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Alex Wong / Getty Images
William Griffin of the Occupy movement is arrested by U.S. Capitol Police during Tuesday's Occupy Congress protest.
Hundreds of protesters gathered on a grassy knoll in front of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday for an Occupy Congress protest, bringing the nationwide protest movement to the steps of the country's legislative branch.
Under cloudy skies and occasional drizzle, protesters held “mic checks” to announce where they had journeyed from to join the protest. Many wore yellow index cards stating: "This space is occupied."
In the early hours of the event there were a few scuffles between protesters and police, and one man was taken away by police for reasons that were unclear. Also some protesters tore down green mesh netting lining a wall on the lawn.
The numbers of people had not yet reached the thousands expected by demonstrators who helped organize the event, though many of the larger events -- such as a march by the three branches of government -- were scheduled for later in the day.
Some of the protesters attended planned meetings with their lawmakers to talk about their grievances, including a group from Greensboro, N.C., that met with Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan's staff in her office.
"To be in a participatory democracy is very exciting,” said one of them, Cynthia Maddox, who also was streaming video of the group’s activities. “To feel like I'm being heard, and that all of us are being heard, I think it's given people voices that haven't had a voice for a long time. And that's where the frustration comes from ... not being heard."
Click here for previous post on the protest: Occupy Congress: Will it be politics as unusual?
Leave a Comment:
Hold our "reps" accountable!
Tell them we want to end the campaign finance, lobbyist revolving door.
Yes, and Congress also needs to stop the looting and start the prosecuting. When and where will the inditements start? And if not why isn't most of CONgress in jail?
Brett
I agree 100% . But like I posted earlier on this matter . Beware of the JACK BOOTS . The arrests have already started . The BIG BOYS don't like us pointing the finger of blame ( where it belongs ) at them !!! The police in riot gear and backed by the National Guard already have their marching order's , and are ready to move in on the OWS people. The 1%ers will not go down without a fight . This election year will be one for the history books . The year we the people took back our government !!
bob
Amen Brett
All Americans are affected by the problems brought on by the funding of our elections by multinational corporations and banks.
The money these huge institutions give to American candidates who run office, corrupts our government at all levels and in both parties by putting the corporations and banks in charge of the regulatory process that were meant to protect the American public, instead of the banks and corporations.
We (the American people as Republicans, Democrats and independents) need to promote a constitutional amendment banning all non governmental financing of elections.
That should be something the overwhelming majority of Americans can agree on.
This can't be done without the public coming together, put our other differences aside. The effort can't be led by politicians because their political opponents would then be funded by the corporations.
OWS and the Tea party started partly as a reaction to the corruption the current corporate election system has wrought . The reason the Banks not only were bailed out, but the reason they needed to be bailed out was because the banks have been able to rewrite the rules they do business under.
The reason we can spend trillions on wars, but only millions on cancer research, or education, or infrastructure or anything that would benefit those of us here at home, is because military contractors and oil companies (who don't want to spend their own money on security in risky nations) spend taxpayer money on electing people who will keep certain conflicts going that stand to improve their bottom lines.
Conservatives, liberals, and moderates are all being screwed by this problem.
America - where the government controls the people and wall-street and the corporations control the government.
We demand our country back now!
Dan - still the same comment from this morning and I still like it. Its very clear that American Corporations are receiving more welfare than social programs in this country. However, we can't ignore that social programs are also being abused in this country and should be under similar scrutiny. Also in all fairness, Unions should also NOT be allowed to influence American politics either. There are some Unions that are just as bad as some American Corporations.
I agree!
Let's not forget the true revolutionary patriots who fought and died to ensure those working within the Federal Government were bound and constrained by the US Constitution, the same way the corporations were bound and constrained by strict Corporate Charters issued by the State at the will of the People (residents). Back then they couldn't own strock in another company, couldn't donate to any political cause/candidate, were personally responsible for all corporate debts/crimes, and had to re-apply annually (opr biannually depending on the State) to keep their Charter which could be rejected by the will of the People.
We really do need to right the wrong done after the Civil War. This is when the Corporate barons took advantage of the People who were at their lowest and trying to re-build after a long draining war, while circumventing State laws, began bribing Judges and Politicians to do their bidding...nothing has really changed since then. Unless the People demand stricter Corporate Charters like those pre-Civil War, nothing will change. FYI, the Federal Government, other than the court, has no legal authority over Corporations other than the inspection of foreign imports and Full Faith and Credit provisions in the US Constitution. The States were given the sole discression over Corporations unless they violated Federal Law that is.
FYI---I am NOT against corporations as most are honest good folks providing a legitimate product or service that benefits or enhances their communities. What I'm against is the largeese and profiteering off the backs of the workers or downfall of others (offshoring) that is causing so much economic havoc in our lives because our representatives DO NOTHING TO STOP IT. Both corps and politicians are guilty of excess at the top, outright theft of our laws and public trust, all while turning us into a Debtor Nations and making the American People EAT IT!
It's nothing but a RACKET...read the speech of Major General Smedley Butler, USMC who knew how this game was played over 80 years ago, yet it keeps being played on the American People. BIG sigh.
They finally found the correct place to protest, but will they finally have a cogent message?
Didn't Obama campaign on the promise to get rid of lobbyists?
Maybe the OWS needs to go to the White House to protest the liar that lives there?
Steven B
No politician seeking higher office in America can do anything about lobbying abuses until we the American people work together to pass a constitutional amendment banning all nongovernmental funding of US elections.
If the American people don't stick together to ban corporate funding of our elections, this nation will continue its decline.
End the left right divide crap and put America first!
Steven B - Well maybe if all the politicians in our government STOPPED playing partisian games and being on the Lobbyist payroll, perhaps the lobbyists would be gone? Maybe OWS is on the right track in demanding that Congress (All of them) do the right thing.
@ Itsabouttime, I concur on the Unions not being a contributor anymore than Corps. . I myself am a Union member and want My union reps to be above these things. Keep us(union) in what good standing there is left. Not much at that.
Side note;, Congress/etc, for us 99% ers, that get different lifetime retirement/health/etc. for serving the People. That is total bull. Hey government leaders, try our SS/Medicare/ lifestyles then tell Me Your gonna tap into it anyway because it is an entitlement. Never mind I paid my share for 30 years already. Now Government wants to make sure I pay in longer, obviously.
Steven B was recently seen posting.......
I would like to challenge Steven B to find any President in U.S. history that has had fewer lobbyists in their administration.....
The elites have overstepped their bounds and they have pissed off the masses. It will not be pretty. I see a lot of people wanting to take democracy back but no one seems to realize our country was never a democracy to begin with. We have always been run by elites whose only incentive to keeping the system together is their own fortunes.
Clean Government Amendment..... NOW!
I live in WI where we collected over 100,000 signature's to recall our LT Gov-Gov Walker and four congressmen for their actions and legislation. Right now Gov Walker is in New York at a $2,500 a plate held by Citibank to raise funds for his recall election. He just managed to secure a contract with an airline company to build small jets and add 600 jobs. He did not mention however that he gave tax breaks and incentives so large that our residents will be the ones paying the 600 job workers salaries or the fact that it would be built on protected wetland! He said he eliminated our state school budget by $840,000 plus because our state did not have the money!! In his campaign promise to balance our budget he would send back to the Federal Gov $800,000 grant for high speed rail that would have provided over 700 perm. jobs at the same time he will add 250,000 jobs by 2015. He also is lowering our states EPA standards and damaging our waterways and clean water, allowing a mining company to build on protected wetlands to add another "only" 700 jobs. This is not how our state and country should be allowed to legislate. Citizens United brought our country to it's knees allowing corporations to buy elections. It has to be eliminated NOW!!
Steven,
his quote was that he was getting rid of lobbyists from his cabinet, not from the whole of the Government. For that dan is right, we need to get most of America behind the movement to get lobbyists the hell out of the Government and ban all political donations, even then it will be a hard fight to win; the usurpers are not going to let their direct money hotline to getting their laws passed without throwing obscene amounts of money at Congress to save it.
We also need to reverse Citizens United for it to happen.
All the goddamn righties want to talk about are those with less than nothing being on the dole, while insisting the government provide welfare at every transaction for the corporations and wealthy. Whatever medicine the asylums are administering to these sons-a-bitches needs to be confiscated and their handlers jailed.
This is a good start but nothing is going to change unless we the people get out and vote these turkeys out of congress. That is the only way we the people are going to take back our government. We keep electing jokers that just have their own agenda. How to line their own pockets and get a big retirement! Just get elected. Until useless Bainer and his cronies get our of there, their will be no give and take in talks that makes this government work.
Obama may have fewer lobbyists but he has far too many bundlers. Kaiser - Solyndra comes to mind.
Ray in Jax:
George Washington. Back then no one thought the silly American experiment would last more than few months. But when the people rule themselves (no professional politicians), the nation and prosperity grew.
To quote QuipKid: "I believe in equality for everyone except journalists and politicians."
Well at least they are finally in the right neighborhood. Now formulate a coherent game plan, then call me.
D Russ didn't mention all the crooked unions pouring a bunch of money into the state?????? Did your property tax go up or down this year???? Who is paying your goverment employees insurance ??? Who is forced to pay union dues wheather they want to or not?????
@Rational AmeriCAN
no more than the war machines that thought they would have a solid foothold in the war ravaged countries that politely asked them to leave, and to leave their technology there. by the way cheney's company is still trying to negotiate that little bump in the road they didn't expect --
Alpha Traitor Dick Cheney/Halliburton charged with selling nuclear technology to Iran.
Submitted by Silverbug63 on 12/30/2011 14:29 -0500
just sayin
FINALLY...this is exactly where the occupiers should be!
Ray n Jax, I challenge you to find a President in U.S. History who said he was going to rid Washington of Lobbiests. That's the point Ray, O said he would get rid of them.
George Washington. Grover Cleveland. William Henry Harrison.
Wow, that was easy! :-)
They think that they are impervious and above the
Constitution and the LAW. They think that they can do pretty much what they
want with impunity. WE THE PEOPLE need to teach them a lesson, at the voting
booth. Anyone that has been in for more than ONE term VOTE them OUT, whether
they have done a good job or not!!! I guarantee you that the rest WILL
straighten up. That will do at least three things 1) get their attention and 2)
let them know that we mean business 3) that WE will NOT put up with anymore of their
bllsht. WE THE PEOPLE can force them to put two 2 year term limits with no
reelection ever period. Take back YOUR country from the politicans. Don't be a
gullible fool. They are laughing their a$$e$ off at us. They are laughing at
you!!! They are laughing at me. It doesn't matter if you are conservative or
liberal, democrat or republican it is the same scenario. They all love that we
are at each others throats. 'cause as long as we are fighting each other then
they can have free reign and do what ever the hell they want and STEAL our
LIBERTY. They tell us what they think we want to hear to tickle our ears and
make us feel good just so we will vote for them and then do whatever the hell
they want after they are in office. It happens every time 100% without fail.
This government has turned into the very thing that our forefathers fought
against in the 1700s. We Need to FORCE them to pass a law that if they lie,
tell a half truth, omit (fail to inform us in any way) or commit any dishonest
act of any degree that is proven with evidence that they are to be FIRED
instantly on the spot with zero chance of EVER serving in ANY public office of
ANY kind!!! One other thing, it should also include their campaigns.
We need to Totally, Completely and Utterly Abolish and
Destroy this "new government" that has ever so slowly crept in and
has taken hold of us and Robbed us of our freedoms and RIGHTS and Reinstate our
true and original government from 1776!!!!!! Let us TAKE back our Freedoms and
Rights and quit bickering like little spoiled whiney brats over party lines.
Left vs Right, Liberal vs Conservative, Democrat vs Republican!!! What ever
happened to One Nation Indivisible!!!!!!!!!
It looks to me like we are very extremely much divided!!!!!!!!! Like in the movie Braveheart It Is about FREEDOM!!!!!!!!! A house divided canNOT and WILL NOT
stand!!!!!!!!! "Give me LIBERTY or
give me Death"!!!!!!!!! FREEDOM
ABOVE security!!!!!!!!!
We need to Totally, Completely and Utterly Abolish and
Destroy this "new government" that has ever so
slowly crept in and
has taken hold of us and Robbed us of our freedoms and
RIGHTS and Reinstate our true and original government from 1776!!!!!! Let us TAKE back our Freedoms and Rights and
quit bickering like little spoiled whiney brats over party lines.
Left vs Right, Liberal vs Conservative, Democrat vs
Republican!!! What ever
happened to One Nation Indivisible!!!!!!!!!
It looks to me like we are very extremely much
divided!!!!!!!!! Like in the movie
Braveheart It Is about FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!
A house divided canNOT
and WILL NOT stand!!!!!!!!!
"Give me LIBERTY or give me Death"!!!!!!!!!
FREEDOM ABOVE security!!!!!!!!! I was collapsed earlier. It looks like somebody doesn't like talk of
TRUE FREEDOM!!!!!!!!! What's the matter
control Freak(s) don't like freedom of speech?
You can't shut all of US up!!!!!!
We WILL be heard!!! And if need
be FIGHT to win BACK our FREEDOM!!! Just
like it says in the constitution "protect our rights and FREEDOMS from ALL
enemies foreign and DOMESTIC"!!!!!!
Domestic: for those of you that didn't pay attention in class, that
means our own citizens can become enemies of FREEDOM!!! We are sick and tired of this facade of
superficial-just for public image-FREEDOM!!!!!!
They want to take our hard earned money (when most of them
are millionaires to begin with and on top of already being filthy rich receive
a salary) and misuse the tax dollars that they STEAL from us. This government has turned into the very
thing that our forefathers fought against in the 1700s. We need to Totally, Completely and
Utterly Abolish and
Destroy this "new government" that has ever so
slowly crept in and
Keep up the great work, Occupy! Hold these jerkoffs responsible! Godspeed and best of luck.
I wish you folks would understand that our government is our own fault, because we do not understand our own language. We all should know that PRO and Con are opposites, yes? Well then, if this is so, isn't the opposite of PROgress, CONgress?
OWS is loosing the support they had in the beginning , most people know who is behind group, socialist , unions and community organizers. The protest against congress is in resume against Republicans , conservatives and Tea Party supporters, because what they want is help Democrats to take the congress back to Democrats and reelect Obama.
Oskar-1391552: Yes, and McDonalds is about to run out of "French Fries".
there ya go, kids...it's about time you got there...don't forget to clean up your messes, tho..
Steven B #1.26: You're good with Washington and Harrison. Way off with Sheriff Cleveland though. This sum-bitch was a pure stooge for the republicans and the wealthy. While a bourbon democrat he was one of the sorriest excuses of a president the country ever had. Nothing more than an elected lobbyist, and a damn stupid one at that. Both terms.
I assume by "End campaign finance," you mean "Repeal all the campaign finance laws that have done nothing to keep special interests in check but succeeded in making it more difficult for a challenger to finance a campaign." Every finance reform law benifits the incumbant, since their name is already known.
Eliminating lobbyist is a popular concept; but taken to the extreme, this could actually hurt government if they stop listening to the very industries that create jobs.
What needs to happen is politician need to listen to voters as much as lobbyists. Voters need to hold politicians accountable by voting out incumbants who cater to special interests. Better to have an honest man in office whom one disagrees with than a dishonest man who appears to share your views.
While both parties are being bought off by corporations and special interests and are both in some way responsible for our present condition we just continue to argue amongst ourselves as if one of them is not. So if you really want to see a change why not come together and seek common ground against them. THEY are staying in control because of YOUR unwillingness to realize that.
Thank you Brothers and Sisters for allowing my voice to be heard through your grass roots movement. Over 50% of the American Citizens have your back. THANKS
ROTFLMAO..... 50 percent? Where did you get that number. Most of America is against professional protesters and see it for what it is. Obama's band for re-election.
This is grass roots pal
The time has come to put our ideological differences aside.
Since America sold its elections to the highest bidder, voting, in and of itself, is no longer enough.
The reason the international banks went on a bender here (but not Canada) is because they control the government agencies that were supposed to control them.
The reason we put arsenic in chicken feed, and then let Americans eat the chickens is the same reason. The poultry industry control the agency that is supposed to control them.
Many of the problems that plague so many aspects of American society can be traced back to the fact that we sold our electoral process.
Some things should not be for sale.
Support Occupy!
proudamericanveteran -
Where did you get your information that says "most of America' is against professional protestors. I think the Occupy movement needs more organization, but this country was founded on something called "Peaceful Assembly". If you don't like it, move to another country.
this isnt grass roots. occupy is nothing but radical left wing "organizers" organizing you to protest something you don't understand.
took you long enough to actually understand that standing outside fortune 500 companies demanding change sure doesnt do a damn thing LOL.
but hey, at least your in the right state, i mean, NYC isnt anywhere near the real problem, washington dc.
if you want to see grass roots look at ron pauls campaign in 2008 and 2012. thats the definition of grass roots.
So Ron can take us back to when the covered wagon was our only means of transportation, NO THANKS
OWS is grass roots
Brendan-4
Washington DC did screw things up at the behest of the multinational banks and corporations that usurped the regulatory process by funding America's elections.
This is why the multinational banks were able to run their pyramid scheme in the US, but not Canada.
No politician or party can fix this problem, because whomever advocates eliminating corporate funding of our elections would end up with their opposition receiving huge amounts of money from said corporations.
The time has come to put country first and ban non governmental funding of American elections via a constitutional amendment.
The unproductive left vs right banter can wait.
Grass roots?! ROTFLMAO!!!!! The only grass roots in this movement is what is in those funny cigarettes they smoke.
Yeah just what we need. Our government deciding who will get election funding. Can anyone else see the absolute idiocy in that?
In St Louis it wasn't even a true protest. Organizers would call or tweet when the news trucks were coming, people would then show up and hold signs, 15 minutes after the news crew left, the majority of protestors left. Then it was 3 tents with 3 people in it, not even holding signs. Just signs in the ground.
Sure it is:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/9269-big-soros-money-linked-to-occupy-wall-street
https://www.wepay.com/donations/41696
http://frontpagemag.com/2011/11/04/occupy-wall-street-and-soros-fingerprints/
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/ex_acorn_operatives_playing_role_s3zSPpX4NnFRoMpEGIxUBK
JPSOTW,
The least corrupt governments on earth (like New Zealand and Singapore) have a much more responsive government because their politicians are paid by their citizens.
Our elected officials are also very responsive to those that pay their way. Hence the record profits of the Multinational corporations, despite the global economic down turn.
These multinational banks and corporations have the American government as their lackey, and it works great for them.
How about a government controlled by officials who have their way paid for by the American public, instead of HSBC and BP.
I thought the professional protesters worked for the koch bros...yanno the tea tards???
dan-
What you are suggesting is giving those government officials (paid for by the American public...cough...soros...cough...unions...cough) the power to decide who will get to run against them. And you can't see a conflict of interest there?! Talk about blind. short sighted, or just plain disingenuous....
hey JPSOTW?? you can pull that penis out of your mouth now....we all know it belongs to one of the koch boys
How creative...."tea tards".
isnt it though??
OWS is as grass roots as they come. Only a polarized idiot wouldn't think so.
John, the left is just as bad as the right. If these partisan comments are all you have to offer, do us a favor....don't.
proudamericanveteran,
I know many involved in this movement and they are from all walks of life, but most are students. None are professional protestors and you really should read up on what it is all about.
For example:
Did you know that as much as 60% of corporations that made over 6 million dollars paid no taxes?
That Corporations Often pay no taxes?
That many Corporations made money off the Federal Corporation Tax rules that allowed credits, refunds and Tax Breaks?
That the bottom 80% of households makes less then half of all income?
In fact, from the link right above this sentence, you can see that college educated individuals, as a whole, have not increased their share of income since 2000 - 12 years of stagnate income with about 8 years of inflation - inflation was almost flat through this recession.
Now think about it. If you paid any taxes, why shouldn't Corporations pay too?
To...Steven B""""
Now that was funny ...
Funny how the cons rail against Soros ....but never mention the Daddy Warbucks of the right Clinton hater Richard Mellon Scaife ... the anti -gay prop 8 funder Howard F. Ahmanson Jr ..the Koch brothers ..or even fox 's Rupert Murdoch. to name a few..and exactly what they've been funding and backing for decades
And do you realize that a corporation can spread out profits and losses over more than one year? Hence the reason they pay no taxes in any given year?
Perhaps our government should stop giving subsidies and let the market be free? You know, no more ethanol or solar panels, no more crop subsidies, no more student loan subsidies, no more mortgage subsidies, no more innovation tax credits, and on and on.
And then what? Your life will still suck. Man up and make the most of your life.
JPSOTW:
Banning all non governmental funding of elections includes the banning of Union funds.
Our government already has rules about ballot access.
New Zealand pays for the election cost of the offices that are up for election. Their government sets the criteria for eligibility, they don't choose who will run or the positions the candidates will take.
As a result the government of New Zealand responds to the needs of their citizens, not multinational corporations.
It is time to pause the left right divide nonsense until after we fix Americas most vexing problem.
How do we get politicians to respond to the American people BEFORE multinational corporations?
Have the American public pay for our elections instead of the multinational corporations.
Rational...
Thank you ! Politicians do not have the feel for picking industries to try to pump up. If a profit can be made building a product, the product will get built. It's time for lawyers who disguise themselves as the nation's "leaders" to stop trying to goods with no demand.
The ramifications of the 'ethanol' game expand outward even to the price we pay for beef.
Politicians throw our money around like it was so much lint.
John...
No...it isn't creative at all, just repetitive and boring.
John-3617440, you're suspended for a day for violating #1 of the Code of Honor. Second time in a week.
And of course, any Corporate Income Taxes will actually be passed down to the consumers.
USAF...how can you be a student if you're outside "protesting?"
If I missed that much class I'd have been dropped.
Bluepanter,
We aren't talking high school here, most of these are college students wondering why they got (or are getting) a higher eduction to not have an opportunity to get ahead. Their student loans are in the hundred thousand range, their chances of employment are slim and if they get a good job they are looking at a declining paychecks.
Rational AmeriCAN,
As an individual with a degree in accounting (you know, taxes), I can tell you now that the 60% includes some companies year in and year out, every year - not just "any given year."
Doobie McTrippin - Best comments I have read on here yet. Obviously the voting booth doesnt work because these slime balls have created their voting base with free this and that programs that the rest have to pay for so it difficult to vote them out. In my area now they want ILLEGAL ALIENS to be able to vote! There needs to be term limits but that will never happen. Unfortunately, drastic measures will have to happen to allow the citizens to take back OUR COUNTRY from these theiving scumbag traitors in Washington.
Dear Mr. Taxpayer i thought we all were one. So what makes you get to be the only one to decide where that money is spent?
USAFVet - you have a degree in taxes? Wow, that about frames up the argument right there doesn't it.
60% of all corporations? Maybe, now re-state the facts in a percentage of revenue earned. Tell me Mr. BS in Taxes, what allows a corporation to pay no income tax? What are those thingys called? Deductions? Which are subsidies given to them by the government. Which I said should cease.
I think you missed the point. You don't even realize that it isn't deductions causing this. Try credits, tax rebates and built in loopholes. On the other hand, I know and I pointed out HOW I know. I mean, I'm not stupid enough to try to debate an engineer on how a bridge is built (I don't hold a degree in engineering), but some people.....
You call for free markets and point to subsidies (both individual and Corporation as if an individual making $24,000 is equal to a $6,000,000 a year profitable company), but don't even think about the fact that making banks freer crashed our economy. You don't realize that a free market in housing helped cause those issues or the fact that the right regulations in place kept these problems from happening for numerous years.
You ask me to state it in percentage of revenue, but do not think about the fact that if you pay nothing the percentage is zero! Or even the fact that the the figures I used comes from both the IRS and CBO as reported by The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, Financial Business News and many others (look it up, its called GOOGLE or see my post further up where I posted numerous links).
This isn't to mention that numerous companies get subsidies OUTSIDE of those taxes. Why wouldn't I consider that it was these subsidies you were referring to rather then taxes, since you mentioned a number of these types?
Occupy John(where are the jobs) Boehner
Occupy Barak ( food stamps for all) Obama
here here!
The time has come to put country first and support a constitutional amendment banning all non governmental funding of Americans elections.
I get that many Americans are into the emotional release that comes from scapegoating other Americans who are superficially different from themselves.
That can wait.
Americans can join together for this ONE major problem we all face, or we can continue the useless, but emotionally satisfying practice of tearing each other apart, while the multinational banks and corporations continue to pillage America.
Brendan... Newt is a moron so what does that make the fool that believes him?
dan
So you're saying, Dan, that now you want Public Service campaign funding just like Public Service Unions? Boy, once you're there you just pay for your campaign out of the public trough! I don't think so!
How about protesting Harry "I'm sitting on House Jobs Bills" Reid?
How about both!
Astonished
I don't know what funding of our elections has to do with Unions, as government funded elections would also ban Unions from paying for elections.
Perhaps you believe the word 'public' has some ideological bent.
We are the public. As opposed to HSBC which is a private foreign bank that pays of our elections.
Our elected officials made sure to bail them out along with all other national and international banks.
The Federal Reserve is private, and they gave TRILLIONS of American dollars to multinational banks.
They can do this because the Americans don't pay for our election process.
The banks pay millions for our election process and reap trillions in return.
It is time to face reality that ideology does not work, time to be practical and end this madness.
Ban corporate funding of US elections!
I dont think we have a problem that 536 ropes and a thousand feet of telephone wires couldnt cure.
Occupy Nancy Ms. Socialite (we have to pass it to see what's in it) Bimbosi!
Dan, will this amendment provide that there is equal funding for incumbent and challenger?
rc,
yes that is the point.
What are they protesting now?? Man you U.S. people love to protest.
Not really. Most of us like to stay home and watch Dancing With the Stars and choose which granite countertop should go with our kitchen renovation.
The 1% wage earners wealth has risen 275% while the 99% wage earners wealth has flat lined. We are tired of the billionaires taking the boots to us.
Your mom is going to let you remodel her kitchen?
Wow thanks proud. I don't live with my mom but in a one bedroom rat infested hell hole. I might be able to afford something better. However I'm too busy paying taxes to support our bloated health care system and housing welfare system.
I especially appreciate helping helping pay the mortgage tax deduction benefit to wealthy middle class suburbonites.
Ooops, lol
The time has come to put country first and support a constitutional amendment banning all non governmental funding of Americans elections.
I get that many Americans are into the emotional release that comes from scapegoating other Americans who are superficially different from themselves.
That can wait.
Americans can join together for this ONE major problem we all face, or we can continue the useless, but emotionally satisfying practice of tearing each other apart, while the multinational banks and corporations continue to pillage America.
moveforward ...
Take a bath, then get a job!
Yeah, right along side the syrians, iranians, europeans, greeks, mostly everyone that is getting screwed without the nicities of at least a dinner first... and for those who say take a bath and get a job, are you hiring, and I know you weren't one of the 60's movement folks - reformed hippies are the worst...
alan— ...
So now it's not just the evil 1%...it's also those greedy 'middle class suburbanites' too ?
asstonished get a new line that one is not yours.
"I know you weren't one of the 60's movement folks - reformed hippies are the worst..."
lol...right, because even they all grew up and understood that you cant get anywhere in life standing behind a sign...at some point your going to have to "get a job" and feed your self....presuming you have any self respect left, or you could just become a professional sponge and recieve food stamps indefinately.
Move Forward----- You folks and logic don't get together much, do you.
The rich control roughly the same percentage of wealth they have since 1970, it has varied between 33% and 37 % since 1970.
The demagogue in the white house is attempting to incite class warfare and people like you are very willing in the hopes that you will get some freebies.
But do go ahead, every day we watch and listen to people like you and have a little less patience with you.
Do not assume we will allow this to go on indefinitely.
Bennie123 -- You need to check your facts! The net worth of the wealthiest 1% has risen dramatically and is the higheast EVER is the history of the U.S. Meanwhile they enjoy unprecidented tax breaks, a rate that is NOT equal to the middle class and poor and have a significant amount of their wealth hidden abroad. The IRS has been unsuccessful going after this wealth and taxing it accordingly. "Do not assume we will allows this to go on indefinately"? Since apparently you are the Czar and Police Chief rolled into one -- this is a great example of Freedom of Speech, Right to Assembly, and the people speaking out against a basic injustice. But you go ahead and trim a bit off the Bill of Rights and Constitution. There is "class warfare" because it is UNJUST. When the rich continue to get richer while programs for the middle class and poor are cut, there is injustice. Obama has nothing to do with the "class warfare". The GOP has done it for years and are now upset that they're being called out on it. It has nothing to do with "freebies", just fairness. Warren Buffet and Bill Gates should not be paying a smaller percentage of taxes than his secretary. They know it and even they have asked for a fair change. Frankly Bennie, you're just an a##.
Money makes money, theres no way that money does not make more money, even in the safest of investments money grows. The 1% cant help but make more money because of the wealth the possess, the 99% never really had the means to make investments that would make them more money, they mostly live paycheck to paycheck, its always been this way and always will. Other than the current recession we are in, and this too shall pass, not much has changed in the last 50 years. The rich keep getting richer because they just cant help it, they use the money they have as a tool to make more money. To the people who just figured out that the rich control the government, look around, theyve been controling it since day one, youre just now having it pointed out to you by Mr. Obama to be used as a political tool. One thing is for sure, youre not entitled to a share of their money any more than they are entitled to a share of yours.
Steve...
It has come to pass that folks feel they are entitled to what others possess, if in the folks' opinion, the others possess too much. You know the "fair share" baloney that the president whines about.
Yet very few put a number on the nebulous "fair share". So what is that number ? Federal + state + local taxes...what percentage of their income should the evil "wealthy" pay...and what percentage should the slightly less wealthy, but equally evil upper middle class pay, in total.
For folks on this site who have so much to say...what's the number ?
@ so your gay
"lol...right, because even they all grew up and understood that you cant get anywhere in life standing behind a sign...at some point your going to have to "get a job" and feed your self....presuming you have any self respect left, or you could just become a professional sponge and recieve food stamps indefinately."
yeah, but they HAD THEIR CHANCE TO PROTEST WAR, DANCE IN THE STREETS SMOKE POT AND CHANGE THE MINDS OF A GENERATION shouldn't the occupyers have the same time in their lives too?
Steve I don't think that everyone is wanting a check from Gates and Buffet. Buffet and Gates( well his father) have both been to congress saying that what they pay is hardly fair compared to the rest of the country. In the words of Buffet "yes there is a classwarfare and we are winning, no not winning we are killing them".
Bennie,
Where did you get your disinformation? Rush? O'Reilly? That transfer of wealth can be easily seen by anyone who isn't overwhelmed by Teapublican dogma. For example, worker wages, when inflation is taken into account, are about what they were in 1978, a staggering reflection of stagnant wages since Reagan's time. This clearly reflects how, over the last 30 years, businesses have succeeded in defeating labor unions as effective advocates for workers. By comparison, "[t]he top 1% of income earners saw their after-tax income shoot up a whopping 275% between 1979 and 2007, and in the process more than doubled their share of all income, jumping from 8% to 17%, according to a new report from the Congressional Budget Office." http://www.newser.com/story/131888/income-of-top-1-shot-up-275-since-1979-cbo.html. It is now the case that the top 20% of annual income earners in the United States control 85% of all annual income. http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html. The remaining 80% fight over the remaining 15% of the income--the left-over scraps .In 2007, the share of after-tax income going to the top 1 percent hit its highest level (17.1 percent) since 1979, while the share going to the middle one-fifth of Americans shrank to its lowest level during this period (14.1 percent). http://currydemocrats.org/in_perspective/american_pie.html. Income for the top 20 percent has increased since the 1970s while income for the bottom 80 percent declined. In the 1970s the top 1 percent received 8 percent of total income while today they receive 18 percent. During the same period income for the bottom 20 percent had decreased 30 percent. http://currydemocrats.org/in_perspective/american_pie.html.
You believe in so many economic myths. For example, while the Friedman playbook is to rail against regulations that stifle business investment and hence job formation and to reduce taxes, which spurs investment, in fact, there is no empirical evidence supporting the proposition that Friedman's policies spur investment or add to the prosperity of any nation. In fact, ex-Reagan economist Bruce Bartlett found that neither high taxes nor uncertainty about governmental regulation have strongly affected private investment and the jobs it produced during Obama's presidency, http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/regulation-and-unemployment.transferred wealth up, not down, making "trickle down" or "supply side economics" or romancing our job creators a complete myth. The truth is the deregulation was precisely what led to the worldwide financial collapse of 2007-08. Even former Fed Chair Greenspan sheepishly admitted, "We didn't plan for greed!"
Bennie, there has been class warfare but it's been waged by Republicans. "As Warren Buffett, the second richest man in America, famously said, "There's class warfare, all right, but it's my class, the rich class, that's making war, and we're winning." Wealth and income inequality today is by far the worst in the industrialized world and has fallen in line with many Third World countries." http://currydemocrats.org/in_perspective/american_pie.html.
Wake up, Bennie, smell the coffee, you've been duped. Your Teapublican ideologues have been lying to you. They're driving a 30-year train that has stolen money from the middle class and given it to the upper class, and now they want to continue the wealth transfer until America is reduced to a Third World country, without a functioning middle class. Stop drinking that right wing kool-aid, Bennie.
Michael
Exactly how did they steal this money?
We should all be there. A million of us should surround Capitol Hill and take our government back.
300 "million" minus the 400 "thousand" 1%ers. Occupy the teabagger House.
Now Occupiers are Teapartiers?
'Teabagger House?', brilliant!
Read careful, occupy the teabagger House, (House of Representatives) GOT IT!!!
We the American people need to amend the constitution to ban non governmental funding of elections.
Only then can the voices of the American people matter.
In a democracy we the people are the only ones who can demand change!
Our elected officials MUST listen to the multinational banks and corporations because of the way we fund our elections.
Once we change that, all else will follow.
So based on your comment moveforward2012, we can easily deduce that you are really a moonbat troll and not truly representing OWS. Shouldn't your account name be "MoveOnOrg"?
Yes, we know the left and right hate each other.
The multinational banks and corporations LOVE this.
As long as we fight each other instead of banning together to ban corporate funding of our elections, the corporate pillage of America will continue.
Stand together America, or continue to fall.
Ironically, I couldn't take a few days off work to join Occupy DC. I still fully support them.
The '99%' myth is a hoax perpetrated by the entitlement crowd, the 99% who want everything handed to them, because they "deserve it".
How about getting a marketable job skill, and getting a JOB??
Oh, you'll have to WORK for it, but it definitely beats whining.
no we should just not show up to the sideshows. what would a candidate think if no one showed up to hear them, didn't shake their hands? turned their babies the other way when they came to cuddle them? and voted in the primarys no matter what TV show was on. you know they plan great television when an important election is due to keep nascar-ers, hip-hoppers, food and fashion show watchers away when necessary. we won't even mention football, basketball or any thing that has to do with men watching balls... besides, you've already told them what you're really gonna do in you tweets and im's to each other on your 'smart' phones LOL
@ Steven B.
That comment does not even deserve a response. There is no reasoning to be had with people like you.
"There is no reasoning to be had with people like you"
comming from someone with the screen name " satanick"...thats a hoot.
What are you implying?
Satannick: Get em" :D) Don't you just love the challenged?
Dan
The ideas you have are not bad ideas, they are just not workable. To do the things you want would require a constitutional amendment, you cant get 10 people in this country to agree on what time it is, how are you going to get them to agree to amend the constitution.
Alan_Static, #5- Somebody from Occupy start an online fund of donations to pay for transportation to DC for the next "Occupy Congress" happening. Pay for chartered busses, bus and train tickets, rental price and gas reimbursement for car-poolers using a full 9 passanger van, etc. I'd donate so someone could go, where I'm not able to. It's definately the right idea, I think; To SURROUND CONGRESS!
Since you identify yourself as a "Patriot", should we assume that you don't consider anyone whose ideology doesn't match yours to be patriotic?
If so, can you explain how it's possible to be a patriotic American while spitting on the rights of others to think for themselves?
Steve-2081387
America will continue to fail if we don't ban nongovernmental funding of our elections.
No matter what the problem, taxes, welfare, warfare, social security, health care, military spending, infrastructure, civil rights, there are no issues that aren't preempted by multinational banks and corporations wants and desires.
The left wing ,the right wing and the middle are having their issues pushed to the side by corporate interests.
Want to secure the border? Sorry, agribusiness' major financial contributions to the election of senators block the consideration of any remedy.
Want a public option? Sorry, the Insurance industries financial contributions won't allow that.
Want the roads and bridges repaired? Sorry, that money goes to subsidize BP sky high profit margins.
Public schools falling apart? Sorry, Halliburton paid off congress for more no bid contracts to fix Iraq.
The list is endless.
Spread the word.
All Americans get screwed by our corporate funding of elections.
steve b we can't all be bill gates, it takes a tierd society to make it fuctnion propery. wake up from the dream world
.....tell Congress to cut all spending by federal agencies by 20% and scrap the current tax code for a flat tax......the job situation will pick up immediately....
Flat tax at 35% with no loopholes, now we're talking
35%? If God can make do with 10%, why can't the government?
Americans gave control of our government up when we allowed multinational banks and corporations to fund our elections.
No major changes can be made to our tax code, regulations or election system (or anything else of importance) until we address the need to ban these corporations form funding our elections.
Only a constitutional amendment will do.
Until then everything will wait.
If we don't change the funding of our elections, everything will wait because the multinational corporations are having record profits. (why would they support giving control of America's government back to the American public when they are making so much money?)
Left, right and those in the middle need to stand together as Americans and fix this ONE vexing problem that we all face.
Great, great question. I laughed when I read it. Just guessing; but is it because churches don't pay more than private sector and their retirement plans are more of a spiritual plan and less of a enormous, bloated pension system?
dan,
Look, we got it when you created your first post! How about a little creativity on each subsequent one?
Drone!
actually, the only way the world economy will pickup is through infrastructure. everyone is trying to sell more and more to each other. all are crying where are the jobs, overseas that's why we cannot get work. we don't need to bring back those low level jobs. make the country do what it did for india. they took new technology and trained them on it. period. that is why they are all over here making money. the companys setup a training program that was pristine. the difference is they ate it up, we don't want to make the effort because that $hit is hard as a virgin uhh porpoise (?) this is the only way. comments please
If you truly understood what a flat tax would end up doing, you wouldn't want it.
If the EPA would allow us to build new factories, new refineries, drill for oil, and a dozen other things, our economy would boom, but the EPA and all the government regulations are killing us. As it is, you cant cut a good fart without an environmental impact study.
Yeah, stevie and our environment would tank even faster then it already is.
FudgeFactor----God can make do with 10% because he is efficient, while all human attempts are loaded with inefficiencies and failures, additionally he can create whatever he needs
Steve208 yeah who need clean water and air anyway.
Steve,
I'm afraid what you say is rhetorical pap. Ex-Reagan economist Bruce Bartlett found that neither high taxes nor uncertainty about governmental regulation have strongly affected private investment and the jobs it produced during Obama's presidency, http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/regulation-and-unemployment.transferred wealth up, not down. Keep drinking that Friedman kool-aid.
You want clean air, clean water, and jobs, well, you have 2 out of the 3. Isnt it comforting to know that you will have clean air and water while you starve to death.
Not a fan of the Occupy participants, but I applaud them for taking the fight where it rightfully belongs. I cannot stand our Three Branches of Oligarchy.
The problems we face can't be fixed via the electoral process as it currently stands.
The electoral process itself is the problem.
As long as we let the multinational banks and corporations fund our elections, the politicians will answer to them, instead of the American people.
This is not a left vs right problem. THIS IS AN AMERICAN PROBLEM.
Until Americans stick together and fix this ONE problem we all face, we are screwed.
fed up,
I agree....the above is the right way to go about this....Trashing private property is not. Kudos for some of the occupiers for finally getting it right.
Regards,
Mike
What do these idi ots expect to accomplish with a bunch of pot smoking thugs that don't have a common cause? It's ok for them to support the corporate american businesses that they like (for example Apple and Microsoft). If they were truly against the 1%, why aren't they Occupying Apple or Microsoft! They are brain washed neanderthals!
"Pot Smoking Thugs"? That's funny! What are they threatening, Twinkies?
girl: You have the whole concept backwards, I suggest you go read the article
And the article earlier today. 68 year old retired female teachers don't usually qualify as bong hitters.
I'm speaking of the whole OWS movement that has cost the taxpayers of many cities more money than we can afford to spend along with the crime and despicable conditions they are leaving our downtown areas in. This isn't about the ones that do have a consistent message not some follow the leader liberal agenda.
when they started occupying Wall street. Haters started saying if they are really against the 1%, why not occupy DC?... now they are occupying DC and we hear:
bmrgirl
I am sorry for you . You are the one missing the boat on this one . This fight is all about regaining true representation in our government . For to long the 1% has dictated to us . How ???? By buying congress and congress exempting itself from the laws it passed . Does insider trading and out laddish pay raises sound familiar to you ?? Those are just the tip of the ice berg .
bob
All Americans face the same problem.
All politicians in the US need multinational corporate money to win national office.
That means that when it comes to money, they owe the ones that paid for them, it does not matter what antiquated philosophy one subscribes to.
Ideology died in the 20th century. Everything has already been tried, and everything has it's limitations.
Ban corporate funding of elections via a constitutional amendment and lets count votes instead of money!
bob.... Don't feel sorry for me! I have taken care of myself and my family and not burdened you or the rest of the tax payers to feed us, house us or cloth us! I believe what I stated and that is that if this were not a movement of radicals I would respect the cause. I agree that our government is not any better than the third world country's corruption. The money that congress has made from this corruption has been there for over 50 years. Stop voting in the corrupt people that have created the problem. Do you actually believe that protesting without specificity will do anything for the cause. The only thing that is going to work is for us to vote the corruption out of office and vote someone in that cannot be bought. I don't want to associate with or condone the practices of OWS.
Concerned Criminal - when they disrupt the businesses to the point of shutting down the small mom and pop shops in the areas where they are occupying, it's not the american thing to do. Wall Street didn't create the problem and their message was to the 1% (so they said) - Who is the 1% in the minds of the OWS protesters?
bmrgirl
Have no fear I am retired and living well , thank you . As for the prosters , they are smarter than you think . They have gotten all of us talking to one another about this mess ( we call a government ). But as sure as god made little green apples . Our government has been bought and paid fore the election . Just look at those running . I know they are all a joke !!! But these people have all been bought and paid for in advance . We really do not have freedom of choice any more . I will go one step further and say they already know who the next president will be and by how many votes he will win by.
bob
Exactly, Concerned Criminal!
As soon as I read this story, I came to the comments section to see if there were any detractors like bmrgirl and proudamericanveteran. I thought, 'let's see if they can find fault now, when they're finally protesting in DC, where they always should have been.' Sure enough, here are the hypocrits, kicking and screaming. It just proves their arguments are, and always were, bogus. They have to be members of the 1%, agents for the 1%, or just plain dumb as a rock. I had to agree with them when the OWS people occupied places like Flagstaff, Arizona, but now that they're in DC, I think they've finally found their agenda.
Thats why its a Grass Roots movement. Smoke the grass and then move on...LOL
thus your name bummer girl wow just wow
and stop with the shutting down of the mom and pop that's how we know your a hack bummer girl
@ Bob1
well said, but what if he doesn't play by the rules, gets a conscience, tries to help the people. vilification and hell raiser would seem like childs play for how long they would punish you and you family, but if say that president could beat the odds and get the people behind him, the whole system would come to its knees. not crashing down but enough for us to really make a recovery before things get really bad for some of us...
"Haters started saying if they are really against the 1%, why not occupy DC?... now they are occupying DC and we hear:"
concerned criminal, you dont know if its the same people who are making either of those comments....they could be completely different in thier idiological view point,...nice try tho...i suppose we could use your same flawed logic and assumme because some OW protestors are communists and attend the protests to drum up support for thier views, that all the occupy protestors are communists,...but that would be wrong, wouldnt it?...lol
bob1/28, #89.6- Go Bob!
OSIG- what?
William Griffin (Pictured) I have the education of a third grade drop out, but I need to hired at $100m a year with time off every Wednesday for a hair cut.
this is just a warm-up for American Spring... We'll see MILLIONS turn out for this sort of thing when the weather turns warmer. Then the real revolution can begin.
Agreed - if term limits for Congress is on the agenda.
Senator Kay Hagen is a brainless, communist lib lackey.
You're a pea brain that votes against your own best interest
Americans fail together!
Why not try to ban non governmental funding of our elections?
We are already paying the price of allowing multinational banks and corporations run our government.
It is easy to do nothing.
How about trying something?
Show me how Senator Kay Hagen is not a brainless, communist lib lackey.
Repeal the "Citizens United Decision" the right-wing Supreme Court "JAMMED DOWN OUR THROAT".
Read post 11.1 for your answer
Ad hominem arguments: For those who have no facts.
I agree!
OWS bashers/belittlers/demonizers = The status quo trying to maintain the status quo. Every time you guys express your thoughts regarding the OWS you expose your ignorance of it... You are a joke that would let the country go down in flames rather than stand up and do anything... The OWS are way more American than you are...period. God bless the OWS
Amen
So, we're either with you or against you?! Ok... That's the same thought process that says if I don't agree with Obama's policies I'm a racist.
I don't agree with OWS, nor with their way of getting things done (protests? Really?). Congress is inside laughing at all of the protesters. There is a LOT that needs changed in the government, as well as the economy and taxes, but I don't think a non-organized group of people will accomplish it. Ask 10 OWS'ers what they think they are protesting for, and what they want, and you will get 10 different answers. I agree with 3 of them. The other 7 are WAY off base.
God bless the United States of America!
So you want to CONTROL the wishes of OWS?
We need to put aside our differences for the sake of America.
Until we pass a constitutional amendment banning all nongovernmental funding of US elections, the voice of the American people will be ignored in favor of the multinational banks and corporations that pay for our election process.
Americans will stand together, or America will continue to fail.
The left right divide crap can wait.
@ PC509a
pshaww, don't believe that, believe me blacks, african americans, mixed and any others allow freedom of thought if nothing else. they use to be a proud people until government tried to break up their families by introducing welfare. but moving on...your thoughts are valid for you, you cannot make anyone discount you if you don't allow it mentally...
William Griffin (Pictured) Darn bank foreclosed on my house. Their fault, they did not explaine to me that I could not make a $2,000 monthly mortgage payment with a $30,000 annual income. You know I'm not good with arthmetic, I'm a high school drop out. I thought that since the government forced the bank to give me a mortgage I could not afford that they would make the payments. That is why I'm here, demanding they make my payments.
No bank was ever forced to give any loan to anyone.
More crapola from fox entertainment for the slow people to parrot.
NevadaJ - please see "US vs. Chevy Chase Bank".
Before you call out people for being parrots and bashing a news org like a parrot, do some legal research and tell us what you find!
FINALLY! IMHO, this is where it should have started. Hold Congress' feet to the fire. Even if they do nothing (again) at least they'll know we are not happy campers.
The GOP/Teabagger House of Representatives want us to fail (Grover Norquist Pledge). BTW,Where are the jobs John Boehner?
Moveforward2012 -- why not ask Harry Reid that questions; he's sitting on around 15 bills that he refuses to even have the Senate consider because they don't match HIS template for "creating jobs," i.e., "Obama's template."
Those bill have POISON PILLS added to it like planned parenthood or abortion issues. Give Harry a clean bill and the teabbager House would strike it down anyway. See the problem?
moveforward2012- Unemployments down. Not much, but it's down. GOP obstructionism seems to be paying off!
We need the corrupt status quo in Congress and the Senate removed. With Ron Paul at the helm we may just regain control of our government. The corrupt Washington establishment and its paid-for media will do everything within it's power to keep Ron Paul out of the Oval Office. He needs our help!
I have to admit that Mitt Romney would make a perfect plantation master. He also looks good as the Poster Child for Corporate American profiteers.
This probably will not happen.
Ron who?? Oh the one that was so roundly booed last night? LMAO I was booing in my living room as well
I agree get rid of both the Republican and Democratic parties. Start a third party with Ron Paul at the helm.
Domingo,
So, the fact that Ron wants states to outlaw all abortion doesn't bother you? Do you really think that because he's delivered 4000 babies, that makes him an expert on when life begins, as he claims? How about his belief that we are a Christian nation that needs to bring religion to the forefront or public affairs. Perhaps Ron is oblivious to Supreme Court rulings (Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145, 164 (1878); in Everson v. Board of Ed. of Ewing, 330 U.S. 1, 67 S.Ct. 504, 91 L. Ed. 711 (1947), that speak of a "wall separating Church and State," but are all of you? Do any of you know how the "gold standard" would work in the absence of the Federal Reserve he wants to eliminate?
Paul's political philosophy is sophomoric and unsuitable for the challenges of the 21st Century. While Republicans yearn to be back in the 50s, only Ron Paul wants to go back to 1850. See you again four years from now, when Ron will be 80 years old. I do admire his dogged determination, but he'll always be a footnote in American political history.
Part of me thinks that the might as well occupy Congress - congress won't. All of the House and 1/4rd of the Senate will spend the year trying to get reelected, and the 2/3rds of the Senate that isn't running for office will be out campaigning for the other third.
The only reason for Congress to resume session is to pass a budget (which hasn't happened in years) and to keep Obama from making recess appointments - and that' hasn't been very successful either.
The other part of me can't wait for congress to get back into session so the impeachment hearings can finally start and we run Obama out of the city.
Finally they realize that they must go to our Representatives - this is good.
It is good, but until we pass a constitutional amendment banning non governmental funding of US elections, we will continue to be ignored.
Americans get what we pay for. We don't pay for our elections and it shows!
YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! It's about time! Clean sweep people, clean sweep!
Just a few hundred losers is all the SEIU could scare up to come to D.C?
Doesn't sound like 99% of anything to me. More like the .000000000001% in terms of the numbers they could muster. Andy Stern will have to dig deeper into his SEIU union brothers pockets and pay more to show up next time.
The time has come to put country first and support a constitutional amendment banning all non governmental funding of Americans elections.
I get that many Americans are into the emotional release that comes from scapegoating other Americans who are superficially different from themselves.
That can wait.
Americans can join together for this ONE major problem we all face, or we can continue the useless, but emotionally satisfying practice of tearing each other apart, while the multinational banks and corporations continue to pillage America.
Where are all the senators that are supporting this movement? Why aren't Nancy and Reid protesting with them? Surely they are not part of the problem.
All politicians need money form the multinational banks and corporations to get elected.
This includes Democrats, Republicans and Independents.
Until the American people pass a constitutional amendment banning the corporate funding of our elections, we will continue to flounder as a nation.
The Dysfunctional Government and the National Strategy for Economic Growth in A Global Economy in the 21st Century
PERSPECTIVE:
Please realize that no economy in the world can be stable for a long time. They are all cyclical. Large scale cyclical economy in one country could spill over to others else where in on earth, a small planet of around 150+ countries/economies.
Nothing can stop a third world country from offering cheap labor and be competitive as a country [the concept ofcompetitive advantage of nations] in the global economy. The U.S. as a nation, in a global economic environment, must adjust to the reality and stay competitive. This would require vision and strategy at a national level.
THE CURRENT US ECONOMY
Some of the economic ruins were caused by foreign cyclical spill-overs. Other are in our own makings. Obviously, all levels of government and the private sectors must work together to get out of this "Great Economic Slump" that the U.S. is experiencing.
DYSFUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT
I personally view that the executive branch has not been able to "lead" the "gridlock" legislature to guide the country from this "Great Economic Slump" into economic normalcy. I say it is the worse case in the U.S. history that the government is so "dysfunctional".
Everything else other than the economy and the society as a whole are spiraling down to an unacceptable level as a result.
NOW
The government is back to work after the new year recess.
Please come up with a national strategy for economic growth and coordinate other non-economic related strategies working together to put America back to the pre-recession good time or any other good times that America have had in the past.
Empower all the relevant government body, systems and the people to bring the country back once again.
Whatever the future holds, God bless America
There is no incentive for multinational banks and corporations to do the right thing by America. (Corporate profits are at a record highs)
They pay for our elections and our politicians must answer to them as a result. The status quo is great for them.
Until we ban all nongovernmental funding of US elections, our decline will continue.
Americans must stand together, not as liberals, conservatives and moderates, but as Americans!
About time! Jefferson once said he worried for any country that didn't revolt from time to time. Such a small revolt in the Boston Harbor sparked the biggest change in modern history when the government (King George II) and a corporation (British India Tea Company) taxed and monopolized the lives of Colonists causing great stress and hardship! heck, they even gave us the 2nd Amendment to keep our Representatives in line! So what good is it if not used? Like they say "Those who forget history are bound to repeat it".
Let's not forget the revolutionaries who fought and died to ensure those working within the Federal Government were bound and constrained by the US Constitution, no differently than the corporations that were bound and constrained by strict Corporate Charters issued by the State at the will of the People (residents).
We really need to right the wrong done after the Civil War when the corporate barons took advantage of the People who were at their lowest and trying to re-build after a long draining war, while circumventing State laws, began bribing Judges and Politicians to do their bidding. Unless the People demand stricter Corporate Charters like those prior to Civil War, nothing will change! FYI, the Federal Government has no legal authority over State Corporations other than the inspection of foreign imports and Full Faith and Credit provision listed in the US Constitution.
FYI---I am NOT against corporations as most are honest good folks providing a legitimate product or service that benefits or enhances their communities. What I'm against is the largeese and profiteering off the backs of the workers or downfall of others (offshoring) that is causing so much economic havoc in our lives because our representatives DO NOTHING TO STOP IT. Both corps and politicians are guilty of excess at the top, outright theft of laws and public trust, all while turning us into a Debtor Nations all while telling the American People to EAT IT!
It's nothing but a RACKET...read the speech of Major General Smedley Butler, USMC who knew how this game was played over 80 years ago, yet it keeps being played on the American People. BIG sigh.
wow india again
*applauds*
How do you make yourself heard? You scream loud enough.
How do you get ignored?
Scream something stupid over and over again.
DP, to quote Albert Einstein, "
"
When Occupiers show their discontent it is viewed as a worthy cause but let a Tea Partier peacfully disagree with the direction of the country and they are criminalized. Stop the double standard promoted by this media outlet and the liberal lackies in DC.
bgun,
First, it's "lackeys," not "lackies." Second, who precisely "criminalized" the Tea Party hooligans? When, where, you know, factual details so one can verify or disconfirm what you wrote. There are many facts that show a transfer of wealth from the middle class to the already wealthy, which makes it reasonable for OWS to express discontent. But you don't want to look at that, do you? It's much easier dismissing the issues they raise as mere petulance.
By comparison, Tea Partisans accept one fiction after another fed by the Dick Armeys and the Karl Roves and Faux News, and they seem unable to decipher fact from fiction. Obama has never been a Muslim, was not born in Kenya or Indonesia, is not a Socialist nor has he ever been, there is no part of the healthcare reform bill that calls for "death panels," there is a phenomenon known as global warming that is getting worse by the day notwithstanding the blatherings of climatologists hired by Big Oil to disabuse people of the truth. Gullible, self-centered morons who disgrace America by their lack of compassion about those less fortunate than they are. Lacking little semblance of ordinary decency.
It always amazes me that a population that is living the highest quality of life of any human beings that have ever lived can produce such petulent, useless people. Fortunately they are actually a separate 1% or so and not the 99% that they claim to be. 1% rich people, 1% OWS, and the rest of us. We shouldn't be governed by either of the first 2.
well lets see, it seems that we were all more content when we didn't have the 'poor in spirit' and 'in number of true friends' rich persons saying 'how can you be happy when you don't have what I have, I mean really' so we've turned from our familys to act disinterested in them because we're so impotent, umm important that we have to be connected allllll the time just like the rich. and we simply cannot have a conversation with someone we don't know because we are sooooo much better than the next person like the rich. all these reality shows are to break the human connection down further, because rich persons don't have anyone that actually loves them for themselves. some do but most don't
PERSPECTIVE
What the OWS is doing is noble. They exercise their right in expressing "their version" of views.
However, "their version" of views do not represent the majority of the American people.
Regardless, great effort OWS. Good luck and thank you for caring about the country in your unique way.
Whatever the future holds, God bless America