Forum Post: Principles

Hello! I support and am grateful for your efforts. I am posting something that may or may not be of use to the Occupy movement. They are the 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. AA does not have any defined leader, and follows these principles when interacting with each other and society. They have managed to stay "pure" for 70+ years as a result. Ironically, the WSJ actually printed these traditions a few years back as a sensible guide for business to follow. Not all of the principles will apply to the Occupy movement, but there are a few that might be. Here they are:

12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous One—Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity. Two—For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern. Three—The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking. Four—Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole. Five—Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. Six—An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose. Seven—Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions. Eight—Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ special workers. Nine—A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve. Ten—Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy. Eleven—Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films. Twelve—Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.