Written by John Mulkins   

It's been a long decade, the lost decade some said. For me it was lost. I lost my trust in government, I lost my faith in financial institutions, I lost my hope that we might avert serious harm from global climate change, and I lost my hope in the progressive movement. When I realized that we were losing our coral reefs and our fisheries, I felt as if I had lost my future as well. So yeah, I guess it was a lost decade. But are those things lost forever, or are we going to somehow find them, tucked away and out of sight behind a the sofa pillow.

I'm here, typing away in my office tonight to the invisible audience, if any at all. I am addressing the unknown mother or angry white dude, the confused high school teenage or the determined college student. I don't know who is reading this, I'll probably never meet you. I just want you to know something though. I actually care about you. Who ever you are. I have this feeling that you are probably a good person, worth caring about. Does that make this article any more interesting to you, I don't know. Probably not. But the fact that I feel a connection to you is actually significant. Here's why.

We live on the same planet. Although it's slightly curved, we inhabit the same plane of existence. That "plane", the very thin skin that covers the ball of hot dirt called earth, is in danger of collapse. If not it, then us. Either way, one or the other will probably not be here in a hundred years unless you and I agree that we can do something to prevent it today. I like to say, the world will be a better place by this evening. My dad use to say, "Just leave the bathroom a little cleaner for the next guy". He also use to tell me to "Look at the big picture". OK dad, so what do I do with that advice!

I've decided it comes down to this. The big picture: Corporations are slowly killing our democracy and our planet. Yikes. Could that be true? OK, it's a very long story if you are new to the topic, but take my word for it, it is most certainly true.

Ok so then what. What can any of us do? OK, nothing? Is doing nothing an option? Do you even care? Does it make your life better or worse? What about your kids and your nephews? Is it all up to them to deal with our mess? For me, the answer is absolutely not. "We" here and now, must deal with the abuses of power and the forces of greed. It's up to us.

OK, so then lets say you are with me so far, which you probably are not because by now most people find ways to disagree with most arguments. That is why they call them arguments I suppose. But I am arguing for something. I guess I am arguing for action. I'm arguing that "we" need to get very organized and focused and "deal" with the specific laws and agencies which allow for the ongoing abuse of corporations of our government, our natural resources, or media, our elections, and our future. Now, if that seems like a lot to lay on some big multinationals, then you really should see the Corporate Hall of Shame on my web site. It may surprise you.

Oh yea, so that's where this was going. My web site! http://www.peoplescongress.org

Check this out. I was wondering how I might recover some of the things I lost in the last decade, and came up with a pretty simple plan. It's all very naive I suppose, but then, I was not setting out to be practical, just effective. I came up with an agenda, a list of organizations that I thought might be supportive, even a list of speakers. I came up with the Corporate Hall of Shame, and a scary list of real evil doers I call Corporate Enabler's. I am pretty sure that if something like this took place, I might find a few of the things I lost in the 90's. I'm wondering tonight if anyone else might feel the same. So I'm hoping you will go to the site, at http:///www.poeplescongress.org and read about how I think we can really deal with some big issues, like bee colony collapse, and fishery declines, and all the other big stuff like fracking and bio diesel fuel. Ya see fortunately, it all comes down to just a few simple things You can read about it on my site, and if you agree or disagree, I hope you will let me know and at least help spread the word.

So yea, it's your turn. Tell me how you are going to make the world a better place by this afternoon.