Here is the letter which I sent to all of Ashland’s City Council. I will be there to share this with them personally on Tuesday, June 20, 2012. — John Wieczorek
Restore Our Democracy
The people of Ashland urge you to take action to restore our democracy. As our representatives, we ask that you place on the ballot a resolution stating that money is not speech, and that corporations are not people. Let the people of Ashland’s voices be heard as we join the largest bipartisan grassroots movement in the Country.
The issue of policy being directed by a small number of corporations will not change unless we the people send a unified message that our government is not for sale.
The Supreme Court has tied the hands of Congress. Amending the United States Constitution remains our most realistic option to return the government to the people.
All politics are local. Under the current political environment, small business gets severely outspent by large corporations. What happens in Washington impacts Ashland’s economy. One local example is alternative energy company Brammo Motors. The fossil fuel industry continues to dominate national energy policy. Surely small companies like Brammo Motors would benefit should energy policy be dictated by innovation, wisdom, and demand instead of campaign contributions.
This is just one example. The issue of money influencing policy actually permeates all other policy issues. Our local food producers are trumped by large agri-business and bioengineering corporations. Our local doctors are limited by the insurance industries’ relationship with Congress. Our local banks are even disadvantage by the “to big to fail” lobby in Washington.
You have the tools, or can create the tools, to make Ashland heard on this pivotal issue. Over 272 communities nationwide have passed resolutions on this issue thus far. Please modify the rules as you simultaneously pass a resolution that one, removes corporate personhood, and two, states that money is not speech.
Thank you for helping us unify our voices at this critical point in our democracy.
John Wieczorek
165 Orange Ave
Ashland, OR97520