Politics Archives - Susan von Seggern

The Humanity Forward Fund Gives $1000 per Month Freedom Dividend to DC School Teacher Nicole Jennings as Proof of Concept for Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang’s UBI Proposal

01/08/2020 by Susan von Seggern

Washington, DC –December 17, 2019 – The concept of Universal Basic Income is to ensure a regularly scheduled cash payment, similar to social security, provided to everyone within a given population, unconditionally and individually. One version of a UBI is Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang’s Freedom Dividend proposal, which would provide $1,000 every month to every American citizen over 18 years old.

The grassroots Super PAC Humanity Forward Fund, aka HumanityFWD, who support Human-Centered Capitalism, Universal Basic Income and Andrew Yang for President in 2020, believes this Dividend would be transformational in improving the lives of American families and our economy and ensuring a foundation of basic economic security as we experience the greatest technological shifts in our lifetimes.

HumanityFWD believes that the best way for people to understand such a big, bold idea and the impact UBI would have is to see how everyday Americans would incorporate a Dividend in their lives. HumanityFWD has set a goal through the #UBI52 initiative to ensure at least one year-long UBI-inspired disbursement in all 50 States, plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico, before the General Election.

HumanityFWD wants to share the stories of everyday Americans experiencing the basic economic security of UBI. Grassroots supporters of HumanityFWD specifically chose to donate to this initiative because they too believe in an economic foundation for all Americans.

Nicole Jennings, a second-grade teacher at a Title 1 public school in the Washington, DC area, was randomly selected as the first disbursement recipient. She shared what this would mean for her family:

“I have so many students and they have great needs. And the school just simply doesn’t provide everything that they need. They need intervention. They need supplies. And I can’t, I can’t lie, there are so many times I’ve had to go out and buy my own paper or my own supplies so that I could teach them adequately.”

“My husband and I, we are trying to buy a house…so we’ve come up with a savings plan. But in all honesty, I haven’t been able to do my part the way I want to because there are, you know, so many school-related expenses in my life.”

HumanityFWD founder and UBI advocate Larry Cohen notes, “For Nicole, UBI means being able to plan for her family’s future. For others, UBI means helping their families out of debt, paying off school and medical bills, going back to school and starting new businesses, or simply having some financial stability when things don’t go according to plan. We are the richest country in history and among the most technologically advanced countries in the world, and yet 78% of Americans report living paycheck to paycheck. We must rebuild our economy to work for all Americans, recognizing us all as valuable contributors and shareholders to our country’s collective prosperity. Every American deserves their dividend from that prosperity so that we can abolish poverty and ensure basic economic security as a right, not a privilege.”

Currently in 6th place despite the lack of mainstream media coverage, HumanityFWD encourages anyone interested in UBI to check out Andrew Yang’s plan to move America forward at https://www.yang2020.com/policies/the-freedom-dividend/.

The DigiByte Awareness Team (DGBAT) in Collaboration with Vertbase Launches Crypto Donation platform with the SuperPAC Humanity Forward Fund Supporting Andrew Yang for President in 2020

11/07/2019 by Susan von Seggern

Los Angeles, CA – The DigiByte Awareness Team (DGBAT) in collaboration with Vertbase is launching a crypto donation platform with the SuperPAC Humanity Forward Fund which supports Andrew Yang for President in 2020. Vertbase, an instant buy, sell and swap exchange has created a donation based platform for charities and other entities who rely on donation based funding, for use in this case by HumanityFWD.

The #CryptoFWD donation platform will include Bitcoin, Litecoin, DigiByte, Dogecoin and Vertcoin upon initial launch. Mass adoption of cryptocurrency requires two things: awareness and real-world use cases. Crypto donations in the context of a presidential election campaign checks off both these boxes in a compelling way.

In Andrew Yang’s own words: “Cryptocurrencies and digital assets have quickly grown to represent a large amount of value and economic activity. It’s time for the federal government to create clear guidelines as to how cryptocurrencies/digital asset markets will be treated and regulated so that investment can proceed with all relevant information.” (https://www.yang2020.com/policies/digital-asset-regulation/)

As members of the Cryptocurrency Community it is significant to note that Andrew Yang is the only candidate who recognizes through his policies the innovation that the emerging blockchain economy represents, and embraces its technology as an asset rather than a threat. Cryptocurrency, like fiat, is not tied to any one political party. By incorporating a larger segment of the Cryptocurrency Community, DGBAT hopes that this donation platform will facilitate a broader conversation, donation and awareness effort surrounding the emergence of the crypto economy on a national level.

Humanity Forward Fund founder Seth Cohen notes, “we’ve always had great support in the crypto community for Andrew and our SuperPAC, and we were thrilled when DGBAT and Vertbase stepped up to make it even easier for supporters to donate in crypto. We are looking forward to using the funds raised for our initiatives including supporting campaign volunteers in early primary states with organizing and messaging, and supporting a model UBI program to provide proof of concept for this game changing idea.”

At the intersection of freedom of speech and freedom of monetary value lies political donations in crypto. DGBAT is grateful for the innovative spirit of the Humanity Forward Fund and Presidential candidate Andrew Yang who have embraced the future of the crypto economy, and the support of Vertbase without whom this would not be possible. To make donations to HumanityFWD.org to support the candidacy of Andrew Yang please visit CryptoFWD.org today.

It’s time to act. It’s not Left, it’s not Right… It’s HumanityFWD.

# # #

About Humanity Forward Fund:
HumanityFWD IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF SUPER PAC. The Humanity Forward Fund supports Andrew Yang for President in 2020. Advancing his candidacy and policies is our primary mission throughout the 2020 election cycle. HumanityFWD will leverage media and messaging to raise awareness on both a national and hyper-local level of Andrew Yang, Universal Basic Income, Human-Centered Capitalism and the 4th Industrial Revolution. In an ideal world, SuperPACs wouldn’t exist, but they do. To level the political playing field, HumanityFWD must exist – but we don’t have to compromise our VALUES. This means we will be 100% transparent, refuse all “dark money” and disclose exactly how the money is spent. It’s simply the FWD thing to do.

About DGBAT:
DGBAT is a community-driven outreach initiative founded in May 2018. It evolved out of the initial efforts of known community member Dereck de Mezquita. We aim to promote the DigiByte blockchain through education, outreach and marketing campaigns. We are proud to be part of the amazing DigiByte community and believe that the transformative nature of the DigiByte blockchain, when harnessed correctly by the right people, can contribute to a better world. We are led by a 15-member team, whose members in turn manage teams across social media, outreach, education, developers and writers.

About Vertbase:
Vertbase is a digital currency platform allowing users to buy and sell cryptocurrency with the US Dollar. American Trade Exchange, Inc., doing business as Vertbase, is registered as a money services business with the United States Department of Treasury. We operate directly with the public, without intermediaries, through a digital platform that facilitates the purchase and sale of virtual, digital currencies, such as Vertcoin. Using a robust anti-money laundering transaction monitoring system, and user-friendly, payment features, we provide rapid and safe transactions our customers. The company was founded in 2018.

Humanity Forward Fund Launches Andrew Yang Meme Museum Mobile Billboard Honoring the Artists Helping Fuel His Presidential Campaign

10/09/2019 by Susan von Seggern

Meme Museum to tour Ohio in conjunction with Democratic Debates, October 15 and 16

October 8, 2019 Columbus, Ohio – HumanityFWD, the Independent Expenditure Committee (aka SuperPAC) founded by Andrew Yang supporters, is launching a “first of its kind” Meme Museum, a Mobile Multimedia Billboard that will highlight the art and creations of the supporters of Andrew Yang.

“Andrew Yang is known as the ‘Internet Candidate’ and the ‘meme candidate’. His forward-thinking policies and honest rhetoric have inspired his supporters to be extremely creative in how they show their support. These artists have helped fuel the viral sensation of the Yang Movement, introducing Andrew Yang and his policies to the American people both online and in person. We want to honor these important contributions to the grassroots movement, draw attention to Andrew’s vision for our country in a dynamic and accessible way, and continue spreading the message and values of this campaign” says Larry Cohen, Co-Founder of HumanityFWD.

The “Meme Museum” will be on tour throughout Columbus and Westerville Ohio on October 15 and 16. (See example memes below)

HumanityFWD is on a mission to build a new economy, one that puts people first and at the center of our society. HumanityFWD recognizes that 21st Century Problems require 21st Century Solutions. This includes transforming the future of work in a world of rapid advances in automation and technology; tackling the existential threat of climate change and recognizing healthcare and basic economic security as human rights. These challenges are existential and urgent. HumanityFWD seeks to build a new future, based on abundance and American prosperity, by supporting transformational leaders and bold policies that address these challenges.

The Humanity Forward Fund Advocating for Andrew Yang’s 2020 Presidential Run Will Now Accepts Donations Through ActBlue

09/12/2019 by Susan von Seggern

Los Angeles, CA – The Humanity Forward Fund, stylized as HumanityFWD, was started by supporters of Andrew Yang, the increasingly viable forward-thinking candidate for President currently polling at *8th among the Democratic hopefuls (ahead of Klobuchar, Gillibrand, Castro, Inslee, and many others) will now be taking donations through ActBlue after launching with a period of taking donations in Bitcoin only, in recognition of Yang being the only candidate to support creating sensible policies around cryptocurrency.

In a 99% upvoted post on Reddit the organization, led by longtime SoCal Yang supporter Seth Cohen and noted Universal Basic Income advocate Larry Cohen (no relation), came out with their commitment to transparency. Noting “we are #YangGang, just like you all! We are all longtime Andrew supporters, UBI advocates, and 21st-century realists. We built this “Super PAC” for the movement. For YOU. The plan is to have the best and boldest ideas bubble up from the grassroots… and then make them happen.”

“We didn’t set out to start a “Political Action Committee”. We set out to get UBI passed, save the environment, recognize quality healthcare and economic security as fundamental human rights and to GET ANDREW YANG ELECTED PRESIDENT.”

“We spoke to lots of smart people and came to the conclusion that, if we wanted to take big actions in support of Andrew, this is the best and, most importantly, legal way to do it.”

“We know ‘Super PACS’ and ‘Independent Expenditure Committees’ don’t have the best reputations. That’s why we are building a new type of Super PAC. One that believes in Yang Gang Values and Human-Centered Capitalism and making America work for THE PEOPLE. No ‘dark money,’ no ‘political insiders; and 100% transparency!”

“We believe this to be quite historic. We are using the mechanisms ‘political insiders’ put in place for other ‘political insiders’ to beat the system. The difference? We are a bunch of ‘political outsiders’ using those same mechanisms to give voice to the grassroots MOVEMENT!

“This movement is bigger than Andrew. We need to get Andrew elected and get his policies passed into law. But that won’t happen unless we also fill the undercard up and down state and federal ballots with forward-thinking 21st-century leaders who will work with Andrew to move #HumanityFWD!”

“By the way – Super PACs are NOT ‘PACS’ – we can not and will not donate money to any political campaign. We take actions independent of the campaign to support Andrew and his policies. When Andrew says “I don’t take PAC money” – this will still be true. We also don’t take foreign money, and all donor lists are public information for transparency. That’s why you’ll see this language on our website: ‘Paid for by the Humanity Forward Fund (www.humanityFWD.org) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. Contributions or gifts to Humanity Forward Fund are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.’”

“This is a global movement. The #YangGang can not be stopped. Thank you all for your service to this movement! But here’s the thing – ‘we’ are ‘you’ and ‘we,’ being the Super PAC, aren’t going to thrive without your support. Other candidates have tens of millions of dollars more than Andrew, he needs our help. Please join us to build the biggest, baddest and most altruistic Super PAC ever… and get Andrew to the White House!”

It’s time to act. It’s not Left, it’s not Right… It’s HumanityFWD.

# # #

Web locations:

http://www.HumanityFWD.org

@Humanity_FWD on Twitter

@HumanityFWD on Instagram

Facebook.com/HumanityFWD/

For more information, please contact Susan von Seggern at Susan@HumanityFWD.org or 213-840-0077.

*according to https://www.politico.com/2020-election/democratic-presidential-candidates/polls/.

The Humanity Forward Fund Forms to Support 21st Century Solutions to 21st Century Problems, advocates for Andrew Yang’s 2020 Presidential Run

08/10/2019 by Susan von Seggern

Donations for First 21 Days Accepted in Bitcoin Only

Los Angeles, CA – Supporters of Andrew Yang, the surprisingly durable outsider candidate for President currently polling at *6th among the Democratic hopefuls (ahead of Booker, Klobuchar, Gillibrand and many others) are starting a Super PAC, the Humanity Forward Fund, stylized as HumanityFWD. To recognize Yang’s standing as the only current candidate known for supporting cryptocurrency, HumanityFWD is exclusively accepting donations via Bitcoin (BTC) for the first 21 days after launching at www.HumanityFWD.org.

HumanityFWD will leverage media and messaging to raise awareness on both a national and hyper-local level of Andrew Yang, Universal Basic Income, Human-Centered Capitalism, and the 4th Industrial Revolution.

HumanityFWD is a different kind of Super PAC. In an ideal world, Super PACs wouldn’t exist, but they do. To level the political playing field, HumanityFWD must exist, but won’t compromise the VALUES of Andrew Yang and his supporters. This means HumanityFWD will be 100% transparent, refuse all “dark money” and disclose exactly how the money is spent. It’s simply the FWD thing to do.

For the first 21 days after HumanityFWD’s launch, donations will be taken only in the form of Bitcoin payments, as many in the cryptocurrency community are excited to support Yang’s candidacy. HumanityFWD and OpenNode have partnered on the 21 DAYS OF BITCOIN FOR THE 21st CENTURY fundraising challenge to celebrate the launch of the Humanity Forward Fund. Every fraction of every coin donated will go directly toward helping get Andrew Yang elected President of the United States in 2020.

It’s time to act. It’s not Left, it’s not Right… It’s HumanityFWD.

2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang to Speak in Los Angeles at Pershing Square, April 22, 6 pm

04/11/2019 by Susan von Seggern

Los Angeles, CA – April 8, 2018 – Astounding young entrepreneur and 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang will bring his vision for America, Humanity First, to Los Angeles with a campaign rally in Downtown LA’s popular political rally spot Pershing Square on April 22 at 6 pm.

With a platform that speaks to the concerns of all Americans young and old, notably jobs, the economy, and smart planning for a challenging future, Yang has been a surprise success on the campaign trail and is currently seventh in the “Money Primary,” ahead of such Democratic Party stalwarts as Julian Castro and Elizabeth Warren.

The keystone of Yang’s campaign is his support of Universal Basic Income (UBI) or as he calls it, the Freedom Dividend. UBI is a form of social security that guarantees a certain amount of money to every citizen within a given governed population, without having to pass a test or fulfill a work requirement. The dividend he is proposing for the United States is a set of guaranteed payments of $1,000 per month, or $12,000 per year, to all U.S. citizens over the age of 18.

In the next 12 years, 1 in 3 American workers is at risk of losing their jobs to new technologies—and unlike previous waves of automation, this time new jobs will not appear quickly enough and in large enough numbers to make up for it. To avoid an unprecedented crisis, a new solution, unlike anything tried before is required. It all begins with Universal Basic Income for all American adults, no strings attached – a foundation on which a stable, prosperous, and just society can be built. For more about why Andrew Yang believes so strongly in Universal Basic Income, read his book ‘The War on Normal People’ published by Hachette last year.

In addition to UBI, Yang has well thought out policies on numerous issues including the other two pillars of his platform: Medicare for All and Human Centered Capitalism. His Southern California friendly policies also include Combating Climate Change, Reducing Mass Incarceration, Gun Safety, Increasing Teacher Salaries, National Marijuana Legalization, a variety of affordable higher education plans, and much more at https://www.yang2020.com/policies/.

His policies are so well thought out that the Iowa Democratic Party leadership noted, “Mr. Yang has the most detailed and comprehensive set of policy proposals we have ever seen at this stage in the campaign.”

Yang was born in upstate New York in 1975. His parents immigrated from Taiwan in the 1960s and met in grad school. His Dad was a researcher at IBM — generating over 69 patents in his career—and his Mom was a systems administrator at a local university.

He studied economics and political science at Brown and went to law school at Columbia. After a brief stint as a corporate lawyer, he launched a small company in the early days of the internet and then worked for a healthcare startup, where he learned how to build a business from more experienced entrepreneurs. In his thirties, he ran a national education company that grew to become #1 in the country. During that time he met and married his wife – Evelyn Yang.

His education company was acquired, and with Evelyn’s support, decided to commit to creating jobs in cities hit hard by the financial crisis. By that time, he understood the power of entrepreneurship to generate economic growth, founding Venture for America (VFA), an organization that helps entrepreneurs create jobs in cities like Baltimore, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. In its first year, VFA trained 40 Fellows. By 2017, more than 500 VFA Fellows and alumni have launched dozens of companies and helped create over 2,500 jobs across the country. He received awards from the Obama White House, being named a Champion of Change in 2012 and a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship in 2015.

Current and potential supporters who would like to attend the April 22 Pershing Square rally in Downtown Los Angeles on are encouraged to register here.