Forum Post: Rebuilding America
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 15, 2011, 11:52 a.m. EST by KevinPotts
(368)
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Had A Dream.
I Also Have A Dream. And It Goes A Little Something Like This…
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rebuilding-America/299878956691538?sk=wall
“The only way the revolution will happen is through the spreading of awareness and the building of a community of conscious people who believe that the radical rebuild is possible.”
The movement will continue but we must outsmart the money. There is an auction coming up and reality is that we could end up with the likes of Grover Norquist, Koch Bros, and friends controlling the white House and Congress. This is a corrupt system but our system. I ask wouldn't it be better for one to make an effort to clean our house and prepare to move forward to create a forum to be heard and force change.. Bottom line is while all politicians have been working in a corrupt system for years I think there may be a few who want to attack the immediate and dangerous fact that the GOP this auction cycle is contained by the financial bullies. I support moving into the future, however we can not allow the financial bullies all gov positions to corrupt. We must also work within the current system and get the money out of politics. Is it not agreeable that Money is not the equivalent to speech? A very basic problem that needs a constitutional amendment. I ask why that very issue is not being attacked while moving forward. That alone would make a change. Further why are we allowing Congress to make their own laws which apply to themselves? The very fact they can make inside trades hedging for profit on trades set up to fail suggests Wall Street is running the country while the tax payers money is paying the salaries of those who are in congress for profit only. There are many ways to move forward but change will take time. I ask for a movement to attack a very important issue that would induce a break in this by demanding a amendment to the constitution that removes the ruling that money is equal to speech. A victory that could set forward motion in the long run.
the community of which you speak is holding a National General Assembly in Philadelphia in July. You will leave the NGA saying "I've seen all good people" https://sites.google.com/site/the99percentdeclaration/
I never thought I would live to see this day. "America never really was America to me." But this momentous movement of so many brave, good people standing up nonviolently against injustice -standing up and shouting out for radical change, for what we believe in -standing up and shouting out for representation, for truth and justice -for real democracy ...This is The Spirit of America! This is The Spirit of America and The Spirit of Patriotism that I have always dreamed of! This is The Spirit of A Country and A Nation that I have always wanted to live in and be a part of. This is the company I wish to keep. And this is just the beginning. I am so proud of everyone involved in this movement and cannot express enough my deepest thanks -my deepest gratitude. Thank You! This is The Spirit of Humanity that makes me proud to be an American.
It's Time to GET MONEY OUT of politics:
Bailouts. War. Unemployment. Our government is bought, and we’re angry. Now, we’re turning our anger into positive action. By signing this petition, you are joining our campaign to get money out of politics. Our politicians won’t do this. But we will. We will become an unrelenting, massive organized wave advocating a Constitutional amendment to get money out of politics.
We are using our ability to influence media outlets as a platform to force this issue to the center of the 2012 elections. We are using The Dylan Ratigan Show to build this digital wave, so join us. As the petition grows, the wave grows. Email, Facebook, Tweet — GET MONEY OUT. http://www.getmoneyout.com/
“No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream!”
We can never be satisfied as long as We The People of this nation continue to remain voiceless, unheard and unrepresented. We can never be satisfied as long as “democracy” continues to exist more in the realm of our dreams than in the everyday, conscious lives of our reality. We can never be satisfied as long as our politics, our media, our economy and our very lives continue to be dominated, unchecked by plutocracy, oligarchy and unfettered, corporate greed! We can never be satisfied as long as the bottom 40 % of Americans own less than 1% of the nation's wealth, while the top 1 % of Americans own over 40% of the nation‘s wealth. We can never be satisfied until the day everybody’s dignity and worth is respected and valued!
-Kevin Potts 11/15/11
“As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?"“
(continued) “It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.”
From The (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) “I Have A Dream“ Speech:
“I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation. Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity. But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition. In a sense we have come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
“The only way the revolution will happen is through the spreading of awareness and the building of a community of conscious people who believe that the radical rebuild is possible.”
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rebuilding-America/299878956691538?sk=wall
(continued) (9) Control of firearms would be instituted for the public good to reduce gunshot fatalities and injuries. Weapons would be repurchased by the government and destroyed during an amnesty period, followed by prosecution for owning handguns or other unregistered firearms similar to laws in Canada. The "war on drugs" would be ended and harm reduction, treatment and education funded as a priority. Non-addictive sacramental substances used for personal and spiritual growth would be protected under freedom of religion laws if taken under guidance of qualified teachers using community developed practices. A goal of the reduction of the size of the prison population by one half to two thirds would be set and a review of all cases undertaken. Nonviolent offenders would be released into well funded community re-integration programs.
(continued) (8) National priority of a healthy civil society: The US is a society in a state of trauma, both mental and physical. Objective studies of this trauma would be carried out to determine its nature and extent. Policies and programs would be developed to restore a sense of health to society. National priorities are set which place the health, well being, education of ordinary people first. Similar to countries like Canada, Denmark and others the priority is on the health of families and communities. Government institutions which work for the public good are strengthened. Those that do not will be identified by the public and voted out of existence using the modernized voting systems. The quality of care of children through adulthood is considered the national priority. Food and nutrition are priorities and heavy regulations are placed on the fast food industry. Fats, and food additives such as high fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners are regulated as controlled substances. Persons in a state of ill health would be able to qualify for community funded health and well-being programs.
"The US is a society in a state of trauma, both mental and physical. Objective studies of this trauma would be carried out to determine its nature and extent".
EXCELLENT POINT!
(continued) (7) Funds donated by supportive wealthy individuals (ie Warren Buffett) plus forfeiture funds from the TRC would be placed into a fund to prosecute other criminal elites and to support public institutions to enforce reinstated laws that previously protected the public interest. Criminal elites and their assets would be pursued on US soil and internationally, regardless of citizenship. Laws regulating banks and securities companies established during the 1930s would be re-instated. New laws regulating the power of securities and currency trading organizations would be developed and the employing of automated trading software would be prohibited. Liability for executives and directors of corporations for economic crimes which include large payouts not supported by beneficial performance would be clearly established. Executive compensation would be tied to an established multiple of collective individual worker's benefits and company profits. Deviation from these norms would expose executives to scrutiny and liability.
(continued) (6) Individuals who did not come before the US TRC would be subject to prosecution for CAH in the US and have no protection offered if prosecuted abroad. Senior officers or officials who created policies or ordered others to commit crimes would be prosecuted first and most severely. Those ordered to commit crimes would be offered the most protection under the TRC. As a result of a full remaking of foreign policy, those nations and regimes that use US aid to engage in terrorism of their own populations, or those of neighboring countries would have an immediate termination of all support. This would of course include termination of support for both Israeli and the Palestinian Authority. Countries or agencies could, after a one year review, re-apply for support under new guidelines. Proven non-military, non-religious global assistance programs such as the Peace Corps would be expanded. Prosecution for economic crimes and a return to healthy markets: The US TRC would also be open to the hearing of Economic Crimes Against Humanity (ECAH) by rich elites and others. Forfeiture of gains as well as full disclosure of crimes would prevent prison terms that these individuals would normally be subject to under current US laws and the laws of other countries.
(continued) (5) End of War Mongering and State Sponsored Terrorism: Virtually all US troops would be called home, leaving forces in place solely where humanitarian assistance is requested specifically by the local authorities and citizens. The new charter of the US military would be community and national infrastructure projects, border protection, disaster and humanitarian relief, and peace keeping as invited by the international community. The US military budget would be subject to a rapid "build down" to at most 20% of previous levels. With the savings, veterans would be able to receive good benefits, training and direct entrepreneurial grants going way beyond the GI bill of WWII to ensure that they become prosperous citizens of the new society. The "black ops" (government and private) organization would be subject to severe cut backs, public review and members of organizations who have committed Crimes Against Humanity (CAH) or state sponsored terrorism for previous US regimes would be offered forgiveness if they came before a South African style Truth and Reconciliation Commission to admit their crimes.
(continued) (4) Reassuming control of the messages we say to ourselves: All media outlets whose licenses would have been suspended under the previous laws abandoned in the 1980s which prohibited lying on the air are suspended with the return of these regulations. These outlets could apply for new licenses. Commercial media content and advertising deemed a threat to public health (mental and physical) by independent and corroborated scientific research would be suspended and standards used in other countries would be applied. Media conglomerates that have formed monopolies, which would have been deemed illegal under old laws, are pursued and broken up. Percentage ownership in media outlets by one entity is enforced. New alternative independent community media are given equal access to airwaves. The role of public broadcasting is expanded. Mimetic laws are put into place for a trial period. They will establish liability for clearly demonstrated psychological trauma perpetrated by media, religions, cults or other individuals given access to public venues or airwaves. It would become a prosecutable offence for a religious group or individual to repeatedly and clearly traumatize a child or to radicalize a member or group to violence or other acts. Strict separation of Church and State would be re-asserted in the constitution and in education policies.
(continued) (3) Elections are called and operated as they are in the democratic countries: unpredictable general election dates but within a set period of years, or through a vote of no confidence by the people, or at the governing parties' option with 30 days of campaigning. A new election would be held using well funded, non-profit and independently operated secure facilities of online voting supporting a multi party system employing direct democracy (no electoral college etc). The elections would be overseen by an independent electoral commission which would include international observers and experts. This commission would have the power to nullify and re-call any election, including presidential elections. As in the democracies, the new government would be formed through coalitions of parties if one party did not carry greater than 50% of the vote. Appointees to major posts and those seeking election including state governors, justices, cabinet members and the president and vice president would be subject to normal psychological screening, which even airline pilots are currently subject to. Failing such a screening would disqualify the individual from their appointment or from running. This will prevent imbalanced individuals from creating damage to the nation or public.
(continued) (2) The duopoly parties (Democrats and Republicans) are dissolved and new parties will be put together at the convention. These parties will represent the true groupings of national citizen interests. This is the common method of inclusion and diversity used in the democratic countries and now being witnessed in the Arab Spring. Lobbying becomes an illegal activity and no private money is permitted in politics. Campaigns may only be funded by direct, small citizen donations and from a public fund. Over 60 days a new constitution is drafted and adopted that builds on the foundation of the old but modernizes it. This process is supported by the delegates physically present but also through extensive citizen input through the Internet and social networks. The new constitution wraps in amendments of the old one but provides for Jefferson's constitutional conventions every 20-30 years to permit its evolution. The amendment system is no longer necessary. The declaration of the right of the citizen for an open, transparent and supportive government is ensconced in the newly expanded constitution and bill of rights, (or implementing FDR’s second bill of rights).
(Rebuilding America) (1) Radical remaking of our political system: A constitutional convention is convened with an open registration of delegates representing many groups across society. All sitting politicians are relieved of office, the system that put them there was not legitimate anyway so they were not duly elected by the population. Trained, professional civil servants form interim directorships of agencies under a short term contract. The value added to the running of these agencies by the old politicians may have been minimal in many cases. All current sitting politicians would not be offered entitlements beyond those benefits available to ordinary citizens. Sitting and past politicians are subject to a ten year prohibition of involvement in politics which can be forgiven through citizen sponsored campaigns of sufficient size. No politician convicted of criminal offenses while in office or having access to wealth is permitted involvement in politics at any time. Entitlements for past politicians are reviewed and may be subject to cuts. Entitlements for retired government workers are honored unless they became wealthy through the "revolving door" with industry in which case they will fail a means test and no longer qualify for the entitlement.
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