Here is my version of what I think a ‘get money out’ amendment should look like:
Twenty-eighth Amendment to United States Constitution
It is unlawful in the political or electoral process of the United States of America, at any level of government, to submit or offer anything of value to candidates for any office, elected or otherwise, implicit or explicit, at any time. Furthermore, any candidate for public office, elected or otherwise, implicit or explicit, will not be allowed to use money, or anything else of value, toward expenditures associated with said candidacy for public office.
UPDATED
On January 20, 2012, the Idaho legislature introduced HB 404 (http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2012/H0404E1.pdf). It has now passed both the Senate and the House, and Governor Butch Otter will likely sign. This will force the eviction of Occupy Boise, as well as other Occupy camps on state-owned or leased land. Occupy Pocatello included! We hope to find another campsite, in the meantime our Occupy Live! television program is in full swing, Mondays 5 – 6pm on channel 12, and we will be holding GA meetings again to plan additional actions and discuss issues. Stay tuned!
I found this video on Slate.com
Here is part of what Slate said about it:
“This is coming to you,” declares Tommy Stevens, owner of a blues bar in Detroit. By that he means the decay, deflation, and defeat of the middle class that has comprised the last decade of Detroit’s history. That painful story and its meaning for the rest of America is the subject of Detropia, an important, heartbreaking, and yet still occasionally hilarious documentary directed by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, which premiered this past week at Sundance.
This post courtesy of Sherrie Seibert Goff:
January 20th is the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s infamous Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission ruling that said corporations are people.
“Move to Amend” advocates across the nation are planning bold action that day in a protest at the Supreme Court as well as at federal courthouses in every state. If you support the effort to get the money out of politics and save American democracy, please lend your voice to this important fight.
(Foreclosure suspended; march on Wells Fargo Saturday, 14 January! UPDATE BELOW)
It is no secret that banks have been illegally foreclosing on US homeowners, either by accidentally foreclosing on the wrong home, foreclosing on homes with no mortgage at all, or using robosigning to falsify legal documentation, among other methods. Banks involved include Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo.
It’s clear that the battle is on. While I hate to use war rhetoric, that, unfortunately, is exactly what’s appropriate right now.
Right now, some people are decrying what they call “class warfare” — but the simple fact is that class warfare is being waged by those who would denounce it. Class warfare is being waged by a small number of ultra-wealthy interests who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the rest of us. And the rest of us need to resist this.
But this is really nothing new. All throughout history, the Golden Rule, as my father formulated it, has pertained: “Them what has the gold, rule.”
Reforms
The following is a repost of an excellent piece from Salon.com by Alex Pareene.
I agree with what he expresses here — although, personally (and I can’t speak for other members of the Occupy Movement), I would add some things and title it “The Restored Declaration of Independence”.
For example, include at least the following:
- implement serious campaign finance reform
- repeal the status of corporations as legal persons
- repeal the so-called “Patriot Act”
- either reverse or circumvent the Citizens United Decision
- add addressing the overpopulation issue that, inexplicably, nobody talks about to the EPA’s mission
It seems we can barely catch a breath before we hear more news of police brutality, unwarranted arrests, riot squads evicting protesters from their camps and destroying their tents and supplies, and city officials doing everything in (and out) of their power to stop the Occupy movement from holding their ground. With each new occurrence comes a new cry of outrage, a new appalling view of those who are supposed to serve us and protect us and protect our rights. But not for me. No, when I hear about protesters getting abused it excites me and makes me smile, and I’ll tell you why.
If you haven’t heard, there is a movement going on, all around you. As far as America is concerned it started in New York City with the Occupy Wall Street movement, which started on September 17th and is still ongoing. Since then, Occupy movements have arisen in hundreds of cities across the nation, and Pocatello is no exception.
Education Pamphlet
by Scott Richardson in Occupy Pocatello
Please feel free to make suggestions for additions and edits. We are working to hard to make this as comprehesive as possible.
What is the Occupy Movement?
We are citizens of the United States of America. As such we are obligated to stand up with one voice when the system is broken to demand a redress of our grievances. We must end the economic inequality that plagues our country. The corporate corruption and political influence must stop, and it is time for the separation of corporation and state. You are the 99%. Hear our voice and join with your own as we stand in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street.