OCCUPY WALL STREET

[Cin]

http://www.alternet.org/news/153613/..._iowa_caucuses

Occupiers from Around the Country Descend on Iowa Caucuses
The "people's caucus" is also going on in Des Moines.

A good friend of mine, Aaron Jorgensen-Briggs, gave the opening welcome for the People's Caucus on Tuesday night. The following was his statement (as seen on C-Span):

Friends, neighbors, members of the press, visiting Occupy delegates, honored guests, welcome. I’d like to begin with some words from a great American leader of the past. He wrote:

'I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. Corporations have been enthroned, an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money-power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.'

These words of President Abraham Lincoln, in 1864, resonate loud and clear tonight, in Des Moines, Iowa, in 2011.
We have gathered here tonight because the political system in the United States no longer represents the values of the American public. Just as President Lincoln predicted, the money-power of the country now resides in the hands of a tiny portion of the population, the 1%.

We are here tonight to overthrow money-power with people power. We are here tonight as citizens and patriots to preserve our democracy from the corrupting influence of Wall Street and big corporations. We are here tonight to raise our voices in defense of the American dream. We are here tonight to restore the American political system and American society, to make it human-centered, not profit-centered. We are here tonight to follow through on the vision of our founders and the vision of the great American social movements of the past, the movements that ended slavery, gave women the right to vote, ended racial segregation in our communities, established safe working conditions and good wages for hard-working Americans and their families. We are here tonight, because our political leaders are no longer able to lead us.

Now is the time for us to lead, for the people of the United States, the 99%, to rise up, and restore America, to recreate it, truly, as a nation of opportunity, equality, and justice. Honored guests, members of the 99%, we are here tonight because of you. 'Join Us!' we cried, and you have answered. And for that, we thank you, and we bid you welcome to the first-in-the-nation People's Caucus!

[Cin]

Occupying the Conventions? How Protests Will Change Politics-as-Usual in 2012

Four years after the moment of "hope and change," the 99% is set to alter the dynamics of presidential elections.

http://www.alternet.org/story/153575...ange_politics-
as-usual_in_2012

Occupy the Caucus: 12 Arrested (Including 14-Year-Old Girl), Demonstrators Say They Will Participate, Not 'Disrupt'
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews...%27disrupt%27/

[SoNotHer]

U.S. (Hearts) Progressives



Americans remain ambivalent about both socialism and capitalism - roughly split, with each end of the political spectrum leaning the way you'd expect - but more approve of the term “progressive” than any other political label, according to a new poll from the Pew Center. That's a hopeful 67%-22%.



Taken from - http://www.commondreams.org/further/2011/12/29-0

[Cin]

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

U.S. (Hearts) Progressives



Americans remain ambivalent about both socialism and capitalism - roughly split, with each end of the political spectrum leaning the way you'd expect - but more approve of the term “progressive” than any other political label, according to a new poll from the Pew Center. That's a hopeful 67%-22%.



Taken from - http://www.commondreams.org/further/2011/12/29-0

I'm having trouble seeing the hopeful part when more than twice as many people in the U.S. see as positive conservative politics over socialist ones. I have nothing against conservative and liberal or any other persuasion mentioned in the poll as an ideology. However, it is clear to me that there is a connection between the conservative politics of smaller government and the privatization of prisons, public education, foster care, the military, etc. which has led to a country (dare I say world) owned and run by corporations.

Corporations don't have allegiances to countries. They own governments; governments don't control them. Corporations are against America. They are against freedom. They are destroying the infrastructure of the United States, the middle class, education and the economy as well as our environment. Why don't I hear people say stuff like that when they talk about what is anti american? Because truly I believe that the behavior of corporations run by socially conservative minded people is destroying our country. Socialism isn't anti American. Conservative/liberal politics that renders government for the people, by the people and of the people impotent is anti American.

So called liberal politicians are liberal in name only. They are all owned by corporate America. It is safe to say that most people involved in the corporate world are social conservatives. Their financial actions, the ones that have pretty much destroyed the world economy and made the government pick up the tab, make it difficult to see them as fiscally conservative. The humongous and grossly unfair tax breaks they take that leave our government floundering make it even harder to call them fiscally conservative. They are, however, quite fiscally conservative when it comes to giving anything back to their government. And they like the idea of fiscal conservatism by the government toward the 99%. And they love, love, love, even adore, social conservatism. Which translates into mucho austerity measures for the 99%

But according to this poll most Americans still don't get it. That doesn't feel very hopeful. But then there have been some hopeful things this past year. I guess I'll focus on those.

One more thing comes to mind when looking at this poll. The percentages are very confusing to me. Ideologically speaking, progressivism is generally believed to be in direct opposition to conservatism, so how can 62% of Americans view conservatism positively while 67% view progressivism positively? That would mean a percentage of people view both conservative and progressive ideology in a positive light. That's like saying that a percentage of people believe in both a woman's right to choose and criminalizing abortion. Odd.

[SoNotHer]

A constitutional amendment and petition. Signed and now shared.

http://sanders.senate.gov/petition/?...4-ec2c39342c6c

Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed a constitutional amendment that would overturn the Supreme Court decision in a case called Citizens United vs. FEC.



The Saving American Democracy Amendment states that:

- Corporations are not persons with constitutional rights equal to real people.

- Corporations are subject to regulation by the people.

- Corporations may not make campaign contributions or any election expenditures.

- Congress and states have the power to regulate campaign finances.

[atomiczombie]

Occupy Wall Street 2011: A Year in Revolt

http://occupywallst.org/article/2011-year-revolt/

Great article recapping the birth of the movement!

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

A constitutional amendment and petition. Signed and now shared.

http://sanders.senate.gov/petition/?...4-ec2c39342c6c

Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed a constitutional amendment that would overturn the Supreme Court decision in a case called Citizens United vs. FEC.



The Saving American Democracy Amendment states that:

- Corporations are not persons with constitutional rights equal to real people.

- Corporations are subject to regulation by the people.

- Corporations may not make campaign contributions or any election expenditures.

- Congress and states have the power to regulate campaign finances.

This is critical to ever getting our election processes "for the people and by the people." We have to get private $ out of our elections!

[Cin]

7 Places the 99% Will Fight Back Hard in 2012

With a new year comes new chances for change--and we have some guesses as to where we'll see some exciting actions in 2012.
January 2, 2012

2011 was the year of activism, of uprising, of the protester. But the new year is coming, and with it a chance to write a new narrative.

The demands of working people in the US and around the world haven't yet been met, and there's still a need for the same energy and outrage on the issues of jobs, income and wealth inequality, home foreclosures, working people's rights to organize, and of course, Wall Street's crimes.

So, while we hesitate to make predictions for victories and political outcomes, we do have some guesses as to where we'll see some exciting activism in 2012.

In some cases, the plans are already being laid for big spring and summer actions (and even fall, with the presidential election fast approaching). In other realms, we haven't heard anything definitive, but the conditions are certainly ripe for a big move by the 99%.

After all, social movements aren't built in a few months. They take years of planning, new and escalating tactics, and the occasional great leap forward. We saw that leap in 2011—now it's time to take the next step in 2012.

Read on for seven places where working people's fight for justice should erupt over the next year.

1. Iowa Caucuses

The first major political event of 2012 will be the Iowa caucuses, where residents of the chilly rural state will meet to decide which Republican candidate should represent their party in the national election.

But according to Mother Jones' Gavin Aronsen, Occupy Iowa supporters have already held their own People's Caucus. They broke out into groups similar to the preference groups that occur at the real Iowa caucuses—but rather than choosing the candidate they want to win, they chose a candidate most deserving of having their headquarters occupied.

The winner? Barack Obama, with Mitt Romney and Ron Paul in close second and third.

So far, the only disruption of the caucus itself is a possible plan for people to vote “no preference” as a protest, but actions like mic-checking candidates (Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann have already been recipients of this action) and peacefully taking over headquarters and events are in the works, and protesters have already been going through direct action trainings. In just a few days, we'll see the results.

2. Wisconsin

Wisconsin union members and their supporters kicked off the U.S.'s year of action last February with an occupation of their capitol building after Gov. Scott Walker pushed a bill taking public workers' right to collective bargaining away. Fourteen State Senate Democrats left the state to avoid voting on the bill, and Wisconsinites slept outdoors in the cold when locked out of the building, and showed up day after day until Walker found a way to force the bill through anyway.

One of the big stories of 2011 then became the recall campaign against the State Senate Republicans who voted for the bill. Though Democrats didn't succeed in taking back the Senate, they did oust two Republicans—and created enough momentum to start a recall campaign against Walker himself, which gathered 507,000 signatures on recall petitions in four weeks. (540,208 are required to move the recall forward).

So recalling Walker seems very likely to be on the agenda this year. In addition, on February 17, the anniversary of the occupation of the capitol, United Students Against Sweatshops is holding a conference in Madison celebrating 15 years of organizing—and planning a big action to celebrate Wisconsinites' fight for workers' rights.

3. University of California

Tuition hikes and student debt have been touchstones for the Occupy movement, and while campus-based activism is not new in the U.S., the way the occupiers have linked their complaints with the larger issue of growing Wall Street and corporate power may be a new chapter for student organizing.

Nowhere has the new wave of student activism been more prominent than the University of California system, where students have long been fighting tuition hikes and privatization. UC-Berkeley students were beaten and UC-Davis students pepper-sprayed during peaceful campus protests, but they stood firm and continued their fight.

“What’s at the heart of the privatization,” UC-Berkeley graduate student Megan Wachpress told Josh Eidelson at The Nation recently, “is a bringing in of the market logic, and the kind of exploitations and the inequalities associated with the market…into parts of life and relationships that we used to see as parts of our responsibility as co-citizens.”

The universities are quiet for now during winter break, but student activists are planning weeks of action across the California public university system, and thinking of ways to make their fight a national one—perhaps by connecting to the burgeoning movement against student debt.

4. Charlotte, North Carolina

The Democratic National Convention's selection of Charlotte has already angered some party supporters—the party that relies on union support chose for its gathering the state with the smallest union density in the country, and the city that is the headquarters of Bank of America (and, until it was bought out by Wells Fargo, Wachovia Bank as well).

Like campuses, party national conventions are always sites of activism, often in the post 9/11 years, skilfully contained by protest pens and “free speech zones”. What might make this year different?

Obviously, the answer is Occupy.

Occupy groups are present not just in Charlotte, but in Raleigh, Asheville, Greensboro and Chapel Hill, and now it looks as if the city is moving preemptively to boot the protesters out before the estimated 50,000 visitors come in for the conference. The Huffington Post reported:

“On Oct. 27, the Charlotte city manager released a draft ordinance that makes camping on public property a 'public nuisance' and would prohibit 'noxious substances,' padlocks and other camping equipment that city officials fear could impede traffic and create public safety issues.”

Lawyers are already vowing to challenge the constitutionality of such an ordinance, saying it may violate the First Amendment. In any case, it's clear that Charlotte's government is expecting clashes with activists. The question will be whether they can successfully make protest stand out from the actions of years past (and avoid the endless Chicago '68 comparisons).

5. G-8 Summit in Chicago

Speaking of Chicago, that city's officials announced this week that Daley Plaza would be open to protesters who want to gather there and speak out against the G-8 and NATO summits this May. That's after announcements of increased fines and crackdowns against protesters drew criticism, and the city's police superintendent, according to NPR, called the Occupy protests (and busts thereof) a “dry run” for what they expect during the summits.

A Facebook page is already calling for the summits to be Occupied, with 858 “Likes,” and according to the Chicago Tribune, tens of thousands of protesters are expected. It's the first time since 1977 that the NATO and G-8 summits will be held at the same time, and they're expected to discuss Afghanistan war policy as well as the global economic issues that are the usual focus of the G-8.

No permits have been granted yet for those who are seeking official permission to march and rally, but Occupy protesters at least haven't been stopped in the past by the lack of permits. But a beefed up police presence—including deputized officers from other agencies—will be looking out for Occupy-style tactics.

6. New York

Wall Street saw several marches in 2011, before the occupiers took over Zuccotti Park. It's not a stretch to predict that the financial district hasn't seen the last of raucous protest, civil disobedience, or dance parties.

But New York City is also the site of one of the most-watched home occupations, the house at 702 Vermont St. in East New York, where organizers from community groups and Occupy Wall Street liberated a home that had been foreclosed upon by Bank of America and moved a homeless family in. So far, they have succeeded in holding that house, and the next step will be putting more families in foreclosed homes, as well as defending families against foreclosure.

And finally, the City University of New York has seen battles second only to University of California's over tuition hikes, student debt, and the privatization of public education. New York is also home to the working group that founded the Student Debt Refusal Pledge.

The loss of the encampment was a blow to Occupy Wall Street, but the test in 2012 will be whether they can successfully maintain momentum on multiple levels, through multiple types of action.

7. Ohio

Possibly the biggest win for the working class in the US this year was Ohio's overturning of SB5, the anti-union bill that Governor John Kasich pushed through last year. The bill, stripping collective bargaining rights from 360,000 public sector employees, so angered working Ohioans that more people actually came out in an off-year election to vote for a “Citizens' Veto” of SB5 than voted to make Kasich governor in 2010.

The coalition, We Are Ohio, that gathered 1.3 million petition signatures to get the repeal on the ballot, isn't ready to quit yet, either. As Henry Gomez at the Cleveland Plain Dealer noted, “Without question the results will be viewed as a momentum-builder for Democrats nationwide and should encourage President Barack Obama.”

“As appealing as the other states might appear on paper, none offers the head start Democrats have here,” he continued.

And Ohio, being one of the largest swing states, has the power to shift an election. It also has a working population still struggling, with high unemployment that dates back before the financial crisis to the predations of deindustrialization and offshoring.

Senator Sherrod Brown, up for reelection in 2012 as well, is a vocal advocate for his state's working people. He too might benefit from the backlash against Kasich and his policies, and from the solid organizing work of We Are Ohio. Asked about the implications of the SB5 vote for 2012, Brown told a conference call, "What it means for 2012 is that the public wants to know, 'Whose side are you on?'"

[Cin]

Interesting and very informative article. Especially since tax season is upon us, (not that there's any tax help here, just clarity regarding the ways we get screwed.) It's from 2011 but still apropos.

http://wweek.com/portland/article-17...out_taxes.html

[Cin]

[Cin]

‘Wild Old Women’ Close San Francisco Bank Of America Branch
January 5, 2012 3:24 PM



SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – It was a slow-moving Occupy Wall Street protest, but it was an effective one. A dozen senior citizens calling themselves “the wild old women” succeeded in closing a Bank of America branch in Bernal Heights Thursday.

The women, aged 69 to 82, who live at the senior home up Mission street from the Bernal Heights Bank of America branch, decided to hold their own protest by doing what they called a “run on the bank.”

Tita Caldwell, 80, who led the charge of women with walkers and wheelchairs, said that they’re demanding the bank lower fees, pay higher taxes, and stop foreclosing on, and evicting, homeowners.

”We’re upset about what the banks are doing, particularly in our neighborhood and neighboring areas, in evicting people and foreclosing on their homes,” said Caldwell. “We’re upset because the banks are raising their rates because it really affects seniors who are on a fixed income.”

As they arrived, Bank of America closed and locked its doors, to the surprise and delight of the elderly protestors, who said that they had no intention of storming the bank.

The women waved signs, but didn’t march or chant, with one woman on supplemental oxygen adding that the group was too old for that.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/201...merica-branch/

[MsMerrick]

Occupy by the Elders..
Ok Miss Tick beat me to it but.. another take, same story

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Miss Tick

‘Wild Old Women’ Close San Francisco Bank Of America Branch
January 5, 2012 3:24 PM



SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – It was a slow-moving Occupy Wall Street protest, but it was an effective one. A dozen senior citizens calling themselves “the wild old women” succeeded in closing a Bank of America branch in Bernal Heights Thursday.

The women, aged 69 to 82, who live at the senior home up Mission street from the Bernal Heights Bank of America branch, decided to hold their own protest by doing what they called a “run on the bank.”

Tita Caldwell, 80, who led the charge of women with walkers and wheelchairs, said that they’re demanding the bank lower fees, pay higher taxes, and stop foreclosing on, and evicting, homeowners.

”We’re upset about what the banks are doing, particularly in our neighborhood and neighboring areas, in evicting people and foreclosing on their homes,” said Caldwell. “We’re upset because the banks are raising their rates because it really affects seniors who are on a fixed income.”

As they arrived, Bank of America closed and locked its doors, to the surprise and delight of the elderly protestors, who said that they had no intention of storming the bank.

The women waved signs, but didn’t march or chant, with one woman on supplemental oxygen adding that the group was too old for that.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/201...merica-branch/

LOVE IT!!!

[ruffryder]

Word of the year for 2011 - OCCUPY

[AtLast]

Damn, I wish my Mom was still alive for the B of A take over- she would have been right in there. Also, I'm thinking about how this is probably a very personal thing for that group of elders- they went through the Great Depression. Their generation sure has a lot to say about what is going on today!

[SoNotHer]

Signed and shared -

http://pol.moveon.org/bankfraud/?rc=homepage

Investigate Wall Street Bank Fraud

The greed and fraud of Wall Street banks caused the loss of millions of homes and billions of dollars in the housing crash.

Now we need President Obama to take a strong stance for homeowners, and for accountability, by opening a federal investigation into big bank fraud.

This is something the president can do on his own right now, without fighting Congress. And millions of Americans can be helped if banks are held responsible and forced to compensate homeowners for their wrongdoing.

A compiled petition with your individual comment will be presented to President Obama.

[Cin]

Why Now? What's Next? Naomi Klein and Yotam Marom in Conversation About Occupy Wall Street

http://www.thenation.com/article/165...py-wall-street

[atomiczombie]

The barricades are down and tents are back up in Zuccotti.

[SoNotHer]

Great video, message and petition worth a couple minutes of your time. Signed and shared.

http://googlequitthechamber.org/video/

[SoNotHer]

Tell Congress to support The United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Bill

With American families struggling, it's time for companies to bring good jobs home. Foreign call centers not only ship jobs abroad, but they endanger our confidential personal information because they operate without US data regulation. You can tell lawmakers to support the US Call Center Bill. The Bill would build jobs in America by:

Creating a customers' right to know - Ending the secrecy about call center locations, so outsourcers and offshorers can't hide anymore. Forcing companies that outsource abroad to return federal funding - Because our hard earned tax-dollars shouldn't go to support corporations that ship American jobs to foreign countries. Giving you the right to be transferred to a US-based operator.

But we need your support. Members of Congress will only sign on if they hear our voices loud and clear. Use our simple tool to send a message to your US Representative. In order to address your message to the appropriate recipient, we need to identify where you are.

http://action.cwa-union.org/c/1314/p...ag=20120113taf