Forum Post: The 99% Declaration and Plan of Action

WHEREAS THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION PROVIDES:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

WE, THE NINETY-NINE PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in order to form a more perfect Union, by, for and of the PEOPLE, shall convene a THIRD CONTINENTAL CONGRESS on July 4, 2012 in the City Of Philadelphia.

Election of Delegates:

Between now and May 4, 2012, the People, consisting of all American citizens who have reached the age of 18, regardless of party affiliation and voter registration status, shall elect Two Delegates, one male and one female, by direct vote, from each of the existing 435 Congressional Districts to represent the People at the Third Continental Congress in Philadelphia convening on July 4, 2012. The office of Delegate shall be open to all American citizens who have reached the age of 18.

Meeting of the Congress and Deliberation:

At the Third Continental Congress, the 870 Delegates shall set forth and vote upon a broad PLATFORM and PETITION OF GRIEVANCES to be submitted to all members of Congress, The Supreme Court and President and each of the political candidates running in the nationwide Congressional and Presidential election in November 2012.

This PLATFORM and PETITION OF GRIEVANCES shall be non-partisan and address the critical issues now confronting the United States People and will be voted upon by the 870 Delegates in consultation with the 99%. The PLATFORM and PETITION OF GRIEVANCES voted upon by the Delegates MAY or MAY NOT include the following:

1. Implementing an immediate ban on all private contributions of money and gifts to all politicians in federal office from Corporations, Political Action Committees, Super Political Action Committees, Lobbyists, Unions and other private sources of money to be replaced by the fair and equal public financing of all political campaigns. It has become clear that politicians in the United States cannot regulate themselves and have become the exclusive representatives of corporations and the very wealthy who spend vast sums of money on their campaigns and ensure their reelection.

2. The immediate reversal of the "Citizens United" case by the Supreme Court which equates the payment of money by corporations to politicians with free speech.

3. Prohibiting all public officials, whether elected or appointed from EVER being employed by any corporation they regulate while in office.

4. A complete lifetime ban on accepting all gifts, services, money, directly or indirectly, to any elected or appointed officials from any person, corporation, union or other entity that the public official was charged to regulate while in office.

5. A complete reformation of the United States Tax Code to require all citizens to pay a fair share of a progressive, graduated income tax by eliminating loopholes, unfair tax breaks, exemptions and deductions, subsidies (e.g. oil, gas and farm) and ending all other methods of evading taxes.

[add other grievances here that should be considered and voted on]

1. Medicare for all American citizens adjusted by a means test (i.e. citizens who can afford it will opt-out of Medicare and pay their own health insurance or opt-in and pay a means tested Medicare premium). The Medicaid program, fraught with corruption BE IT FURTHER RESOLVLED that IF the PLATFORM and PETITION OF GRIEVANCES approved by the 870 Delegates in consultation with the 99% are not acted upon and implemented to the satisfaction of the Delegates and of the Third Continental Congress within ONE YEAR of presentment of the PLATFORM and PETITION OF GRIEVANCES, said Delegates shall demand the immediate RESIGNATION of ALL 435 members of the United States House of Representatives, 100 members of the United States Senate, 9 members of the United States Supreme Court and the President of the United States and demand new elections to be held within 99 days of that resignation demand.

Upon implementation and enactment of the Third Continental Congress’s PLATFORM and PETITION OF GRIEVANCES, said body shall DISSOLVE.