Re: rn,wsn> Laurence Cox re: theory & praxis

On Thu, 7 Dec 2000 14:50:57 +0000 "Richard K. Moore"
<richard@cyberjournal.org> writes:
> 
> I'm pleased that Laurence was able to respond to our issue about 
> how theorists and activists might work together more effectively.


A more pragmatic approach might work well here -- that is, finding a
charismatic leader. For instance, the American Association of Retired
Persons (AARP) has become one of the most fearsome forces in U.S.
political history under the guidance of Horace Deets.  In 'The Money
Men,' author Jeffrey Birnbaum describes Deets as the 'only person in
Washington besides the president who wields a veto pen.'  The AARP now
has more than 33 million members - 1 out of every 5 voters in the U.S., a
number that is rivaled only by membership in the Catholic Church.  The
$500 million organization provides a 'unique blend of buying and social
services that fill a 'need, the anchor of which is health insurance.  

Deets, who has taken the AARP from near anonymity in 1987 to its stellar
status today, was formerly a Catholic Priest and although he no longer
attends church regularly, 'sees his job as an extension of his priesthood
days.'  Under Deets guidance, the AARP in Washington is known as 'Darth
Vader.' 'the eight hundred pound gorilla' and Fortress AARP, so
invincible is it considered when it comes to legislation.'     

The AARP's money fuels a 'state-of-the-art lobbying juggernaut that
includes a 32-scholar think tank and twenty-two staff lobbyists and
controls a network of over 2,000 volunteers 'who are trained to ignite a
firestorm of protest among thousands of other AARP members' whenever
Deets sets off the alarm.  The organization rallies political power 
through its two publications, 'Modern Maturity' and its more politically
directed 'AARP Bulletin' thus creating its own 'media outlets.'  However,
it must also be assumed that seniors mainly tap into controlled
conventional mainstream news outlets which reflect those of Modern
Maturity and the Bulletin, and may suffer from myopic vision with regard
to issues outside of their purview.       

Under Deets leadership AARP members are easily persuaded to influence
Congress through toll-free numbers that connect to a computer which
switches their calls automatically into the offices of senators or
congressmen when they punch in either an area or zip code.  AARP also
sets up volunteer-staffed phone banks in districts and states to
influence legislation.  Individual affluent U.S. seniors hold vast stores
of 'discretionary income' in their control and contribute extensively to
political figures of their choice.  

Other potent forces in U.S. politics in order are:  The National Rifle
Association, of which the AARP is 10 times its size and with an unlimited
potential to grow as the Baby Boomers age, and the Christian Coalition. 
In recent years, both the National Rifle Association and the Christian
Coalition have emerged as 'power brokers' by bringing in charismatic
leaders -- Charlton Heston for the NRA; and in 1995,
thirty-three-year-old, Ralph Reed as Executive Director for the CC. 

The third most potent force in politics is the AFL-CIO which contributes
somewhere between $300 - 500 million annually as political contributions 
-- but the AFL-CIO seems to be steadily losing ground as Republican
forces use tactics such as planned recessions to keep labor under
control. Labor, in the U.S. also lacks the charismatic leadership
necessary to counteract the threat of businesses to move elsewhere if
employees organize.  

A new force making itself known in Washington is EMILY's List.  This is
an organization that supports female candidates in Washington.  Through
'bundling' checks the organization donates millions of dollars each year
and has become the nation's largest political action committee.  EMILY's
also spent $10 million on a 'multielection campaign designed to mobilize
Democratic women voters to counter religious political extremist
organizing' for the 2000 election.  EMILY's list was founded by Ellen
Malcolm, a prochoice activist, in 1985.  The organization, which
recruits, trains and endorses prochoice, Democratic women from around the
country,  then induces thousands of others to contribute financially for
their campaigns.  EMILY's List, according to Birnbaum, was largely
responsible for turning out the Democratic women vote and getting Clinton
elected to his second term in office.          

Two other well organized groups that make themselves known are the Trial
Lawyers Association of America and The American Medical Association. 
Birnbaum warns that the Trial Lawyers Association of American will make
themselves felt more strongly as 'power brokers' in the next few years as
their members begin to reap the rewards from the settlement of U.S.
lawsuits against the tobacco companies and step up their political
giving. 

In contrast to the above, the environmental movement in the U.S. is
largely unorganized and has no charismatic leader; consequently it is
fairly impotent in Washington.  Nor is there an organization whose sole
purpose is to counteract globalization.  What's needed is a charismatic
leader to step forward with a plan in place through which to unite the
environmentalists, the human rights protagonists, and the
anti-globalization forces into a solidarity movement based in
environmental, social, and economic justice, which can consequently move
its platform around the world.  

The Seattle movement, though becoming more organized, still lacks a
coherent platform around which to organize masses of people and a
charismatic leader who can sound the alarm around the world, drawing
people to its center and united in effort.  If it is to succeed, the
Seattle movement must find a leader to bring coherency and a concise
action plan to the forefront and do it in short order.  

The opposition is extremely well organized and prepared to do whatever is
necessary to protect its interests - we can do no less.         

marguerite

Marguerite Hampton
Executive Director - Turtle Island Institute
EcoPilgrim@juno.com
http://tii-kokopellispirit.org
http:/www.egroups.com/group/fixgov
http://www.egroups.com/group/alternateculture
http://www.egroups.com/group/WomenTalkandAct