NOW on St. Thomas Township Pennsylvania and the Democracy School Program

When residents of St. Thomas Township, Pennsylvania opposed a company's plans to build a quarry in their small town, they did a uniquely American thing: they elected a town supervisor who shared their view. Then the quarry corporation sued the township demanding their supervisor step down claiming his political views were biased to the corporation. In democracies, this is called electing officials who share your views. In a corporatist state, it's called silencing dissent.

The ensuing battle, like many around the nation that are pitting communities against corporations, raises a question at the heart of American democracy: can corporate rights trump the will of the people? NOW goes inside the controversy in St. Thomas Township by looking at how Frank Stearn, the newly elected official, steered clear of issues relating to the quarry and examines the legal status claimed by the corporation that stopped him in his tracks. "I mean, clearly, it does not speak well to most people's understanding of how democracy works," says Stearn.

Thomas Linzey's Lecture in Seattle February 10, 2005 - More on St. Thomas and a detailed background of the Democracy School program evolution.

Richard Grossman's Lecture in Seattle February 10, 2005 - More on the history behind populist organizing against corporations.

Video Introduction to The Democracy School

Is "Rights-Based" Organizing a Future Strategy for Environmental Activism?

Schedule of National Democracy Schools.

If you are interested in having us plan another Seattle-based Democracy School, email me of your interest.

Technorati Tags: democracy school, grossman, lecture, pennsylvania, st. thomas

Comments

[Via]

Thank you so much for posting this clip from PBS's "Now" on corporate citizenship, and the other excellent links, including the link to Thomas Linzey's lecture on the evolution of the fight to maintain a sustainable community.

Wow! What a great David vs. Goliath story. The playing field is not level when communities try to protect their character and plan their own future. It's a difficult balance. We surely need capitalism and risk-taking businesses, but large corporations have become "super Citizens" due to their own deep pockets combined with the capacity to frame every issue in their favor because of the rights afforded them as "citizens". What's good for WalMart, or huge sludge handlers, is definitely not good for our communities.

I hope these clips get wide circulation.