Blog Archives - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

Hear Our Voice Postcards Sent

3/29/2017

Another Taking Action 101Update:

People who attended the PACG Taking Action 101 Workshop on Sunday March 26th took direct action when they wrote 222 HEAR OUR VOICE postcards to their elected officials. Participants used their voices to address their concerns to their National, State, and local officials. PACG ensured all of the postcards were stamped and in the mail by Wednesday the 29th of March.

This is how we impact the world together as a community. Thank you to all of you who wrote Hear Our Voice postcards.

What a Turn Out for Taking Action 101!

3/29/2017

Thanks to everyone who participated in our Taking Action 101 workshop yesterday!

Almost 200 people were in attendance for our March workshop on simple ways to get involved to make this world a better place. Numerous tips and resources were provided, along with information about issues facing our nation in regard to civil rights, economic justice, the environment, and health care reform.

While participants were offered many choices for taking action, all were encouraged to regularly engage in the most effective tool of all: making calls to their Members of Congress (MoC). This was outlined in a three step process, complete with a phoning script.

1. Dial your Member of Congress (MoC).

2. Tell the staffer who answers:

“Hello, this is (your name) and I am calling to ask (name of your MoC) to vote (for or against) the bill (provide the number if possible) regarding (issue). Thank you.”

3. Hang up. Then encourage others to make a call as well.

PACG asks that you share how easy it is to make calls with others who may be nervous about this process, or unfamiliar with how it works. Phone calls are extremely effective! And apps like 5 Calls make it even easier!

PACG hopes that all participants will use their Personal Power of 3 to create their own action steps for the next year. (Download your own Personal Power of 3 form on our Home page here.)

Below are some images from our event.

In closing, we’d like to say thank you to everyone for the positive feedback and additional ideas for taking action. Keep them coming - we will post them on our website later this week. Until then, get your action plan in place, and start making a difference!

Power of 3 - Civil Rights Forum

3/25/2017

Civil Rights Action Plan

Here are some actions YOU can take to protect Civil Rights in the next....3 HOURS

Talk to five friends tonight and tell them about today.
Buy a newspaper. Read it. Consider subscribing to it to support the work of fact-gathering journalism. (Share with a neighbor to save money. And be sure to recycle the paper when you’re done.)
Find out who your state and federal legislators are. Put their numbers in your phone. U.S. Senators and Representatives can be reached through the central switchboard at 202-225-3121.

3 DAYS

Read the Constitution (At least read the first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights).
Join the ACLU. It is only $20 a year for a national membership. Support your state ACLU, and consider starting your own local chapter.
Go to People Power and watch the ACLU’s video on Resistance Training.
Write postcards to your legislators. Your message can be just a few words. A card is cheaper than a letter. At least the mailman and an intern will read it!

3 WEEKS
On Tuesday, April 11 attend an important public discussion on Criminal Justice Reform at St. Ambrose University, 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Rogalski ballroom. The forum is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by Progressive Action for the Common Good and St. Ambrose. Participants include police, prosecutors, defense attorneys, juvenile court officers and professors.

3 MONTHS

Run for precinct committee person. It is an entry level post in party politics. You will represent your neighbors in making decisions.
Organize a court monitoring group. Every person in the U.S. is entitled to a public trial, yet there is often no member of the public present when pleas are entered, bail set and trials are held.
Learn about racial bias. Go to Project Implicit and take the on-line test that reveals implicit bias, rather than explicit bias.
Check your own voter registration. Make sure your address is up to date. If you changed your name, correct it. Tell five friends to check their registrations, too.

Civil Rights Strategies

3/25/2017

Civil Rights - Solutions, Reforms and Strategies

Get organized, connected, and educated

Know your state and local political representatives.
- Be aware how they vote.
- Attend legislative forums. Listen and ask questions. Look for patterns.
- Network with people and share information. Support/create groups that hold politicians accountable.
- Remember actions are more important than words.
Understand Progressive Values (read George Lakoff).
Support/Join/Collaborate with Social Media. Seek out progressive reform groups like Indivisible, QC Progressive Coalition, PACG, Iowa-CCI, etc.
Focus personal energy and resources for building community resilience:
- Share what you have learned/save time by listening to what others are doing. Spend time discovering what other communities are doing.
- Band together with like minds to form new groups and communities. Discover organizations that give back to the community. Support each other/make new friends. Know that you are not alone and let others know that you are with them.
- Stick together: Keep your eye on the bigger picture. Row in the same direction.
- Know that many small actions add up to something bigger. Be the change you want: Google “Gandhi's 10 Rules for Changing the World.”

Change how you think of your money/wealth

Change the narrative: how do we democratize capitalism with progressive values?
- If you have wealth, know how to manage it ethically.
- Disinvest in large “too big to fail” banks and move assets locally.
- Micro invest in local sustainable businesses with SLOW MONEY (Google Woody Tasch) and check out our neighbor local group (Iowa Pollinators in Iowa City).
Use progressive values as guiding principles. Create/support socially-responsible businesses:
- Act Local/Shop Local First (Food Hub, Farmers Market, non-chain retail)
- Support triple P businesses (people, planet, profit)
- Support B-corps (formally recognized in Illinois/not in Iowa) (Google: Benefit Corporations)
- Use software like Buycott to purchase everyday products ethically (Google: Buycott)
Support economic self-reliance through nontraditional community-based networks that share rather than compete
- Time banks/barter economy (Google: Life Without Money in Detroit’s Survival Economy/Bloomberg)
- Mutual aid societies (Google: Benefit society)
- Local currencies: (Google: BerkShares/New England)
Further reading: Support the new economy movement
- What Then Must We Do by Gar Alperovitz
- What’s Mine Is Yours by Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers
- Deep Economy by Bill McKibbon.
- Sacred Economics by Charles Eisenstein
- Natural Capitalism by Paul Hawkins

Discover/promote alternatives to traditional jobs and living that build equity and share ownership

Worker Co-op’s
Community Land Trusts (Local group S.I.LT. here in Iowa)
Co-Housing (Google: McCamant & Durrett Architects)

* http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2017/02/extreme-inequality-causes-economic-collapse.html
https://bealocalist.org/local-economy-framework

Civil Rights Forum - Iowa Voter ID

3/25/2017

Voter ID Laws

In Iowa, voters should contact their state legislators to protest changes in the law governing elections. Voice your concern over these unnecessary restrictions to Voter's Rights.

Civil Right Forum - Resources for Transgender Students

3/25/2017

Transgender Rights for Students

There is a need for more information on the rights of transgendered students, as well as LGBT students. Voters need to educate themselves and others, especially if there is an effort to repeal protections.

Resources for more information:
Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund
Transgender Law Center
National Center for Transgender Equality
Human Rights Coalition

Power of 3 - Environmental Forum

3/25/2017

The Environmental Power of Three Action Plan

3 HOURS
Spread the word. Share the information from today’s workshop with as many people as possible. Post something on social media, have a conversation over dinner with family, talk to your neighbors and friends.

3 DAYS
Get in touch with your senators and congress persons to let them know that you expect them to support the EPA and Clean Water/Air Acts, that you want industrial standards for pollution to be strengthened, not slashed.
Join a local environmental group. We have an active Sierra Club, as well as many other organizations listed below.

3 WEEKS
Make plans to attend the People’s Climate March on April 29th at Modern Woodman Park.
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about your environmental concerns.
Ask friends, family, co-workers, neighbors to contact their legislators about environmental issues.
Develop your own personal environmental responsibility policy, or have a meeting with your children to develop a family plan.

3 MONTHS
Contact your school board and ask about their recycling policies. See if the High School has an environmental group and volunteer to help.
Come up with ideas for new laws to protect the environment and share them with your local legislator.

3 QUARTERS OF 2017
Make regular contributions to environmental groups with your dollars or your time.
Stay informed about environmental issues, monitor legislation, share your ideas with like-minded individuals.
Consider running for a local office to provide a better voice for environmental causes.

Environmental Forum Action Steps

3/25/2017

Environmental Action Steps

Do you want to live in a community that supports a clean and sustainable environment? Then you need to become active in local politics. Unless we all push back hard on the current political decisions, we will not be able to save this planet, or our own community from serious and devastating effects. Support a community that has increased walkability, mass transit, and energy efficient policies for public buildings. Use your farmer’s market for grocery shopping. You will not only obtain fresher food and support the local economy, you will reduce your community’s reliance on the transportation used to ship foods into our state. Review the list of ideas below, and add some of your own.

Political Action
Attend local government meetings.
Learn about state laws impacting environmental policies.
Read Indivisible: A Practical Guide to Resistance.
Watch for notices of potentially polluting projects.
Work to reduce the population of our planet.
Work to save environmental laws.
Rally neighbors and friends to participate.
Dig for dirt! See who is releasing toxic chemicals or is violating regulations.
Pressure decision makers (zoning board, city council, state or national environmental departments).

Personal Action
Eat a low carbon diet.
Telecommute to work.
Limit use of fossil fuels.
Consider installing solar panels.
Boycott companies owned by corporations denying climate change, or those funding politicians who deny climate change.
Divest from fossil fuel companies or those contributing to deforestation.
Attend upcoming events, such as the Science March and the People’s Climate March.
Join environmental groups that have good ratings from Charity Navigator.
Visit natural resources, Nature Conservancy Sites, and National Parks.
Take the Climate Change Pledge (Friends of Earth).
Check accuracy of news and stick with credible news sources. You can fact check with snopes.com, fact check.org, scorecard.lcv.org
Use LED lighting.
Set your thermostat 20 warmer in the summer and 20 cooler in the winter.
Use a timer thermostat.
Dispose of hazardous waste properly.
Contact your utility company to audit your home.
Recycle paper, plastic, cardboard, glass and metal.
Recycle electronics, lighting, ink cartridges.
Buy recycled products.
Purchase local goods.
Use electronic documents, banking, etc.
Encourage car pooling.
Encourage your workplace to join the Bi-state Region Clean Air Partnership.

Visits, Calls, and Letters
Questions to ask politicians:
“What are our options for cleaner transportation?”
“Can we handle extreme weather?”
“What are we doing to encourage energy efficiency?”
“Do we have enough access to locally grown food?”
“Are we working to protect every resident from pollutants?”
“Where do you stand on the Clean Air Act?”

Visits
The local MoveOn group makes visits to local Iowa Senate offices each Tuesday. You can just drop in or call for an appointment. You will generally speak to one of the Congressional assistants, but they will communicate your concerns to the federal office. Multiple visits are fine; let them get to know you.

Phone Calls
You can reach your federal senators and representatives at either their Washington or local offices. State law makers are in your capital city, but also have local offices. They work for you, so don’t be shy about calling, and don’t think you shouldn’t call your congressperson because you know they already support your cause. Their staff keeps track of phone calls, and the squeaky wheel usually gets the grease. Know your talking points and keep it short. Be polite and give your identifying information: name, address, phone, zip code.

Letters
If you send post cards they are not held up being checked for sabotage and will go directly to your representative or senator. If you buy them from the Post Office they are cheap ($.34) and already stamped. Keep to one point per card and send several each week.

Letters to the Editor
Usually you need to submit a letter of under 200 words and provide your name and address for confirmation. These are important to reach a wide public audience and your elected officials with the same effort. You can respond to an article from the paper, in which case you want to cite the original story by name, date and author. Be sure to follow the paper’s directions for length of the article (usually less than 200 words). Be timely and keep your letter focused and interesting. Feel free to refer to the legislator or corporation you are trying to influence by name.

Power of 3 - Health Care Reform

3/25/2017

The Health Care Reform Power of Three Action Plan

Here are some actions YOU can take to save the Affordable Care Act in the next....

3 HOURS
Spread the word: The ACA - The Affordable Care Act is actually called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The name “Patient Protection” is also used. We prefer these to "Obamacare." Share this message with a friend or family member and/or post on social media.

3 DAYS
Internalize the deep principles underpinning the ACA:

Meaningful access to quality health care is a basic moral and human value.
It is an American value implicit in the rights to “life” and “liberty,” as stated in the Declaration of Independence.
It is a hallmark value of a civil society.

Start to become comfortable with a few main talking points - AND DON’T BE INTIMIDATED BY DETAILED POLICY POINTS:

“Access” to health care means nothing unless it is affordable, and modern high-tech medicine is often too expensive for individuals, so individuals must obtain access as part of a larger group, hence the need for insurance.
Covering more people - young and old, sick and healthy - spreads the risk and keeps down cost for individuals and their families when health care is needed most.
Avoid using the word “mandate” - it antagonizes some people who actually support the protections afforded by the ACA.
Accidents and illnesses can happen to anyone at any time.
Health insurance coverage saves lives.
Health insurance coverage gives individuals and families peace of mind, especially when they are under stress because of accident or disease.
Always emphasize the benefits of the ACA.
The ACA can and should be improved, not repealed, but we must base changes on facts, not ideology.

Call your senators and representatives in both main political parties to let them know you support keeping the ACA and the principles behind it.

Ask those you know who have benefitted from, or support, the ACA to contact their senators and representatives.

3 WEEKS

Come to the PACG Health Care Reform Forum meeting on Tuesday, April 11; 6:45 pm, St. John’s Lutheran Church, 4501 7th Ave, Rock Island.
Write a letter to the local newspapers expressing your support for the reforms in health care achieved through the ACA.
Review and reinforce your commitment to the basic principles of health care reform, as noted above.

3 MONTHS

Follow the news about changes to the ACA.
Sound the alarm at developments that could undermine the basic principles of the ACA.
Consider joining the Health Care Reform Forum of PACG.

3 QUARTERS OF 2017
Remember that we are all human beings who are likely at some point(s) in our lives to need quality, affordable health care: if not this year, then next year or ten years down the road. What we reasonably want for ourselves and those for whom we care is no different from what others feel and want today. Quality, affordable health care for everyone in this country is not yet a reality, but the ACA has brought us closer to that goal and it is worth fighting for!

Call Congress About the ACA!

3/25/2017

Health Care Reform - Call Congress

How to Call Your Members of Congress About the ACA

Have notes available to refer to as you talk.
If you must leave a message with aides, push “1” at the end to leave a recorded message.
Say “thank you” when you’re finished.

Calling Topic Suggestions

Please keep the Affordable Care Act (don’t use the term Obamacare).
Everyone needs reasonable health insurance. Before the ACA, millions were one accident/one diagnosis away from health and financial ruin!
If you have a story, share it. Making it personal and emotional is best.
The mandate is misrepresented to the public! The gradually increasing penalty is to encourage everyone to obtain health insurance - the healthy as well as the sick, young and old, everyone - to balance the system and make it cost effective.
In the short existence of the ACA with more than 20 million more people insured, Health Care cost increases are gradually slowing. Give the ACA time to work!
Repeal of the ACA does affect Medicare and Medicaid. The donut hole for prescription drugs will open instead of closing as we hoped. Those with Medicare Advantage plans could pay more for their insurance, since these plans have been subsidized by ACA.
The ACA has preventative/wellness programs. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Examples of preventative/wellness services covered by the ACA: cancer screenings, mammograms, prostate exams, preventative testing, and vaccines.