Justice Movement Launches 'American Idea' Competition to Transform America, Calls for Constitutional Convention

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Justice Movement (www.justicemovementnow.net) today launched The American Idea, a national, state-by-state competition designed to spark transformative, community-driven ideas to solve domestic and global challenges that could transform the U.S. political system and government.

"We need to awaken the ingenuity and innovation of the American people," Dr. Paul Zeitz, executive director of the Global Peace Action Network and the Global AIDS Alliance, said at a National Press Club event today. "Our political system is broken and our leaders – dependent on corporate largess – no longer are able to effectively serve the interests of the American people."

It was a speech by Dr. Zeitz at an awards ceremony last week that sparked the Justice Movement, a group of committed, everyday Americans of varied backgrounds and political views who collaboratively are galvanizing the movement.

The American Idea competition will be judged on three criteria: (1) Bold and transformative ideas, (2) diversity of support for the ideas, and (3) the ability to measure the ideas' success. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 14th, 2011, to be followed by a series of Justice Movement events in Washington, D.C., from Jan. 15th-20th. These will be highlighted by a March for Justice on Jan. 17th – Martin Luther King Jr. Day – and a convention on Jan. 20th to create a platform for the Justice Movement.

January 20th marks the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of President Kennedy, the 30th anniversary of the inauguration of President Reagan and the second anniversary of the inauguration of President Obama.

"My hope is that Americans will join together to build ideas that can boldly, effectively transform America for the 21st century," Dr. Zeitz told attendees at the press conference.

Ultimately, the Justice Movement's goal is to convene a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia as early as July 4, 2011, America's 235th birthday. A planning committee that includes constitutional scholars and planning experts has been formed. Among the proposals that have been submitted are elimination of the Electoral College system for selecting a president, a legal requirement that all Americans vote in federal and state elections, and an overhaul of how all elections are financed.

The Justice Movement is a group of committed, everyday Americans of varied backgrounds and political views who collaboratively are dedicated to galvanizing political action that attains measurable results for all Americans. It is not a political party, nor will it field any candidates. It seeks to educate the public on how to take back America so that our leaders serve the cause of Justice.

SOURCE The Justice Movement