National Teach-In To Take Back The American Dream

The Campaign for America’s Future is organizing a National Teach-In on taking back the American Dream. The way it will work is that they are broadcasting a documentary called “The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann” on Tuesday, February 21 at 9:00pm eastern.The film will address the key questions of who causes this mess and how can we rebuild the American Dream.

So, they are encouraging people to organize small or large “Teach-Ins” where you arrange to show the documentary and then have discussion afterwards. If you plan to hold one, you can register it on their website and then individuals in your area looking to attend one can RSVP for yours.

We are reposting the key content of their home page here but recommend that you go to their website, www.ourfuture.org, for more information and to register.

Featuring: Robert Reich, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Heather McGhee, Demos Leo Hindrey, businessman and “Patriotic Millionaire” Natalie Foster, Co-Founder, Rebuild the Dream Robert Borosage, Campaign for America’s Future On the “National Teach-In to Take Back the American Dream” you’ll hear the real story about the economic crisis: What corporations broke the law in their reckless pursuit of greed What policies made it legal for banks to gamble with the stability of the global economy Why so many millions were thrown out of their homes, or left to drown in underwater mortgages Why our government won’t act to create jobs, even though the economists who saw the crisis coming know exactly what we need to do Make This A Movement-Building Event You can watch the program alone – and you will get a lot out of it. But this program will have the most impact when you’re watching it with others and make it a true community teach-in. Click here to organize your own teach-in during the Feb. 21 “Teach-In to Take Back the American Dream” or connect with a teach-in already scheduled in your community. On the right you’ll find a link to a Teach-In Host Guide that will give you tips on organizing a small or large gathering, and as well as links to teaching materials designed by Demos, MoveOn and Rebuild the Dream. And if enough of us do it, we can turn the “Teach-In” into a massive movement-building event! We have the power to tell the true story of the economic mess to the American people. And when the truth is known, we can mobilize the people to demand bold action. Join us on Feb. 21 at 9 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Pacific time, and help us get the truth out.

Who Caused the Mess? How Can We Rebuild the American Dream? A special broadcast of “The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann” Tuesday, February 21, 2012 9 p.m. Eastern/6 p.m. Pacific Hosted by Thom Hartmann Click here to find the show in your area, or watch it online on this page. TAKE ACTION FIND or HOST a teach-in GET TIPS on hosting a teach-in DOWNLOAD teach-in materials TWEET-IN Use the hashtag #teachin to join the conversation Have a question for the teach-in? Submit it!   You can submit a video question to teachin@ourfuture.org and we may air it during the broadcast. (Please limit your video to 30 seconds or less and make sure the audio and video is of good quality.) You can also post a question for the teach-in on our Facebook page, or on Twitter using the hashtag #teachin and our Twitter name, @OurFuturedotorg.

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Next Steps: Policy Solutions

November 17, 2011

As a follow-up to the original Teach-In we will be collecting, analyzing and organizing policy solutions to a range of pressing challenges: the economy, job creation, income and wealth inequality, the federal deficit/debt, campaign finance reform, etc. Our intention is to create and provide a great resource, not just for understanding what went wrong and continues to go wrong, but how we might fix things.

We also invite you to submit a policy solution. It could either be an idea of your own or simply something you heard or read about somewhere, perhaps even at the Teach-In.

Be sure to check back regularly to see our progress on this effort. We hope that ultimately it will help to inform everyday citizens as well as elected officials and candidates about effective and much needed policy remedies.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

This past Sunday, November 13^th we held a massive Teach-In on the state of the economy, its impact on individuals and households, the reasons for the long duration of the current Great Recession, and ideas about what can be done to speed economic recovery and enhance economic opportunity and mobility.

Speakers at the Teach In included Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, State Senators Sonia Chang-Diaz and Dan Wolf, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Boston City Councilors Mike Ross and Tito Jackson, Mike Dukakis and Barry Bluestone and a dazzling array of leaders.

The Teach-In was intended for community members of all ages and walks of life. We estimate that close to 1,000 participants joined us — faculty, students, alumni, community residents, nonprofit, business and labor leaders, and politicians.

The purpose of the Teach-In was to educate and enlighten about the state of the economy, its impact on individuals and households, the reasons for the long duration of the current Great Recession, and to provide ideas about what can be done to speed economic recovery and enhance economic and social justice.

Our intention was to not just produce this one-time event but to help spark a movement of similarly-focused Teach-Ins throughout the nation. Many Americans have been impacted by the economy, not only in recent years but for the past few decades — as income and wealth inequality have grown while opportunity and mobility have declined. Rightly so, the response has been frustration, despair and even anger. And yet, far too many Americans, of all ages, don’t yet fully understand how it all happened, what went wrong, and most importantly what are some viable solutions for fixing things and getting back on track.