Unifying • Mobilizing • Empowering the fight
Three steps to winning for democracy
1) Join the team at JingleForDemocracy
2) Share the jingles and stay in an oasis of calm
3) Join Common Cause and let them and their coalition of pro-democracy organizations do the heavy lifting
Spread joy, not division, and actually help defend our democracy. (No cost and opting out is easy)
The short art and music democracy videos will uplift hearts but also connect people permanently to the real-world concrete defense of our democracy where it counts the most, applying the full force of people’s power together in one place.
THE STRATEGY Join our team at Jingles For Democracy
You will receive no more than two emails a week personally from Corky Siegel. Each email announces a NEW non-adversarial short music video about democracy that you can click on. The more clicks, the more people will be directed to Common Cause and their coalition of nonpartisan pro-democracy organizations where the actual fight to defend our democracy is happening.
Why Common Cause?
Though there are numerous nonpartisan pro-democracy organizations doing the work that is worthy of our empowerment, we want to focus the attention into one single place right now for starters. We chose Common Cause (with its 1.5 million members). They are a leading organization in the coalition of pro-democracy groups, 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.
Engaging with the videos and sharing the JinglesForDemocracy.com link with your friends and networks can spark an exponential growth and lead millions to stand together behind the work to save our democracy, our rights, and our freedoms.
YouTube Playlist
FaceBook Page
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 along with their coalition protecting our democracy (our voices and our votes) — now and into the future.
And Who are we?
We are a small but growing community of musicians, but mainly music lovers, and lovers of democracy, creating a movement by 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. While we look for ways to take this to the next level, you can help by spreading the word.
Why jingles and why one place
Everyone is a lover of music—a perfect and peaceful way to gather democracy loving Americans. When we come together in one place, the full force of the people’s power is applied.
So sign up both at Common Cause and Jingles For Democracy to help turn this into a movement.
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:
Democracy is for everyone
Recent post by Corky Siegel: In a "democracy" your opinion matters. The weaker the democracy the less your opinion matters. In Autocracy your opinion doesn't matter at all. For 249 years we've "all" been fighting and rooting to strengethn a process we have lovingly nicknamed "democracy." This never ending fight doesn't end now.
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 almost 250 years. "Endearing," because it is the only social-political process that embraces all of us and directs us to find common ground. It is the structure for social harmony. 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.