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Post by davidindc on Jun 13, 2012 20:07:37 GMT -5
Less than a month ago, this statement garnered the endorsement of every member of the then-steering committee.
It's been suggested to me that it's worth repeating, for folks who haven't seen it. And maybe even for folks who have.
Dear Fellow Delegate-Candidates:
For whom shall the final Petition for Redress of Grievances adopted at Continental Congress 2.0 speak?
Our answer, unanimously and emphatically, is that we aim to speak for something bigger than ourselves. Our country is beset by problems too large to be answered by analyses that fit comfortably under rubrics like liberal, or independent, or conservative.
And the 99% of America that doesn't hold the bulk of America's wealth don't fit comfortably under any one of those labels, either. We're all being bullied by big money.
We're truckers and we're teachers. We're butchers, and we're bakers, and we're candlestick-makers. We're off-grid, organic farmers and fully-wired, 4G digital entreprenuers. We're stoic, fiercely independent Vermonters, and we're laid-back, collective-minded denizens of the People's Republic of Santa Monica. Some of us listen to opera. Some to the Grand Old Opry. Or Spr ingsteen. Or Stravinsky. We sing karaoke. We sing hymns. We sing folk songs. We sing show tunes.
(OK, maybe I'm the only one prepared to admit I sing show tunes, but you get the point.)
No one label fits, and no one ideology suits.
What we all have in common is that we're all getting screwed, right, left and center. By a 1% that laughs all the way to the bank at our inability to recognize our common plight.
NO MORE!!
We gather in Philadephia for a cause larger than ourselves. If we are to succeed in taking back our country we must put aside the petty partisan differences that might divide us.
We won't agree on everything. That's quite all right. We need not.
We simply need to agree on one big thing:
Everyday Americans are done being played for suckers by amoral syndicates and immoral scoundrels. American government should not be up for sale to the highest bidder and we're out to change that sorry state of affairs.
Another group of Americans joined together in Philadephia over the days leading up to what we now proudly call Independence Day. They had little in common when they started, those Georgia planters, New York bankers, Massachusetts lawyers and Virginia scholars. But they wound up signing a Declaration that changed the world. And we will, too.
To this we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
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Post by Matt Forbes on Jun 13, 2012 20:48:37 GMT -5
I've read this from your notes on Facebook, but I've never commented/responded.
You put a copy of that in front of me on that first day of the conference and I will John Hancock it without hesitation.
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Post by maureenmower on Jun 13, 2012 21:21:25 GMT -5
And my Jane Hancock will be right next to Matt's.
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Post by davidindc on Jun 15, 2012 13:02:29 GMT -5
I think having a victory as our first vote would be a very good thing. I know that's heresy to some, but I'd love to put this before the assembled delegates as the very first order of business.
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Post by maureenmower on Jun 15, 2012 20:38:12 GMT -5
I'd agree with that, David.
One thing that was discussed among emails was that we need to create our own agenda, code of conduct, voting process and any other formalities in addition to the list of grievances. I was thinking of making a section or at least a topic for each of these.
I will gladly nominate this to be the first item on the agenda (it is a good, inspirational and motivational piece), to be heard and then voted on as at least a part of the Preamble, if we have one.
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mhuttman
Full Member
People First
Posts: 124
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Post by mhuttman on Jun 18, 2012 11:05:47 GMT -5
Sounds good to me. Stuff like this is good for morale.
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Post by tonydestefanis on Jun 19, 2012 8:18:02 GMT -5
I agree that we are butchers bakers and candlestick makers but lets not forget that the people responsible for most of the problems we are trying to address were not such a diverse group of people. They were primarily those on the right who were puppets for big financial interests. We need to stop trying to placate the right with this "we're all in this together" feel good nonsense. It was the right that pushed the deregulation that was at the root of the crisis of 2008. Let them have their way and it will be just more of the same. Pushing the idea of ending some generalized "political corruption" fails to put the blame where it belongs. It was not political corruption which created most of the problems. It was an intentional agenda, implemented legally and funded by big money with no concern for the interests of the butchers or bakers. Have we forgotten history so quickly?
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Post by athribiristan on Jun 20, 2012 12:50:42 GMT -5
Let's also keep in mind that many Americans simply don't care. As long as their AC blows cold, they have more cable channels than their neighbor, and they can get their daily Starbucks they are willing to turn a blind eye to the goings on at capitol hill. Their is a secondary agenda at work here: the placation of the masses. Without this the primary agenda mentioned by Tony above would not be possible. Our own apathy is as much to blame as any other factor.
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Post by davidindc on Jun 20, 2012 15:42:06 GMT -5
Tony: While our foes are the moneyed interests, and they've been pretty successful at capturing the farthest right fringes of the Republican party, so that the tail is wagging the dog, there are plenty of people in the 99% who consider themselves conservative and moderates
The deep-South, rural farmer or shopkeeper who would never vote for a Democrat is getting screwed every bit as much as the inner-city, unemployed high school drop-out.
The 1% is small and homogenous. The 99% are large and heterogenous. Because we lack their super-wealth, we must make up for it with the strength of our numbers. And we must focus on what we have in common.
There'll be time enough to quarrel amongst ourselves on many, many political topics after we've thrown off the corrupting influence of money in governance. But until we've deposed the oligarchy, we must focus on issues where our interests converge.
"The right" is a relative term. No one was more right-wing, in their own times, than Barry Goldwater, Dick Nixon, or Ronald Reagan. But today's Republican party would treat them as pariahs. Goldwater for his libertarianism, Nixon for his moderate/liberal domestic policies and Reagan for his willingness to compromise and to raise taxes.
I hear you, I'm a knee-jerk, bleeding-heart, left-winger. I hold the right more responsible than the left for the mess we're in. But blame is unimportant right now, progress is what's important.
And if we're to make progress against the oppressors, we need to gather together the oppressed. We can't spare a single one.
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Post by jondenn on Jun 20, 2012 20:22:29 GMT -5
Tony, the financial crisis was not just greedy banks and the right. If you search YouTube you will find Congressional hearings where the Democrats were pushing for home ownership for all—over the objections of the right because of lower down payments and subprime variable rates. Once the Dems won, and the credit facilities were made real, of course, the banks stepped in to make money. And there were many unscrupulous players in the financial arena, but neither party is blameless. And the banks fund the campaigns of both Dems and Reps. Hence, let's strike at the root, first. "Ban corporate political expenditures to or for (or against) political candidates, elected officials, and political parties."
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Post by kelley805 on Jun 22, 2012 4:18:59 GMT -5
David and fellow delegates,
David's words above would definitely make a great preamble to the grievances. I too want to vote on this early the first day to start on a high note.
Hip hip hooray! Mike Kelley
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Post by rebeccalindsey on Jun 22, 2012 10:24:38 GMT -5
I'm with you all the way on this one David. I would be honored to put my name to those words on the first day of this historical event.
We need to do whatever is necessary to ensure that the time spent in Philadelphia is used wisely and produces a credible, historical document that tells the governing bodies that We the People aren't asleep anymore.
I look forward to being part of that process....
Rebecca Lindsey Missouri 8th Congressional Delegate
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Post by kelley805 on Jun 26, 2012 20:47:19 GMT -5
Here is a quick attempt to combine the original preamble and David's words.
A New Declaration WHEREAS THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION PROVIDES THAT: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. BE IT RESOLVED THAT WE, THE PEOPLE of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, in order to form a more perfect Union, by, for and of the People, have been elected citizen Delegates to attend and convene a NEW CONTINENTAL CONGRESS the week of July 4, 2012 in the City Of Philadelphia. We, the Delegates, have deliberated, drafted and ratified a PETITION FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES to be served upon the United States Congress, Supreme Court and President, prior to November 6, 2012.
We aim to speak for something bigger than ourselves. Our country is beset by problems too large to be answered by analyses that fit comfortably under rubrics like liberal, or independent, or conservative.
And the 99% of America that doesn't hold the bulk of America's wealth don't fit comfortably under any one of those labels, either. We're all being bullied by big money.
We're truckers and we're teachers. We're butchers, and we're bakers, and we're candlestick-makers. We're off-grid, organic farmers and fully-wired, 4G digital entrepreneurs. We're stoic, fiercely independent Vermonters, and we're laid-back, collective-minded denizens of the People's Republic of Santa Monica. Some of us listen to opera. Some to the Grand Old Opry. Or Springsteen. Or Stravinsky. We sing karaoke. We sing hymns. We sing folk songs. We sing show tunes.
No one label fits, and no one ideology suits.
What we all have in common is that we're all getting screwed, right, left and center. By a 1% that laughs all the way to the bank at our inability to recognize our common plight.
NO MORE!!
We gather in Philadelphia for a cause larger than ourselves. If we are to succeed in taking back our country we must put aside the petty partisan differences that might divide us.
We won't agree on everything. That's quite all right. We need not.
We simply need to agree on one big thing:
Everyday Americans are done being played for suckers by amoral syndicates and immoral scoundrels. American government should not be up for sale to the highest bidder and we're out to change that sorry state of affairs.
Another group of Americans joined together in Philadelphia over the days leading up to what we now proudly call Independence Day. They had little in common when they started, those Georgia planters, New York bankers, Massachusetts lawyers and Virginia scholars. But they wound up signing a Declaration that changed the world. And we will, too.
To this we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
[ all grievances are listed here]
Based upon the foregoing Declaration and plan of action, IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that IF the July 4, 2012 PETITION FOR A REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES, ratified by CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 2.0 is not redressed by the three branches of the United States government within a reasonable time and to the satisfaction of the Delegates, said Delegates shall (i) file a law suit in federal court against the government seeking injunctive relief; (ii) demand that the states call an Article V Constitutional Convention to amend the Constitution so that the grievances ratified on July 4, 2012 are remedied and (iii) organize and fund grassroots campaigns for independent congressional candidates in all 50 states in all 435 districts to fill every available congressional seat in the mid-term election of 2014. Only congressional candidates, regardless of party affiliation, who publicly pledge to redress all of the grievances and solutions contained in the ratified July 4, 2012 Petition will be supported.
Hope this meets our needs. Does it sound too harsh?
Mike Kelley
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Post by indecankelly on Jun 26, 2012 22:33:13 GMT -5
I would love to see some mention of "natural law" and "unalienable Rights" that are blindly being redacted in the preamble. Poetry can go a long way, as does mention of universal norms and possibilities that can resonate emotionally with our intended audience. There are universal truths and injustices that are common to our cause, our words must be that thread that passes through them, and sticks deep into the collected will of our common resolve for change.
Also, we must not lose sight of "to whom" our grievances are toward. That is the powerful thing about the original Declaration, in that, those grievances were directed not at England, but at "present King of Great Britain", and referenced subsequently as "he has".
From what I am reading from many on this forum, our real grievance is with the Federal Government of the United States of America in all it's forms. Sure, money interests and corporate power may have lopsided our democracy, but is it the role of corporations to police the government, or is that the role the government should conduct to itself?
Corporations have a fiduciary responsibililty to their shareholders, though the newly established B Corporation adds the need to to create general benefit for society as well, but it is the role of government to not kowtow to those powerful interests (which include labor as well) in conducing the business of the United States. That is where our grievances lie, and that is the voice to which we must speak to.
We as Americans have unalienable rights, among those, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness (to which John Locke would call property), and that may have worked in an agricultural world, where all property could be touched, but in our 21st world, where wealth is created with the click of a keystroke, our Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness should also include the ideal that to be a great American is to be great TO all Americans, no matter if they wear a suit for a living, or a greased apron, a school uniform, a military uniform, or a sports uniform, that the size of your pocketbook ought not measure the potential to do good in this world, and that a modern society can only measure it's true worth by virtue of how well it treats its weakest members.
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