America’s Best Kept Secret—No Longer
admin October 3rd, 2007
Hear more stories from Frances on tour or on the air.
Cleaning money out and getting citizens’ voices into our democracy is one theme of Getting a Grip. So this week we’re pleased to launch our first film, an 8-minute documentary Getting a Grip on Money and Politics, as we try to bust open one of the best kept secrets in America: There is a proven solution to the crisis of money’s grip on our political system. Watch the film and meet my new hero, Deb Simpson.
I’m proud to say the director is my son, writer and editor of Guerrilla News Network, Anthony Lappé. Our hope is that after you see this film you’ll wonder—as I did before writing Getting a Grip: Why didn’t I already know about these revolutionary developments in Maine and Arizona, and about to begin in Connecticut?
Getting a Grip on Money and Politics is a story of the courage of regular Americans who are no longer willing to let our democracy be stolen by narrow private interests. Please watch, cheer them on, tell you friends and add your voices—give us feedback and learn about the initiatives noted at the film’s end: just6dollars.org and publicampaign.org.
Onward—Frances
Fabulous. Thank you, Frankie
…My name is Marielle and I met you at the Interchurch afternoon discussion a few weeks ago in nyc. After that talk, I literally got on my bike, stopped by the Harlem River and started reading your new book. I paused to watch the sunset, biked home, cooked a yummy veggie-ful meal, and finished reading. The next morning I instantly made some phone calls including one to my dear friend, Aurora Winslade, who you quote, and whose Sustainability Program at UC Santa Cruz you talk about. Aurora and I are sisters on the path and it was so great to have that connection for me in your book. I also called some friends in SF telling them to get the book and I ordered a few more copies to give to friends in nyc! I handed my copy to my mom to read.
So needless to say, I felt inspired and motivated to action my your book. I truly appreciate the way you synthesize facts and sentiments and relationships in a way that is understandable, human, and ultimately encouraging rather than discouraging. I love the concept of coming from a grounding in abundance rather than scarcity. This approach feels expansive and inclusive and affirmative. Thank you thank you thank you.
I just watched the short documentary. It’s a well-crafted message of hope and inspiration. Thank you. I would like to add that another way to reform politics in America would be to pass a law that makes TV political ads free. This is how it works in some other countries. If TV political ads were free of charge and every person running was allotted exactly the same amount of time and equivalent play (in terms of times of day and days of the week), then that would also level the playing field and negate the need for much of the money that candidates must raise.
Thank you for your amazing work.
Gina - Thanks for your comment. The issue of TV ads is a big one, it’s where most of the money ends up being spent. In Part II of our series we rasie the question of free airtime with John Rauh, the head of the Just 6 Dollars campaign. While he acknowledges free TV time would be great, the fact is the broadcast lobby is so powerful that it’s just not politically feasible right now. But there is momentum for public financing of federal elections and the projected cost is relatively small, the equivalent of around $6 per American. Stay tuned for more in Part II, coming in about a week on this site and around the web.