Forum Post: What about occupying congress?
Posted 11 years ago on May 23, 2012, 2:16 p.m. EST by tinissima
(6)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I am new to the movement, and it seems that if we want to see real change in our democracy, we eventually have to move beyond Wall Street into congress. What progress has OWS already made in that regard, or what future steps are you considering? Thank you.
So you want to know about Occupy Congress.well my litle socialist kitty you've come to the right place. You are actually talking to someone who is trying to occupy Congress right now. And I am running for Congress in the Texas 33rd.
New York, Chicago Los Angeles Portland may be the forefront for street activism. But here in Texas we are on the cutting-edge of getting on the ballots to actually really make change. It's too bad we were snubbed as a city that didn't get a bus ride to Chicago but we're making progress down here. Things looking great in my district I made my first speech and appearance at a minority luncheon and if you'll look on my website I am literally pasty white. I told them I was part of the occupy movement among other things and received a warm reception along with two of the main organizers signing my petition.
I am running in one of the only few heavy blue districts in Texas and most of my constituents really want to hear something new. The Democrats are probably going to have a runoff that means they will not determine their candidate until July 29. So things are looking up.
There is another candidate that is part of the Occupy movement and he is running in the most red district there is in West Texas. Lubbock and Abilene.
This district is so red that a Democrat didn't even bother to run. His name is Mark Lawson and we're going to team up together. If you want to know more about my candidacy please go to employmentforthe99.com
That's all folks sincerely Lance
are they still in session ?
demand elections be national and state holidays state elections June 5, Tuesday
It's unfortunate if nothing is being done in this regard. one of the reasons why people in most countries, like the Arab countries, in Africa and Latin America, have to take the streets and protest is because that is the ONLY way they will be heard. Those countries don't have a well-oiled political system with processes in place to effectively pass legislation. WE DO!!! That's the reason why protesting in America is not so common. IF WE LEARNED TO NAVIGATE OUR POLITICAL STRUCTURES AND USED OUR VOTING RIGHTS AND UNDERSTOOD OUR POLICIES, WE WOULD BE IN CONTROL OF OUR GOVERNMENT. Instead of corporations. OWS needs lobbyist. But first, it needs to define what policies are currently WRONG (i.e. our screwed TAX system), and propose changes. Then once OWS has solutions, they need to send reps out to Capitol hill and LOBBY IN FAVOR OF THE PEOPLE!! That is what WALL STREET DOES!!! And of course, raising some money to support OUR ISSUES AND POLICY CHANGES is necessary. Otherwise, people, YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME. And I find it hard to believe that no one has thought of this yet. I'm sure someone in the movement has.
capitol hill is here
What do you mean?
the whole world can see what's posted
Like I posted below; too much work.
One more thing: protests are good for PR. That's important, but without a real agenda, it's not enough. And with destruction? Forget it.
I have posted this numerous times but it continues to fall of "deaf ears". The only engagement the OWS has with their congressmen or congresswomen is shouting at them trying to degrade them.
I have yet to see any post where any OWS sat down with their representatives and had a "direct verbal engagement" with them outlining their issues.
I see no progress in the OWS movement other then waisting time marching and badgering police officers along with getting thrown in jail.
the problem that OWS has now, is if they ever organize politically, they will be sued for all of the damages in Seattle, Oakland, Chicago, New York, that has occurred.
Why?
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why would they get sued or worse imprisoned? I watched the Sunday Chicago protest on local TV, and easily could see the cost in dollars that protecting the city cost. And in Oakland and Seattle there was actual property damage as well as police protection cost. If there is an organization behind Occupy then someone is going to go after them.
Seems to me that OWS needs to get a lawyer and figure all this out.
No no. that was a different corporation that did that.
Don't you know how that works yet?
could be. but the advantage that OWS has now is that they have no organization, even though they are funded by organizations like Soros, Tides and SEIU. Those organizations could be sued i guess for damages to public and private property.
What's with the Glenn Beck crap?
No wonder you're not making sense.
Glenn Beck, do you listen to that idiot? Occupy does get money from left leaning foundations, everyone knows that.
Maybe it was Limbaugh you're listening to, as it's those two who have been pushing the Soros, Tides, SEIU lies for months now.
You should lie less. It's unbecoming.
OK you sound stubborn and ideologically stuck, so let's say that what you say is true, then who is funding Occupy?
How is not accepting FLAKESnews style lies being ideologically stuck?
Seems like you're the one that's stuck on beliefs in the need for "leadership".
Stuck on the belief in the need for some kind of centralized funding.
The protesters don't look all that well funded to me.
So where the hell did you even get that idea from?
I could not get on the bus to chicago
That's because Jesus just left Chicago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN69GC2amTg&ob=av3e
He's bound for New Orleans.
He pulled it out of his ass.
That makes sense, it does smell more than a little funny.......:)
Sounds like what I've heard from a Beck follower I know.
The nose knows.
oh come on, the occupy movement has funding, don't be so naive.
I give 'em a few bucks when I visit.
Others do the same.
Don't be so naive.
Show me the well funded OWS protest.
oh please, so little donations here and there support Occupy. right. Who funds this site? who funds the busing in of protesters to cities? Who pays for the organizers? Who pays for bailing out all of arrested occupiers? Occupy New York had $500,000 alone.
Key word being had.
Looks like you've been had too, to believe what you believe.
You want to show me the well funded OWS protest now?.
you are probably right, just like any liberal, can't hold on to money : )
When the hell was 500,000 considered well funded? What for a month?
Don't ask me.
This guy is boop shooby.
Like most of 'em, he can't back up his accusations.
Nor explain where he ever heard what he said.
Not surprising - think he didn't get his talking points manual?
Due to a poorly funded Blind Marcher campaign?
Occupy the Vote
How about a democratic means to force Congress to call an Article V Convention.
Why?
Because, simply put, corrupt twin-party politics as usual is destroying our nation, and its democratic values, and has been for some time... Elite and corporate conduct has become so egregious people are finally waking up, taking notice and asking questions. But the simple fact is, there is no direct, democratic means for us, we the people, to challenge our own government when it becomes corrupt, despotic and tyrannical.
We ought be trying to change that. Constitutionally. At the 2012 elections. By presenting voters a stark choice... either support the status-quo or oppose it. Depending on sufficient voter support, our opposition vote conveys our ability to force Congress to issue an Article V Convention call, thereby invoking Constitutional means to effect the changes we deem necessary -- the Separation of Wealth and State -- removal of all elite and corporate money from both electoral and representative political process.
Our founders did too good a job containing “mobocracy” and protecting the elite. And while I am fine with private ownership, even great wealth, we must draw the line at great wealth corrupting our government, bullying the world and buying favors at our expense...
And there is no democratic alternative except the elite's "heads I win, tails you lose" twin-party political game?
I don't think so...
It's our Constitution, our government and our vote. It's our decision.
A Convention will not runaway from us, we wield our votes, but is capable of ripping control away from the elite and their corporations. By all credible accounts, more than enough state resolutions have been tendered for Congress to call a Convention at any time. In fact, it is unConstitutional for Congress to refuse to call one.
Tell every sitting Representative and Senator; this is our petition for redress of our grievances, either call a Convention, now, before the elections, or we will withdraw our consent to be governed in your election and force the issue... Would any candidate be seen as a legitimate Representative, Senator or President if a plurality of us opposed them by explicitly withdrawing our consent in their election?
Citizens voting to withdraw our consent to be governed is a Constitutional crisis for the elite...
Just because it is a peaceful revolution does not make it any less a power struggle. Nor any less effective. OWS emphasizes its process. Voting is every American's electoral process; if we want politics to be more democratic, we must make it so.
Stick your Article V up your (x) traitor.
You want the Koch's and their corrupt buddies to be able to steal and trash the Constitution.
Too much work. It is much easier to sit around and bitch and moan, then go home, get online and try to be some internet, badass, warrior. OWS has made no progress. I see no new laws addressing their concerns (whatever they may be this week) and I see no politicians citing OWS as motivation to introduce any new bills. Their lack of focus has driven them to irrelevancy, but it is fun to watch the writhing.