The 99% Declaration

[barts]

A group calling itself The 99% Declaration has,

...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 the week of July 4, 2012 in the City Of Philadelphia to prepare and ratify a PETITION FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES on behalf of the Ninety-Nine Percent of the People of the United States to be served upon the United States Congress, United States Supreme Court and President of the United States prior to November 6, 2012.

The grievances the founders want redressed include,

1. Elimination of the Corporate State
2. Overturning the “Citizens United” Case
3. Elimination of All Private Benefits to Public Servants
   
4. Term Limits
   
5. A Fair Tax Code
   
6. Health Care for All
   
7. Protection of the Planet
8. Debt Reduction
9. Jobs for All Americans
   
10. Student Loan Debt Refinancing
11. Ending Perpetual War for Profit
12. Emergency Reform of Public Education
    
13. End Outsourcing and Currency Manipulation
    
14. Banking and Securities Reform
15. Foreclosure Moratorium, Mortgage Refinancing and Principle Write Downs
    
16. Review and Reform of the Federal Reserve Banking System
    
17. Ending the Electoral College and Enactment of Uniform Federal Election Rules in All of the States
    
18. Ending the War in Afghanistan and Care of Veterans
    
19. No Censorship of the Internet.
20. Reinstitution of Civil Rights Including the Repeal of the NDAA
    
21. Curtailing the Private Prison Industrial Complex

One of the criticisms of the Occupy movement was that there was not a coherent message. It seems there is one now.

In my view, this is an excellent step forward. And, to the list I would one more item:

A Constitutional right to vote achieved by amending Article 15 of the Constitution to read, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State." Eliminate the word "Race" from the title and the words "on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude" from article 1.

[Angry Citizen]

I'm unsure how "official" this is or whether it has any backing from the wider Occupy movement. I'll float it to my local Occupy chapter and see what they think.

[ruksak]

Many of these proposed goals require solutions. Until "they" can offer forth solutions as opposed to just listing off a litany of lofty goals, this movement will never take hold as a real practice.

Aside from the very serious omission of the "how", I can't say I disagree with the goals they have in mind.

[Angry Citizen]

Many of these proposed goals require solutions. Until "they" can offer forth solutions as opposed to just listing off a litany of lofty goals, this movement will never take hold as a real practice.

rukky, sometimes I wonder about you. It was over a decade after the signing of the Declaration of Independence before any real, concrete "solutions" were offered. This is very clearly an attempt to put forth a list of grievances (note that the convention takes place during July 1st-5th), not solutions - just like the DoI.

[barts]

I'm unsure how "official" this is or whether it has any backing from the wider Occupy movement. I'll float it to my local Occupy chapter and see what they think.

It will, indeed, be interesting to hear their views.

[barts]

Many of these proposed goals require solutions. Until "they" can offer forth solutions as opposed to just listing off a litany of lofty goals, this movement will never take hold as a real practice.

Aside from the very serious omission of the "how", I can't say I disagree with the goals they have in mind.

It seems to me that setting the goals is necessary before the "how" can be determined.

[Dieval]

I would LOVE to see what their idea of "A Fair Tax Code" is...99% taxation of the 'wealthy'?
Don't we have "Term Limits" on some offices now? Maybe they should clarify who they're talking about.
"Jobs for All Americans"? The government doesn't provide jobs - get off your ass and go look for or create your own.
"End Outsourcing and Currency Manipulation"...how exactly are these related and shouldn't they be bitching about China manipulating their currency? O.o
"Ending the War in Afghanistan and Care of Veterans"...they want to End Care of Veterans?? WTH? (Yes, I know that's not what they meant, but it could be interpreted that way..)

It's a nice try to make themselves look organized but they don't really speak for the 99%...I fall in to that category and I don't agree with much of what they've said.

[Apeman81]

It seems to me that setting the goals is necessary before the "how" can be determined.

Agreed.

This message is certainly more coherent that the rabble and babble that arose from the din of the Occupy movement.

It's good to see that they recognize and admit some of the problems rest with the government.

Too much caters to the "I don't want to pay what I contracted to pay" crowd for my liking.

And some are simply silly. Jobs for all? I guess we just sprinkle some pixie dust and wave the wand.

But at least it is a start.

[ruksak]

rukky, sometimes I wonder about you. It was over a decade after the signing of the Declaration of Independence before any real, concrete "solutions" were offered. This is very clearly an attempt to put forth a list of grievances (note that the convention takes place during July 1st-5th), not solutions - just like the DoI.

Well at least this movement is gaining some semblance of structure. You, and barts who responded just below you, are both correct. I was just doing my part to point out that it's far easier to propose a goal than it is to achieve said goal. Someone had to point that out for this discussion to have any integrity. Which brings us to.....what are these solutions?

9. Jobs for All Americans

How do we achieve this when this same crowd seems to be fine with sharing our jobs with people whom aren't Americans? When they support a systematic process of handouts that offer many lazy Americans an alternative to employment as a means to provide basic necessities?

[Angry Citizen]

How do we achieve this when this same crowd seems to be fine with sharing our jobs with people whom aren't Americans? When they support a systematic process of handouts that offer many lazy Americans an alternative to employment as a means to provide basic necessities?

One of the most extensive welfare states on this planet has an unemployment rate of about 3%. Somehow they manage it. I don't quite know what you mean about "people who aren't Americans", but most of the immigrants I see here in Texas are more "American" than the bloated TV zombies that inhabit much of the Republican party today.

But regardless, were I to become a delegate (which I seriously considered until I realized I'd be taking vector calculus at that time), that would be one of the things I would attempt to strike from discussion, along with "ending perpetual war for profit", "emergency reform of public education", "ending the federal reserve bank", and "ending the war on drugs etc".

[Senor Hoint]

I would argue for forgiving student debt, not just refinancing. Slapping the next generation of economic contributors with crippling debts isn't a good idea.

[Angry Citizen]

Obama already did. Limited annual collections to 10% of your income and maxed out the number of years to twenty before it's automatically forgiven.