Move the Money Toolkit
The only way to move the money from wars and weapons to fund jobs creation and human services is to organize a grassroots movement.
Organizing a grassroots movement takes time, but if done systematically, can be the beginnings of a politically empowered movement that can make big changes.
Tactics must include: raising public awareness, coalescing with community and labor allies who are fighting local budget cuts and putting pressure on local elected officials to join us in telling the Congress, in no uncertain terms, to change national spending priorities.
The Congressional "Super Committee" is busy drafting proposals, behind closed doors, to cut over $1 trillion in federal spending. The Pentagon is screaming about a doomsday scenario, if their budget is cut to protect urgently needed federal programs for our communities or jobs creation. The truth is, money invested in education, infrastructure and healthcare creates more jobs and longer term benefits for the economy and our future.
For those who live in Congressional districts with Senators or Representatives on the bi-partisan "Super Committee" collect petitions, postcards, etc. and organize Congressional visits with delegations who represent a cross section of the community. We also need to keep the heat on all members of the Congress.
Toolkit:
We have gathered resources (How-tos, samples, leaflets, info, etc.) from Peace Action local affiliates and partner organizations.
1) "Super Committee" materials
3) City, town and county councils resolutions
4) Birddog Congressional representatives
5) Organize a town hall meeting
6) Background articles and materials
1) Congressional "Super Committee" organizing materials
Timeline of the work of the "Super Committee".
Information about the Congressional districts the members of the "Super Committee" represent.
Who is donating to the re-elction campaigns of the "Super Committee"?
"Super Committee" Talking Points
Contact the "Super Committee" directly through their website.
• Download Word docs and insert local information: (Prepared by Massachusetts Peace Action)
• Download PDFs:
5 Myths of the Budget/Deficit Deal
Report of the Sustainable Defense Task Force.
Who says we can cut Pentagon spending? (Prepared by Friends Committee on National Legislation)
"Super Committee" Recommendations for Action (Prepared by Save for All)
Lobbying 101 (Prepared by American Firends Service Committee)
• Twitter and Facebook:
Tweet the "Super Committee" with our call to Move the Money! Member's Twitter addresses.
Sample Tweet: Dear (@insert your Senator’s handle) Please reject any deficit reduction plan that harms low‐income people or stalls economic recovery #SAVE4All
Sample Tweets (Prepared by Coalition for Human Needs and Save for All):
Tell the #SuperCommittee: Time to cut the Pentagon Budget, to fund jobs and our community services. Twitter addresses: http://bit.ly/sfDysA
Both parties are putting out disappointing plans in the #Supercommittee http://bit.ly/sbe52O #SAVE4All
Check out http://bit.ly/t0Xt2n to see what’s happening in the #supercommittee. #SAVE4All
Facebook, go to your Senator's Facebook page and click the ‘Like’ button at the top. Then post this message to his or her wall: "Please reject any deficit reduction plan that harms low‐income people, adds to their number, and stalls our fragile economic recovery." You can also craft your own message—the more personal the story, the better!
2) Raise public awareness through tabling, door to door outreach or letters to the editor or teach-ins. Download leaflets for use or share the links in your electronic newsletters or websites.
How-to write a good letter to the editor. (Prepared by Upper Hudson Peace Action)
• Download Word doc leaflets and you can add your local contact info:
Modest Proposals for Cutting Military Spending
Five ways to get organized to cut the Pentagon Budget
• Download leaflets with local facts and figures on how our tax dollars could be spent if we Move the Money! National Priorities Project
3) Put city, town and county councils on the record by getting resolutions passed that call on Congressional delegations to "move the money from wars and weapons to fund our communities." Check to see if your mayor voted for the US Conference of Mayor's resolution passed at the June 2011 meeting. If yes, send a delegation to ask for her or his support for a city or town council resolution.
• Download sample resolutions:
Montgomery County Council Resolution, MD
Durham City Council Resolution, NC
US Conference of Mayors Resolution
• Check to see if your mayor attended the US Conference of Mayors meeting this year.
• Read media coverage of the US Conference of Mayor's resolution.
• Read about how Lockheed Martin (one of the largest US arms producer) blocked the passage of the non-binding Move the Money resolution in Montgomery County, MD.
4) Organize bird dogging at Congressional events: town hall meetings, public events and fund raisers to get our message heard. Work with allies in labor, economic and racial justice groups.
• Download Word docs (Prepared by NH Peace Action & NH Citizen Action Alliance):
5) Organize a town hall meeting to raise awareness of the 58% of federal discretionary spending going to the Pentagon and the costs of the wars to our communities. Join with local labor and community groups who are organizing around local budget cuts to sponsor the meeting.
How-to organize a town hall meeting (Prepared by Upper Hudson Peace Action)
6) Background articles to refute the myth that cutting military spending cannot be done:
• Ryan Alexander: Defending Bloated Military Budget
• Jean Athey & John Feifer: Community Resolutions Against the Machine
• Dean Baker: The Myth of the Military Budget Fairy (Word doc)
• William Hartung: Is it safe to cut the Pentagon Budget?
• Judith Le Blanc: Ready to Rumble for Jobs, Not War and more Weapons?
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