ORGANIZING NOTES
December 16, 2025
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The 1971 Memo That Shaped Our Current Elections
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In Master Plan , David Sirota,(former editor of Jacobin, campaign manager for Bernie Sander and founder of The Lever),and his co-author, Jared Jacang Maher, describe a secret plan laid out in 1971 by Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell to ensure that the voices of consumers, middle and low wage earners, women, and people of color were drowned out by the views of large corporations and the wealthy, in the voting booth. Written at a time remembered only by baby boomers, a few years before Nixon was forced to resign not only because of the Watergate burglary, but because wealthy lobbyists illegally donated shopping bags full of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, the “Lewis Powell memo” laid out forty pages of strategy to undermine attempts by Ralph Nader to make corporations accountable for harm caused by their products and by environmentalists to protect the planet.
A few years later as the nightly news released daily installments detailing the “corruption” of the Nixon administration, owners of capital, corporate executives and Chambers of Commerce quietly organized and adopted the Lewis Powell memo, written when he was a lawyer on the Board of Philip Morris, as their foundational document. Even as Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold wrote their legislation to limit money in elections, corporate heads and their allies were already laying out the key principle that money was equivalent to speech and planning tactics to reverse direction.
While decades to fruition, the blueprint spelled out by Justice Powell provided the guidelines to wage a battle through school curriculums, conservative think tanks, the courts and the media to make key points about the sanctity of “free markets” and the equivalency of money to free speech. Consumer and environmental protections have been twisted to become interventions in the free market and measures to address the historic inequality in our winner-take-all economy, labeled socialism.
The path to realizing the victory of Citizens United in 2010, which finally ratified the concepts of corporations as people and money as speech, was not smooth; prior similar cases had been lost. But powerful right-wing forces, including the Federalist society and the speaker of the House, Mitch McConnell, persevered, and finally President William Bush was successful in appointing Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito, creating a conservative majority which made the decision of Citizens United possible.
The Trump era is the culmination of this fifty year struggle. The media, lobbyists and campaign consultants thriving on the steady diet of billionaires dollars, fight change. Cynicism is so widespread that even Trump’s boasts about the bribes he receives or the traitors he releases from prison are met with averted gaze by the many who expect nothing more from the government.
However, efforts to fight back are growing. “We the People Massachusetts” educates and lobbies. Similar efforts are underway in other states. As David Sirota says at the end of his book, “…the system of democracy is in deep trouble. And the hour is late. But our hour has not past.”
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Dear Activist,
Massachusetts consistently ranks among the least transparent state governments in the nation.
That must change.
We are the only state in the nation in which the Legislature, Governor’s Office and Judiciary all claim an exemption from public records laws — meaning the people’s business can get done in the dark.
Massachusetts taxpayers deserve a government that works in the sunlight. But right now, our own state house, specifically the Governor’s office and Legislature, counties to be exempt from basic public records laws that every other government entity follows.
Voters overwhelmingly support accountability, yet Beacon Hill insiders continue to block reform. We are up against a powerful establishment of special interests and political powerbrokers who will do anything to protect the establishment — even if it means violating the new audit law we just passed by 72% of the vote.
They are pushing back hard against the will of the people of Massachusetts because they want us to give up on our fight for an open and transparent government. They want us to believe that our voice and our vote do not matter.
But we are not giving up. We are leveling up.
Democracy matters.
This year and next year, for the 2026 election cycle, we are working hard to place a measure on the ballot that puts the Legislature and Governor’s Office under the state’s public records law — meaning you, the taxpayer, will have direct access to public records that they currently keep secret.
I am asking you to join forces with me to support this people-driven ballot initiative to place the state house under the public records law like every other entity of government so that we can shine a bright light on how Beacon Hill operates.
accessibility matter.
You deserve to know how your tax dollars are being spent and how decisions are being made.
To succeed, we need grassroots support from people like you to help us collect another roughly 15k signatures by June 17th. We need everyday residents who believe in open government and honest leadership to stay strong and keep fighting alongside our efforts to open up the books.
To those who are able, please also consider making a contribution to our ballot campaign via dianaforma.com/ballot
We can’t do this without your support.
Happy Holidays!
Diana DiZoglio
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Join MIRA for their next volunteer training, “Learning for Action,” on Wednesday, December 17 from 12 noon to 1:00 pm. This session will feature a bystander training from MIRA’s Director of Training Jessica Chicco.
Register here for the Zoom.
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Join Progressive Mass on Saturday, January 31 for their 2026 annual member meeting!
They’ll be talking about how to build pressure for legislative priorities, hone organizing skills, and get ready for the suite of 2026 ballot questions. Stay tuned for information about speakers, breakout sessions, and more.
RSVP and more info here!
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Join Progressive Mass for their “Power Lunch” phone bank series, where we will be building our collective power in service of a better Commonwealth for all. There will be three more before the end of the year, focused on either the Stop the Cuts campaign or the Safe Communities Act.
Sign up now! All phone banks run from noon to 1:00 pm.
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No Fear Street Theater stands out on Burlington Mall Road every Saturday from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm with signs, costumes, and flags to show support for our immigrant neighbors. We are not there merely to make propaganda against ICE. We are there to make propaganda against fear. This is a creative, participatory protest. If you support immigrants and their constitutional rights, join us! Let them know it’s Chirstmas time at ICE! Caroling & Yuletide readings – English & Spanish, Dec. 22-24th! Sign Up HERE
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‘Tis the Season for Climate Caroling!
Climate Caroling is an XR Boston tradition of singing Christmas carols with lyrics about the climate crisis in public spaces. Every year, we gather together around Boston and sing climate carols to spread holiday cheer while challenging business as usual and enlightening the public about the severity of the climate crisis. It’s a great outreach opportunity, and a fun way to spend time with fellow rebels during the holiday season!
Some carols from XR’s incredible archive of Climate Carols – or you can write your own! Just make sure you bring printed copies to hand out to participants.
This is the ultimate family friendly event – bring your kids, your new friends, and your family! If you want to experience a Climate Caroling event this, join the Camberville Affinity Group for climate caroling in Assembly Square on Sunday, December 21st at 2:00 pm! If you would like to organize a climate caroling event, you can reach out to members of your local affinity group or XR Choir at outreach@xrboston.org to help out!
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leaders of a Catholic Church near Boston kept a Nativity display with an anti-ICE message in place, defying an order from the Catholic Archdioecse of Boston to remove it
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If you would like to work with ORMA Members on
- Climate Change
- Housing Justice
- Medicare for All
- Communications/InformationTechnology
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ORMA depends on your support to continue Bernie’s Political Revolution to create a society, a politics, and an economy that works for everyone, not just billionaires, corporations and the political elite.
If you value Organizing Notes and its twice a month distribution schedule, please make a donation to ensure its continued existence.
Invest in Change Now!
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Please send requests for action items, articles or upcoming events
for the next Organizing Notes to
beccobrien.orma@gmail.com by Saturday, December 27th.
We’d love to have you send us your favorite pictures of Bernie here in MA!
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Campaigns End, Movements Endure
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