Occupy the Debates!
Posted 11 years ago on Sept. 20, 2012, 11:43 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
Tags:
new orleans,
denver,
debates,
election
The Commission on Presidential Debates, a private corporation, restricts the ‘debates’ to the two corporate parties and the issues that they approve. The concerns of the people such as ending corporate influence over politics, ending militarization, and creating real jobs and access to health care and education will be discussed superficially or not at all.
How will you Occupy the Debates? You can do this in many ways and if you need them, we are here to provide resources to you.
Here are ways to get involved:
- Take the online survey at OccupytheDebates.org.
- Read about the issues.
- Organize an event in your community.
- Spread the word!
Occupy Denver has taken the lead on this and is organizing a variety of events around the first presidential debate to be held there October 3rd. Events include a People’s Forum with live entertainment and opportunities to share stories and a People’s Dialogue to discuss the top issues that are chosen in the survey. And Occupy NOLA is holding a People’s Convention on Octcober 27.
The results of the Occupy the Debates survey and events will be collected nationally and shared with presidential candidates for response and posted on the OccupytheDebates.org prior to Election Day.
Please join the call if you are planning or are interested in holding an Occupy the Debate event and changing the debate to the issues that we the people care about, not the corporations! You can also contact us at info@occupythedebates.org.
We recognize that within the current political structure, which is dominated by corporate power and concentrated wealth, lawmakers will not adequately address the many crises faced by the nation and the planet. Thus, we will continue to protest, to educate and organize and to build alternative systems that place human needs over corporate greed.
The fact is that the "debates" are owned by D + R
If you really want to do something, support a constitutional amendment.
money is not speech & corporations are not people
And legislation that restricts money going to candidates,
and ONLY candidates can spend the money
( parties, corporations, unions would NOT be able to )
Campaign funding miniscule compared to government budget
So says the guy that is going to endorse the ones who support that.
Why do you have to attack people who disagree with you!
Do you support his Amend to get money out of politics or not.?
Or you just want to attack people?
It could be worse. ZenDog attacks people who agree with him.
Distraction. "he hit me 1st!" "he did it, why can't I?"
If the Zen master jumped off a bridge would you.? Why can't you judge you're course of action based on right & wrong, & not on what other people do? Can't you take responsibility for your own behavior instead of saying "he made me do it"
Don't you have any personal ethical compass you can depend on?
I support it. Of course I support it. Money out of politics, end the banking cartel. Simple.
But you cant support something and then vote for the problem, which is exactly what he's going to do. Like being for the Green Party and driving a hummer.
Like many he believes that voting for 1 of the 2 parties is the best option to address our problems.
He may not think voting 3rd party when that 3rd party can't win will change the money in politics situation.
Why can't he vote how he wants without your offensiveness.? Why can't you treat people who disagree with you with respect.?
Is your opinion the only right opinion? All others must be ridiculed?
Hey, he can do whatever he likes. But all of this double talk has got to stop. We cannot have people screaming for change, and then do NOTHING week after week, only to troll to the polls once every two years and endorse the status quo.
That doesnt lead to change. That leads to nothing. This guy puts a tremendous amount of leverage in voting (way too much in my opinion, see my post on voting). So if that the ultimate way of stating your opinion, how can one side with the people who are practicing what is deemed to be the main problem?
Well I have been at OWS meetings with him. So I know he is doing more than engaging with the closet republicans here whose goal is only to convince progressive OWS supporters from voting.
I also know from his website that he has gathered and absorbed much information.
There is nothing wrong and everything right in attempting to get change/reform through workking within the system.
You may not agree, that is your right. But to personally attack people who choose this path just because you disagree betrays a disrespect of individuals that is unproductive.
Why can't you allow people to have their own opinions, find common ground and debate in a civil, respectful way.
The politics of personal destruction is big part of our current problems. Poor form, bad Karma,
If you wanted you could be better. Do you think you can change someones mind with insults, & bullying? Or do you know you cannot but do it just for pleasure?
There are plenty of internet studies that show people go onto political sites stricly for the mental reactions they get from arguing with people, and Im assuming I am no different.
The reform vs rebuild arguement has been going on since OWS started. Both sides have a point. In reality, both sides just dont have the support to do it. If they did, which one would bring the drastic and needed change?
Working within the system always seems like a decent idea, but its going to get the same results as it always does, Im guessing.
So why resort to the offensive bullying?
Do you think you will change someones mind? Or do you just enjoy putting people down?
I have been a member of five Occupy working groups and have attended 100+ Occupy meetings & marches - and yes I plead guilty to being a liberal - progressive
Best place for Occupy to Be! Get out there.. and get our voices heard!
Yea! I can't wait to get out there! But where is there? And what are we protesting specifically? I mean are we protesting evil corporations that pay and give their workers benefits! Or, are we protesting Obama and his left wingers?
These ain't debates they are joint news conferences.
It's a fraud! And they are scared to have 3rd party paricipation.
Not debates but merely 'auditions' by these two phony political stooges, and the two "Vichy" political facades, to try-out as potential sell-outs, pawns, puppets, and faux-emperor/presidents of our post-democratic country run by the DGE (disguised global Empire), the corporate/financial/militarist Empire, and the global ruling-elite.
Best luck and love to the fast expanding 'Occupy Empire' educational and revolutionary movement against this deceitful, guileful, disguised EMPIRE, which doesn't wear 'Red Coats' (or funny looking helmets).
Liberty, democracy, justice, and equality
Over
Violent/Vichy II
Empire,
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
ok! Tell us how you really feel!
Awesome - tweeted.
Two simple questions for both candidates
1
Do you support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United & Corporate Personhood ?
2
Should any representative be relected who put his or her pledge to grover norquist above his or her pledge to America - and thus refused to tax the 1% ?
From: Greenpeace.
It has been a year of extreme weather.
Droughts, floods and wildfires have ravaged the US during the hottest 12-month period in our country’s history. Meanwhile, sea ice in the Arctic melted more this summer than ever before, and experts are saying that within a decade we could see ice free summers there for the first time in many thousands of years.
The message is clear: global warming is real and it’s happening right now. That's why we need to hear what the two presidential candidates are planning to do about it. And there’s no better space than the presidential debates for them to do just that.
Take action today and help make the issue of global warming part of the debate for President.
On Wednesday of next week, President Obama and Mitt Romney will meet in Denver, CO for the first of four presidential debates. Neither major party candidate has really discussed the issue of global warming much at all so far during the campaign.
Now is our opportunity to change that. But there isn’t much time. Jim Lehrer of PBS is hosting the first debate and likely compiling the questions as you read this.
Send a message today to Jim Lehrer and ask them to make sure that global warming is part of the presidential debates.
After all, a planet that can continue to sustain human life is an important part of any solution to any of the other problems we’re currently facing.
All we’re asking for is one question. Considering what's at stake, it's not too much to ask.
Sincerely,
Kyle Ash Greenpeace Senior Legislative Representative
Facebook
Twitter
Click here to forward this message.
Greenpeace 702 H Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20001 | 1-800-722-6995
People - Have you taken the survey yet?
Great idea. There is one on Oct. 16 @ Hofstra on Long Island: Topic: Town meeting format including foreign and domestic policy Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time Location: Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York (Tickets) Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates Participants: President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney Moderator: Candy Crowley (CNN Chief Political Correspondent)
The second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting, in which citizens will ask questions of the candidates on foreign and domestic issues. Candidates each will have two minutes to respond, and an additional minute for the moderator to facilitate a discussion. The town meeting participants will be undecided voters selected by the Gallup Organization.
For more info on all debates: http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews.com/2012-debate-schedule/2012-presidential-debate-schedule/
I still wish OWS would of had a good candidate for President. We failed to take advanage of the whole Presidential Elections in order to use it as a platform for our issues and interests for Global Liberation. I am not going to Vote for either Obama or Romney, though I will VOTE for a 3rd Party alternative. ~ Peter S. Lopez AKA @Peta_de_Aztlan
Personally, I am not happy either with Obama! He dosen't care about people like us who don't have a life! Think about it! Has Obama ever donated to our low food fund? No! Then there is Romney who thinks we should go out and work for living! Why can't we have your OWS guy run!
Obama has been a great disappointment. After Bush Jr. thought he was the best thing since wheat bread, but in some key areas he is even worse. He is a corporate puppet and was all along. @Peta_de_Aztlan
Excellent. Nice job Denver and NO.
I'm going to occupy another TV channel.
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Thank you!