Forum Post: THE ONE SINGLE DEMAND THAT WILL TIP THE DOMINOS AND PROVEN TACTICS THAT WILL RESULT IN THAT DEMAND BEING MET
Posted 13 years ago on Sept. 28, 2011, 1:45 p.m. EST by GandhiKingMindset
(124)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
(Note: IF YOU THINK WE SHOULD HAVE MORE THAN ONE DEMAND, please visit the list of 9 suggested demands here: https://occupywallst.org/forum/detailed-list-of-demands-overview-of-tactics-for-d/ )
----- BELOW THIS BRIEF INTRODUCTION is what I and countless others firmly believe should be "THE ONE DEMAND" we would make in DC (if we're going to make just one). This would not be an empty demand. It would be made in the context of engaging in non-violent direct action / peaceful non-resistance, proven tactics that produce real results. Clearly the language would need to be edited and certainly grow more specific (hoping you'll help with that), but you get the idea.
TACTICS: WHY DIRECT NON-VIOLENT ACTION?
It's pretty simple. It works. It's worked for MILLIONS OF PEOPLE. Non-violent direct action is what made the civil rights movement and Indian independence from the British possilble. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: "The purpose of our direct-action program is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation."
We should make the demand below very publicly at a press conference a few days after arriving in DC. When doing so, we should give a clear deadline of 3 days for a firm written and signed commitment from at least 60% of members of House and 60% of the members of the Senate to pass this bill by the end of the year. If this commitment is not met by midnight on the 3rd day (which it won't be) we should be prepared to non-violently block access to all or part of the Capitol complex the next morning by traditional proven non-violent tactics. The purpose is to bring the leaders of the House and Senate to the negotiating table.
NOTE: There are always entrances because there is always a point where people who work there have to leave the public street and enter secure space. We should focus our non-violent direct action and civil disobedience on those entrances no matter where they move them because these are, by definition, always accessible.
----- THE ONE PROPOSED DEMAND -----
WE DEMAND THAT CONGRESS PASS HR 1489 REINSTATING GLASS-STEAGALL ACT. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass–Steagall_Act --- Wiki entry summary: The repeal of provisions of the Glass–Steagall Act of 1933 by the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act in 1999 effectively removed the separation that previously existed between investment banking which issued securities and commercial banks which accepted deposits. The deregulation also removed conflict of interest prohibitions between investment bankers serving as officers of commercial banks. Most economists believe this repeal directly contributed to the severity of the Financial crisis of 2007–2011 by allowing Wall Street investment banking firms to gamble with their depositors' money that was held in commercial banks owned or created by the investment firms. Here's detail on repeal in 1999 and how it happened: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass–Steagall_Act#Repeal . If we wanted to have a BIG IMPACT and we were able to have only one slogan that we could paint on signs and chant during marches within earshot of press, it would be "PASS HR 1489. REINSTATE GLASS-STEAGALL" or "RE-IN-STATE the ACT GLASS-STEAGALL. IT MAKES THE WALL STREET GAMES ILLEGAL"
The best part is the bill is already teed up and ready to go!!! "Reinstate the act GLASS-STEAGALL." "It makes the Wall Street games illegal."
"Reinstate the act GLASS-STEAGALL." "It makes the Wall Street games illegal."
Here's why:
Most people are beginning to conclude that this is the A #1 thing we can do. I had this confirmed earlier when I received a message this evening from someone I know on the inside at one of the big investment banking firms we all know. Here's what he said:
"If you really want to drive the higher ups in my office and others absolutely nuts, start speaking relentlessly about reinstating Glass-Steagall and Congress passing H.R. 1489."
He said if we put this on a ton of signs, talk about it relentlessly to the press, chant it like a mantra, we'll "give the guys on the top floors in the corner offices of these giant investment banking firms a coronary."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass–Steagall_Act
IF YOU THINK WE SHOULD HAVE MORE THAN ONE DEMAND, please visit the list of 11 suggested demands here: https://occupywallst.org/forum/detailed-list-of-demands-overview-of-tactics-for-d/
Dis-Agree. If we have one demand it has to be Amend the Constitution for government ONLY financing of elections, no contributions, from anyone; rendering Citizens United a moot point.
Glass Steagal is a symptom, not the root cause.
There are two root problems. We don't have a fair vote or a fair wage. Take care of these two and we'll have the political and economic power to do whatever the people wish to do, even if the corporations and wealthy don't agree.
OK - I'm listening. How do we take care of those two?
Negotiate, collectively bargain, form unions, strike, but most importantly, educate the people that they have the right and the overwhelming numerical power to force employers to pay a decent wage.
The average income in the U.S. including benefits is roughly $100,000 a year, but 50% of U.S. workers receive less than $27,000, many much less. Because the people don't understand the basics of economic inequality, they will continue to be deprived of economic justice. This must be thoroughly taught nationwide.
We can't wait around for the government to do this for us. Obama promised a higher minimum wage four years ago and I seriously doubt he will keep his promise in eight.
Both root causes reinforce one another. If we divert part of the corporate resources through higher wages into our pocket instead of the politicians pocket, we gain political power at the same rate the corporations lose theirs. Our money spent by the corporations buys the ear of the politicians. By boycotting any corporation or individual who unfairly uses their extravagant resources to drown out the legitimate voice of the people, our votes, our voices becomes heard again.
Both problems are solved by first understanding them, then by attacking them forcefully and directly at their core. Money.
[Removed]
The link below contains everything you ever wanted to know about what can be done once Glass-Steagall (HR 1489) is passed (includes the list of cosponsors and institutional support for the bill). This bill is life or death for the world economy. Let's pass it now!
larouchepac.com/glass-steagall
Glass/Steagall doesn't get to the root of the problem. The fact that 94% of elections are won by whomever spends the most and our goverment is bought by corporations who influence politicians. Public financed elections should be the #1 thing. If our politicians were not bought out by corporations they would have never repealed Glass/Steagall.
Glass / Steagall is a solid idea. If you want to streamline that idea even more, how about changing the bankers rule of law that devastates main street? Change the rule of law that states.... Restructuring Debt first requires a Default, (shocking but true) to, Restructuring Debt DOES NOT require a Default.
One simple demand is IMO the way to go. This is not original. I've seen it stated in many places in various ways.
"End control of the government by global banks, corporations and billionaires."
This demand implies related actions, one of which could be re-enacting Glass-Stegall. But that should be a starting point not an end point. As others have stated, if re-enacting Glass-Stegal is the demand, should it be met, it's game over. There was way too much corruption and corporate influence even when Glass-Stegal was the law of the land.
A better start in terms of strategy in support of the "one demand" would be:
1) Re-enact Glass-Stegal
2) Support positive legislation proposed by the progressive caucus (Tobin tax, etc. etc.)
3) Prosecute Joseph Cassano, along with his AIG , Goldman, Fanny, Freddie, etc., etc., co-conspirators. This puts the fear into them.
4) Overhaul campaign finance laws.
5) Require FULL transparency in all dealings between corporations and the governement.
That's more than enough to light a fire under the general population without being so much that they walk away confused. Don't confuse the issue with details that can be worked out AFTER government control is returned to the people.
TODAY: 80% of Americans + 100 congressmen advocate
http://corporationsarenotpeople.webuda.com
Virtually everything we want hinges on disarming our opponent –
……………………………………………………..GREED
by stopping the flood of bribes into our government.
YOU WANT TO GET IT DONE ?
Join the NYC OWS
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This is the first REAL step to REAL change .
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JOIN US >
Join the NYC OWS Corporations Are Not People and Money Is Not Speech Working Group
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check out our comprehensive analysis of
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and our detailed historical timeline of corporate personhood
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We must not
DEMAND that we WANT THEM.to give to US
We must
DEMAND GOALS THAT WE WILL ACHIEVE FOR OURSELVES
Because of the Supreme Court's decision,
we cannot accomplish anything significant, without FIRST -
Overturning Citizens United !!!
Ending Corporate Personhood !!!
80% of Americans already agree on it
as stated in the ABC/Washington Post poll
In the the PFAW Poll -
http://corporationsarenotpeople.webuda.com
http://www.nycga.net/groups/restore-democracy
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NYCRDWG
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regular meetings Wednesdays 5:30-7:30PM @ 60 Wall St – The Attrium
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Repeal Bush Tax Cuts
simple and plenty symbolic. Good start.
As admirable as this is, I think the primary focus should be on real needs. If we demand a national "Section 8" allowance, everyone would have rent/mortgage subsidy. This would immediately work to solve the housing crisis, as well as give every citizen the ability to both spend and save, stimulating the economy.
by Chana Cox
In Tuesday night’s Dartmouth debate, the Republican candidates were generally agreed on the need to repeal Dodd-Frank. That is all well and good, but banking does need regulation. For 70 years a cluster of New Deal laws, the Glass-Steagall laws, successfully prevented American banks from becoming “too big to fail.” Dodd-Frank should be repealed, and an updated Glass-Steagall should replace it.
In 1933, the Glass-Steagall Act introduced the FDIC which insured bank depositors for up to $10,000 in loss because such insurance was seen to be essential to the maintenance of the banking system. Once the taxpayers were on the hook for bank losses, Glass-Steagall severely restricted the risk to those taxpayers by restricting the scope of banks. The act separated commercial banking, the relatively low risk business of taking deposits and lending money from investment banking, the very high risk business of issuing securities and taking capital positions in businesses and in all manner of other investments. Commercial banks were insured by the federal government, but they were to be stiffly regulated and limited in geographic scope. No American bank would be allowed to do business in more than three states.
In contrast, investments banks were not restricted geographically and they were less regulated but they could not take deposits and their operations were not guaranteed or insured by the Federal Government. Taken together, these Depression-era statutes limited tax payer exposure and risk and limited the size of any one commercial bank. High risk investment banking could and did continue, but it was not federally insured. Furthermore investment banks were often formed as partnerships and the individual partners were personally liable for the firm’s debts.
The 1999 repeal of Glass-Steagall was a disastrous game changer. Commercial banks were allowed and even encouraged to engage in high risk activities – particularly those supported by the politicians in power. The politicians used banks to advance their specific agendas, and the banks used the politicians to insure them against failure. At the same time, as the commercial banks became larger and larger, they became less and less effective as traditional lending institutions. In Oregon, we were better served by First Interstate than we are now being served by its successor Wells Fargo; we were better served by Washington Mutual than we are now being served by Chase; and Bank of America was a strong West Coast bank but it has become a very weak national bank.
After 1999 these newer, larger, freer commercial banks were finding it very profitable to take increasingly risky positions in other markets, like mortgage-backed securities and credit default positions. Under Glass-Steagall such investments would have been illegal for a commercial bank. Instead, commercial banks would have been lending money to local citizens and businesses. They would have been serving their communities as bankers. These riskier investments should be illegal for banks not because they are risky but because it is the taxpayers who are at risk. Our bankers are playing roulette with taxpayer money. If individual bankers win, they are rewarded with multi-million dollar bonuses that get paid out every year; if they lose, the taxpayers foot the bill. Mere months before the repeal of Glass-Steagall, Goldman Sacks, the quintessential investment bank, went public as a corporation and ceased to be a partnership. The partners were no longer liable for the debt – the corporation was. No one was personally liable. Goldman Sacks has now taken the further step and legally turned itself into a bank. Now, even the corporation is not liable – the Federal government and its taxpayers are Goldman Sacks debt. That has proven very expensive for the taxpayers.
In the 1990’s one argument offered for the repeal of Glass-Steagall was that America’s banking system, with its restricted local banks, was inferior to the far more powerful and monopolistic European banks. The banking industry preferred the European model. Ten years ago Deutsche Bank, through its own share position, was in control of much of the German economy. The European banks were far more powerful than the American banks and American bankers wanted that kind of power. In retrospect, we have come to understand that the major European banks have contributed greatly to the current European financial breakdown.
The Glass-Steagall laws successfully regulated the American banking systems. In crisis situations, like the savings and loan crises of the 1980s, the government could step in and save depositors. The problems were manageable. Once banks were allowed to go national and to go into virtually any and all investments, the problems became unmanageable and the moral hazard for both the bankers and co-dependent politicians became catastrophic. Banks were too big to fail and too unregulated to save. Dodd-Frank merely exacerbates those problems.
Bring back Glass-Steagall.
Exactly, but we need a comprehensive strategy that implements all our demands at the same time, and although I'm all in favor of taking down today's ineffective and inefficient Top 10% Management Group of Business & Government, there's only one way to do it – by fighting bankers as bankers ourselves. Consequently, I have posted a 1-page Summary of the Strategic Legal Policies, Organizational Operating Structures, and Tactical Investment Procedures necessary to do this at:
http://getsatisfaction.com/americanselect/topics/on_strategic_legal_policy_organizational_operational_structures_tactical_investment_procedures
Join
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/StrategicInternationalSystems/
if you want to be 1 of 100,000 people needed to support a Presidential Candidate – myself – at AmericansElect.org in support of the above bank-focused platform.
What is wrong with the people when they vote for politicians who have been bought out by the large corporations?
Amending the Constitution doesn't solve the backwardness of the population or the moral corruption in politics! The only thing that amending the constitution will do is cause a CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS!!! And that is just what the International Banks want, it would lead to the toppling of our whole gov, leaving the Banks to rule!!
This is not a war against politicians, they are puppets!! This is a war against International Finance, get that in your head!!
Pass Glass-Steagall
IMO, this is really no more than one of several legitimate demands that should be morphed/fused into a Grievance, and a SINGLE DEMAND to CONVENE A CONSTITUTIONAL CONGRESS (per Article 5 of the Constitution) on July 4th, 2012 should be made for the purpose of addressing those Grievances. Cut though the complexity and the minutiae, and drive home a single, very powerful demand that can solve all the problems at once! This is the solution, as it is an oganizational boon.
IMO, this is really no more than one of several legitimate demands that should be morphed/fused into a Grievance, and a SINGLE DEMAND to CONVENE A CONSTITUTIONAL CONGRESS (per Article 5 of the Constitution) on July 4th, 2012 should be made for the purpose of addressing those Grievances. Cut though the complexity and the minutiae, and drive home a single, very powerful demand that can solve all the problems at once! This is the solution, as it is an oganizational boon.
We need to bring the finance, insurance, utility industries back into the 1970's. This may sound odd. They still made money and your investment with them was for the most part solid. In the 1980's we opened the flood gates to unregulated business. Everyone has paid in one way or another. Except for the 1%. The gap between the middle class and the rich has grown farther and farther apart, while the gap between the middle class and the poor is about to collide.
Yes. This is a good choice. I work in the industry and it would have an impact. If passed, it would be a symbolic victory against deregulation. The bill is written. It has 45 co-sponsors. It was referred to sub-committee on May 2 and they're going to let it die there simply by doing nothing. The committee chair is most likely against it. The bill has widespread public support. If the House won't take action, it should be introduced in the Senate.
Many people will jump in with lots of great suggestions If you want something feasible & practical, that will send a definite message to WALL STREET, this is it. It's also a beautiful example of how our representatives are not representing people because they've been bought. Why else would a bill with popular support be left to die in committee?
LovePeace; Yes! "We demand peace" will do the trick. We can re-instate and clarify the constitution at the constitutional convention next year, and we can address 50, 100, or more demands/issues. Now, we can keep it simple; "We demand peace". Maybe we can make it slightly more complex: "We demand peace and equality for all peoples"
Peace is what threatens them. Not reform. But bravo for recognizing peace as a means. Take it one step further. Recognize peace as the SOLUTION. Reform on this system is a band aid at best. A payoff at worst. Demand absolute peace and you will see a completely new economy emerge NATURALLY. We are talking about a massive change world wide. And the demand is SIMPLE and obvious. Demand peace. If you do not demand an end to violent domination they will still make war and no economic reform will make you free. Peace is Prosperity.
Balanced budget amendment, no more borrowing, you can only spend what you collect, not a penny more.
If our government today had zero debt and ran a balanced budget every year, most of us wouldn't care how f-ed up the government is. When I mentioned "gridlock" to a good friend he responded "thank God for gridlock, can you imagine the damage they would do if there weren't gridlock?" Well the damage they do is borrowing the future taxes my kids are going to pay, and my grandkids are going to pay.
http://www.JeffBlock2012.com
Take The Money Out of War .... actually hold off and that one...
How about "The Peoples Veto"
I would definitely use the "the-one-single-demand-that-will-tip-the-dominos" architecture... way more to be gained for All.... further it provides time for refinment every step of the way.... GREAT JOB ALL
say no to out sourcing , say no to foreign workers, yes bring back jobs back to America, yes we can
Why not publicly financed elections, to attack the corruption of politicians at the source?
"Reinstate the act GLASS-STEAGALL." "It makes the Wall Street games illegal."
I love it. Break it down Mahatma.
Re-instate the act GLASS-STEAGALL. It makes the Wall Street games illegal.
Re-instate the act GLASS-STEAGALL. It makes the Wall Street games illegal.
Re-instate the act GLASS-STEAGALL. It makes the Wall Street games illegal.
Re-instate the act GLASS-STEAGALL. It makes the Wall Street games illegal.
H-R 1 4 8 9 If Congress passes, our prez will sign.
H-R 1 4 8 9 If Congress passes, our prez will sign.
H-R 1 4 8 9 If Congress passes, our prez will sign.
H-R 1 4 8 9 If Congress passes, our prez will sign.
IF YOU THINK WE SHOULD HAVE MORE THAN ONE DEMAND, please visit the full list of 11 suggested demands here: https://occupywallst.org/forum/detailed-list-of-demands-overview-of-tactics-for-d/
GandhiKingMindset - A few days ago, I used your lists to show a very sensible list of demands to my network on Facebook. We need something like your list that most of America will get behind, including my religious conservative mother from Tennessee.Today, I'm seeing more and more proposed lists that sound communist, unrealistic, and are quite frankly doomed to fail with the majority of America. We do need to focus on cleaning up a toxic waste site (the corruptible influence of corporations) first to restore our democracy to the people. Then we can work on everybody's issues in a fair and Democratic system.
Let's say that doesn't happen, and an official proposed list that includes a long list of radical items is doomed to fail with America, I propose that everybody who agrees with your approach start an offshoot. We could immediately work on getting the rest of America on board. So, how do we find each other and organize beyond this forum?
Pass the proposed constitutional amendment to get the money out of politics. The amendment is at http://getmoneyout.com
In 1976 supreme court effectively ruled that money=free speech and if you look at the data that is where the great inequalities in wealth began to start. This is no accident. Get the money out of politics and you fix 90% of our problems.
The one single demand should be to remove money from politics and everything will flow from that.
The only reason why they have not re-instated Glass-Steagll? Money in politics. It all is the money -- every problem flows from that.
That is a good thing to do but the Enron Rule and the CFTC pre-empting the states from regulating the mortgage industry was just as as big. And here we are in the weeds with too many details already.
The demand is, Powell's "you broke it you fix it." but it isn't yet time for making demands. They (the1%) are figuring it out. They know what is wrong, they caused it, and paid for it, and they know how to fix it (Global undo). We just sit tight while they offer (and they will) to fix a few pieces that don't matter much to them. When we don't accept that, they offer a little more and yadda, yadda, yadda, until we get what the 99% really needs.
This is simple, but not simpler than it must be. This will not be won with shouting and threats, and demands. It is won by the rest of the 99% being proud to join us, and join us anyway they can. We want your Mom to join us, so clean up after yourself, act like an adult, treat others with respect. When she comes and grandma comes, we have won.
I don't think this is enough. You'll get this passed, they'll say "ok, mission accomplished, now go home", and all the usual suspects will still be in power.
We need a complete change of economic leadership.
In addition, in every major city, we need permanent Assemblies like those that have developed all across America to keep the economic forces that allowed this to happen in check and to keep the fate of America in the hands of its people.
NO MEMBERS OF SECRET SOCIETIES IN POLITICS
NO INFLUENCE FROM THE MILITARY-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX ON THE POLITICIANS
DIRECT & TRANSPARENT DEMOCRACY
I prefer the list of demands, but if one has to be chosen, this is a decent one - though all it does is return things to how they were, which was still corrupt.
I hear you, but I think maybe part of the trick here is to remember that success breeds success. If we focus on one reachable goal this invigorates the movement, buoys confidence and multiplies the number of supporters exponentially. Nothing succeeds like success. One approach here would be to bite off some of the apple here and chew it. Then go after the next demand on the list here: https://occupywallst.org/forum/detailed-list-of-demands-overview-of-tactics-for-d/ . I also understand those who want to fight the whole battle at once. I'm torn because, if we can get 20,000, 50,000, 100,000 in DC, we could essentially shut down the Capitol complex using non-violent tactics. The resulting media would be huge and we wouldn't want the other 8 or 9 demands to be sitting on a shelf somewhere. Maybe we go one at a time over a period of weeks.
For eleven days, I've been saying the exact same thing.
I don't know who set up the logistics behind this, but whoever he/she is, should be smacked and sent packing back home. Because "pretending to have a cause, without definitively stating what that cause is", has set a course for disaster. And now local small businesses around Wall Street are beginning to provide the NYPD with every excuse they need to end this. They are calling it a "distraction", which is beginning to affect their everyday business in a negative way.
I get the feeling that the organizers never accounted for the effects this protest could potentially have on the people they least wanted to impact.
That said, I'm glad I decided to wait for the direct march on Washington on Oct. 6th. You can read about it here:
http://october2011.org/frontpage
The organisation of this event is outstanding, and will be much less "confusing" to those who will witness and participate.
And by the way, GhandiKing...
I was in the IRC chat when they banned you from the channel for spamming the link to this post. And while I understand wanting to avoid the spam in the chat, I would have simply kicked you with a warning to stop the spam. An outright ban was over the top.
I find it somewhat suspect when people who argue against the abuse of power, choose to abuse power themselves, even in something as minor as IRC channel moderation.
I have been distracted my whole life by people setting unrealistc rules to have power over the valuable creature that I am. The point is not for their understanding, but for their release.
Thanks very much. I'm really looking forward to DC!