Forum Post: The Basic Problem

The Occupy Wall Street and similar efforts throughout the USA have not defined the basic problem nor identified a solution to that problem. The Problem We no longer live in a democracy. We live under an oligarchy, a form of government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes. In his farewell address on January 17, 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned us about the military industrial complex. That complex now controls the government of the United States of America. Corporate leaders who comprise the complex control the lobbyists in Washington, DC, commonly referred to as “K Street,” and K Street controls the U.S. government. Thus the U.S. government is controlled by an oligarchy of corporate leaders. The oligarchy is protected by the government officials it controls, so it can, and does, ignore the law of the land. The flagrant crimes of the Wall Street bankers that caused our 2008 financial crisis are a blatant example. K Street is a de facto fourth branch of government. The three official branches of government have checks and balances established by the U.S. constitution. K Street has no checks and balances, so it dominates the other branches. Solution A constitutional amendment is needed to establish checks and balances that will control the de facto fourth branch of government, just as the three official branches of government are controlled by constitutional checks and balances. This amendment can be accomplished by use of the Internet media such as email, Facebook, and Twitter. If the mid-east countries successfully used the Internet to overthrow dictators, then we can use it to overcome the oligarchy. Action

1. Forward this message to everyone you know.
2. Write your U.S. Senators and U.S. Congressperson demanding that they approve a constitutional amendment that effectively controls lobbyists. They can’t ignore the request if enough of their constituents demand it. If they do not support the amendment, do not vote for them in the next election. This issue overrides all others.

HOW TO FIND AND CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS Follow the directions as given below and you will find who your elected officials are and how to contact with them.

1. Go to www.votesmart.org.
2. In the box "Search by Representative’s Name, your ZIP Code or key Words," type in your 9 digit zip code.
3. If you do not know your 9 digits, refer to any piece of junk mail or a catalog.