If there’s one criticism of the Occupy Wall Street protesters, it’s been that they don’t have a set of cohesive goals or demands. All that changes today, on the start of the protest’s third week, some protesters have released a set of demands to the OWS General Assembly.
What are the goals? Let’s check them out! The first eight are for Congress:
1. CONGRESS PASS HR 1489 (“RETURN TO PRUDENT BANKING ACT”). THIS REINSTATES MANY PROVISIONS OF THE GLASS-STEAGALL ACT.
2. USE CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORITY AND OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE APPROPRIATE FEDERAL AGENCIES FULLY INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE THE WALL STREET CRIMINALS
3. CONGRESS ENACT LEGISLATION OR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY BY REVERSING THE EFFECTS OF THE CITIZENS UNITED SUPREME COURT DECISION
4. CONGRESS PASS THE BUFFETT RULE ON FAIR TAXATION SO THE RICH AND CORPORATIONS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE & CLOSE CORPORATE TAX LOOP HOLES AND ENACT A PROHIBITION ON HIDING FUNDS OFF SHORE.
5. CONGRESS COMPLETELY REVAMP THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
6. CONGRESS PASS SPECIFIC AND EFFECTIVE LAWS LIMITING THE INFLUENCE OF LOBBYISTS AND ELIMINATING THE PRACTICE OF LOBBYISTS WRITING LEGISLATION THAT ENDS UP ON THE FLOOR OF CONGRESS.
7. CONGRESS PASSING “Revolving Door Legislation”. LEGISLATION ELIMINATING THE ABILITY OF FORMER GOVERNMENT REGULATORS GOING TO WORK FOR CORPORATIONS THAT THEY ONCE REGULATED.
8. ELIMINATE “PERSONHOOD” LEGAL STATUS FOR CORPORATIONS.
Additional goals include limiting executive pay and getting people to buy local and buy American.
How are the protesters going to change Congress’ mind? They’ve got a plan:
We should make the goals below very public, both at the protest here in New York and by arranging at a press conference and march in Washington DC. When doing so, we should give a clear deadline of 3 days for a firm written commitment with signatures from at least 60% of members of the House and 60% of the members of the Senate to pass these bills by the end of the year. If this commitment on the full slate of demands is not met by midnight on the third day (which it won’t be) we should be prepared to non-violently block access to all or part of the Capitol complex by traditional proven non-violent tactics, and “vote” with our money. The purpose is to bring the leaders of the House and Senate to the negotiating table to work for the 99%.
Think it’ll work?
