Sanders is the candidate of the working person, from all walks of working life, not just postal workers…He does not have a super-pac, he has over 5 million individual donations thus far…the check’s in the mail from this donor who realizes that 5 million and 1 is just the beginning…the American people need to ask themselves, who is more trustworthy and keepin’ it real: A candidate who takes money from super-pacs and claims to not be influenced by that money or a candidate who refuses any of that “shadow” money and instead accepts donations from individuals? Feel the BERN and step it up for a candidate who is attempting to be a voice of working people and is not under the undo influence of elitists…and send your checks in the mail…
APWU endorsed Socialist B. Sanders 2 months ago. Now you put out this drivel?
How about:
all the money George Soros has given to Hillary?
all the Dem super-delegates committed for Hillary?
all those Black Panthers blocking conservatives from voting?
all those donations to CGI? CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE!!!
all of the liberals in congress who did NOTHING for the USPS when they had total control over the House, Senate, and the White House? All they ever did was bitch that Republicans were obstructing their goals. Anyone could see the liberals lied!
CSPAN viewer,
The major issues addressed by the Sander’s group are an attempt to right the failing ship. How is having a requirement for ID okay when the place to get the ID is closed, relocated or in a remote location where transportation is almost nonexistent. Elderly citizens with no ride to and from without a great sacrifice of over 50 miles.
Small rural areas is the problem mainly because of access to what others has as routine daily living. The scales aren’t balanced. Geaux Figure!!!!!!
William,
That ID issue is a smoke screen. It is really all about preventing folks from access to and redesigning the voting district. Other tricks being used are utilizing the prison population to redistrict the voting strength in the county. The prisoners doesn’t vote but GEAUX figure!!!!
roadblocks to working people’s ability to exercise our right to vote????? I believe working people have proper identification which allow us to vote….I know I do…if you want to drive a car you must have proper id…if you want to fly, you must have proper id….if you want to vote, properly register to vote and do so….explosion of voter id laws…get real…