Forum Post: First OFFICIAL Release from OCCUPY WALL STREET
Posted 13 years ago on Sept. 30, 2011, 2:10 p.m. EST by revg33k
(429)
from Woodstock, IL
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Source: reddit.com/r/politics/comments/...occupy_wall_street/
This was unanimously voted on by all members of Occupy Wall Street last night, around 8pm, Sept 29. It is our first official document for release. We have three more underway, that will likely be released in the upcoming days: 1) A declaration of demands. 2) Principles of Solidarity 3) Documentation on how to form your own Direct Democracy Occupation Group.
This is a living document. you can receive an official press copy of the latest version by emailing c2anycga@gmail.com.
Declaration of the Occupation of New York City
As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. We write so that all people who feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world can know that we are your allies.
As one people, united, we acknowledge the reality: that the future of the human race requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power. We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known.
They have taken our houses through an illegal foreclosure process, despite not having the original mortgage.
They have taken bailouts from taxpayers with impunity, and continue to give Executives exorbitant bonuses.
They have perpetuated inequality and discrimination in the workplace based on age, the color of one's skin, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation.
They have poisoned the food supply through negligence, and undermined the farming system through monopolization.
They have profited off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless nonhuman animals, and actively hide these practices.
They have continuously sought to strip employees of the right to negotiate for better pay and safer working conditions.
They have held students hostage with tens of thousands of dollars of debt on education, which is itself a human right.
They have consistently outsourced labor and used that outsourcing as leverage to cut workers’ healthcare and pay.
They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility.
They have spent millions of dollars on legal teams that look for ways to get them out of contracts in regards to health insurance.
They have sold our privacy as a commodity.
They have used the military and police force to prevent freedom of the press.
They have deliberately declined to recall faulty products endangering lives in pursuit of profit.
They determine economic policy, despite the catastrophic failures their policies have produced and continue to produce.
They have donated large sums of money to politicians supposed to be regulating them.
They continue to block alternate forms of energy to keep us dependent on oil.
They continue to block generic forms of medicine that could save people’s lives in order to protect investments that have already turned a substantive profit.
They have purposely covered up oil spills, accidents, faulty bookkeeping, and inactive ingredients in pursuit of profit.
They purposefully keep people misinformed and fearful through their control of the media.
They have accepted private contracts to murder prisoners even when presented with serious doubts about their guilt.
They have perpetuated colonialism at home and abroad.
They have participated in the torture and murder of innocent civilians overseas.
They continue to create weapons of mass destruction in order to receive government contracts.†
To the people of the world,
We, the New York City General Assembly occupying Wall Street in Liberty Square, urge you to assert your power.
Exercise your right to peaceably assemble; occupy public space; create a process to address the problems we face, and generate solutions accessible to everyone.
To all communities that take action and form groups in the spirit of direct democracy, we offer support, documentation, and all of the resources at our disposal.
Join us and make your voices heard!
† These grievances are not all-inclusive.
--------edit-------
Also here is the Working list of goals: https://occupywallst.org/forum/proposed-list-of-demands-please-help-editadd-so-th/
Who is "they"? Could someone provide a list of names, or at least a list of the companies, charged with these grievances?
Yea, we know who "they" are. More importantly is HOW to stop them.
We need an Article V convention.
Congress is very afraid of it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_to_propose_amendments_to_the_United_States_Constitution "Congress acted preemptively to propose the amendments instead. At least four amendments (the Seventeenth, Twenty-First, Twenty-Second, and Twenty-Fifth Amendments) have been identified as being proposed by Congress at least partly in response to the threat of an Article V convention."
Our first right in our contract is Article V, the right to have congress convene delgates when 2/3 of the states have applied for an amendatory convention.
A power point by Lawrence Lessig that shows why congress is afraid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gpbfY-atMk
Article. V.
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
Lots of facts here about Article V. http://algoxy.com/poly/article_v_convention.html
"They" would have to be defined on an individual basis according to the merit of each instance they're representative of. It's such an open field of discussion that for a clear answer we'd have to examine decades of foreign policy; suffice it to say "they" can be relegated to the category of those corporate influences that have a say in civilian politics.
It can not. The purpose of the they pronoun is to replace redundancy as repetition of a noun previously stated. Where is the previous noun?
"THEY" are the corporations that put profit before humanity.
"THEY" are the politicians that allow this to happen.
"THEY" are the fools that don't know who "THEY" are.
"THEY" are easier to blame than a specific politician or corporation because when you say "THEY", you don't have to cite references. While I am absolutely in favor of the occupation, the question "Can someone provide a list of names of the companies charged with these grievances"? Is a just one. Let's not paint broad strokes, lets be well informed. That starts with thoughtfully answering valid questions.
WE are the THEY!
and THEY are US!
Follow the money. The grievances are against a systems that allows institutionalized corruption of our political process. The list is huge.
THEY = the criminal bureaucrats who continue to get paid by lobbyists to ignore corporate injustices and corporate agendas. THEY = the news media executives who continue to promote propaganda and lies to the American people, while ignoring the facts. THEY = the government members of congress who continue to take taxpayer-paid pay checks to fatten their own wallets while doing nothing to protect the US Constitutional laws. THEY = the executives of corporations (like Enron) who continue to steal money from the public while distributing false income statements and P&L statements to their shareholders. THEY = the government bureaucrats in the SEC who continue to shirk their responsibility to investigate and prosecute corporate criminals while getting paid to look the other way. THEY = the members of congress who continue to lie to the public and spread their propaganda while promoting fear and hatred in order to keep the population divided on the important issues.
Keep it going... I'm sure you have other definitions...
THEY= the 3 credit reporting agencies acting as governmental companies but are FOR PROFIT COMPANIES. in this recession how in the world can you get anything on credit if your credit score has been affected by the economy. But is anyone making them re-adjust their ranking policies. NO - BECAUSE THEY ARE THEM!
Actually, I worked for a B rated lending company 10 years ago and watch the credit rating companies and yes you are absolutely correct. They are unregulated and completely for-profit. But, they are sue-able. If they post anything derogatory or incorrect you can sue and WIN. hundreds have won and many more will.
THEY=The congress that doesnt listen to its people.
Yeah you gotta understand the actual 99% is not ready to demonize corporations and government in such a blanket fashion.
Way to stay focused OWS. You are about to lose.
OK, 98% then...
Try 1%.
Easy it's 'them'.
"They" refers to the noun "corporations" in the paragraph preceding the list.
They is a third-person plural pronoun intended to replace a noun. It should only be used if viewed as a conscious choice rather than an error. And ok, I'll buy that this a conscious choice. But I have no idea who they is... but since the word itself has arrived by way of the Norsemen, I must conclude that they is them.
So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you, then I would suggest you allow the 11th of October to pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me today,. .
I appreciate the difficulty of trying to articulate the concerns of literally thousands of people, all of whom feel (justly) as if their concerns have been ignored by our elected leaders, but to claim that this is a unanimously voted upon document? As in everybody got a paper ballot, counted in front of a neutral commission?
People get why the 99% are angry. It's not just one cause, it's a movement. Just because politicians want an agenda to address on their terms, doesn't mean you need to give it to them to deal. Make them work on your terms, that's what this is about, isn't it?
The Declaration of the Occupation of New York City
He is Bernie Sanders and he approved this message ...
These days ''ImNotMe'' although ever was I thus! And fyi ...
Like there is/was ever any doubt whatsoever .. LOLOL!!!
ad iudicium ...
Spreading the message of inequality and greed has been the only thing that has mattered. Whatever you're called, you've been an amazing participant on this forum. You should have your full points reinstated from October 10, 2011 when you first joined. You should receive one point, like everyone else, whenever you make a reply (and so should turbo) and you should have full voting rights. But, we forge on despite the counter-revolutionaries, always have, always will.
Thanx but please consider this very nice article, by Adam Gabbatt:
''Former Occupy Wall Street protesters rally around Bernie Sanders campaign'' .... ... ..
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/17/occupy-wall-street-protesters-bernie-sanders
Further ''Protesters say movement’s unorthodox style has laid groundwork for Sanders’ success, while its network of activists are proving a major boon to campaign''
resice; adspice; prospice ...
"On 17 September 2011 a group of protesters occupied Wall Street. Their unpolished campaign sought to draw attention to financial inequality. To healthcare issues. And to the problem of student debt.
If that sounds familiar, it is because four years on, Bernie Sanders’ own campaign has highlighted many of the same grievances. It is no coincidence. In 2015 many of the protesters who cut their teeth in the Occupy encampments are now campaigning for the Democratic candidate.
“There’s 50 million people who are impoverished here in America,” said Stan Williams, an Occupy Wall Street stalwart who is now co-organiser of African Americans for Bernie.
“He talks about the 99%. He talks about the 1%. So a lot of the things he talks about resonate with me.”
Occupy Wall Street sparked a nationwide movement in the US. Thousands of people camped in parks, outside capitol buildings and elsewhere while tens of thousands more took part in marches. A central theme was the perceived feather-handed treatment of banks and bankers who had contributed to the financial crisis, while conditions remained the same or worsened for regular citizens.
In New York, hundreds of people camped out in Zuccotti Park, a block away from Wall Street, and thousands took part in a series of marches throughout the city. Police across the US were frequently criticised for their attempts to control protesters. Videos emerged of peaceful demonstrators being teargassed in Seattle, Oakland, at UC Davis in California and in New York City – where one march saw more than 700 people arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge.
The Occupy movement quickly spread to countries across the globe including the UK, Brazil, Hong Kong and Australia, although the majority of the camps shut down towards the end of 2011. Advertisement
At the time, Occupy protesters were criticised by some sections of the media for their lack of specific demands. But four years later protesters say the movement’s unorthodox style of campaigning has laid the groundwork for Sanders’ success, while Occupy’s network of activists are proving a major boon to what is a relatively impoverished campaign.
“He doesn’t have a big staff. He can’t afford to have the staff Hillary Clinton has,” Williams said. Williams was living in Alabama in September 2011 and moved to New York to be part of the movement. Williams now uses some of the skills he learned as an occupier to reach out to ethnic minority communities in a bid to spread Sanders’ message.
“The grassroots groups have far surpassed what he and his campaign could ever do. And since people who are involved in Occupy are leading the biggest group for Bernie Sanders, our fingers are all over this.”
Sanders announced his run for the Democratic nomination in May. A relative unknown then, the self-described democratic socialist has seen some of the most enthusiastic support of either Democratic or Republican candidates. More than 15,000 people turned up to a rally in Los Angeles in August, while a Portland event attracted 19,000.
The 73-year-old took the lead over Hillary Clinton in an Iowa poll for the first time in early September and leads the former secretary of state in New Hampshire.
But that success could not have happened were it not for the Occupy movement, said Charles Lenchner. He was involved in “TechOps” – a group of web-savvy occupiers who created websites and managed other technical aspects that helped give the movement its wide reach.
“Sanders’ rise in this election season is inconceivable without Occupy Wall Street having elevated the conversation around inequality and the way that the 1% are ravaging this country. You just can’t imagine one without the other.”
Lenchner co-founded People for Bernie Sanders, a group which supports the Vermont senator but that is unconnected to his campaign.
Another member of that group is Brett Banditelli, who serves as national digital organiser. Banditelli co-founded Occupy Harrisburg, a group that stayed camped outside Pennsylvania’s capitol building for more than a year before retiring in November 2012. He said Sanders’ support was boosted by the network of activist groups Occupy helped to establish across the country.
“There were hundreds of digital assets and small groups before Bernie even made his speech on the Vermont lake,” Banditelli said. “That was because a lot of occupiers and a lot of community activists across the country came out.”
If Sanders’ popularity could not have happened without Occupy, his platform also appears to have given occupiers a sense of purpose. He has also succeeded in drawing a notoriously disaffected group that had turned its back on traditional politics into participating in the political process.
“When we were in Occupy there was a lot of time arguing over should we vote or not. Now, that debate’s over. People realise that there’s a diversity of tactics, and voting is a part of that.”"
And I can't help but think: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." - Mahatma Gandhi
The independent senator from Vermont says the economic system is rigged against working-class Americans. He's right.
The electoral political system is a subsidiary of those who rule the economy. Which is why Bernie Sanders never stood a chance. The political system was rigged against him.
And yet, despite the formidable institutional obstacles stacked against him, Sanders is doing great: largely considered a shoo-in to win New Hampshire, leading in Iowa, closing the gap nationally. Surprised pundits are marveling at his popular momentum, ground organization and fundraising prowess. There is now a credible path to the Democratic nomination and, if he runs against GOP frontrunner Donald Trump, to the White House.
Center-right Clinton wants to know: how did this happen?
Leftists wonder: is this cause for hope?
It is an amazing story. Everyone in a position to block Sanders' campaign did everything they could to sabotage him.
Knowing that coverage is the essential oxygen of politics, the media mostly ignored him. By one measure, corporate media gave Trump 23 times more coverage than Sanders! On the few occasions when they spilled a little ink on Bernie, it was to insult him and his socialist politics. (My personal Exhibit A was a New York Times piece that carried a photo that emphasized his bald spot.)
Marginalization always used to work. Remember John Edwards? His 2008 primary campaign was doomed because TV networks refused to cover him. But the media's cold shoulder isn't hurting Bernie Sanders.
In the bag for Hillary Clinton and remembering the lesson of 2008 -- the more voters hear from her, the less they like her -- the Democratic National Committee fed her aura of inevitability by refusing to give Sanders the exposure and legitimacy offered by a robust round of debates. Debates, the few of them the manipulative DNC chair and Clinton toady Debbie Wasserman Schultz allowed to take place, were scheduled for the nights known for low television viewership.
That tactic backfired. Clinton did better than Sanders in the first three debates. But no one saw her flex her foreign-affairs muscles.
Bernie got nothing but chicanery from the DNC, to the point that the Sanders camp had to sue to access its own voter data. Which only reinforced his image as a rebel -- not easy for a U.S. senator -- and further endeared him to his supporters.
Despite everything, Sanders could win.
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." (MKG) & thanx for the full extract from that very interesting Guardian article that was brought to my attention on Twitter.
Further, consider yourself ''Twinkled'' too, lol! OWS role in all this will be down to history of our days yet untold but it will be favourable despite the attempts of so many to diminish, disrupt & discourage OWS.
The future seeding started from day one but ... I did NOT think that OWS memes would be coming from the lips of a clearly viable PotUS candidate in such a short time.Ergo https://berniesanders.com/issues/
dum spiro, spero ...
6 months ago no one in Nevada even heard of Bernie Sanders. Today, he won the Latino vote there and he came within 5 points of Clinton. He was down 30 points 6 months ago.
He managed to close the gap with the former First Lady and Secy of State who has name recognition and the establishment and Wall Street money behind her.
Go Bernie!!
https://berniesanders.com/issues/ is THE closest thing to OWS' platform that I have seen and now it is in a POTUS race JUST FOUR & a HALF YEARS after - OWS was camped in Zucotti Park!!! It is pretty incredible - IF we think about it!! OWS woke A LOT of people up - and many if not most, didn't go back to sleep again and many struggles were re-seeded, rejuvenated and planted anew! So consider these...
http://occupysandy.net/ ; http://strikedebt.org/ ; http://rollingjubilee.org/ &..
http://www.occupythesec.org/ ; http://altbanking.net/ ; http://fightfor15.org/
http://blacklivesmatter.com/ ; http://www.americansagainstfracking.org/ etc. And also see:
http://www.democracynow.org/2013/9/19/two_years_after_occupy_wall_street & consider..
https://news.vice.com/article/occupy-wall-street-offshoot-has-purchased-nearly-4-million-in-student-debt etc. Etc. ETC.! And now many occupiers are right beside and behind Bernie &...
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/06/the-triumph-of-occupy-wall-street/395408/
Finally, this link from just a few days ago: http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/02/19/sanders-american-socialism-and-the-legacy-of-the-occupy-movement/ y Solidaridad Siempre 4 a bw!
respice; adspice; prospice ...
We are the 99%. And, Bernie Sanders is the one politician who shows an interest in serving all of us, all 100%, including the greedy 1% who, too, would benefit from living in a world where everyone has enough.
''Breaking the World Open: In Praise of "Impractical" Movements'', by Michael and Paul Engler:
You are so right bw! Even The 1% would be far better off because when The 99% are better off we are ALL better off - whether we all know it or like it - or not!! Then we can get on with ''Moon Base Alpha'', mining water ice [H2O] & Helium3 as rocket fuel on the way to Terraforming Mars per a 99% destiny!
ad iudicium; per ardua ad astra; dum spiro spero ....
"Such movements, of course, face immense barriers, but that shouldn't stop us from acknowledging their importance and highlighting the key role played by moments of mass defiance in shaping our world. Outbreaks of hope and determined impracticality provide an important rebuttal to the politics of accommodation, to the idea that the minor tweaking of the status quo is the best we can expect in our lifetimes." From your truth-out link.
Seems to me, the Bernie Sanders movement of millions of people is such a movement. Should he win or lose, it will prove to be transformative of American society.
''Radical Politics in the Age of American Authoritarianism: Connecting the Dots'' by H.A.Giroux:
From which - ''The left needs a language of critique that enables people to ask questions that appear unspeakable within the existing vocabularies of oppression. We also need a language of hope that is firmly aware of the ideological and structural obstacles that are undermining democracy. We need a language that .. reframes our activist politics as a creative act that can respond to the promises and possibilities of a radical democracy.'' - You'll totally get the end paragraphs of this excellent piece by Giroux. Solidarity to you and yours.
respice; adspice; prospice ...
Bernie Sanders rally in Washington Square Park on April 13, 2016:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhMoEWgKyW4
Worth watching all of the speakers because such truth to power has not been spoken on such a large stage in this country in a very long time.
And, it reminds me of everything that Giroux is talking about in that excellent article.
Bernie Sanders spoke to 30k+ people in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY on Sunday (April'17th) - probably the biggest crowd to hear him, to date:
Re. Bernie in Washington Square Park .. I watched it live & realtime! It was Fkn GR8!! Even the slightly drunken gay guy, local politician, lol!!!
"Bernie Sanders Is Walking The Road By Making It ....''
dum spiro, spero ...
Bernie has the momentum on his side, but sadly, he doesn't have the rules on his side. Maybe he will have to make up the rules too, along with the road.
Way too many New Yorkers and especially college age kids were thrown off the voter rolls because they moved apartments. This has barely even been discussed, but must be followed up on. Many filled out "paper affidavits" that have yet to be counted. Hillary's New York victory should shrink once they are. Should....
Your undoing stems from your naivety.
It clearly showed when you were swept away into the sea of jartocracy by the crashing waves of anarchic thought. You trusted her with your soul, and she burned you alive. Even after the many warnings I graciously provided, you still sank deeper and deeper like a sheeple caught in quicksand.
And so it is also with conspiracy theorists like Ike and Jones. They easily gain your full trust with their lies and fantasy, and just when you least expect it, they will also burn you alive.
You have been greeted by open arms in the cathedrals of critical thought, but, to this day, you refuse to enter. You remain outside proper discourse, turning your thumbs against each other. Scared perhaps, of the disciplined required for proper thought.
And so, jart as named you a shadzTroll. A sad troll indeed.
The Man of a Million Monikers...
But weren't you the one who turned up with your bit of (spy?) code in Zucotti Park in 2011 - only to have jart and the others reject the code contribution 'cause they couldn't trust you?!!! I've never been called ''a troll'' by anyone who wasn't confused by ass and elbow or wasn't a "Troll'' themselves - lol,& do you see how autobiographical your projected drivel up there is?!! You Numpty! No go read and ''digest'' this again:
You jumped in & insinuate yourself into my positive exchange with bw - to spew your negativity & anger. You're an emotionally damaged buffoon TrashyManque' & also a liar but I can't help you with any of that. The fact that u accusatorially project your reality onto me is however revealing, ipso facto .. and the only ''undoing'' is you, at your own hands by yourself!!! Maybe ''unravelling'' would be a better word!! Get help!
temet nosce ...
"But weren't you the one who turned up with your bit of (spy?) code in Zucotti Park in 2011 - only to have jart and the others reject the code contribution 'cause they couldn't trust you?!!!"
This is a great example of the failed mind of a conspiracy theorist. Unable to do proper research, understand evidence, read an idea objectively - he or she is obliged to base their stance on what they think of the proposer. In other words - "Do I like or trust this guy? No... OK, so his idea is not good..."
Jart, like I, is capable of rational thought and scholarly discourse. When she looks at a piece of code to decide whether or note it will be included in a certain project, she actually UNDERSTANDS the code... I know... I know... Your mind is blown! It does not matter to her who the proposer is, if she trusts the proposer, etc... If the code is good she will accept it, if not she won't.
Another free lesson in science and rationality - brought to you by The Man of a Million Monikers.
All that you've now actually succeeded in doing there, is confirm the basic facts of the sad saga of your code contribution circumstances!!! Whether your code was bogus and bug ridden or you were identified as having questionable integrity or both ... the reasons for your rejection by OWS-Tech at Zucotti Park, are now .. irrelevant!! Finally, your still being in thrall to jart isn't a surprise at all given her bat-shit crazy Twitter ramblings! You are actually only all about YOU - aren't you? Ever considered .. that among your myriad psycho-pathologies, your being somewhere on the Autistic Spectrum may well be one of them? Jog on TrashyManque' and/or - go get your knickers in a twist over this CONspiracy actuality ...
Perhaps I should call you ''Richard'' too as it saves me upsetting you by calling you ''Dick'' but I will mull over it with a li'l walk across the Meadows with the sun in my face and thinking, of all the heat to come!!
verum ex absurdo ...
Spy code in Zucotti Park? Is this a new conspiracy theory of yours? Spy code for what? Spying on OWS conspiracy theorists like you and Shule?
Your mind swims in fantasy land. The things you make up have no bound. You are unconstrained by evidence or rationality. Any you make dream up goes for truth in your conspiracy theorist mindset.
Do you see the question mark right after ''spy'' in the parenthesis?! It implies speculation .. but of course nothing you say can be trusted can it?!! Which was exactly the judgement made by jart in the park n' all as you'll recall!! Now here's a much more important question for you,''The Man of a Million Monikers'', lol:
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/34962-did-the-kochs-just-anoint-marco-rubio ?!
&/or see http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/30032-scapegoat-economics-2015 ~*~
caveat ...
Indeed, a speculating conspiracy theorist, and what a spectacle. Any idea, as ludicrous and fantastic as it may be, gets air time in the head of a conspiracy nutter. No critical thinking here, just speculation unconstrained for any kind of disciplined thinking.
You have yet to provide an iota of evidence of your ''High End Intellect'' or your ''discipled scholarly research'' about anything at all actually, however - maybe you can stoop low & consider this item:
ad iudicium ...
the term unlawful needs to be removed from the FBI definition of terrorism
The new definition of terrorism would make far too many terrorists, including nearly every law enforcement agency, every military force, and every country involved in a war. ALL are terrorists!
Remember the War on Terror is on? Even riding your trusty and sturdy feral burro of incontinence, me-s-siah would be taking on too much at once, managing at best to piss them off. It cannot work.
Me gusta el Quijote.
''The genius of the corporate coup that has overtaken US democracy is not that it dominates the GOP - the party that has long favored corporate power anyway - but that it has maneuvered even the opposition party into submission as well. The brightest minds on Wall Street are experts at hedging bets, and they play politics just as they play finance. Such dynamics are key to understanding not only the role of the Clinton candidacy in the eyes of corporate America, but the perceived threat posed by the Sanders campaign with its persistent advocacy for people over corporations.
''Clinton, who once served on the board of Walmart, the gold standard of predatory corporatism, is so tight with corporate power that she's now making efforts to downplay her relationships.'' - from ...
''Hillary Clinton, Corporate America and the Democrats' Dilemma'', by Davis Niose: http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/34913-with-hillary-clinton-corporate-america-defines-the-limits-of-acceptable-opinion & also fyi:
''The Federal Reserve Board and the Elections'', by Dean Baker: http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/34922-the-federal-reserve-board-and-the-elections
fiat lux ...
We need a plan of action like this one:
https://sites.google.com/site/the99percentdeclaration/
the only thing that matters right now is CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, unless you get the big money out of politics, no change whatsoever will occur, this should be the focus of the protests, we need to have honest politicians that work for the public before any thing else can get done, campaign finance reform (ending corporate personhood, kicking the lobbyists out of the Washington) is the perfect starting point. It really is a no brainer that this should be the one thing we can all agree on. Because unless we do this, all those other demands that people have will never be addressed, not in a millions years.
Time to call in the National Guard! Clean Wall St. of all the trash that has accumulated in the last week.
imbecile
Air Supply will be playing at 4pm
Air Supply will be playing at 4pm
Declaration of the Occupation of New York City
Bump. Yes, we're still fighting for justice for these grievances but the seeds that were planted 11 years ago are beginning to bloom. Even on the darkest of days we can see the light peeking through.
We are the 99%! Never forget it!
Happy 6th Anniversary, Occupy Wall Street!
Via Neal Jones of the Common Ground Project (Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272525066186847/):
As I continue this journey through “activism” and constantly making various observations in current society, I am beginning to gain another focus – the issue isn’t so much any particular political ideologies (like all the various “isms”), it is a matter of looking at the Natural vs Unnatural social concepts that really define the problems of society. We are Natural Beings on a Natural Planet, yet we’re forced to support countless superimposed, man-made contrivances that do not respect the natural state of things.
• Currently imposed man-made ideas have reprioritized the importance of the Natural elements & beings of Earth to be second, third, fourth, etc. to the imposed concepts.
• Human Beings are self-correcting, but the currently imposed socioeconomic model wants us to live in a fixed, established way of life forever (money, politics, banks, corporations, etc.), therefore not recognizing the harms of holding various “laws”, or “policies” in place, nor the statistics and trends spotlighting the detriment.
• Human Beings have basic needs, and the current system allows the harms of fellow humans going without those needs - for not adapting well enough to the imposed social models of monetary gain.
• Human Beings have studied and recognized the psychological and behavior harms associated with humans living in the current imposed model, and in this model, nothing is done to address these issues (again, a prioritization problem).
• Human Beings are a collaborative species, yet the imposed model teaches humans to compete with each other for everything.
• Human Beings need real, organic foods, yet our imposed system supports pesticides on crops, processed food products and GMOs.
• Human Beings need natural medicines and healthy foods to combat illness and disease, yet the imposed system supports statistically harmful synthetic pharmaceuticals, and barriers to receiving care (due to money).
• Education in the current imposed social model does not recognize updated understandings or information, and also puts up barriers or debt to “higher” education (money).
• Human Beings want to live peacefully, without harm coming to them or their neighbors or their environment, yet the imposed model still uses war to solve problems.
• The current imposed model supports violence against Human Beings for recognizing and protesting the harms of living/being forced to live with the unnatural impositions.
• Human Beings have recognized the harm done to animals by the currently imposed models factory farming, and yet it continues to be a major business practice and generator of large profits and poor health.
• Human Beings have recognized the harm done to the Earth by using fossil fuels and fracking, as well as recognized the fact that we can use technology to harness Natural elements to give us abundant energy – the imposed model continues to chase oil, and frack, and pollute, and build nuclear plants, and have accidents that result in catastrophic harm to the environment & life.
• The current imposed socioeconomic model has made, and is working on making other means of Natural living/survival illegal – like raw milk sales, collecting rain water, banning gardens in favor of lawns, and finding other ways of making it illegal to go “off grid”.
• Human Beings have recognized that the various ways we deal with behaviors that have been abberated (prison), does not rehabilitate – yet the current imposed model results in the highest imprisonment rates in the world, while now finding ways to profit on having Humans jailed. Another thing to mention is that the current imposed model itself is responsible for the abberated behaviors (deprivation, social insufficiencies), but chooses not to recognize the negative results of operating society in such ways, instead using violence and punishment.
• Through studies, the current imposed social model has been made aware of the ability to create a society that can take care of all life, but those progressive concepts are not in line with man-made monetary systems, or the profit motive, and therefore all of life and the planet must suffer the consequences (even the imposers).
• Human Beings are naturally creative and curious, ambitious and full of potential, empathetic and loving, yet the imposed model forces us into a path - one of monetary gain to buy our way through life. The current money idea is created and controlled by a small group who create much of the impositions that are harming our home Earth. This “money” being in no way connected to that Natural world, as its “value” constantly changes and can be manipulated by the supporters of the current imposed model.
• The current imposed system has carved up the planet with imaginary lines (barriers) – lines that aren’t not on the planet itself. Division has been imposed to the Natural Earth and also to the life on it (Humans/animals/insects, “race” division, religious division, “political” division, wealth division).
• Human Beings have a sense of wanting to belong, and want to be able to contribute to decisions that positively reinforce their community – yet in the current imposed model, we are born Naturally, but have to participate in man-made ideas of long ago, without every formally opting into that society. We are conditioned, not consulted.
• The current imposed model supporters intentionally created conditioning methods to have Humans behave a particular way, because Natural Humans didn’t support the imposed ideas naturally.
Due to the recognition of the world’s problems (noted above) being associated with the support of current elitist imposed socioeconomic models, I __ (name) have made the decision to OPT OUT of the socioeconomic society currently in place in __(your region). I am a Natural Human Being, free to collaborate with any other Humans to create new communities/societies that support the greatest possible good, positive experience and happiness for all, while working to do the least possible harm. As a Human Being, I was born with Natural Rights – the basic needs of survival. I will work with other Humans to help make these necessities available for everyone, as well as freely create new communities based on peaceful and sustainable practices. Should I be violently interacted with for living freely, without harming my fellow Humans or environment, let my fellow Humans recognize the injustice and further dismantle the current imposed elite social model. Should any ideas arise in new societies which seek to force Humans into provably unsustainable, inefficient, and unhealthy environments, it shall be abolished immediately by the Human collective. I am not above any other Human, nor is any other above me. I am free of unjust laws, artificial borders, and any concepts that I have not been directly consulted about. This document has been made official with my signature, and willful support of my fellow free Human Beings.
-- <3
The intimate setting at Fish and Farm is perfect for groups who want to celebrate the New Year in style. This down town venue is not only a terrific option for dinner but also a great venue to ring in the New Year with a touch of class. Starting at 10 pm there will be an intimate soiree featuring an open bar party with drinks prepared by the award winning mixology team, a Champagne Toast featuring Taittinger Champagne, and a DJ playing a variety of your favorite tunes as you dance the night away. www.sfnewyears.com
During the dark days of Prohibition only the most elite, priveleged and savvy individuals could drink the night away in hidden basement bars and clubs. Times have changed and this New Year's Eve Noble is going to bring back those swanky basement bar days to San Francisco. Speakeasy New Years promises to be an event to remember!
During the dark days of Prohibition only the most elite, privileged and savvy individuals could drink the night away in hidden basement bars and clubs. Times have changed and this San Francisco best parties Noble is going to bring back those swanky basement bar days to San Francisco. Speakeasy New Years promises to be an event to remember!. There are many type of new year’s party is organizing in San Francisco like Block party, Showers, Costume or fancy dress party, Parties for teenagers and young adults and so on. Get More Information Please Visit: http://www.sfnewyears.com/
For other calendars, see New Year. For other posts sticking with the same names, see New Year (disambiguation).In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, the final days the entire year, is actually on December 31.In several nations around the world, Fresh Seasons Event is widely known from night time interpersonal gatherings, where lots of people dance, take in, beverage alcohol consumption, and watch or perhaps mild fireworks in order to indicate the new year. Many people go to any watch night support. The get-together s usually continue earlier midnight into January 1.
http://www.squidoo.com/newyearseve2
new years is too far away
after the election comes next
So many from the far right applauded when people took to the streets to protest government tyranny in the Arab countries. Strange how they are not saying the same thing about protestors in Wall Street. http://9pillsonline.com/
Congress can't be expected to do anything the average person wants it to. It doesn't answer to us. We The People have no real control over it. You need to see the Repubs and Dems for what they truly are: the "good cop/bad cop" routine played by the billionaire elite against the rest of us. The Republican "bad cop" comes in, slams his fist on the table, makes threats and tries to scare the hell out of us. Then the Dem "good cop" comes in and says 'hey, don't pay any attention to that guy, he doesn't want what's best for you, but I do. Just cooperate with us, do what I am saying and nothing that mean old bad cop threatens will come to pass.' Neither are working for the average person's interests.
Thinking Congress is going to pass ANYTHING that serves anybody's interests besides their billionaire puppetmasters doesn't even rise to the level of being a forlorn hope, but a fantasy. The game is rigged. The entire American political framework needs to be torn down from the outside and rebuilt. Pinning our hopes on beating the pseudo-democracy at its own game and changing the system from within is not rooted in reality. We will get nothing by playing within the rules that have been established for the purpose of keeping any meaningful change from happening. Ever been to a casino? If you have you should know that the casino wins in the end every single time as long as you play by the casino's rules.
We will only succeed not by trying to influence the elite's own dog-and-pony show political framework but by operating outside of it. Remember, the Tunisians and the Egyptians didn't get rid of their unrepresentative government by voting it out of office or by supporting this or that bill in their parliament. Neither will we. If this movement is truly patterned after or inspired by the Arab Spring movements, well, it needs to get a hell of a lot more ballsy and start ACTING a lot more like the Egyptians and Tunisians.
"They" cannot be defined by random people commenting on this website. "They" should have been previously defined by the people/person that wrote this.
Who on this earth taught you the world will give you hand-outs?
Who on this earth taught you the world will give you hand-outs?
we are facing the roosevelt question today & the correct answer will resolve the problems the people now face: will finance control government for the benefit of the few, or will government control finance for the benefit of the many?
Here's my declaration of the 99%:
http://dissidentvoice.org/2011/11/need-vs-greed/
(please read and share)
Here are the articles, press releases, videos, and documentaries that may help with understanding the "they" for those who are unclear about the grievances:
http://cspangeek.com/2011/10/occupy-wall-streets-grievances-proof/
Here are the articles, press releases, videos, and documentaries that may help with understanding the "they" for those who are unclear about the grievances:
http://cspangeek.com/2011/10/occupy-wall-streets-grievances-proof/
Here are the articles, press releases, videos, and documentaries that may help with understanding the "they" for those who are unclear about the grievances:
http://cspangeek.com/2011/10/occupy-wall-streets-grievances-proof/
Here are the articles, press releases, videos, and documentaries that may help with understanding the "they" for those who are unclear about the grievances:
http://cspangeek.com/2011/10/occupy-wall-streets-grievances-proof/
Thanks for forgetting about disabled people in you list ofm people who get crapped on on the workplace and otherwise. Even OWS forgets us. very disappointing.
WOW. Life isn't fair. GET OVER IT. Better yet, get a job and stop blaming society for your failures. If you defaulted on your mortgage, THEN YOU DEFAULTED. It does not matter that the banks may have done things wrong, because YOU did something wrong. 2 wrongs do NOT make a right.
Unfortunately, the neo-liberal style of government that invited private investment into the US and UK in the 1980s have entrenched these values not only into their respective countries but, by default, have been rolled out across the global economy. It makes opposing the system very difficult without a concrete ideology for 21st century geo-economic politics. We stand at a point in history where the societies of the world stand at unequal footings as a result of the progress of nineteenth and twentieth century western economics. We must focus on the social - rather than national and political - unifying forces common to humanity in order to undermine global corporate suzerainty over the transnational future. A future must have a crucible within which to forge itself; the crucible must be in the civic-social mind and the mould should be in the ballot box if we are to deconstruct the current framework on it's own terms. Peaceful occupation of Wall Street or the City of London should only serve as a reference - at best, to raise international awareness - as long as there is a recognized, collectivized and unanimous plan for an alternative.
This list may not be agreeable for everyone but it is a beginning and it must started putting it into action immediately. If you spend all of your time arguing over the details, the opposition wins.
Nothing about the prison industrial complex, only executions? I don't know how many people are crippled by the "slavery" of student-loan related debt, but the US has more people in prison than ANY other country, the prison populations are disproportionately Black and Brown, and these LITERALLY enslaved people make cents an hour working for companies that outsource prison labor... Something about this would be nice... What did I expect, though? The Wall Street Occupation is super-racist to begin with...
-J."g."J.
THE GAME PLAIN
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Congress is proposing legislation concerning the Internet, which if passed will have major consequences for everyone. The Federal Government would be given powers to remove websites entirely from Internet. Such Bills being proposed in Congress would make way for the power and corporate elite to influence Federal Authority such that the list of charges in this Declaration above would grow to include crimes against we the people through the Internet. I feel that Congress is fundamentally wrong in attempting such legislation, so I wrote a letter to congress expressing my disagreement as follows:
Dear Congress People,*
I cannot see how such Internet Bills as you have been proposing in your committees would be perceived by we the people as anything short of a declaration of war on we the people whom you have sworn to represent. According to the Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph E. Stiglitz (2011), the vast majority of you in congress are from the 1%, are elected by the 1%, and act in the interests of the 1%. The 1% contains virtually all of the corporations that the NYCGA criticized on Sep 29 (First Declaration above), a statement that was read on National Television on Oct 5, which charges your corporations with the commission of over 10 massive crimes against humanity (to which the 1% and corporations have provided not a single shred of evidence to the contrary).
These corporations - seen to have many rights of persons - place profit over real persons, while the United States Government fails to prevent or provide recompense for much of the harm done to real persons. IBM's Hollerith machines are the darkest examples, but other large corporations today are of the same ilk though different shades of gray. We the people are thoroughly tired in body but fired up in spirit from being sold out by you to your other cronies in the 1%. These Internet-death Bills are an attempt by the power elite and the 1% to gain control of we the people's freedoms and ability to organize our protests. That makes this sort of Bill unconstitutional on fundamental grounds by massive violations of the First Amendment.
The more you suppress us, the more we will rise up and in greater numbers, as has happened in New York City, Oakland, San Diego, Nashville, Cleveland throughout the month of October 2011, and virtually every city with an Occupy assembly that has been unconstitutionally raided by Mayor's or Governor's orders (almost always members of the 1%). This Internet-death Bill is perceived by many as an act of class warfare and makes the USA one step further along the path to full dictatorship where the government has absolute control over the people. I would have to agree with them. It would be an act of war on we the people committed by those who want to pass such a bill and the large corporations and their owners who would benefit from it and hope to gain greater immunity from we the people whom they oppress.
Destroying the middle class, taking away the American dream for almost everyone, allowing the illegal foreclosure on our homes, and supporting the interests of the power and corporate elite of which you are an integral part are all things that you in government have allowed or have done to we the people. We nevertheless have compassion for you as fellow human beings, and we ask that you show more compassion for us.
On top of that, you are now trying to sneak a wolf into law and remove our freedom of speech through the removal of the Internet as we know it by dressing the Bill in the sheep's clothing of anti-piracy agenda. At some point, congresspersons of the USA, it might be wise advice that you contemplate the old saying that one's greatest and most feared enemy is he whom you've left with nothing left to lose.
Sincerely, Mark V Reid (I am non-anonymous, I am someone, I am an instance of the 99%)
P.S. We the people gained the courage to awake to reality as it really is. These statements in this letter to you that I have made are no longer "conspiracy theory." The ones conspiring are you and your wealthy friends.
*I realize there are some of you in congress who are actually representatives of we the people and not primarily representing wealthy corporations. This letter is not to you, but it is in support of you as you are on the side of sociopolitical justice, economic equity, and we the people. Unfortunately, that number is probably smaller than most realize, but you are greatly admired and appreciated by the people. And unfortunately, nearly everyone in congress receives a large portion, usually the majority, of their funding by the 1%. To other 99%ers, if you find this letter informative, please share it with a friend.
HAHAHh occupy wall street is SUCH a joke. This is the MOST POORLY written "manifesto" i've ever read. What do you guys actually WANT? Who are THEY?! but the more important question is WHO ARE YOU?? What have YOU done to make yourself exempt from such pointed vitriol. YOU did not seek higher education and now can't find a job. YOU are not affecting any of the changes you want by sitting in a fetid slum in NYC YOU are SPOILED, INSOLENT but WORSE OF ALL completely IGNORANT to the facts, BLIND to the complexities of realities (outsourcing for example is a mechanism of the market wage economy... if you're not into it, then you're challenging not "greed" but capitalism, thus you should move to a socialist welfare state)
See? I too can make blanket statements...
I am a college senior, I came from an immigrant family and I struggled my whole life for a better future for myself, working jobs since I was 16 years old, putting myself through school. I consider myself a liberal, socially and fiscally. I will also be making enough at my first job post-graduation to put myself in the "1%" -- I will be paying close to 40% of my income in taxes even though I will be living abroad (thus enjoying NONE of the benefits of taxes). Seriously stop complaining, go home, take a shower, and get a job or at least try.
Wow Yeiki! Congratulations! I hope that works out well for you. You are a true Cinderella story. Unfortunately, your story assuming it is even true is a fairy tale. The majority of people graduating from college today have very large debts as student loans and low salaries, high expenses and costs for basic essentials such that they cannot afford housing, not even an apartment. You worked jobs since you were 16? Oooo So impressive. I built my first deck when I was 13 oooo, big deal, but you probably lived with your parents. Or maybe you've been magic since you were a teenager. There may not be anything wrong with being in the 1% per se. But many are there through fraud, and most have benefited greatly through devious methods that our current system allows. Sure you can make "blanket" statements or whatever you call them. The issue is not how general or specific they are. The issue is the veracity of the statements. If you think OWS is a joke, that's your view... no biggie. Best advice is to get informed. How is the Declaration (Manifesto?) poorly written? If you are comparing this Declaration as if it is a Manifesto to all the Manifestos you've read, assuming you have read some, it will certainly be the shortest of them, but to be the most poorly written, you would have to read very few and be selective at that. We want change. The current system is broken. In the past couple decades, the relative income to cost income of the top 1% has nearly quadrupled, while for most everyone else it has decreased. The majority of politicians are from the 1%, elected by the 1%, and act in the interests of the 1%. And the 1% now has about half the wealth. If that whole set of facts is not from capitalism that is from favoritism. That is not right, and it is not because of mere capitalism. It is because of the influence of the top 1%'s influence on the government. You are grossly misinformed and your claims and attitude show that you are far more ignorant of the issues involved in the OWS movement and what it opposes than you can comment on with any insight. It's funny you say OWS is a joke, as it is a worldwide movement. And you know what Yeiki? When you work abroad making $373,000 a year or more as you claim, you may be able to actively participate (or oppose) OWS in an assembly near you, as it has reached all 7 continents and thousands of cities. So, whether one agrees with it or disagrees it, one is not on the same real planet that the rest of are on if one thinks it is a joke. Perhaps that is because you really are living a fairy tale.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Smqh7EemSXY
http://knockknockrevolution.tumblr.com/post/11573860774/why-occupy-wall-street-flyers
flyers made by students to help non occupiers about why they should, please support us!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9ogUcgVtNc&list=HL1319941833&feature=mh_lolz
Please Watch Clip !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9ogUcgVtNc&list=HL1319941833&feature=mh_lolz
Please Watch Clip !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9ogUcgVtNc&list=HL1319941833&feature=mh_lolz
Please Watch Clip !!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9ogUcgVtNc&list=HL1319941833&feature=mh_lolz
Please Watch Clip !!!
This is awesome! I'd like to also submit this, too for consideration. I received a copy of it and if you haven't seen it yet, it's pretty amazing, I think. Please read it if you would? http://pastebin.com/gm2UV08D
Whittle these down to the issues as pertaining to the banking, housing, insurance, and securities industries, and the mother of all the perps, the federal government.
Complaining about everything under the sun will take us nowhere.
For example, we may not LIKE Exxon, Walmart, Monsanto, or the greedy bartender down the street who cut off our tab, but these business/companies did not crash the economy.
http://algoxy.com/ows/strategyofamerica.html this is a way we could peacefully demand change anyone who wants to affect true Change out of OWS need to Read this!!!
NO FED????....
First official release from OWS.....on reddit. Gimme a break. lol
send more messages to Europe, our media diminishes the importance of your
what corporation killed innocent victims overseas?
Gee......... lets just take Vietnam for starters. Are you for real?? Why don't you move overseas
That was a non answer. Name the corporations.
a lot of this is just wrong. They didn't take money from you. There isn't a pie of money and the rich have most of it... money is created... it actually comes out of nowhere! Learn about that. Also, this crap about brokers killing animals? what? How about: sold our privacy as a commodity? I havent seent that on a commodities exchange...have you? You also don't understand that yes, we have the right to education, but if you flood it with public money, the quality of education goes down...sorry. you lose on basically ALL of these.
Unfortunately most of these ows people don't really have a clue about economics or society in general. They seem to be spewing the crap they learned in school from agenda driven teachers (read anti capitalism) and they think that slogans will define the problem and solve it as well.
So, my question is are you holding politians from both sides of the isle responsible? Both sides have proven to be corrupt and unable to follow through the actual dictates of the government. Second question is why do you expect to get through school with no cost? You are provided a free education until college. College isn't a personal right. I went to college and have to pay my own way. Third, if you tax the rich, how long will it be until the government whips through that money through mismanagement of the funds and turns to the middle class to make up the difference? No one said life was fair. Our government is charged with providing us with life, liberty and the "pursuit" of happiness. happiness in and of itself is never guaranteed. We make our own happiness. The government was never charged with making sure the playing field was leveled. And no... I'm not rich...
Agree. Again these protestors are no different from the ones i knew back in the sixties. The ones today are better equipped with their iPads and iPhones etc. but still spout the same nonsense as the radicals did back in the day. Seems like many are more willing to blame someone or something rather than take personal responsibility for their own lives. You are right , life isn't fair and neither government nor protestors can make it so.
So, my question is are you holding politians from both sides of the isle responsible? Both sides have proven to be corrupt and unable to follow through the actual dictates of the government. Second question is why do you expect to get through school with no cost? You are provided a free education until college. College isn't a personal right. I went to college and have to pay my own way. Third, if you tax the rich, how long will it be until the government whips through that money through mismanagement of the funds and turns to the middle class to make up the difference? No one said life was fair. Our government is charged with providing us with life, liberty and the "pursuit" of happiness. happiness in and of itself is never guaranteed. We make our own happiness. The government was never charged with making sure the playing field was leveled. And no... I'm not rich...
So, my question is are you holding politians from both sides of the isle responsible? Both sides have proven to be corrupt and unable to follow through the actual dictates of the government. Second question is why do you expect to get through school with no cost? You are provided a free education until college. College isn't a personal right. I went to college and have to pay my own way. Third, if you tax the rich, how long will it be until the government whips through that money through mismanagement of the funds and turns to the middle class to make up the difference? No one said life was fair. Our government is charged with providing us with life, liberty and the "pursuit" of happiness. happiness in and of itself is never guaranteed. We make our own happiness. The government was never charged with making sure the playing field was leveled. And no... I'm not rich...
Colonialism? Um no - we aren't invading other nations and installing colonies of civilians.
Dear Occupy Wall Street, I am a Ph.D. student and have studied the topic for some time. Taking Money out of politics is actually very simple. Money becomes a problem in any government when power is concentrated on X number of individuals. The fewer individuals, the more effect money has. The more individuals the less effect money has. Our government is a representative democracy. The members of congress are supposed to represent the people. However, with representative democracy comes political parties. These parties are formed along general guidelines and secure spots in congress to legislate according to the guidelines. Parties help party members become elected, and require monetary resources. These resources are given by corporations that benefit from the party’s guidelines. Regardless of what an individual representative may believe, at times they are required to fall in line with the party’s guidelines. This is because if they don’t then the party may not help them get reelected next term. Essentially then, this country’s legislative power is concentrated in two entities, the republican and democratic parties.
The solution is a form of direct democracy. This is where every citizen of a country votes on legislation, no representatives. This virtually removes the connection between money and politics, since every person has the power. In order to influence votes in a direct democracy, corporations would have to buy off a majority of the citizens, which becomes improbable. In the past direct democracy was impossible due to logistics. However with the internet, there have been movements to implement forms of direct democracy. Switzerland is one example. However, for this to occur in the US a revolution becomes necessary.
There is a compromise. In Hungary there is a political party called “The Party of Internet Democracy.” This party has no political guidelines. Instead they have a very interesting system. Once you register to the party you can vote on any legislation on their website. Those that are from this party in Congress do not vote on their own; they vote according to the proportion voted on the website. For example, if the party had 10 seats, and on the website the vote by regular people who signed up on the website was split 60%-40% on a particular piece of legislation, then the elected party members vote 6-4 on that legislation. This party has been functioning since 2004 and Canada has just created their own version of this party. This system actually makes the representatives represent the people.
I believe that power should be returned once again to the people. Not political parties, not representatives. If someone sees this who has the know-how to begin a political movement, please look into this.
Won't work and would subject the country to more problems than we have now. Giving every citizen the right to vote on every piece of legislation would be totally unworkable just in the logistics of it. Also, do you really want to trust uneducated and uninformed citizens to rule on laws? Talk about corruption.
my three demands 1] reinstate glass/stegal law 2] constitional amendment stating corporations are not people 3] break up big banks , just as president TR broke up the trusts and railroad monpoly in 1900-1904 and the gov. broke up bell telephone into seven baby bells in the 60's and 70's , to big to fail without destroying the U.S. econnomy ,then TOO BIG TO EXIST !!! SIGN ME SPARTACUS n.d.g.
my three demands 1] reinstate glass/stegal law 2] constitional amendment stating corporations are not people 3] break up big banks , just as president TR broke up the trusts and railroad monpoly in 1900-1904 and the gov. broke up bell telephone into seven baby bells in the 60's and 70's , to big to fail without destroying the U.S. econnomy ,then TOO BIG TO EXIST !!! SIGN ME SPARTACUS n.d.g.
excellent, another good bit to add to the wiki.
http://occupythiswiki.org/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.followthemoney.org/?gclid=CMbY87bB-qsCFUPt7Qod9HE8mQ
http://maplight.org/us-congress/guide/data/money?9gtype=search&9gkw=list%20of%20campaign%20donations&9gad=6213192521.1&9gag=1786513361&gclid=CP61oYbB-qsCFQFZ7AodcTF0jw
http://www.opensecrets.org/
http://occupywallst.org/forum/non-violence-evolution-by-paradigm-shift/
Too bad the commission of wanton and gratuitous acts of douchebaggery is not crime. Otherwise all of you would get the death penalty.
Sticking to two or three points at most and put simply and clearly is best so that everyone can easily understand. Don't try to be too detailed, that can come later. It only takes two or three demands anyway to fix a plethora of other dysfunctions. 1. Implement public campaign financing. This is crucial and it would have the support of all political persuasions. It would make Citizen's United moot and the paid lobbyists. Politicians' actions would then be driven by their constituents instead of their corporate sugar daddies. 2. Implement a tax on dirty energy starting at a small percentage, and increasing by small percentages for about 3 years, then raising by a large percentage. This would eventually make it prohibitive to pollute but it would give industry and individuals enough time to retool to cleaner energies. It would put us on the path to cleaner air and water and a lower trajectory of CO2 emissions. And possibly this could set a trend that the world would follow, which is also important to lowering emissions. 3. Re-introduce the Glass Steagall Act: Proper banking needs to be separated from gambling with people's money. This movement is currently poised in a very good position with the growing popularity of the OWS movement. However many people are also hesitant to join in, because they don't know what demands the movement wishes to make. We may only have a very small window so simplicity is key. We need to hit the root of the problem and then many other problems will vanish. We can tackle other issues more easily if these three demands would be fulfilled. They would allow us to get the most bang for our effort's buck.
I agree with all stated here, and appreciate those who are putting so much energy into this movement. The economic injustices taking place are clearly horrific and must be stopped, and I find the statements OWS has made regarding economics clear, thorough, detailed, and on point.
However, the same system, the same billionaires, the same corporations, have also created a system where our very bloodstreams, lungs, organs, systems, cells, are cluttered with chemicals that the human body has not evolved to deal with. They have, literally, occupied our bodies. That is a serious grievance, and demand, that I haven't heard mentioned at all in the media when covering the rising Occupy Movements, and when it's covered by OWS's own writings, it seems that the coverage is minimal.
I agree that climate change is a threat to all life and we absolutely must stop putting so much carbon in the atmosphere, yet often the discussion of environmental issues begins and ends with climate change - I would like to expand it to include pollution of water, air, soil, our bodies.
It's written here - "They continue to block alternate forms of energy to keep us dependent on oil." Yes - and they also keep us dependent on coal, nuclear, and gas which has for some outlandish reason the meme "natural" attached to it - when gas often comes from fracking, which is incredibly toxic and a very close to home issue for NY right now - and a classic example of the disconnect from humanity that is greed at its worst - the gas companies know they are destroying lives, do not care, and refuse responsibility.
This may be a chance to make real changes in this world - it is a great opportunity for the need for truly renewable energy to be given a fair chance. Environmental and economic justice equally affect all in the 99%, let's unite that message. I can help with research and writing if needed.
Sandra Steingraber speaks about this far more eloquently than I - http://www.livingdownstream.com/ (Living Downstream is the film - Walking Upstream is the movement!)
"...the same billionaires, the same corporations, have also created a system where our very bloodstreams, lungs, organs, systems, cells, are cluttered with chemicals that the human body has not evolved to deal with." Are you a doctor or biochemist? How do you support that statement?
"I agree that climate change is a threat to all life and we absolutely must stop putting so much carbon in the atmosphere,..." Again how do you support that statement? Here's a book for you to read. It might open your eyes, if your mind is open too: Unstoppable Global Warming (every 1,500 years) by S.Fred Singer and Dennis Avery .
Everybody says there is this RACE problem. Everybody says this RACE problem will be solved when the third world pours into EVERY white country and ONLY into white countries.
The Netherlands and Belgium are just as crowded as Japan or Taiwan, but nobody says Japan or Taiwan will solve this RACE problem by bringing in millions of third worlders and quote assimilating unquote with them.
Everybody says the final solution to this RACE problem is for EVERY white country and ONLY white countries to “assimilate,” i.e., intermarry, with all those non-whites.
What if I said there was this RACE problem and this RACE problem would be solved only if hundreds of millions of non-blacks were brought into EVERY black country and ONLY into black countries?
How long would it take anyone to realize I’m not talking about a RACE problem. I am talking about the final solution to the BLACK problem?
And how long would it take any sane black man to notice this and what kind of psycho black man wouldn’t object to this?
But if I tell that obvious truth about the ongoing program of genocide against my race, the white race, Liberals and respectable conservatives agree that I am a naziwhowantstokillsixmillionjews.
They say they are anti-racist. What they are is anti-white.
Anti-racist is a code word for anti-white.
Great, you have a list of grievances. What are you gonna do about them? I Still don't see a plan. What the hell is the point of all this foolish blathering? What in gods name do you hope to accomplish by loud chanting in front of wall st. and shooting pictures of yourselves dancing on the bull? LMFAO at that one.
Someone in this crowd of human beings has to have an imagination. Come up with a proposed solution for god's sake.
Unfortunately they don't really have a workable solution.
Lobby to address Congress with this.
ok THIS has to be the absolute MOST ridiculous thing I've EVER read!!! seriously .. 1. who are "they"? the big bad corporations?? that people of the "occupation" are STILL FUNDING WITH THEIR MONEY? 2. Quit all your fucking CRYING and get a JOB! 3. Lets welcome communism with open arms!!!! 4. "occupation" means to take over.. which in fact is an act of war.. so whatever all this "peaceful" bullshit is about you are committing an act of war.. and will be the FIRST ones crying when the Government defends itself with military use.. think I'm kidding? They are ALREADY positioning military units outside New York and Washington D.C. further I for one will NOT agree to bailing YOU out of situations that YOU got yourselves into ..
This group of merry administrations including the Clinton Adm. have been reeking havoc all across the globe to dominate and take the oil. They do deserve scrutiny and prosecution. This goes back to when they changed the gold standard with Nixon in '71. We have got to get this country back on the right and righteous track afterall, we bombed Japan for wanting to take over the world...did Hitler in too. Why are we different? I am so tired of all of this murder for oil.
Did you give up your car? your Computer? Do you live in a hut? Do you hunt to provide food for yourself? do wear clothes that are oil free? Seriously you wouldn't want to abolish oil in any way shape or form because most of what you use in your everyday life is in some way dependent on oil. Oil is the engine that drives economies and provides so much of what people use in their everyday lives.
ok THIS has to be the absolute MOST ridiculous thing I've EVER read!!! seriously .. 1. who are "they"? the big bad corporations?? that people of the "occupation" are STILL FUNDING WITH THEIR MONEY? 2. Quit all your fucking CRYING and get a JOB! 3. Lets welcome communism with open arms!!!! 4. "occupation" means to take over.. which in fact is an act of war.. so whatever all this "peaceful" bullshit is about you are committing an act of war.. and will be the FIRST ones crying when the Government defends itself with military use.. think I'm kidding? They are ALREADY positioning military units outside New York and Washington D.C. further I for one will NOT agree to bailing YOU out of situations that YOU got yourselves into ..
So can this instead by more generally summarized into saying that our grievances are with a political system that has allowed the entire political system to be corrupted with corporate greed?
Every system is perfectly aligned for the results that it gets. Add to the list, creating a permanent underclass through poorly funding public pre K to 12 education. Our 180 day school year is one of the shortest of any industrialized nation. Line up nations by the number of days in their school year and there is almost perfect alignment with their levels of achievment in reading, math, and science. We are in the teens to low 20's right where the comparitive length of our school year falls. Stop bashing teachers!!!
Every system is perfectly aligned for the results that it gets. Add to the list, creating a permanent underclass through poorly funding public pre K to 12 education. Our 180 day school year is one of the shortest of any industrialized nation. Line up nations by the number of days in their school year and there is almost perfect alignment with their levels of achievment in reading, math, and science. We are in the teens to low 20's right where the comparitive length of our school year falls. Stop bashing teachers!!!
Until we all enter a mature consideration of self understanding of reality itself , our individual patterns and conditions, and become responsible for our reactions and reacuring patterns we won't be able to transcend our egoic action (me me me iii self self self) to create a global cooperative order based on prior unity of human kind.
not two is peace by Adi Da Samraj
good thinking keep it non violent guys because it has always worked from gandhi to martin luther jr to nelson mandela
All this seems to be is a litany of gripes, some profound and some trivial, that confront our society.
Trying to advance all these causes my entice certain fringe groups to subscribe to the cause, but it does do at the cost of diluting a powerful main message. You've built your tower to the heavens, but now decided to speak in a thousand voices so no one voice can be heard.
If OWS can put a spotlight on the gap between the rich and poor, if it can champion economic justice and inspire the most resourceful and creative nation on earth to find mechanisms to address these issues, it will have changed the course of our society for the better. Isn't that an appropriate goal in and of itself?
Please explain what "economic justice" is. Do you mean everyone gets the same money? The same wage? Please explain.
Unless you have lived through any of these issues, you should not have a voice as we 99% have been ignored as if we have none. We have been stomped on, told you have no rights and biased. Begone peon, you no longer have a voice. Now, add approximately 30 years without a voice and then you may speak. You will then have empathy.
With this list of grievances you are not representing the 99%...If you want to represent the real 99% go out into the communities that can't and don't have the ability or time to participate in frivolous "occupations" of Wall Street...Ask REAL Americans what their grievances are...If YOU really want to make a difference, find out what the real 99% wants
That would be too much work, go against what they were taught/brainwashed in their education and would wash away their childish delusions. Plus it would scare the crap out of them.
Just wondering WHO will pay for everything that you want free?
Doesn't matter to them. Economic justice right? Someone else must pay. Like the rich that they seem to hate so much. Here is a question for OWS people, How many poor people created a job for someone else today? see how that works?
Cisco, you seem to have a chip on your shoulder. Why don't you just keep bullying those less fortunate. however, as many know, those who bully have low self-esteem.
Someone might be interested in Hermain Cain's ideas. http://infrequentrant.blogspot.com/2011/10/occupy-wall-street-protesters-meet.html
Why is it the fault of corporations? Don't individuals do all those same acts and aren't coporations just made up of individuals?
ssh, don't spoil their delusions.
As someone on the outside of the movement who has huge problems with the corruption between big business and our government, this list completely sours me on your particular movement. This giant list of "facts" is so incredibly nonspecific that it comes off as simply noise. The message has become so diluted by special interests that I fail to see a real goal in all of this rhetoric.
To me, this demonstrates a discouraging lack of focus and purpose.
http://stephancom.tumblr.com/post/11709496545/my-unofficial-version-of-the-occupy-wall-street
How about no health care unless you have big $$ to either afford insurance or pay the hefty medical fees out of pocket? Masses of people are DYING every day because they cannot afford health care!
How about no health care unless you have big $$ to either afford insurance or pay the hefty medical fees out of pocket? Masses of people are DYING every day because they cannot afford health care!
The baks got their bailout- I think one of our demands should be the middle/lower class bailout. Many middle class people are suffering w/ student loan debt. Can we please make one of the demands relief from private (commercial) student loans (we should be allowed to ischarge them). Many of us are drowning in student loan debt. PRIVATE student loans are a big problem- they are offered at high interest rates, and they have a lot of fees. Predatory lenders lent out millions of dollars several years ago- and they were poorly regulated.
Christy "Can we please make one of the demands relief from private (commercial) student loans (we should be allowed to ischarge them)."
So basically you are saying that someone should just give you money to get your education for free or whatever else you want. Here's an idea Christy, please send me $500 tomorrow so I can pay for my heating bill. Fair enough right?
There is a human rights issue here. Our educational system has been turned into a commodity by the banks. This is how it works: When a student is in college, they are only allowed to borrow a certain amount of Stafford (govt) Loans. They often have no choice but to borrow Private (commercial) student loans to pay their tuition. That is where the nightmare begins.
Private (commercial) lenders have been ripping off students for years. They were lending at rates as high as 8 to 12%. THESE ARE PRIVATE LOANS- NOT STAFFORD. Private lenders are corporate GIANTS. These loans have now ballooned. Due to the current job prospects, many of us are not able to pay off these loans- regardless of what we majored in. I know someone that committed suicide due to his private student loan debt- he was 45 years old. Forcing people to pay for something that they can no longer afford is cruel. It is a human rights issue.
The OWS Movement is wonderful.. Take a look at Fairsharetaxes.org That's an website I developed pointing out the shameful fact that the total tax rates (all taxes) for minimum wage workers are more than 3-fold higher than billionaires pay on their investment gains. See the site for spreadsheets, other details and proposed fair tax system ... that would slash middle class and working poor taxes, have the wealthy pay their fair share, fund education, healthcare, etc, and make the economy flourish for all!
http://fairsharetaxes.org
replace they with we. and then you might be onto a solution. it's one damn boat folks.
p.s. siri made me say it !
This is a list of 10 members of the "THEY"
AIG
Cargill
Chevron
Constellation Energy
CNPC
Dole
GE
Imperial Sugar
Phillip Morris
Roche
http://multinationalmonitor.org/mm2008/112008/weissman.html
This is a list of the THEY from 2008
http://multinationalmonitor.org/mm2008/112008/weissman.html
Lets END THE FEDERAL RESERVE - it helped cause the recession and is made up of 1/3 of the banks in America and they control our taxes and all the money in the US govt., we need to add this to the clause and get back our government.
They have bought our government and taken our tax dollars hostage.
Lets stop political funding for candidates and buy them from the people
the federal reserve is the one that is stealing money from us, and they helped cause the 2008 financial crisis when they didn't loan money to the lehman brothers when they went bankrupt, but lent money to banks in other countries instead
Are the other three docs mentioned nearing distribution? #occupyflint needs
"To all communities that take action and form groups in the spirit of direct democracy, we offer support, documentation, and all of the resources at our disposal" Someone could tell me where can I find these documentation/support that they talked about? I'm really interested! thanks!
While the overarching issue is to diminish the manipulation of our local, state and national legislative process by moneyed special interests, I think that one of the main points of the movement is not enumerated in this list, which is the process: direct democracy as seen in the OWS "consensus" video.The significant power of the Occupy US movement will be through coalescing local grassroots participation in true democratic processes that can build up to the national level. The other main point I like is the "Occupy" part of the movement, because it is holding the physical space for the purely democratic, citizens' dialogue to take place. We are learning once again how to become engaged in the political process in ways that everyone feels empowered. It is so exhilarating! Bill Van Arsdale, Occupy Naples
I’M OUTRAGED! While polling finds the overwhelming majority of Americans have been screaming to free our elections from corporate control, for a national clean-green jobs plan, Medicare for All, an end to our many wars plus more, the White House develops a website for Obama to personally address petitions with more than 5000 signatures: https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/Petitions#!/petitions. Look at the list of petitions and the number of signatures -- grossly inadequate.
Does OWS have a petition they would like to create and then email it to the White House? Something about actions speak louder than spin. Or maybe the OWS Declaration.
This declaration was allegedly open and organic, but none of the suggested additions have been made. Including:
They have profited off of the creation of an underclass of workers that is denied the same citizenship and personhood a corporation gets, deported workers they didn't like, and created an industry around deportations and the detention of undocumented workers.*
They have sponsored the mass incarceration of poor people, mostly Black and Brown, to silence protest movements, break communities, and then used this incarceration to profit off of a privatizing prison system and prison labor.
They have sponsored a rape culture through misogynistic and racist media, promoting an image that no means yes and sexual violence, homophobia, and the most crass forms of masculinity are acceptable.
They have broken up working class communities through gentrification, in which they see urban land as profit not a place to live and thrive, and in which they allow the the upper middle class the only means to choose where they can live.
They have held entire nations in debt after exploiting their resources and sponsoring corrupt dictatorships, then used that debt to enforce the underdevelopment of these countries' social services, industries and the well being of their people and land, creating a form of neo-colonialism.
Are you a Marxist?
This was not unanimously voted on. It was consensed to. If it had been a vote, I would have voted no. Since it was a consensus, I didn't object. Its omission of prisons, deportations and gentrification were especially problematic even though they had been raised to the sub-committee.
NO WAR
you're starting to lose some people with this long list. Keep It simple stupid. This list has co-optation written all over it.
How about one to the government that details their complicity in allowing and enabling all of the above? All three branches and both parties and many individuals hold responsibility for actions and inaction that has given away the control of our government to the 1%.
NOW HEAR THIS
Let this be the theme song to these happenings: Corporate Tall by VOLTFACE. Suits the bill quite perfectly!!! I found it on itunes and Voltface.com
Why don't "we the people" organize a national sick day...we all call in sick to work the same day and just spend the day at home...we dont go out and buy products...we just stay at home to show how "sick" we are of this and we want change...Then you still get your days pay too!!!
Why don't "we the people" organize a national sick day...we all call in sick to work the same day and just spend the day at home...we dont go out and buy products...we just stay at home to show how "sick" we are of this and we want change...Then you still get your days pay too!!!
Businessmen padding their paunches, people desperate in the street, the economy slowly dissolving, like a rotten peach. Yet we must survive, my sisters & brothers, so let us come close, as close as our wounded souls are able, breathe deeply though the sky’s not clear, share what poor food is left: with each other is our freedom, from each other is our strength. embryos need warmth & shadow. Only if we cultivate each other will we harvest.
I truly believe if those demands got passed the entire world would be a better place.
But its not going to be easy. Wall street own the political system and the media and they will fight back hard. Just know everyone you fighting for freedom and justice for the people.
Go to www.occupytheboard.org for a list of SOME..not all!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-SKw2j3XOY0
lol i almost forgot about this. whoever bumped it back up, thank you.
Chris Hedges is your man, he is the guy you need in front of the cameras.
The above crimes have certainly been committed by some corporations, and some have certainly bribed politicians to pass laws and apply regulations in their favor. But it is not true that all corporations are guilty. Some are forces for progress. Why condemn the whole lot of them?
I have made a blog about the same type of issues that Occupy wall street is about .. plz check it out ! - http://www-theworld.blogspot.com/ ... thanks guys
The problem as I see it with these declarations, unless they have very good proof on these allegations, then it is almost a fruitless pursuit. Even if they do, American courts tend to throw it all out of court if they do not like it and it has nothing to do with Justice, that very word Justice has been corrupted. Personally I do not disagree with any of this, in fact I could add to this list, just pessimistic and feel it must eventually become violent, because our system has probably become totally corrupt, it has not been for and by the people for a long time now. Our President starts wars whenever he feels like it and the Congress only talks about it. If we need a change, then they discuss it behind closed doors, why consult with the American people? Everything is top secret, when they make the law it was made in advance by somebody who really does not represent America or it's people. Corporations give the money to the people who are behind those closed doors making decisions on our behalf, because we are too stupid to understand the implications. There are never any investigations when our leaders break the Constitution and go off and do things that are obviously against the law. When there are Investigations, they are like cover ups, nobody ever follows the money trail which is the first thing that should be done, they will just say, it's not important.
“PUT BACK THE MONEY. Transfer back, with interest, all public-source money given to private financial organizations whose demise was caused by irresponsible management and/or would have been prevented by banking regulations that were repealed or weakened anytime after 1933 and which must now be restored.”
Is something like this on any demands list yet? Seems pretty fundamental.
Reply
“PUT BACK THE MONEY. Transfer back, with interest, all public-source money given to private financial organizations whose demise was caused by irresponsible management and/or would have been prevented by banking regulations that were repealed or weakened anytime after 1933 and which must now be restored.”
Is something like this on any demands list yet? Seems pretty fundamental.
Reply
Oh jesus... dont turn this into a freaking hippie wish list. THIS MOVEMENT WILL ONLY WORK IF YOU FOCUS ON THE KEY ISSUES.
-corrupt banking sector, needs regulation and de monopolization. -get the lobbying and bribe money out of washington -address how the system encourages wealth hoarding and encourages short term profits over long term success, through taxation and regulating derivitives markets
Complaining about animal testing etc is going to make us fade into obscurity.
Im willing to share my thoughts and time with anyone who wants it... my email is kevinsdigitalbox@gmail.com
Words spoken by a member of LONG BEACH UNPLUGGED presented over a megaphone at OCCUPY LONG BEACH Sun. Oct. 11, 2011...
The corporate media seems to ask the questions, “What is occupy wall street?”, and “Why are all those people there?”. They say we have no focus, that this is just a way for guys to pick up girls, or it's something to do instead of looking for work. This movement “Occupy Wall Street” has been called by America's so called news fake, self-serving, smelly, pot-smoking, lazy, anti-American, and too many slanderous names to mention, in order to make this good movement look inconsequential.
But we know its purpose. And with one voice, we will be heard, and the truth will win out.
So, why are we here? What is our purpose? And why are we not heard? We are not heard because our government has been bought and paid for by too-big-to-fail transnational monopolies and corporations and because of this social injustice has run rampant in this country.
In 1979, Jimmy Carter ran against Ronald Reagan. Do you know how much money they both had to raise in the way of federal office campaign fund-raising? The answer is zero dollars. We used to make a check on our tax forms if we wanted to donate money for the election. That money was then split equally between the candidates. Now, only thirty years later, Republicans and Democrats will be raising more than one billion dollars each through federal office fund-raising, to buy ads on TV, radio, on the Internet, bumper stickers, T-shirts, whatever. Thirty years ago, there were thirty-seven lobbyists in Washington. Now there are more than thirty-seven thousand.
Today’s corporate monopolies have huge sources of money because they are too big to fail. Some of which actually have more money then our government, (yes it's our government not "the" government). They have been able to buy our politicians to grant tax evasion, hide ethics violations covering up things like oil spills, accidents, faulty bookkeeping, and inactive ingredients and other iniquities to numerous to mention in pursuit of profit. They donate large sums of money to politicians, who are responsible for regulating them. In today’s America there are too many monopolies which destroy competition and create a football game with out referees. There are now about 3 health care insurance companies, 4 food companies, 5 oil companies, 6 banks, 3 television conglomerates, 4 publishing companies, and 3 radio enterprises that control almost all the economy. Our military is the largest group of anything in the world, and it is driven by oil. They know they can’t sell their product to people who own Priuses and Honda Fits. They can sell their product with the use of tanks, rockets, air craft carriers, and all weaponry which now is America's number one export as we continue our "can't kill our way out" wars. This marriage is unholy. They have the money, and money buys power and elections, money always wins. Ninety-four percent of all elections are won by the person with the most money.
We must take the money out of Washington. Politicians should get one salary, and campaign finance reform should make sure that that is the only thing they get. If Sally runs against Bob, Sally gets five dollars, and Bob gets five dollars. If more people are in the race it is equally divided. No person, corporation or business entity of any type, domestic or foreign, should be allowed to contribute money directly or indirectly to any candidate for federal office, or to contribute money on behalf of, or oppose to, any type of campaign for federal office, under this campaign finance law. If they are caught having a breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc. fund raiser, they are immediately stripped of their position. If they are caught taking money under or over the table from any persons to use in their campaign both are impeached and or arrested. Look at it this way: If you hire someone to wash your windows for a hundred dollars, and someone from across the street gives your window washer a million dollars to NOT wash your windows, will you get your windows washed? This is something both Tea Party and burning-heart liberals can get behind, and it can unite us all.
Please go to the site GetMoneyOut.com. Sign it. Tell your friends congressman, your senators, and the President, to get the money out of Washington. We need true campaign finance reform. If we work for this, and it gets done, the people of the United States will again be heard, and our vote will count, money will not. All our other grievances that we have should then follow suit.
Thank you.
Member; LONG BEACH UNPLUGGED
This list seems to me like "The Declaration of Independence" with the exception that those clear messages were directed towards the attention of a King who happened to have a name. If "you" want to be effective, try to be clear and transparent in "your" statements.
If "they" are everybody" and "nobody" at the same time, how are "you" going to get rid of "them"?...
Am I a 'they', or a 'we'? I get so confused.
https://sites.google.com/site/the99percentdeclaration/
No entire nation could be this stupid. It is a powerful trance that allows the entire country to allow incredible crimes all on record. All the bribes are on record but they call the bribes "donations and contributions".Strauss-Kahn was allowed to rape the black maid. Not one person but me has recognized allowing the privileged to rape an average person, right in front of the entire country that is in such a deep trance they think nothing of it. While 16,000,000 children starve from the mortgage meltdown crime by all the bankers and the rating company people who got their fees from the mortgage rating fraud. They arrest people walking on the bridge but the Strauss-Kahn rape is protected by the government who released Strauss-Kahn while we fools just watch.
We are in a bottomless pit of irrational, self destructive, psychotic behavior. There is an arrogance in America rather not admit to stupidity of electing an outright crime family. The primary crime is bribes and kickbacks. But obstructing justice by specific police men in Bridgeport and the state police in CT for refusing to act in accordance with the law. Why any cop would refuse to solve the 911 attack by the Bush conspiracy is taking the risk of being prosecuted for treason. The cops who decide they must solve 911 by prosecuting Bush will be bigger heroes than George Washington was.
To allow the Bush 911 attack and his lies to go to war and the mortgage meltdown means Americans are in a trance.We must demand justice for all this. To get justice requires electing a new 3rd party. The Democrat Republican CRIME FAMILY isn't going to arrest themselves.
Everything in that list is made possible by the government that lets them do it. Washington is to be blamed. It is their duty to prevent these things. That is why they are there and they have failed. I still dont understand why it is OWS instead of occupy washington. There is no moral equivalency between a fradulent banker and the government that lets him commit that fraud. One solely exists to prevent such frauds and is more morally culpable.
I am not a member of Occupy Wall Street in the sense that I am not camping out in the park. I have been down there, and seen what is going on, but I am not yet a believer. Don't misunderstand: I believe that the influence that Wall Street wields over our political process MUST change, and change soon if our democracy has any hope of survival. This protest and the "organization" that is sponsoring it is not yet that change. I think that the movement needs to focus its energy on fixed point and an achievable set of goals. If the issue driving this is, "Wall Street has too much power" (and I think it is and does) than our goal is clear: campaign finance reform. I think that this protest and the others going on around the country should be the first step in a "March on Washington" type demonstration for campaign finance reform. The organizers of this demonstration and those of the others going on around the country should focus on putting together a singular protest on a singular date on the National Mall. Can you imagine the power of 100,000 or 200,000 or half a million people, standing on the Mall in Washington, and demanding a reform to political spending laws? What clearer target do we need?
I'm in...
This is a start. But, "people of the world unite" isn't going to get the job done. If you want to change the status quo, you must elect representatives who don't support the status quo. Some OWS participants have forsworn a political settlement. But, it's legislation and government regulation (or the lack thereof) that enables Wall Street and all of its corrupt practices. People in the street brings attention to the problem. It's what happens after those folks return home, however, that matters most.
http://www.ustream.tv/occupytogether
In solidarity with Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Colleges, #occupytogether is broadcasting the Occupy Movement on Ustream: http://bit.ly/mPWmRw. Any city or college that wishes to join the movement can contact events@ustream.tv for an official and premium ad-free account.
A good list that should rally support. "They" should not be labeled corporations, but "multinational corporations" and you omitted what "They" have done to the big Es: the environment and education. How about: They pollute with impunity our air and water; they litter outer space, clearcut forests, bury rivers and streams under the drebris from mountain tops, disregard the world's native species; they have changed the planet's climate.
They have co-opted and diminished public education to maintain a workforce of compliant and desparate laborers.
Obama does not need congress. Federal Reserve can use emergency powers called Lender of Last Resort. They can issue low interest loans to states and cities for infrastructure. They can do the same for businesses that hire unemployed workers. Finally they can offer the same for people that invest in foreclosed properties to reverse the down housing market.
Heyooo..Be lovely if you would READ.. From the top of the page: Admin note: This is not an official list of demands. This is a forum post submitted by a single user and hyped by irresponsible news/commentary agencies like Fox News and Mises.org. This content was not published by the OccupyWallSt.org collective, nor was it ever proposed or agreed to on a consensus basis
This is Bull Shit again! Members of OWL? Really. How did you join? Who voted? Where?
@Flavian and Dan:
There are countries where people never lose their home but still not be free China was like this for a long time and N. Korea remains like this. In socialist democracies like Sweden and Denmark for example you have a right to housing, free education and health care but still you are governed, still there are taxes, you are forbidden corrected and punished if you break the law. In those countries if you cannot pay for your lodging you cannot 'keep' the home but you will be assigned the home that the state assigns to you. So again your idea of 'freedom' is limited. You are not speaking of reforms that will keep people from losing their homes, you are advocating anarchy which isn't sustainable. You're a pipe-dreamer because you equate 'freedom' as in individual liberty, with economic security and they are not the same thing. Your comments are mere rhetoric not hinged to reality.
@looselyhuman: Yes you are correct its Zimbabwe
@reithc: Agreed.
Agreed. Reality would be a real rude awakening for these protestors.
Our Dollars are our vote! we buy products that pay for these companies lobbyists... it is every americans responsibility to stop buying convenient crap.... or we get what we pay for... the revolution is just as much in each world citizens mind as it is on the street... boycott walmart and see.....
Is changing the federal reserve to fed ownership important to this cause?
Is changing the federal reserve to fed ownership important to this cause?
Will someone advise as to the extent to which the aforementioned actions persist and impact Americans? Also, will you also explain to what extent the people who this group seeks to represent exacerbated the impacts of the said grievances? I would like to understand the grounds for which the arguments are based.
Will someone advise as to the extent to which the aforementioned actions persist and impact Americans? Also, will you also explain to what extent the people who this group seeks to represent exacerbated the impacts of the said grievances? I would like to understand the grounds for which the arguments are based.
Great cheers for the Declaration and sincere gratitude for people who have written it. Thank you! To win and realize what the Declaration says, our efforts and energy should be focused onto a few selected actual goals without expanding too many. Then I remember the plea a 12 years old girl made in her speech at the 1992 UN Environmental Summit which was held in Brazil. Here's her speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQmz6Rbpnu0&feature=related To try to answer her plea is maybe a little bit broad compared to the Declaration, but the aim to realize better world is the same.
Many of the 'they' will talk smoothly, politely, respectfully, etc., in attempts of appeasement, quelling...
What I perceive we want as citizens won't happen this way, and is not the way of nature. The way it must happen is by actual suffering of those at the heart of, and who have been profiting from the pain and destruction of American lives. This will include public and private individuals who foresake their countrymen for money or power. This might be otherwise named, consequences of one's actions, accountability, responsibility!!!
THEY = the criminal liars in government who say one thing and then vote another. THEY = the criminal liars in our news organizations who continue to promote the self-interests of those organizations that wish to suppress the truth. THEY = the criminal liars in government who continue to promote fear and propaganda within their constituents in order to promote their own agenda. THEY = the criminal liars on wall street who continue to take huge risks with our money while telling the public that what they are doing is OK. THEY = the criminal liars in our government who continue to spend billions of taxpayer dollars on useless enterprises that do not support the laws of the constitution, but only promote the corporations that paid money to put them into office. THEY = the Senators and Representatives in our congress who continue to tell the people that they will solve our problems, but only push those problems onto future generations, while they get paid big bucks by the lobbyists to do nothing.
I could go on, but I think that you all could come up with a few of your own....
let the following fact be known: Socialism demands that one person must be forced work for the benefit of another.
This is a starting point.
I was always told I was wrong to stand up,, to fight injustice. Hate to admit I feel pretty beaten into submission to a point,, and fearful of standing up for my rights. So not used to it,, everything the Occupation is about,, I've been working on all my life, but don't feel used to it,, feels strange to be Free
Here is my personal opinion. Freedom is more than the right to vote and speak your point of views. Freedom in my opinion is when you have choices. Some of those choices are that you can be anything you want: you can be a legal secretary, or a computer programmer or an Accountant. You are NOT free if you went to College to become an Accountant and you are now working as a day laboror planting fruits and vegetables for minimum wage because the skills you learned in College are already being done by people in Southeast Asia for .50 cents an hour. You're not free if your pay is so low that you're living check to check.
But you are free to use the skills you learn in college to pursue another career/job. Many people got college and wind up at some point in their life doing something other than what they went to college for. Alternatively you could move to Southeast Asia and get that accountant job for 50 cents an hour. The standard of living there would be more in line with the wages paid .
Please check the conclusions of the "Contra Congress of Culture" at http://contracongreso.com.ar/conclusiones/
It s conclusions goes in the same way that your points, and you can find a loot of arguments and ideas there.
He is a new article: “Clean Record Campaign Act” to allow only politicians with good clean police records the opportunity to run. If you, for any reason, did abuse the power of a public office, you’re not allowed to run for any campaign or public position.
Although I'm all in favor of taking down today's ineffective and inefficient Top 10% Management Group of Business & Government, there's only one way to do it – by fighting bankers as bankers yourselves. Consequently, I have posted the Strategic Legal Policies, Organizational Operating Structures, and Tactical Investment Procedures necessary to do this at:
http://getsatisfaction.com/americanselect/topics/on_strategic_legal_policy_organizational_operational_structures_tactical_investment_procedures
Join
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/StrategicInternationalSystems/
if you want to support a Presidential Candidate Committee at AmericansElect.org in support of the above bank-focused platform.
Congratulations revg33k great start. I tend do agree with the scope of most articles although some farther explanation may be required since some people do have difficulties understanding why we do call the banker cartel “they”. I guess we could call the beast by its real name; Goldman Sachs and every share holder of the Federal Reserve. Thanks, in general, I do feel good about it because it does represents what "they" did to me my family and my property. Good job!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8o3peQq79Q&feature=youtube_gdata_player
The key is to make sure the movement stays alive...regardless of sometimes opposing views on this site. I'm convinced eventually it will result in a better society - but only if we can find a way to keep it alive. The bought-out politician, greedy corporations and their mouth piece media will try to kill this movement by their power. It is high time that the world recognizes that all humans have the 3 basic rights (1) free medical (2) free education and (3) a right to make a decent/fail living. The greedy people can keep everything else. This can not be different from what God would like to preach as well. The way to achieve this is by keeping this movement alive.
"It is high time that the world recognizes that all humans have the 3 basic rights (1) free medical (2) free education and (3) a right to make a decent/fail living." Why do believe that these 3 things are basic rights? What creed, law, declaration, or other document articulates these as basic human rights? Furthermore who would actually provide for these "rights"? What doctor is going to provide free medical care for no compensation? Would you spend 6, 8, or more years getting your degree in medicine and then practice for no compensation?Who would provide for a "free" education? Would you volunteer to get a teaching degree and then spend your life without compensation so someone else could get a "free" education? Lastly, what to you is a "decent" living? This is similar to the minimum/living wage argument. Who decides what is a fair wage? If you say $15/hr is fair, then why not $20, or $50, or $100 per hour? truechristian you really need to think this through.
Do you believe in Socialism too? Are you one of those that believe that Jesus was in favor of redistribution of wealth? And if so, can you provide Sciptural references and not Matthew 19:21 where Jesus is talking to the rich man selling all his possessions and giving the money to the poor. Socialism is the government making the decisions about who keeps what. Jesus was talking about a heart issue, a voluntary giving up the things that the rich man held dear, instead of Christ. That's why he was sad. Because his possessions were more dear to him than Christ. Truechristian, Jesus never advocated depending on the government. In fact, 2Thessalonians 3:10 says "For even when we were with you we gave you this rule, if a man shall not work, he shall not eat." It was never stated that if a man shall not work, the government will step in and provide for all his needs.. and that's what has heppened with our welfare system. Made people dependent on the government, dissatisified with their life and demanded the government take care of everything.
I can't quote scripture like you but you are spot on about the dependence on government. The problem with these protestors is that they think that government should/will take are of their needs and this will make for a better society. Of course this ignores the very fallibility of the human being that in itself brings about the problems in society.
Way to early jump the gun I predict a media field day and you could have just probably alienated supporters. The movement is just now beginning to gain momentum with a list of demands you also are putting out a list of requirements for supporters who now have to choose whether to agree or disagree with the demands. You just shot yourself in the leg. Tell me it’s not true
This is meaningless
I cried when Kieth Olbermann read it. Just being honest. It really tugged at my heart, because you know it's all true, and you wonder how it happened that we became this.
i agree that corporations are the focus of this movement
i think the forum should be divided into groups with one group discussing corporations in particular
Further follow-up:
The proof that things have fundamentally changed with our economy are the following seeming contradictions:
Overall, the stock market has done well since 2008. Why is the stock market doing well in the midst of a recession?
US companies are sitting on an estimated 2 Trillion dollars of cash. How can this happen in the middle of a recession?
The change causing the above contradiceons are the free-trade agreements with Mexico and China.
We would never have passed NAFTA if it been proposed by a republican president - because we would then have realized it for what it was - a huge job killer for our economy.
As democrats, we trusted Bill Clinton. NAFTA was the first of the free-trade agreements whose true purpose was to allow the outsourcing of our jobs.
Your first mistake aside from being a democrat was trusting Bill Clinton...or any liberal for that matter.
good econ sights to get up to speed on post crisis problems.
http://market-ticker.org/
http://www.mindfulmoney.co.uk/wp/author/shaun-richards/
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/
Follow-up on penny comment:
We are not competing with Chinese manufacturers. We are competing with our own multi-nationals. They have developed their product in the highly competitive US market. They have developed their distribution system, quality controls, manufacturing expertise and management expertise here. They then outsource to China, cut their labor costs to 10% and import here. They now have a hugely increased profit margin, that they can use to drive their competitors out of business.
We can compete with Chinese manufacturers. We can't compete with our own multinationals.
The fundamental problem with our economy are free-trade agreements with low-wage countries. These are the direct cause of the outsourcing of our jobs which is destroying our economy.
"Opening up their markets for our goods" is just a cover story to allow ratification of these agreements. How can Chinese workers who earn 10% of our wages buy our products? The proof is that we import from China 4 times the amount we export there.
The real purpose of free-trade agreements with low-wage countries is to allow the outsourcing of our jobs. This allows multinationals to sell at a hugely increased profit margin.
It needs to be called:
"Declaration For The Separation Of Corporation And State"
(I am curious as to why the font in my post above is so much larger... I did nothing special.)
Also, global effort, coalition with other groups as this is a world wide crisis and can leverage off ideas and have some form of respectful presence at the summit next month. Also, maybe a working group solely based on the workings of the fed as well as treasury and the representatives involved with these two major organizations in the government. Just a thought.
Grievances need to be more descriptive including the practices if the organizations bailed out, facts figures and the representatives who have profited bith financially and politically.
I disagree. I think it states clearly mass injustices, and that the voice running american and our media talking heads is not our voice. I thought it was just me, as I benefited from living outside US in Europe 8 years. So, it was easier to develop the ability to doubt your own culture, disagree with simple nationalism, and question your self, country, and beliefs.
The mood is being set, the we are not happy with what they say must be life, and truth. Business as usual is over, whether we want it or not, but at least we are saying we dont want business as usual any more.
Why did you come back to the US?
amen to that
Well said.
Sheilah Say
Here is what I came up with several years ago for a Declaration of Re-establishment...
When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for citizens to dissolve the political bands which have been established, and to assume among the powers of humankind and the Earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to re-establish.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable Rights and Obligations. That to secure them, governments are instituted among people, deriving their own Rights and Obligations from the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the citizens' obligation to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying it's foundation on such principles and organizing it's powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience has shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to alter the government from the common good, it is their obligation to throw off such government, and to provide new provisions for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these states; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former system of government. The recent history of the United States of America is replete with injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the disestablishment of the commonly agreed government over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.
The current establishment has altered and overlooked the laws of this land, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good, to profit a limited group of affluent individuals. Many times, placing the burden back onto the citizens of these United States.
The current establishment has refused to listen to and heed the rights and needs of the citizens, when they opposed the desires of the affluent, businesses and special interest groups.
The current establishment has levied unfair and unjust taxes on the less affluent to support the desires of the affluent, businesses and special interest groups, without concern for the well being of their constituents.
The current establishment has established excessive legislative bodies to convolute the democratic process and dissuade the citizens ability for fair representation.
The current establishment has taxed citizens greater percentages than the affluent and large businesses.
The current establishment has declared war on foreign countries without the consent of the citizens, only to profit special interests.
The current establishment has affected to render special interest groups and political parties independent of and superior to the civil power and citizenry.
In every stage of these transgressions, the citizens have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated petitions have been answered only by contempt and malfeasance. An establishment whose character is thus marked by acts which defy the common good, is unfit to be the government of a free people.
We, therefore, the citizens of the United States of America, appealing to the leaders of the free world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good citizens of these states, solemnly publish and declare, that these United States are, and of right ought to be re-established; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the previous establishment, and that all political connection between them is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that the new establishment have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration we mutually pledge to each other our pursuit of peace and happiness.
What is it with you people? Do you think you have a "right" to whatever you want just because it's there.
If you are unhappy with the way the government is doing things - go to Washington DC and protest. Protesting on wall street is just a "convience for you idiots".
Wall Street is the white house silly... like Osama Bid Laden said.. cut off the head of the snake, not its tail. He used violence for his view of injustice being done by our govt to his life. His choice. He lived and died true to his belief. He was called "terrorist" This movement is non violent..you call "idiots"... wordsdontmatter. look behind them and take action.. or like PE said.."don't believe the hype, its a sequel"
the white house is not America anyhow..its a piece of it.
The puppets are in DC. OWS is talking to the puppet masters of Congress located on Wall Street.
(OWS is also present in DC.)
NEW YORK is the head of the economic capitalist system. It is where the war needs to be protested.. as the new war is The Economic War, which we started and we can not win.
The key is the federal reserve and the fractional banking system. Dennis Kucinich has introduced the NEED act which would nationalize the fed and abolish privatized currency. This country has spent nearly as much on interest on the so called "federal debt" over the past 10 years as on the pentagon. And it's entirely optional.
The fed is the single most culpable institution in our current crisis. Its business model requires constant war. It's long past time to make it accountable to the people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IdPyYRnOY0
http://kucinich.house.gov/news/email/show.aspx?ID=X7EX6WS6JW7AZSDNJHSVS5UZXM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMxjsn09Y6Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-l23fbDsxKI
http://prosperityuk.com/2000/09/thomas-edison-on-government-created-debt-free-mo ney/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc3sKwwAaCU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swkq2E8mswI
A corporation can be as small as the Mom and Pop store down the street, or the multinational corporation like Exxon-Mobil or GE. Thus "They" are not the same. Originally a corporation was supposed to be a collection of investors bound together in a common purpose as shareholders, and thus the corporation was accountable to them through the Board of Directors. Unfortunately that has gone by the wayside for the large corporations that have predominantly institutional investors now that only care about profit.
The point is that not all corporations are evil or should be subject to vilification, utilized properly they are an essential tool of market capitalism. We need to be responsible if we are to succeed as a movement and not throw figurative bombs at means by which business people conduct affairs. However we MUST reform and correct methods by which these structures are used to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of the few at the expense of the many.
To say all of this is bad I think is not reading deep enough into it. Things like corporations being treated like individuals, animal rights, illegal foreclosures, no arrests for bank execs who did clearly illegal things, etc... are all legitimate.
That being said, this comes off as childish, accepts no responsibility, and clearly those joining the protest have absolutely no understanding of basic economics (ie. supply and DEMAND (you, not "they))
It's unfortunate, I thought something well educated was starting, instead, we get this.
We are demanding now... so the supply curve will shift to the right buddy..
They have used the military and police force to prevent freedom of the press.
WTF??? Most press is about as Anti-military as it gets....
They have accepted private contracts to murder prisoners even when presented with serious doubts about their guilt.
HOLY WTF BATMAN? WALMART DID THAT? You guys are as retarded as the true 99% (everyone laughing at you) thought you were at first.
Everyone needs to ask one question of their Senator's and Congressman and the question is this:
"Why do you have a Vatican Bank Account"
All Senators and Congressman have one, they are all funded, question is who funds them, and do these Senator's and Congressman dip into them. Some of the new people will not know about them, the old ones certainly do, the new ones will be told at some point. Are they being bought, is it hush money? well lets find out!
sooo.... you all were FORCED to bury yourself in debt to go to college. Hmm, education a "human right"?? When did that happen? Each one of these "declarations" is pure absurdity.... typical example of mobs not being able to think rationally.
Please articulate the demand to REVOKE CORPORATE PERSONHOOD and to ADOPT THE RIGHTS OF MOTHER EARTH (see Bolivia).
Please think about key demands that turn the system upside down. Here's another one: that the GDP of our country account for depletion of natural resources and poverty rates and levels as deficits.
Universal healthcare and free higher education.
Define corporate crime and demand specific monetary restitution to society.
Polluters' monetary liability: for instance - investors in nuclear power plants must assume all and ongoing decommissioning costs, not subject to bankruptcy relief.
Carbon tax effective immediately.
Keep it up!
A carbon tax will further bankrupt this economy that is already reeling from this administrations incoherent and untenable economic policies. You really like Bolivia's economy? Really? Perhaps you should apply for citizenship there.
...and falsely created then imprisoned nearly 3 million Americans under a "war on drugs" designed to create a defacto prison slave labor force and to force states and local communities to foot the bill for hundred and hundreds of FOR PROFIT prisons with little to no benefit to said communities and states and indeed many to the detriment of communities.
Agreed.. "war on drugs" created fake prisons, false morality, and it is a another losing war only against ourselves. Instead of stopping it, which means we would have to cut back on our police forces and police state, we imprison our population and create them as slaves forever with a "bad record" caught in secondary citizen cycle. Tobacco corps produce, promote killing products while weed imprisons people, and funds cartels across the border.. etc..
Have you read about what the Netherlands has been doing to combat a growing heroin problem? If you have not you should. So should every Police Officer and Politician. http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/free-heroin-brings-everyone-a-bit-peace
We could learn a lot from what the Dutch are doing. Something tells me that if we could adopt programs like that here we could reduce the amount of crime associated with drug use, save money and end this failed "war on drugs" once and for all.
OWS will fail if you include every little conspiracy theory and grievance, only the most visual, obvious problems with society will get through.
I really hope OWS can move toward a concise focus directed at the root of so many 99%'s grievances - money in politics. I'm advocating the single demand of prohibiting private spending on public campaigns. I think this issue will have the most wide reaching impact, gain the broadest support, and will allow the 99% to participate meaningfully as both candidates and voters. Right now I can only think of two ways to get there www.lobbydemocracy.com and www.getmoneyout.com
+1 approved
OWS will fail hard with all this nonsense.
Seriously this is completely retarded.
Don't corporations hire people? Aren't corporations simply a human form of organization to improve productivity that benefits us all? While I agree with many thoughts posted here, the notion that our society requires much work to provide the needs of the people, and I'm not reading a lot here about how to organize to make all the goods and services we all use each day. Corporations may be evil, but they also know how to get bread to the supermarket and airplanes to schedule flights. Does anyone in this group have any thoughts on how to accomplish those things now provided by corporations? How should we organize that, and how will we choose the leaders of those new organizations?
Ya these kids seem pretty fixated on the "CEO" role and the people who generally have the balls to make decisions more involved than where do I take a dump tonite. Our system is far from perfect and we all are working to make it better and with more justice, but adopting a scorched-earth approach is just plain irresponsible.
These "kids" aren't all "kids", they aren't all "hippy drifters" etc. But they are, in fact American Citizens exercising their right to air their grievances with a political system gone mad. A system that cuts taxes on it's wealthiest through loopholes and a laughably low capital gains tax while increasing the burden on the middle class. A system that sends its poor to war while the wealthy profit on the warring. A system that see's presidency's granted by the Supreme court in opposition to a clear popular majority, a system where you can die from operable and curable diseases because you can't afford to insure yourself. The vast majority of "these kids" as you call them aren't calling for the abolishment of the entire system, they are calling for the introduction of ethics and values.
Just remember Prof101, "there but for the grace of God go I".
We are all in this ship together, the problem is... it's sinking and there are 100 people aboard and only 1 life jacket. -It's not right.
"sends it's poor to war"...I think that statement is invalid. We have a volunteer army unlike the draft during the Vietnam war. An introduction of ethics would be nice starting with the current administration and the democrats in congress. It seems to me that you are against capitalism and I would suggest that you look at history. Capitalism propelled this country to the number one power in the world and capitalism provides citizens with the opportunity to rise up and be as successful as they want. Yes, there are abuses in any system and that is why we have laws to punish those that stray. To suggest that all corporations are evil is nonsense. This "movement" is not coherent in any way and including all these complaints/conspiracies do not really represent what mainstream America is all about. I find irony in the news that OWS people are making full use of products designed, and produced by the very corporations you rage against. Is OWS pissed at Steve Jobs (rip) and Apple? Are you pissed at Hollywood and the overpaid actors? Lastly, having raised over $500,000 dollars, it seems that there is some infighting amongst the groups in OWS as how to spend the money. Funny isn't it...it all comes down to money.
As a former officer in the all-volunteer military, I am very appreciative of the patriotism and service of our military members. While the military provides a good opportunity for any young person to better themselves, I do believe that a volunteer service results in our country sending its poor to war. If we had a national service commitment required of every citizen with no exceptions (no congressman's son or college exemptions), unlike the Vietnam-era draft, then our politicians could never push us into these wars of choice.
What part of what I wrote suggests that I am "against capitalism"? You can't ascribe me enemy's you wish I'd had because it would make for a more convenient argument. I think that capitalism in conjunction with ethics could have potential for a well run society.
Now, it's a month since you wrote this and you'll likely not see my response, but no one is blindly raging at every corporation that exists. Corporations, like anything can be well run and ethical or not. Unfortunately, the ones that are NOT have been getting the most help from our tax dollars. You also assume that the OWS movement doesn't' find fault in the democratic party? This is a wrong assumption too. I think it's been made clear that the entire status quo of DC is broken in our minds.
Exactly wallstobserver; if the protesters would stop to think for one moment they would realize that they are railing against the basic organizational structure of our economy. Our nation has basic needs, which are generally well provided for by the system as it exists. So well provided for, in fact, that thousands of young people don't have to worry about where their next meal will come from. They know it will be provided by either their parents or the taxpayers. I'd love to know what fraction of the protesters are either on food stamps or living with their parents.
I find these truths to be self evident and agree with your main premise that Corporation have to much control of our government and create a conflict of interest. I suggest that the reverse is also true. The award winning documentary film " Inside Job" sheds light on the financial meltdown and why it happened (Greed). The main point is that Government has no business being involved in Corporations and Corporations have no business being involved in Government. Our government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth (Not a government of corporations, by corporation, for corporations). Just as we found there was no place for Government involvement with Religion and visa versa, we have the 1st Amendment "Separation of Church and State". Therefore we should move for another Amendment of "SEPARATION OF CORPORATIONS AND STATE"! There is no room for one meddling in the other. The governments role is to create laws to protect the people from Greedy Corporations that steal our money and livelihood.
I agree with the separation between governement and corporations and Wall Street. But alas I think we have "Government Street" and the only way out is to reinstate some of the controls, that were dismantled by Robert Rubin, Larry Summers, Alan Greenspan, Phil Gramm, etc in 1999-2001. If Wall Street's gambling mentality isn't curbed, we are not going to get out of this mess. I don't think we can withstand another POP in our "Bubble" economy that Wall Street likes so well.
I agree that the laws have to change to protect the people and the nation from the do as you damn well please free market enterprise. You would think we learned a hard lesson of what not to do and make the correction to prevent it. Good Luck!
I believe there is a plan to break the 99% down to total dependence of the wealthy and political Class.......and this is a class War and it is Global.
Yes I agree. I have been trying to create responsible "Video Journals" (web sites) to educate people about our recent past and the current trend in our worlds globalization. http://www.change-gov.com , http://www.just-gov.com , http://www.goldmanbanksters.com . There are hundreds of well made documentaries grouped together for easy access. Click on any image or link for a video. I take no credit for the documentaries or make any income (except my donate button).
Thanks for the information.
I never really cared about politics or what big corporations were doing. I figured our politicians were working for their constituents... 99%ers, and that the world was big enough to take all the abuse that we threw at it.
Well, I realized on my own that we were messing up the Earth and we probably should look for a more sustainable way to live. What I didn't realize was how out of control our "Government Street" was and that the government basically snaps-to for Wall Street, and Wall Street Snaps-to to corporations. And now most of the biggest corporations are on Wall Street ... the banks (i.e. "Too Big To Fail").
I'm in the same boat, but now I trying to patch up all the years of neglect and keep it afloat for my children and generation to come.
Too wordy. Most people's eyes will glaze over. KISS 1) Campaign Finance Reform. 2) End the FED. 3) Pay the American public an equal amount that's been paid in the various bailouts. 11 Trillion dollars split across 312 million people would be a check for $35,000 dollars a piece.
Leave it just as it is. Dont listen to anyone who wants to change it.
Actually, the new list is much better AND actionable. http://occupywallst.org/forum/proposed-list-of-demands-please-help-editadd-so-th/
Thank GOD!
I was worried that they would strip that down.
Too broad and a big mistake imho!!! You will be fodder for a lot of derision. I'm out of here.
[Removed]
Wall street bankers don't care about oil spills, or covering them. When will people start realizing that the MOST IMPORTANT JOB IN THE WORLD IS THE EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF CAPITAL AND ASSETS. without that, farmers can't farm, butchers cant butch, people won't have the ability to do what they want to do. You must leave it in the hands of we, the 1% (boo hoo to yourself if you didn't make the cut because you are lazy and smoke a bunch of pot) to help make a living for you 99% We are the ones who give half of the money we EARN to the government so you can sit on your lazy butt and collect unemployment and welfare..how about you folks who go out and have 199 kids then go and abandon them so you can have welfare checks? Look at the people you surround yourself with. Look who is successful and who is not... i am sure that 99 percent of the successful ones are Republicans!
Bump.
Now that is funny, funny stuff! Thanks, a great way to start my day with a good laugh.
First off - let me say that I fully support what you all are trying to do. Secondly ( and I hope that you will take this criticism in the spirit in which it is intended), - you will do better & get better results if you drop the language of anarchy (i.e. 'demand', oligarcy.. etc) and keep your messages very short and simple. Focus on maybe four top items at most and make them ones that a lot of people can identify with. What I am (humbly) suggesting is something like: The people of Occupy Wall Street share the following statement of beliefs: While we are capitalists, we believe that the growing inequity of wealth distribution in the country is both immoral and is a threat to our democracy and the economic health of the country.
To lessen the economic inequities we propose the following major goals: 1) A more progressive and simpler tax code, one in which billionaires are taxed at higher percentages than millionaires, corporate loopholes are eradicated, and a reasonable progressive inheritance tax is imposed. We suggest that all income (capital gains, inheritance, gifts, bonuses, and income be taxed progressively and that the geometric progressively extends to the highest amounts earned. We are open to the idea that inheritance taxes, and capital gains taxes be set at somewhat lower rates than income taxes - but not much. 2) An END to America's addiction to oil. Addiction to one form of energy creates dependency. We seek MAJOR investments in clean and renewable energy systems; we suggest reducing expenditures in defense to pay for this. Just as we retool industries to meet our needs during WWII, we must now retool them to meet our need for energy.
3) Passage of a substantial jobs bill that includes a public works model on the scale of FDRs new deal. In general we support the notion that if the private sector does not produce jobs for those willing to work; the public sector must fill the gap. 4) Campaign Finance Reform that allows no campaign donations of more than $2000 by any individual human being (defined as a breathing entity of the species human) in total in any manner or fashion. No entity other than a flesh and blood human being should be allowed to donate. People (as defined above) can donate unlimited time. 5) Reasonable usury laws limiting the amount of interest that can be charged for interest to no more that 15% under ANY conditions. Laws that restrict employers or future employers from seeing an individual's credit score. Access to your own credit score at anytime you wish to see it, and a full and transparent accounting of how credit scores are attained.
Lastly - we support personal responsibility and are committed to the principle that it is better to provide opportunities for individual advancement rather than providing 'handouts'.
Its like the author(s) took all the aspects of the world over which they foster senseless zeal, put them in a hat, and systematically drew them out one at a time and blamed "greedy" corporations. Ironically and consequently, the author(s) are incapable of understanding these aspects through the lens of their distorted and ignorance fueled perspective. I hate to say it but if the producing entities (corporations) are the bad guys because they have the power and money, just imagine the inequality that becomes commonplace when the non-producing entities (government) have the power and money. At least (right now) we have a quantifiable tool (money) that can be used to level the playing field- Americans should embrace the fact that they can make the most powerful vote of all- with their dollars....
Is there greed in Corporate America? Of course there is, it's human nature. But the remedy is very simple: Replace obama with a fiscally conservative Free Market Capitalist, and jobs will once again become plentiful, and you can all get back to being productive members of society, if that is really what you want.
GE wasn't taxed at all and the company still planned on investing over $500 million in China.
I think it should be simplified to it to two basic processes. Tax everything and get then everything for free! All you have to do is pay the tax and the tax on something free is 0%! It's a win-win proposition!
Man this is too wide and I do not think you folks are willing to take it to violence. Slim this down and create concise demands that aren't so flippin hippy based. you have the potential to change things if you are willing to take it serious. Your first complaint made me want to stop reading and label the whole movement a waste. these are peoples lives you're playing with, so sit down and gather your generals and figure out some reasonable demands and ask them to check their bleeding hearts at he door and bring their grownup thinking caps. Let's not waste this opportunity Adbusters, COME ON! I HAVE FAITH YOU CAN GET IT TOGETHER! I wanna be able to look back and say my generation actually got something done for the people. Block the roads and fill up NYC Jails. become a true burden to NY and make yourself heard.
REVOKE CORPORATE PERSONHOOD
I nominate the following for the theme song:
Richard Marx's song "Hands in Your Pockets". Here is the chorus:
They've got their hands in your pocket They'll take the clothes off your back Hands in your pocket Brother, don't ignore the facts
Thanks
the declaration of independence first lists greivances, then moves on through to demands and actions to be taken.
So how do we make this official? I agree with this and I love the goals, but if we are a leaderless movement, how do we get specifics like this to circulate and get the approval of the masses? I'm writing this under the assumption that you are not a mod. Are you a mod?
no I am not a mod.
How to get involved, show up in new york if you can and participate in the open meetings there, or go to the rally in your local city if there is not one happening near you yet try to get one started.
Excellent suggestion from Philly on the Separation of Corporations and State. How about a bumper sticker with a "Don't tread on me" theme, but showing a two headed snake...Separate the Corporate-State? The Italians should certainly understand this all too well. First the creation of the Church-State, followed by centuries of religious wars...then usurpation by the Corporate-State (Fascism) followed by World War II. From the looks of global politics, ....uh...don't want to go there. Looks like wholesale change is the only reasonable solution.
Please be more specific about food. Americans are the largest pool of Guinea Pigs on the face of the industrialized planet. US companies have successfully cut the life of a cow from approx 30 months to 15 months from birth to slaughter while increasing the body weight over 30%. Similar feats have been achieved with pigs and chickens, all with the use of large doses of growth hormones combined with large doses of antibiotics to fight the diseases the animals own immune system could not possibly accomplish under such circumstances. In addition they are fed genetically modified chemically infused "food" to further speed the process. The "industry" pays university research departments millions of dollars to consistently "prove" these hormones / chemicals are not entering and affecting the human food chain. They are wrong. Just look around, look at the statistics.
The US has almost NO regulation on the way animals are raised, what they are fed and how they are processed.
Also, over 50% of the food that reaches the "market" (over 70% that reaches consumers through corporate restaurant chains) is irradiated. This is another whole issue that gets NO attention in America.
Once again, the FIRST piece of legislation EVER to be considered on how animal farming is done in America is in the House now and it sets "voluntary" limits on the number of egg laying hens that can be kept in a pen that is approx 18"x24" (currently some egg companies put as many as 7 hens in this tiny cage) and whether they can use sleep deprivation etc to force the hens to lay more eggs. The milk industry uses as cruel tactics to drain more milk from cows in this country.
We need to call for a top down total review of all of the practices that bring Americans all foods. Some look into European standards / practices would be a start.
Anyway, don't be shy or vague. Americans are Guinea Pigs to Industrial Food companies in a big way. This has to stop NOW.
Thanks again for your work.
And the drug companies, and the methodone scam that the govt subsidies keeping people on quasi heroin addictions 4 life (disgusting). creating secondary black market reselling of supplied drugs too
. while weed is illegal.
Please address our arcane and outdated economic system. Specifically the existence of people / unregulated institutions that control literally trillions of dollars in global capital that answers to no legitimate government, i.e.; governments that "govern" the people from where this capital originates. There should be a global ban on ALL unregulated pools of capital and especially a direct ban on any financial institution that is backed by taxpayer dollars i.e.; through insurance of citizens deposits, offering any services, loans, accounts or any fiduciary services whatsoever to these unregulated organizations.
Further, any institution that is backed by taxpayers / citizens should be banned from trading / offering trading services, credit or having any fiduciary role or role otherwise with respect to unregulated financial products.
These laws need to be in place now. A global effort should be established to eradicate all unregulated pools of capital.
I have a desire to completely do away with “unregulated markets” of all kinds and “unregulated financial derivatives” of all kinds. In a world with nearly 7 Billion people, highly interconnected and mutually destined to live the same fate, there no longer exist any positive human element to Trillions of Dollars swathing around betting for or against any asset class or created asset class with the sole objective of raking as much money out of the global financial system as possible irrespective of the consequences of their actions on the lives, destinies or wellbeing of the human beings their actions touch.
These unregulated institutions function outside of the regulatory structures of any nation, global governing body, or regulated institutions, answer to no person or persons in any jurisdiction with which they operate and seek to make money irrespective of their impact on the human beings they may have positively or negatively. They need to be eliminated or regulated. They need all funding by regulated financial institutions to be terminated. Their products need to be liquidated. We need them no more.
I love how this is gathering steam. This declaration is compelling. You're all such beautiful people! Thank you for starting this movement, for having the courage and the good spirit towards your fellow man. You fill me with heartfelt love. I want you to gain out of this effort. My thoughts are that soon the need is going to arise for proposing solutions or there is a chance that some segments of the population will not feel aligned with your movement. Here's my suggestion: Make one, preferably two, simple, acheivable demands. Make them irresistable to all political persuasions but clearly stated so that they cannot be wiggled around. So here's my two: 1. Reverse Citizen's United immediately. 2. Reinstate mandatory teaching of civics in middle schools and high schools.
True that private campaign financing is at the root of all the dis-ease in politics right now and that is being worked on to be eliminated by other groups too. However that issue is too big and complex to use as the first strike. The first strike has to invigorate the protesters and has to be almost universal in its appeal. Demands have to be kept simple and unshakably clear. These two demands may not seem like much but the most important objective is that we receive a clear victory as soon as possible; we need a majority to come on board, to be enlivened. Afterwards we can discuss and build a structure that works - for everyone. Some kind of demand(s) is going to be needed soon or many people will decide against getting involved because they won't know what they are involving themselves in. It's as much about psychology as politics. And strategy. Like chess. I think we're dealing with minds of gorillas, these "leaders" are not very smart. But they are savages with determined focus and the means to do whatever they like. It's only the number of People that can match their arsenal. We need to appeal to a broad range of people-types. Simplicity is key. And all that you are doing is incredibly charming. You are demonstrating that peace can be compelling.
This is a solid list to start from, just remember this ... "while liberals argue over complex issues, conservatives are busy crafting new bumper sticker slogans". SIMPLIFY, SIMPLIFY, you're playing to the Short Attention Span masses, they will not sort through complexities and nuances.
Why not consider using a historical model of public outcry ? When So. African apartheid was still enforced, there were movements that applied pressure against purchasing So. African gold and gold coins, the same movement pressured companies and investors against investing in the So. African economy. Demand that our corporations cease their unchecked practice of shipping America's workforce overseas. With such high unemployment right now, I believe this is an issue that cuts across all lines, it's what MOST Americans want to see happen.
You are correct. Simplify the message. Stay AWAY from discussion of drugs and animal rights etc. - all that will happen is that you'll be seen as hippies. If you call yourselves the 99% - then think about what that means. It means that you have to speak the language of the 99% & you can't spin off into a zillion directions and 'demand' all kinds of things and talk about a vague 'they'. " We view the growing inequity of wealth distribution and the influence of money as a threat to our democracy and our country."
when are we occupying federal reserve buildings?
I wish you would try!!!LOL
PLEASE ADD: None of this could be possible without "undue influence" and massive financial assistance from the Federal Government. I am a businessman in Baltimore who lost my business, my home, and my job through eminent domain under the guise of "economic development". I purchased my properties in cash, always retained full ownership, and owed nothing to anyone, yet they were stolen by the City government as a gift to one of their cronies. After fighting this crime family for 10 years, I have never received justice or compensation for these thefts while HUD and other Federal agencies poured billions into the toilet and to line the pockets of these political crooks. HUD was largely responsible for our global financial meltdown and took no action against Wall St. banks before the crisis, and the looting of the Treasury from their unethical attorneys which followed. The Federal Government under the US CONSTITUTION is mandated to safeguard the rights and interests of its citizens, NOT CORPORATIONS! It is the nature of big business and their lawyers to be greedy and this will never change. The grotesque excesses and injustices are purely a function GOVERNMENT and this can not only be changed, it must be changed IMMEDIATELY before it completely destroys the fabric of our civilization. Blessings to each and every one of you, no matter how large or small your contribution!
Well put. I heard of a slogan some weeks back related to the protests and I have not heard it since. I like it---"ONE MAN, ONE VOTE, ONE DOLLAR" Get corporations out of the electoral process. That is a great start towards chipping away at their ever increasing power. Let's take America back!
Thank you for your hard work. It is a very broad list, appropriately so as the problems we face stem from a wider range of issues. In a "sound-bite" culture we aren't told of the interweaving of things. You are making the interweavings/complexity of the issues clear. Again. Thank you for spelling it out and helping people to connect the dots on corporate greed and corruption.
Very inspirational! Onwards and upwards!
The problem we are facing is much bigger than just Wall Street. We have to stand up for the Future Generations and let the Youth's voice be heard on issues such as Taxes, Lobbyist, Politics, Jobs, Education, Healthcare, Wars, etc...
Yes! I can get behind this! Some of the proposed demands are not quite what I was hoping but let's keep working!
The draft version that I saw had a HUGE OMISSION: Namely - the protection of the planet we live on.
That is the single biggest issue there is. It's more important in the long term than any other issue, and it's also more urgent than most other issues, because the destruction is vast and ongoing.
So how about something like this:
"They have raped the Earth of its precious resources, and trashed and polluted the seas and the waterways, the land and the air. They have destroyed vast tracts of forest and the despoiled the wilderness, wreaked havoc on crucial ecological niches, and driven hundreds of important species of plants and animals to the brink of extinction."
Come on, everyone, get some PERSPECTIVE here: As important as the economy is at times like this, it is NOT the economy that ultimately gives us our lives. It is NATURE and the Earth that gives us our lives. There is NOTHING - including the economy - that is more important to protect and defend than planet Earth.
Just a little footnote posted as an afterthought, saying "These grievances are not all-inclusive" is insufficient. If this whole big grab-bag of issues is laid out for all to see, then the single most important issue of all - the protection and restoration of the health of the Earth - should be there, and it should be right up front and center, in bold letters.
Excellent and inspiring -- onwards!!!!!
Leave it just as it is. Dont listen to anyone who wants to change it.
Leave it just as it is. Dont listen to anyone who wants to change it.
Every person who has moral coherence enough to know right from wrong, when actually considering/overviewing Occupy Wall Street, will realize who is fighting for what most people wish they could change on their own....Excuse my casuality.
This made me cry. Keep fighting the good fight, everyone
made me cry too.... how could we have gotten to the point that our education system produces people that actually THINK like this. Think may be the wrong term... you have to have a brain to think. Why don't you all use your time to actually learn about what you are "demanding" and how these "demands" would impact YOUR life.... Ugh
Great echo of the Founding Fathers!
I like how it's in the style of the Declaration of Independence, but it's still really broad.
Its not broad its focusing on too many micro points and then make broad sweeping statements that they would need to describe. For example they mention almost every grievance under the sun when they only need to say they want more government regulation over the financial institutions and corporations. They can ask for independent corporate regulatory agencies that watchdog government agencies meant to do the same job. They can demand election finance reform whereby all elections are funded from a public fund and every candidate has equal time on the t.v and radio (no corporate money allowed). If you say something like 'perpetuating colonialism at home and abroad' you have to explain the point, what for example is 'colonialism at home'? See, it doesn't really make much sense. If you ask for too much then the public cannot focus and we really need them to focus. There is mention of student loans along with food issues, too much. Narrow it to reigning in the financial institutions first and instituting proper regulation and all those other issues can come into play. Remember that the country is still in debt. It owes a lot of money, that means austerity measures coming from somewhere. We have to be realistic and the way we do that is by sticking to taking the power away from large corporations who know own and run the system.
I agree, it doesn't make sense quite a few times in the document, but by saying broad, I just meant that it went after too many things that are seemingly unrelated making it seem unfocused.
I agree, it doesn't make sense quite a few times in the document, but by saying broad, I just meant that it went after too many things that are seemingly unrelated making it unfocused.
Beautiful.
Yes! This is perfect and true! Keep on message to be taken seriously! It is our time, it is their Waterloo!
I love how this is gathering steam. This declaration is compelling. You're all such beautiful people! Thank you for starting this movement, for having the courage and the good spirit towards your fellow man. You fill me with heartfelt love. I want you to gain out of this effort. My thoughts are that soon the need is going to arise for proposing solutions or there is a chance that some segments of the population will not feel aligned with your movement. Here's my suggestion: Make one, preferably two, simple, acheivable demands. Make them irresistable to all political persuasions but clearly stated so that they cannot be wiggled around. So here's my two: 1. Reverse Citizen's United immediately. 2. Reinstate mandatory teaching of civics in middle schools and high schools.
True that private campaign financing is at the root of all the dis-ease in politics right now and that is being worked on to be eliminated by other groups too. However that issue is too big and complex to use as the first strike. The first strike has to invigorate the protesters and has to be almost universal in its appeal. Demands have to be kept simple and unshakably clear. These two demands may not seem like much but the most important objective is that we receive a clear victory as soon as possible; we need a majority to come on board, to be enlivened. Afterwards we can discuss and build a structure that works - for everyone. Some kind of demand(s) is going to be needed soon or many people will decide against getting involved because they won't know what they are involving themselves in. It's as much about psychology as politics. And strategy. Like chess. I think we're dealing with minds of gorillas, these "leaders" are not very smart. But they are savages with determined focus and the means to do whatever they like. It's only the number of People that can match their arsenal. We need to appeal to a broad range of people-types. Simplicity is key. And all that you are doing is incredibly charming. You are demonstrating that peace can be compelling.
I agree, reversing Citizen's United is an attainable short run goal!
WE DON’T NEED CONGRESS OR BIG BANKS Federal Reserve can invoke the Lender of Last Resort emergency powers and lend the money via low interest loans to businesses of all sizes, cities, states and even people.
JOBS BANK The Federal Reserve can issue low interest loans to businesses that hire unemployed people and keep them on their payroll for at least one year.
INFRASTRUCTURE BANK The Federal Reserve can issue low interest loans to cities and states that use the money to replace infrastructure. This would also create jobs. Cities and states would not have to pass any bonds to start work.
HOUSING BANK The Federal Reserve can issue low interest loans to people or organizations that buy foreclosed houses for investments possibly via a short sale. This would turn around the industry that got us in this mess to begin with.
Lets roll.
A lot of folks on reddit (and elsewhere) are saying this is ludicrous because so many of the things listed are legal in the U.S. Let's make something very clear. One of the biggest problems in this country is that all of these inhumane, terrible acts are completely legal. They are legal because the government panders to its corporate interests. Don't mock us for "not knowing economics or national law." Whether legal or illegal, these things are inexcusable. I hate to say it, but.. DUH!
and I hate to say it...you're a fool DUH!
Out with the old. And in with the new! create a new Supreme financial system and global community see: http://globe-union-bank.org/ and www.one-heaven.org
Isn't that a ...New World Order thingy?
That's an excellent start.. and it needs to be broad because the issues are broad. Every point showed how our Constitutional rights were violated and that's what needs to be in the foreground. The US Constitution was created to protect us from our Government.. You all did a great job!!!
I am a lucky one with a job..so I can't be there to support the cause.. but will circulate from home...
Air Supply will be playing at 4pm
Air Supply will be playing at 4pm
Air Supply will be playing at 4pm