Mission Statement: Occupy Las Vegas
Last modified: 2011-10-13 06:58:33 -0700
The first questions that come out of anyone's mouth whenever a new political movement arises are, “Who are they?” and “What do they want?”
They are good questions that should be answered.
WHO are we?
We are the 99% of Americans who have not benefited from the various financial bailouts, tax breaks, and other subsidies that the dominant 1% of the population have gained over the past several years.
We are students, veterans, homemakers, workers, the unemployed, those on Social Security benefits, those whose savings and investments were either wiped out or greatly diminished by the economic fluctuations starting in 2007.
We are those who have had our homes foreclosed upon, those whose homes are about to be foreclosed, those whose homes are now worth a fraction of what we paid for them, and those who have never owned a home and don’t expect to ever be able to.
We are the newly poor who wonder how everything for which we worked hard vanished so quickly and how we and our families are going to survive.
We are the long-time poor, who have never had much of a chance, let alone a voice, to make our own way in our current social and economic system.
We come from all backgrounds, races, and religions.
We are concerned about and more than a bit scared by the directions in which we see our lives, and the lives of our families, friends, neighbors going, the directions in which we see our nation and the whole planet going, and we are angry with those who have taken us in those directions.
We are part of a much larger global and national movement that wants real changes in how the world is run.
In short, we're you, and you are one of us.
WHAT do we want?
We want an end to corporate money's influence in politics, whether through campaign donations, PACs, or other groups. Money is not speech.
We want truly effective campaign finance reform, so that corporations and other interests have no overwhelming advantage over the rest of us in any part of American politics.
We want far greater legal accountability for public officials and corporate executives, and we demand that, if found guilty of committing crimes while in office, they are made to pay for those crimes in full, like anyone else.
We want our justice system to treat everyone equally regardless of origins or social class, at all levels and at every stage, from investigations to trials and sentencing.
We want an end to the continual attacks on our social safety net and on the rights of workers to organize themselves and, if need be, to strike to get better pay, benefits, and working conditions.
We want secure and sustainable investments and improvements in our social infrastructure, like schools and libraries, and to create an America where everyone may actually live in a decent and dignified manner, an America where everyone's rights count and are respected by all.
This is who we are and what we want. We ask for no more and shall take no less.
We are the 99% and we will not be silenced.
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Comments
In the line beginning, "We are the newly poor..." there should be a comma after hard. Either that or ad the word "for" after hard. The thought doesn't read properly without that correction.
Who cares what you people are for?
O.K. teacher-type dude!
Thanks for getting this up here, Gina!
So with these statements:
"We want an end to corporate money's influence in politics, whether through campaign donations, PACs, or other groups. Money is not speech.
We want truly effective campaign finance reform, so that corporations and other interests have no overwhelming advantage over the rest of us in any part of American politics."
You are for putting an end to Crony Capitalism?
And.... I'm assuming when you mention "Special Interest Groups"... you are including Unions?
If so.... I'm down with you.... As long as I can bring my "End Crony Capitalism" signs along...
I am 26 years old and will be graduating in 5 weeks with a BA in business. There are no jobs for me....and I will have to begin paying my student loans soon. WHO IS GONNA BAIL ME OUT!!! I am the 99% and I will not be silenced. See all of my fellow 99%ers on Fremont tomorrow.
Change "ad" to "add". :D
We (I) am the uppermiddle class, well educated business/property owners who are sickened by the ridiculous greed and profiteering by the rich and super rich of this country as they squeeze every last bit of blood, sweat and tears out of those below them. I am appalled by the callous treatment by the rich and the 'haves" our society of those less fortunate and the "have nots"! I'd like to see some compassion, equality, and real opportunity for those who cannot buy influence, expensive educations, pass down their wealth, our injured, sick and even the dumb. They are just as valuable as human beings as the thin, rich and attractive 1%
Just becasue I am OK doesn't mean that I should stop caring about those who are not OK and who need my help.
99% is too big to fail!
My tax dollars have paid for bailouts for banks and airlines. Now I can't get a loan and the price of flight travel is going up. Sounds like a fair deal!
I scratch you back, you stab mine!
Thousands care except for the rich who will not benefit by the efforts of the 99%
"For which we worked hard" is an adjectival prepositional phrase modifying "everything," which is the subject of the clause; adding a comma after "hard" would separate the subject of the clause ("everything") from the verb ("vanished") with a comma, which is incorrect in American English.
Adding "for" would be repetitive since it's already included in the prepositional phrase. It would work better rhetorically if the word "so" were added between "worked" and "hard," but this is what the GA approved, so I'm leaving it as it is.
did you think they wouldn't come due?
That would be a lovely addition, but the GA has approved the content of the mission statement as it is. I hope to periodically bring it before the GA for modification as other Occupy groups do, but right now, it's probably more important that we focus on the actions next week. But I will add your suggestion to the growing list I'm tracking.
Thanks.
You're welcome, Donald.
Why are you so anti-union? I'm assuming you then support child labor. Shameful.
Many problems would go away if people that we delegate our governing power to, could be honest with us.
Two things could help honest politicians to be elected.
1) Political campaign contribution is a legalized bribery system. It must be outlawed by a constitutional amendment. The campaign expenses should be funded by a modest government (taxpayer’s expense) fund equally divided between candidates.
2) Monetary compensation paid to politicians must be at an average US income. This is important, because politician’s job should be all about Serving People, but not pocketing high amounts of money. For honest politician, compensation should not be an issue.
I have a question. Does being against No Child Left Behind count as wanting a secure and sustainable school infrastructure? As it is now, schools in low socioeconomic areas are struggling to meet AYP and being punished for it. They are either not getting funded or are having forced removal of staff members for not meeting test score standards. While it's true that each state mandates their own tests, it is the federal government who mandated the act. I believe that federal acts like this fuel the mentality that schools are a small piece of the economic puzzle, expected to perform well with a tiny paycheck, much like an under-paid laborer. America IS its schools. It is the children within them that will grow up with a reward-based mentality. Following this act, we are not respecting the rights of everyone (the children of areas of poverty), nor is this money-based performance system sustainable. We have very low morale as we struggle to teach to the tests to ensure our students get the funding they need. This is something I would protest for, but I am not sure if my message would fit the mission of your movement.
The cause to fight political corruption is long overdue. For decades people have remained silent despite the obvious manipulation that has taken hold of our governments. The Occupy movement is gaining momentum and media coverage is increasing each day. There still remains a necessary component in order for all this to be worth while. So far, there have been plenty of demonstrations and statements to identify the problems with the current political systems in place. However, what is the solution? In order to invoke change or transformation, there needs to be a solution. If you leave this decision up to the 1%, it will cater to their needs, not the needs of the 99%. Its up to you to create the solution so that its not corrupt by greed.
This is way too long to serve as a mission statement. Think clear, concise, succinct.
This has been approved by the General Assembly, and parts of it are already being used by other Occupy groups. Thanks for your input, though, and we'll take your suggestion into account before revising when the GA votes to do so.
Peace, Gina
Yes, I would say that being against NCLB counts as desiring a secure educational infrastructure.
However, we didn't post the Mission Statement to solicit changes. We posted it to let the membership know what the GA approved.
Peace, Gina
One of the characteristics of the Occupy movement at this point is that it has not suggested specific solutions because it recognizes that the kind of particularity you suggest tends to alienate those who oppose particular measures.
However, the particulars about which everyone seems to agree is that all corporate money should be gotten out of the political process and that money is not speech. By implication, of course, this means that the Occupy movement wants comprehensive campaign finance reform and SCOTUS's Citzen's United decision overturned.
If you would like to suggest that we endorse particular measures or take a particular route to achieve these ends, you should present them to the General Assembly for a vote.
One of the characteristics of the Occupy movement at this point is that it has not suggested specific solutions because it recognizes that the kind of particularity you suggest tends to alienate those who oppose particular measures.
However, the particulars about which everyone seems to agree is that all corporate money should be gotten out of the political process and that money is not speech. By implication, of course, this means that the Occupy movement wants comprehensive campaign finance reform and SCOTUS's Citzen's United decision overturned.
If you would like to suggest that we endorse particular measures or take a particular route to achieve these ends, you should present them to the General Assembly for a vote.
If your student loans are federally subsidized, you'll have six months before repayment must either begin or a request for deferment submitted. As a business school student in his/her final year, you should probably be speaking to an adviser or a mentor in your program about job shadowing. It's pretty tragic when a student from another college has to advise a business student on how to get a job.
Also, as a business student aren't you supposed to be studying entrepreneurial skills??? I'm 26 and a student with loans also, but I have to say that I honestly don't feel sorry for you. In this city, you should be able to snag a job quickly.
And for the record, no one is going to bail you out. Unless, of course, you use that degree of yours to find a job for a big bank and ask people like me for a bailout... AGAIN...
Why not stop crying about not being bailed out and start looking for a job in the spare time you apparently have??? Just a suggestion from a peer.
Finally! Someone who speaks my language!
I think all sides of the political spectrum would agree, the Federal Reserve System must go, Occupiers worldwide are in agreement, Centralized Fractional Reserve Banking has to go. We must restore U.S. Constitution - Article 1 Section 8, and void the Federal Reserve Act of 1913.The FED is the head of the monster and it must go or extinction of the human race is likely (i am not kidding).
I would also submit the best way to rebuild our crumbling economy and get people back to work is to repeal the Sixteenth Amendment, i.e end income taxes altogether.
Restore sound money run by and for the People. End the taxation of Labor and instead tax capital and property.
All the People have to come together on this. The problem is the money folks. The reason we are being jerked around is because they have stolen OUR value as human beings. They do this by controlling the means of exchange. Instead of a system where value is created by labor, investment, invention, and creation, we have one run by moneychangers. A handful of scum who basically counterfeit your efforts at will. Impoverishing billions and destroying the Planet wholesale.
Every problem out there has a cause, and it is fiat money.
I am not familiar with what would be considered a typical length of a Mission Statement. What I do know is that the OLV Mission Statement answered many of my questions and addressed my doubts and is the reason that I now plan to continue being a staple Occupier.
Thank You,
That was a great statement. My Business related degree was in the early 90's and nobody was looking to "give" me a job. I went out and banged down the doors to go get one.
I had no student loans -- because I had saved money working in high school and worked my way through college.
Ironically... the most important things I learned for business did not come from college... it came from actual work experience starting at entry level positions.
So please... the "pay off my student loans" rhetoric gets no sympathy for the movement from those who have been there, done that.
Stick to the End Crony Capitalism message. For every big corporation that got bailed out that would have failed due to bad business decisions -- they would have been replaced with 20+ new businesses looking to hire on new talent.
Instead... your Representatives chose to bail out their crony friends with taxpayer dollars so they could keep their cushy jobs with their sweet paychecks.
Don't blame the corpoarations... blame the people that enabled them.
Sorry Tinnergirl88,
There are Federal Laws against Child Labor... that has little to do with today's unions. If Unions were disbanded tomorrow... it's not like everybody's kids would all of a sudden be working in the factories. (Not like we have many manufacturing facilities left in the U.S. anyways.)
Besides that... nothing in my statement is Anti-Union except for Unions influencing politicians with campaign donations to create legislation that only benefits their interest. That also goes for corporations...
A Democratic government is supposed to work for the majority...
What's shameful is you having no understanding of this.
Good thing you belong to a Union because I'm sure there are thousands of more qualified people out there to do your job.
I agree with you, and think others will too. Come on out!
There are plenty of jobs...just not the jobs you went to school for... an over abundance of fast food jobs that pay bills and are begging people to apply...
should have thought about that before you went to school and wasted the money that you will be paying back for the next 20 years...IDIOT!!
As one of those who wrote the mission statement, thanks very much, active_envy, and I greatly appreciate your saying that.
Credit Unions are just as greedy as the other financial institutions you're protesting. Please review www.creditunionruse.com it provides an overview of the large tax breaks credit unions receive. You should also review the fees they impose on their customers. If your going to promote something, then you should know the whole story. For those whining about their social security, I'm in my twenties and I've been paying into the system since I could work at 16. I'll never see a dime of the money I've paid into the system. I'm self made and take pride in working hard. If I had to flip burgers to buy diapers for my baby I would. The problem with America is that there are too many people looking for a handout instead of a job. The American Dream is not a right; it is not handed to you, you have to earn it.
You have no idea...................... I feel sorry for you
" Too many people looking for a handout" isn't THE problem, it is A problem, there are several, and money's influence over politicians that are supposed to represent us is a much more severe and costly problem. It is pretty easy to drop something on a bottom feeder but it takes real effort & determination to get at those in power. You've found yourself on a site where people are willing to put in that effort, you can take part in it if you are interested and help shape the whole approach or you can just go on believing the generalization we are fed that the poor have all the power.
I think you hit on the problem, several times in US history we have printed our on money. After Revolutionary War and Lincoln's "Greenbacks" during Civil War, and the economy flourished. To quote Henry Ford, "If the American people understood or Money system and our Economic system, there would be a Revolution tomorrow morning.
Please search: Child Labor Law in U.S. History. Without the formation of Unions these laws and so many others would not have been created. Labor Unions do not support legislation favoring "Union Labor' they support "American Labor" Its the corps and the Republican that sell you the idea that "Unions are bad" and you bought it. Unions defend the rights of WORKERS. Not exclusively Union workers. Why are you so unwilling to understand these facts? Dont answer that question. I will respect your ignorance.
P.S.
Please define the logic supporting this statement........................ "Good thing you belong to a Union because I'm sure there are thousands of more qualified people out there to do your job."
Are you a fortune teller or a genius? Do you own a space ship? Do the voices in your head tell you funny stories? You must be a very well educated person to be able to draw such conclusions from information gathered from 2-3 posts. You are truely amazing. I'll bet everyone you have contact with feels so lucky and blessed to have breathed the same air as you or walked the same ground as you. I do feel soooo very silly. I never realized that opinion can be made fact by simply wishing it to be. You have proved me wrong. Wow. You have opened my eyes and the eyes of fellow man near and far.
Look out Steven Hawking............Here comes Anonymous.
The "huge" tax break is tiny compared to the bank bailout, or compared to the amount of revenue a 0.01% tax on derivative transactions would yield. That site is sponsored by a banking group. Looks to me like someone who doesn't want competition.
The tax break you call "small" is equal to 31.3 billion dollars. This money could be better spent than giving credit unions tax breaks. Also if you look at where they found their information, they list non-profits. The bail out money everyone talks about had to be paid back with interest. money.cnn.com/2001/03/30news/economy/tarp_program/index.htm Quit watching the news and read.
When we list who we are, we should list "imprisoned."
Unless you all think everyone in prison deserves to be there, maybe for smoking pot or something. But I know the folks in prison are mostly there because of Unlawful & Unnatural laws.
Imprisoned. They are us. We are them.
Aaron
Good suggestion. I'm adding to the list I'm tracking for revising the mission statement.