~ Populism 2015: Building a Movement for People and the Planet~ April 18-20, Wash. D.C.

[appalachiablue]

Last edited Fri Apr 17, 2015, 05:31 PM - Edit history (2)

~ POPULISM 2015: BUILDING A MOVEMENT FOR PEOPLE AND THE PLANET, CONFERENCE ~



April 18-20, Washington, DC, Omni-Shoreham Hotel

-SPEAKERS:

-Robert Borosage, Co-Director, Campaign for America's Future
-Jim Hightower, National Radio Commentator
-Rep. Keith Ellison (MN)
-Vien Truong, Environmental Equity Director, Greenlining Institution

-WORKSHOPS AND SESSIONS

-EVENTS AND DC *SITE VISITS

-SEE Schedule...

https://populism2015.org/

-*The POPULIST 2015 PLATFORM* , SEE...

https://populism2015.org/the-new-populist-agenda/

[peacebird]

1. Sadly we booked our 21st anniversary vacation two years ago and will be out of state

Or I would totally be there....

[appalachiablue]

2. Well, you deserve an anniversary vacation! That's great. I'll try to attend some of it, will

know more tomorrow. Anything of note I'll post in the Populist Reform Group here, and keep names of interested repliers to this OP. Have a wonderful time on your April trip!

[peacebird]

3. Thank you! Please keep me in the loop. I am retiring memorial day weekend and would LOVE

to be active working to advance progressive populist agenda after that!

[appalachiablue]

4. Will do Peacebird. Congratulations on your soon to be retirement too! This country needs a lot

of help, Heaven knows, especially for the young-

[appalachiablue]

15. I added another long post here w/ many fab PIX of DC to get in the mood, if you'd like a look-

LINK: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026513909

[appalachiablue]

5. Kick, Kick- The concurrent sessions for the event are all very interesting. Populism rocks!

*CAN I GET SOME KICKS? Gracias et Merci!

[sabrina 1]

6. I love their platform. Very exciting. Beautiful photo of the Capitol Bldg.

Last edited Thu Apr 16, 2015, 12:35 AM - Edit history (1)

Please let us know how it goes if you get there.

[appalachiablue]

7. Exciting for sure. If I can get my work done and go, I'll let folks know what it's like!

[sabrina 1]

8. Great, I hope you do. Wish I were closer, I would love to be there.

They will need to get some media attention eventually. I hope they invited some media.

[appalachiablue]

14. The Conference will receive some MEDIA coverage no doubt which will be good. (*Photo Fest warning!).

Last edited Thu Apr 16, 2015, 02:01 PM - Edit history (1)

DC is so beautiful in April and Springtime with pink cherry blossom trees in bloom especially all around the National Mall downtown. The monuments and memorials areas are alive in daytime with people from everywhere in the world. At night the lighted monuments are so inspiring and romantic to visit, particularly the round JEFFERSON Memorial with its huge statue of TJ inside the rotunda and the reflective water of the Tidal Basin below (some couples propose marriage there! ).

PIX:~LINCOLN Memorial & Reflecting Pool facing east to Washington Monument, National Mall, Smithsonian Castle-Museums & US Capitol Bldg. ~LINCOLN Memorial & Reflecting Pool, west view. ~JEFFERSON Memorial, Tidal basin & cherry blossoms. ~MLK/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
~ VIETNAM Memorial Wall.~ WORLD WAR II Memorial, Atlantic & Pacific Theaters, 56 Columns for 48 states, DC & 7 US territories in 1945.~ JEFFERSON Memorial Interior Rotunda Statue & Dec. of Indep. Walls.~ FDR (& Fala!) Memorial. ~ People & the City!

The CONFERENCE Event hotel is near Conn. Ave. downtown. The important matter is the ideas, people and discussions at POPULISM 2015. Looking forward to it! Working away to TCB. If able, hope there's time to see some lively 'hood areas dntn. & sites. * DC was built c. 1800 and modeled on PARIS, by designer Pierre L'Enfant. A beautiful, great city, and it's OURS, The PEOPLES! Sometimes forgotten because of bad rep from corrupt lobbyists and politicians & seemingly cold, blocks of concrete, marble buildings. But much history & democracy have taken place there. End of Lecture!
~Wish you could come I gather you're farther away; thanks for your notes.





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[sabrina 1]

26. Stunning photos, thank you again. I was in DC one Spring when the cherry blossoms were

in bloom and it truly was beautiful.

I am Upstate NY.

DC is a good place for them to have this event.

I am looking forward to hearing about it, who is there etc.

[FSogol]

20. That's the Jefferson Memorial and tidal basin. No cherry trees around the Capitol. n/t

[sabrina 1]

27. Thanks, my mistake. I was there once when the cherry blossoms were in bloom. It truly is beautiful.

[Enthusiast]

9. Kicked and recommended for people and the planet!

Thank you, appalachiablue!

[appalachiablue]

16. TCB now & excited about the event! Just added *a new, long post w/ fab DC Pix if you're interested-

LINK: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026513909

[Scuba]

10. K&R

[appalachiablue]

17. Thank you for the K&R Scuba. TCB now & getting excited about this event. *Just added more DC PIX

in a new post here if you're interested & it's Cherry Blossom Time-

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026513909

[pampango]

11. Fantastic platform! n/t

[appalachiablue]

21. It's a wonderful, comprehensive platform of so much to be accomplished. Hoping to attend some

of the Conference events. It's spring, cherry blossom time in the Capital & I just did a newer, long post here of gawjus' DC photos if you're interested-

LINK: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026513909

[rhett o rick]

12. Great. Thanks for posting. nm

[appalachiablue]

18. Thank you Rhett. TCB now & getting excited. Don't know how much of the conf. I'll get to but

anything is good. *I'm a photo fan, just added more fab DC Pix in a new post here if you're into that. And it's Cherry Blossom time in the Capital-

LINK: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026513909

[seabeyond]

13. i want to know what this is the party of. i am only walking into looking at the group. looking....

white male.

i also hear that we should be PU instead of DU. and that they should do it like the teabaggers did the repug party.

i think this is stuff we have to address. they want to stand up and be heard? we get to look at this shit.

[daredtowork]

19. That tends to happen whenever "leadership", "vision", and a "media spokesperson" are needed

It doesn't matter how many groups splinter off - somehow when it comes to "getting organized" and "fighting back" (as opposed to just "complaining&quot , it's usually a white male that gets to do the speaking. This happens in the most radical of communities, for the most radical of causes, in the most well-meaning groups. This is why the #BlackLivesMatter marches literally had to lay out some rules to put black people in charge of their own cause. It's not that white men have a "hijacK the leadership" gene - an entire room full of women will stand aside and hand that one white male the speaker's baton. The reason is they want their group/cause to succeed, and they know their best shot at being heard resides in the authoritative/respected voice of a white male. Thus, they go into the rolodex for all the media venues and their presence gets reified. And when you have a big conference, all those minor leaders of small groups come together: a whole lot of white males scratching their heads and wondering about the paucity of women - because they can all genuinely say they are good men who aren't sexist and they stand for causes of justice and equality. But for those causes to succeed, those white men still keep getting chosen to "lead".

Just my two cents of analysis of the situation.

[smokey nj]

22. Of the 4 speakers participating, one - Keith Ellison, is African American (and a Muslim) and another

- Vien Truong, is a woman. I'm assuming, of course, that you're talking about the Populism 2015 conference being too "white male," It's difficult to determine what you're talking about though, you weren't very clear.

[Bluenorthwest]

25. I read the whole list of events looking for even one mention of LGBT people and there was none

They have a religious service slated at a political event and that's off putting. At least to me. It's not something I'd even feel welcome to attend, frankly.

[Comrade Grumpy]

28. "It's not something I'd even feel welcome to attend, frankly."

That's on you.

[madfloridian]

23. Kick.

Already recced.

[appalachiablue]

24. Thank you madflo-

[appalachiablue]

29. E PLURIBUS UNUM, Motto for the Great Seal of the United Sates by John Adams, Benjamin

Franklin and Thomas Jefferson in 1776. A Latin phrase meaning, "One from Many". The founders were determined to form a nation from a collection of states.

Democrats might want to create more coalitions for UNITY from the various groups. Not a new or original thought, especially for a political party not well known for organizational ability. There are many intelligent, hard working and committed people in the left sphere. And an abundance of writers, activists, environmentalists, artists, teachers, workers, students and families who support many principles of the left and democratic values.

Yet I wonder why we have such a spectrum of viewpoints with a myriad of organizations, news outlets, blogs and dedicated public interest groups. If these were part of a consortium access might be easier. Dems. especially on the left lack big money historically and the Media for 20 years now that is 90% corporate owned.

The decline of organized labor and unions and their infrastructure (although this is making a hard fought comeback), and restricted and costly higher education centers of learning are concerns. Yet we do have social media and the internet. Also a much healthier, sustainable vision for the environment and the earth, and agreement on the importance of science. Any thoughts on 'E Democratus Unum?" No? OK then.

[MissDeeds]

30. Wish I could be there

K&R

[appalachiablue]

33. There should be MEDIA coverage of this event especially since it's held in DC. I would look for

independent reporting by Amy Goodman, host of the news program, 'Democracy Now!'. The program has a website, democracynow.org, and is also carried on some PBS Channels, and several times daily on FSTV (Free Speech TV Channel) on Dish and Direct TV, and online at their website, freespeech.org. Apart from that there should be posts here on DU after the weekend event which runs Fri.- Monday.

Link:http://www.democracynow.org/

Link: https://www.freespeech.org/

[MissDeeds]

34. Thanks so much

I'll be sure to check out the links.

[RiverLover]

31. What Democrat wouldn't want these policies?! Populism is for Democrats!! (& all People)

Its about People. And Planet.

Populism 2015 Platform: Building A Movement for People and the Planet

1. Rebuild America for the 21st Century and Create Jobs for All.
America’s public infrastructure – from roads to rail to water and energy systems – is increasingly dangerous to our health and a drag on our economy. National investment in rebuilding America will create millions of high-quality jobs, bid wages up, help close the racial jobs gap, and make America a better place to live and work.

2. Raise Wages, Empower Workers and Reverse Inequality.
Inequality has reached new extremes, as more and more jobs become contingent and part-time, with low pay and few benefits. We should lift the floor under every worker by guaranteeing a living wage, paid sick and vacation days, and affordable health care. We should empower workers to form unions and bargain collectively. We must curb perverse CEO compensation policies that give executives personal incentives to plunder their own companies.

3. Invest in a Green Economy.
Catastrophic climate change is a clear and present danger. The United States should lead the global green revolution that builds strong and resilient communities. Public investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency can create jobs and opportunity, particularly in communities of color that have borne the worst consequences of toxic corporate practices.

4. Eliminate Institutionalized Racism to Open Opportunity to All.
In a society of increasing diversity, ending systemic racial disparities is vital to building economic prosperity. This begins with comprehensive immigration reform, expanded voting rights and an end to mass incarceration and the systematic criminalization of people of color.

5. Guarantee Women’s Economic Equality.
We will ensure that women are guaranteed the same pay, protections and opportunities as men in the workplace and in society. Families must have access to high-quality child care and paid leave from the workplace for childbirth, illness and vacation. Women must also be guaranteed affordable health care and a secure retirement – with Social Security credit for work in the household.

6. Provide a High-Quality Education to Every Child
Every child must have the right to high-quality, free public education from preschool to college. This requires providing the basics – preschool, smaller classes, summer and after-school programs, and skilled teachers. Free four-year, post-high school education should be available for all who seek it. We must also provide relief to the generation now burdened with a student debt that they may never pay off.

7. Expand Shared Security for the 21st Century.
No child should go hungry in America. Health care should be a right, not a privilege. Every worker deserves a secure retirement. A job should be available to everyone willing and able to work. We will strengthen and expand America’s shared security programs – Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment, food support and housing assistance. Greater shared security makes the economy more robust by enabling entrepreneurs and workers to take risks, knowing that they can survive failure.

8. Enforce Fair Taxes on Corporations and the Wealthy.
Our tax code rigs the rules to favor the few. Multinationals pay lower tax rates than small domestic businesses. Billionaire investors pay lower rates than their secretaries. Top income tax rates have been lowered even as working people face ever-higher sales taxes and fees. It is time for the rich and corporations to pay their fair share of taxes so that we can invest in an economy that will work for all.

9. Forge a Global Strategy that Works for Working People.
Our global trade and tax policies are rigged by multinational companies to drive down pay and worker protections while harming the environment. We need more but balanced trade, global standards that protect the rights of workers, consumers and the environment. That requires a crackdown on tax havens, currency manipulation, and deals that allow corporation to trample basic labor rights here and abroad.

10. Make Wall Street Serve the Real Economy.
Financial deregulation has devastated our economy and protected banks that are too big to fail, too big to manage and too big to jail. The financial casino fosters ever more dangerous speculation, while investment in the real economy lags. The resulting booms and busts devastate families and small businesses. We need to break up the big banks, levy a speculation tax, and provide low-income families with safe and affordable banking services. We should crack down on payday lenders and other schemes that exploit vulnerable working families.

11. Change Priorities to Address Real Security Needs.
Our current national security policies commit us to policing the world. The result costs lives and drains public resources. We need a real security policy that makes military intervention a last resort, and focuses on global threats like climate change, poverty and inequality. We should reduce military budgets and properly support humanitarian programs.

12. Fight for Democracy and Curb the Power of Big Money.
From big-money politics to the assault on the right to vote and a corrupted lobby culture in Washington, our democracy is under assault. It is no accident that the assault has escalated as a new majority of people of color, young people and working women has begun to emerge. We need to close the revolving door between Wall Street and Washington, and expose the entrenched interests that buy our legislators. We need public financing of elections that bans corporate and big money. We must guarantee the right to vote, with easy access to registration and the polls.

https://populism2015.org/the-new-populist-agenda/

Thanks for spreading the word, appalachiablue!!

[appalachiablue]

32. I first saw the original link you posted in the Populist Reform Group, so thanks to you River Lover!

It is a terrific Platform, for all Dems. as you say. *Appreciate you posting the entire Agenda/Platform, a critical addition to promoting the event and the group. I have difficulty sometimes with my device on copying and posting links, need to get assistance for that issue.

Anyway, here's hoping this movement grows and reaches communities in other US areas! And Happy weekend! (Trying to keep this link kicked as much as possible for coverage, not easy with the constant newsfeed which is part of DU's greatness!).