Forum Post: Possible Alternative OWS Solidarity Actions (15 Total on List)
Posted 11 years ago on Jan. 24, 2013, 9:44 p.m. EST by Middleaged
(5140)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I have no idea what is going on in OWS. But I like to Brainstorm. I'm sure most of these would be discounted by most people. But maybe somebody will get a new Idea from looking at my alternatives:
1) High School Class Skip Day 2013
2) Mass No Filing Tax Protest by Individual Tax Payers (messy idea)
3) Million Prosters March on Washington DC Mall by OWS (Spring or Fall would be safer due to the Heat & Humidity)
4) National Jubilee Holiday to educate people on Rent-Seeking
5) National Car Pool Month, to cut consumerism, stimulate community conversation about OWS Issues
6) Boycot Walmart Month, to show solidarity & Power of Consumers
7) Demand Simplify IRS Income Tax to only 6 Loopholes and Transparency over Corporate Tax Payments and Loopholes
8) Turn Off TV or Turn Off Cable TV Month (Solidarity)
9) Stop Buying major Brands Month in Grocery Shopping (solidarity)
10) Stop Bathing Week, the smell will cause a buzz for sure (Solidarity)
11) Long hair Pact, one Year No Hair Cut, (solidarity)
12) No Fast Food Purchases Month (solidarity)
13) Generic Food & Products Month (solidarity)
14) End Cable or Satelite Subscriptions except for Internet Month or Six Months - You will get a better rate when you resubscribe, but the point is all media is owned by just a few companies who don't educate the Public, who dumb us down, who obfuscate, who no longer investigate (Solidairity)
15) Boycott all Products made partly overseas for one Month, There are no more American Brands (solidarity)
Glad I got that out of my system. Now I can forget this.
Most of these are wonderful, but I'd have to say #2 is by far the fastest acting and safest way to get the attention of the oligarchs, turn our backs to their system and create our own. "Tax Refusal" was Gandhi's favourite method of NON-COMPLIANCE. No bloodshed needed. This should be our number one goal...and NOW!
Wow, great passion. You sound like you are alive, involved, informed, outspoken, and in action.
Lol! Thanks Ma...I have my moments. Just wish there were more of them, haha.
I feel very passionate about a "People's Society". In my view, a true democracy can only be run by the people themselves. No matter who gets into government, infiltration and corruption are too strong to be held at bay for any length of time. With a people's society, we can incorporate anything we want..and by popular consensus, truly good things would be brought in one by one. A living wage for instance...who of 'we the people' wouldn't vote for that? Thanks again Ma!
How do you feel about RICO Violations by the Federal Government, Congress, Eric Holder & President Obama under USC Title 18
http://occupywallst.org/forum/public-awareness-new-national-holiday-rico-violati/
6.18.1962C-7 RICO – “Racketeering Activity” Defined “Racketeering activity,” as defined by the RICO statute [federal law], includes any acts that involve or that may be charged as any of a wide range of crimes under state or federal law.
Criminal Conspiracy as Racketeering Act. In United States v. Irizarry, 341 F.3d 273, 301 (3d Cir. 2003),
Guilt of RICO Offense by Aiding and Abetting. A defendant may be guilty of a substantive RICO offense by aiding and abetting under 18 U.S.C. § 2.
There's a wealth of info on that thread. Surprised you got no comments on it. I missed it since I haven't been around very much lately. Here's another excellent article from Matt Taibbi in the same vein, although it may have been posted recently and I missed it:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/outrageous-hsbc-settlement-proves-the-drug-war-is-a-joke-20121213
Thanks, yeah, fits in pretty well .. so I added in after the JP Morgan Fine Story.
The problem with #2 is the the IRS is set-up to focus on Main Street, the small guy. The IRS pays hard ball. You have to be prepared for some nasty conversations. I've never had a huge problem myself. But ...The Pressure has to be pretty high if you get into that
Maybe just a mass movement to file at the last moment, or a mass movement to file for tax extension... I hate to see people get hurt.
Bad idea. Taxes are the symbol of a society. Without taxes, people are just individuals not helping each other. We want to create a socialistic society where taxes are well distributed so that everyone can help each other. We certain need to fight to curb corruption and make sure taxes are better used, but not paying taxes is not the solution here. The problem is not the idea of taxes, it's the way they are redistributed. Not paying taxes attacks the wrong problem.
I'm all for taxes. I just think we need to stop the oligarchs dead in their tracks, by putting the brakes on their revenue systems. They are abusing us with OUR OWN MONEY. Isn't that tantamount to beating your head against a wall? They have squandered tax money for decades.
What I'm saying is we need to turn our backs to 'them' and their system, because quite frankly, they've done a shit job of it...intentionally! In reading another of your posts regarding your attempted recruitment into the NWO...I know you are quite aware of this.
So YES, lets pay taxes and disperse them properly...via a "People's Society". WE need to be our own government. WE will see to it that tax money gets put to the appropriate projects. We need our own system. Lets turn our backs on their system. The best way to do this is an en masse 'global' Tax Refusal.
I agree the oligarchs are stealing our money through taxation, and I agree that not paying taxes en masse would certainly hurt them quite a bit. However, I don't think it's realistic to think you could achieve a large enough following of people who would attempt not paying taxes, and I don't think it's a good precedent to set. It's a bad example to set. We should push for ideas which we want implemented in our own society, essentially teaching by example. We don't want a society with no taxes, so this is a no go for me. There must be other ways to take care of the oligarchs.
A big problem here is that it's not a solution that scales nicely, it's basically do or die. The first people who will try this will end up in jail. It would only be safe once numbers are very high, unfortunately, that won't happen in the beginning. It's very risky for the people who start it, and it's not certain that it would catch on. You'd need a sort of promise before starting, like getting the pledge from 10,000 people or more who would all agree to do it at the same time.
We are essentially in agreement that taxes are necessary for a harmonious cohesive society...I just don't think its a good idea to keep paying good money on top of bad, to a bunch of lunatics who are using OUR money for the Military Industrial Complex to beat us down with. We are 'paying' them to hurt us! Insanity! No?
Perhaps...instead of not paying 'them' our tax money...we should pay our taxes to a "People's Society". A 'people governed' tax institution.
Big things have come from a kernal of thought before. 'Tax Refusal' is not a new concept. It was Gandhi's favourite method of non-compliance. In fact...I think Gandhi would be kicking your ass right about now.
Do you know how many people have tried to stop the oligarchs? If abating the oligarchs revenue streams (taxes and banks) is not the answer, what other way do you suggest to stop them?
We are in a 'do or die' situation right now anyway. Its now or never.
There is no question that this would have to be done en masse. I would never suggest going this alone...and 10,000 people is nowhere close to being enough for a successful 'Tax Refusal'.
The 'Tax Refusal' should be organized starting NOW...while we are protesting in the streets and exposing the financial criminality, the oligarchs, the fraudulent wars, etc, etc., so that when the protests become violent from agent infiltrators...and it WILL get violent, we can abruptly get our fellow human beings off the dangerous streets out of the line of fire, and immediately commence with the 'Tax Refusal'. And unfortunately I think it will get so bad, that with absolute certainty, a 'Tax Refusal' will catch on. I think people will be 'lining up' to be a part of it.
OWS could be profoundly instrumental in organizing an en masse 'global
Tax Refusal'. Peaceful non-compliance. The social media and co-ordination structures are already in place. It is, in my opinion, the only way we will be able to hi-jack the system. By turning our backs on their system...and creating our own.
Are you willing to discuss a Constitutional "bold stroke" at the ballot box?
opting out is not bold - got something else?
Ah, the fool returns.
You always announce yourself in the 2nd person?
BTW - most here already know you are a fool - but hey - a nice gesture of yours for anyone who is new.
Won't work, you'll never get more than 10,000 people willing to do an illegal act that could land them in jail. The only people who might do it are people who don't have much money and blame it on the system, but they don't pay much taxes so it wouldn't even dent the top. Middle class families will not risk jail. An idea based on fantasy, not reality.
Have you been to a NWO meeting? I have a few times for Chinese and US factions. The oligarchs aren't politicians making money from taxes, they are business owners making money from owning shares and franchises. Taxes is not the revenue stream of oligarchs.The NWO are businessmen who buy off politicians in exchange for control over laws that affect their sales.
And, you might know this, but what you read on the Internet about the NWO is completely fabricated by the NWO itself to serve as a coverup. For example, the Rothschild family is not part of the NWO. None of the people listed on the Internet as being part of the NWO are. Tha people in the NWO don't exist on file. The are higher up and richer than those on the Rothschild level. They pay politicians to be removed from systems and travel without the need for passports or any other kind of identity. They have reserved airspace where only they can fly. Reserved hotels where only they can stay. Most own remote islands as their bases. The reason we can't stop them is because we aren't on the right track. They paid off Alex Jones so that he would create false traces. I was there when the deal was made with him 10 years back in Houston. He's their misdirection architect.
Trashy. Sorry, I don't speak a$$hole.
I'm being trashy? How? My comment was well written, polite, and truthful. I shared my experiences. That's all. Why would you call such a speak a$$hole speak? Don't you want to bring down the NWO?
Nice try Mr. Scientific Method. Maybe you'll understand it better this way.
Sorry, je ne parle pas a$$hole.
I'm not sure what your problem is, and I don't speak italian. Born and raised in Seattle. English is my only language.
You mean like the 150,000,000 living in poverty or near poverty?
Yes, even if those people did not pay taxes it wouldn't hurt the rich. Most of them don't even pay taxes. It's asking them to go to jai for nothing. The middle class won't risk.
Are you willing to discuss a Constitutional "bold stroke" at the ballot box?
I like #6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Any action that involves not consuming can be good.
10 and 11 are a bit foolish. Occupy was given the outdated but hard to shake media image of dirty hippies. I don't see the benefit to playing into it, no matter how much buzz is generated.
1 bothers me unless you have a good reason for disrupting schools.
One point to consider when planning any action is not to look foolish. If you plan a million proster (did you mean posters or protestors?) march you better get a million. Same with many of the others. You want to demonstrate strength not weakness.
Wise words. Thanks. Yes, Protestors...
I do a few of these items on a personal level already. I’d love to see more people doing likewise.
I don’t shop at Walmart or any big box store. I go to great effort to do business with locally owned businesses. I eat at locally owned restaurants, shop at a locally owned hardware store and seek out locally owned service companies. And sometime I just do without.
I make an attempt to buy American made products. That usually means buying over the Internet. There are sites with lists of companies who are American made.
I have two TV’s and cable service, but only because my wife won’t let me get rid of them. I’ve come to view TV as evil. I also went to a pay-as-you-go cell phone service. Much cheaper. I don’t need a super-computer in a phone.
I don’t eat fast food, ever.
I have three vehicles. A car, truck and motorcycle. But don’t drive much, less than 500 miles a month between all three. We’re fortunate to live within walking distance to most things we need.
I really would like to see more people see the importance of supporting their community this way.
Great Ideas. I have a cheap off brand phone too. And don't have cable or satelite tv. I have a ways to go in food, eating, and shopping. Thanks for the tip on finding American Made products...
Most sound good.I tend to get very dirty on most days,so I will skip the not shower one.
Thanks. I think there was some stuff going on in the 1970s that might have been similar. Seems like a lot of people were gardening and going to natural foods, bulk foods.
I know.I like to shop local.Farmers markets all that when I can.I do not care for the big stores etc,but it seems thats all we have any more.Unless you can afford the specialty shops.They seem to do well but are "high end"I have no plans at this stage in my life to dig around in the dirt ,make things,etc.
We have some asian groceries, but I really shop there. I guess they are mom & pop, have produce, noodle soup, ... I don't know it that will work for me. I have to look around some more. There was a farmers market on weekends last year, but there was some problem with the property and the city.
I m out in the mountains.The produce from the stores is crap.I think it goes from the farms to the cities for distribution and back.When I lived in cities I recall that it was better in the stores.I like the farmers markets.Meat,produce etc Quality is much better but prices are also higher.I like the people that sell their own stuff as they are very helpful with preperation suggestions.
Yes, I visited an Amish Farm this last year. Cheap, but very great quality, no one to take your money, put the money in a tin. Weight out certain ones for your self. I gots some zuccinni, acorn squash, and tomatos. All great and all kept for more than a few days of travel.
COLLAPSE the system.
Yes, we have to Vote with our Wallets. We should encorage people to save, hold back spending, Take your lunch to work or school, etc.
I know this could effect the economy negatively ... but we are going to have a big collaspe someday anyway ... When everyone or 80% see that cost of living is going up, personal debt is going up, and Wages are going down along with the "Real GDP, real services and production in the US".
Consumerism, loose credit is the model for the USA. Now that the wages and jobs are declining, Pensions & Retirement Funds are declining, .... it is just a matter of time.
Boycott gas stations. leave your car home day.
Yeah, walk, ride a bike & Car Pool ... helps to become part of the community ... and to share ideas.
exactly. and helps the air pollution/environment problem. Some might come to believe they can do it regularly. Perhaps our effort should be a once a month strategy. It might grow and become a news item, feeding on itself. Oh let me stop fantasizing.
10 is not a good idea. Ehttp://cltampa.com/dailyloaf/archives/2012/08/28/the-roving-radical-dance-party-takes-to-the-streets-of-ybor#.UQKIsydQWSospecially in large groups:
Thanks. I had a waiter in Europe that didn't bath that often. Not sure what that was about. Maybe in 10 years we will be rationing baths or showers...
Count on the 2 party system to focus on one issue at a time and completely avoid the nine 800 lbs Guerrillas in the Room.
1) $600 Quadrillion Dollars in US Derivatives Globally (False Pretenses, Over Step) 2) Robust Shadow banking Industry which is Opaque, Continuing Financial Crimes, Evidence of Mass Conspiracy in Financial Circles through LIBOR Scandal, Evidence of Government Cover-up of all Financial Crimes.(RICO Violations)
3) Marriage of Corporations to Federal Government (RICO Violations) 4) Federal Regulations which position themselves are Primary across all Industries, but which have been captured by Industrial Revolving Door, Lobbying, and other methods, and Regulations which are being either not enforced or are being reduced to lower standards. (Regulation Capture)
5) Capture of Government by Military Industrial-Security Complex (PMIC), leading to foreign wars, and the Creation of a huge new Federal Agency DHS. (Corp Influence, Government Restructure)
6) Job Losses in the USA, Wage Stagnation, Loss of benefits, Loss of Pensions, Loss of Retirement Funds, Under Funded Retirement Funds, No Interest or Growth in Retirement Funds or Treasury Bills, Off-Shore Corporation HQs, Off-Shore Production created on Closed US Factories/Manufacturing. (Transfer to Social Safety Net)
7) The Rise of Corporate Oligopolies across all industries including Media, Insurance, Health Care Insurance, Big Agriculture, Big Grocery Stores, Big TBTF Banks, Big Auto Companies, Big Pharma, etc. (Antitrust)
8) Letting Private Corporations Run Exchange Markets, Government Running of Stock & Commodities Markets would enforce sanity, end high speed trading, end computer trading, end naked short selling, and probably increase scrutiny of accounts and where the money is coming from. (Running a Racket, RICO Violations)
9) Systemic Complexity Increases every year spreading risk and increasing ports where Black Swan Events can occur. democracy is about transparency, simplicity, knowing that everyone is doing what they are supposed to do like pay taxes, count your vote on election day, discourage control fraud, discourage gift giving, discourage Conflict of Interest, discourage close relationships between government officials and Industry, and encourage Integrity.(Systemic Risk)
Shred credit cards - close any accounts with a megamonster bankster.
Practice - cash & carry.
Buy local - buy in bulk - supporting local business while reducing number of miles driven to make purchases.
Thanks. I should try to go cash & Carry. I can also do better with food and bulk food items.
Sometimes ( always? ) cheaper to buy in bulk as a case not needing to be unpacked and placed on a shelf saves on handling costs. One example of a bulk saving that I made recently - coffee filters usually - what? 2.00 - 3.00 or so for 50 or 100 or so filters? - I bought 1000 for 5.00 - that is an expense I will not have again for a few years now.
Do this type of buying for as many household items as you can - and look at the reduced number of trips to the store. Now you are going to get the perishable items - cool do it in one trip because you now have less stuff to bring home at the same time.
Also - less packaging needing to be recycled or sent to the dump.