Forum Post: Which is more important? Occupying the White House..or Occupying CONGRESS?
Posted 13 years ago on Dec. 1, 2011, 8:30 p.m. EST by Endgame
(535)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I think both are extremely important. But Congress is where common sense legislation dies. Where the filibuster(blocking legislation) is more misused than it ever has been in our history. So even if Occupying the White House is important, isn't Occupying Congress more important?
Also, ending the bribery and getting outside money out of our politics should be the Occupy Movement's main goal. It ties all complaints together, is bipartisan and is at the core of the problem.
Congress is much more important right now and people have to pay attention to it it is crucial. Don't occupy the White House because Obama will come out and say hey my fan base iit will be really dumb and awkward.
LOL that was good.
I wouldn't actually call them his fan base. I think alot of them want to believe in Obama but they don't and because of that they've been complaining about him just as much as they have been with other issues. But I agree that Occupying Congress will have a larger effect than the White House. Both are important though.
No but I know that Obama would use their occupation as a platform to say oh I am on your side blah blah blah reelect me as he reads from the teleprompter.
If he becomes a President that starts to boldly fight for the extremely important issues that Occupy are about then he will benefit from Occupy. But if he just gives pleasantries to Occupy without backing them up then they will see through it and he won't.
Im not really going to get into the teleprompter comment since its clearly just a regurgitated talking point. Lets just stick with dealing with the core issues and looking beyond party lines to fix them.
That speech is coming soon...
His only real job has been community organizer.
Congress!
Thanks for the reply.
Seems Occupy is now starting to Occupy Congress. There were a couple arrests yesterday outside Congress. It looks like this is going to be the next major Occupied space.
Combine that with the core message of getting the outside money out of politics, and this movement will grow even faster than it did when it first started.
I would like to see occupiers from across the country actually run for elected office. Congress (House of Representatives) is a great place to start. Representation is base roughly on 600,000 of population. I once was young and crazy enough to attempt this. The election gauntlet that has been created by the 1% to keep the status quo must be experienced to be fully appreciated. Using social media and streaming video to expose of the devolution of the election systems across the 50 states would be an extraordinary contribution. If occupiers committed to having candidates run for every House seat up for re-election in 2012 the 1% would be overwhelmed and some candidates would actually get elected. The knowledge gained would make a repeat in the future even more effective. I do NOT advocate creating an additional political party. There are enough of them already, imho, and there is room in the process for candidates to run using existing party structures.
Well said. This movement needs to translate over to political power and effect elections.
I also think creating an extra party would be a waist of time. Until the outside money is taken out of politics the new party will just become another bought off party.
Congress they make the laws and it is getting scary. They have a number of Fascist-like bills floating around Congress right now. We can't afford to not protest on Capitol Hill. The time is NOW everyone.
Thanks for the reply.
Yes, I really don't like what I see going on in Congress. So I say Occupy Capitol Hill NOW! I am trying to get my message across to OWS.
Keep pounding that message through. :)
Well considering the Prez came to NYC and visited with those who were waving campaign money and not those waving signs....I think it's clear what it is you have to do to get his attention.....along with most of the other politicians on both side...
They may have 1% of the wealth but don't we have 99% of the votes? Occupy em both.....
That is what im saying. The pressure to get the money out of politics needs to be put on ALL politicians. Including the President.
That is why the core message should be getting money out. It goes beyond partisanship. And it starts the process of fair and honest debates and problem solving bast only in facts.
Totally agree. The problem is people only want lobbyists and donations out who don't work for their agenda. Now if a lobbyist or donor further their agenda, they suddenly don't mind...like for example unions.....just because they don't have as much money as the top donors and lobbyists doesn't mean what they're doing isn't sideways either....But I guess the thinking or justification behind that is.....when in Rome................
I don't completely agree with that. I think if you ask most people would you get all outside money out or would you rather just take out the money that you want? I think the large majority will say get ALL money out. People want an even playing field were only the facts determine the outcome not money.
I believe if Unions were told they could not put any money into campaigns they would happily comply if ALL money was taken out.
Getting outside money out of politics isn't about only getting some of the outside money out, but all of it. And I think that is the way most people want it.
I'd like to believe that's what people want....I want to believe it....and I don't think you're unjustified in thinking so. That or people aren't willing to put in the effort to make it happen.
But then why can't we show it with our votes? If a large majority of voters want to put their foot down they can. Take money from lobbyists no matter who? No votes for you...Vote for those who campaign on the platform of reducing the influence of money in politics and then act on it...until we whittle it down from politician to politician. Why continually be persuaded to vote for people who say what we want to hear, not act on it, and then 2 or 4 years later vote em back in?
I have literally seen people vote for a candidate because their union said so or the VFW, says he's got their back (i mean not literally seen but have heard people have say "I voted because so and so supports...") why can't stop being lazy and start listening for ourselves and making decisions of what we feel?
And I don't mean to sound like a union basher that's not my intent, I believe they do a lot of good in other areas too and same goes for the VFW and other organizations.
There are a few reasons for that.
One of the reasons is because people knew this was a problem but they didn't feel it was a big enough problem to put aside all of their other political believes to make it their primary issue. So they complained about it but never really fought for the change.
Another reason is because unfortunately not enough people in the past paid attention to what was going on in politics. And because of that the special interests and the politicians that are bribed by them and protect them got even stronger and more corrupt.
But now that there is more money flooding out politics than ever before. And a direct result of that is the latest huge recession we were thrown into. That woke alot of people up. Even alot of the people that weren't paying attention before. And even though its better late than never, the Occupy movement came to be. And one of the complaints of Occupy is the corruption in out politics. Because of the energy of Occupy and awareness the message of getting outside money out of politics has never been this strong or unified. But its up to Occupy if they chose the right path in focusing their core goal of dealing with the main problem.
That is why in the past this didn't happen. But its why now there is a real legitimate shot that it can and I believe will happen. If people were chanting "get the money I want out, out of politics" that wouldn't go anywhere. Its the fact that people are fighting for ALL outside money to be banned.
94% of all elections are determined by the person who raises the most special interest money. So when you have all of that money flooding our democracy how much real choice do we have? Its like choosing the lesser of evils alot of the time when we vote. If there were ever a time to end that its now.
Occupying the White House is what the repelicans want us to do:
Ten repelican talking points re: OWS
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/republicans-being-taught-talk-occupy-wall-street-133707949.html
four goals
eliminate citizens united
eliminate the fillibuster
elect elizabeth warren
elect alan grayson
THE CAPITAL OF DEMOCRACY IS THE VOTE
Yeah, let's get her elected in 2016
I love Elizabeth Warren. Shes gone toe to toe with Wall Street and held her ground. She seems genuine and is one of my favorite political figures. But getting outside money out of Politics is more than just electing a few people. Its also about forcing the ones in power now to do the right thing.
I like your mindset though. Just expand it even more. ;)
As im writing this the Payroll Tax cut proposal failed in the Senate. And it was blocked by the very people that claim tax cuts pay for themselves....
Just another example of why I believe Occupying Congress is an important part of all of this. Bring more attention to the nonsense that is going on up there.
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Parties aren't the problem. People are going to have different beliefs. And alot are going to have overall beliefs that don't fit neatly into any specific party. Thats why there are independents.
The problem is the outside money that we allow to bribe and corrupt both parties.
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We as in everyone. Supreme Court,politicians(both of these are mostly to blame), and the American people. Im glad now there is a huge uproar for getting the money out of politics. People from all political persuasions have been complaining about the money in politics to themselves for a long time. But for the first time its a really loud coordinated complaining. Which is a VERY good thing.
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Alone that is mostly all what anyone of us can do. Together we can do anything. If we get together and say we want money out of politics it will happen. Yes there will be bumps in the road and the powers that be doing everything in their power to keep things the way they are. But with most of us standing together the ones that stand against us will pay the price politically. And our goal will happen. And it will happen much sooner than later.
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lol not necessarily. Like i've been saying one the most non partisan issues there is is getting the outside money,corruption and bribery out of our political system.
There doesn't need to be a party for that. The key isn't pretending that we all agree on everything. The key is focusing on the root of the problem and coming together to fix it. After that we will be able to have debates on ALL subjects without outside money corrupting the debate and the democratic process.
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The leaders? We don't need the political leaders that are in power now to achieve this. Real change comes from the ground up. The American people can't expect the ones that depend on a corrupt system for their job security and fatter wallets to be the ones to fix it. It has to be us. And yes there will be opposition from political leaders. But who cares. They will have to answer to us. But for that to happen the real threat of them being voted out has to be real. If they see us unified on this core message they will have no choice but to do the right thing or lose their jobs.
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We vote for the candidates that will fight for campaign finance reform and ending the corruption and bribery. We need to create the atmosphere were the only politicians that get voted into office are the ones that want to fix whats truely wrong with our political system at its core. No matter what party they are in.
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Gridlock won't matter if the majority of the people in all parties want the same thing. The ones that goes against something as popular as ending political bribery will either have a change of heart or be destroyed politically.
So no we don't trade issues. They either do the right thing or they get ousted. But I don't think it will get to that point. I think the political pressure will be so great that they will have to do it.
But the narrative has to start forming now. Occupy has the energy and momentum but they have to start forming a core message. They do that, sky is the limit.
We're trying to rally everyone around the # 1 priority. get big money out of politics. You on board?
http://occupywallst.org/forum/the-only-issue-the-only-issue-get-money-out-of-pol/
http://www.getmoneyout.com
Occupying WALLST, challenge the high priests of WALL ST ideology.
Occupying Wall St. was a good first step. And the corruption of Wall St. should always be apart of the narrative. But we have to look at what is the root of the issue. Why is it that Wall St. continues to get away with screwing over millions of people? Its because they pay politicians off and therefore the politicians protect them.
Occupy Congress and the White House. Get outside money out of politics. But its not all about Occupying places. Its about turning this potentially epically strong movement into political power.
It starts with WallSt. Who corrupts Congress?
Wo corrupts Congress? Well, because of our corrupt political system...every other corporation/rich entity in the US...
I am in complete agreement that Wall St. corrupts Congress. But I don't think its wise to think Wall St. are the only ones doing it. They aren't the only ones, by a long shot.
MAIN GOAL. Get money out of our politics! Thanks for the intelligent post.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/the-only-issue-the-only-issue-get-money-out-of-pol/
Absolutely! Signed on day 1.
Awesome! Let's spread the word.
Occupy the lobbyists homes and offices.
Occupy the lenders homes and offices.
Occupy the Congress homes and offices.
Be flexible. Be like water. Be everywhere. Be no where.
lol I like that.
it is the essence of subversion
it is the essence of Tao . . . .
Congress
Thanks for replying.
Occupy the 17th hundred block of Massachusetts Ave.
In that neighborhood:
American Enterprise Institute
1150 17th St NW # 1100, Washington D.C., DC
(202) 862-5800
http://www.sais-jhu.edu/
SAIS
1740 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20036-2103
(202) 797-6000
American Enterprise Institute is PNAC II.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8153555086218873684
The War Party is a BBC 'Panorama' documentary, first broadcast on Sunday 18th May 2003. The programme investigates the 'neo-conservatives' who have hijacked the White House - and America. The people who brought us war in Iraq will also bring us war with Iran - and possibly Russia too - if they are not stopped. After watching this documentary, it should become crystal clear that these puppets do not serve American interests.
Occupy the 1700th block of NW Washington DC and you will learn and do much.
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