Progressive Social Change

Economics -> American Capitalism and Social Justice Fall 11

Demos

Demos is a multi-issue national social movement organization that was founded in 2000 in the state of New York. The organization works continuously to strengthen America's middle class that has been eroded by recent policy shifts in effort to better the lives of American youth and future generations to come. Demos combines research, policy development, and advocacy in order to have influence over public opinion and ultimately create change.** Demos works with policy makers and advocates across the country in order to successfully create:

"A robust democracy in which all Americans are empowered to participate"

"A strong public sector that can provide for our common interests and shared needs"

"A more equitable economy with opportunity for all"

The goals of Demos are reflective of Alperovitz's ideas in terms of aiming to modify America's economy by democratizing wealth. In order to end record breaking economic disparities apparent in modern American society, the ownership of wealth must ultimately be institutionally shifted to benefit the majority. Alperovitz also believes that national democracy cannot be renewed without the strengthening of democracy at a local level. As a national organization, Demos supports a democracy reform network and works largely on both a local and national level as a resource for social justice advocates.

FOCUS ISSUES

• Economy and opportunity
  
• Democracy and elections
  
• Government and public sector
  
• Trade and international
  
• Sustainability and growth

Domhoff discusses the large lack of diversity amongst both the corporate community and political officials, for this reason, Demos is in support of more diverse leaders. Supporting leaders from diverse backgrounds may decrease corporate dominance over government, which due to their wealth, gives them both direct and indirect influence over appointed officials, policies, and decisions on forefront issues.

Five core programs and special projects:

The Economic Opportunity Program

The Democracy Program

The Fellows Program

The International Program

Our Fiscal Security

Center for American Progress

Highly influenced by the successes of progressives such as Theodore Roosevelt and Dr. Martin Luther King, the Center for American Progress (CAP) is an educational institute that was founded in 2003 by John Podesta based in Washington D.C. CAP works to develop new policy ideas, critique conservative policies, challenge media, shape public opinion strongly holding true to American values. These values include fundamental ideals such as the American Dream, meritocracy, and viewing America as the land of freedom and opportunity. CAP addresses 21st century issues that include: energy, national security, immigration, education, health care, economic growth and opportunity.

ISSUES

• Domestic
  Women's Rights, Civil Rights, Open Government, Bioethics and Sciences, Poverty
• Economy
  Federal Budget, Housing, Retirement, Tax Reform, Global Economy
• National Security
  Global Terrorism, Human Rights, Homeland Security, U.S. Military, War in Iraq
• Energy and Environment
• Media and Progressive Values
  Gay and Transgender Issues, Media, Public Opinion, Race and Ethnicity, Religion and Values

Source: Center for American Progress.

In Domhoff's discussion of social issues, he mentions that many of the aforementioned issues that the Center for American Progress addresses, are typically not the subject of conversation amongst major policy groups. For this reason, organizations like CAP must strive to improve the lives of American citizens through progressive ideas and change.

CAP writers published an article titled "Unions Make the Middle Class: Without Unions, the Middle Class Withers." An essential part of restoring America's economy begins with rebuilding the once very strong American middle class that are highly dependent upon unions. This article is particularly similar to Yates' discussion of unions in Why Unions Matter. He compares the wages and benefits of union members to those who do not belong to unions and his data suggests that there is greater advantage for those belonging to unions. In order to rebuild a stronger middle class unions must play a large role in the process despite critical claims that unions have adverse effects on America's present economy.

Grassroots Campaigns, Inc

An independent organization committed to consulting, fundraising, and field organization in support of good causes and candidates. Grassroots Campaigns, Inc (GCI) employs advocates that utilize face to face outreach with everyday American citizens, educating them on progressive issues, causes, and candidates concerned with them. It was founded in December 2003 and by 2004 had opened offices in over 40 cities throughout the country. GCI has more than 2,000 advocates going door to door to educate voters on behalf of the Democratic National Committee. As a national organization, GCI has raised over $500 million for progressive causes protecting reproductive rights, defending the environment, and advancing marriage equality.

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Current Campaigns

Amnesty International
American Civil Liberties Union
Oxfam America
Equality California
Save the Children

Having staff that sit on the boards of directors makes GCI apart of the policy planning network and process and opinion-shaping network as described by Domhoff. Through the organizations strong commitment to street canvassing and field organization they have the ability to possibly directly influence the general public. Domhoff argues that mass media does not have a significant amount of influence over public opinion, but because organizations like GCI strongly make use of talking directly to voters there is greater potential for influence.

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The Real Utopias Project

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The Real Utopias Project, begun in 1991, is a series of conferences that are geared toward enacting radical social change. Scholars from across the globe are invited to discuss social issues and of these, a few are chosen to compose essays that will be discussed at the conferences and then revised after having been altered and challenged through intellectual dialogue. These essays are included in the Real Utopias Project Series.

Mission: Actualize the future existence of a utopian society which fosters ideals that are grounded in reasonable potentials for redesigning social institutions. The Real Utopias Project reflects an ideology that promotes a change in the existing social order through pragmatic analysis of societal problems and then restructuring of society’s institutional design. Through serious and extensive discussion of social issues, the project hopes to prioritize and mobilize fundamental social change. Some of the issues covered in the project’s conferences include property rights and the market, secondary associations, the family, the welfare state.

Published Books of The Real Utopias Project

• Associations and Democracy, by Joshua Cohen and Joel Rogers
• Equal Shares: making market socialism work, by John Roemer
• Recasting Egalitarianism: New Rules for Accountability and Equity in Markets, States and Communities, by Sam Bowles and Herbert Gintis
• Deepening Democracy: innovations in empowered participatory governance, by Archon Fung and Erik Olin Wright
• Redesigning Distribution: basic income and stakeholder grants as cornerstones of a more egalitarian capitalism, by Bruce Ackerman, Ann Alstott and Philippe van Parijs
• Gender Equality: Transforming Family Divisions of Labor, By Janet Gornick and Marcia Meyers

The mission of the Real Utopias Project reflects the ideals promoted by Alperovitz in that it encourages an alternative reconstruction of society. The scholars who attend the conference of the Real Utopias Project Series and who publish the discussed essays ascribe to Alperovitz’s idea that the problems facing many Americans in the economic, social and political sphere are beyond conventional solutions. The project’s publications call for free market solutions, greater racial and gender equality, redistribution of wealth and the strengthening of democracy.

Domhoff expressed in his work, Who Rules America?, that public opinion can only have an impact when people are forced out of their routine by social disruption. After having witnessed years of socially disruptive practices that have remained perpetual within American society, The Real Utopias Project came to life in order to promote radical social change and generate proposals to solve social problems.

The scholars involved in the Real Utopias Project are reflective of the visionary leaders that Yates calls on in his work, Why Unions Matter, to lead the radicalization of the labor force. Covered in one of the project’s publications is the division of labor and workers along gender lines. Yates advocates for reform in which union membership is inclusive and will defend the entire working class.

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AlterNet

AlterNet is an award-winning magazine and vast web base that provides original journalism that is critical of social issues and the economic, social and political climate. Its aim is to inform its readers and stimulate action and advocacy on the environment, human rights and civil liberties, social justice, media, health care issues, etc. AlterNet provides free online content to its readers in a way that engages them in a culture of debate and information.

The goals of AlterNet include:

• Providing strong content focused on grassroots success stories, investigative reports, and expert analysis
• Developing an extensive network of readers in order to reach a diverse audience
• Build a strong community and influence on the Web
• Provide readers with pathways to action
• Promote financial stability and sustainability

Similar to the goals advocated by Alperovitz, AlterNet encourages its readers to filter the information and news that they receive and actualize real world problems that are largely masked or responded to with traditional corporate capitalist solutions as a result of the onslaught of the commercial media.

Domhoff noted that the idea formation process and opinion-shaping networks make it possible for special interest groups, typically the elite, to dominate and control public opinion. While AlterNet does not reflect corporate interests, it does aim to moderate public opinion through targeting and supplying information and potential social justice solutions to its audience.

AlterNet covered many articles on labor and labor rights and within them, it became clear that the magazine ascribed to Yates’ idea that pluralist competition contributed to democracy and union militancy.

AlterNet embodies social justice ideals in that it is dedicated to shaping public opinion so that it may have an influence on governmental politics. It is interested in issues that when addressed, will help individuals and the government to realize a society that prioritizes social justice imperatives, such as ending the War on Drugs, an issue largely covered by the acclaimed magazine.

Vermont Progressive Party

The Vermont Progressive Party is an American political party founded in 1999 that works toward preserving democracy, guaranteeing inalienable rights, and ensuring the general welfare of citizens who reside in the state of Vermont. The issues put forth by the party's platform include:

• Healthcare

  Support single-payer and lifetime healthcare free of private, corporate interests

• Education

  Promote public education system, repeal No Child Left Behind Act, replace residential education property tax with progressive income tax, increase funding for special education

• Criminal Justice

  Discontinue War on Drugs, provide educational and financial opportunities to offenders and youth at risk, shift from punishment to rehabilitation for non-violent offenders, enforce penalties against driving under the influence to ensure public safety

• Civil Rights

  Marriage equity for same-sex couples, pro-choice initiatives, zero-tolerance practices toward all forms of racism and discrimination

• Economy

  Make minimum wage equivalent to living wage, ensure perpetuation of unions, promote cooperative, worker-owned public enterprises

• Environment

  Alternative energy sources, protect water, air and biodiversity through strict enforcement of regulations

• Housing

  Ensure safe, affordable housing, eradicate homelessness, put an end to red taping

• Public Participation

  Stimulate serious participation in public sector in order for social initiatives to progress in society dominated by corporate interests

As a political party that envisions social, political and economic change through dynamic and reformist initiatives, the Vermont Progressive Party shares the ideals and reforms prescribed by Alperovitz because it reflects pluralist commonwealth strategies such as strengthening local, civic and political participation as well as supporting a more efficient and effective use of human resources.

Domhoff noted that the nature of American political parties has made it difficult for citizens to influence policy, especially through the electoral process. The Vermont Progressive Party enacts public participation and prioritizes liberal initiatives that Domhoff observed were largely ignored by conservative politicians and members of Congress.

In advocating for the rights of all workers to unionize and for business owners to give living wages to all workers, the Vermont Progressive Party encompasses Yates' ideals that unions must move past simplistic frameworks in order to be effective to meeting workers' needs. Yates also calls for labor's need for independent politics, an aim taken up by the political party as it tries to make the economic and political sphere free of private, corporate interests.

Overall Social Justice Ideals

• Promote economic, social and environmental justice
• Advertise for sustainability
• Become major political party that protects minority and individual rights and opportunities
• Facilitate access to to needed information, services and resources

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The Progressive Change Campaign Committee

Founded by Stephanie Taylor and Adam Green

Includes over 850,000 members across the US

MSNBC dubbed it the “top progressive group in the country
Redistributing Power and Wealth
The PCC supports the 99% movement to challenge the concentration of power and money in the US. Domhoff explains that in America, less than 1 percent of the population is part of the upper class and they overlap greatly with the corporate community. Although there are over 23 million farmers and small businesses, a few hundred corporations monopolize the economy. Farms and small businesses may have local power, but they lack the type of organization that corporations use to effect national policy. Because the 99% is often underrepresented, the PCCC strives to organize and promote their interests.
Endorsing Progressive Candidates and Campaigns
The PCC tries to affect change in government by endorsing progressive candidates and raising money for their campaigns. As Domhoff explains, power elites use their influence in the government to create policies that promote their interests. Corporations are often able to use their capital and lobbyists to promote special interests. They might affect regulatory rulings, find loopholes in laws or gain tax breaks. The PCC targets these injustices by campaigning for progressive issues and candidates. Examples

Drafted progressive Elizabeth Warren for the Senate Movement: promotes democracy by giving underrepresented groups political resources

Campaigned to end Bush tax cuts: Americans should share burdens and benefits of capitalism

Strives to protect funding for Medicare, Medicaid and social security: like Alperovitz, the PCC promotes public wealth

Wants Wall Street held accountable: Though as Domhoff explains the advertising council deflects any criticism of corporations by focusing on individual responsibility, the PCC wants Wall Street to be held accountable. The PCC does not specifically promote worker run organization like Alpervoitz, or unions like Yates, although the PCC does support such programs that help the 99%. Overall, the PCC promotes social justice ideals. The 99% movement is an attempt to break up highly concentrated wealth, which often depends on inheritance or the exploitation of others. The current economic system in America is unjust because individuals often do not get the outcomes that they deserve. PCC endorsed systems strive to promote participatory management by endorsing candidates and issues that help farmers, workers and small businesses.

The Democracy Collaborative

The Democracy Collaborative at the University of Maryland created the community wealth website as a way to spread awareness about community wealth building activities. They promote community based economic development models that support democracy. Many of these organizations already exist, and can serve as examples for more projects. Today, there are about 4,000 community development organizations. These initiatives promote social justice and Michael Alpert’s four ideals of equity, solidarity, diversity and participatory self-management. Worker-run organizations attempt to give workers economic mobility and the outcomes they deserve. Community development organizations and worker run companies encourage members to work together in solidarity.

As many Americans look for ways to strengthen their community’s economy, the Democracy Collaborative wants them to be aware of existing alternative economic activities. Like Alpervoitz, they believe that America’s current economic organization does not always promote democracy, equality and participation. These programs share many of Alpervoitz’s ideals for his Pluralist Commonwealth. Like the Commonwealth, these alternative economic activities strive to shift wealth from corporations to the public. Both emphasize community wealth initiatives including community owned and worker owned businesses. Today Democratically run workplaces include over 11,000 employee owned firms and over 100 million members in cooperatively owned businesses. Both Republican and Democratic mayors have begun to support local municipal enterprises, which provide local jobs. Wealth distribution and ownership shifts help more members of these communities. Overall, the collaborative wants to raise awareness about community wealth building strategies and programs that already exist and serve as a resource for other communities.

The Democracy Collaborative shares Domhoff’s vision of wealth distribution. According to Domhoff, indicators of power are who governs, who benefits and who wins in conflicts. By their nature, community and worker owned organizations give power to the 99%. As Domhoff proves, power is usually unfairly concentrated in 1% of the population. The Democracy Collaborative helps promote fairness by giving workers and small farms more autonomy in a world that generally favors the power elites. Just as Yates promotes workers rights by explaining the importance of unions, the Democracy Collaborative supports benefits for workers. Worker run organizations protect workers rights to fair pay, reasonable work schedules, retirement funds etc. Using workers intelligence, talents and time well, promotes efficiency.

Yes! Magazine

Yes! Magazine strives to give voice to the people who are addressing today’s social, economic and political problems with progressive solutions. In addition to raising awareness about their causes, Yes! Magazine tries to suggest resources for other people looking to make change. The magazine is published by the not-for-profit, the Positive Futures Network. By promoting a diversity of opinion and voices, Yes! Promotes social justice. Though corporately funded media is usually the sole voice heard, Yes! Provides space for new opinions.

In order to prevent ad companies from influencing content, the website and magazine are funded through subscriptions and donations. Domhoff explains how their advertisers often influence mainstream media sources. Unlike Yes!, the mass media is monopolized by the upper class, who use it to shape public opinion. By providing a forum for new voices, Yes! Promotes democracy. Though the magazine does not specifically focus on unions like Yates or new economic initiatives like Alpervoitz, Yes! Would cover these progressive topics in their issues.

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