Forum Post: Protest is fine, but satisfactory outcome can only come from a coherent set of public policies
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 18, 2011, 9:04 a.m. EST by shz1
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Protest is fine, but we need a program of action to make the U.S. government truly a government of the people, BY the people, and FOR the people. First step: a coherent set of citizen-created public policies. goo.gl/BaFXv can get us started.
As the NY Times pointed out in an editorial, it is not the protesters job to write policy and make laws. That is the job of the nation's leaders. The protesters job is to voice the concerns of the people, and pressure leaders to address their concerns in terms that are acceptable to the protesters.
At the same time, ideas/goals/plans/policies will evolve out of this. But this movement is founded on the idea of direct democracy, which takes a very long time to make decisions. But, as long as the decision is a good one, we can wait as long as we need.
I suggest that we have one goal that unites us and it is that we want to get our government to reflect and represent we the people and not those the ultra wealthy. Lets not get characterized as being far out socialist liberals bent on destroying society as it is today! I am sure there are many points and goals that can be detailed in a manifesto - and I am equally sure that there are many opposing views with respect to these goals. The very word “manifesto” conjures up the aura of violent revolutionaries demands. We cannot give the small elite few who currently “run the country and make all the decisions for us” the opportunity to dismiss us as radicals. Today we cannot hold a real discussion on the merits of any of the points/demands listed in today’s manifesto - because our elected representatives reflect those who will ensure their reelection. Until we change this and get the money out of politics we will never achieve any of the points listed in today’s manifesto! Our first step - our initial goal and what I suggest should be our sole unifying goal must be that we get back control of our government. Once we have representatives and senators who understand that they are responsible to "we the people" and not a few powerful people - then and only then will we have a chance of dealing with the individual items listed in the manifesto. Once this happens we can debate taboo subjects like Forgiveness of Student Loans, Ending Foreclosures, the lack of morals and ethics on Wall Street, term limits, … I am not saying whether I am for any of these or against them - as the Arab Spring sprung from the inextinguishable requirement that “the people” have their voices heard and not only heard but listened to and acted on - we need to have representatives who represent us. This is what we need - we need go no deeper - we must have our governments' back. Once we do then true debate that does not reflect the special interests will take place … Take back what is yours … that which is ours BE YOU American, British, French, Italian, Australian, Chinese, Russian, Libyan, Tunisian, Yemeni, Syrian, WE ALL HAVE A SINGLE COMMON GOAL - IT IS TO GET OUR GOVERNMENT BACK. Alex P
That's fine as long as the primary issues are there. The incredible corruption of Wall Street along with our leaders and the obscene, unjust, immoral, and illogical concentration of wealth.
We have been mislead by Reagan, Bush Sr, Clinton, Bush Jr, Obama, and nearly every other public figure. Economic growth, job creation, and actual prosperity are not necessarily a package deal. In fact, the first two are horribly misunderstood. Economic growth/loss (GDP) is little more than a measure of wealth changing hands. A transfer of currency from one party to another. The rate at which it is traded. This was up until mid ’07′ however, has never been a measure of actual prosperity. Neither has job creation. The phrase itself has been thrown around so often, and in such a generic political manner, that it has come to mean nothing. Of course, we need to have certain things done for the benefit of society as a whole. We need farmers, builders, manufacturers, transporters, teachers, cops, firefighters, soldiers, mechanics, sanitation workers, doctors, managers, and visionaries. Their work is vital. I’ll even go out on a limb and say that we need politicians, attorneys, bankers, investors, and entertainers. In order to keep them productive, we must provide reasonable incentives. We need to compensate each by a fair measure for their actual contributions to society. We need to provide a reasonable scale of income opportunity for every independent adult, every provider, and share responsibility for those who have a legitimate need for aid. In order to achieve and sustain this, we must also address the cost of living and the distribution of wealth. Here, we have failed miserably. The majority have already lost their home equity, their financial security, and their relative buying power. The middle class have actually lost much of their ability to make ends meet, re-pay loans, pay taxes, and support their own economy. The lower class have gone nearly bankrupt. In all, its a multi-trillion dollar loss taken over about 30 years. Millions are under the impression that we need to create more jobs simply to provide more opportunity. as if that would solve the problem. It won’t. Not by a longshot. Jobs don’t necessarily create wealth. In fact, they almost never do. For the mostpart, they only transfer wealth from one party to another. A gain here. A loss there. Appreciation in one community. Depreciation in another. In order to create net wealth, you must harvest a new resource or make more efficient use of one. Either way you must have a reliable and ethical system in place to distribute that newly created wealth in order to benefit society as a whole and prevent a lagging downside. The ‘free market’ just doesn’t cut it. Its a farce. Many of the jobs created are nothing but filler. The promises empty. Sure, unemployment reached an all-time low under Bush. GDP reached an all-time high. But those are both shallow and misleading indicators. In order to gauge actual prosperity, you must consider the economy in human terms. As of ’08′ the average American was working more hours than the previous generation with far less equity to show for it. Consumer debt, forclosure, and bankruptcy were also at all-time highs. As of ’08′, every major American city was riddled with depressed communities, neglected neighborhoods, failing infrastructures, lost revenue, and gang activity. All of this has coincided with massive economic growth and job creation. Meanwhile, the rich have been getting richer and richer and richer even after taxes. Our nation’s wealth has been concentrated. Again, this represents a multi-trillion dollar loss taken by the majority. Its an absolute deal breaker. Bottom line: With or without economic growth or job creation, you must have a system in place to prevent too much wealth from being concentrated at the top. Unfortunately, we don’t. Our economy has become nothing but a giant game of Monopoly. The richest one percent already own nearly 1/2 of all United States wealth. More than double their share before Reagan took office. Still, they want more. They absolutely will not stop. Now, our society as a whole is in serious jeapordy. Greed kills.