Occupy Has de facto leadership - Elected Officials

[BeFree]

Members of Occupy are more than willing to follow our elected leaders - our government.

However.... American political leaders are controlled by big money and thereby act in accordance with big money by passing laws and making policy which favor the 1% and disfavor the 99%.

Therefore, Occupy is not beholden to follow our present day leaders down this present day path to ruin and damnation. We refuse their lead and will actively work to either remove them from office, or bring them to an understanding whereby they begin to pass laws furthering the people's goals of forming a more perfect union.

Or, we will have to change the system. What does 'Change the System' mean?

It means we will use the concentrated effort of the 99% to alter the way our leaders are elected, how many are elected, and what their process shall be when they are elected and are in office and voting to pass the laws which rule America.

Just 1% of Americans are happy with how our leaders are elected, how laws are passed and how policy decisions are made. It may be that the present system is so corrupt and so deficient that the only way to change course is to dismantle this system and build an altogether new one.

Tearing down and building anew is the hardest course. Besides that, America has the capability built into our constitution to make fundamental changes without starting over.

The first change which needs to be made is a constitutional amendment which proscribes that corporations do not have the same standing as people. Presently, corporations have more freedom than do individuals.

Presently, one corporation has more power in DC than do 30 million private citizens.

Presently, ten corporations have more power in DC than do 300 million private citizens.

That problem has to be eliminated and it will solved through a constitutional amendment putting corporations in their place as a servant to the people instead of corporations current position of being unelected rulers of the people.

[Summer Hathaway]

1. The 'facts' being recognized

like 'em or not, is an important component to any discussion.

"It means we will use the concentrated effort of the 99% to alter the way our leaders are elected, how many are elected, and what their process shall be when they are elected and are in office and voting to pass the laws which rule America."

While the slogan "We are the 99%" is catchy, it doesn't mean you have the 'efforts of the 99%' behind you. That 99% is comprised of a lot of people who don't agree with your premise - or, for that matter, with each other. That is the reality.

"Just 1% of Americans are happy with how our leaders are elected, how laws are passed and how policy decisions are made."

Do you have any stats supporting that last statement? Again, while you might believe that the gov't is run by and for the 1%, that doesn't mean that only one percent of Americans are satisfied with how representatives are elected, how laws are passed, or how policy decisions are made.

I am not trying to be argumentative. But it is this kind of mis-representation of the facts that serves to foster the idea that the Occupy movement is out of touch with the on-the-ground realities.

[BeFree]

2. Just My Opinion of Course

But from voracious readings and talking to people -- hundreds -- I'd say that 99% of the people are not happy with the government.

The 99% phrasing is merely meant to convey the Occupy inclusion of everyone except the 1% who own the politicians. You may have a problem with that and I will leave it up to you to decide the factual numbers.

In my studied opinion the numbers are close enough for government work. <grin>

[Summer Hathaway]

3. Saying that 99% of "the people"

are not happy with the government is a rather sweeping statement - and one that requires more than your 'say so' to be accepted as fact.

I understand that the 99% phrasing is meant to be inclusive. That doesn't mean that all of that 99% are in agreement with you, or with OWS. In fact, it is rather foolish to believe so, not to mention arrogant.

Sticking to actual facts might be the better way to go.