Without cost or politics, by spreading joy from the oasis of calm, how can I help save our democracy?
THE STRATEGY Opt-In at Jingles For Democracy
Sign up to receive no more than two emails a week from a real person. Each email announces a NEW non-adversarial short music video about democracy that you can click on for healing and unity. The more clicks, the more people will be directed to Join Common Cause in exponential numbers where the actual fight to defend our democracy is happening. (Opting out is easy).
These music videos and this website are recruiting tools you can use to lead viewers to support strategic efforts in the protection of our democracy.
YouTube Playlist
Why Common Cause?
We have chosen Common Cause (with its 1.5 million members) as our unifying organization because they are a well-equipped, effective, nonpartisan watchdog and a major force in defending our democracy—in courts, legislatures, and public movements—for over 50 years, building strong coalitions with other pro-democracy organizations and initiatives along the way.
Timing is crucial with mid-terms on the horizon. But you can stay in the peaceful oasis of positive action and opt-in for the email notifications or just share the videos on your own and lead people to join Common Cause, increasing their membership, and their power, in their ongoing work protecting our democracy — now and into the future.
To join the 1.5 million
digital march for democracy
Enter: CommonCause.org
Then scroll to their “join our movement” form.
Our power is in their numbers
Their power is in our hands
And Who are we?
We are a growing community of musicians, music lovers, and lovers of democracy, creating and sharing jingles that actually do something—empowering those who are fighting to protect our voice—like a Trojan horse of art and music, riding straight into the heart of the battlefield where our freedoms are at risk. But we rely on you to spread the word.
Why jingles and why one place
Everyone is a lover of music—a perfect and peaceful way to gather democracy loving Americans where we have special power–together in one single place.
Thank you,
for standing up for democracy,
Judy Shatkin (founder / jazz pianist composer / activist at democracy12.com), John Anderson (founder / award winning filmmaker/musician), Corky Siegel (founder / composer /performer), Holly Siegel (founder / graphics), Gary Sherman (contributor/filmmaker - “Poltergeist III”), Janet Webber (contributor/advertising), Robert Joseph (ideas), Bonnie Koloc (singer/songwriter/visual artist/actress), James Lee Stanley (lovable singer-songwriter), Marcella Detroit (singer-songwriter - “Lay Down Sally” and Shakespears Sister), Ralph Covert (singer-songwriter - Bad Examples and Ralph’s World), Michael Miles (educator/author/banjo innovator), John Duggleby, Lynne Jordan (diva) Michael Firman (zen) Special thanks you’s to Melinda Joseph who has already guided us through some social media hurdles.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
More about Common Cause
We are speaking loud and clear for democracy in a way that is peaceful, unifying, and stress-reducing, while empowering the people at Common Cause to do a job they are uniquely qualified to do; They are already addressing the situations and events that continue to be so distressing to us. They have a 50 year history of fighting and winning for democracy both nationally and in local jurisdictions, through the courts, through legislation, through people's movements, and in every way imaginable. They also collaborate with other organizations creating a coalition of pro-democracy forces to insure that all Americans can be heard. After all, having a say in one's future is an aspiration we all share, and democracy is the almost-perfect process for securing and maintaining our voice.
Democracy is for everyone
The multiple structures and complex systems of music are an unseen and magical unifying force, as are the multiple structures and complex systems that we have endearingly nicknamed democracy for over 250 years. "Endearing," because it is the only social-political process that embraces all of us and directs us to find common ground. The founders composed this genius symphony and gifted it to all generations in all administrations to keep it tuned and resonating. It's your fragile right to have a voice. Always stand up for democracy. The underpinning to prosperity has always been democracy. Our country has fought hard to assure other people’s voices can be heard.
Also remember this: All of our elected officials were put into place through this process called democracy. It provides us — the citizens — a voice through our votes and our declarations.
Philosophy / Psychology
Like the Japanese Marshall Art “Akido,” Jingles for Democracy is a path that takes the negative energy and redirects it in a positive way. It is not an “anti current administration” path but a pro-democracy path focused like a laser on protecting democracy and the people’s voice. This makes Jingles for Democracy especially effective as well as a good way to keep our inner peace while actually accomplishing something positive, forceful and good for all Americans.
Aikido, is a Japanese martial art. It is an approach to conflict resolution that focuses on redirecting an opponent's energy rather than directly opposing it or trying to overpower it. In this case the opponent is not a person but any action that drowns out or compromises the people’s voice. We don’t attack it with facts or arguments (while being careful to not endorse or appease bad ideas or actions), we redirect it and focus on the protection of our democracy
Do more for our common cause?
Common Cause offers many other ways to help that might be right for you, including signing curated petitions, making calls, knocking on doors, voter protection, donating. But make sure you are signed up at Common Cause, share the jingles, and stand together for democracy. Like any march, there is strength in numbers. But unlike a march which is powerful in its own right, support for Common Cause keeps working 365 days a year - including the mid-terms and into the future, even after you've turned around and gone home.
Other organizations.
There are multiple pro-democracy groups, progressive, conservative, independent, left-leaning, right-leaning, partisan and nonpartisan, all fighting for our democracy. We at Jingles For Democracy understand that Common Cause supports all efforts to keep American democracy strong.
For creators
Sing out and sign up. Use your talents. Be creative in the company of friends. Make fun, sweet, unifying, welcoming, charming, clever, nonpartisan video shorts to help funnel democracy-loving Americans into one single stress-free effort to grow our numbers stand with Common Cause and make our voices heard in a special way. Create jingles and share jingles
Simply Stated
Jingles for Democracy follows the path of kindness with music and art. Its goal is social unity through the protection of the democratic process. If you search for the most active nonpartisan pro-democracy organization Common Cause will often show up #1 or at least in the top 3 or 5.
“Like a Trojan horse, Jingles for Democracy creates a welcoming oasis of music and art—free from vitriol—while carrying a deeper purpose: guiding democracy-loving Americans to support Common Cause, the frontline defender of a complex system of check and balances we have nicknamed ‘democracy’ allowing our voice to be heard.”
Disclaimer
Although we are not spokespersons for Common Cause, we have a long history with them and have come to trust their leadership, their ethical grounding and their fidelity to the cause of democracy.