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[david johnson]

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From: david johnson <unionyes at ameritech.net>
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Date: Thursday, December 27, 2001 7:08 PM



Hello Everyone,
 
I dont know if any of you would be interested or not, but Jim Hightower will be touring the U.S. this spring and summer, with the purpose of creating a progressive / populist momentum against the corporate and governmental powers that be. The name of the tour is the " ROLLING THUNDER DEMOCRACY TOUR " and it will be a coordinated effort with all grassroots citizens organizations ( and individuals ). This could be a phenomenal organizing / outreach / fundraising oppurtunity for all of us.
The following is from the December issue of the " HIGHTOWER LOWDOWN ", and I think it will explain better than I can the potential for this ;
 
 
"...a narrow class of corporate, investor, and political elites has commandeered practically every lever of economic and governmental decision making in our country ( and globally ), and is pulling those levers to advance its wealth and power at the expense of working families, small farmers, small businesses, our communities, our healthcare system, our air, water, and food, our privacy and liberties, and even our basic right to self-government.
This is a daily assualt on America, coming from the bastions of privilege on Wall Street and in Washington, and now its striking millions of people...
The story of this assault is how Americans are not meekly surrendering to it, but teaming up to whack the assaulters right in their snouts. Its a story about how people are rallying beneath the media and political radar screens to retake our democracy street by street, issue by issue, ...
This movement involves not only activists, but also the stressed and angry majority of ordinary folks who have thousands of kitchen table conversations every evening about their place in a society that is out of whack and under the control of a wealthy power establishment that doesnt give a damn about people like them.
The critical mass of grassroots agitation over real grievances is there. Whats missing is the essential next step of connection.
Throughout 2002, we will work with progressive groups in dozens of cities across the country to organize local democracy festivals that will bring thousands of people together for a weekend so we can get involved in coalition building and get down to some serious fun.
 These Democracy Fests will be loosely based on the old-time Chautauqua movement, which began in western New York in 1874 and spread across the country town by town. It was a methodist led but secular enlightenment movement, bringing people together, where they could hear speakers, listen to music, participate in plays, eat and play together, and hold open discussions. At its peak, the movement reached 35 million people a year.
We want to revive that spirit. On the civic side, each of the Democracy Chautauquas will include ;
 
+ Two or three national speakers
+ Workshops on issues that local groups want to focus on
+ Training sessions to develop people's civic and personal power
+ A book tent featuring an hourly schedule of signings and readings by authors
+ Open-forum ' soap boxes ' for any individual to use
+ An array of booths where participating organizations, both local and national, can present their materials, solicit memberships, and engage the crowd
+ Facillitated strategizing sessions
+ Some targeted group actions, invitiing the public to join in a rally, march, etc., against a particular corporate bully
+ Petitioning, writting, voter education and registration, send a message to your congress critter, etc.
 
While all the participating groups will bring their particular issues to the fest, each is being asked to present them in terms of the overweening corporate power that threatens us all.
 
While we develop the civic side of our community, lets also wallow in the glorious cultural side. The Chautauqua spirit is a festive one, and these events are to be something that regular folks will want to come to, bringing their families, friends, neighbors, church members, co-workers, and the whole community. The setting is not a lecture hall, but more like a county fair, with lots going on all at once including :
 
+ Musicians, clowns ( Patch Adams will be at all of our events ), artists, and other performers
+ Food and drink - we will ask local chefs, farmers, grocery markets, etc., to bring their goodies ; and yes, we will have beer and wine
+ Stuff for kids
+ Crafts and hands on demostrations
+ Whatever else we can think of thats fun - a " Dunk a Lobbyist " booth, baseball, chess, a cook-off... you name it.
 
If nothing else, the ROLLING THUNDER DEMOCRACY TOUR will be an uplifting celebration that brings all sides of town into contact, not merely gathering organizational leaders, but reaching into the neighborhoods, clubs, churches, bars, and whatever else will let the larger community get to know each other, learn from each other, laugh,eat, and see what we might do together.
We will ask each coordinating coalition in each local area to identify a unifying issue or two that local people can work on together beyond the event, thus keeping the coalition process in action.
The national Rolling Thunder Democracy partners will help with event coordinating, provide organizational support, add to the crowd building effort, offer name speakers and entertainers, assist with media, provide engaging workshops and training specialists, and generally " be there ."
It also will leave behind an invaluable resource : we intend to collect and compile, on the spot, a computerized list of all those who attend, to all of the groups who help produce the event, allowing them to stay in touch with the attendees and involve them in future actions.
Coordinating coalitions have begun planning Chautauquas in Tucson, Chicago, Austin, Atlanta, Madison, Seattle and Colorado Springs. We hope you will get involved with us as a local organizer, funder, national planning partner, or at any level of participation.
Democracy is not something that just happens ; it has to be built from the ground up. Lets roll."
 
Jim Hightower ( December 2001 )
 


Tell me what you think and let me know if you are interested.
 
David Johnson
Champaign IL
217 -356 -8247
unionyes at ameritech.net 
 
 
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