Panel Discussion: Corporatization of Higher Education

We had a thought-provoking panel discussion concerning the power plays going on in Florida higher education.  Following a reading of the play, "The XXX-Rated Genius: Corporatization of American Higher Education", the audience was treated to a lively Q&A session.

Jeff Grieneisen and Courtney Ruffner teach locally at the State College of Florida (SCF). In January, the State College of Florida’s Board of Trustees voted to eliminate multi-year contracts at SCF. Grieneisen and Ruffner filled the audience in on the status of forming a union to give SCF faculty a voice in the decision making process and why these contracts are so important. They also spoke about the make-up of the Board of Trustees and their almost complete lack of background in higher education.

Rhana Bazzini provided an historical perspective. When she was college-age in New York City, her peers were attending the City College of New York for free. That kind of governmental investment in education has been redirected, and now students are graduating with unprecedented debt.

Ralph Wilson, a co-founder of FSU’s chapter of UnKoch My Campus, explained how the Charles Koch Foundation uses their funding to require and monitor ideological compliance on campus. According to UnKoch My Campus, the Koch brothers and their network of front groups work to undermine environmental protection, worker’s rights, health care expansion, and quality public education, to name just a few.  They have donated to hundreds of colleges and universities in the name of philanthropy. But these donations are given with strings attached. Their donations influence college research, the professors hired, and the coursework being taught, in order to advance their ideologies and corporate profits. In this short, camera-phone video, Ralph explains how they play both sides of the tenure issue to their advantage.

Anna Maria Adds Its Name to the List

A couple of weeks ago, Ruth Rauch and Diane Canniff spoke to their Anna Maria City Commissioners. They requested a resolution in support of a Constitutional Amendment to combat the political spending and power of non-human "persons". Doug Copeland, Commission Chair, asked that the proposal be placed on the agenda for the very next meeting. Ruth was ready for that meeting and here's her report:

At the meeting, we had a good turn out of support. Commission Chair Copeland expressed agreement with the spirit of Move To Amend's request but wondered if action was appropriate at the local level. Commissioner Woodland expressed that he had some concerns about whether the 10th amendment to the Constitution had some bearing on this issue.

I was asked to respond to these concerns in my comments. I stated that although Memorial Bills in the Florida legislature had been proposed, there appeared to be little political will to take up the matter. I pointed out that donations to legislative political committees appear to dictate the priorities of the legislature. I also mentioned that two Supreme Court justices have spoken out in opposition to their own Court's Citizens United decision.

In the end, without further discussion, the Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the resolution. It will be adopted without any modification to the resolution we submitted without any further action required by the commission at its next meeting on March 24. I am so pleased we had a good outcome. I must say, activism can be very satisfying

Am I going to attend that meeting to make sure it gets done? You bet!

Public Comment Period, Anna Maria City Commission

Ruth Rauch speaking to Anna
Maria City Commission

Last fall, in an effort to find more candidates for public office who will help Move To Amend in their local jurisdictions, Manasota Move To Amend undertook a "Pledge To Amend" campaign. The three Bradenton Gulf Island cities - Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, and Holmes Beach - were all having elections. We approached all the candidates to determine where they stood concerning reducing corporate power, getting money out of politics, and creating a democracy of the people, by the people, and for the people.

We found a lot of support in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach candidates, but no on-the-record pledges. The candidates in Bradenton Beach were otherwise occupied with a very close Mayoral race. That race between the current and former Bradenton Beach Mayor resulted in a tie that was decided by a card draw. True story.

Diane Canniff at the podium

City of Anna Maria resident, Ruth Rauch, was revved up to find others in the city who shared her views about the need to amend the U.S. Constitution.  She had made it her New Year's resolution to tackle the issue. Last night, Ruth spoke to the Anna Maria City Commission during the Public Comment period. After explaining the national importance of reducing corporate power and money in politics, she delved into local ramifications. She brought up the 2013 Manatee County referendum that proposed a sales tax increase to pay for health care programs in Manatee County. The opposition to this tax was largely funded by out-of-county dark money - funds that are spent by organizations that are not required to disclose their donors. Diane Canniff, also an Anna Maria resident, followed Ruth at the podium. She mentioned a large development company who is taking the City to Federal Court. The company is one of the plaintiffs claiming violation of their First and Fourteenth Amendment rights.

After listening to these residents, a commissioner asked that the issue be placed on next month's meeting agenda. Sweet!

Some Early Arrivers for Anna Maria City Commission Public Comment Period

Martin Luther King Day Unity Walk

David Cobb at Sarasota MLK celebration

Manasota Move To Amend participated in Sarasota's Martin Luther King Unity Walk. Our local ABC station interviewed David Cobb, one of the founders of the national Move To Amend. It is shameful on this celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. that we have to begin with a statement that Black Lives Matter, said David Cobb. The news anchor portrayed Move to Amend as a nonprofit organization aiming to build a society where everyone experiences their human rights. See their coverage here.

If you haven't participated in Sarasota's annual Unity Walk, consider joining in next year. I met some folks that had recently started a new community service club. I learned what the Swedish word "lagom" means. I met a woman who grew up in Sarasota and shared memories of participating in local farmworker activism in the middle of the last century.  And along the route, we passed the opening day of the newest farmer's market in town.

Tom Neilson's Musical Satire

Last night, Sarasota was treated to a hefty dose of Tom Neilson's warm, funny, and satirical music. He played a benefit for the Sierra Club, but when he found out that Manasota Move To Amend was in the house, he sang the perfect song - Corporations Are Human.  If you haven't heard it, listen below.



Tom's current tour focuses on the power of folk music to effect social change, giving musical voice to both current and historical activism.  Thank you, Tom!

Opportunity to Influence Florida Legislation

Just in time for the 2016 session, the Florida Move to Amend Coalition has two State Memorials (Resolutions) ready to be heard by their respective Committees. SM 694 was introduced by Senator Jeff Clemens in the Florida Senate. The related HM 457 was introduced by Representative Dwight Dudley in the Florida House. On December 3rd, citizens of Florida are barraging Capitol Hill with thousands of emails and phone calls demanding action on HM457 and SM 694.


These companion bills both urge Congress to propose to states an amendment to the U.S. Constitution stating that political contributions and expenditures by corporations may be regulated by federal, state, and local governments, as well as establishing that corporations and artificial entities have no constitutional rights.


The best way to wake up our Legislators is to demand action with one united voice. Timing is everything. On December 3rd, Floridians are giving a shout out to their representatives asking them to cosponsor these bills. If you want to participate, but don't know who your representatives are or how to contact them, click here to get the info you need.

Rhana Bazzini Invited to Speak in Tampa

Rhana Bazzini, Erik Wekerle, Bob Abbenzeller, Doug Hughes

Manasota Move-To-Amend's, Rhana Bazzini, was one of four panelists discussing Pay 2 Play, an inspirational documentary about the difference one person can make to take money out of politics. This Tampa film screening and follow-up discussion was co-sponsored by the Bridge, Unity of Tampa, Connection Partners and the Tampa Bay Timebank. Erik Wekerle, a representative from Florida Wolf PAC was also on hand for the panel. And Doug Hughes - the gyrocopter pilot and Florida postman who landed on the Capitol lawn to advocate for a Congress that works for the people - also joined the panel. If you haven't seen the movie yet, check out the trailer.

City of Sarasota Passes Resolution

At a prior meeting, Manasota Move to Amend supporters used the Sarasota City Commission's public comment period to explain how Corporate Personhood is a local issue that impacts Sarasota residents. On June 15, a resolution was on the Commission agenda. And it passed, UNANIMOUSLY.

While corporations are setting the agenda on issues in our Congress and courts, We-the-People are not; for we can never speak as loudly with our own voices as corporations can with the unlimited amplification of money. This undermines our freedom and authority as citizens. Today all five Sarasota City Commissioners agree that we need to amend the Consitution to fix this. Thank you Mayor Willie Shaw, Vice Mayor Suzanne Atwell, Commissioner Liz Alpert, Commissioner Susan Chapman, and Commissioner Shelli Freeland Eddie.

Public Comment Period, Sarasota City Commission

On June 1st at 6pm, Manasota Move to Amend representatives spoke out during the public comment period of the Sarasota City Commission.  We called on our Commissioners to pass a resolution stating that Money is not Speech and Corporations are not People.  We made quite a strong impression with our blaze of red t-shirts in the audience.

Over 600 communities have passed resolutions in support of Move to Amend; 16 states have signed on; and 300 communities have actually placed it on the ballot for a vote of the people. Everywhere it has appeared on the ballot – whether it be Madison, WI, Salt Lake City, UT or the state of Montana – it has passed by an overwhelming majority. Let's add Sarasota to the list!

Citizens United Decision, 5 year Anniversary

On the fifth anniversary of the Citizens United Supreme Court Decision, Sarasota took to the streets. Five years ago, on January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations are persons, entitled by the U.S. Constitution to buy elections and run our government. We, the people of the United States of America, reject the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United and other related cases, and move to amend our Constitution to firmly establish that money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.

Coordinated and color-coordinated!