When asked what OWS wants... if our government would just accept the polls it takes they would know!

[cyberpj]

I'm also getting sick of people asking "what do they want"? --as if there could be a bumper-sticker answer.

However, I do believe that if we could start with just 2 demands:
1. Overturn Citizens United
and
2. Public financing for all campaigns

it would go a long way toward all other needs since that would pretty much get the influence of money out of the government of the people!

My longer list would include:
3. forced reduction of CEO to worker pay ratios
and
4. Medicare for all
and
5. Term limits for all of congress!

[brooklynite]

1. Here's the problem...

...that's what -YOU- want. And you've clearly stated what you want.

The OWS people have NOT stated what they want. They've stated what they don't like, but not how they want it addressed. I've heard individual protestors say everything from "arrest the bankers" or "restore Glass-Stegall" all the way to "eliminate capitalism". That's too broad a range if they hope to start attracting support beyond those already politically engaged.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Getting 1 and 2 to happen would go a long way in fixing all of our structural problems.

problem is, our elected Congresspeople, particularly the today's Republican Party, will never go along with it for the obvious reason. They'd never win another election again. The American voter needs to understand this and elect Democrats (not they are that much better, but I think they are more likely to vote in the best interests of the majority. We know today's Republican Party will not countenance this logic.

We should make 1) and 2) a core part of our national platform - a litmus test, if you will...then force Republicans to address their opposition to them during the campaigns. Let them try to explain why these principles are a bad idea for democracy...the logic contortions would be Youtube-able moments that will clearly show the difference between the Parties. If we could get the average Republican voter to understand the linkage and stop voting against his/her best interests, we could salvage the remnants of this country's future.

[RC]

3. You lost me at term limits. That is not the problem. Election Fraud is.

#3 should be A living Wage for the workers. The high wage disparity is a symptom of a larger problem, greed and high profits and not paying their fair share of taxes.
With a forced reduction of the pay ratio, they would just find loopholes and nothing would really change.

This country is great at diddling with the symptoms and doing nothing to fix the underlying problem.

[JDPriestly]

4. I agree except on the term limits. We have them in California

and you just get a lot of people in office who don't know what they are doing when they first start out and then have to leave office and get another job.

Also, the term limits make it even more likely that people will try to serve private interests while they are in office so that those interests will give them jobs when their terms are up.

Voters need to encourage members of Congress who have overstayed their welcome to call it quits. If you get active in local politics, you and those who agree with you may be able to influence someone to find a different job or retire.

[Cherchez la Femme]

5. & ban Lobbyists