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Forum Post: Our Single Demand!

Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 17, 2011, 6:58 p.m. EST by jeivers (278)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Take the money out of politics. That is our one demand. Together we are too big to fail. We are the 99%

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qI_P3pxze5w

45 Comments

45 Comments


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[-] 2 points by OnePeople (103) 12 years ago

Sever the chords binding Capitol Hill to Wall Street.

[-] 1 points by NPRrocks (7) 12 years ago

will never happen. politics and big money can't survive without each other. that's like trying to seperate religions from their money source. will never happen.

[-] 0 points by jeivers (278) 12 years ago

Of course it can happen - we just need to make it happen! Publically funded elections - free air time - Open Primaries with instant runoff voting and the top two candidates head off a month after the Primary -- no more endless election cycles.

[-] 2 points by alex5045 (40) 12 years ago

I suggest that we have one goal that unites us and it is that we want to get our government to reflect and represent we the people and not those the ultra wealthy.

Lets not get characterized as being far out socialist liberals bent on destroying society as it is today! I am sure there are many points and goals that can be detailed in a manifesto - and I am equally sure that there are many opposing views with respect to these goals. The very word “manifesto” conjures up the aura of violent revolutionaries demands. We cannot give the small elite few who currently “run the country and make all the decisions for us” the opportunity to dismiss us as radicals.

Today we cannot hold a real discussion on the merits of any of the points/demands listed in today’s manifesto - because our elected representatives reflect those who will ensure their reelection. Until we change this and get the money out of politics we will never achieve any of the points listed in today’s manifesto!

Our first step - our initial goal and what I suggest should be our sole unifying goal must be that we get back control of our government. Once we have representatives and senators who understand that they are responsible to "we the people" and not a few powerful people - then and only then will we have a chance of dealing with the individual items listed in the manifesto.

Once this happens we can debate taboo subjects like Forgiveness of Student Loans, Ending Foreclosures, the lack of morals and ethics on Wall Street, term limits, …

I am not saying whether I am for any of these or against them - as the Arab Spring sprung from the inextinguishable requirement that “the people” have their voices heard and not only heard but listened to and acted on - we need to have representatives who represent us.

This is what we need - we need go no deeper - we must have our governments' back. Once we do then true debate that does not reflect the special interests will take place …

Take back what is yours … that which is ours

BE YOU American, British, French, Italian, Australian, Chinese, Russian, Libyan, Tunisian, Yemeni, Syrian, WE ALL HAVE A SINGLE COMMON GOAL - IT IS TO GET OUR GOVERNMENT BACK.

Alex P

[-] 0 points by jeivers (278) 12 years ago

I agree - and I think that can't happen till we get Politicians to fear the Voters more than the $$$ !! We need to get the Money out of Politics - what ever can do that and give us our government back I am for 100% or 99% :-)

[-] 1 points by J789 (18) 12 years ago

We don't really need our politicians to fear the voters. I just want our politicians to work in a noise free environment.

[-] 0 points by jeivers (278) 12 years ago

Bribe and blackmail free would be a nice start!

[-] 2 points by RillyKewl (218) 12 years ago

Repeal Gramm-Leach-Bliley. Tell your representatives today!

What started here were the credit default swaps + the short-sells betting against them. Followed-up with bail-outs of the too-big-to-fail banks + AIG. Followed by record bonuses. That created the greatest wealth gap the US has seen in 60 years.

[-] 1 points by malco43 (2) 12 years ago

Agreed.! Tell your representatives today what you want and compel them to take a stand on this movement. It's hard for me to believe that NY's senators and reps are not constantly called out by name by OWS. Why are we letting Schumer, Gillibrand, and the rest off the hook? (This applies nationally and globally of course.) Whether or not you believe representative democracy is broken, it makes no sense to allow these people to remain silent.

[-] 1 points by actionman (3) 12 years ago

Ban corporate and union political contributions. Limit individual political contributions to $1000.

[-] 1 points by actionman (3) 12 years ago

Ban corporate and union political contributions. Limit individual political contributions to $1000.

[-] 1 points by actionman (3) 12 years ago

Ban corporate and union political contributions. Limit individual political contributions to $1000.

[-] 0 points by jeivers (278) 12 years ago

Bundling will stay take place by those who can afford it - we need publically funded elections - free air time - an Open Primary system with instant run-off voting and the two top candidates go head -to head one month after the Open Primary to limit the endless election cycle!

[-] 1 points by April (3196) 12 years ago

This needs to go official and public.

There's enough people that get this. We need to move beyond and take this to the next level.

We may lose some, but we will gain much more.

[-] 1 points by nypdpete (1) from Weldon, NC 12 years ago

I agree but If we are to have a truly bloodless revolution, all we need do is follow the Constitution and vote out any incumbents. Our forefathers didn’t have any experience when they formed our government. We don’t need laws for term limits to vote them out. The experience of our recently elected officials is killing us with new laws and good intentions that only serve to make us economic slaves to an all powerful corrupt government beholding to the rich and powerful.

We have the power of a free electorate. Let’s use the power of the vote while we still can to correct previous mistakes and return the power to the people instead of the self serving aristocrats who, because of their success would have us believe that they are the only ones capable of representing us.

The population of the U.S. has increased tenfold since its inception to better than 300 million people today. There is absolutely no reason to keep reelecting the same people. Again, follow the Constitution, stop lawyers from running for the House and Senate. Lawyers are officers of the Court and therefore part of the judicial branch of our government. No matter what they say, you can’t serve two masters or in this case, serve two branches of our government.

As for taxing: If all men are created equally, why not tax all men equally? Flat tax all people equally and extend that same process to “ALL” corporations without all the write offs meant for the rich. Buying other corporations as write offs and tax shelters are the practices of the rich and only serve to avoid paying taxes while driving up the prices for the rest of us.

The clock is ticking, Election Day is coming up fast and the only way any changes will happen is if They’re In - Vote Them Out.

Pete Di Lauro

[-] 1 points by PetraeusPresident (9) 12 years ago

David Howell Petraeus officially announced as Occupy Wall street Presidential Candidate.

[-] 1 points by EndInflationNow (2) from Deltona, FL 12 years ago

To get the MONEY OUT OF POLITICS we must get the POLITICS OUT OF MONEY. We need to Constitutionally END THE FED, Right Now, Today. TAKE ACTION! - see http://us-debt-solutions-now.com/11-comprehensive-package-of-amendments-to-the-us-constitution-for-immediate-ratification/ for immediate action steps.

[-] 1 points by guru401 (228) 12 years ago

When the Tea Party started, this was their #1 demand too.

[-] 0 points by jeivers (278) 12 years ago

Yes and they got co-opted by the Koch brothers and pro-corporate money!!!

And remember their chants of "we want OUR AMERICA back" had some worrying meaning embedded in that Our America statement, because the "Our" part was not actually an inclusive "Our" for many in the Tea Party movement.

[-] 1 points by guru401 (228) 12 years ago

Well hopefully the same doesn't happen to OWS.

[-] 0 points by jeivers (278) 12 years ago

Yes but OWS is clear that the 99% includes everyone not in the one percent plus anyone in the 1% who supports our goals.

[-] 1 points by frankchurch1 (839) from Jersey City, NJ 12 years ago

Good first step.

[-] 0 points by jeivers (278) 12 years ago

Amen!

[-] 1 points by takusanmizu (1) from Los Angeles, CA 12 years ago

one goal isnt good enough. we need tax reform, fed reserve reform, financial regulation reform, health care system reform, workers rights reform... yes there are a lot of people saying a lot of things... its that fucked up!!

[-] 1 points by alex5045 (40) 12 years ago

but you can’t and won’t get any of these until the government is once again under the 99%’s control. Focus on this of which getting money out of politics is a sub goal - and once we have it you can deal with everything else

[-] 0 points by jeivers (278) 12 years ago

Yes but all reforms can get lobbied to death and die a death from a thousand knives if we don't get Election and Lobbying reforms that Get the Money out Politics!

[-] 0 points by jeivers (278) 12 years ago

Actuall as per my statement "reforms" will just get killed - we need a complete re-working of how elections take place and a complete ban on corporate lobbying and corporate money in politics.

[-] 1 points by PROTESSTONER (70) from New York, NY 12 years ago

I agree. Everything else, tax cuts, jobs over seas, obscene profits when disaster strikes, all came about because of the corrupting influence of great wealth on politics.

When wealth is focused in small groups, tyranny follows.

[-] 1 points by WorkingClassAntiHero (352) from Manchester, NH 12 years ago

While I made my way through the occupations of Boston, New York and Philadelphia, this one message seemed to resonate all around.

Even when hecklers would walk by shouting "get a job" or whathaveyou, when I'd simply ask them, "Why are you being an asshole?" They'd go back and forth for about a minute before a discussion of the broken nature of our public and private systems would develop and by the end they'd say "if this is about cleaning up elections and lobbying, I support it!"

That literally happened in each city at least a half dozen times from what I saw. Election and lobbying reform is rapidly becoming the central message.

[-] 1 points by jeivers (278) 12 years ago

YES!!! Reforming elections and lobbying to remove the influence of Corporate Money should be priority #1 --- Get the $$$ out of politics, corporations are not people and buying our politicians is not Freedom of speech!!!

[-] 1 points by WorkingClassAntiHero (352) from Manchester, NH 12 years ago

Promote the message then friend.

[-] 0 points by jeivers (278) 12 years ago

Every day!

[-] 1 points by Lefty48197 (117) 12 years ago

I agree that should be a MAJOR goal, but my #1 goal is to end corporate greed. Greed that sends jobs to China, greed that causes real wages to fall for several consecutive decades, greed that tries to roll back worker protections, and benefits, and social safety nets. It's the greed that needs to end. Sure many in Congress are abetting the greed, but the root of all the problems is the corporate greed. We need some economic nationalism on Wall St.

[-] 0 points by jeivers (278) 12 years ago

Your goal can never happen without the other being implemented first - they would write reforms and them those reforms would get lobbied to death - the death of a thousand knives - just like the Financial Regulatory Reforms they have been lobbying to death for over a year!!

[-] 1 points by wweddingMadeintheUSA (135) 12 years ago

Boycott imports!!! Buy Made in the USA!!!

[-] 1 points by Lefty48197 (117) 12 years ago

Bring the jobs home, Bring back the Middle Class, Restore the American Dream.

[-] 1 points by J789 (18) 12 years ago

Yes! We can do that once we get Money out of Politics

[-] 1 points by grinch (2) 12 years ago

Agreed

[-] 0 points by mbsss (92) 12 years ago

Global trade is not a threat--just large multi-national firms who trade through controlling tarrifs, currencies, transference of debts, and more. Anyway, OWS should remain, as Alex P says, free from political bias. This movement is about instilling ethics in governments, businesses, and citizens as well. It is not religious either except where ethics may happen to share a value point in ALL religions--and in NO religions. Getting government back means remembering the old "golden rule" and in 3 words: do no harm.

[-] 1 points by wweddingMadeintheUSA (135) 12 years ago

I'm not religious or politically motivated. I'm talking about forcing companies to bring jobs back why should we be bleeding our hearts out for people in other countries when 10% of us are unemployed????? They never gave a shit about us when our jobs were exported to them....

[-] 1 points by mbsss (92) 12 years ago

We live in a global society where people move all over. I, along with several million Americans, live and work abroad. I compete with others in the country where I live, but there are several hundred thousand from this country where I am now who work all over Europe and the US. From consultancies, to migrant workers, to refugees, to new citizens in new homes, many people are mobile--some because they have to be, some because they want to be. In the end the employment and un-employment figures will not change much--especially when the problem is, as I am sure you know, about an economy weakened by toxic loans, subprimes, overspending, trading and hedging of debts, over printing of money, and the unethical greed of too many people wanting to get rich quick without concern for those who might get hurt in the fall-out (the unemployed!) Companies can't just bring back jobs when they never even had the money to pay for labor in the first place, or if they have been forced to lay-off because of a crumbling economy.

[-] 1 points by wweddingMadeintheUSA (135) 12 years ago

If we support demand for American made products they will be able to afford to pay us. Unethical greed has 10% of us unemployed along with all of the reasons you stated. So many people are accusing us of asking for a handout I'm asking for a decent job and I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is we just support Chinas growing middle class remember that good for them but not to my despair

[-] 1 points by mbsss (92) 12 years ago

It's nice to have American made products that people will pay for. I agree. It feels good, and sometimes fosters employment, but not necessarily more or less employment. It's not quite that black and white. Sure if a textile mill in New Hampshire closes in the 80s and Hathaway shirts all get made in Indonesia or Mexico, those shirtmakers are out of work unless they can get something else. Agreed. But the complexities of global economics are so thick that what you are advocating, sadly, won't happen---BUT that does not mean that you can't find ways to create products and services that people in America will buy--and maybe even pay more for. Without trying to write an economic text book, I do think it is important for us all to think twice every time we buy products just because they are cheap and were likely made in some sweat shop overseas. But our choice will mean that we have to pay a little more for home-produced goods. On the other hand, if you and I were to start a small import export firm and you hired Americans who made something I wanted to buy and I hired locals where I am to make things you wanted to buy, then the balance of trade and employment would be equal and the joint market might actually improve life for us both and our employees. That is how global trade should actually work.

[-] 1 points by wweddingMadeintheUSA (135) 12 years ago

I'm right whatever

[-] 0 points by jeivers (278) 12 years ago

Need a Corporate VAT Tax System and an import Tax on chinese goods based on the percentage their curreny is intentionally undervalued.