| For our 2000 book "Hope's Edge," my daughter Anna and I traveled five continents to capture stories of people turning democracy into an effective, living practice. We visited Dane County then so we could share your story, one of only two U.S. examples in our book. What a great choice we made, for since then you've continued to show the way in what we call Living Democracy-- regular citizens expanding and spreading power, creating sustainable communities, and tapping into our deep human needs for cooperation, fairness, and mutual accountability. From your food co-ops to your efforts to reduce the harmful impact of pesticides; from your Slow Food movement to your push for publicly owned power utilities and municipal minimum wages, you have tapped into the creativity that emerges when diverse perspectives meet and call on the insight of the people closest to the problems. In all these ways, and more you'e showing the rest of us that the changes needed to get to the root of our local-to-global problems can greatly enhance our lives. Yet, as is true across the country, I see you face a huge barrier, the effort of concentrated power to thwart the emergence of more effective, engaged local democracy. One striking example is evident in initiatives across the country to give the state or federal government the power to override local laws. The industry trade group Responsible Industry for Sound Environment (RISE), for example, is using what's called "preemption legislation" to sue Dane County for its 2005 law banning phosphorus-containing synthetic lawn fertilizers. The industry group is attempting to override citizens' concern that run-off from these fertilizers is polluting area lakes such as Monona, Mendota, Waubesa, and Kegonsa, potentially harming public and environmental health. State and federal efforts are also trying to short circuit plans for municipal cable, municipal wireless service, and publicly owned power utilities. The "video competition bill" now in the Wisconsin state house "will take away the negotiating power of cities and towns for their cable contracts and will grant franchise rights, free of charge, to mega corporations in perpetuity. No wonder AT&T and its "grassroots" group TV4US have spent millions trying to create support for the bill. Unfortunately for the average citizen, the WisconsinDepartment of Revenue says the bill would result in a loss of millions of dollars of revenue yearly to municipalities throughout Wisconsin, necessitating increases in local property taxes just to maintain essential services at current levels. Elsewhere, industry groups have also worked to deny localities their power to save rural communities from the hazards of large-scale livestock confinement operations. Do you see the pattern? Because Big Money can warp political decision making, citizens' commonsense solutions are being thwarted. This crisis for our democracy is manifest all the way up to the federal level, as, to pick just one dangerous example, fossil fuel industries successfully block emergency action to cut carbon emissions. Sixty-one lobbyists now walk the corridors of power in Washington, D.C. for every one person we have elected to represent our interests. With citizens so heavily outnumbered, private power supersedes public power and citizens lose faith: For the first time more than 60 percent of Americans believe that government is run to benefit a few big interests. Almost three-fourths of us believe our country is headed in the wrong direction. What's the solution? Citizens realizing our power. Power, I've learned, exists only in relationship, which means that virtually no one is powerless: All actions depend on others allowing it. As citizens of Wisconsin you exercised your power through municipal votes on the war and impeachment; you are "pushing back" and standing firm for democracy. Madison's Local Democracy Convention last year is a great example of leadership in building a national movement for enhanced local democracy. The Liberty Tree Foundation, to which I am proud to be an advisor, is at the forefront of this movement. You can find out more at http://www.libertytreefdr.org/localDemocracy.php. Plus, we can bust open the disempowering myth that it is impossible to free political decision making from the corrupting influence of private wealth. One of America's best kept secrets is an approach called Clean Elections, or voluntary public financing of elections. In two states -- Arizona and Maine -- the approach is succeeding: Almost four of five elected officials in Maine have relied on public financing and in Arizona -- 42% of legislators and nine of 11 statewide officers -- ran clean. In 2008 the system will take effect in Connecticut. Clean Elections have the power to dissolve Big Money's grip on our elected officials' attention and to increase our chances of reversing such anti-democratic precedents as preemption laws. Clean Elections open the door to ordinary citizens running for office and winning. My hunch is that it's no coincidence Maine let die in committee a 2007 law which preempts local laws on farm structures and practices. Initiatives for Clean Elections are underway in many states, and at the national level are two bills with bi-partisan support: Durbin-Specter Fair Elections Now Act (S 1285) and the Clean Money, Clean Elections Act of 2007 (HR 1614). In September, presidential candidate John Edwards announced his intent to accept public financing, further raising awareness. To be part of the national campaign, go to www.just6dollars.org. For a local efforts you can check out the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, www.wisc.org. A favorite memory from my own childhood is lying down the hallway from the kitchen where grown-up talk and coffee were percolating. My parents and their friends were discussing what I thought of as "the big, important things." They were fighting racism; they were integrating their church. In my sleepy haze I was absorbing this message: that citizenship was no dull duty for them; it was the means by which we come alive as people. That is Living Democracy -- and I am grateful to citizens of Dane County for showing the rest of us the way. Frances Moore Lappe is the author of 16 books including "Diet for a Small Planet" and "Getting a Grip: Clarity, Creativity, and Courage in a World Gone Mad." Lappe; will be speaking at the Barrymore Theater on November 5th at 6 p.m. $5 suggested donation. For more information, visit http://www.LibertyTreeFDR.org or call (608) 257-1606. Also see http://www.gettingagrip.org. |
| Guest Column Living democracy by Frances Moore Lappe |
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