Forum Post: People are missing the point!!
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 3, 2011, 10:12 p.m. EST by zombie
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I have read a multitude of articles about this movement and watched countless media presentations about "what this is all about", "what it means". I keep hearing this movement should have a list of demands and clear objectives. Those who are asking these questions are missing the point! The beauty of this movement is the lack of a clear cut list of demands, instead this movement is about giving a voice to those who have been voiceless. People are tired, they are tired of watching record corporate profits soar, while the middle class continue to suffer. They are tired of seeing the rich have the means take advantage of good "buys" while they cannot get a second look at the same opportunities. They are tired of working harder and longer for less. They are tired of rising costs and less jobs. They are tired of hearing the same political garbage, year after year, from both parties. Mostly, they just want things to improve. Me, I am a "zombie". I am highly educated, and an experienced CFO (yes, I'm employed!). By the way, I am a registered republican. I am, what I believe most of the country is- they support this movement, whether they will admit it or not (yet). I say good for you all- let your voice be heard- and continue to express what this movement means to you. I believe our founding fathers would be proud. For those of you who do not agree with this movement or question their motives, let me ask you this- are we in a better or worse position as a nation than we were 20 years ago? Do you really believe we are on the right road to recovery? Do you fear for your children/family/friends? Keep an open mind and I too believe you will support this mission.
Corporate Free Speech There needs to be better corporate representation. Money is speech. Every individual, even individual stockholders, "ownership," has a right to free speech. Free speech means no one can force or prevent an individual's speech. Ownership has the right to direct the corporation's speech and political contributions. Majority control of contributions may violate an individual's free speech. Corporate management can speech for the corporation, but ownership needs to authorize that speech. No speech or money spent on political contributions may be made without ownership authorization and such contributions must be taken from the individual's dividends. No dividends means there is no allowance for contributions. Corporate management must poll the ownership to determine the amount and placement of all individual stockholder directed contributions. The assignment of all corporate contributions must be made public so that ownership can verify the correct placement of their contributions. Management can not make contributions on the behalf of nonresponsive ownership and thus can only make contributions for which they have been directly authorized.
Money is speech. Corporations are people, because people get the money. Free speech means people are not forced to pay for someone else's speech. Corporations may not force to pay or deny dividends, to a person who does not approve of money spent on speech. Corporations may only spend money on speech that is taken, by approval, from the people who get the money. Every person who gets money, from the corporation, must approve the money spent on speech, in order to protect the right to free speech. Since the money spent on speech is identifiable with a person then that money is subject to caps associated with that person and must be reported. Also, tax consequences flow, to each person, for tax exempt contributions. If the corporation feels that the cost of polling and reporting the money spent on speech is prohibitive, then the corporation is prohibited from spending on speech. Corporations spend money on product ads and any political placement in a product ad must have unanimous consent of ownership.
True, people want to be heard, but I imagine they don't want to be disregarded at the same time. Ultimately, there needs to be a defined stance with a defined message/goals. You can have your cake and eat it too.
I disagree. The clarity will become more evident as time goes on. It is enough that people are standing up to the 1%. This alone will make them fear the movement.
Thank you! Agree.
Very candid and well made comment. He understands the movement!!
Thank you for that comment -it was truly sincere and level headed, and shows that all it takes is like-minded people, of all political persuasions, to make a difference. I didn't know CFO's were required to take Marketing in school!
Nice post zombie
Welcome to the cause!
Check the link after the edit mark on this page for a working list of goals http://occupywallst.org/forum/first-official-release-from-occupy-wall-street/
and this Warning from the original Tea Party before it got hijacked http://occupywallst.org/forum/an-open-letter-and-warning-from-a-former-tea-party/