Big bad banks

Save the American dream Tell Treasury Secretary Geithner, "No more sweetheart deals for Wall Street. Let states investigate and prosecute the crimes that crashed our economy." Dear friend, The banks behind the mortgage crisis are looking for a way out, and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner wants to hand them one.1 Three years after the housing collapse that crashed the world economy, not a single Wall Street executive has faced real punishment for the fraud, corruption, and greed that caused it. And those same big banks continue handing out massive bonuses and dividends while homeowners struggle.2 Now there's a deal in the works that would let Wall Street banks get away scot-free, giving them immunity from investigation and prosecution of crimes like falsifying documents, encouraging bad loans, and lying to investors. In return they'd pay $20 billion—a fraction of what they could truly owe—and regulators would lose their leverage to help homeowners.3 This deal only works if it stays behind the scenes. If we can get enough people behind this petition, we can embarrass Geithner and the Obama administration into backing down. So we're joining with MoveOn.org to send a strong message that can't be ignored. Tell Treasury Secretary Geithner, "No more sweetheart deals for Wall Street. Let states investigate and prosecute the crimes that crashed our economy." The world economy lost $7.7 trillion thanks to the big banks pushing bad loans and risky investments as sound financial planning. And millions of Americans lost houses and jobs. But Wall Street banks got nearly $2 trillion in loans to rebuild, while Main Street Americans are still working to get back on their feet.4 If we want to save the American Dream we need to show that big banks will be held accountable for these crimes, and a few state attorneys general are doing just that. Eric Schneiderman and Beau Biden, the attorneys general of New York and Delaware, have said they won't settle with the banks without doing a real investigation into the fraud and corruption.5 Standing with homeowners against bullying by big banks is part of what the American Dream Movement is about. We can stand up and stand behind the state attorneys general who are fighting to expose the crimes that caused the collapse. Tell Treasury Secretary Geithner, "No more sweetheart deals for Wall Street. Let states investigate and prosecute the crimes that crashed our economy." Toward an America that works for all, –Natalie, Van, Ian, Billy, and the rest of the Rebuild the Dream team Sources: 1. "New York Attorney General Kicked Off Government Group Leading Foreclosure Probe," The Huffington Post, August 23, 2011 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=263396&id=30464-10220574-K7CmOAx&t=4 2. "Biggest Fish Face Little Risk of Being Caught," The New York Times, February 25, 2011 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=263413&id=30464-10220574-K7CmOAx&t=5 "Banks Poised to Pay Dividends After 3-Year Gap," The New York Times, January 13, 2011 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/business/14dividend.html 3. "Obama Goes All Out For Dirty Banker Deal," Rolling Stone, August 24, 20110 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=263395&id=30464-10220574-K7CmOAx&t=6 4. "U.S. Subprime Crisis Costs World $7.7 Trillion Dollars," The Huffington Post, February 15, 2008 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=263403&id=30464-10220574-K7CmOAx&t=7 "Wall Street Aristocracy Got $1.2 Trillion in Secret Loans," Bloomberg News, August 22, 2011 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=263394&id=30464-10220574-K7CmOAx&t=8 5. "New York Attorney General Kicked Off Government Group Leading Foreclosure Probe," The Huffington Post, August 23, 2011 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=263396&id=30464-10220574-K7CmOAx&t=9

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Rick Perry wants you to delete this email

The wave of Republican governors and state legislators elected in 2010 have passed a radical right-wing agenda and devastating budget cuts that have put the whole country on the verge of a double-dip recession. Now they're pushing for more. Can you chip in $15 a month to stop them? Contribute

Dear MoveOn member,

Last fall, when Republicans took complete control of the government in a whopping 20 states, we knew things could get ugly. But "ugly" is a polite word for what we've seen. 

Far-right governors like Scott Walker and Rick Perry—backed by GOP-controlled legislatures—have gone on a right-wing binge, with more than 60 new anti-choice laws, unprecedented attacks on workers' rights, and deep budget cuts that are pushing the whole country into a double-dip recession.¹

The scariest part is, these right-wing extremists are pushing for even more. In states across the country, Republicans are calling "special sessions" to ram through even deeper budget cuts and partisan redistricting maps that will lock in GOP dominance for years to come.²

With so much at stake, we've launched a major effort to bring MoveOn's grassroots muscle and Internet organizing to state capitols all across the country. 

This is one of the biggest expansions we've ever taken on. Can you help give us the ongoing resources we need by making a donation of $15 per month? It's easy, and you can cancel at any time.

Yes, I can give $15 a month

Sorry, I can't

Even "blue" states like New York are being hurt by all these tea party governors, because their deep budget cuts are dragging down our entire national economy.

Plus, we've seen over and over how one terrible law like the Arizona immigration bill becomes a model for other states. And Republican governors like Rick Perry are some of the most dangerous challengers to Obama in 2012. That's why we're asking every MoveOn member to help fight back against the awful things these governors are doing.

To take on so many battles at once, we've launched an innovative new online organizing platform called SignOn.org. SignOn brings MoveOn's grassroots muscle and Internet organizing know-how to the state level. And since local officials are so much closer to the people than Congress, grassroots campaigning can have an even bigger impact.

Here's a bit about how it works: 

• SignOn gives local progressives free access to the basic tools to run their own MoveOn-style actions—including great online petitions, email alerts, savvy media campaigns, and more.


• MoveOn staff provide expert advice on how to leverage the Internet for the most grassroots power—expertise a lot of local groups really appreciate.


• MoveOn sends emails about the most urgent campaigns to our list of 5 million members, giving local campaigns a boost of grassroots support they couldn't get anywhere else.

The tea party Republicans have already done enormous damage, and public opinion is turning against them. But with more than a year till the next election, we need to redouble our efforts to stop the next wave of budget cuts and far-right social policies.

It's only with the support of our members that we can take on such an ambitious project. Can you commit to kick in $15? Click here to donate:

Yes, I can give $15 a month

Sorry, I can't

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Michael, Adam Q., Elena, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1.  "State Budget Cuts in the New Fiscal Year Are Unnecessarily Harmful," Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, July 28, 2011
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3550

"2011 Mid-Year Legislative Wrap Up," Center for Reproductive Rights, August 10, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=263201&id=30280-10220574-Wq3Zxux&t=6 [PDF] 

"Category Archive: Copy Cat Legislation," Immigration Impact, accessed August 19, 2011
http://immigrationimpact.com/category/copy-cat-legislation/

"PSN 2011 Workers Rights Roundup: States Fight Back Against Unprecedented Attacks On Workers," Progressive States Network, August 18, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=263203&id=30280-10220574-Wq3Zxux&t=7

2. "The GOP Redistricting Advantage," National Journal, June 22, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=263375&id=30280-10220574-Wq3Zxux&t=8

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Time to put our plan to work

Contract for the American dream We're sharing and rating our best ideas for actions people can take to turn the Contract for the American Dream into a reality. Click here to join in: Dear friend, Over the past month more than a quarter million people have endorsed the Contract for the American Dream. That's a big deal. Progressives are uniting behind a set of real solutions for fixing our broken economy. We're coming together because the Contract was built by our movement from the ground up. More than 70 outstanding organizations got involved and helped to make it happen. Hundreds of thousands of people took part in crafting the ten-point plan. It's our plan.   But the Contract isn't just an inspiring document. It's a plan to transform our country and it's up to all of us to make it happen. So today we want to open up the door once again and ask for your best ideas for putting the Contract to work. What are your best ideas for actions people can take to help turn this Contract into a reality? Submit your best ideas here, and rate ideas from others.   We know that this isn't the way organizations usually run campaigns. But we believe in the brilliance of the American Dream movement more than in any one organization. It could be that one plank speaks to you and you have a great idea for how to work on it locally. You might want to engage with elected or community leaders to get more people excited about the Contract as a whole. You might have a creative idea about how to use art, music, or video to spread the word. Over the coming weeks we'll make sure we share the best ideas across our movement and provide the resources and tools so that people just like you can go from inspiration to action as quickly and easily as possible. Our goal is to see Contract for the American Dream campaigns popping up nationwide in a matter of weeks. From efforts to raise awareness about the Contract itself, to local campaigns on individual Contract planks, to endorsements from community leaders and organizations. The sky's the limit right now. The more ideas we come up with, the more people who jump in and start spreading the word, the better. Click here to submit and rate ideas. Thank you for being a part of, and believing in, this movement. –Van Jones and the rest of the Rebuild the Dream team P.S. For a refresher, the Contract for the American Dream consists of a simple but powerful ten-point plan: I. Invest in America's Infrastructure II. Create 21st Century Energy Jobs III. Invest in Public Education IV. Offer Medicare for All V. Make Work Pay VI. Secure Social Security VII. Return to Fairer Tax Rates VIII. End the Wars and Invest at Home IX. Tax Wall Street Speculation X. Strengthen Democracy

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Re: Tax Warren Buffett

Dear MoveOn member,

Wow! We were going for 200,000 and then 350,000 signatures on the petition standing behind Warren Buffet's call to tax the rich fairly—and thanks to you we've busted through 400,000!

But before we deliver it to every single member of Congress, we want to get half a million Americans signed on. Can you share the Buffet petition on Facebook today?

"I stand with Warren Buffett. It's time for Congress to stop coddling the super-rich and make them pay their fair share."

Share This on Facebook

Thanks for all you do,

–Daniel, Tate, Peter, Elena, and the rest of the team

P.S. If you're not on Facebook, you can also share this petition by email. Here's a sample letter that you can send to tell people about the campaign.

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Subject: Tax Warren Buffett

Hi,

Warren Buffett has as simple message for Congress: Stop coddling the super-rich. I'm standing with Warren for higher taxes on the rich.

MoveOn will deliver Buffett's op-ed, along with all the petition signatures, to Congress soon and is aiming to get 500,000 Americans signed on first. Will you join me, Warren, and hundreds of thousands of other Americans calling for the rich to be taxed fairly?

http://civic.moveon.org/standwithwarren/?id=30164-10220574-Rj1INkx&t=3

Thanks!

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Join me in Washington

Take back the American dream Our movement is growing, and we're gathering October 3-5 in Washington, D.C. for the Take Back the American Dream conference. Will you join us? Dear MoveOn member, I have an invitation for you. I want you come to Washington, D.C. with me October 3-5, 2011, for an event I couldn't be more excited to announce: the first-ever national gathering of the American Dream movement.   Maybe you haven't yet heard, but something big is happening in America. Beneath the corporate media's radar screen, it is growing faster and buzzing more than anything we've seen in recent memory.   We call it the American Dream movement. That's an apt term for the hundreds of thousands of good people who are fighting everywhere to rebuild the American Dream.   This year, we've watched this people-powered phenomenon grow out of the courage and inspiration from Wisconsin and spread across the country. From massive protests in the state legislature in Ohio to 45,000 Verizon workers on strike today, people nationwide are standing up.   This summer, hundreds of thousands more of us came together in person and online to craft our plan for fixing our broken economy. We created a comprehensive jobs agenda: "Contract for the American Dream." It has already been endorsed by 270,000 thousand people.   Now it's time for us to gather in person, to learn from each other, get inspired, and show everyone that we will not back down. On October 3-5 we're going to do all that and more at the Take Back the American Dream conference hosted by our friends at the Campaign for America's Future.   Will you join me for Take Back the American Dream? Click here to register.   We'll have movement leaders, local volunteers, students, teachers, unions, community groups, and more all coming together to help strengthen our new movement.   We can't wait any longer for politicians in Washington, D.C., to save us. The tea party promotes policies that would kill our dreams. The American Dream movement promotes policies that will save them. Please join us in the nation's capital to begin the process of taking America, not back, but FORWARD.   We will all look back at this event and remember it as a huge step forward for showing that what's going on right now is the birth of a movement—the American Dream movement.   This will be a powerful moment, and I hope you'll join me October 3-5.   Click here to register now.   Thank you.   –Van Jones

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Tax Warren Buffett

Click here to sign your name: "I stand with Warren Buffett. It's time for Congress to stop coddling the super-rich and make them pay their fair share." Sign the Petition!

Dear MoveOn member,

Earlier this week, multi-billionaire investor Warren Buffett published a powerful op-ed in The New York Times with a simple message: Tax me!¹

Buffett said openly what all of us have been thinking—Washington needs to "stop coddling the super-rich."

The op-ed is already making a huge splash, but we need to make sure Congress can't ignore it. So we're joining with Rebuild the Dream on this petition. We're aiming to get 200,000 people to go on record saying that they stand with Warren Buffett and want the richest Americans to pay their fair share.

If we can get 200,000 signers, we'll deliver the Buffett op-ed, along with your signature, to every member of Congress. 

Click here to stand with Warren Buffett and demand higher taxes on the rich.

Here's what the petition says: "I stand with Warren Buffett. It's time for Congress to stop coddling the super-rich and make them pay their fair share."

If you haven't already read it, here's an excerpt from Buffett's op-ed:

Our leaders have asked for "shared sacrifice." But when they did the asking, they spared me. I checked with my mega-rich friends to learn what pain they were expecting. They, too, were left untouched.

While the poor and middle class fight for us in Afghanistan, and while most Americans struggle to make ends meet, we mega-rich continue to get our extraordinary tax breaks. Some of us are investment managers who earn billions from our daily labors but are allowed to classify our income as "carried interest," thereby getting a bargain 15 percent tax rate. Others own stock index futures for 10 minutes and have 60 percent of their gain taxed at 15 percent, as if they'd been long-term investors.

These and other blessings are showered upon us by legislators in Washington who feel compelled to protect us, much as if we were spotted owls or some other endangered species. It's nice to have friends in high places.

Pretty powerful stuff, right? Click below to add your name and stand with Warren Buffett:

http://civ.moveon.org/standwithwarren/?id=29985-10220574-a9tKOPx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

  –Daniel, Tate, Peter, Elena, and the rest of the team
  Sources:
  1. "Stop Coddling the Super-Rich," The New York Times, August 14, 2011
  http://www.moveon.org/r?r=263130&id=29985-10220574-a9tKOPx&t=5
  

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The American Dream Movement and you

Hi friend, 

Thanks so much for signing up to be a part of Rebuild the Dream and the American Dream Movement—and for contributing your time, passion, and hope.

We are so glad that you are in on the ground floor of something we believe is going to be very impactful. Early adopters and pioneers like yourself tend to be among the most creative and committed in any community. 

We just released the crowd-sourced Contract for the American Dream, and because 100,000 people came together to sign it so quickly, we were able to run the Contract as a full-page ad in The New York Times last Wednesday. The rest of August, we'll be holding Congress accountable for their lack of action on jobs. And this fall, we'd like you to join us at a major "Take Back the American Dream" summit in Washington, DC.

In the coming weeks, we will be generating more tools, structures and opportunities for you to work together with others—and to increase your impact at both the local and national levels.

I also wanted to give you a progress report on this American Dream Movement that we are building together—read below for an update on what we've been up to and where we are going next.

To be continued!

Yours,

Van Jones,

President & Co-Founder

RebuildTheDream

P.S. We're seeing more and more folks displaying the new American Dream Movement logo. Please print off a sign and display it proudly in public, and send us a picture. 

PROGRESS REPORT:

ORIGINS: 'American Dream Movement' Is Born

Long-time organizers Natalie Foster, Billy Wimsatt and I came together this spring around a simple observation: a lot of people were fighting hard to keep the American Dream alive, but we were all isolated from each other.

We had seen so many inspiring fights across America: workers battling union-busting efforts; homeowners resisting foreclosures; veterans seeking work and support; students fighting against tuition hikes; both older workers and youth scrambling for jobs; major protests to keep state and local governments from firing hundreds of thousands of firefighters, teachers, cops, librarians, and nurses.

We knew that each of these groups would fight on, as best they could. During hard times, good people don't lie down and surrender.

But our question was: do they have to fight alone?

In this day and age, couldn't we use technology to bring us more together?

What if we all could see our fights as key components of an even BIGGER fight—the fight to save the American Dream itself? Millions of American Dream builders would have the power to stop the dream killers in their tracks.

We wanted to do something to pull the various strands together into an American Dream Movement. So we reached out to MoveOn.org Civic Action and other partners. With their help, on June 23, 2011, we launched RebuildTheDream.com—as a dedicated support center and hub for a movement to save and rebuild the American Dream.

TODAY: 350,000 Strong & 'Jobs Not Cuts' Agenda Launched

That was about six weeks ago. This movement now consists of more than 350,000 individuals, including you, plus 70 supporting organizations. Our main slogan has become: "jobs not cuts."

This movement is emerging as a values-based network of activists. We have achieved a lot, including:

• 130,000 people participated in creating the Contract for the American Dream, a bold plan to create jobs which we released this week. Over 100,000 people helped shape the Contract online, and about 25,000 participated in-person at 1,600+ house parties on July 16-17 in all 435 congressional districts.
  
  
• 20,000 attended rapid response events on July 26 at Default Crisis rallies. We were at 800 local offices in all 435 congressional districts. We also held a Capitol Hill speak-out on July 28 with 400+ people, including eight members of congress. We organized all of these rallies on 36 hours notice. (The Tea Party also had a rapid response rally the same week, which attracted 40 people).

The final deal was not one that you or I would have wanted. Many of us were frustrated with the White House and disgusted with the Republicans. But without our work together, the debt deal would have been worse. For instance: Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid were not harmed in the immediate deal.

NEXT: Where we are going

Now that we've released the Contract for the American Dream that many of you helped write, we'll be holding Congress accountable for the deficit crisis and tea party downgrade. Click here to find an August recess event near you.

And this fall, on October 3-5, 2011, we will be working with the Campaign for America's Future to produce a major summit in Washington, D.C.: "Take Back The American Dream." We'll send more information soon, but please plan to be there.

Thanks for all you do—and please stay in touch. We read our Facebook wall and Twitter feed every day.

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