What Can You and I Do This Year ?

Things you and I can do to turn this country around after seeing the current inequality, the political economy of our nation and taking this seminar.

1.   1.  Vote against the candidates preaching  austerity.

2.    2.Vote for the funding of public education. See. www.choosingdemocracy.blogspot.com

3.    3. Search for progressive democrats. Search for candidates honestly discussing the economy.  You can use social security as a test case. 

4.     4.Talk to your neighbors about the issues.

5.    5.Recognize authoritarian behavior in politicians.  Oppose authoritarian movements. 

5.     6. Shut off Fox News.

6.    7. Move your money to a credit union or a local bank.

7.     8. Join a union.  Or, a union support group. www.aflcio.org,http://www.workingamerica.org/join/

8.    9.  Sit quietly for 10 minutes per day. Shut off all radio, TV, telephone. Think about additional ways to promote economic democracy.

 

9.    10. Copy this list.  Give it to friends, neighbors, colleagues. ( do not send via e mail. Personally give it to them).

 

1.  11. Post suggestions of  Facebook, twitter ( X) , etc. Respond to crazy ideas posted there.

11 12.Practice strategies for dialogue with those people you may not agree with.

1.  13.Sit down and read.  Prepare yourself.  Then take action. Consistently read material from outside the corporate owned media.  ( ie.PBS, NPR, ., Common Dreams, The Real News Network.)

1114.  Understand the issues of pensions and public pensions. 

1115.Join an organization working for economic and social justice. ( Poor People;s Campaign,  Third Act.)

Belonging to a group, working with a group, keeps you motivated. 

1 16.Think of 2 additional ways to promote economic justice. Insist that government deal positively with the homeless. 

1 17. Begin now to participate in the 2024 elections.  Select and support democratic candidates.

1   18. Think ahead.  What could we  do if there was a coup after the 2024 election, like the Jan.6, 2021 effort ?

 

 

 

Dialogue Guide for the Seminar

 Dialogue: Seminar on the Assault on Our Democracy 

I search for basic agreements.

I search for strengths in your position.

I reflect on my position.

I consider the possibility of finding a better solution than mine or yours.

I assume that many people have a piece of the answer.

I want to find common ground.

I submit my best thinking hoping your reflection will improve it.

I remain open to talk about the subject later on.

Anti-dialogue:

I search for glaring differences.

I search for weaknesses in your position.

I attack your position.

I denigrate you and your position. 

I defend my solution and exclude yours.

I am invested wholeheartedly in my beliefs.

I assume there is one right answer, and that I have it.

I want to win.

I submit my best thinking and defend it to show it is right.

I expect to settle this here and now.

I seek to silence those who disagree with my position. 

Adapted from, Choosing Democracy: a practical guide to multicultural education.  4^th. edition. Duane Campbell.  2010.  Allyn and Bacon. 

 

Dialogue

Guidelines for dialogue in the seminar

<EXT><P>Dialogue: Seminar on the Economic Crisis. 2013.</P>

<P>I search for basic agreements.</P>

<P>I search for strengths in your position.</P>

<P>I reflect on my position.</P>

<P>I consider the possibility of finding a better solution than mine or yours.</P>

<P>I assume that many people have a piece of the answer.</P>

<P>I want to find common ground.</P>

<P>I submit my best thinking hoping your reflection will improve it.</P>

<P>I remain open to talk about the subject later on.</P>

<P>Anti-dialogue:</P>

<P>I search for glaring differences.</P>

<P>I search for weaknesses in your position.</P>

<P>I attack your position.

I denigrate you and your position. </P>

<P>I defend my solution and exclude yours.</P>

<P>I am invested wholeheartedly in my beliefs.</P>

<P>I assume there is one right answer, and that I have it.</P>

<P>I want to win.</P>

<P>I submit my best thinking and defend it to show it is right.</P>

<P>I expect to settle this here and now.

I seek to silence those who disagree with my position. </P></EXT></BOX>

Adapted from, Choosing Democracy: a practical guide to multicultural education.  4^th. edition. Duane Campbell.  2010.  Allyn and Bacon. <QSET><TTL>AdAdapted