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You want to make some *real* change in Missouri?
I mean, actually hitting the private prison industry and seeing a true shift in the criminal justice system?
Then we need to talk about the role of ALEC in our state politics & the corporations that fund it.
I mean, actually hitting the private prison industry and seeing a true shift in the criminal justice system?
Then we need to talk about the role of ALEC in our state politics & the corporations that fund it.
To start, this is all based on the premise of C.R.E.A.M. -- Cash Rules Everything Around Me(Us).
The idea that American corporations, for the most part, rarely care about social issues until their bottom lines are impacted.
Basically, capitalism working as it does.
The idea that American corporations, for the most part, rarely care about social issues until their bottom lines are impacted.
Basically, capitalism working as it does.
Next, if you are unfamiliar w/ALEC, it is the American Legislative Exchange Council.
You know the worst pieces of legislation that you see in mostly red states?
That's ALEC. It is massive, and it has a ~presence~ in Missouri.
E.g., https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2020/07/16/american-legislative-exchange-council-backs-trump-confederate-monuments-policing/
You know the worst pieces of legislation that you see in mostly red states?
That's ALEC. It is massive, and it has a ~presence~ in Missouri.
E.g., https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2020/07/16/american-legislative-exchange-council-backs-trump-confederate-monuments-policing/
Why should you, fellow Missourian, care about ALEC?
"ALEC buys the influence of our legislators and uses them to push forward laws that further the interests of corporate America, and in doing so, strips “we the people” of...constitutional freedoms." https://cldc.org/fighting-corporate-control/
"ALEC buys the influence of our legislators and uses them to push forward laws that further the interests of corporate America, and in doing so, strips “we the people” of...constitutional freedoms." https://cldc.org/fighting-corporate-control/
ALEC, for example, has "corporate partners" who are c-Suites & board members for private prison corporations, namely Correctional Corporation of America & GEOGroup.
They profit from mass incarceration, meaning they have a financial interest in CJ reform. https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/capitalizing-on-mass-incarceration-u-s-growth-in-private-prisons/
They profit from mass incarceration, meaning they have a financial interest in CJ reform. https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/capitalizing-on-mass-incarceration-u-s-growth-in-private-prisons/
Per @TheNation, "ALEC helped pioneer some of the toughest sentencing laws on the books today, like mandatory minimums for non-violent drug offenders, “three strikes” laws, and “truth in sentencing” laws." https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/hidden-history-alec-and-prison-labor/
Private corporations, like those represented on ALEC, thrive in a multi-billion dollar industry because they not only rake in billions of dollars through state & federal tax dollars, but further profit from the labor of the humans they cage. https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/capitalizing-on-mass-incarceration-u-s-growth-in-private-prisons/
ALEC does not include the healthcare dumpster fire Corizon or Securus/JPay (which helps police & prosecutors illegally eavesdrop on privileged attorney-client communications). But don't think that they do not benefit from ALEC's policies. https://archive.attn.com/stories/941/who-profits-from-prisoners
ALEC works like this:
Corporate partners draft legislation that directly benefits them. They hand the drafts off to politicians to pass in their states or Congress, with most leaving the original text untouched.
https://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/2/2f/BUYING_INFLUENCE.pdf
Corporate partners draft legislation that directly benefits them. They hand the drafts off to politicians to pass in their states or Congress, with most leaving the original text untouched.
https://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/2/2f/BUYING_INFLUENCE.pdf
Missourians can thank ALEC for Stand Your Ground, Castle Doctrine, years of restrictive anti-choice laws, attempts to pass Right to Work, attacking EPA & enviro protection laws, supporting KeystoneXL pipeline (??), & dismantling the Affordable Care Act.
https://www.commoncause.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/exposed-alecs-influence-in.pdf
https://www.commoncause.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/exposed-alecs-influence-in.pdf
Really, just the worst possible laws. @CommonCause & @ProgressMO published a thorough report on ALEC's involvement specifically in Missouri politics.
Between 2000-2014, 53 ALEC-backed bills were introduced (doesn't incl smaller or rewritten provisions).
https://www.commoncause.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/exposed-alecs-influence-in.pdf
Between 2000-2014, 53 ALEC-backed bills were introduced (doesn't incl smaller or rewritten provisions).
https://www.commoncause.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/exposed-alecs-influence-in.pdf
To say that ALEC has a massive influence on Missouri politics is an understatement. Few states have more ALEC legislative members than MO.
Here is a list of MO politicians (incl Gov. Mike Parson) who are members.
Especially check the Dems from STL
https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Missouri_ALEC_Politicians
Here is a list of MO politicians (incl Gov. Mike Parson) who are members.
Especially check the Dems from STL
https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Missouri_ALEC_Politicians
The @KCStar has done a few great in-depth articles exposing ALEC & its members, and the secretive, closed-door nature of their interactions: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article302341.html
And let's not forget the flubs by lazy legislators who forget to double-check & amend the bills that ALEC corporate members hand them:
https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article692376.html
https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article692376.html
OK, so we've established that ALEC has a lot of power in Missouri & that they basically run the MO GOP.
What can we do to fight back against ALEC?
First, simply put: boycott the corporations that fund the ~non-profit~ organization.
What can we do to fight back against ALEC?
First, simply put: boycott the corporations that fund the ~non-profit~ organization.
ALEC members include some major corporations with MO ties:
- Anheuser Busch
- Bayer (Monsanto)
- Express Scripts
- Nestle
https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Corporations
- Anheuser Busch
- Bayer (Monsanto)
- Express Scripts
- Nestle
https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Corporations
American corporations with board control of ALEC include:
- American Bail Corporation
- AT&T
- Koch Industries
- Peabody
- State Farm
- Johnson & Johnson
- UPS
- Walmart
- And three separate big pharma corps
- American Bail Corporation
- AT&T
- Koch Industries
- Peabody
- State Farm
- Johnson & Johnson
- UPS
- Walmart
- And three separate big pharma corps
Boycotting products from ALEC-linked corporations is an easy step. Contacting your legislators about their umbilical cords attached to ALEC can also help.
We've been seeing a massive wave of change because of public pressure on lawmakers - ALEC ties have become a weak spot.
We've been seeing a massive wave of change because of public pressure on lawmakers - ALEC ties have become a weak spot.
Voting, although ineffective by itself, can be a conduit for change.
Remember, corporations don't vote; individuals do. And we can choose to have attorneys general, state legislators, and congresspeople who reject the ALEC agenda & pre-written bills. https://www.alecattacks.org/how-to-fight
Remember, corporations don't vote; individuals do. And we can choose to have attorneys general, state legislators, and congresspeople who reject the ALEC agenda & pre-written bills. https://www.alecattacks.org/how-to-fight
Keep spreading the word about ALEC & its influence in Missouri politics. The more people who know about ALEC and its secret ties to our lawmakers, the less its power. https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/alec-exposed/
