Attending: Norman G. Kurland, Kemp Harshman, Michael D. Greaney, Harriet Epstein, Rowland Brohawn, Dawn K. Brohawn.

Materials Distributed: Core Values, Code of Ethics, minutes of 06/13/05 meeting, Third Quarter FY 04 Treasurer's Report, Greg Southworth e-mail, Norbert Hermes e-mail to Senator Sam Brownback.

Meeting was called to order at 10:20 AM by Harriet Epstein, Rotating Chairman. The Opening Prayer was offered by Dawn K. Brohawn, expressing our concern for friend and board member Fr. John Miller. The Core Values and Code of Ethics were read.

Approval of Executive Committee Meeting Minutes. Norman G. Kurland moved to accept the prior month's minutes as read. Rowland Brohawn seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Approval of Quarterly Treasurer's Report. The Treasurer's Report for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2004 was read by Michael D. Greaney on behalf of Treasurer Kemp Harshman. Norman Kurland moved to accept the Treasurer's Report as read. Rowland Brohawn seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Opening Remarks. Norman Kurland noted that we face the reality that there are very few people in the world who are committed to and united around CESJ's Just Third Way. Our organic growth will be slow, reflecting concentric rings of commitment starting from the "hard core." Dawn K. Brohawn suggested and the executive committee agreed that we change the focus topic, noting that recent attacks on CESJ require a show of solidarity and a response. Michael D. Greaney moved to discuss the makeup of the Board of Directors and Counselors at the next Executive Committee meeting. Kemp Harshman seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

News/Information Items

Fr. John H. Miller. He is very ill at the present time and CESJ sends him our prayers and best wishes for his recovery. He has been an important contributor to CESJ. He provided the impetus behind the publication of the Curing World Poverty book (for which he served as editor) following the CESJ seminary in Rome. He has also been extremely generous in opening up the Social Justice Review as a venue for CESJ's articles, particularly Michael Greaney's monthly "Economic Justice Corner" and other writings. Norman Kurland called and spoke with him yesterday.

Meeting with Senator Allen on Iraq Proposal (State Representative Robert Marshall and Norman Kurland). Norman Kurland and Virginia Delegate Bob Marshall met on Thursday with Senator George Allen and his legal counsel and legislative director, Paul Unger, for 15 - 20 minutes. The meeting, which was set up by Bob Marshall, went very well. Norm opened his comments by giving the Senator a copy of Knute Rockne's The Four Winners (recently republished by Once-and-Future Books), which seemed to resonate well with him, as the son of the late Redskins Coach George Allen and as a former quarterback at the Univ. of Virginia. He was very friendly, mentioning that he had been raised on the "Four 'Fs'": Faith, Family, Football, and Freedom.

Norm briefly described the CESJ "Oil Shares for Citizens" proposal for Iraq. Senator Allen indicated he was favorably inclined to the general idea of citizens owning shares in Iraq's oil. He had been pushing something along the lines of the Alaska model (where the government owns and distributes oil dividends to the citizens). Norm explained why direct ownership via a Capital Homesteading account for every citizen is a more just free market solution, since it would keep government accountable to the citizen-shareholders, would strengthen private property, and would reduce corruption. Under our proposal, Iraq could meet the costs of government by having a dividend tax withheld from the checks that citizens would receive on their oil earnings. Sen. Allen seemed to react positively to the idea.

Norman Kurland asked Sen. Allen to name the people he would trust to evaluate the idea (e.g., Ed Feulner at Heritage). Norman Kurland mentioned that he would like to have a follow-up meeting, bringing Del. Marshall (a close friend of Allen's), former Congressman Walter Fauntroy and Dr. Norman Bailey (a special advisor to President Ronald Reagan on International Economic Affairs). Senator Allen mentioned that he is a friend of Iraqi Prime Minister Jafari. Norm asked him to send a copy of the Iraq proposal to Jafari, emphasizing that while we need the White House and DOD to be involved and supportive, the proposal should not be an "American" idea, but needs to come from Iraqis. Norman Kurland mentioned that there had been a positive response to the Oil Proposal and Draft Preamble language by the second highest ranking Shiite cleric under Ayatollah Sistani. Norm left with Paul Unger two Capital Homesteading books, the Iraqi Oil Proposal, and the Draft Preamble to a New Iraqi Constitution, to share with the Senator.

We will follow up in several ways. Norm will try to arrange for the Senator to visit Mid-South Building Supply in Springfield, VA for their 20^th anniversary as a 100% employee-owned company and the first 100% bank-leveraged ESOP buyout. Norm has a call in to Drew Tavss, President of Mid-South. Bob Marshall will follow up with the Senator. Bob Marshall suggested sending one piece a week, so as not to overload the Senator with material. Norman Kurland suggested that Bob would be the best judge of what to send. Norm mentioned that given Allen's key position and his interest in running for President, we should try and arrange a 4-hour meeting, similar to the historic meeting with Sen. Russell Long. Norm gave Bob Marshall a package describing CESJ and its accomplishments.

Development in Iraq Oil Proposal. Following discussions with Dr. Bakir Al-Hassani, who had recently returned from Iraq, CESJ made a significant modification in the "Oil Shares for Citizens" proposal. Where it originally had specified that citizens could not transfer their shares for at least 20 years (to avoid the disastrous results in the Soviet privatization program, where crooks bought up shares for a slightly higher price), the proposal was changed to specify that the shares were non-transferable for life. It also now specifies that every man, woman and child will get an equal share in the oil shares.

Bakir had insisted on this change, reporting that the Iraqis were already starting to talk about non-transferable shares in the oil resources for life, justifying this under the Islamic principle that because God created the earth and its resources, every person should be an equal owner in the land and natural resources. Norm agreed that there was a good argument for this under Just Third Way principles and offers a refinement to binary economics (by differentiating between the rights of ownership in things created by human beings and those things that are not created by human beings). Because natural resources and the land were not created by human beings (and similar to the principle of equal participation in social goods), every person should have equal access to the ownership of these things. (The ownership of things created by human beings, and reflecting different human inputs of labor and capital, are subject to the principle of property rights based on relative contribution.) Furthermore, the rights of private property are always subject to the demands of the common good. Only libertarians and laissez faire proponents will oppose this approach, but it could be a bridge to the Georgists.

This new approach, using the CIC as a land development and ownership vehicle, could be the solution to the Kelo v. New London decision where the government seized private land under its powers of eminent domain, and turned it over to private interests for development. Bob Marshall and Senator Allen both felt that this was a bad decision; Norm would like to focus them on the CIC as a vehicle for private property and universal citizen access to ownership of land and natural resources.¨› President Bush may soon release federal lands on the Anacostia waterfront. Norm will contact Walter Fauntroy to get him to push the CIC approach so that D.C. citizens could become owners of land being developed there. Jim Daley is working to revive the CIC idea for a model industrial park in East St. Louis.

Kemp suggested that we add this new principle to the ARP Platform under a "Bill of Remedies" (along with a Bill of Rights). Norm stated that any land owned by the state should be transferred free to the citizens through a CIC. This idea could help bridge people on the left and the right. Norm suggested that Bob Marshall partner with black Democratic delegates to push CIC legislation in Virginia similar to that being pushed by Rep. Wyvetter Younge in Illinois.

Meetings to introduce Capital Homesteading application in Venezuela and Colombia. Norm Kurland, Dawn Brohawn, and Joe Recinos met with Connie Sanabria (an oil engineer with international experience and a strong social conscience) and Hank Ickes (a friend of Dawn and Rowland BrohawníƒÙs who arranged the meeting). Connie later arranged for Norm and Joe to meet with her father, a lawyer from Colombia, and his wife, a former judge. Connie suggested that we develop a Capital Homesteading project in Venezuela, focusing on the oil industry. She thinks Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela, might support this approach. Norm had found on the Web a statement by Chavez saying that the government should help workers get shares in new industries.¨› He was talking about coops, but itíƒÙs a start.¨› May be serious about empowering working people.¨› George Allen is on all the right Senate committees to help with such a project. Norm mentioned that the new president of Iran had recently said that natural resources "belong to the people" and might be open to our ideas. Chavez has traveled to Iran.

Focus Topic: Building Solidarity in the Face of Attacks.

Norman Kurland mentioned the long history of attacks in the Capital Ownership Group (COG) discussion group against binary economics, the Just Third Way, CESJ and its members. Some of the COG participants resort to personal attacks when responding to CESJ spokespersons and those supporting binary economics. While refusing to state their own principles, they become offended by anyone who does state specific principles as the basis for his particular position. COG has become a forum for sniping at people, not discussing, or challenging, ideas.

Consequently Norman Kurland said that we should get out of the Ownership discussion group and start a Binary Economics discussion group within COG. Dan Bell has agreed to remove libelous postings of the past, if we can identify them specifically. (While a number of the "critics" have used derogatory and insulting language, only Ryan's comments have constituted libelíƒÓe.g., publicly accusing Norman Kurland of theft and Michael Greaney of fraudulent misrepresentation of his professional credentialsíƒÓand thus would be the only ones we would seek to have removed.) Let the critics continue in the Ownership forum, but invite them to join the Binary Economics forum if they agree to the rules of civilized debate and first actually read the material they're attacking.

The steps for getting the new forum set up: 1) Get an agreement to join from our core group and principal binary economists (this would be the first wave of invitations), 2) Ask this group to agree to a set of protocols for joining (which include a code of conduct and some basic readings to orient the participants on the paradigm to be discussed and challenged, 3) Send out a public invitation to others in the COG list, specifying the protocols for joining the discussion. There will be three co-moderators: Norman Kurland, Dan Parker and Kemp Harshman.

Mike Greaney mentioned the latest challenge coming from a longtime critic, Dr. Rupert Ederer. Without notifying Mike, Ederer had published an article in Culture Wars magazine attacking Mike, CESJ and Curing World Poverty (CESJíƒÙs compendium edited by Fr. John Miller) as subverting Catholic social teachings.¨› Fr. Matthew Habiger had discovered the article and sent it to Mike, describing the article as "the most vitriolic" he had ever seen. Dr. Ederer, a self-styled "Solidarist economist," had earlier published a similar article in Pro Ecclesia magazine, to which Mike immediately responded in a lengthy article sent to the editor of that publication. Dr. Ederer has repeatedly attacked Mike Greaney and CESJ in various forums and in private correspondence with others, for our criticism of the wage system and for our advocating the ownership system. (Dr. Ederer denies the sacred and natural right of private property. Contrary to 2,000 years of Catholic teaching and a few thousand more of Jewish natural law tradition as found in the Decalogue, Dr. Ederer believes the right to private property and the rights of private property to be "mere prudential matter").

In his Culture Wars article, Dr. Ederer hinted at a heavy "Jewish" influence among the groups attempting to subvert the teachings of the Catholic Church (or his interpretation of them). In defense of our position, Michael prepared a lengthy and detailed rebuttal of Dr. Ederer's false assertions concerning CESJ, its position and his outright misrepresentation of facts (stating, for example, that "the late" Norman Kurland was an accountant). Mike submitted his rebuttal article to the editor of Culture Wars, asking that it be published as a scholarly response to Ederer's attacks. So far we have received no response from Culture Wars, although the editor of Pro Ecclesia told Michael he would publish his rebuttal to Ederer if he were able to raise the funds for the next edition.

The executive committee suggested to Mike that he get letters of support to send to Culture Wars from people like Prof. Charles Rice of Notre Dame Law School, reviewers of Curing World Poverty, and the editor of the Wanderer (who had written a favorable review of Curing World Poverty). Send a copy of Mike's response to Fr. Cassian Yuhaus, Fr. Charles Krause, Fr. Matthew Habiger, Prof. Rafael Waters, and Fr. John Miller, to get letters supporting the publication of MichaelíƒÙs article "in the interest of journalistic fairness."

DECISION/FOLLOW-UP ITEMS:

Approve CESJ recommendation to change language in ARP Platform. In the last sentence in the ARP Platform dealing with the family, the language currently reads: "Such priorities should not legally bar other consensual agreements and contractual rights outside of marriage to inheritance, hospital visits, employment benefits, and full ownership opportunities under the Just Third Way." To clarify this, CESJ recommends that the language be changed to read: "Such priorities should not bar other consensual agreements and contractual rights outside of marriage to such legal rights as inheritance, hospital visits, employment benefits, and full ownership opportunities under the Just Third Way." This removes the word¨› "legally" and adds the words "such legal rights as." Norman Kurland so moved, Kemp Harshman seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Notify Fr. Habiger and Rick Osbourne of the change in the ARP Platform's language.

Approve correction to 1/05 minutes regarding Carey Campbell and Virginia Green Party. Dawn K. Brohawn moved that the reference to Carey Campbell in the 01/15/05 minutes be changed to specify that he belongs to the Independent Green Party of Virginia. Kemp seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

CESJ publishing projects: Response to Dr. Rupert Ederer's attack in Culture Wars; CESJ monograph on "A New Encyclical on Economic Justice:" and CESJ republication of Fr. Ferree's The Act of Social Justice (Michael D. Greaney). Work is proceeding. Several iterations of the response to Culture Wars and the monograph calling for an encyclical on economic justice have been completed. Editing on Ferree's The Act of Social Justice has reached a slowdown due to the necessity of translating into English certain passages in Latin.

Progress report on CESJ and American Revolutionary Party web sites (Rowland Brohawn). Rowland has added the report on the April 15^th "Focus on the Fed" event to the CESJ home page, as well as separate components of the Capital Homesteading brochure comparing alternative plans for saving Social Security. Will add the "Declaration on Monetary Justice." Need to make arrangements with Kemp to switch the ARP site from Al Robinson's web hosting service to Readyhosting. Need FTP addresses for new websites we put up. Kemp will change the domain name server.

Capital Homestead marketing (distributions to date; UK distribution; dedicated Capital Homesteading web site). Tabled.

Progress report on the 10,000 Name Campaign. 6992 names on the Shared Vision Statement. We need an auto response letter that will go out to people who sign up.

Progress report on Bangladesh JBM Garment Factory Project. Norman Kurland needs to answer some questions for Fr. Bill Christensen before the project can proceed.

Harriet Epstein and Jewish Congregations. She has prepared a marketing letter on Norm Kurland's presentations on an alternative solution to Saving Social Security. This will be sent to various Jewish Social Action groups. Harriet said she needs some CESJ input. Harriet will accompany Norm to these meetings that she is trying to set up. Norm suggested that Harriet try and get a support letter from the Rabbi who had heard Norm's presentation.

Appointment of General Counsel. Norman Kurland moved that Kemp be appointed as CESJ's Pro Bono General Counsel, and that Dawn K. Brohawn be appointed CESJ Treasurer. Michael D. Greaney seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Focus topic for next Executive Committee meeting and rescheduling of next quarterly board meeting for October 22, 2005. Marketing our message.

The next Executive Committee Meeting will be held on August 17, 2005, Wednesday at noon. The next Board Meeting will be held Saturday, October 22, 2005, at 9:30 am.

A motion to adjourn was made by Norman Kurland and seconded by Rowland Brohawn. The motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 2:40 pm.