[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2ViWWsYmAc"]US Soldiers Are Waking Up! War is a Racket - YouTube[/nomedia]

this is really powerful. I'm not sure how to embed

Embedding for you

They attempt this hard nose tactic which may have worked on the public in the past as a no nonsense approach but this is a sensitive agenda and the public is at zero tolerance. The media is going to be under the spotlight now and can seriously be at risk with stupid moves. The CEO's need to start having a pow wow with their minions and make sure they don't add fire to the flame.

Contrary to "some" belief it's not going away. It becomes more organized each day. As stated in several videos, people can't articulate why they are pissed off, they just are and seeking support, confirmation and education to resolve this anger. Protest will spawn boycotts and some large corporations and banks will be effected. Unfortunately it may also cost jobs, which sucks but you can't build a new foundation without ripping out the old.

Got it
 

“I have tried to be a man of letters in love with ideas in order to be a wiser and more loving person, hoping to leave the world just a little better than I found it.”
― Cornel West

"They know exactly what they want. They want to reverse the corporate coup."

Yes. What was only for itself was never for us all. Great interview and points.

Very brave, powerful speaker and video identifying the racism inherent to occupation and the terrorist as himself.

'The average person has nothing to gain from war.'

Yes.

I keep thinking I need to know how the enemy is thinking, how they are going to come at this movement. But it's annoying to read this stuff and truly sometimes I wonder if it's really necessary cause it just puts me in a bad mood. On that note, here let me share it with you.:|

My comments are in parenthesis. I only made one when I really couldn't resist because truly this shit needs no commentary it speaks for itself.

What the Right is saying about the Occupy Wall Street movement

It’s a mob

The movement is made of spoiled lazy trust fund kids
(odd since it arose organically out of anger over pervasive economic injustice)

The movement lacks the nerve to engage in violence.

They’re mad. They’re getting violent. They don’t have a plan to work within the parameters of a civil society (The Constitution).

They are quite literally throwing a temper tantrum and demanding that “the rich” fork over more money to the government. Despite the predictable failure of Progressivism, they still think “the rich” paying more in taxes is going to lead to them getting a job. It’s almost sad to watch. I’d pity them if they weren’t a bunch of arrogant entitled brats.

The tea party inspired OWS.

Fewer people have participated in all the Occupy movements combined than attended just one tea party rally on the Washington Mall.

In comportment, OWS is to the tea party as Lady Gaga is to Lord Chesterfield.
(This one actually rendered me speechless. So many thoughts flowed in at once that I gave up trying to articulate them. I’m truly gobsmacked.)

This “movement” has no idea what they’re going to do beyond “occupying” public parks across the country. They’re under the impression that simply making a lot of noise will somehow magically force Congress to pass the legislation necessary to make the changes they’re demanding. There is no plan B. What you see now – the drum circles and chants and signs – is all they have. And they wonder why normal people see this “movement” as the temper tantrum it is?

Demands posted in OWS' name include a "guaranteed living wage income regardless of employment"; a $20-an-hour minimum wage (above the $16 entry wage the United Auto Workers just negotiated with GM); ending "the fossil fuel economy"; "open borders" so "anyone can travel anywhere to work and live"; $1 trillion for infrastructure; $1 trillion for "ecological restoration" (e.g., re-establishing "the natural flow of river systems"); "free college education."
(This reminds me of the outcry the Right had regarding The Promise of America, a program teaching kids to read. They claimed the program spewed offensive socialist propaganda by saying horrible things like the People’s basic needs must be met. Needs for housing, education, transportation, and health care need to be overseen by our government system. Labor laws should ensure that people work in safe environments and that they are paid fairly for the work they do. Really controversial stuff apparently.)

It’s going to get ugly. And they’re going to lose.

OWS casts Barack Obama and the Democrats as the problem and will ultimately cost the Democrats the election.

Republicans support the tea party. Democrats don’t support OWS.

Occupy Wall Street is a loosely knit movement with opaque goals.

You cannot compare OWS to the tea party because the tea party attracted substantial financial backing.
(they really don’t get it do they?)

The tea party appeals to middle-class Americans who not only tend to have more money than the angry young people who are at the core of the “Occupy” movement, but who also tend to vote.

Do Democrats really think that casting Barack Obama as the enemy of business is going to win him this election? The real problem, politically speaking, with building a Democratic tea party on the back of Wall Street is that it is unlikely to elect more Democrats
(there is actually a sensical point in there somewhere, but first you have to accept the premise that OWS is the Democratic version of the tea party.)

Political instability caused by protesting is not good for the economy. (ya, cause things have been going so great until now.)

Protesting against business – or even just big business- is not going to lead those companies to hire more people
(Well, this assumes that they were actually hiring Americans in the first place. Most of Wall St companies don’t actually produce anything. They are giant gambling casinos. Manufacturing corporations are already moving their jobs and production overseas and getting big tax breaks to break our backs.)

Does OWS really think that this is how we boost consumer confidence?
(I guess they aren’t kidding when they say they don’t understand what all the protesting is about. The message really isn’t clear to these chowderheads.)


A couple of reference links so it doesn't look like I pulled this crap out of, well you know.

http://www.therightsphere.com/2011/1...nti-democracy/

http://www.newsmax.com/GeorgeWill/Oc...0/14/id/414495

http://www.newsmax.com/Estrich/Wall-...0/14/id/414455

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/1...A0conservatism

I would like to see people shopping local. Not shopping at walmart, McDonalds and the like. To seek out local stores, farmers, etc. make a strong statement and it would. You can make changes, support this revolution right now by being proactive towards change.

Some might say "It's just not affordable" but if you plan and if this is important enough to you then you'll start finding a way. If we all made these choices- not use credit cards, move money, shop different it does more because it forces change.

while you're at it support our local food systems- bulk purchases at local co-ops and small health food chains. Try and buy organic and stop GMO's. Its all part of a whole. Lets do it.

Here I am again, talking about the pro's and con's of living in an *old* city neighborhood.

I think it is very important to patronize local businesses. Times are tough for the entire 99%! don't forget that. As we are asking the 1% to pay their share, I think those of us that can pay a little more, should. I give my money to as many businesses in my neighborhood as I can. CHOICE. Yes, it may cost me a dollar more. But it will keep that business here, and keep a local mom or dad working. (maybe that mom or dad doesn't have a car, or there is a reason real specific they are working at Mary's Nut and Bolt store)

I moved into this neighborhood 15 years ago, with promises of big things to come. GENTRIFICATION!! Revitalization. Well.....

To date: The elementary school has closed. Merged with one 6 miles miles away.

The Grocery store closed. Nearest one is 3.5 miles away.

The Post office sub station closed. Nearest one 1.5 miles away. That closed. Main post office 3 miles away.

Bus route cut significantly. No week end service unless you can walk one mile. Week day service routes are ok if you work....every 30 minutes, from 6a until 9a and again from 3p to 6p. two buses late night 11:45p and 12:30a. Holiday service, one every two hours.

Laundry mat closed.

Two banks moved away CREDIT UNIONS (TWO) STAYED!!

Major hospital 4 blocks away.

OK, Mostly I've told you what has left. This is the city people. Who would move into this neighborhood? We are walking distance to the major down town area.....16 blocks or less. Dense in senior citizens.

I patronize my local businesses because these are the things that make a neighborhood. The elderly people/ and the very poor, need these things to be here. They can't rely on mass transportation system to help them get around (mass transportation is free to them, paid for by the Pa. Lottery) what good is it, if it doesn't come into the neighborhood?

Absolutely, you have to force change. The rerouting of the buses had little effect on me. But you can bet I was at every meeting speaking. Basically I told them what I told you. I even tossed in some census numbers. These things effect everybody. Do not buy your stamps at a mac machine because it is convienient. How long has it been since you have used your post office? What will you be saying when your post office closes?

These guys rock...telling it like it is OWS
 

wow. just......WOW. i think this is a peek into what we can expect.

This guy was a guest on Countdown with Keith Olbermann on the Current channel tonight.

OWS | Portland | October 17th 2011
 

Tonight, after work, I went down to our OWS campaign site (downtown by the Elk Fountain) and spent time there visiting with many supporters.

I got permission from supporters to share their stories here and for the photos I took: my night's visit started off a with locking myself out of my son's car....



"Solomon" (his street name) helped me unlock my car! He allowed me to take a photo of the sign he made for his tent (seen below). Solomon is Black and he has a rap sheet a mile long for 'breaking and entering.' He's been homeless for over 2 years. I told him tonight that I liked his street name a lot because of Solomon (in the bible) and to not assimilate because he's been labeled a felon due to his circumstances! He has a heart of gold! He has been part of the protest since it began here in Portland and I learned tonight that he was going to Eugene tomorrow to take up a post down there. I gifted him enough money to catch a bus to Eugene and donated the left over proceeds of my small winnings from a lottery ticket I bought last week to OWS tonight.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68856794@N08/6255753477/


The photo below is of Maggie and David - they just got married tonight at OWS... They have been out of work for some time now and have been at the OWS site since it began. I spoke with them for quite awhile tonight and they plan to stay for as long as they can here in Portland, but they may migrate to Eugene to participate there this weekend.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68856794@N08/6255753551/

In the photo below is Zach who manned the Information booth tonight! He was instrumental in helping me connect with "Solomon" to unlock my car!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68856794@N08/6256283962/

Here are posters that various supporters have made for OWS
(by the information booth)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68856794@N08/6256283426/

(I don't how to embed the photos here in this thread, but if someone knows a better way than just leaving a link to the photos, let me know asap tonight and I can resubmit this post)

Well, for heaven's sake, I just got accidentally logged out from the system and can't amend my post above! *blush*


Many people have submitted written opinion to our local newspaper (The Oregonian) and here's a brief statement of support from a reader who lives in Vancouver (across the river from Portland):


There is a huge movement sweeping across the country as people take up occupation of public squares to express outrage over citizen suffering as a result of greedy, unethical and likely illegal actions on Wall Street.

Disparagers scoff that participants come from a variety of backgrounds and lack focus. Do not let anyone portray cohesive diversity as inarticulate disunity. The diversity of participants is one of the strongest statements of all.

JUDITH DAHLEN
Vancouver
(link to The Oregonian Blog)

Last second edition to this post:

I also met Heidie and Len - an elderly retired couple who spent years as public servants in the State of Oregon: They watched over me and 'Solomon' as he helped me to unlock my car. Just speaking with them and knowing that they support this movement brought me to tears tonight. Many people from all types of sectors in Portland are representing the OWS movement and I couldn't be more proud of the support people have given and continue to give in light of all the other events happening US-wide. ~D

You mention the post office, bus system and small business imploding in our current economy.

Today, at work, I performed an expensive service and the customer handed me a Hundred Dollar bill and while I was presenting her change and as she was leaving her 'tip,' somehow the customer swiped back the $20 dollar bill... I didn't realize how fast it happened, but she ended up not paying fully for her service. I doubt she will ever come back and make it right. When we counted the till tonight, I handed back the tip she supposedly left me because I won't be a part of cheating - even if it hurt me the most.

Also, the USPS is downsizing it's locations and service centers here. I have a client who has logged 24 years of service who will lose his job by the end of this month. He *was* full time; he's been working a reduced schedule and lost considerable benefits under the federal pay system, et al.

Also, recently, a long tenured bus driver from Tri-Met kicked a young Latino mother and her baby off the bus in the dark (late at night), and other riders left the bus in protest over the treatment the bus driver gave to her. She's a student learning English at a local PCC campus in the Beaverton/Hillsboro area and her professors saw the news story about her and helped her to make a statement to law enforcement (and TriMet investigators) about what happened that night. She didn't feel like she had any choice but to leave the bus with her crying baby - which according to others on the bus, was not crying as badly as the bus driver portrayed the situation. The bus driver is no longer an employee (or maybe still relieved of duty pending the investigation), but racism is alive and well in the suburbs of the Portland Metro area and in Portland as well.

Probably my favorite video so far. I guess the brainwashing didn't work on him.

3 words, bat shit crazy.

[QUOTE=Yellow band;439284]
Absolutely, you have to force change.

I think those who oppose OWS are waiting for some violent explosion so they can institute martial law and become even more oppressive. No one knows where all this will go. I believe as many have said the best ways to fight are to move your money, support small business, and let your public officials know your displeasure with the way they vote or make policy decisions. What they forget is the general public is what makes this country tick, not just a handful of politicians or a president, or a CEO. They might hold the reigns of power, but its still John Q. public making it all work. WE have the power to decide where our money goes and what we spend it on. These folks are afraid because they know this thing could become a serious grass roots movement that will alter the way they profit. Its always all about the dollar no matter how you look at it.
You do have to force change because otherwise its not going to happen. But you don't need a mob to force change. You do it quietly by using your credit union instead of your bank. By not patronizing companies like WalMart. By telling your elected officials they need to work for their constituents instead of some lobbyist or they can forget re-election. Just occupying public spaces is not going to make it work.
I feel if change is not forthcoming, this country is going to be in a hella mess. We already have a debt that is out of control and will take years to fix. We import so much more than we export and have allowed China to overrun our country with mass poorly made goods. We have outsourced so much that if our international creditors shut us down tomorrow, we'd be screwed. We waste money on wars that will never be won or serve the interests of either us or the countries we fight in. We have a president who appears to be more concerned about his re-election than running the country. How many times in the last few years has wall street almost been on the verge of financial collapse? I think people have no idea what will really happen if this economy bottoms out and I fear we are getting close.
Those in power have not been working for you. They have been working for their own interests and filling their own pockets for years now. We need to do a house cleaning in washington and get some people in office who are truly concerned about the mom and pop business owners, the people on public assistance who want to get off it, the unemployed who get caught up in a cycle of benefits vs taking a job. I feel until we do this house cleaning, the problem is not going to get better.

"It's already historic." I've seen Dr. West in a lot of interviews and talks, but I've never seen him this animated.

I love how this movement is reawakening our humanity, our hope, our fight.

:-)

Well, I hate to revert to adolescence (at least for something like this), but the only response I have is a big "W" on my forehead and a gum-snapping "Whatever" rolled off my lips. :-0

Disparagers scoff that participants come from a variety of backgrounds and lack focus. Do not let anyone portray cohesive diversity as inarticulate disunity. The diversity of participants is one of the strongest statements of all.

At the gym tonight, I watched two local Chicago stations give this air time. The FOX station, not surprisingly, portrayed this a protest of mostly "25 to 35 year olds." Well, I saw what I saw yesterday, and I wasn't the only person approaching a half century.

The newscast went on to offer that "many were unemployed, but some were employed." And the more FOX hopes to manipulate folks into seeing this movement as something specific to young, restless, unemployed folks, the more they continue to lose its own credibility (if that's possible).

You know what? I haven't owned a TV in years - for the very reasons you state above -- that media seems to manipulate (or shall I say, construe messages) according to the perspective media feels will garner the most attention or closely align with the viewing audience of said station????

I think social media -whether it occurs here on the Planet, FB, MS or other social networking sites- is probably the largest way people gather information and form opinion according to what source they deem is most rational to them.

Simultaneously, for me and maybe others, I don't always buy what media produces as an 'credible' accounting of news. I think people like me are not representative of the majority. That's not to say that my way of digesting communication is the best way ... but I guess what I am trying to say is that I think what we have going on within the medium of OWS is clearly, most likely, the closest thing we have to people actually participating in active democracy; ensuring that voice from the center, off-center, or even on the perimeter - the outskirts of the Bell Curve (those lovely little statistical 'trouble makers' :)) whose voice is not all that often heard due to the cacaphony of the majority; thus, an indication that we as a people, diverse as we are, are capable of making sure that our voices are heard - one way or the other.

I hope my idea makes sense (above).

I appreciate your comments and share the same sentiment, the urgency, to advocate this social cause (OWS).

~D

Occupy Pittsburgh going strong and not leaving
 

Here are counters for how much we spend every second on war and for how much the government has lost in revenue because of the Bush tax cuts for the rich. I'm no economist; I'm not even that good with crunching numbers but I don't think it takes a degree in macroeconomics to get that ending these tax cuts and curtailing our government's penchant for making war would go a long, long way toward closing the deficit. Here are two of the biggest drains on our nation's budget and yet we are continually fed the same bullshit about people on welfare dragging us down. I tried to find a counter for how much money our government spends every second on welfare for its citizens, but there doesn't seem to be a counter for that. Nor is there one for how much the government spends every second on unemployment benefits. We are told demands for a fair wage, $20 an hour, is ridiculous. We are told guaranteeing a living wage for all, regardless of employment, is ridiculous. A single payer healthcare system and free college education...just ridiculous according to most of our nation's public officials.

The numbers flying by on these counters...if you ask me, that is the definition of ridiculous.

http://costoftaxcuts.com/

http://costofwar.com/en/

The saddest part about the cost of war one is that all of that money isn't worth the life lost in fighting these bullshit wars. That includes both sides.

[quote=T4Texas;439767]
yes but it's important that the people come together and stand together if for nothing else than to say we have been wronged. it's important because we are trapped in a place where we have no choices. we have have no choices as consumers because everything on shelves in stores across America ...it's all made in China. we have no food choices (and the fact that our food supply was mentioned in the OWS declaration really struck a chord with me) because our food supply has been quietly becoming monopolized and being replaced, literally, with poisonous chemicals. if for nothing else.....the people need to stand up and say that they are not ignorant to the goings on of the widespread corruption that has become our country and say NO to it. we have no choices in democracy because we've lost so many freedoms in the name of security that we can't even protest in parks that our tax dollars pay for without getting arrested or pepper sprayed. even when the people come together and elect the right guy as president he's so crippled by government infighting that not a lot happens in our favor. we have no choices. deregulation has taken the power of choice out of the people's hands and put that power into the hands of corporations that can pirate you and not be held accountable. we have judges on the supreme court who have been caught lying, evading taxes, and taking money from lobbyists to pass judgement that further the corporate agenda and nothing is being done about it. because we have no choices. the people absolutely need to come together in masses and stand together and fight. freedoms are not free. we had to fight to get them and we have to fight to keep them and we should fight back when we lose them.

on a side note.....it took months of a group of women protesting and some endured jail time and abuse....to get women the right to vote. and that was LESS than one hundred years ago.

Ain't that the truth. Here's another Zinn quote that speaks to the moment and speaks to how in the world we got to the place where we need to fight fruitless, expensive, devastating war after war:

"The year of the massacre at Wounded Knee, 1890, it was officially declared by the Bureau of the Census that the internal frontier was closed. The profit system, with its natural tendency for expansion, had already begun to look overseas. The severe depression that began in 1893 strengthened an idea developing within the political and financial elite of the country: that overseas markets for American goods might relieve the problem of underconsumption at home and prevent the economic crises that in the 1890s brought class war.

And would not a foreign adventure deflect some of the rebellious energy that went into strikes and protest movements toward an external enemy? Would it not unite people with government, with the armed forces, instead of against them? This was probably not a conscious plan among most of the elite -- but a natural development from the twin drives of capitalism and nationalism."

http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defc...nempire12.html

Yes. That is the saddest part. And I thought of that when I wrote that post, I thought of a ton of stuff that I felt was just as or even more important than what I posted about. But I wanted to make a particular point and I didn't want to digress. But yes for the record I also believe that the saddest part and actually the HIGHEST cost of war is tallied in human life.

Hopefully someone will also focus a little on the cost of Bush's tax cuts, as well as the cost of war in the context of the failing national budget. But of course human life is more important than money.

Upon further reflection that might not go without saying so thanks for saying it.

"A foreign adventure" - what an appalling euphemism for war. But I suppose we must consider poetic license. It's hard out there for a writer.

War is almost always helpful no matter what is causing a division. If you can get the public on board, which, initially, is easily done using a variety of tactics with fear in the forefront then it will be smooth sailing for awhile. It certainly helped unite the country after the election in 2000 when everyone was walking around trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. The war in Iraq, just after 9/11, catapulted Bush’s job approval rating to 90%.

Well perhaps the first ten times it's not a conscious plan just great timing, but eventually...

Actually most of the veterans I know (serving from Vietnam to present) don't believe in war.....didn't support Iraq. Most veterans believe the same thing this guy does. It's tough on those on active duty to speak out against police brutality as active duty folks are prevented from participating in protests and/or active campaigning for candidates.

The brainwashing that occurs is usually around freedom and looking out for your brothers and sisters, not killing or brutalizing US citizens.

It's Mockery, They don't care that we occupy!

eta, do you have a link?

Speaking of mockery.

http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowll...of-america.png

Bank of America’s Not-So-Subtle Jab at Occupy Wall Street

Found that pic clicking one of the links in this article about Jesse Jackson saving the medi-tent at Occupy Wall St.
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews...re/#paragraph4

I think this article covers it.

http://alexjonessucks.blogspot.com/2...eople-for.html

Countdown's Keith Olbermann talking with Marine Corps vet Sgt. Shamar Thomas
 

Austin Checking In
 

Austin Checking In

article via HuffPo
 

Well this is certainly ambitious.
 

The99PercentDeclaration

An OWS Working Group Committed to Elect a Non-Partisan National General Assembly


https://sites.google.com/site/the99p...=200&width=200

WHEREAS THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION PROVIDES:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
WE, THE NINETY-NINE PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in order to form a more perfect Union, by, for and of the PEOPLE, shall elect and convene a NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY beginning on July 4, 2012 in the City Of Philadelphia.

I. Election of Delegates:

The People, consisting of all United States citizens who have reached the age of 18, regardless of party affiliation and voter registration status, shall elect Two Delegates, one male and one female, by direct vote, from each of the existing 435 Congressional Districts to represent the People at the NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY in Philadelphia. Said Assembly shall convene on July 4, 2012 in the city of Philadelphia.

The office of Delegate shall be open to all United States citizens who have reached the age of 18. Election Committees, elected by local General Assemblies from all over the United States, shall coordinate with the 99 Percent Declaration Working Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the99declaration/) to organize, coordinate and fund this national election by direct democratic voting. The Election Committees shall operate similarly to the original Committees of Correspondence during the first American Revolution.

II. Meeting of the National General Assembly and Deliberation:

At the NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY, the 870 Delegates shall set forth, consider and vote upon a PETITION OF GRIEVANCES to be submitted to all members of Congress, The Supreme Court and President and each of the political candidates running in the nationwide Congressional and Presidential election in November 2012. The Delegates of the National General Assembly shall vote upon and implement their own agenda, propagate their own rules and elect or appoint committee members as the Delegates see fit to accomplish their goal of presenting a PETITION OF GRIEVANCES from the 99% of Americans before the 2012 elections.

III. Proposed Petition for the Redress of Grievances:

The PETITION OF GRIEVANCES shall be non-partisan and address the critical issues now confronting the People of the United States. The Delegates shall deliberate and vote upon proposals for the PETITION OF GRIEVANCES in consultation with the 99% similarly to the first two Continental Congresses.

Below is a suggested list of grievances respectfully submitted by the OWS Working Group on the 99% Declaration. The final version of the PETITION OF GRIEVANCES voted upon by the Delegates of the National General Assembly MAY or MAY NOT include the following suggested issues:

1. Implementing an immediate ban on all private contributions of money and gifts, to all politicians in federal office, from Individuals, Corporations, Political Action Committees, Super Political Action Committees, Lobbyists, Unions and all other private sources of money to be replaced by the fair and equal public financing of all federal political campaigns. We categorically REJECT the concept that money is equal to free speech because if that were so, then only the wealthiest would have a voice. These actions must be taken because it has become clear that politicians in the United States cannot regulate themselves and have become the exclusive representatives of corporations, unions and the very wealthy who spend vast sums of money on political campaigns to influence the candidates’ decisions and ensure their reelection year after year.

2. The immediate reversal, even if it requires a Constitutional Amendment, of the outrageous and anti-democratic holding in the "Citizens United" case by the Supreme Court, which equates the payment of money by corporations, wealthy individuals and unions to politicians with free speech. We, the People, demand that institutional bribery and corruption not be deemed protected speech.

3. Prohibiting all federal public officials and their immediate family members, whether elected or appointed, from EVER being employed by any corporation they regulate while in office and/or holding any stock or shares in any corporation they regulate while in office until a full 5 years after their term is completed.

4. A complete lifetime ban on accepting all gifts, services, money, directly or indirectly, to any elected or appointed federal officials or their immediate family members, from any person, corporation, union or other entity that the public official was charged to regulate while in office.

5. A complete reformation of the United States Tax Code to require ALL citizens to pay a fair share of a progressive, graduated income tax by eliminating loopholes, unfair tax breaks, exemptions and deductions, subsidies (e.g. oil, gas and farm) and ending all other methods of evading taxes. The current system of taxation favors the wealthiest Americans, many of whom, pay fewer taxes to the United States Treasury than citizens who earn much less and pay a much higher percentage of income in taxes to the United States Treasury. We, like Warren Buffet, find this income tax disparity to be fundamentally unjust.

6. Medicare for all American citizens or other single-payer healthcare system, adjusted by a means test (i.e. citizens who can afford it may opt-out and pay their own health insurance or opt-in and pay a means tested premium). The Medicaid program, fraught with corruption and fraud, will be eliminated except for the purpose of providing emergency room care to indigent non-citizens who will not be covered by the single-payer program.

7. New comprehensive regulations to give the Environmental Protection Agency expanded powers to shut down corporations, businesses or any entities that intentionally or recklessly damage the environment and/or criminally prosecute individuals who intentionally damage the environment. We also demand the immediate adoption of the most recent international protocols, including the "Washington Declaration" to cap carbon emissions and implement new and existing programs to transition away from fossil fuels to reusable or carbon neutral sources of power.

8. Adoption of an immediate plan to reduce the national debt to a sustainable percentage of GDP by 2020. Reduction of the national debt to be achieved by BOTH a cut in spending to corporations engaged in perpetual war for profit, the "healthcare" industry, the pharmaceutical industry and all other sectors that use the federal budget as their income stream AND a truly progressive income tax code that does not allow the wealthy and corporations to evade taxes through excessive deductions, subsidies and loopholes. We agree that spending cuts are necessary but those cuts must be made to facilitate what is best for the People of the United States of America, not multinational and domestic corporations.

9. Passage of a comprehensive job and job-training act like the American Jobs Act to employ our citizens in jobs that are available with specialized training and by putting People to work now by repairing America's crumbling infrastructure. We also recommend the establishment of an online international job exchange to match employers with skilled workers or employers willing to train workers in 21st century skills.

10. Student loan debt relief. Our young People and students are more than $830 billion in debt from education loans alone. Payment and interest on these debts should be deferred for periods of unemployment and the principal on these loans reduced using a corporate tax surcharge.

11. Immediate passage of the Dream Act and comprehensive immigration and border security reform including offering visas, lawful permanent resident status and citizenship to the world’s brightest People to stay and work in our industries and schools after they obtain their education and training in the United States.

12. Recalling all military personnel at all non-essential bases and refocusing national defense goals to address threats posed by the geopolitics of the 21st century, including terrorism and limiting the large scale deployment of military forces to instances where Congressional approval has been granted to counter the Military Industrial Complex's goal of perpetual war for profit.

13. Mandating new educational goals to train the American public to perform jobs in a 21st Century economy, particularly in the areas of technology and green energy, taking into consideration the redundancy caused by technology and the inexpensive cost of labor in China, India and other countries and paying our teachers a salary that is competitive with the private sector. Paying our teachers a competitive salary commensurate with the salaries of People in the private sector with similar skills.

14. Subject to the elimination of corporate tax loopholes and exploited exemptions and deductions stated above, offering tax incentives to businesses to remain in the United States and hire its citizens rather than outsource jobs and reconstruct the manufacturing capacity of the United States. In conjunction with a new jobs act, reinstitution of the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps and a similar emergency governmental agency tasked with creating new public works projects to provide jobs to the 46 million People living in poverty, the 9.1% unemployed and 10% underemployed.

15. Implementing of immediate legislation to encourage China and our other trading partners to end currency manipulation and reduce the trade deficit.

16. Immediate reenactment of the Glass-Steagall Act and increased regulation of Wall Street and the financial industry by the SEC, FINRA and the other financial regulators, and the commencement of a Justice Department criminal investigations into the Securities and Banking industries practices that led to the collapse of markets, $700 billion bail-out, and financial firm failures in 2007-2008.

17. Adoption of a plan similar to President Clinton’s proposal to end the mortgage crisis and instead of the Federal Reserve continuing to lower interest rates for loans to banks who are refusing to loan to small businesses and consumers, the Federal Reserve shall buy all underwater or foreclosed mortgages and refinance these debts at 1% or less to be managed by the newly established Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (and foreclosure task force described below) because 1% or less is the interest rate the Federal Reserve loans to the banks directly who hoard the cash rather than loan it to the People and small businesses.

18. An immediate one year freeze on all foreclosures to be reviewed by an independent foreclosure task force appointed by Congress and the Executive Branch to (in conjunction with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ) determine, on a case by case basis, whether foreclosure proceedings should continue based on the circumstances of each homeowner and propriety of the financial institution's conduct.

19. Subject to the above ban on all private money and gifts in politics, to enact additional campaign finance reform requiring free air time and public campaign finances to all candidates who obtain sufficient petition signatures and/or votes to participate in the primaries and/or electoral process, to shorten the campaign season and to allow voting on weekends and holidays.

20. An immediate withdrawal of all troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and a substantial increase in the amount of funding needed for veteran job placement and the treatment of the physical and emotional injuries sustained by veterans in these wars. Our veterans are committing suicide at an unprecedented rate and we must help now.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that IF the PETITION OF GRIEVANCES approved by the 870 Delegates of the NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY in consultation with the PEOPLE, is not acted upon by Congress, the President, and Supreme Court, to the satisfaction of the Delegates of the NATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY, said Delegates shall organize a THIRD, COMPLETELY NON-PARTISAN, INDEPENDENT POLITICAL PARTY to run candidates for every available Congressional seat in the mid-term election of 2014 and again in 2016 until all vestiges of the existing corrupt corporatocracy have been removed by the ballot box.

★THE NINETY-NINE PERCENT★

Email us with your ideas for this declaration and petition at: The99Declaration@gmail.com or join this Working Group by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/the99declaration/ and the Working Group Forum at http://the99delegation.forumotion.com/.