Forum Post: Occupy Needs Clear Cogent Attainable Goals
Posted 13 years ago on Nov. 19, 2011, 9:01 p.m. EST by leahlewis
(1)
from Eugene, OR
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I just sent an email to one of the Occupy Eugene organizers to this effect, so I just though I'd sound this out here. How many people think each movement should make a local demand, a state demand and as a whole perhaps spearheaded by OWS a federal level demand? If something clear isn't stated soon I fear the media will move on and that the real police brutality of breaking up camps all over, will begin. All Occupy has now is the media's attention and some camps.As its working out now there seem to be a lot of elements within the movement not committed to non-violence or economic justice. It makes me reluctant to really get behind it and what little time I have occupying.
My 2 cents on a Federal level demand - one that the majority of Americans already agree with - We need to reform the way we elect our officials.
For decades now the corporations and special interests have had our "representatives" bought and paid for (both on the right and the left). Don't get distracted by the symptoms - we need to address the root cause. Concentrating our efforts on getting the money out of our politics is the best way we can create an environment in which further reforms can be realized. Until we end the current system of legalized bribery (campaign donations) and paid lobbying our politicians will continue to be the LAP DOGS of the corporations and special interests. What we need first and foremost is real, loop-hole free CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM!!!! If the corruption is not dealt with first, the chance of any other meaningful reforms becoming a reality is almost zero - the special interests will just use their money to buy votes and put forward bills that create loop-holes or otherwise twist the law in their favor. If we want our children to live in a country where there vote matters, we need to get the money out of our politics, otherwise they will increasingly become the 21st century version of the "landless peasant." Spread the word - End the LEGALIZED BRIBERY!!! CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM needs to be THE main goal of the protests!!!
As an example, just to be someone who provides ideas and not just criticisms, how about demanding the federal minimum wage be raised by $4.00 per hour? I know that would make a huge difference to many working poor and students working minimum wage jobs.
Or perhaps, as I suggested to the Eugene organizer, Asking the Super-committee or congress, through media channels, why they won't raise the corporate tax rate to the Eisenhower levels (which i learned today was 91%). Occupy has the ability to ask this in a very large forum right now. It would be great to see politicians' own hyprocrisy turned against them by the OWS/Occupy movement.
For my state demand I would like one house in the city I live in to be free and clear, and it should be cleaned daily by a maid service provided by the city. The fridge should be stocked with food and beer. My state should provide me with an income of $100,000 a year if I work or not. The federal government should provide me with free healthcare even if I get HIV because of my behaviour.