Democracy For All Video Challenge Gives Americans Platform to Protest Billions of Dollars Spent on Elections
WASHINGTON – The effect of money on politics is powerfully and entertainingly presented in a viral video spoof making its way around the Internet as part of an online video competition encouraging people to express their views on big money in politics. The Democracy For All Video Challenge, spearheaded by Say No To Big Money and People For the American Way, selects a different best video every week from submissions made by people across the country.
The video, “War on Democracy,” was created and produced by Clarke Watson, a native of Colorado Springs, CO now living in Los Angeles. The 90-second spot is a farcical version of the anti-drug campaign that told Americans “this is your brain… this is your brain on drugs” while showing an egg being fried. The video is meant to depict how average Americans no longer have a say in politics because of the impact of big money on the political process.
“I had kind of given up on politics until recently,” said Watson. “I’ve become re-energized now with the upcoming presidential election, which is why I feel resolving the issue of money in politics is paramount to our country being able to move forward in a way that truly embraces the democratic principles on which this country was founded.”
The video can be viewed at http://democracyforall.com/entries/the-war-on-democracy. All of the winning videos to-date are available to view at www.democracyforall.com/winners. People can enter the video challenge by submitting 30-90 second videos between now and Dec. 2. Full details are available at www.DemocracyForAll.com.
“Our objective with this video challenge is to get people across the country to express their frustration with the political process and their inability to have a fair say in government,” said Jeff Haggin, president of Say No To Big Money which created the video challenge. “This is a call to action for people to let their representatives know they object to the imbalance of influence that exists today.”
The Democracy For All Video Challenge was created by Say No To Big Money and People For the American Way to tap into the creative potential of people in the United States who support a constitutional amendment that would allow for reasonable limits to be set on money in elections. A panel of judges selects the most impactful videos with $1,000 being awarded to the best video each week. At the conclusion of the video challenge, five best in category videos will be awarded $5,000 each, with $25,000 being awarded to the best overall video. Rather than hire an advertising agency to produce the spots, the sponsor organizations developed the Video Challenge to enable the true voice of Americans to be heard and give people across the country a chance to earn money for their efforts.
The Democracy For All Amendment, currently being considered by Congress with 138 cosponsors in the House and 41 supporters in the Senate, would overturn decisions such as Citizens United, the 2010 Supreme Court case that paved the way for unlimited political spending by corporations and the super wealthy.
People For the American Way (PFAW) is dedicated to making the promise of America real for every American. That means equality. Freedom of speech. Freedom of religion. The right to seek justice in a court of law. The right to cast a vote that counts. The American Way. Our vision is a vibrantly diverse democratic society in which everyone is treated equally under the law, given the freedom and opportunity to pursue their dreams, and encouraged to participate in our nation’s civic and political life. More information is available at www.PFAW.org.
Say No To Big Money is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation for the public benefit with the mission of supporting the ratification of the Democracy For All Amendment that will regulate campaign contributions. Say No To Big Money is nonpartisan and does not promote or take sides on any political issues nor endorse candidates or elections. More information is available at www.SayNoToBigMoney.com.
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