Calls for Constitutional Reform Escalate in the USA

I find it interesting to observe trending topics at GoPetition, particularly in relation to executive government and constitutional reform.

What has become clear in the United States is that there is widespread discontent, if not anger, with the current status quo. Budget deficits, fiscal madness, bailout after bailout after bailout, and a never ending printing press at the Federal Reserve as Ben Bernanke seeks to devalue, if not debase, the once mighty US dollar.

Not surprisingly, many have called for an end to the Federal Reserve, a return to the gold standard, a return to balanced budgets, and the end of self-serving fiscal theft by politicians and their crony supporters and interest groups.

Perhaps in response, a 28th Amendment Petition was released on Presidents' Day February 21st, 2011. It was published as an online petition at www.gopetition.com/petitions/28th.html and simultaneously released as a spoken musical performance by We the People Folk Group at www.youtube.com/wethepeoplefolkgroup.

"Something like this needs to be done" said Rick Durrett, keyboardist of the group based in Nashville, TN. Rick joined the group along with six veteran entertainers in 2010 to bring back the sounds, joy, excitement and activism of American Folk Music from the 1960's era. While developing a new repertoire of songs pertinent to the current times, "people were telling us over and over again, fundamental changes need to be made and those in office will not do it," according to the group's producer, Jim Corrigan.

The group faced a dilemma: a constitutional amendment by 2/3rds of both Houses or 3/4ths of State Legislatures would never be approved given the fundamental changes included in this 28th Amendment Petition. For instance, the sections "No person seeking election to public office shall accept monetary gifts from any organization of any kind" and "Senators and Representatives shall not engage in fund-raising activities of any kind," are not revisions those holding public office would endorse.

The solution is an amendment by Popular Amendment. Although this method previously has not been tried in the USA, the legal status of online petitions is evolving. This petition could potentially become the first critical test of this fundamental right.

"Americans are introspectively watching suppressed people in the Middle East and Africa demand their fundamental rights, and this leads them to wonder about their own rights in their own country," the group's producer said. This 28th Amendment calls for a modernization of voting rights with a turn-of-the-century concept, "open-source voting," along with eight other changes to the Constitution.

Time will tell how well such calls are heeded by the American public. But one thing is certain. The winds of change are blowing and the status quo is about to be challenged by a political earthquake.

Additional information is available on the group's website www.wethepeoplefolkgroup.com.

A Press Release for the 28th Amendment petition can be viewed at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/03/01/prweb5105354.DTL

The petition can be viewed here.

John Pope

Guest Post: On the Art and Technology of Petition Publishing

London: My first petition was a response to the “Credit Crunch” - Stop the Cash Crumble to Equalize the Credit Crunch – in May 2008. The text was targeted at the Treasury Select Committee, for that was the advice I had been given: “go for Parliamentary scrutiny via the Treasury Select Committee”.  But what did the petition achieve? 235 signatures with more than 12,000 page views. Somewhere I read that petitions with less than 200 signatures are not taken seriously in Downing Street.

We had 200 signatures in April 2009, when the election was due and thus a new Treasury Select Committee. Hence the petition actually remains to be “exploited”.  Meanwhile, we got 1,316 signatures for Stop the Oppression of the British People – with 8,900 page views – but due to the avid promotion by one particular person. In our age where only numbers count, preferably big ones, I console myself with the awareness that goes with viewing and reading a petition. 

I have taken great pride in the collections of comments which have become the most wonderful literary by-product. They are a different kind of ‘web product’ than blog comments. Collated and grouped, they are a remarkable expression of likemindedness in our times. Together with the number of signatures, I have sent the comments not just to the ‘targets’ of our petitions, but also to lots of other ‘people in high places’, besides mentioning the links in emails and blog posts.

I have written to Buckingham Palace and other fine addresses often enough to know that their answers do not matter. What matters is that they’ve been told. They must know what’s going on, besides what they read in the mainstream media.  

All in all, I’ve got 4 petitions going. The first 2, speak on behalf of victims as to the effects of unsustainable monetary policies. The subsequent 2, addressing misguided monetary policy as the cause of financial and economic ills in our society.

1.  WANTED: Fair Trials and Compensation with > 3,900 page views, > 230 signatures and these most interesting comments (since November 2010);   

2.  Stop the Oppression of the British People with > 8,900 page views, > 1310 signatures and these wonderful comments (since March 2010).   

3.  Financial Fairness for Taxpayers and Voters with > 3,600 page views, > 45 signatures and neat comments (since March 2009);    

4.  Stop the Cash Crumble to Equalize the Credit Crunch with > 12,300 page views, > 230 signatures and very intelligent comments (since May 2008).  

As all the issues are long term, the petitions will never be closed and I shall email signatories every so often. For I see signers as another kind of ‘community’ that the web creates. People who support the same causes are likeminded. They mean what they write as comment on a petition or a blog.  They are not by-standers. But only 17% opened the email I sent to the 196 signers of WANTED: Fair Trials and Compensation. Maybe comments are more valuable than email addresses? Only time will tell!  

Sabine K McNeill
Forum for Stable Currencies
Most supported petition: Stop the oppression of the British people

Guest Post: In support of Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus

The idea of starting a petition on GoPetition in support of Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammad Yunus came to me in early January after I noticed an unforeseen turn of events sparked by unfounded allegations by a Norwegian journalist, who claimed that Professor Yunus had misused some funds donated to Grameen Bank some 15 years ago. The Norwegian government gave the use of funds the all-clear, but prior to being cleared of any misdoing, I never had a shadow of a doubt that there was any truth to this story. For further details and clarifications on this issue, please visit our website and the links provided here. http://www.socialbusinessearth.org/false-allegations-prof-yunus/

It amazes me how the media can often blow things out of proportion and make people believe fabricated reports to sensationalize and sell a story. Working with Professor Yunus is a privilege, and I personally visited Grameen Bank in Bangladesh several times. His work to eradicate poverty is monumental, not only for his genial idea to provide microcredit to the poor without collateral but also for all the social businesses he has created in Bangladesh to raise the standard of living of poor people in the areas of education, healthcare, housing and so on. He has done more for the poor than any of us will ever be able to achieve in our lifetime. I have the utmost respect for Professor Yunus who, as President Obama stated at the ceremony to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009, “managed to change the world.” He really did change the world of millions of poor people, and my support for him is solid and enduring.

It is unfortunate that the government of Bangladesh has started a well-orchestrated campaign against him instead of commending a national treasure whose work has been acclaimed all over the world. They have a chance to compensate for their misdeed by allowing him to continue his mission in peace. If he has to step down as Managing Director of Grameen for age reasons, I think that a committee should be formed by Professor Yunus and the Board of Directors of Grameen to properly search for a new Managing Director who has the necessary requisites to fulfill this pivotal role and, most importantly, who truly and deeply cares for the poor. It saddens me to see that Bangladeshi government leaders are going to such lengths to make his life difficult when he has done so much to help the poor.

The government of Bangladesh is gaining bad publicity quickly as country leaders, NGOs and private individuals the world over unite to stand in support of Professor Yunus. When I was asked to be a founding member of “Friends of Grameen,” a French association that was recently formed to promote microcredit and social business in the world, I immediately accepted. I feel honored to be part of this group of people who stand by Professor Yunus and Grameen Bank. Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, is Chair of the Friends of Grameen Honorary Committee. “Our duty is to protect the integrity of Professor Yunus and the independence of Grameen Bank,” said Robinson in a recent statement.

The petition we published on GoPetition titled “We Stand in Support of Professor Muhammad Yunus against the Corruption Investigations by the Government of Bangladesh” was my initiative as the founder of Social Business Earth and is independent of “Friends of Grameen.” I am happy that as a result of what is happening, the Nobel Committee has reasserted its support to Professor Yunus and Grameen Bank. You can find their statement here (http://www.socialbusinessearth.org/nobel-committee-supports-prof/). The objective of our campaign is to collect as many signatures as possible so that the government of Bangladesh will stop persecuting Professor Yunus. In addition, we want Grameen borrowers to retain ownership of the bank. The bank is owned by the poor borrowers, and it should continue to operate in this way, maintaining its independence.

I encourage all readers to sign our petition. Like Professor Yunus, I strongly believe that eradicating poverty in the world is possible, and I am committed to this cause through my work in social business. Thank you GoPetition for publishing this campaign. You can sign the petition here http://www.gopetition.com/petition/42857.html

Samantha Caccamo
Founder
Social Business Earth
www.socialbusinessearth.org