Forum Post: The PEOPLE -- i.e. real flesh and blood -- do not yield their sovereignty to the bodies that serve them.
Posted 13 years ago on Nov. 18, 2011, 2:39 p.m. EST by Toynbee
(656)
from Savannah, GA
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Nor do the people yield their sovereignty to the corporations that pour hundreds of millions of dollars into campaign elections.
That is what this OWS movement is all about.
The people insist on remaining fully informed and fully in control over the legislative bodies they have created.
This movement is about We the People.
And We do resist corporate and moneyed influence and effort to make this a less perfect union.
Let's start with campaign finance reform.
End revolving door between DC and corporate board rooms.
"This movement is about We the People." : YES!!!!
The coming elections consist in choosing between TWO GANGS OF CROOKS...
Unsurprisingly, recent poll shows that only 9% of Americans still trust Congress. That being the case, I believe OWS should ask that the 2012 elections be POSTPONED until a major OVERHAUL of our political sytem has taken place and trust has been restored.
How would OWS go about this? By advocating a NATION-WIDE BINDING REFERENDUM which would include about a dozen questions, the first of which would be : Do you agree to postpone the Nov 2012 elections until our political system has been overhauled?
Other questions could include : Do you agree to reverse the Supreme Court's ruling that corporations are people? Do you agree on a plan to effect campaign finance reform? Do you agree that the taxation system should be revised so as to make the rich pay as much as they did in 1962? Do you agree that all wars in which the United States are currently involved should be stopped immediately? etc.
I think OWS should carefully prepare a REFERENDUM PROJECT and find out through various polls what exactly "We The People" want. Once it has a clear project, the "Referendum to restore sovereignty to the people" could become its central focus, its Number One Demand.
I personally want:
1) Campaign Finance Reform
2) Lobbying Reform
3) Reform of the Revolving Door Between Congress and Lobbying Machines
Try this:
http://www.nycga.net/groups/political-and-electoral-reform/docs/amendment-28-to-the-constitution-of-the-united-states-of-america
The FOUNDING FATHERS made their meaning clear when they drafted the CONSTITUTION of the UNITED STATES and the AMENDMENTS.
Thomas Jefferson - “I hope that we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.”
Thomas Jefferson - “If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them (around the banks), will deprive the people of their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.”
Thomas Jefferson - “I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.”
John Adams - “Banks have done more injury to the religion, morality, tranquility, prosperity, and even wealth of the nation than they can have done or will ever do good.”
James Madison - “History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling money and it’s issuance.”
Amendment 28 - Electoral and Legislative Process Contributions
"ARTICLE—
"SECTION 1. We the people who ordain and establish this Constitution intend the rights protected by this Constitution to be the rights of natural persons".
"SECTION 2. The words people, person, or citizen as used in this Constitution do not include corporations, limited liability companies or other corporate entities established by the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign state, and any such corporate entities that are subject to regulation".
"SECTION 3. All entities except people, person, or citizen as used in Section 2 of this amendment are excluded from participation in the political process".
"SECTION 4. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the people’s rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, free exercise of religion, freedom of association and all such other rights of the people, which rights are inalienable".
Great idea! Thanks.
Pass the link around. That or something very similar to that is the only way to fix this country. I am sure somebody will write something better but until then, this is what we have.
BTW, you are most welcome.
Your three points could definitely be part of the questions on the referendum.
What do you think of the idea of postponing the pointless elections and holding a referendum instead?
No. No referendums at this point.
Mobilize. Go to every single Congressional and Presidential open-house, debate, meet-and-greet, cocktail party, and public forum.
Ask the candidates tough questions. Demand straight answers. Call them when they give a Weasel Answer.
Bring up the political/historical IQ of this nation. For example, there are too many ideologically driven media outlets. No Fairness Doctrine any longer. Media monopolies like the ones around me shape public opinion. I can only get occasional broadcasts from NPR, but I get 2 Sean Hannity channels at the same time, a dozen or more religious radio stations. And a rich wing newspaper that resisted admitting the Obama may be a naturally born citizen until they were beat over the head. Sure the big cities have more balanced news. But in rural areas that have big influence on elections, right-wingers predominate overwhelmingly.