Forum Post: focused OWS on a constitional amendent
Posted 12 years ago on May 10, 2012, 3:15 p.m. EST by writerconsidered123
(344)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Ok, I've read this site and the boston site and I think OWS is floundering, I agree with most people about the problems but I see very few real solutions. Also I believe OWS needs a focused agenda, from what I've read everyone has their own agenda's spread far and wide. OWS is spread too thin with idea's.
This is my proposal that works within the frame work of the american democracy. The one thing that has changed in the last few years is 2 supreme court rulings which give corporations unprecedented power. first the supreme court has ruled that money equals freedom of speach and the second is corporations have the protections as individuals in this country. those two rulings completely changed everything between wall st. and washington, allowing or corporate spending like never before to get what they want.
I propose OWS start a grassroots campaign to put a constitional amendment up for proposal. the amendment would amend these last two supreme court rulings. this would be acceptable by most main stream america both demacrat and republican alike. I don't believe OWS is going to be able to flip the entire economic structure upside down.
If OWS decided to focus on this one issue it would gain a foot hold with the rest of the country and have a direct focused plan of attack on wall st. with a specific plan rather then a hodge podge of demonstrations. I would urge OWS consult a constitional lawyer or scholar to see about the process of an amendment. Also I would urge everyone on OWS to watch the frontline series on wall st. so they know exactly whats going on on wall st.
Brother- where have you been?
We are THE OWS working group doing exactly this ! Even if you are not in NY , we need your help - join us !
Virtually everything we want hinges on disarming our opponent –
……………………………………………………..GREED
by stopping the flood of bribes into our government.
YOU WANT TO GET IT DONE ? ARE YOU SERIOUS ?
Join the NYC OWS
Corporations are not People and Money is not Speech Working Group
This is the first REAL step to REAL change .
government OF the people BY the people FOR the people
JOIN US >
Join the NYC OWS Corporations Are Not People and Money Is Not Speech Working Group
………….( even if you are not near NYC )
http://www.nycga.net/groups/restore-democracy
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NYCRDWG
check out our comprehensive analysis of
the 17 existing proposed amendments
and our detailed historical timeline of corporate personhood
We can continue,
OR
Are you ready
.....................FOR ACTION ?
Are you ready
.....................TO DO SOMETHING REAL ?
Are you ready
......................TO JOIN 83% OF YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS ?
We must not
DEMAND that we WANT THEM.to give to US
We must
DEMAND GOALS THAT WE WILL ACHIEVE FOR OURSELVES
Because of the Supreme Court's decision,
we cannot accomplish anything significant, without FIRST -
Overturning Citizens United !!!
Ending Corporate Personhood !!!
83% of Americans already agree on it
as stated in the ABC/Washington Post poll
In the the PFAW Poll -
PLEASE COMMENT ON: MY "IDEAL - COMPREHENSIVE" AMENDMENT
Section 1 {A corporation is not a person and can be regulated}
The rights protected by the Constitution of the United States are the rights of natural persons { human beings } only. Artificial entities, such as corporations, limited liability companies, and other entities, established by the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign state shall have no rights under this Constitution and are subject to regulation by the People, through Federal, State, or local law. The privileges of artificial entities shall be determined by the People, through Federal, State, or local law, and shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable.
Section 2 { Money is not speech }
Federal, State and local government shall regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expenditures, including a candidate’s own contributions and expenditures, and may restrict all financing to “public financing” for the purpose of influencing in any way the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot measure. As above, all foreign contributions are forbidden.
Section 3 { Transparency & Disclosure }
Federal, State and local government shall require that any permissible contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed less than 60 days after the transaction and before the election.
Section 4 { Voter Suppression }
Federal, State and local government shall not require any new forms of id for voting, beyond what was needed to register for previously registered voters. College photo-id ( including for out-of-state students ) must be acceptable. Federal, State and local government shall permit early voting for at least the 6 days before the election day.
Section 5 { Election Day & Registration }
Federal, State and local government may make election day a holiday. Federal, State and local government must allow simultaneous registration and voting on election day.
Section 6 { Eliminate the Electoral College – one man one vote } The electoral college is abolished and the President and Vice-President will be elected by popular vote. .
Section 7 { Eliminate the Filibuster } Unless specified in the Constitution , all voting in the House and Senate shall be based on a simple majority.
Section 8 Nothing contained in this amendment shall be construed to abridge the freedom of the press .
{NOTE: sections 4, 5, 6, 7 are not required to overturn CU – just my wish list }
COMMENTS ON THE ABOVE ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO ACT ----> JOIN US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Our primary goal should be to pass a constitutional amendment to counter Supreme Court decision Citizens United (2010) , that enables unlimited amounts of anonymous money to flood into our political system.
We don’t have to explain or persuade people to accept our position – we only have to persuade them to ACT based on their own position. Pursuing this goal will prove to the world that we, at OWS, are a serious realistic Movement, with serious realistic goals. Achieving this goal will make virtually every other goal – jobs, taxes, infrastructure, Medicare – much easier to achieve –
by disarming our greatest enemy – GREED.
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO ACT ----> JOIN US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
THE SUCCESS STORY OF THE AMENDING PROCESS The Prohibition movement started as a disjointed effort by conservative teetotalers who thought the consumption of alcohol was immoral. They ransacked saloons and garnered press coverage here and there for a few years. Then they began to gain support from the liberals because many considered alcohol partially responsible for spousal and child abuse, among other social ills. This odd alliance, after many years of failing to influence change consistently across jurisdictions, decided to concentrate on one issue nationally—a constitutional amendment. They pressured all politicians on every level to sign a pledge to support the amendment. Any who did not, they defeated easily at the ballot box since they controlled a huge number of liberal, and conservative and independent swing votes in every election. By being a single-issue constituency attacking from all sides of the political spectrum, they very quickly amassed enough votes (2/3) to pass the amendment in Congress. And, within just 17 months, they were successful in getting ¾ of the state legislatures to ratify the constitutional amendment into law. (Others were ratified even faster: Eight —took less than a year. The 26th, granting 18-year-olds the right to vote, took just three months and eight days.)
If they could tie the left and right into a success - WHY CAN'T WE ??????????
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO ACT ----> JOIN US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
1
83% of Americans ( and 76% of the Rs ) have already opposed CU in
the ABC/Washington post poll and the above
IS THEIR POSITION ALREADY.
2
We don’t have to work to convince people on the validity of our position.
3
This Amendment { sections 1+2 }is REQUIRED to overturn CU.
And all other electoral reform can be passed through the normal legislative process. 4
OWS and the FORUM pages are chock full of ( mostly ) excellent ideas to improve our country.
All of them have strong advocates – and some have strong opposition.
None of them has been “pre-approved” by 83% of Americans !
Pursuing this goal – is exactly what Americans want.
What do we want? Look at that almost endless list of demands – goals - aims.
Tax the rich. End the Fed. Jobs for all, Medicare for all. So easy to state our demands! Can you imagine how hard it would be to formulate a “sales pitch” for any of these to convince your Republican friends to vote for any of them?
83% of Americans have ALREADY “voted” against CU. And 76% of the Rs did too.
All we have to do ask Americans is to pressure their representatives – by letters - emails – petitions.
Wanna take your family on vacation?
Convince the 7 year old and the 10 year old to go to Mt Rushmore.
Then try to convince them to go to Disneyland.
Prioritizing this goal will introduce us to the world – not as a bunch of hippie radical anarchist socialist commie rabblerousers – but as a responsible, mature movement that is fighting for what America wants.
IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO ACT ----> JOIN US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
I feel that using the tactics of the NRA, the AARP, the TP, the anti-SOPA – who all represent a minority – who have successfully used their voting power and political pressure to achieve their minority goals - plus the Prohibition Amendment tactics – bringing all sides together - is a straight path for us to success that cannot fail to enable us to create and complete one task that the MAJORITY want.
There are at least seventeen different Constitutional Amendments in the works.
Help us support these moves to get the money out of our political system.
Join the NYC OWS Corporations are not People and Money is not Speech Working Group
http://www.nycga.net/groups/restore-democracy
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NYCRDWG
http://bit.ly/vK2pGI
regular meetings Wednesdays 5:30-7:30PM @ 60 Wall St – The Attrium
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A Constitutional Convention would give each state one vote. Its delegates would not be chosen by OWS but by State legislatures. No one could limit what the Con Con could do. Be careful what you wish for...
you can't have a comprehensive amendment you can have one simple amendment your voting issues can be addressed from the voting rights act. in congress (yea that sucks their the problem) your transparency clause would be covered under (FEC) but what you can do is clarify what to role of corporations and what the role of corporations are NOT in this country
there already ARE over a dozen proposed amendments IN CONGRESS - and you are right -
my "ideal" is too big
briefly:
corporations are not people
money is not speech
check out our working group documents
Agree on all accounts. Especially this:
"I don't believe OWS is going to be able to flip the entire economic structure upside down".
Occupy is kidding itself if we think we are to abstract and cool to participate in politics and make changes in the current political system. This should not be about creating some fantasy of over throwing the government its about living in reality and fixing the system we have and weeding out corruption.
That my friend is the best idea of substance I’ve heard from OWS. I’m a former OWS supporter. Who just came to think the craziness and unrealistic ideas were heading nowhere. But that’s another story.
On the issue of the two court rulings I was jaw dropping stunned. No one believes corporations are people; and I think almost every American has the same feeling.
I think a grassroots campaign is doable and would be successful. Almost everyone, both left and right.would support it. This is one issue the masses will strongly support. This idea will win hearts and minds across political lines.
I say put every effort OWS can muster behind this. It would be a defining moment. DO IT. The sooner the better
Absolutely. Come back to reality and achieve real goals that deal with the root of the problems in this country.
agreed the only way the entire economic structure can only flip itself upside down with a total economic colapse, a wall st. implosion if you will.
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OK, I see a lot of posts on wanting to do it - what is your plan to accomplish this? Who in congress do you know who will present a bill to change the constitution?
Words regarding this matter don't make it - actions do and it cannot be done by individuals - it has to be presented as a bill - who do you know who will do this?
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you need the system to collapse in on itself before that happens and I'm not thinking about this election we need to start thinking long term not in quarters and election cycles
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or you could have a bloody revolution and loose
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