Dear Editor:
There is an amazing group called the Network of Spiritual Progressives (NSP) that more Americans ought to know about. Hint to Rachel Maddow: Its founder, Michael Lerner, would make a fabulous guest on your show!
A resident of Berkeley. California—where he helped found the Free Speech Movement in the 60s—Lerner spoke recently at the Newark Peace Education Summit (on a panel with the Dali Lama) and at the Community Churchin NYC on 35th Street. At a time when political cynicism, apathy, and despair are at an all time high, Lerner has two audacious, boldly transformative ideas that speak to what ails us. And both, incredibly, have been introduced as resolutions in the House of Representatives this March.
The first, House Resolution 156 (introduced by Dennis Kucinich) calls for an Environmental and Social Responsibility amendment to the US constitution.
(ESRA). This would subject big corporations to a review every 5 years by a jury of citizens to see how their policies are impacting people and the environment. If they don’t behave themselves, their charters would be revoked. It would also ban all private money from political campaigns, reversing the disastrous Citizens United decision.
The second, House Resolution 157 (introduced by Keith Ellison) calls for a Global Marshall Plan to end world poverty—including in the US. This could easily be achieved by having the wealthy nations contribute a mere 1 – 2 percent of their GDP over 20 years. The end result would also be a safer world (since poverty and despair breed terrorism) and a safer America: since we’d be viewed as a great force of good in the world, like after our original Marshall Plan (1948) when we showed kindness to our vanquished European enemies by helping to rebuild their societies.
Both of these proposals connect to Lerner’s bigger vision of a New Bottom Line in society that values not simply money and power (the current Bottom Line) but also love, caring, and ecological sensitivity.
Naturally, many will criticize these ideas as “unrealistic.” Yet all the visionary movements that changed society for the better—from the fight to abolish slavery to the civil rights and woman’s movements—were originally greeted with: “you’re crazy, that will never happen!” And so, in this spirit of “ethical unrealism,”
I urge all the municipalities in Hudson County to pass resolutions in support of HR156 and HR157—along with our Governor, Congressman, and Senators.
We might also begin a task force of the Network of Spiritual Progressives right here in Hudson County (for the past 6 years I’ve been active with their NYC chapter). Because of Hoboken’s access to transportation, I suggest we host it in the Mile Square City. I also plan to devote the next episode of my TV show, the Public Voice Salon, to this topic.
Reactions to this letter are welcome at jfbredin@hotmail.com.
John Bredin