Forum Post: “All authority belongs to the people.” – Thomas Jefferson

How to Play Hardball: Part # 1

To stop a runaway greed machine, throw a wrench into the cogs. Significant change only occurs when something disruptive is introduced. Small measures with a focus can move mountains. The “occupy” movement can be the catalyst to action and restore the principles of our democracy.

A laser-beam focus is needed on those politicians that have gridlocked the democratic process to the benefit of the special interest groups that feed their election coffers.

Single out (one by one) these politicians. By their inaction, they have failed their oaths of office. They only protect the special interests they serve.

Key Ideas:

Laser beam focus. Target one politician at a time with undivided attention until significant change occurs.

Follow the money. Some of the big money supporting these politicians comes from outside of their own constituency. These sources must targeted as well. (Use .org resources like Open Secrets to identify political funding sources.)

Game Plan:

• Target politicians (regardless of party) who are responsible for the gridlock because of their uncompromising stances and their immoral allegiance to the greed machine that supports them. • Identify supporters, lobbyists, and companies in their constituencies. • Boycott the products that are produced by these companies. • Sell the stocks of these companies.

The effect: The companies, communities and industry groups hurt by the resulting financial impacts will distance themselves from these politicians. By effectively taking money away from their power base, they will become targets for replacement through general elections and/or recall efforts. Though significant sources of funding come from outside their own constituencies these politicians are elected locally, and therefore local pressure is paramount.

Target One: John Boehner

Why?: Let’s assume that this politician is the epitome of what is wrong with our political system. He is uncompromising and is beholden to Wall Street. He is consistently covered in the media as saying, “what the American people want is…” and yet polls show that he does not support what the American people want at all, and not by a long shot. So whom is he speaking for?

Top Supporters: (dump stocks &/or boycott products & services)

• Paulson & Co. Inc. - employee owned hedge fund sponsor based in NY. • Moore Capital - employee owned hedge fund sponsor based in NY. • Swisher Int’l – Tobacco and cigar company based in Jacksonville, FL. • Cantor Fitzgerald – financial services firm specializing in bond trading.
• American Electric Power – electric utility.

Top Companies/Employers Within Constituency: (dump stocks &/or boycott)

• Kroger Co. – Markets including Bell, Food 4 Less, Fry’s, and Fred Meyer. • Procter & Gamble – Brands include Oral B, Bounty, Braun, Crest, Dawn, Downy, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Duracell, Tide. • Walmart – big box stores. • GE Aviation – jet engines for Boeing 777’s, Airbus A380’s. • Staffmark – staffing and personnel services.

Note:

Only 23% of political contributions come from this politician’s home state. What does this say about his power base and the current state of our electorate process?

Sympathetic support from those who own stock and those who would boycott products is key to creating impact. Now is the time to take advantage of the momentum of the movement and take action.

“I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property - until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.” - Thomas Jefferson

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