Forum Post: What is your mission?
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 8, 2011, 3:40 p.m. EST by bluedoghunter
(3)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Why are you here, and what is your mission? In all the rambling, media attention, and protests, I have yet to hear the mission statement other then trying to destroy corporate America. That in itself, is not a mission statement.
1.) Reinstate Glass-Steagal and fix the SEC
2.) Amend the constitution, or do whatever it takes legislatively, to undo corporate personhood and especially Citizens United.
3.) Return to the truly progressive tax policy we had during the Eisenhower administration. Major inequality is the underlying cause for everything from asset bubbles to economic stagnation to rising healthcare costs. Check out:
http://www.brianrogel.com/the-100-percent-solution-for-the-99-percent
and
http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_wilkinson.html
and
http://openeconomicsnd.wordpress.com/2010/07/05/dean-baker-inequality-at-root-of-crisis/
4.) Campaign finance reform - 100% public funding for elections
Also see (section IV):
https://sites.google.com/site/the99percentdeclaration/
And, just for kicks, Elizabeth Warren on the collapse of the middle class:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akVL7QY0S8A
I plan a protest vote in the primaries by doing a Write-In for Elizabeth Warren. Wall Street hates and fears her.
If enough people write in her name in both the Democrat and Republican primaries it will send a message that Americans want a well regulated free market. Not this predatory anarchistic libertarian free for all economy.
I'm all for that...
And as far as her actual candidacy, I hope she wipes the floor with Scott Brown. :)
I have a good feeling that she will. There is a very particular dynamic to the Brown win. He didn't win, the Democrat lost.
The Democrat Coakly was the state attorney general who, the year before, ran the campaign AGAINST medical marijuana. Brown was neutral on the issue. The issue won in 2008 by a higher percent than Obama won in Mass. I think the numbers were something like Obama getting 62% of the state and medical pot getting 65%. I believe that the pro pot voters were so pissed at her that they either voted for Brown or stayed home for the special election in 09.
Now they have financial crusader Elizabeth Warren to vote for who is also positive on medical pot. If I am right this dynamic gives her a clear advantage.
But I believe that using her name cache to send a message to the Democrats, Republicans and Wall Street by Writing-In her name for president in the primaries could really help to alter the lexicon of governance in America.
Amen!
Pretty lame. I wouldn't be here if that was all there was to it. To me the Declaration of the Occupation suggests a much, much, much more sweeping program than the pathetic nostrums you advocate.
Yeah, ok.
If you don't see that restoring democratic power to the voters (items 2 & 4) achieves most of the aims of the declaration, I can't help you.
So, you want to take all the power away from businesses? How are they ever going to do business?
By providing value to their customers.
Troll pwnage. +1 internets.
Lawn Roll 2102!
LOL. Marry me, an0n?
You just did. Verify with your county clerk. I'll be filing for spousal support next month.
What is all this about Lawn Roll?
Who. Is. Lawn Roll?
Do you mean Ron Paul?
Wouldn't I say Ron PauI if I meant Ron Lawl? Lawn Roll 2102! Yay plutocrat utopia for all!!!
Now, that is a confusing statement. lol!
Democrats vote Wednesday, libertards in 2102. Lawn Roll ftw!!!!!
Who's not providing value to their customers today? Give me an example.
dinner
Nov 12 6PM at 60 Wall
There are a huge number of great, well thought out, COMPLICATED ideas that will require a huge amount of "selling" and explanation" and will garner GREAT OPPOSITION.
We need to be realistic & pick an issue that is simple - that is popular -
that 83% of Americans already agree on -
that 56% of TP already agree on -
that will bring together the people in OWS with the people outside of OWS.
Everybody wins!
Our only goal should be to pass a constitutional amendment to counter Supreme Court decisions Citizens United (2010) & Buckley v. Valeo (1976), that enable unlimited amounts of anonymous money to flood into our political system.
“Corporations and organizations are not a persons & have no personhood rights”
and
“money is not free speech”.
We don’t have to explain or persuade people to accept our position – we have to persuade them to ACT based on their own position. Pursuing this goal will prove to the world that we, at OWS, are a serious realistic Movement, with serious realistic goals. Achieving this goal will make virtually every other goal – jobs, taxes, infrastructure, Medicare – much easier to achieve –
by disarming our greatest enemy – GREED.
THE SUCCESS STORY OF THE AMENDING PROCESS The Prohibition movement started as a disjointed effort by conservative teetotalers who thought the consumption of alcohol was immoral. They ransacked saloons and garnered press coverage here and there for a few years. Then they began to gain support from the liberals because many considered alcohol partially responsible for spousal and child abuse, among other social ills. This odd alliance, after many years of failing to influence change consistently across jurisdictions, decided to concentrate on one issue nationally—a constitutional amendment. They pressured all politicians on every level to sign a pledge to support the amendment. Any who did not, they defeated easily at the ballot box since they controlled a huge number of liberal, and conservative and independent swing votes in every election. By being a single-issue constituency attacking from all sides of the political spectrum, they very quickly amassed enough votes (2/3) to pass the amendment in Congress. And, within just 17 months, they were successful in getting ¾ of the state legislatures to ratify the constitutional amendment into law. (Others were ratified even faster: Eight —took less than a year. The 26th, granting 18-year-olds the right to vote, took just three months and eight days.)
If they could tie the left and right into a success -
If Ohio won. If Arizona won. If Maine won. If Mississippi won - WHY CAN'T WE??????????
I feel that we should stay with this simple text to overturn CU:
”corporations are not people” and “money is not free speech”
for four simple reasons and one – not so simple:
1
83% of Americans have already opposed CU in the ABC/Washington post poll and the above
IS THEIR POSITION ALREADY.
2
We don’t have to work to convince people on the validity of our position.
3
Simple is almost always better.
4
This simple Amendment is REQUIRED to overturn CU.
And all other electoral reform can be passed through the normal legislative process.
5
OWS and these pages are chock full of ( mostly ) excellent ideas to improve our country.
All of them have strong advocates – and some have strong opposition.
None of them has been “pre-approved” by 83% of Americans !
Pursuing this goal – without additional specifics is exactly what Americans want.
What do we want? Look at that almost endless list of demands – goals - aims.
Tax the rich. End the Fed. Jobs for all, Medicare for all. So easy to state! Can you imagine how hard it would be to formulate a “sales pitch” for any of these to convince your Republican friends to vote for any of them?
83% of Americans have ALREADY “voted” against CU. And 76% of the Rs did too.
All we have to do ask Americans is to pressure their representatives – by letters - emails – petitions.
Wanna take your family on vacation?
Convince the 7 year old and the 10 year old to go to Mt Rushmore.
Then try to convince them to go to Disneyland.
Prioritizing this goal will introduce us to the world – not as a bunch of hippie radical anarchist socialist commie rabblerousers – but as a responsible, mature movement that is fighting for what America wants.
I feel that using the tactics of the NRA, the AARP an the TP – who all represent a minority – who have successfully used their voting power to achieve their minority goals - plus the Prohibition Amendment tactics – bringing all sides together - is a straight path for us to success that cannot fail to enable us to create and complete one MAJORITY task.
There is a topic that at least 83% (if not more) Americans can agree on. This movement serves no purpose other then personal greed.
“Occupy Wall Street” the original name! Friends, unfortunately there are those pretentiously adopting “YOUR” name. I just spent two days with (so called) Occupy Los Angeles and I must tell you they aren’t doing your cause any favor. I designed a simple two sided hand-out exposing Grover Norquist and to a person less then 1% even knew who he was. Two days in camp moving from tent to tent I must inform you disastrously disappointing I ran across people who couldn’t even explain what their Major Issues actually were. In conclusion I’ll just say if “Occupy” was to succeed with every issue it wouldn’t make a difference to the sad majority currently encamped in L.A. and that’s following a weekend of two Tech-Days. Going back to Grover Norquist I leave you with this: “If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.” Albert Einstein
Hey OURLEGACY, if you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
didnt mean to spam, my computer sucks. I'm adding to my mission to buy a new kick ass computer when I get back to teaching (hopefully next term??) XD
my mission is simple. I want my life back and I want to teach again. I think all of these excessive salaries, bonuses, and tax relief to corporations could be better used to make our kids smarter and secure the future of our world.
Here's my opinion in spoken form: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzPozWf0ZaQ
Thanks for listening, please share - Markell "The Fight Will Carry On!"
First, nobody is stopping you from teaching. Second, the majority of America is already overeducated, and under motivated. The resolution you seak is within your community, not Wall Street.
didnt mean to spam, my computer sucks. I'm adding to my mission to buy a new kick ass computer when I get back to teaching (hopefully next term??) XD
my mission is simple. I want my life back and I want to teach again. I think all of these excessive salaries, bonuses, and tax relief to corporations could be better used to make our kids smarter and secure the future of our world.
Here's my opinion in spoken form: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzPozWf0ZaQ
Thanks for listening, please share - Markell "The Fight Will Carry On!"
Who's stopping you from teaching?
My mission is no work for everyone except the 1%.
By 1%, I assume you mean the % of people who actually believe in this movement.
Call no quarter. Take no prisoners. Organize Organize Organize. Occupy Occupy Occupy
We need to charge every corporate CEO, CFO, COO, President and Board Chairman with treason, and imprison them for life without parole.
Let's start with Gary Knell, CEO of National Public Radio, Carter Roberts, CEO of the World Wildlife fund, and Gail McGovern, CEO of the Red Cross.
Still on board?
I think we need to sentence every black and latino male in this country to death. We would cut down the crime rate about 90%.
Does that make sense?
Stop Bank and Mortgage Fraud! Take back our courts from big corporations and the filthy rich! Stop big buck lobbying! Hold Wall Street crooks and Andy Beal accountable for their racketeering activities and put and end to their control of our legislators and financial institutions.
Whoa Whoa Whoa, slow down there partner. Those are some hefty accusations, especially for an entire system.
Let's start with your first one buddy. Bank Fraud. Can you give me a specific example?
Second, where are you drawing the line at "big corporations"? What's your definition, and your reasoning behind it?
Third, what does "big buck" lobbying mean" Is that different then "small buck" lobbying?
Forth, I agree. Those who commit crimes should go to trial for their crimes, and be convicted with sufficiant evidence. Otherwise, prosecuting an entire system is wrong. If I told you that I wanted to lock up all black people because they commit more murders then white people, what would you say? You'd call me a racist, wouldn't you? So, how about we lay off the "big" businesses who are trying to earn an honest buck.
We want to elect John Mclane.
Yippie ki yay mutha fucka
There is not a singular purpose because there are SO many problems. You are hearing bits & pieces of the full story from different sources.
Name me five, each in one sentence or less.
So, if I have a problem, I should Occupy Wall Street? How is that going to fix my problem?
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OWS stands for Occupy Wall Street. That seems like a pretty clear mission to me. If not we can discuss it.
I'm pretty sure that Occupying anything is not a really a "mission". It's just an activity. Any activities need purpose. The activity itself is not a purpose.
I dunno. Some days my mission is to sit around drinking beer and playing videogames. And eating potato chips. The potato chips are important.
How about Pop Chips and Cholula?
When the United States military sets out to occupy some territory that is called a mission, not an activity, and properly so.
Sorry RedJazz43, you are wrong again. When the U.S. Military sets out to occupy a terrtory, there is an underlying mission behind the occupancy. The military doesn't just set out and arbitrarily occupy land for the sake of being there, and using up resources.
So, are you saying that your goal is to find an apartment on Wall Street and live there?
Federal Reserve controls our currency & banks can lend out 10x what they have in savings via "fractional banking" This is the most singular cause of what we are coming to realize is the largest economic crisis the world has ever seen.
Here is a bill passed that would greatly help our problems : HR:2990 ----- http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:HR02990:@@@L&summ2=m&
I'm sorry, but that is wrong. The ability of the banks to lend money is not the problem. Banks were cut off at the knees, and were no longer allows to lend money. We put the breaks on them, rather then allowing the ship to slow down. Lending money is crucial to economic development, and we cut off the pipeline. People can't even buy houses anymore, even if they wanted to. Adding more regulation is going to keep our country going in the wrong direction. We need to inject money back into this system, so people can start building again. When I say building, I mean it in so many ways. Build business, build jobs, build houses, build progress.
Injecting money = inflation. You have to cut spending! The dollar is very deflated in value due to injecting money. In several years $1,000,000 will become the new $100,000. Stimulus plans have not worked since the Depression.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXt1cayx0hs - The Money Masters ,3 hour documentary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu_VqX6J93k - The Creatures of Jekyll Island, 1 1/2 hour documentary
http://inflation.us/ - NIA National Inflation Assocation , group dedicated to helping Americans prepare for hyperinflation (check out their youtube channel)
Here are some links to what is going on.
Sorry Kory, I don't accept Internet links as a response. If you can't summarize your mission statement in 2-3 sentences, then you're purpose is lost. I'm only willing to except original thought.
What would you do in a debat Kory? Pull our your Ipad, and show everyone your web links?
No, I wrote a whole thread actually kiddo last night.
I'm not sure where people are getting that taking big corporate money out of campaigning will solve our economic crisis, but it Wont.
Our world is facing the largest economic collapse that its ever seen. Let me break it down for you.
In early 1913 the Federal Reserve was created. It was a privately owned duplicate of the Central Bank in Europe. These banks have secret powers, they can loan out money with artificially low interest rates. The Federal Reserve System can give Congress money. After the 70's , we stopped using the gold currency to have No backing for our money, a "Fiat Currency".
With this money that is printed out of thin air and no backing, it goes out to inflate pricing Everywhere. They've band-aided the problem, and its as bad as patching a leaky waterbed. The whole thing is going to bust, and prices can skyrocket with hyperinflation, the $1 bill becoming .10 Cents in Several years.
The 1% should be taxed more, but the bankers and richest men in the world also are the authorities that run the Federal Reserve, and they have the ability to print money that deflates All money.
The Federal Reserve is a Much larger problem than is being acknowledged. The Federal Reserve is neither Federal nor does it have any reserves. It is a privately owned bank and acts in its own self-interest. Its whole creation was created in deceit by 7 men who owned 25% of the world's wealth, who played the public like a fiddle, and has since changed Many laws to create loopholes for themselves.
Now kindly, I appreciate the trolling, but you are ignorant.
Trolling? So, you are saying that I must agree with you to participate in your discussion? Maybe that's where the problem is. People like you who lack basic communication skills, or the resources to influence people. You my friend are the troll.
lol and people like you who are complete idiots. I can't believe there is a discussion because you are so blind to acknowledge facts and history. Go ahead and continue ignoring , even though you were just informed, and trolling other members on the forum, and inciting revolution
Wow, resorting to name calling. I won't say that I'm surprised. In the last week, I've had conversation with several businesses who are doing great. Very few business tell me that they are doing bad. One of my best friends is a coach for a college. All eight of his graduates from last year are working.
I'm not ignoring anything. My eyese and ears are open at all times. Maybe you just need to stop believing what you always read in the newspaper, and what you see on TV, and try developing a thought of your own with a real world experience for a change. Stop hating so much, just because you see other people hating. You don't HAVE to jump off the bridge too.
Are you kidding? Try educating yourself on real history and how the world really works and how the economy really works. Read some books, watch some documentaries, pay attention to whats happening in Congress and across the world. I've been bitching about this stuff for years and finally the American people are waking up. This is the largest movement in our lifetimes, springing up across more than 1000 cities. Its not any crazy conspiracy to think that people all across the world are having trouble because of a faulty system.
You can fool yourself all you want, but you resemble the people you surround yourself with, your not involved the GIGANTIC diversity of demographics across the world. Theres no possible way you can be.
So instead of taking your peers words for how they are doing, use the tool you have DIRECTLY in front of you and educate yourself.
Here is another one. The Secret of Oz - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qIhDdST27g - its another documentary talking about how EVERYTHING works.
The Rockefeller Rothschild Morgan Clinton Warburgs and some more families are controlling the world economy. They control the UN. They control the governments and the wars. They created the Federal Reserve on Jekyll Island as told by some of the members of the families years later themselves. They created the Central Bank, NAFTA, GATT , and tons more.
I mean, open your eyes to what is really going on. Don't sit here and pretend like you have a fucking clue what is going on, and your all ambivalent when you troll members of the community by saying stupid shit like "Occupy an apartment on wall street" TROLL You are not that stupid, even though you are probably that much of an idiot.
I don't need to "educate" myself on how the real world works, and how the economy "really" works. I live it. I suggest you try it sometime. Reading books and watching documentaries is nothing more then watching the world in a glass jar. I have plenty of "education" on my resume, but I would never demand respect simply based on education. If I've learned anything, it's that education is overvalued. Is it important? Sure it is. Does it entitle you to anything? Absolutely not. The problem is that people like yourself are over-educated and under motivated. You believe that since you accomplished A, B, and C, you are entitled to D. Wrong. Stop standing in line, and start making the line.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcCnDwC5myU
The goal of Occupy Wall Street is embedded in its title. Occupy Wall Street. Wall Street. Not an apartment on Wall Street. Not a building on Wall Street. Wall Street. Occupy Wall Street!
So, you want to stand on Wall Street? Again, not really a purpose. "OK, I'm here on Wall Street. Now what?" That's still not a purpose, it's an action. Actions need purpose. What is the purpose?
When the US military chooses to occupy a place that is always characterized as a mission, not a mere action.
Give me an example please. You still aren't making any sense. You're just trying to be smart with words, and it's sounding real dumb right now.
The United States occupied Germany in 1945 in order to beat the Nazis. Same with OWS and Wall Street.
EXACTLY, to beat the Nazis. There's your mission. So, you are saying that you want to "beat" Wall Street? What does that mean? I know what it means to beat the Nazis, but I'm not real clear on what you mean by "beating Wall Street".
For me, ultimately it means the surrendering of all corporate assets to the people and their democratic reorganization from below in the interests of everyone. It means recovering and broadening the commons
Surrendering all coroporate assets to the people. That doesn't make any sense at all. All those corporations would go out of business. All those people would lose their jobs. With no income, they would likely burn through those newly aquired assets. History has shown that those very same people cannot repay their debt. What makes us think that they are going to manage these newly aquired assets.
I don't think stealing is the right answer Red. Have you considered earning for a living?
There is practically limitless wealth in the United States. Rationally and democratically organized probably only about 10 to 15 hours of productive labor a week for everybody able to perform productive labor (both physical work and brain work) is all that will be necessary to provide more than enough for everybody. Right now there are 19 million empty homes and about 4 million homeless people which is about 5 houses for every homeless person. There is a crisis in distribution, not production or debt.
You're leaving out some very important details. Your comparison between open homes and homeless people is irrelevent. The "homeless" population is not rising significantly faster than population growth in this country. In addition, a larger percentage of homeless people prefer to live that lifestyle. There is also no direct relationship between empty homes and homeless people. There are millions of poptential home owners out there who would LOVE to occupy those 19 million empty homes. However, those people cannot obtain financing, and are forced to rent until they can save 20% down payment on the purchase.
You are just throwing around statistics, but you are not demonstrating any truths at all.
By being silent, I'm assuming that you are trying to Google your answer, and having some major trouble putting your finger on it. It's ok, you're not the only one. I think the 99% would probably agree with me.