Forum Post: Open Letter to Occupy - Now is the Time for Clear Messaging!
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 20, 2011, 8:28 p.m. EST by Terpinator
(2)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
First of all, I congratulate you! You've done a great job bringing attention to the fact we have some serious challenges in our societal, economic, and political systems. I applaud and support your actions to date.
Now what?
You have the attention of the public. Many are on the sidelines watching and waiting. Many are cautiously supporting you. Many of them aren't sure what you are. Many of them are waiting see what you will become before they will commit to throwing their support behind you. You have reached a critical juncture, the point where you will either galvanize the broader public behind you, or eventually fade from broad-based relevance.
I understand your wariness at putting forth specific, detailed demands, and I’d suggest you neither need nor want that anyway. Specific demands will allow those who want to stop you to place the focus on and dismantle the demands and to marginalize you in the process. However, you do need to establish a clear and cohesive message that crystallizes what you are about in the minds of the public, and a message that the broader public that is watching from the sidelines can get behind.
If you don't do this, and do it soon, you leave yourself vulnerable to being cast in an unfavorable light. The people that view you as a threat are already trying to do this. You need to clearly communicate what you are!
I know you are a diverse group of many ideas and perspectives, as we all are, but you need a central organizing theme, that is easily communicated in a sound bite, and clearly expresses what you are all about. I can’t tell you what that theme is, of course, but having observed you I know I’ve formed an impression of what I hope you are about. And it is this…
I hope that you are a rebellion against the rule of money and the subversion of our democracy. That’s it. This is a central organizing theme that is easily communicated and will coalesce support from the broader public behind your movement, while leaving plenty of room for defining demands and policy to bring it to fruition.
If this is truly what you are about, then I would suggest the drafting of a “Declaration of Independence from Corporate Rule”. This declaration should demand sweeping structural changes that are based on some clearly articulated, high-level Guiding Principles that set out the course of direction our union needs to take to restore our democracy. It should not contain specific policy demands or solutions. The time for such detail is not now because the detail can be picked apart and used against you. What you want to do now is to energize broader support, and guiding principles that the public will get behind are the way to accomplish this. Let our representatives come up with the solutions that fit the principles, and if they don’t do so, then will be the time for further elaboration of demands and action via the ballot box.
The form these Guiding Principles take is, of course, up to you, but I would suggest a few, as will post in replies to this.
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plus add this:
Here's how we can easily Reform Wall Street: Take away their powers "once again." And a Million People March on The Hill will help get it done!
For example, "We are here Congress because we want to bring REINSTATE the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 http://www.investopedia.com/articles/03/071603.asp#axzz1aPEc3wX which helped saved our country from the Great Depression by preventing investment companies, banks, and insurance companies from merging and becoming large brokerage firms; instead of just being Banks and Insurance companies--why can't we learn a history lesson here Congress? Btw, why did most of you vote for its final repeal in 1999? http://www.counterpunch.org/2008/09/19/shattering-the-glass-steagall-act (2nd story here)
Think about where we are now, it all started in 1999 with lawmakers like Senator Phil Gramm: CNN's The Ten Most Responsible for Economy Collapse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKQOxr2wBZQ&feature=related
Furthermore, we also want you to CHANGE the Commodities Future Modernization Act of 2000 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodity_Futures_Modernization_Act_of_2000 BACK to where it was before 2000, which since has deregulated energy markets and consequently allowed for such scams as The Enron Loophole; whereas in the early 2000's Enron Corp. was charging 250 bucks plus for a kilowatt hour...They all when to jail for this. But, the Enron loophole is still not closed, for example, allowing speculators to resell barrels of oil over and over again before it reaches the gas station owner. It's basically, legal gambling at our expense. What were those lawmakers thinking then? What are you thinking now? Either do the right think, or you're part of the 1%."
Why are oil prices high? The Enron Loophole
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbdtTGYQBMU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNp0y0SjOkY&feature=related
Rolling Stones Reporter: Truth about Goldman Sachs--how they have cornered the markets--basically, The Enron Loophole and the Repeal of Glass-Steagall Act in 1999. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waL5UxScgUw
Let's get focused and bring back Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, they got it right 1933, we don't need to REINVENT the wheel because bringing this Act back will create an even playing field once again....and let's finally Close the Enron Loophole, which allowed Enron to charge what they wanted for energy; they went to jail for this; but no one closed the loophole, why? Re-election Monies from the banks and oil companies! The writing is on the wall.
The time for such detail is not now because the detail can be picked apart and used against you
I think this is why an articulated position actually hurts the cause. By identifying the movement with some specific purpose, you allow it to become a target. With an un-articulated movement, it's like a moving target. The "opposition" - whoever they might be - can't attack it. But politicians get nervous and try to make moves they think will appease the movement.
Just my thought, I don't know how this will play out. I think you make a very valid point. It's going to be exciting to watch. It's fun watching a potentially huge historic moment develop.
Guiding Principle 1 – Restore One Person One Vote
Eliminate all corporate or other money influence in our democratic institutions, including, campaigns, elections, and enactment of law (lobbying). Money is not speech, and no individual or other entity is allowed to influence an election more than a single citizen with their 1 vote can.
Guiding Principle 2 – End the War on the Working Class
Implement sane trade policy that doesn't sell out our country and our people. Enact labor policy that focuses on what is good for workers, the backbone of our nation’s strength. This should include provisions designed to make our workforce the most competitive in the world, examples of such might be education and job training programs.
Guiding Principle 3 – Restore Fair Taxation
No more free ride for the wealthy. No more disproportionate burden on the working class. All forms of income shall be taxed with identical marginal rates (no advantages of investment or inheritance incomes over wages for work).
Guiding Principle 4 – Restore Fair and Stable Markets
Reinforce and enforce anti-trust law, no company shall be too big to fail. Reinstate regulations that protect our markets from undue risk and prevent unfair competitive advantage for those that would game the system.
Guiding Principle 5 – End Systemic Divisiveness
No political gerrymandering for party security. Implement non-political redistricting process in all states. Eliminate all systemic structures that give the 2 parties inherent advantages, such as implement instant runoff voting.
Again, these are just examples and suggestions. I’m certain you are capable of drafting your own. They should be high-level and unifying, principles that the broader public will support. And I’ll emphasize again, they need to be sufficiently brief and clear that they are easily communicated in a sound bite.
Demand adherence to the principles you come up with, and then see how our elected representatives address them. If you don't like their plans/policies/actions, demand they change them.
I wish you all the best. I am placing cautious hope in this movement.
Guiding Principle 1 – Restore One Person One Vote
Eliminate all corporate or other money influence in our democratic institutions, including, campaigns, elections, and enactment of law (lobbying). Money is not speech, and no individual or other entity is allowed to influence an election more than a single citizen with their 1 vote can.
Guiding Principle 2 – End the War on the Working Class
Implement sane trade policy that doesn't sell out our country and our people. Enact labor policy that focuses on what is good for workers, the backbone of our nation’s strength. This should include provisions designed to make our workforce the most competitive in the world, examples of such might be education and job training programs.
Guiding Principle 3 – Restore Fair Taxation
No more free ride for the wealthy. No more disproportionate burden on the working class. All forms of income shall be taxed with identical marginal rates (no advantages of investment or inheritance incomes over wages for work).
Guiding Principle 4 – Restore Fair and Stable Markets
Reinforce and enforce anti-trust law, no company shall be too big to fail. Reinstate regulations that protect our markets from undue risk and prevent unfair competitive advantage for those that would game the system.
Guiding Principle 5 – End Systemic Divisiveness
No political gerrymandering for party security. Implement non-political redistricting process in all states. Eliminate all systemic structures that give the 2 parties inherent advantages, such as implement instant runoff voting.
Again, these are just examples and suggestions. I’m certain you are capable of drafting your own. They should be high-level and unifying, principles that the broader public will support. And I’ll emphasize again, they need to be sufficiently brief and clear that they are easily communicated in a sound bite.
Demand adherence to the principles you come up with, and then see how our elected representatives address them. If you don't like their plans/policies/actions, demand they change them.
I wish you all the best. I am placing cautious hope in this movement.