Democrats Abroad France - Paris partners with The Red Wheelbarrow to invite you to a discussion with Nancy MacLean and Margaret Somers.  Both have recently published best-selling books on the state of US politics today, and who have rocked the media world with their analyses.

Nancy MacLean’s book, Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America (Viking Press 2017) won the Lillian Smith Book Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, The Nation’s Most Valuable Book Award, and a finalist for the National Book Award.” MacLean is the award-winning author of Behind the Mask of Chivalry. The William Chafe Professor of History and Public Policy at Duke University, she regularly appears on radio and TV, including NPR, CSPAN, and the Bill Maher show.

“[A] remarkably important book…this book is a superb contribution to our understanding of the rise of libertarian notions and right-wing political power in the US. If you wonder how the Supreme Court came to define speech as money or corporations as people, this volume will help you to figure it out…The melting ice caps, if nothing else, stand as testament to the folly of listening mainly to the rich and powerful.”—Bill McKibben, The Times Literary Supplement

Margaret Somers’ book The Power of Market Fundamentalism: Karl Polanyi’s Critique (Harvard 2016) has also been stirring up something of a storm, as Polanyi is increasingly recognized as the 20^th century’s most important analyst of the perils of market society. The book asks what is it about free-market ideas that give them tenacious staying power in the face of such manifest failures as persistent unemployment, widening inequality, and the severe financial crises that have stressed Western economies over the past forty years? 

“In seeking to understand the dynamics of our own time, we can do no better than to revisit Polanyi…As more of us are having second thoughts about the second coming of the primal market, it is as if Polanyi is somewhere in the ether. Rereading Polanyi at a time when events vindicate his vision, one has to be struck with the eerie contemporary ring. Polanyi is startlingly 21st-century in addressing how the private rule of global finance puts public policy in a straitjacket.”―Robert Kuttner, American Prospect

Somers, Professor of Sociology and History, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, has impacted the world of economics with her theories of social capital. Already in 2008 she wrote: “Social capital is bad for reducing poverty or elevating cultures; and it is bad for sociology – as a discipline and as a social project. Above all, it is very bad for democratic citizenship.” 

If you want to learn the latest on new political thinking, these authors will surely give you that insight, in addition to a stimulating and challenging discussion of the new “socialists” elected to the House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm!

Our monthly roundup of the news with Jean-Pierre LaRochelle at the helm!

Join us to find out more about the Mueller Report miasma. Quoting Charles Blow in the NYTimes: “It’s bigger than Mueller and Trump.” More about Brexit, Europe, and the Democratic candidates. Upstairs in La Margherita, our comfortable new venue with delicious food and drinks if so desired.

The Environment Policy Group invites you to come meet with other DAF members and discuss where environmental policy stands today in the US.  By all observations, it's pretty grim.  

Quoting AUBREY MENARNDT & LUKE MENARD in their recent UNICEF report:

"Late last year, the United Nations released its climate report telling the world that a global climate crisis is all but inevitable, findings echoed in the United States government's own National Climate Assessment. President Donald Trump's response? 'I don't believe it.' (He went on to state that the U.S. is 'at the cleanest we've ever been' and placed the burden of climate mitigation on Asian countries, including China and Japan.) Indeed, despite overwhelming scientific evidence supporting the fact that man-made climate change has caused or exacerbated severe weather events such as the recent California wildfires and Hurricanes Michael and Florence, the Trump administration continues to operate as if the threat of global warming is a figment of his opponents' imaginations."

Dana Powers, Chair of the EPG,  will walk us through some of the key environment issues to watch during the next two year Trump term.  Bring your questions.

Tax Seminar w/ U.S. Tax expert Pierre Taponier (from Paris) PLUS our bi-annual Chapter Elections

FATCA, FBAR, Trump tax changes=Nightmare

Help is at hand!
Please join us for a presentation by Paris-based tax specialist Pierre Taponier, who wowed us all last spring with his excellent presentation.

Pierre's firm, located in Place de la Concorde in Paris, serves the American expat community in France. They provide the entire range of tax and legal services.

Read more about his practice here: http://taponier-avocat.com/?lang=en

Pierre was born in Paris to an American mother and a French father. He is a dual French-American citizen and completely bilingual. He graduated from Sorbonne University with a Masters in law and received an L.L.M. (Masters degree) from Georgetown Law in Washington D.C.

He is a New York attorney as well as a French avocat, admitted to the bar in New York and Paris.

Donation: 15€ payable in cash at the door to DAF members; 25€ to non-members.

RSVP essential as places are limited.

Following Pierre's presentation and Q&A session at 5:30pm, we'll break for refreshments and come back for the Chapter Elections at 5:45, planning to finish by about 6:15pm.

If you wish to attend the Chapter elections but NOT the tax talk, plan to arrive at 5:30.

There is NO CHARGE for the Chapter Election segment of the day.

daf-toulouse@democratsabroad.org

Directions:

If driving, be aware that parking on the street is often difficult. There is a nearby underground Indigo carpark on rue Varsovie.

Nearest METRO: Saint-Cyprien-République

DAF NATIONAL ELECTIONS & MEETING MAY 11, 2019

It is time for our bi-annual election of National Democrats Abroad France (DAF) officers. Note that these are national positions, not chapter level positions. The national election and meeting will be held on May 11, 2019 at the American Church in Paris from 2-5PM.

The call for candidacies is now open, and will close on March 27, 2019. For more information on running for office, please see here. 

All members of Democrats Abroad in France are welcome to attend and vote in the DAF National Leadership Elections.

Please note that in addition to this in-person meeting, an early voting option via email will be made available to encourage broad participation of DAF's members in the election. As a result, no nominations from the floor can be allowed. 

To join Democrats Abroad, please go to www.democratsabroad.org/join. You must be a US citizen 18 years of age or older by Nov. 3, 2020. 

Space is limited, please RSVP. 

This social event is open to all our members, Americans and accompanying guests.  We welcome you all to come and interact with fellow Americans in the region and engage in American political discussions.  We will give a brief presentation particularly where these issues stand in the Washington political discourse.  Join us to formalize our viewpoint as Americans living abroad by paying (€5) includes drinks, such as wine and water.

Parking: Palais de la Méditerranée or Grimaldi

Public Transport: several bus stops in walking distance: Grimaldi, Congrès-Joffre, Congrès-Promenade

This social event is open to all our members, Americans and accompanying guests.  We welcome you all to come and interact with fellow Americans in the region and engage in American political discussions.  We will give a brief presentation particularly where these issues stand in the Washington political discourse.  Join us to formalize our viewpoint as Americans living abroad by paying (€5) includes drinks, such as wine and water.

Parking: Palais de la Méditerranée or Grimaldi

Public Transport: several bus stops in walking distance: Grimaldi, Congrès-Joffre, Congrès-Promenade

At this social event, the Grenoble chapter leadership committee will be elected that will remain in office for the next two years. We all know how important the 2020 presidential election is, so why not join us? If you are interested in being part of our leadership committee, contact: Info-FR-Rhone-Alps@democratsabroad.org 

The different roles and responsibilities of our leadership committee can be found here.

The deadline to declare your candidacy is Wednesday, March 6th. 

Not ready to run for office yourself? Well, come anyway, meet us, have a drink and a snack, and see what we're about and how you might like to get involved.

THE STATE OF THE UNION - EUROPE

Join us for a discussion with PASCAL LAMY on Donald Trump’s impact on international and transatlantic relations.

MODERATOR:

GREGORY VISCUSI, Bloomberg News, Paris bureau covering a full range of topics, including company news, macro-economics, banking, European immigration issue and euro crisis.

SPEAKER:

PASCAL LAMY, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) (2005-2013). Head of the President of the European Commission’s Cabinet, Jacques DELORS, and its "sherpa" at the G-7 (1985-1994). Chair of the steering group of the Paris Peace Forum (2018). President of the French Committee of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC). President Emeritus of the Jacques DELORS Institute.

Mr. Lamy also lectures to the benefit of INSTITUT JACQUES DELORS among other engagements on issues related to globalization, global governance, international trade, international economics, regional integration, European and French issues.

PAY ON LINE You can register online (there is a service charge of 2 euros), but be sure to also RSVP below.  

TO PAY BY CHECK Or you can send a check for 38€ made out to Democrats Abroad France to Brooke BURNS, 79 Boulevard Jean Jaures 92100 Boulogne Billancourt, and clearly indicate the names of the attendees.  But be sure to also RSVP below.

Because of limited seating, please pay on line or by check in order to secure your rsvp.  Thank you for your understanding.