As an old saying goes, sometimes the best place to hide is in plain sight. The Civic Alliance states that it was formed in January 2020. The nonprofit Civic Alliance includes over 1000 corporate brands and nonprofits that will likely include names that you know, and some that you may not yet recognize, but should. It includes “woke” corporations and nonprofits backed by some of the wealthiest people in the world, not just the United States. Among the firms? Jeff Bezos’ Amazon. Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook. Warren Buffett led Berkshire Hathaway backed-Kraft-Heinz, and Buffett-tied Arabella Advisors. Microsoft, LinkedIn and Bill Gates. Jack Dorsey’s Twitter. ViacomCBS. WaltDisney Television. There are over 1000 more organizations listed, all of which are named in the Civic Alliance’s document obtained below. While claiming to be nonpartisan, their own documents and press releases publicly cheer their accomplishment in getting former President Barack Obama-era VP Joe Biden into the White House. The group of corporate and nonprofit leaders have openly celebrated ousting President Donald J. Trump from office.
This is the news story that is a blip on most media radars, why? So it is no surprise that many if not most Americans have little or no clue about this group. Yet this is a true story that ought to be shouted from the rooftops, because of its implications about corporate, nonprofit, tech, and media power in our political process.
In a stark, white-on-black background, the “Civic Alliance 2020 Impact Report” obtained by MHProNews says the following.
2020 Impact Report
Despite a global pandemic, growing civil unrest, and polarizing politics, the 2020 election saw historic voter turnout and the election cycle of 2020 saw historic civic engagement. The Civic Alliance and its business community rallied to champion voter registration, early voting, vote by mail, and civic participation to employees and customers alike – creating a tipping point in corporate civic engagement.”
Some affordable housing advocates and manufactured home industry professionals may wonder – why does this matter to them or you? The answers are many, but should begin with the evidence and the money trail that connects the dots.
Investopedia answers the question: “Who Owns Kraft Heinz Company?” like this. “Berkshire Hathaway holds the largest stake in Kraft Heinz, with a 26.65% stake and over 325 million shares. It is followed by minority holders including Vanguard, SSgA Funds Management, and BlackRock Fund Advisors with 4.49%, 2.5%, and 2.22% stakes, respectively.” Additionally, as previously reported by the Capital Research Center (CRC) and MHProNews, Arabella Advisors has clear ‘follow the money’ ties to Warren Buffett.
In the Civic Alliance’s own words, here are several of their statements from their 2020 report obtained by MHProNews.
Launched in January 2020 by the CAA Foundation and Democracy Works, the Civic Alliance is a nonpartisan coalition of companies that strengthens our democracy by encouraging civic participation and supporting safe, accessible, and trusted elections. Since its founding, Civic Alliance has grown from an initial 40 member companies to over 1,000 member companies representing all sizes, stages, and industries.
what do we do?
Civic Alliance helps member companies champion democracy and promote civic agency with employee and customer programs. By providing tools, resources, expertise, networking, best practices, “civic concierge” services (tailored, personalized support), and media and campaign opportunities, the Civic Alliance helped member companies:
- Create A Voter-Friendly Workplace
- Engage And Inform Employees
- Inspire Consumers To Vote
- Participate In Election Day Of Service
- Be 100% In For Democracy
the why:
We believe a strong democracy is good for business and an engaged business community is good for democracy.
83% of Americans agree that the health of our economy depends on the strength of our democracy. – JUST Capital”
On the surface, much of this may seem just fine. Most people say they are for ‘democracy.’ Or perhaps more accurately and thus appropriately, they should be for the American Republic. It is entirely believable that most people would think that a healthy “democracy” is good for the “health of our economy.”
But leading questions like that do not imply that 2020 produced a more healthy economy. Clearly, the economic evidence makes it obvious that the COVID19/Wuhan China Coronavirus did not create a healthy economy for the U.S., or much of the world. China won, most others lost. But the billionaire class that is well represented by the Civic Alliance obviously won too. To see details and how they interlace with our profession, residents, and potential homebuyers, click here, here, and here.
Rephrased, this Civic Alliance is arguably an example of masterful manipulation, spin, push-polling, and paltering in action. Given the resources available to and backing the Civic Alliance and the CAA, why would someone expect anything less from some of the richest Americans and their corporate brands?
Near the end of their 36-page self-praising report, it says that “The Civic Alliance was founded by the CAA Foundation and Democracy Works and is powered by Meteorite.”
The Civic Alliance report explains that “Powered by Meteorite builds coalitions and campaigns to strengthen our democracy, improve health outcomes and advance equity. We align businesses, civil society, and philanthropy around shared values and common purpose, and we inspire unlikely partnerships that drive social transformation. Let’s make impact, together.” For those who can even mildly read-between the lines, does that sound nonpartisan? Isn’t it obviously an activist group, hiding in plain sight under the guise of being nonpartisan?
But if there is any doubt, here is their statement following the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol Building breach. This is the start of the Civic Alliance’s January 7, 2021 statement.
“The attack on the U.S. Capitol represents an attack on American democracy, a dangerous break from our democratic tradition, and must be rejected.
There is no doubt about the integrity of the 2020 election. We reaffirm that the election result was determined by the will of the voters, certified by every state, and upheld by the courts. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris were duly elected in the manner established by the U.S. Constitution, and they will be inaugurated at noon on January 20, 2021. We commend those members of Congress who upheld their constitutional duty and certified the results.” That may sound nonpartisan to someone who voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, or to those who otherwise opposed the re-election of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Michael “Mike” Pence. But to some 74 million plus voters, that is hardly nonpartisan.
Additionally, there is significant doubt about the election’s outcome, as has been previously reported by MHProNews. Some Trump-supporters sum it up with this image and data.
Several of the brands listed by the Civic Alliance have clear ties to billionaire William “Bill” Gates. Among them, Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Impossible Foods, to name but three. Because of the close ties between Buffett and Gates – for instance, through stocks and the Gates Foundation – and given the web of relationships involved, it certainly fits the notion advanced by Federal Reserve Senior Economist James A. “Jim” Schmitz Jr and John Cochrane, among others promoting the understanding of “sabotage monopolies.” New readers should note that here their term “monopoly” should include the notion of oligopolies.
Which brings affordable housing advocates and manufactured home industry readers full circle to why this dark money group matters to our industry, and literally all others operating in the U.S. The challenges of our profession are unique in some ways. But they also are part of a broader pattern. Page 29-34 list the routinely “woke” or left-leaning groups and businesses that are publicly proclaiming their membership in the Civic Alliance. Because of the financial, tech, media, and other clout they are wielding political clout.
Don’t miss today’s postscript.
Note: that the op-ed linked below on WND News is by L. A. “Tony” Kovach and makes a good bookend to this introductory report. If the above lays out elements of the problem, that roughly 500 word news-analysis rapidly summarizes and documents the facts, scope, historic evidence, and solutions. For those who think that this writer can’t be succinct, just see for yourself.
With no further adieu, let’s authentically transition to the headlines for the week that was between 5.9 to 5.15.2021.
What is New on MHLivingNews
What is the Latest News from Washington, D.C. from MHARR
What is New on the Masthead
What is New on the Daily Business News on MHProNews
Saturday 5.15.2021
Friday 5.14.2021
Thursday 5.13.2021
Wednesday 5.12.2021
Tuesday 5.11.2021
Monday 5.10.2021
Sunday 5.9.2021
Postscript
To borrow the language of Time’s Molly Ball, the Civic Alliance fits that description she gave to a “cabal” of some of the most powerful corporate interests that ‘conspired’ to remove Donald J. Trump from office. As PBS reports, “Molly Ball is the national political correspondent for Time magazine and a political analyst for CNN. She has previously reported for The Atlantic and Politico.” Each of those media outlets connected with Ball leans left.
As the Wall Street Journal framed Ball’s report on February 8, 2021, “Time magazine reports there was ‘practically a revolution’ in America’s voting process in 2020. Was it good for the country—or just for Biden?” Several pro-Democratic voices have plainly said that they lament what they are seeing, or what they saw coming.
An article on Yahoo dated February 10, 2021 called Ball’s account entitled, “The Secret History of the Shadow Campaign That Saved the 2020 Election,” “Irresponsible Hype from Molly Ball and Time Magazine.” But President Trump cited Ball’s account, as did numbers of others across the left-right divide. It should be noted that Time itself was solidly in the anti-Trump column before, during, and after his time in the White House. But a look at the Civic Alliance’s own blatant braggadocio should make it clear that they are indeed flexing their muscles. The Civic Alliance are already planning for the next election.
The next four years could be make or break for the American Republic’s great experiment in self-rule. MHProNews believes that with the correct “ora et labora” effort, this “cabal” that claims to be pro-democracy can be stopped, because the many outnumber the money.
But it is far from certain. So long as their is public apathy, the money powers with their media, tech, and government connections have the edge. Never forget. It is better to light one candle, and then pass it on, than to curse the darkness and do nothing.
Our thanks to you, our sources, and sponsors for making and keeping us the runaway number one source for authentic “News through the lens of manufactured homes and factory-built housing” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (Affordable housing, manufactured homes, reports, fact-checks, analysis, and commentary. Third-party images or content are provided under fair use guidelines for media.) (See Related Reports, further below. Text/image boxes often are hot-linked to other reports that can be access by clicking on them.)
By L.A. “Tony” Kovach – for MHProNews.com.
Tony earned a journalism scholarship and earned numerous awards in history and in manufactured housing.
For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com.
This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position, and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.
Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach
Related References:
The text/image boxes below are linked to other reports, which can be accessed by clicking on them.
