Forum Post: It's time to stick to a core issue: ending captured government.
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 25, 2011, 2:35 a.m. EST by hebronjames1
(70)
from New York, NY
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
When political power is more equally distributed we can tackle everyone's pet issue:
Reforming the banking system
Reducing unemployment and income inequality
Instituting a viable cap-and-trade system or carbon tax
Smarter defense spending
Wall Street epitomizes the incestuous relationship between corporations and government. It's time to place a tall fat wall between the two so that our democracy can function as our founders had intended. We ought to start creating some greater level of focus; the movement will likely stagnate otherwise
How about a pledge signed by politicians that they will support a constitutional amendment to get money out of politics? And don't vote for any one who doesn't sign it.
sounds like a good idea to me and seems more effective and likely to happen than prospects for a constitutional convention called on by state legislatures
If congress does not call an article 5 convention upon the application of 2 more states, it will be so blatent that congress is treasonous, we can reasonably and lawfullly call upon the military to intervene under the authority of the constitution in their oath.---
They are already in serious violation, its basically treason. Because of treason our nation is trashed. Wake up! This guy sues all members to learn they were so arrogant they were not even counting applications!
http://algoxy.com/poly/article_v_convention.html
this would be a great starting point, then when enough pledge takers were in office a constitutional convention could be called or legislation could be enacted to end the control of government by big money.
An article 5 convention is simpler in some ways. We need patience and the most logical sequence we can concieve of then DIG IN. Settle for nothing less, no matter what.------
Peaceful assemblies in the state capitols with properly schooled spokespeople that have spent considerable time with large groups of citizens online or in public, coming out each day and asking to be heard by someone, or speak to the legislature if it is obvious their grasp is as good as it gets upon the proposed amendment OR ratification issue that they need to see the state legislature oppose. If they can convince their legislature, and they draft, it will be fairly certain that the exact proposal will be understood and why it is needed well represented, meaning in that case, other states will ratify without too much fuss. the important thing is backup local facts so situations cannot be misrepresented. We the people will have to run checks on them and their positions.------
Here is where people will need to look into their own state law. A little guidence to finding the right ones is all that is needed and state representatives have that job of defining the law and application of it initially to the people. Most often it is fairly easy to understand once it is located.
interesting
and "We the people will have to run checks on them and their positions" we have to create central locations, I would suggest message boards, where facts are compiled. Evidence, declarations, affidavits, law citations, etc. THEN the message board has a polling feature. The issue are distilled with respect to the laws and potential solutions with their various impacts, implicatoins etc.-----
What this does is assure that IF there is a better way to look at it, that perhaps has things running in the peoples interests rather than some special interest, that alternate method is uncovered and shown as PREFERRED by informed opinion.-
We then provide whatever data is needed to define the people choice on the matter to delegates. When they go to the state legislations or to the convention, they really do know the facts and what the will of the people is democratically.
"Instituting a viable cap-and-trade system or carbon tax"
you do realise that Goldman Sachs are behind carbon credit trading?
I vote for creating a transparent direct democracy
well said
Right on! I thought I got it! There is a protocol that needs being observed then it fits in with the due process aspects. I really like the idea of not having to go to washington and camp out, and camping in sacramento instead.------
It makes so much more sense for everyobne to go after the states to go after congress when 2 more states apply. Then it is blatently obvious by any measure they must call a convention. THEY HAVE TO DAMMIT! It's the law.
I vote for giving Matt a vote in direct democratic control through state elections and ratifying power over amendments to the constitution in a convention to amend with Article 5:) -
Congress is very afraid of an Article V.
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.
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.-------
I will harass my delegates in my state to see that amendment making transparent government is well presented to the other states for ratification.
If we get distracted from this issue, we will fail
we might fail?
we can't fail?
don't be a failure
I don't exactly follow what you're trying to say
I got bent over the doom directive rhetoric
If we get distracted from this issue, the movement will lose momentum.
well it's not necessarily doom directive more than trying to help create focus. let me try and rephrase...
more descriptive than before . nice work
I know exactly where Matt is coming from and I stress in the same way. The "core issue" really is the authority to have demands met and acted upon, otherwise it's mostly lots of work and expense for maybe nothing.---
On the other hand, if you go for the authority first for example, and you get it, and then you forget something, or do something wrong, go back and fix it.-----
Trying to do things without authority just exposes what you think you need done or why you know you need it, perhaps making it harder later to get it done! If you are opposed. Not logical to act that way.
Hey, WTF isn't anybody talking about gaining the AUTHORITY to do anything?
I can prove that ONLY article 5 of the US constitution has the authority to do what needs to be done.--
So where can this discussion be created? What could be more "core issue" other than the authority to be effective?
I think there are folks talking about ways to amend the Constitution through article 5 (2/3s of Congress or the state-legislature route)
Nope, NYCGA refused to discuss it.
true, but supporters of OWS have put forth amendments that deal with the consequences of the Citizens United case
Depending on congress is not going to work. Serious authority is needed here and OWS has not invoked it. If this is not true HOW have these amendments been put forth? Do they have the support of congress members in a vocal sense?