In Face of Super-Rich, Corporate Influence on Elections, 'Nuns on the Bus' Rides Again
New 'Nuns on the Bus' tour aims to tackle issue of big money influence on politics
Like Robin Hood, the "Nuns on the Bus" show up when you need them.
First it was the social safety net-slashing House budget proposal in 2012 that brought out the sisters calling for justice in cities across the U.S. Then, in 2013, it was the need for comprehensive immigration reform.
Now, the bus-traveling sisters are back, this time fueled by the message, "We the People, We the Voters" in order to take a stand against the overpowering influence of big money on elections.
The U.S. citizenry is "fed up with a system in which the super-rich and giant corporations are effectively able to buy politicians and policy," as Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen, stated this month. That influence in thanks in part to two Supreme Court decisions--Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission--which dismantled campaign finance laws.
Organized by Catholic social justice lobby NETWORK, the group kicks off its 10-state tour focused on this big-money influence on Sept. 17 in Iowa, and ends roughly one month later in Colorado.
"It's all about 'we the people' standing up against big money," Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of NETWORK, told Religion News Service.
Sister Simone gained widespread notoriety--but rebuke from the Vatican--for her role spearheading the bus tours, which she used as an opportunity to call for economic justice and human rights. She has brought this message to a wide range of audiences, appearing on shows including the Colbert Report, Real Time With Bill Maher and Bill Moyers as well as penning the book A Nun on the Bus: How All of Us Can Create Hope, Change, and Community.
Asked last month by the Global Sisters Report, a project of the National Catholic Reporter, if there would be another Nuns on the Bus tour, Sister Simone said, "I say that the bus is like Robin Hood. It shows up when you need it. So if you think of an issue that needs attention or needs really a big push, the bus may show up." She added that a new tour could be a possibility this fall, and though tour funding concerns remained, she said, "Robin Hood shows up when you're desperate."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Like Robin Hood, the "Nuns on the Bus" show up when you need them.
First it was the social safety net-slashing House budget proposal in 2012 that brought out the sisters calling for justice in cities across the U.S. Then, in 2013, it was the need for comprehensive immigration reform.
Now, the bus-traveling sisters are back, this time fueled by the message, "We the People, We the Voters" in order to take a stand against the overpowering influence of big money on elections.
The U.S. citizenry is "fed up with a system in which the super-rich and giant corporations are effectively able to buy politicians and policy," as Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen, stated this month. That influence in thanks in part to two Supreme Court decisions--Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission--which dismantled campaign finance laws.
Organized by Catholic social justice lobby NETWORK, the group kicks off its 10-state tour focused on this big-money influence on Sept. 17 in Iowa, and ends roughly one month later in Colorado.
"It's all about 'we the people' standing up against big money," Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of NETWORK, told Religion News Service.
Sister Simone gained widespread notoriety--but rebuke from the Vatican--for her role spearheading the bus tours, which she used as an opportunity to call for economic justice and human rights. She has brought this message to a wide range of audiences, appearing on shows including the Colbert Report, Real Time With Bill Maher and Bill Moyers as well as penning the book A Nun on the Bus: How All of Us Can Create Hope, Change, and Community.
Asked last month by the Global Sisters Report, a project of the National Catholic Reporter, if there would be another Nuns on the Bus tour, Sister Simone said, "I say that the bus is like Robin Hood. It shows up when you need it. So if you think of an issue that needs attention or needs really a big push, the bus may show up." She added that a new tour could be a possibility this fall, and though tour funding concerns remained, she said, "Robin Hood shows up when you're desperate."
Like Robin Hood, the "Nuns on the Bus" show up when you need them.
First it was the social safety net-slashing House budget proposal in 2012 that brought out the sisters calling for justice in cities across the U.S. Then, in 2013, it was the need for comprehensive immigration reform.
Now, the bus-traveling sisters are back, this time fueled by the message, "We the People, We the Voters" in order to take a stand against the overpowering influence of big money on elections.
The U.S. citizenry is "fed up with a system in which the super-rich and giant corporations are effectively able to buy politicians and policy," as Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen, stated this month. That influence in thanks in part to two Supreme Court decisions--Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission--which dismantled campaign finance laws.
Organized by Catholic social justice lobby NETWORK, the group kicks off its 10-state tour focused on this big-money influence on Sept. 17 in Iowa, and ends roughly one month later in Colorado.
"It's all about 'we the people' standing up against big money," Sister Simone Campbell, executive director of NETWORK, told Religion News Service.
Sister Simone gained widespread notoriety--but rebuke from the Vatican--for her role spearheading the bus tours, which she used as an opportunity to call for economic justice and human rights. She has brought this message to a wide range of audiences, appearing on shows including the Colbert Report, Real Time With Bill Maher and Bill Moyers as well as penning the book A Nun on the Bus: How All of Us Can Create Hope, Change, and Community.
Asked last month by the Global Sisters Report, a project of the National Catholic Reporter, if there would be another Nuns on the Bus tour, Sister Simone said, "I say that the bus is like Robin Hood. It shows up when you need it. So if you think of an issue that needs attention or needs really a big push, the bus may show up." She added that a new tour could be a possibility this fall, and though tour funding concerns remained, she said, "Robin Hood shows up when you're desperate."