Welcome login | signup
Language en es fr
OccupyForum

Forum Post: Everybody lists three demands. Those most voted should be OWS's common demands.

Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 18, 2011, 11:33 p.m. EST by jdragonlee (119)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Most voted demands ( by 10/16/2011):

  1. Money out of Politics. 44 votes
    -Eliminate / Remove / Ban campaign contribution;
    -Public funds all campaigns;
    -Mandate Public fund for all political campaign / election nation wide;
    -28th Amendment to the Constitution that establishes permanent public financing of all elections in this country.

  2. Tax fairness. 26 votes
    -Tax rates from the Clinton administration;
    -Eliminate all tax loopholes;
    -Get rid of tax breaks for the rich;
    -Tax cut for middle class;

  3. Reinstate Glass-Steagall Act. 19 votes

  4. Abolish the Federal Reserve Board. 18 votes
    -Abolish / Eliminate / End Federal Reserve Board;
    -Audit Federal Reserve Board;
    -Put the power to print money back to congress;

  5. Affordable health care. 16 votes
    -singer payer health care;
    -public option;

  6. Ban Lobbyist. 15 votes

  7. End corporate personhood. 14 votes

  8. Financial Reform. 13 votes
    -Financial Reform;
    -Financial Transaction Fee / tax;

  9. Term limit. 12 votes -Have A Term Limit to Congress/Senate/Supreme Court;
    -8 years maximum for any and all nationally elected servants;
    -One 6 year term only for all representatives, senators and president;

  10. End wars. 5 votes

  11. Fully investigate & Prosecute the Wall Street criminal. 5 votes

  12. Restore democracy. 5 votes

  13. Regulation on College loan. 4 votes

  14. Energy reform. 3 votes

65 Comments

65 Comments


Read the Rules
[-] 3 points by vrptx (42) 13 years ago

Abolishment of Corporations as People.

Appeal the Supreme Court Ruling of Corporation Unlimited Poitical Contibutions.

Cap on high salaries for executives.

Roosevelt tax rates of the wealthy.

[-] 2 points by michael4ows (224) from Mountain View, CA 13 years ago

1) Money out of politcs 2) Tax fairness 3) Re-instate Glass-Steagal

[-] 2 points by Meeky (186) from Los Angeles, CA 13 years ago

Votes are on: Money out of Politics.

Tax fairness.

Reinstate Glass-Steagall Act.

[-] 1 points by TH3W01F (180) from Ottawa, ON 13 years ago

My votes are the following;

1.Reinstate Glass-Steagall Act.

  1. End corporate personhood.

  2. Affordable health care

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 13 years ago

Popeye - I Yam What I Yam - Robin Williams Shelley Duvall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8TRoMSG-5I

[-] 1 points by IndenturedNation (118) 13 years ago

1) Only legal voters can contribute to elections. 2) Reinstate entire Glass-Steagal without exceptions 3) End Wars 4) Increase income tax for those earning >250k/yr 5) Create a second Fed to balance the First to create a two Fed system to prevent over-centralization of power over monetary supply (Congress can already legislate new money). 6) Ban lobbyists, if Congress wants advice from businesses they should invite/subpoena them and it should be given as a matter of record on the floor or in an open commitee. Representatives should not be involved in closed discussion with the agents of businesses that have interests in the legislation that they are voting on.

[-] 1 points by Demian (497) from San Francisco, CA 13 years ago

Nationalization of all the banks as public utilies

Seperation of corporation and state and end corporate personhood

Extending medicare to all

[-] 1 points by RMR (3) 13 years ago
  1. Ban all Corporate Donations for ANY political office

  2. Ban all paid poltical Lobbying (bribing).

  3. All elections should be publicly funded. No personal wealth should be allowed to get around this.

[-] 1 points by George1234 (82) 13 years ago

(1). All Taxes should be abolished (2). We ask for a single simple tax collection process. Tax all bank transactions by 2%. (3). Revenue required for Government program can be easily collected by taxing all bank transactions by 2%. There is no need for multiple taxes, e.g income tax, sales tax, property tax etc, etc.* (4). This process will eliminate all record keeping for individuals, businesses and organizations.

[-] 1 points by TheAncientMariner (100) 13 years ago

please stop being so parochial! Make worldwide demands - this a a worldwide crisis but because you are so insular and - forgive me - ignorant of the world outside you don't realise that this affects everyone! Call for worldwide changes not just domestic ones or you are as bad as the people you oppose!

[-] 1 points by jdragonlee (119) 13 years ago

what's your idea of worldwide demands? I'd like to hear.

[-] 0 points by TheAncientMariner (100) 13 years ago

An end to inherited wealth and the myth that people work harder to pass wealth on to their children - this merely perpetuates social elites and disadvantages the truly talented of the next generation. Inheritors of wealth are rarely the best users of it. Salary caps on every sphere of society be they sportsmen or economists. Abolishment of the "casino" economy which allows gambling on a global scale, where individuals earn money from gambling other people hard earned capital whether their bet wins or loses. e.g. Look at the bet that was sold to some investors by Goldman Sachs that some of the gambles they took for other investors would fail! You tell one client to invest in something you know will lose them money and yet make money by telling other investors you have suckered your other clients! Morally wrong - yes! Illegal? Not under capitalism!!! Get real people! This is not an American phenomenon although you started the whole bloody mess! This is a worldwide hijack of the gravy train by unscrupulous psycopaths in every country in the world!

[-] 1 points by jdragonlee (119) 13 years ago

They all sounds good, really. But how do you feel that any one of them could be achieved? seriously.

[-] 1 points by TheAncientMariner (100) 13 years ago

The way they will definitely be not achieved is by just shrugging the collective shoulders. I am sure there are younger and more capable minds than mine to take these ideas forward. Mass movements achieve mass changes - history proves this. I am too old and impoverished to do anything physically, but I will support any movement in word and deed that tries to change this stinking system!

[-] 1 points by NYprotester (80) 13 years ago

Empower the Dirt Bagger Party. Come to the big tent tomorrow at noon!

[-] 1 points by sudoname (1001) from Berkeley, CA 13 years ago

1,3,4. The empire will topple and the rest of the demands will follow. It takes time to re-build a broken system.

[-] 1 points by lurch194 (75) from Guatemala City, Guatemala 13 years ago
  1. Close all foreign military bases; prosecute U.S. war criminals (i.e. planners and executors of foreign aggression, planners and practitioners of torture, planners and practitioners of atrocities against civilians); end foreign military "aid"; pay reparations to foreign victims of U.S. aggression and war crimes, funded through drastic cuts in the U.S. military budget.
  2. Prosecute financial speculators who have traded fraudulent "assets" and prohibit them and their business colleagues from holding positions in the cabinet and federal agencies; restore and strengthen Glass-Steagal and other measures to separate commercial and investment banks; force large banks still holding toxic assets and their investor-owners to eat those assets; prosecute banks and their officers who have participated in fraudulent home foreclosures; grant long-term no-interest federal loans to assist foreclosed home-owners who can prove that they are or were living in their foreclosed home.
  3. Single-payer national health care to all residents of the U.S. and those countries it currently occupies through military force.
[-] 1 points by PeoplehaveDNA (305) 13 years ago

Why only three, I would have made it at least five.

[-] 1 points by FuManchu (619) 13 years ago

End wars only gets 5?

[-] 1 points by mserfas (652) from Ashland, PA 13 years ago

The problem with running votes (both here and at my.barackobama.com and change.gov) is that the first proposals offered become the most popular proposals almost automatically. It tends to stack the deck toward off-the-shelf agendas. You really have to get all the nominations above some small threshold together first, then conduct the poll from this entire pool with none receiving any special preference, in order to get an accurate answer.

[-] 1 points by jdragonlee (119) 13 years ago

thanks for your suggestion.

[-] 1 points by Hellomynameis (243) from Aptos, CA 13 years ago

Where is the "15. Complete SEC reform" ?

[-] 1 points by pluckeypurcell (1) 13 years ago

All I want for Christmas is the realization that corporations are not legitimate political institutions...

[-] 1 points by dankpoet (425) 13 years ago

reform is a little vague isn't it?

[-] 1 points by jdragonlee (119) 13 years ago

i agree, but that's what people posted. I personally prefer concrete demands.

[-] 1 points by Excited (9) from Ruskin, FL 13 years ago

Just as there are laws for the separation of church and state, there needs to laws for the separation of corporations and state. Anyone that has any connection to a major corporation, now or in the past, can not hold office ever. As it stands now there are men on the board of governors of the oil companies holding high office in the Dept of Energy.

[-] 1 points by Arachnofoil (104) from Charlotte, NC 13 years ago

2, 5, 13 are fails

[-] 1 points by SenChentLok (15) 13 years ago

Why?

[-] 1 points by Arachnofoil (104) from Charlotte, NC 13 years ago
  1. You show preference to a certain group at the detriment of another, based on their income. That is wrong. There should be less taxes on all groups.
  2. When you put the government in as middle man between patient and doctor, that's when your problems start. Costs go up, care decreases. Remove government from medicine. I own 3 medical centres and my wife is a doctor, I see it first hand.
  3. Same as above. Government and banks need each other and if they can lend you $100k for a degree with no jobs, they will. Government regulation is not a key to change, look how corrupt the regulator is- why give them more power?
[-] 1 points by jdragonlee (119) 13 years ago

Why does everybody believe government will drive up costs? Without post office, would you still be able to send a letter for less than $1 by UPS or Fedex? Government operation should be strictly limited to some areas, but healthcare should be one of them.

[-] 1 points by Arachnofoil (104) from Charlotte, NC 13 years ago

If u say so, but I know what I'm talking about

[-] 1 points by SenChentLok (15) 13 years ago

Thanks for elaborating :)

  1. So, are you just for less taxes while maintaining a difference based on income bracket (that is staggered, but lower than the current percentages), or are you for a flat tax/no taxes?

  2. On this point, I completely (but respectfully) disagree. If the government were the sole factor in cost increases, then why did health insurance premiums rise 9% over the past year alone, without government involvement? I don't think the government is evil or mucks up everything it touches. I think things like the Clean Water act, are wonderful and necessary, but more on topic, I think medicare and medicaid are necessary programs. Costs are going up and care is decreasing because insurance companies tie practitioners' hands and determine what can and can't be treated while still receiving monetary coverage. I too see it first hand. :) Insurance and big pharmaceutical companies need to be regulated. You may not support universal health care, but are you seriously against "affordable health care"? Then what's your solution? Because the current system is broken.

  3. So, you're not opposed to the regulation or reduction of loans, you just don't believe that government is capable of doing it?

[-] 1 points by jdragonlee (119) 13 years ago

Love it.

[-] 1 points by Socrates469bc (608) from New York, NY 13 years ago
[-] 1 points by vrptx (42) 13 years ago

Cap on salaries for Executives Roosevelts tax on wealthy 91 per cent.

[-] 1 points by SenChentLok (15) 13 years ago

What exactly does "Restore democracy" refer to? Also, there's a lot of overlap. I don't see how you can have money out of politics without ending corporate personhood. Energy reform - like stopping subsidies for big oil companies :) - is related to money out of politics.

[-] 1 points by vrptx (42) 13 years ago

I vote on each of them, they are all good.

[-] 1 points by bannik311 (83) 13 years ago

The best course of action is to be as inclusive as possible, it isn't 1 or 2 things that have funneled the wealth towards the top. It isn't as simple as that. As soon as you make specific demands they will begin to attempt to discredit them, or give into the demands in theory, but lobby and find new loopholes to exploit the populace.

A starting point should be Wall Street reform starting with taxing capital gains as income and adding several new tax brackets to the top.

[-] 1 points by JustinKleinrichert (21) from Rochester, IN 13 years ago

Anybody and everybody who has a thought on tax cuts: I have created a forum titled "Tax Cut Solution? MUST READ!!!" Please check it out and leave me a comment I need more input

[-] 1 points by tr289 (916) from Chicago, IL 13 years ago

I truly believe that campaign reform is the most important thing that needs to come from the OWS movement. If we can remove the money, Lobbyists and Special Interest groups from Washington. The power will be back in our hands... Just imagine the possibilities.

[-] 1 points by AKansan (1) 13 years ago

I agree with this 100%. We need honesty and integrity in Washington. You can't have this if politicians are being bought and paid for by lobbyists and special interest groups. Making lobbyists and special interest campaign contributions illegal WILL have the greatest impact of anything you are doing. Until our system of government is changed NOTHING else will be.

[-] 1 points by tr289 (916) from Chicago, IL 13 years ago

Well said and from that looks of it... Campaign reform and removing the money from Washington is high on the priority list for most supporting the Occupy movements. =)

[-] 1 points by booshington (397) 13 years ago

You can't really do this online as you will have people who are not sympathetic to OWS muddying up the results.

For the most accurate gauge you would need to poll the people in the streets actually protesting.

[-] 1 points by jdragonlee (119) 13 years ago

if somebody is doing that, I will stop the polling. I thought this is my way to help.

[-] 1 points by booshington (397) 13 years ago

It'll end up super inaccurate and not really worth your time. It's a good thought but none of the online polls can be considered accurate.

[-] 1 points by jdragonlee (119) 13 years ago

I think they are all good for change the situation we are in now. Which one is No 1 is not far less important than there are OWS'ommon demands NOW.

[-] 1 points by wweddingMadeintheUSA (135) 13 years ago

1,3, and we should start a Boycott Imported Buy Made in the USA campaign so we can punish job exporters

[-] 1 points by Domes (6) 13 years ago

Not a big fan of #2. I just don't see how implementing raising taxes for one class and cutting them for another will unite an already torn nation.

[-] 1 points by JustinKleinrichert (21) from Rochester, IN 13 years ago

Domes I have created a forum titled "Tax Cut Solution? MUST READ!!!". Look for it and leave me a comment on what you think. I need more input

[-] 1 points by FreedomFromCorporateRule (3) 13 years ago

The single biggest problem is money in politics and the corporate take over of democracy. Nearly all the problems stem from this subversion of the will of the people. A form of this view is held by most Americans.

I am not in New York but I am getting involved in my home city trying to do my part to expand this movement. I would recommend that you read Gene Sharp or invite people from the Internationa Center on Nonviolent Conflict to come and speak to you - http://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/

The center takes its inspiration from the work of Gene Sharp. According to Sharp, serious social transformation requires a carefully considered plan with disciplined execution. Through his study, observation, and employment of his ideas in many revolutions Gene Sharp has identified the elements of an effective strategy to oppose and dismantle dictators and systemic corruption. It would be worthwhile to read his work (I am reading it now) to see if you could learn from his thinking and possibly adapt his ideas, which have been effective in many contexts, to our present context of tyrannical corporate rule. Here is a link to a recent movie about him - http://howtostartarevolutionfilm.com/index.php/about

[-] 1 points by MadAsHellInTX (598) from Shepherd, TX 13 years ago

I vote 1, 3 and 7. Biggest bang for the stolen buck, right there.

[-] 1 points by freesyria (43) 13 years ago

5,6,10

[-] 1 points by yasminec001 (584) 13 years ago

Do away with the current monetary system and implement a completely visible and traceable international currency of credits and debits. a worldwide compensation system where credits will be for services rendered and products produced, and debits will be for services used and consumed.

create United Federation of nations (that actually works) which settles disputes between nations and guarantees peace. will also guarantee a proportionate distribution of wealth and resources based on the wealth and resources of the nation.

using money saved from building defense systems and weaponry of war can be used to feed our hungry, clothe our needy, house our poor, bring security to our elderly, and guarantee health care and dignity to all.

[-] 1 points by lreddiablo (3) from Beverly Hills, CA 13 years ago

Money out of politics... This is the root to most of our gripes...

[-] 1 points by lreddiablo (3) from Beverly Hills, CA 13 years ago

Money out of politics... This is the root to most of our gripes...

[-] 0 points by hillary (252) 13 years ago

1,2,3,5,6,11

Why 11 isn't at the top of the list i'll never know.....

[-] 0 points by gawdoftruth (3698) from Santa Barbara, CA 13 years ago

ultimately, you are not in a position and nobody is to brainstorm up mere demands. demands are stupid and infantile. complaints and then problem defintions and then detailed problem solutions are great. that requires time and homework to generate, not bong hits and then a brainstormed imagine yourself as emperor of the world Scrawl. this kind of thing does not help the movement, it just gives the powers that be ammo against us and prevents meaningful conversations which have depth or open source research and problem solving because you and everyone else imagines we can just skip all the steps and churn out "demands." Listen to the other people in the movement who are wisely saying NO to demands lists. I have demands, they are to the movement itself- thats where the real game is.

"Would you rather have war in this land? Do not confront me work with me...Civil unrest could very well lead to civil war... This list will prevent civil war.... Infantile, we are all infants in conciseness, which explains your poor choice of words.... You should be telling me how to make the list better not how it will never work."

? gawdoftruth (Santa Barbara, CA) 1 points 0 seconds ago

no, you need to drop making lists of demands. period. until you do open source research and science centered problem solving with other people, you have nothing to say worth repeating. your brain storming in ignorance. it sounds really really awesome to you- but for many people your tone def. Making demands is itself a sign of infantilism. period. Take responsibility and start working the problems in a deep and real way. I should not have to run through this further with you. This is a ludicrous sense of direction, it is not helping the movement and its not useful or meaningful for long term strategy in fact all it is is a giant set of red rings to give the pundits a clear target.

I don't want war. how i stop the war is to work the problems in a deep way and address the war. Not make demands. I'm an adult, not a seven year old, not a hostage taker, not a terrorist. I don't make demands, i communicate evolutionary truths. If ten thousand people follow my example we can have an evolution. If you run around like a bunch of punk alpha dominant azzholes, i promise you, all of your demands will lead to nothing but scorn and alienation.

but i can expect that we will find good solid means to that end instead of self sabotaging means to that end. Change your communication strategy. These are main political issues which you find to be critical. Now ask people to join you in reasearching them and working on these problems open source. You think you have the end product. instead you have a starting point. remove the "demands" from "demands" and replace with "these are the issues i want to discuss which seem critical to me." There you go. Thats the real process. "Demands " is itself what big Bruddah wants precisely because that makes us the ones holding wall street hostage. Domestic terrorism even when called non violent is still in essence domestic terrorism. Terrorists issue demands. Evolutionary patriots form think tanks.

[-] 0 points by FObama (470) 13 years ago

Wipe out all 14 and start apologizing.

[-] 0 points by FObama (470) 13 years ago

Grass, gas and ass.