Short and sweet video below the fold "Vote for the Worst Governor EVER!" I hope all will take part and register their votes at the website provided in the video.
Many ALEC supporters claim that the "model legislation" proposed by ALEC and submitted by their legislative members are submitted for the people. We've been told by ALEC National Chairman, Rep. Noble Ellington (R-LA) that the people are represented at the table when these laws are written, because he's there and he represents us.
Here is hard proof of who actually wrote many of ALEC's model legislation...presented general services privatization seminar for senior state of Oklahoma officials for the Heritage Foundation...and much more. It is the Wendell Cox Consultancy, out of Belleville, IL. They represent conservatism here in the U.S. and around the world. This is one of the conduits used by ALEC to export their initiatives, ideology and criminal justice legislation to many foreign countries. Here are some of the proclaimed "successes" of this outfit:
Conducted and published extensive research into privatization, deregulation and related economic issues. As a part of this process, have developed guidelines for the successful implementation of privatization strategies.
Assisted the state of Victoria (Australia) in privatization of its light rail, urban rail and intercity rail system (1997) as a part of a consulting team led by Coopers Lybrand.
Prepared an analysis for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) of the potential for public-private competition to improve service to riders and taxpayers. Included cost-benefit analysis of labor protective arrangement buy-out (may have been first such analysis in US urban public transport industry) (1997).
Designed 25 percent property tax reduction program for Nebraska gubernororial candidate John Breslow. This program relied heavily on privatization and other government efficiencies programs and was the central plank in the candidate's unsuccessful bid for the 1998 Republican nomination.
Directed State Legislation and Policy program for the American Legislative Exchange Council (Washington), 1992-1995. Included policy oversight of programs, publications, and conferences. This organization includes approximately 3,000 US state legislators (parliamentarians).
Principal author of a Bexar County (San Antonio) Opportunity Analysis, sponsored by the Texas Public Policy Foundation (1998) This study recommended a routine conversion of various public services to privatization, competitive contracting and deregulation strategies.
Staff consultant for the Competitiveness Task Force of the American Legislative Exchange Council This task force identified mechanisms for conversion of public services to privatization and deregulation (1993-1995).
Principal author of a US Environmental Protection Agency project to produce a state legislative handbook on public-private environmental partnerships (privatization) for the American Legislative Exchange Council (1991-2).
Drafted model state legislation adopted by the American Legislative Exchange Council on privatization of state and local government services and functions (1988 & 1989).
Performed review and cost evaluation of the Denver public transport competitive tendering (privatization) program and cost-benefit study on public versus private purchase of capital equipment used in competitively tendered services (1996).
Drafted privatization of general services legislation introduced in Colorado and Arizona. Legislation was passed by both houses of the legislature in Arizona, but vetoed by the governor. Parts of the legislation were included in an enacted Texas bill. The legislation would have established a routine system for converting public services to privatization and competitive contracting, including safeguards to ensure achievement of public objectives.
Presenter in a Heritage Foundation general services privatization seminar for senior state of Oklahoma officials.
Prepared and presented a general services privatization seminar for the Mayor and City-County Council of Indianapolis. This was presented at the beginning of this city's successful privatization and competition program.
Drafted legislation requiring 20 percent of Denver bus system to be competitively contracted (1988).
Provided assistance to the Liberal Party of South Australia in developing the public transport portion of its manifesto for the 1993 election. Much of the program, including competitive tendering and separation of policy from operations, has been implemented (1993).
Seminars on public policy issues, including economics, privatization, competitive tendering, deregulation, government management and transport policy for public officials in 35 US states, Canada, Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Slovenia, Ukraine, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Russia (1985 to present).
Principal author of a research project comparing public and private school bus operations for the American Legislative Exchange Council (1990).
Performed a public policy audit and prepared a legislative program for the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Republican) of North Carolina (1997-1998).
Certified by the US Department of Transportation as a privatization and deregulation "expert" in the "Public Private Transportation Network" program. This program provided technical assistance to public transport agencies, local governments, regional planning organizations and private transit and school bus operator organizations. Assignments completed in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. The program was discontinued in 1993 (1985- 1993).
Prepared a series of "Legislative Issue Briefs" on privatization, deregulation and competitive tendering for the American Legislative Exchange Council (1992-1995).
Prepared the "bus" chapter of book (Privatization for New York: Competing for a Better Future) for the New York State Senate Advisory Committee on Privatization (1992).
Prepared a deregulation of public employment chapter for the Pataki for Governor campaign (New York) in 1994.
Testimony before committees of the US Senate, US House of Representatives, Ontario Provincial Parliament and 21 state legislatures (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington), city councils and county commissions on privatization, deregulation and labor issues.
Presentations made to numerous organizations in North America, Australia, Europe, New Zealand and South Africa.
Member, Steering Committee International Conference on Competition and Ownership in Land Transport (1991: Finland, 1993: Canada, 1995: New Zealand, 1997 United Kingdom, 1999 South Africa)
We can all now see that once corporations present an idea to ALEC, it is sent out to this super lobbyist group or a similar one, where it is polished, drafted and sent back in a clean legislative form. Then voted upon by both the corporations and lawmakers, adopted as "model legislation" and sent back to our legislatures for submission as state laws. More than anything else this demonstrates that the voice, consideration or even knowledge of the context by the public is never considered throughout this private vetting process. Once it is presented as proposed laws in our states, we are still without knowledge of any of it - unless the mainstream media is told to advertise it to the public - and voting and adoption is done by those supposedly representing us.
This is how much of this is done without our knowledge, participation or consent...yet becomes the laws we must live by. This all makes me physically sick to my stomach as I realize just how insidious it is, how we are being manipulated and how the MSM is used to enable their activities. The name over the entry to ALEC's offices should proclaim "THROUGH THESE DOORS PASS THE LAWS AMERICANS ARE MADE TO LIVE BY - Long Live Corporatocracy!"
Above in parody presented by actors, is the sad facts and reality that has to be presented in a comical and farcical manner to keep the public from erupting in a revolt. This is the end result of all the money Koch and the corporations have funneled into the cabal's agenda...all the time and effort invested in getting their way and establishing control over the masses. In reality what they are doing is using our democratic processes to enable them to install corporatocracy as a control mechanism. Once in place, democracy will be thrown out, replaced by corporate rule.
The recalls in Wisconsin show that even in the face of overwhelming majority opposition to the Walker led conservative agenda, Koch money (estimated at between $30 and $40 million) can overcome all opposition. Too many conservatives are willing to sell their souls to advance this agenda, even when the outcome is in direct conflict with their personal interests. They do it to be a part of the perceived "Winning side". If nothing else the cabal has learned that "if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit" work in their case to overcome any opposition. They have found a way to buy our government's participation and assistance in advancing their ideological agenda, with the end result being that even the governments are becoming bankrupt, state by state and now even our national government is tettering on the edge of collapse, after helping bring this about.
All of us starting with the Commander In Chief have to sit up and begin to stop this now. The time to put an end to this and save democracy and the very nation itself is running out. Everyone has to start taking an active part in defeating this cabal and quit depending upon the small handfuls of us who are out here attempting to do it for them. Our groups are disorganized, without funding or genuine support from the large labor, manufacturing and other concerns who continue to fight this shit on their own, unwilling to unify and present a strong, unified front line in this war over democracy. Labor groups are hesitant to join us for fear that they will be seen as "agitators" with only their own objectives in mind, using others to advance "Unions".
I say to hell with worries over how anyone perceives the coming together to fight this crap. Let conservatives, Republican's and their supporters howl...let them scream all the way out the door and do it louder as it swings shut behind them and hits them in their collective asses! That is a beautiful mental image - and it can become a reality, but damn it, we have simply got to come together, liberals, progressives, moderates, Independents, Democrats and quit infighting and put aside our differences of the past to take on this attack in the present. Together we can put an end to this agenda and the cabal behind it. We can shove their asses back into Pandora's Box and lock them away in a dark and sealed crypt where they will no longer be a threat to the rest of us. But we HAVE TO DO IT IN A UNIFIED AND ORGANIZED MANNER.
The piecemeal way in which we have all been responding is nothing more than an inadequate defense. If we join our resources and abilities not only can we better defend against these attacks, we can raise an offense to defeat them once and for all.
Just think about that as you read about more and more attacks upon education, privatization of government services, cuts to social safety nets, etc. They have divided us into small segments they can control and battle against using their collective means to conquer each small group aligned against them. It works for them and we cannot deny that...yet many refuse to overcome that division by closing ranks to give as good as we get. I am so disappointed in our collective society - a society of diversity and complexity - that continues to face these attacks, small group by small group as they watch each group fall in this battle for democracy, while wasting time arguing about how to defend and bring their own attacks upon ALEC and the Koch's.
Those who choose to live like this, under a constant state of unrest and attacks are simply put, friggin' nuts. Those who sit back and watch as their retirement accounts are consumed by rich speculators then when they lose their gambles, are made whole through bailouts of money our children's children will have to pay for...and those who sit back and watch as their jobs are taken and given to slave laborers, then complain that unemployment benefits are being denied them but refuse to step forward and fight with us...those who stand by and watch our democracy being attacked and taken apart block by block and refuse to also join together to defend ARE ALL ENABLERS! Through your lack of joining together you continue to allow this shit to happen.
I belong to no Union, no Labor organization or group, yet I stand side by side with them accompanied by a small handful of others. We do this in the spirit of coming together to do this because it is the right thing to do. We've marched, protested, stood out in the elements in front of statehouses, Capitols while encouraging others to join us and help stop what is happening to us, our society and our country. We've listened to excuses that I don't have the time to take part, or I'm still not sure this affects me, or I don't have kids in school, so I'm not affected...or I never liked Unions, to explain their hesitancy to join and take part.
Once again I have to conclude using the old but now often stated phrase, attributed to Martin Niemöller...
First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Those of us who have stood now and spoken out on behalf of President Obama, the AFLCIO, UAW, IBEW, SEIU, students, elderly, the young, the infirm, the unemployed, the disenfranchised, Immigrants and millions of others...are being worn down. We have stood fast asking for all of you to put your perceived differences aside and join us in this fight. We have risked much to expose the cabal, personally and professionally, we have funded this out of small contributions and out of our own meager savings and income.
We have spoken for all of you until our voices are hoarse...we have marched until our feet became blistered and sore...we have protested in snow, rain and the harsh sun. We have done all of this for all of you. We receive your appreciation in return - but our ranks remain small, unfunded and without genuine support from many who have the ability to swell our numbers.
It's time for those of you who continue to refuse to join or assist us I direct this diary at. To continue to fight for our democracy we simply have to have more assistance - boots on the ground and funding to carry this battle forward. Through us ALEC has been finally exposed. Through us your voices and concerns have been carried into the streets and taken right to the doors where ALEC meets and works their nefarious agenda. Through our efforts here at Daily Kos we have accomplished all of this but that is not enough. DK has a large readership and following, but assistance has to come from outside DK and our Exposing ALEC Group.
I call upon all union leaders, labor and activist groups, workers, unemployed and disenfranchised to come together and help us win this class war. I don't speak for others in our group, but for me I'm tired. I've spent hundreds of hours at my keyboard, at protests and in travel, speaking and writing about ALEC, Koch, Heritage and the huge number of organizations used by both for funding and dissemination of their rhetoric and agenda. Due to the massive amount of articles, blogs and posts about the activities of this group, millions of you are now aware of that agenda and the danger they present to us and our democracy. I now ask for real concerted and unified help to continue. Doing this as it's been done until now is not working and though we have landed several blows upon our opponents, we can't land the knock-out punch unless we have money for advertising, travel, permits, meetings, formation of a legal central organization...and boots on the ground at the protests and marches. We need your help, donations/financing, presence and voices joined with ours.
Phoenix and ALEC's States and Nation meeting is now less than 4 months away. We have that time to organize, raise funding and recruit people for the Rally, Protest and March. If we are unable to generate enough resources to make a difference and actually have a huge impact at that event, then the future of such protests and resistance is in jeopardy. For any movement to prevail, it must be constantly growing, infused with spirit, financing and energy. I call upon everyone who understands the problem, the danger and the need to stop ALEC to dedicate some time and effort in making Phoenix a huge event. Unless we present a crowd larger than the two thousand expected attendance of ALEC members and supporters, they will continue to look at us as a small, insignificant challenge to their way of doing business and will take little notice. ALEC attacks us all - citizens of every state - and we can't await their arrival in our state before taking part in protesting them. We have got to travel where they are and present them with our combined protests, wherever they congregate.
You labor and other group leaders, small businesses being pushed aside by prison manufacturing out there reading this - you know who I'm talking to - please know this is my last plea for your help and assistance. If you're unwilling to help me and the group we've formed to take on ALEC and Koch, then so be it. I will be less likely to speak for you in the future and go back to concentrating on prison and prison industry issues where I know a single voice can have an impact. I've spent a lot of time on behalf of those behind bars that have no voice as they work for these corporate slave masters. Speaking for those who have no voice, no money, no ability to participate and no future is more rewarding than speaking on behalf of those who have a voice, the ability to take part and lend their assistance and refuse to do so. If you want to join us, stand with us and help fund our work on your behalf contact me at gndlf1@yahoo.com, contact the Exposing ALEC DK Group here on Kos. I'll be waiting to see my inbox fill with pledges of assistance, donations and promises of attendance in Phoenix. Please help us to help you...
...and oh, by the way...there is another upcoming expose about ALEC, Koch and their affiliates in the works. Hopefully it will come in the next month or so. When it does, you are going to be so angry you'll believe protesting is no longer sufficient as a response for what they've done - and are doing right now. Your help over the next couple of weeks will allow us to get this release out quicker and reach more Americans with the information, documents and evidence.