Forum Post: Protesters don't write new laws, politicians do!
Posted 13 years ago on Nov. 8, 2011, 3:16 a.m. EST by NonnyMoose
(11)
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Actually, lobbyists and corporate lawyers write many of them. The point being that all the protests in the world will not bring fundamental change to the system.
OWS needs to form a new political party, and quickly. The deadlines for the 2012 election are approaching in many states. The other option is running candidates as indepedents affiliated with the OWS movement. These filing deadlines are also sooner than you might think in many states.
There's no reason the OWS movement cannot have a significant impact on national, state, and local politics next year. With the approval rating of Congress in the teens, there is no reason the House cannot be stormed, and many state and local elections as well.
The electorate knows just how stale and tired the old system is - everyone is hungry for REAL change, not the pseudo-change that Obama brought.
We also need to start working harder on the platform - I think having a national convention with delegates from all the protests is the logical next step. This would also help in coordinating the formation of the political party.
The national convention idea is a damn fine idea. You might want to repost this again tomorrow so more people can see it.
I agree. But it will need to be someone who is incorruptible.
There are many fine candidates who never run because they realize how corrupt the system is, or they even drop out because it's too corrupt or gridlocked between the Dems and Repubs (Evan Bayh). You create an environment where one of those folks has a real chance of winning, at any level, and I think you'll be surprised at all the great candidates who start coming forward.
successful protests change the public sentiment
public sentiment gets things done a hell of a lot more effectively than the government.
This could work. I am watching the progress here from Australia were a few years ago a woman started a polital party protesting immigration policy, although these issues are miles apart, her party despite not gaining power did secure the largest primary vote in the federal election resulting in a major policy shift from politicians. the formation of a new political party, gaining just a few seats can have a major effect on the political enviroment, besides if you keep the same people in office you will continue to get the same results.
This could work. I am watching the progress here from Australia were a few years ago a woman started a polital party protesting immigration policy, although these issues are miles apart, her party despite not gaining power did secure the largest primary vote in the federal election resulting in a major policy shift from politicians. the formation of a new political party, gaining just a few seats can have a major effect on the political enviroment, besides if you keep the same people in office you will continue to get the same results.
Protests (and dare I say riots) caused the legislators to enact civil rights laws, and initiate jobs programs under LBJ.
I think the current system, dominated as it is by the two major parties, is much more corrupted now than it was then. A viable third party would force consensus building, which works for most of the other major democracies of the world. I really believe the time has come for this viable third party, and that OWS has the necessary momentum to make it happen. I'm afraid as winter comes on it may lose momentum unless we bring it inside around tables, writing the platform!
Not arguing against your suggestion, maybe it is the time, I don't reaklly know. Things were pretty damned corrupt in the days of LBJ>
Fine, then what about this bill?
H.R. 2990 National Emergency Employment Defense Act of 2011
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112%3AH.R.2990.IH:
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