Forum Post: Elect Occupy Wall Street Rep to Congress
Posted 12 years ago on Jan. 19, 2012, 7:28 a.m. EST by jamesrisinger1
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On the 17 of Jan I wrote in the forum that OWS should have a representitive to run for congress in each congessional district in the US. On the Ballets the Candidates would not be listed by name but listed only by OWS Rep. Any promotions would be centralized becuase they goal is the same in every district in the US. So Campaigning would not be necessary just awarness on the goals. And the focused goal should be narrowed to the elimanation of Lobbiest in our government and that the Piggy back of insignificant bills on crucial bill proposals. I proposed that this focuss be establishd and that there would be a means to accomplish this. And that the OWS form Commities to screen the selected Congressional Candidates. And with the Donations that have been recieved that All the fees accociated with Appling to Run for the office should be paid. In the article I volunteered to run for congess. I recieved back alot of comments concerning this. I was called a self promoter. And that I may not be as qulified as a seasoned politician. I was told that there are a lot of great polititicians already out there. Alot of talk about the the Democratic party. I began to see how really aligned this movement is.
The fact of the matter is that both parties are quilty. And isnt that the point. I got a comment concerning how good John Kerry is. Well I have news for you. John Kerry's wife is Teresa Heinz aire to the Heinz fortune as in Ketchup. I have a personal friend that knows the couple and has spent a lot of time with them. Neither one of them have worked a full day in there lives. The fact of the matter is that unless we do this the movement will acheive nothing but alot of Radical views and groups of people being thrown in jail from time to time. Both parties have blood on their hands.
And yes I am suppose I am a self promoter. I do not have a huge corporation filling my pockets and backing me.
James Risinger Ft. Lauderdale America
I completely disagree with the idea of an "occupier" running for Congress or any office.
This Movement is not big enough, and not strong enough, to take on the corporate capitalist ruling class.
How would this Representative in Congress represent the Occupy Wall Street Movement? The type of representation that exists in the US Congress is based on a geographical area, not a political ideology.
What would happen if this fictitious representative was from a district that would profit on something that stands in opposition to the core ideas of this movement? This Representative would now be placed in a position of self preservation vs Movement. What if this issue was so massive that voting in the interests of the Movement would cost this person her seat, based on the polling?
This Movement must end the current political, economic, and social structure, not enhance it. If OWS becomes part of the system, it will adsorb us and destroy us similar to what happened to so many in the 60's movements, i.e. Bill Clinton.
If this Movement becomes part of the current corrupt political order, we will have the same blood on our hands as the Liberals and Conservatives do right now.
No to Representative Republics, Yes to General Assemblies.
I wish you luck, but I believe your goal is a bit Quixotic. There have been a few people that have had similar ideas. Running candidates in primaries to co-opt one party or the other. To do something through the system to show a level of power that will force elected officials to take demands seriously and make positive changes.
The standard response I get is that the system itself is broken and needs to be thrown out. The GA of each Occupy is autonomous and many seem to hold with a libertarian socialist form of government. They just don't seem to have either the desire or the organization to accomplish change through the system. At least not at this time.
Get a civics lesson and get back to us.
People are on ballots. Not organizations.
You had me until you brought up the Heinz lady. Does Heinz buy off politicians?
What's an aire?