Forum Post: >>> We Must Occupy Congress! <<<

Ever since the start of OWS I have pondered and questioned the effectiveness of protest. Of course this very skepticism has caused more drama than needed. My point all along has been that while we battle the cops in hopes to “occupy” and have our voices be “heard,” Wall Street and Congress are both rolling right along like nothing ever happened. Though I do believe the OWS movement is a good thing, I do not believe that the protests themselves will move the hands of the 1%. The changes the people want are changes Congress will not sacrifice their wealth for; therefore, the people must BECOME the hands and literally occupy the seats that move the government: OCCUPY CONGRESS.

I hope that the majority of protestors realize that Wall Street isn't ever going to sacrifice their money for the good of the people either. We can’t starve them of their money because they control every industry up to the food we eat. And if we starve ourselves in hunger strikes, they wouldn’t even flinch. This is always why I've said the movement needs even more organization. If we banned together and paved the way for WHO WE should elect into congress, the people could quite literally change congress instead of waiting for congress to change itself.

There are big fees to run for congress and senate, but if OWS organized the runners and supplied the finances via donation, we could really get somewhere.

Qualifying candidates only need to be at least 25 years old and a resident of their State for 7 years. So theoretically, within the next decade or less, the "99%" could eventually vote in a bunch of young middle-class representatives who could possibly eventually change the way financial institutions work...

Congressmen:

Representatives and Delegates serve for two-year terms, while the Resident Commissioner serves for four years. Elections for representatives are held in every even-numbered year, on Election Day the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. By law Representatives must be elected from single-member districts by plurality voting.

Senator:

Senators serve terms of six years each (Article 1 Section 3 Clause 1 of the Constitution of the United States); the terms are staggered so that approximately one-third of the seats are up for election every two years.

Elections to the Senate are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years, Election Day, and coincide with elections for the House of Representatives.[17] Senators are elected by their state as a whole. In most states (since 1970), a primary election is held first for the Republican and Democratic parties, with the general election following a few months later. Ballot access rules for independent and minor party candidates vary from state to state. The winner is the candidate who receives a plurality of the popular vote.

If we have enough people in this movement and if we work as one, not only can we achieve great things PAST having our voices be heard, but we can BE the action the makes the change. Not only should we occupy Wall Street; we should also occupy congress, the senate, the governors, the State AND Federal level of Government. We can do this, we can be the change, we have the voice, we have the collective power, we just need the brave few to step up and lead and create the system that will guarantee that the right people get elected.

WE ARE THE PEOPLE! WE ARE THE 99%!