Forum Post: List of demands
Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 5, 2011, 6:20 a.m. EST by Toddtjs
(187)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I think this whole occupy wall street thing originally started out as a movement more than a strike with a list of demands. It's been only a few weeks and the media is clamoring for us to get a coherent list together. If we get pressured into making a list then then the focus will shift away from the movement itself. What we want to sell here is enthusiasm. We want it to grow across the country like it seems to be doing so far. It may even spread to other parts of the world. Now we all agree that our main gripe is lack of attention on young adults entering the work force and the squeezing of the middle class. So let's keep that focus for now. Once you start breaking it down into legal crap- that's when you start to loose a lot of other folks and then you loose the enthusiasm. This should stay a movement for now. The tea party ( I really hate to use that comparison) lacked specific demands in the begining as to concentrate mainly on building enthusiasm. A while later they were taken over by the special interest groups and they had their list of demands. Let's keep our list in our back pocket for now.
I wholeheartedly agree that creating a list of demands is a bad idea.
A better strategy would be to create a list of issues that we'd all like to see addresses in a responsible way. You already mentioned two:
There are a lot more. Let's focus on the issues and forget about demands.
stelth
Bravo stelth!
Finally...rational thinking.
As the baby boomers retire they will be forced to start withdrawing from their pensions and retirement plans. At first it will be a trickle but in time it will be so massive they will need another bail out to keep it going. What will you choose?
Here's where balancing excitement and information is difficult. The movement at this point in time is a seedling, even less than that. Let people gather, let the ideas come and fruit if they will, die on the vine if they must and after a set amount of time- then move into action. To go now is inviting failure, more so on our part for not gathering the complete 99%.
Thank you johnbarber...well said!
That's it "issues". That's the way normal people talk. It's subtle. Now we don't need a big list of issues just a few major ones. Let the press roll it around in their minds for a while - during that time we concentrate on building this thing up to where it's virtually impossible to ignore. Then we let them have it.
Let them have it???
You can't be serious.
Let them "have it" with what??? A reason to call you a lunatic and lock you up???
That kind of language is exactly what they are looking for...that is exactly the kind of thing they want you to start saying.
Don't be ridiculous. We don't want to bring down this government...we want REAL CHANGE.
Let the PRESS have the list of demands- greviences-gripes ...whatever
Thanx for the clarification Toddtjs...
This movement needs to be very careful about how they communicate their message.
If we move slowly and steadily on this then it can build. This can be one of the most dramatic changes in our society - maybe in history. Thousands of years of elite rule. The creation of the middle class has brought profound positive change to the quality of life for hundreds of millions of people. Now we have the opportunity to finely tune it and create better prosperity for future generations.
I couldn't agree more.
One point, tho, some "elite" are better than others. There are actually some CEOs that support change that will balance the scales for all Americans.
So, let's be careful we don't alienate people that might actually support this effort.
I agree. Warren Buffet is a good example. And Bill Gates foundation also deserves some credit.
what about Warren buffet did in the past?
A list of demands? What? Are OWSt holding hostages now?
"Now we all agree ............(your words)" Well, I am a 99'r and I am 57 and barely holding on. This movement must be broader than what you want the focus to be. Inclusive, not exclusive..........
I completely agree. The article I read sounded like a) lunacy or b) the media or opposition trying to discredit this movement.
I mean, for one example, really...$20 an hour minimum wage??? Are you kidding???
Please tell me OWS did not authorize this.
And I don't think you should be creating a "list of demands"...rather a list of greivances.
I do believe you should be clear about the issues that need to be addressed and they should be reasonable, realistic and focused on 2 or 3 main points...such as regulating corporations and their overseas operations, supporting the EPA so our environment is protected, addressing issues at the Federal Reserve and Wallstreet.
Keep it simple, clear and reasonable.
It's complete (or close to) free speech in here at the moment. Anyone is free to post what's on their mind. Fingers crossed it's coherent and non-fantasy but you get what you get when you open the doors. As far as I know there's only two sanctioned OWS documents and both are open for re-assessment (links are around).
You need demands, you need to demand the change of the financial system, the government, education and health care, you need to demand infrastructure projects, you need to demand change so more join you, if you don't then how can people join if they don't know your going to help them with?, you need to demand more not less, you will be forgotten and beaten into the pavement as just some hippies protesting, you need to demand the government be run in the name of the people you need to demand an end to treason.
Making "demands" does not sound like reasonable thinking.
Present your greivances as rational people and you will be taken seriously.
Otherwise, confrontation will be met with confrontation.
The financial system is a result of govt intervention. They only gambled away the money because they knew the govt would bail them out. Simple. The taxpayers promised to cover it.
Prices go up when govt subsidizes services artificially with taxpayer dollars and eliminate competition through the formation of cartels. All of this is because of govt.
Bullshit. The government bailed them out because they gave the politicians bribes and kickbacks to do so. The criminals are the corporations, the rich who run those corporations and the politicians that their MONEY corrupted.
Your solution is to eliminate the government so the corps can just screw over everyone without even having to worry about bribery costs. That isn't a solution. It's frankly retarded.
Occupy the FED, not Wall St.
Wall St. is a puppet...the FED is the puppet master!
The fed is a puppet of wall street, get it right.
Nope. The FED is the head. Do your homework.
Look at the common denominators between Presidents. Why do generations of Presidents of different parties keep the same FED chairmans? Look up the Thomas Jefferson quote about centralized banking.
Nice post. I hope the original 13 demands have been removed from this site for good. They made the whole movement look like a personal rant.
Let's sell it to the media bit by bit. Keep their curiosity going. Then when every major city in the country has occupations by the thousands -BAM! We hit em with our demands
Thank you, lorisfisher...you nailed it.
Unfortunately, now that it's out there it can't be taken back.
These folks better be prepared for the backlash.