50 State Attorney General Elections...50 good people. You do the math!

[Poet Lariat]

That’s obviously an overstatement of the potential for this “kernel of an idea” I saw yesterday in a post by David Van Os – DU Member and candidate for Attorney General in the State of Texas. 50 may not be possible but even one more than we have now would be a good start.

See his post at:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=180x23548

The premise of his post is that the Attorney General in Texas is armed with certain powers of office to revoke corporate charters for those corrupt corporations (the bad apples) who are abusing or jeopardizing the public trust. David has an intriguing idea that the right person in the AG's office could put a stop to a lot of what’s going on in our state.

I started thinking about the national implications (state by state) of the power of this idea -
to make a direct impact on corporate corruption across the country.

One election + one good, qualified person + one very powerful office = A better overall America.

Again, you do the math.

>snip<
Article 4, Section 22 of the Texas Constitution lays upon the Texas Attorney General the duty to monitor the activities of private corporations and to pursue judicial forfeiture of their charters upon sufficient cause. This is talking about civil action, not criminal prosecution. The burden of proof the Attorney General has to meet in civil actions is less than the burden of proof in criminal prosecutions - proof beyond a reasonable doubt is not required. Thus the Constitution does not require conviction of crimes for the Attorney General to pursue charter revocation; rather, the legal requirement is "sufficient cause."

Government belongs to the people and the Attorney General is the people's lawyer. Thus any corporation's convictions of multiple criminal offenses would clearly be sufficient cause for me as Attorney General to undertake charter revocation action. After all, the United States Supreme Court declared 120 years ago that corporations are persons under the 14th Amendment. Thus the receipt of multiple criminal convictions should entitle the people to treat corporations the same way the people treat human beings who receive multiple criminal convictions.

More importantly, when I'm Attorney General my duty to the people under the Texas Constitution will not allow me to set an arbitrary minimum threshold of misconduct, such as three criminal convictions, to trigger charter revocation action. Although the corporate government that runs the show today doesn't realize it, corporations are holders of public trust. They operate under charters issued by the State granting them the privilege of corporate existence. Even one violation of the public trust - which need not necessarily be a criminal offense - may lead me to find sufficient cause to seek charter revocation under the Constitution if the corporation's conduct represents a continuing danger to the public trust.

David Van Os

I’m sure there have been many discussions about the power of a State Attorney General’s office and the potential this could have for positive change. I think it’s more than just an “interesting concept" as my neighbor commented the other day. I think the election of true “people’s attorneys” in these positions could really make a difference in the lives of a lot of folks.

I should also mention that I am not a paid shill for the Van Os campaign or anything like it. I have yet to meet him. I'm new here and don't claim to know much about politics. I have put this together because I like what this man has to say both here and at his website. He is a fighter in a pretty tough state that needs more like him. His populist appeal and the dogged determination he espouses resonates with me and I think, will with others. This is not for the "wimpy" - but "wimpy" hasn't worked very well has it?

If you want to take this a step further, look a few posts down from his Original Thread for my “two cents worth" and excerpts of what David has posted in the past couple of weeks. What he has written, about ways to clean up Texas and ideas to win back Government for the people, again, could have national implications - not only for the Democratic candidates of '06, but for any progressive thinkers who are trying to help turn the tide (IMHO).

My hope is that people will take the time to look at this and his other writings from the Texas Forum. It's very powerful stuff from someone who I think could actually win.

Also, for anyone who listens to Al Frankin on AAR, this Friday, David Van Os along with Eddie Bernice Johnson and Molly Ivins are his guests for the show. Quite a panel. (Hard Rock Cafe, on McKinney in Dallas).

Note: Cross-linked from the Texas Forum: “I’ll revoke corporate charters”

[MagickMuffin]

1. I think if we can accomplish this goal

it would be beneficial to the country as a whole.

Look at the AG of NY. He has accomplished a lot by "doing his Job"

Think of the prospects of having someone fight for the people. After all that is the one of the sole purpose of having an AG.

The corporations have had way to much power and the corruption that goes along with that power, that they have caused great damage because of the slax that the AG's from most of the 50 states provide for them.

We no longer have the government regulations that "we the people" need to protect us from the constant neglect that corporations shower upon us.

But when they contribute big bucks to the party coffers, it is very unlikely you will get the oversight we deserve.

[Poet Lariat]

3. "After all that is the one sole purpose of having an AG."

My sentiments exactly.

Fighting for the people may sound "hokey" until you realize that we are in a real fight for our freedoms. The laws were set up in Texas for the AG to defend us against exactly what is happening right now. Thanks MM for showing your support for David. He is a long awaited breath of fresh air in Texas.:hi:

[MagickMuffin]

6. We have seen

what Grassroot campaigns can accomplish with small donations.

So, when we have honest people taking a stab at running against corporate funded campaigns, we know that it is "we the people" who will have to dig into our pockets to help fund the progressive movement.

That can be accomplished in several different ways, for instance if you don't have extra cash to donate (as in my case) there is always donating your resources, i.e. Your Time

I can always offer my talents as a graphic artist. I did this last year for Felix Alvarado, who was running against Kay Granger. He did not ask me to do this, I did it on my own, because I wanted to contribute to his campaign.

If you have other skills that could be utilized then you should use them. There is always phone work, door to door canvasing, etc, etc.

WE THE PEOPLE will have to become more active to counter balance the massive money machine out there.

[Poet Lariat]

10. Looks like you have some great graphic skills (downthread)...

Maybe that's one of the "talents" you bring to the table to help kick this bunch of crooks out of office. Thanks again for your comments. and your support of David's "idea(l)s".

David wrote the other day about this very subject. Sounds like the beginnings of a plan to me.

“We have to restore the political process to the people”. David Van Os

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=180x23400

>snip<

“We spend our time not in polished conference rooms pandering for big checks, but in the towns and the cities and the suburbs talking and listening to real people. We organize for our victory with grassroots people-to-people methods - in-person meetings, house parties, rallies, at porches, picnics, town squares, living rooms, restaurants, union halls, coffee shops, and over the Internet. We expand the campaign's outreach and visibility through the creativity and resourcefulness of our grassroots steering committee, local coordinators, and volunteer network, as well as our dedicated staff. We hold true to the role model of Harry Truman telling the pollsters and pundits to go stuff it and going out to the people whistle-stop by whistle-stop to take on the corporate special interests on behalf of the people.”

>snip<

[MagickMuffin]

12. If we want the government

we deserve then we have to become the active force to get the government we want.

Isn't that what the RW has been doing? They find their wedge issues and create a force of uninformed voters, who will turn out to vote on whatever issues they are told to vote on.

If you use that same kind of energy then we will succeed, and end this corporate controlled congress.

[Poet Lariat]

2. Kicking

:kick:

[RepublicanElephant]

4. great post. n/t

:kick:

[Poet Lariat]

5. Thanks DubyasWorld

There's more than one way to skin a cat!:hi:

Note here...I'm a cat lover...have several at home and several who are friends...support PITA and would never advocate the harming or skinning of cats. As an expresion though, it fits the bill.

[MagickMuffin]

9. Just ask Bill Frist

As the Cats used to say before he gutted them, "Meow, we've been Fristed."

[sonias]

15. Great graphic MagickMuffin

You could do a DU line of cards.

:hi:

Sonia

[MagickMuffin]

17. Thanks Sonias

I have quite a few different comics on my blog. I have been trying to keep a daily toon going, as well as a personal response.

Is there such a thing as a DU line of cards?

:hi: Back @ Ya

[leftstreet]

7. Kick! n/t

[Poet Lariat]

8. Thanks leftstreet

I believe David Van Os is the real deal! I'm hoping there are more candidates out there around the US (not just for Attorney General) who are willing to work as hard for their constituents as David is.

[tammywammy]

11. Kick!

:kick:

[Poet Lariat]

13. Thanks for the big Texas kick Tammywammy

This is an important subject in my estimation. Just think about how things could be improved for people in any number of states, even Red states, with the addition of a Blue Attorney General.

Oops...forgot, I'm from Texas...that's what started this thread. :hi:

[tammywammy]

18. Yep

I've read everything you sent me. I hope that other states get in the same groove that the people in the Texas forum have on the AG stuff. I'll be very happy when the AG's office turns blue again. :)

[sandnsea]

14. Need a poster child

Is Enron chartered in Texas? Why hasn't their charter been revoked? There's probably plenty of examples of bad corporate citizens who shouldn't be given the privilege of a corporate charter. They take away licenses from people who don't pay their child support, or insurance agents who break the law, the corporate license shouldn't be any different.

Go David!!

[MagickMuffin]

16. I don't know the answer

to your question, but let's just say they are/were, it would not have had an impact if they are not investigated by the AG of TX, who's has been known to cater to corporate power .

But if we have someone like David Van Os who is willing to investigate corporate shenanigans then perhaps we will start a trend for other AG's to use their powers invested to them to explore corporate corruption.

[sandnsea]

20. Clinton had a list

I forget the name of it, but it was an official "bad corporate contractors" list. Companies who were fined by the government for breaking environmental, osha, labor and other rules couldn't bid for government contracts anymore. Bush elminated that rather quickly when he took office. But a state AG doesn't even need to do investigations, just look at the corporations that the feds have already fined and go from there. That Brooks guy who just gave his daughter a $10 mill party and supplied shoddy armor to our troops? Charter revoked. We need to put pressure on our AG's to do that. In fact, Nike is in my state and I know they have alot of poo in their history. I'll dig it up and ask my own AG whether he's ever even threatened Nike with a revocation and if not, why not.

[Bongo Prophet]

19. This is excellent strategy!

I have been thinking about "side door" strategies lately, ways to make inroads under the radar of operatives. In particular, about manufactured outrage that the right uses so well - esp. to the proudly ignorant culture warriors. They get their yahoos out to vote on pumped up referenda in large numbers by exploiting the "grassroots" outrage that they have been planting, seeding and watering until time is ripe.

A strategy of "strong public defenders against corporate crime, corruption and cronyism" is a perfect Law-n-Order meme for Dems to run on. Put outrage where it belongs- against real crimes against the people.

And then, when in office, the practical benefits of strong regulation can save billions of corrupt skimming by investigating and prosecuting the most egregious (or just plain clumsy, like Duke Cunningham) as well as setting a new tone that deters small wannabe crooks from exploiting techniques that "everybody else" is getting away with.

Excellent and thought provoking post.

[OneBlueSky]

21. the state where this needs to happen is Delaware . . .

that's where many, many national corporations are chartered . . . something to do with the lax requirements in that state . . .

[David Van Os]

22. Thank you all very much.

To all the good people who have said so many encouraging things, thank you all very much. You are an inspiration.

And yes, we can restore democracy and take our country back. It won't be all that hard if enough activists understand a simple paradigm shift. Once you see it, you see it and it is plain and simple. But there are many possible ways to describe it. Let me try a few.

Transcend the phony ideological dualities. Forget about red-state/blue-state, left-right, liberal-conservative, progressive-centrist, etc. - the people on the bottom get tricked into using all this phony baloney to classify and segregate themselves from each other while the elite journalists, consultants, and politicians who make up the crap and cram it into our heads are laughing their asses off as we the people literally volunteer to be divided and conquered.

Base your thoughts and actions on the differences between right and wrong, just and unjust, democracy and dictatorship, equality and elitism, in other words on real values, not labels.

Trust the people. Never impose on any of your fellow citizens an assumption that they won't hear you when you tell the truth.

Demand of fellow citizens who offer themselves for public service that they do so in order to serve rather than to get a promotion. Demand that they act and speak on the basis of their convictions at all times and never on the basis of positioning themselves. Demand that they act and speak from the heart. Demand that their own re-elections never be part of their decision-making criteria while in public office - that their only criteria be what is right and what is just. Live in the truth, speak the truth, and do not fear. Believe in your truth as you know it because that is your greatest strength. And in all things, be the wind, not the weathervane.

David Van Os

[Missy Vixen]

23. David, I hope you win

>Demand of fellow citizens who offer themselves for public service that they do so in order to serve rather than to get a promotion.<

I think the above post is one of the more important things I have read this year.

Texas will be lucky to have you working for them!

Julie

[Poet Lariat]

26. This is a fight we must win...either now or later...you decide.

David,

Your words remind me again that we all need to walk away from the divisive labels that we willingly wear as albatrosses around our collective necks. They have taken us no where - except where they were intended to take us and keep us in the first place. This struggle really is as simple as “right and wrong, just and unjust, democracy and dictatorship, equality and elitism” as you stated above. The sooner we are able to keep these words in our minds, carry them in our hearts and speak them from our lips, the sooner others will follow and spread the words to those who will listen.

When I consider the struggle ahead, I’m reminded of the fact that the laws in the State of Texas and the broad powers given to the Attorney Generals office were specifically written to be used for the purpose you are proposing - to protect the people of the state. They were intentionally put into place by the founders of Texas who, as you have noted, “intended them to last forever”. This knowledge is my sword, my shield and my primary motivation to get up and fight for what we are entitled to. We, the people have our hands on the controls. We, the people have been given the mandate and the power to tell our government what to do. We, the people are in charge.

Thanks again for your commitment to fixing what ails our state. With your help, I believe this is a fight we can win.

[Festivito]

24. A scared GOP already. Dem MI AG candidate raided w/135 FBI agents.

Jeff Fieger, for a time attorney to Dr. "Death" Kevorkian, will run against R-AG Mike Cox, the Jack Abramoff of Michigan.

Last night 135 FBI agents raided Fieger office. Local ABC channel 7 only on site.

Fieger says FBI loaded at rear of building, then drove around to load again in front by name plate for TV. Channel 7 denies this. 7's Cheryl Chodin says Fieger agreed but had no film of him agreeing. 7's Frank Turner interviewed Fieger craftily smirking Fieger guilty because he's being investigated.

Fieger points out that 135 FBI agents is a show.

Allegation has to do with Fieger donating to John Edwards campaign.

Fieger has been through many such hunts. He has come out clean in all of them.

Also, Fieger has a lawsuit against the AG (that does not get mention). (AG gave a MI-SCJustice $35,000, and argues cases to -- the SC. AMAZING LACK OF MEDIA CONCERN!) AG investigating Fieger on another campaign charge (which I bet he cannot prove) WHEN:

AG Mike Cox meets AND RECORDS a guy who speaks a message from Fieger to Cox that Fieger will make known Cox sexual affair unless investigation stops. TURNS OUT:

The messenger (without acknowledgment of MSM, only AAR):
is a drinking buddy of Cox,
had run a fundraiser for Cox,
was arrested four minutes later leaving that bar for being DRUNK,
had been arrested before for DUI,
one time telling officers he was Abraham Lincoln,
oh, he's a colorful character..

R-AG Cox makes tearful TV beside his wife that he had an affair (not indicating which one BTW). And accuses Fieger of extortion on the air. THEN TO ADD INCOMPETENCE TO UNPROFESSIONALISM:

Another AG goes on TV to say he THINKS Fieger is guilty but cannot meet burden of proof. So, Fieger gets no trial except for two AG's on TV saying he's guilty. And local stations playing a scratchy tape without telling listeners the guy was drunk and connected to Cox more than Fieger. (Fieger had in past sent clients to this guy for his expertise.)

THIS MORNING the usual local AAR woman Skinner was absent. That's usually where the truth gets aired around here. Odd she was gone -- today. Instead, some national program aired.

Big effort to assure MI-AG doesn't return to Democratic hands.

[MagickMuffin]

27. Wow, I haven't heard anything about this

it's amazing how the GOP, attacks people for supporting an opposing party.

Those tactics will only work for so long then people tend to get tired of them. It's way to obvious they way they go about trashing people. And yet they claim to have the moral ground. Yea right.

I hope you can get some real justice in your state, Help spread the word about how corrupt the AG is in your state. Because sometimes people are to lazy to know the facts or find out what is happening within their federal government, much less their state government.

Good Luck to you.

We are fortunate to have David Van Os running here in Texas.

[bonzotex]

25. David Van Os is the real deal. We need more like him!

He makes a great point. It's not just the higher profile positions that we need to take over.

State Attorney Generals are hugely important. Pay attention to these races. State AG is also a big-time stepping stone to the Senate and Governor seats. We need tough, real Dems running for these AG slots.