Forum Post: When the 99% vote, the 1% CAN'T win!
Posted 12 years ago on Aug. 31, 2012, 2:42 p.m. EST by pjoneli
(0)
from Des Moines, WA
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Get yourself registered. Get yourself informed. Get yourself out to vote!
Our Constitution begins with the words "We the People ...". Our government is us. If we aren't happy with ourselves, we can change ourselves. If we aren't happy with our government, we can change our government.
Of course, change is slow -- kinda like dieting -- no overnight results -- just slow steady progress toward our goal of "a more perfect union".
Register to vote. Help your friends register to vote.
Inform yourself of the issues. Discuss these issues with your voting friends.
Get out and vote. Help others get out to vote.
When the 99% votes, the 1% CAN'T win!! Let's take our country forward in a direction WE choose!!
The problem isn't not voting. The problem is the majority of voters voting for the same corporate representatives. You can't change things if you don't change how you vote. Take control.
FreeDA http://occupywallst.org/forum/free-democracy-amendment/
Voting for real progressive parties or candidates would help but it must be accompanied with people being engaged between elections!
Protests, pressure on all pols to implement progressive solutions. We can't have progress without take back the political system and a growing progressive movement to agitate for change.
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The 99% do not win by merely voting. They only win when they vote in their best interest.
The problem is that the 1% own all the media and all the politicians and they only promote policies that favor the 1%. So they have convinced the 99% to vote in the best interests of the 1%.
To combat this, the 99% need to be educated on a few important facts:
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THE 99% ARE EXPLOITED
The 99% need to understand that our economic system is a system designed by the 1% to benefit the 1%. Its purpose is to exploit workers by paying them a tiny fraction of what they produce, so the 1% can pocket the difference.
Even though worker productivity is $65 per hour, as shown here, which is enough to make every worker wealthy, most workers are broke because they only get paid a tiny fraction of the $65 per hour they produce. Most of that $65 unfairly gets paid to the 1%.
Half of all the income that workers produce gets paid to a small handful of gamblers who got lucky investing in the market like bankers and entrepreneurs, as shown here, and most of what remains gets paid to a small handful of people who have bargaining power merely because they are unique like athletes and celebrities.
The 1% takes the vast majority of the income the workers produce merely because they are lucky or unique.
The 99% of workers who produce everything - the engineers, doctors, construction workers, factory workers, miners, farmers, teachers - have to fight over the little income that remains.
Because of this exploitation, 50% of Americans are living in or near poverty, according to the latest census.
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THE 99% MUST VOTE TO END THEIR EXPLOITATION
Exploitation of the 99% will only end when the 99% vote for an economic system that makes their exploitation illegal.
They must vote for a system which pays workers 100% of the income, since they do 100% of the work, which pays no income to investors since they do no work, and which pays you based on how hard you work, not based on how lucky or unique you are, as explained here.
If we allocated income this way, if we paid workers in full, without exploitation:
But be prepared! The 1% will do everything in their power to convince the 99% that they need to be exploited in order for the economy to work. They will say an economy where we pay workers 100% of the income and pay them based on how hard they work cannot work.
So the 99% must stand vigilant in their right to full pay.
They must be educated on how much money they are losing to exploitation and on how much more income they would get paid in a system that does not exploit them. And they must demand nothing less in their economy.
They must only vote for candidates that will make exploitation illegal, that will tax all unearned income at 100% so that 100% of all income is paid to people who work, and that will allocate income based on how hard you work which you do by limiting differences in income to only what is necessary to get workers to do hard jobs or give their max effort in performance based jobs.
The problem IS not voting. The 1% has to buy their politicians but they can't if we vote said politicians out. That means being just as politically active in your state and local government as the in that of the presidency. Don't believe the lie that your votes don't count. That's what the 1% wants you to think so you'll just sit at home, complain on your computers and do nothing.
EXACTLY
Voting will NEVER make a Positive difference if the electorate is uninformed, misinformed or ignorant. That is the problem with today's electorate.
It's the act of voting by a wise, informed and politically educated voter that makes it powerful.
Today we have many barriers to a politically educated electorate.
An absence of accountablility from officials. Most voters do not know the names of their representitives, much less have comprehensive oversight of their activities. In my opinion each voter should get a quarterly report card that provides full accountability of all their representitives. This report must be provided by a non political/neutral entity.
The MSM, Corporate owned journalists/press whose objective is to control the population, not provide it with a free press. When you control information, you control the people's minds.
• A political establishment whose objective is to keep truth away from the electorate. Obfuscating the facts and distracting the voters with convoluted, futile debate.
• Get money out of politics. In practice, without money it is impossible to be elected. To get money, you must sell loyalty. Hence today only the rich have loyal representitives.
Without complete reform of our voting process, we will never achieve empowered voters.
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Please everybody must vote. It's the only way we will get out of this mess.
I already voted
demand elections be national and state holidays
The 99% are not a political group, they are no at all united under one cause. You need to come up with something they can understand, believe in, and support. Then offer them someone to vote for that supports that goal.
We can do what 80% of Americans say they want
We can do what 1,900,000 Americans signed
We can do what 363 local & state resolutions call for
We can do what 1,309 American mayors endorsed
Virtually every OWS goal –
jobs, taxes, government honesty, energy, environment, economy
all go back to EXACTLY one place
MONEY IN POLITICS
And there is EXACTLY one first step:
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A constitutional amendment to
Overturn Citizens United and Corporate Personhood
╬═╬═╬═╬═╬═╬═╬═╬═╬═╬═╬═╬═╬═╬═╬═╬═╬═╬═╬
▬► http://corporationsarenotpeople.webuda.com ◄▬
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For a complete analysis of the amendment issue,
http://corporationsarenotpeople.webuda.com
no password or signup
JOIN our OWS Working Group:
http://nycga.net/groups/restore-democracy
REGULAR MEETINGS:
Wednesdays 5:30-7:30PM @ 60 Wall St – The Atrium
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You are correct! We must vote to keep the right wing at bay if for no other reason. But it is NOT gonna do much if we don't protest! We must grow this movement and use people power to pressure/agitate all pols to implement progressive solutions.
That is what has been missing for the last 30 years. People staying engaged. We cannot expect just voting and going back on the couch.
Right. Because voting for Obama or Romney is really gonna help! Are you nuts? Where's the steady progress been for the last 40 years, huh? A downhill slide with falling wages, falling home prices, higher unemployment, higher levels of foreclosure, 1 in 7 people on foodstamps, 22% of children living in poverty 49 million Americans with no health insurance!!
Sure, voting has been the answer. Give me a break. I'm sick of hearing this crap.
Voting is not the answer. A large progressive movement that encourages people staying engaged and pressuring all pols to iplement progressive solutions.
But every one should vote. To replace conservatives with progressives if not for any other reason.
I'm not saying don't vote, but it sure isn't the answer. Glad we agree.
We certainly agree that voting today cannot resolve our problems. We MIGHT be able to slow the conservative influence, We MIGHT be able to get progressives who would be more likely to pass the solutions the 99% needs.
What might work is a growing progressive movement pressuring all aspects (media, police tactics, fed pols) of this corrupt system working in conjunction with the progressive pols that might pass what we need.
It's a long shot, many years of work, Money out of politics, grow the movement.
They've all failed us miserably. Everyone should just vote or not vote their conscience.
imagine if every eligible voter voted a "no consent" vote!
That would be historic of course.
I wish! If only!
I suppose we will have 40% staying home again, which IS a "no consent" I think. The 1% doesn't care. I think they like when people don't vote. It allows the 1% to more easily control the outcome. I think that is why they are making such a massive effort to suppress votes.
I have no answers. Protest, Agitate, Agitate!
In the end, though, who is there to vote for that has a chance of winning who isn't working for the 1%?
The ones we create. FreeDA http://occupywallst.org/forum/free-democracy-amendment/
We create such people to vote for by providing the opportunity for them to come forward.
We insist on candidates signing an affidavit.
We refuse support for candidates who don't sign.
We support the candidates collectively who do sign with ads funded by a 501(c)4 PAC created just for that purpose.
And then, we let the FreeDA message take its course with the voters.
Either they'll get fed up with the status quo no matter how many ads the wealthy fund and eventually vote for FreeDA signers or they won't. But unlike now, a choice will actually exist and their fate, good or bad, will finally be in their own hands.
We MUST remove all money from politics so that none of these pols are working for the 1%.
That should be our 1st priority. I know OWS has a petition and ahas come out against the CU, superpac obscenity, I've seen many localities take a stand, I've seen many pols speak out against it.
Their is "move to amend" who is working to address this foundational problem.
You areright money corrupts all pols. It is a rarity that you get a Sen Bernie Sanders. That is why we must get money out 1st!
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Agreed bw
Still proselytizing VQkag. You ever think about becoming a preacher in one of those right-wing churches down south?
Please don't start attacking me again. I know you disagree with me. I know you don't want me to express my opinion because you disagree. I know you want me to leave the site. But I am allowed to express my opinion. I've never been banned for my comments. And I never curse people & attack people like you were banned for.
I am not proselytizing, please don't suggest that lie! I am progressive, registered independent. You know I support liberal/dem agenda, your suggestion that I should go to a right wing church is just you trying to pick a fight as usual.
Please leave me alone if you want to pick a fight! Haven't you had enough picking a fight with DK today.?
Please I beg you. Be respectful. I'm not being disrespectful to you. I try very hard to get every one I see to stop the insulting schoolyard bullying tactics of the candidate Romney.
Peace, & Solidarity.
No attack on my part
Just expressing my views like veryone else
Yes, i realize my mistake about you not 'proselytizing' this time, and have very graciously gave you a pass for the next two times that you do 'proselytize.'
I will let you know when each pass is used up, OK?
See I,..........like you am just regular folks
So you are gonna be watching me?. And if I get out of line you will attack me then?
Can you tell me what you will allow me to say?
Please VQkag for a person that has so aggressively, and viciously denigrated other people on this forum, dont play the victim with me
I do not stalk anyone on here, but since you seem to be on here so much, i will comment as I see fit with you, or anyone else
Stop. When have I done that? What people? Are you the police. I think I wuold be banned if I got out of line? I've never been banned. You've been banned 5 times. The mods do a great fair job. We should alll thank them.
How you doin with the list of what you will allow me to say?
Say anything you like VQkag
And I will reply accordingly
I will even look for something we can agree on to assuage your faux hurt ego
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Probably not...I just get all excited when i see his pseudonym up there all the time. I will let him slide one time when he does become partisan to make up for my mistake, and to avoid having to apologize to him. While I knew the word 'proselytize', i had never used it in a sentence. I guess i just got over-anxious, that's all. ;-)
Doesn't explain all your other attacks!
Please don't attack me anymore. I'm not attacking you!
peace & Solidarity
Nothing explains all the times i have seen your curse other people out, or the multitude of ways you have trashed people on here
And once again, you are the only person on here who has ever sent me a "fuck off" PM
So what precipitated this profane message from you to me
Answer: I had simply reminded you that you forgot your Peace, and Solidarity sign-offs, after you told another poster "fuck you." That's all.
That's a lie. I take extra efforts to ask everyone to refrain from obscenities.
I haven't even seen you on the forum in weeks. I think you were with other names. Is that what you're talkin about? I don't recall cursing you out! You wanna give me a link. Other people? I don't think I have gotten out of line and I certainly don't think you are the police. I think the mods do a great job policing people here.
I have never been banned. Have you been banned 5 times already?
I think that is probably the best measure as to who does the wrong thing
Have you put together the list of what you will allow me to say, so I can avoid one of your attacks on me? It would be greatly appreciated.
Have you put together a list of ways that I could disagree with you without you calling it an "attack."
I realize that will be difficult for you with your past history of viciousness towards others, and it will probably make you a hypocrite.
You have never been banned because DK, who once held a lot of sway here was your partisan politic buddy hence you got more latitude in trying to co-opt this movement, than I did in trying to keep it defiant
You both need to stop.
Does that mean I should let him continue to try to moveon.org-ize this movement.
I would like nothing better than for this forum to be a place that connects to the streets, and not be a place that resembles election central.
This is not the role that I thought, or that I wanted to play here, but nevertheless it is an important one.
I applaud all of you that ignore this, and go on teaching, learning, and exchanging ideas
And I would love to be back there amongst you all doing those important things
That too is a very important role
My best advice is to avoid each other. That's all I have left.
I wish we could put them in time out.
For you, I will avoid DK, and VQ for a few days, after i finish replying to their comments here that are waiting for me, but i will never give up on not wanting this movement to become docile, and ineffective.
When I say stop, I mean stop the personal attacks.
Have you ever tried to reason with this guy bw? I have many times, and i have witnessed many others too. His technique of putting people in the gutter, while he puts himself on a pedestal is infamous to many of us here. He is not who he claims to be, and he is not here to further this movement, although he does put up a wonderful facade of being a true OWS supporter. Perhaps because I personally know many of the people that are making the real sacrifices, I find him so detestable.
I tried twice last night to put up a thoughtful thread, and both times, it got wiped out....very frustrating... Tonight, I am no longer in the mood to try again. I also remember how my last thread Copper versus Salmon was sulllied by vindictive people on here with remarks, and tremendous down voting of my thoughtful comments that I had made. I would not want to subject the young people whom I love in OTS, who the thread was going to be about by extension be sullied too. I think too much of them for that to happen. It' sad for me too bw. it really is.
I rarely speak to DK. I've never had any trouble where I might have to ask DK or anyone for leniency. I have talked to real mods about people who get out of hand. Like you! LMFAO.
If you have some evidence of some specific problem/comment (that we haven't already discussed) I'm more than willing to straighten you out.
Otherwise, to spew some blanket non specific insults is just more personal attacks based on your fantasies.
Please stop harrassing me!
Just because you say I am "harassing" you, does not make it so
Replying to a comment in a non-inflammatory way like i usually do certainly does not constitute harassment
It is not like I twist what you say, or curse you out...like I have seen you and now DK do to so many others on here
So please stop redefining the word 'harassment' in such a hypocritical way
BTW, like most people, I save my fantasies for other things ;-)
If you have nothing of substance to discuss please leave me alone.
I don't need to get a comment from you telling me I've said offensive things weeks ago.
I don't need to hear from you about what you sap I am allowed to say.
I come here to discuss real issues. I'm not here to be social, certainly not with you.
If you don't have anything serious to discuss please leave me alone.
You can learn a lot from history, especially if it keeps repeating itself like yours does
I have NEVER EVER told you what you can, or cannot say
That is a PERFECT example though how you twist things
I do not expect to be left alone after putting up a comment here, and neither should you expect it either
That is why they have a "reply" tab under comments
Plllleeeeeeeeaassseee don't play the VICTIM here VQkag
That is just another one of the tricks you use in the huge bag of 'em that you have
As promised to bw, I will not have any exchanges with you until Tuesday at least, so you will have free reign to run rough-shod over this forum from me anyway
Lying piece of crap.
You both need to stop.
I couldn't agree more. I wish I could turn a hose on them.
LOL! That is so funny. But no, let's hope they can come to terms, both are staunch supporters of this movement. LOLOL!
I fear that in support of Odin we have only resuscitated another immature manipulator...
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Yes i know Zen, almost all of us here want a sea change, but some of us are here for ulterior motives, and this guy is right on the top of most people's list, including mine
"Acolyte"....that's a good word too. Look for that to show up in one of my next comments. lol
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Yes the right-wing philosophy is the 'most dangerous', but the case could easily be made that the left wing's complicity is the 'most insidious.' No matter though, if we want systemic change, I believe as most other OWS people that we have to stay outside the system
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Yes, but the path that OWS follows does not pass through demville.
Moveon.org, and all the groups working within the system does
Radicals is what is needed for systemic change. We are them, and we have to remain them
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Yes, i have the book the Art of War, and then saw it again on my LT. It is not that we should not be hitting the enemy at its most vulnerable points in our case, but rather who should be doing what. The dems, and moveon have an important role to play in this, but not under our tent. We must remain the radicals, and that is no nuance, but rather a clear, very important delineation of roles if we are going to succeed.
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You are missing the scam. Although the 99% vote, the 1% picks the candidates the 99% vote for. What ever happens in the election the 1% wins.
The 99% are already voting. That's not the problem.
The problem is that they grew up in a society ruled and owned by the 1%. All the media and important businesses are owned by the 1% and they use them to convince the 99% to vote in the best interests of the 1%.
The 99% need to understand that there is a viable alternative to a society ruled by the 1% and that they should vote for that alternative.
The alternative to a society ruled by the 1% is Democratic Market Socialism as explained here.
DMS has been rigorously peer reviewed in mainstream economics journals for the past 100 years and every component is already proven to work in the real world.
DMS would enable us to, among other things, guarantee everyone a job with a minimum wage of $115k per year, reduce the week to 20 hours, pay students an income to go to school, and give everyone a 100% mortgage at 0% interest. It would make everyone wealthy and when everyone is wealthy, you eliminate nearly every problem in society.
Socialism simply means 100% of the economy's income is paid to workers since workers do all the work (instead of half going to workers and half going to investors) and differences in income between workers are limited to only what is necessary to get people to do undesirable jobs and give their maximum effort in performance based jobs (instead of based on how much bargaining power you have which allows a tiny minority to use their power to exploit every other worker).
In other words, workers are paid the full value of what they produce because we are eliminating the payment of unearned income to investors who do no work and eliminating exploitation. According to American anarchist Benjamin Tucker, this is what makes an economy socialist. It's an economic system summed up in the original, pre-Marxist, socialist slogan, "To each according to their contribution."
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Unless the 99% votes for corporate canidates. Then we ALL lose.
"It's not the vote that counts. It's who counts the votes." - Josef Stalin
That's a good one! Uncle Joe knows.
And it appears that our government has learned a lot from his wisdom.
Here's another one:
“What better way to enslave a man than to give him the vote and tell him he’s free.” -Albert Camus
Yes I've heard that one too. Whatta country!
Been a month there Sparky, where ya been?
I get frustrated and have to take a break ....... but I'll always be back! I've been hanging out at http://policyvote.com/ . So many politicians have been posting ideas there; and I enjoy striking back at their corporate agenda. :)
I'll check it out.
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