Our good friend Plutocracy Files has suggested that the bloggers, academics, and activists who spend a lot of time wonking it up and focused on communications should help the Wall Street protesters with some messaging.
Well here goes. The one message that will carry ALL the rest is:
Get. The Money. OUT. Of Politics.
It's simple. It's understandable. And it gets at the heart of everything.
A democracy for sale has been at the root of all our tribulation. It's the REASON people have been thrown out of their homes, cheated out of fair pay, forced to watch their jobs go to Mexico and China, to clean up Big Oil's pollution, to bail out the banksters and send their kids to die so that corporate thugs can expand their empire.
Get. The Money. OUT. Of Politics.
It means corporations are not people, and money is not speech. It means publicly-funded election campaigns.
If we got the money out of politics, we would be quickly able to implement every single other reform that the Wall Street Occupation is demanding. Because they are simple and obvious, when 400 of the wealthiest people aren't calling the shots anymore.
Every single evil that we can point to in our current system traces directly back to Wall Street corruption and the wholesale purchasing of our officials in all branches of government. We know the culprits. Big Pharma. The insurance companies. Monsanto. Big Oil. Big Coal. Big Nuclear. The Carlyle Group. Halliburton/KBR. Blackwater/Xe. And above all, The Banks. They own the place. Goldman-Sachs. Bank of America. Citigroup.
It's a very familiar rogue's gallery, and the reason they have so much access and influence is because our democracy has been for sale for 30 years, and ever-so-much moreso since 2001. They were what purchased the Roberts SCOTUS, which brought the Coup De Grace: Citizens United.
Get. The Money. OUT. Of Politics.
This is what has to change. THIS is the change we can believe in. All other needed changes will come quickly naturally after this one, but won't occur at all without this first critical shift. Because money in politics is the all-powerful, all-determining roadblock.
Get. The Money. OUT. Of Politics.
It's a clear, concise message. Easy to grasp. Easy to get on board with. It's not a Republican or Democratic or Tea Party or Independent or Green message. It's a US citizen message. Most of our legislators and our president can't carry this message, because they still need the money to campaign. WE need to bring this message.
Get. The Money. OUT. Of Politics.
And all other good things will follow.
Friends of the Wall Street Occupation, please spread this simple demand.
And consider treating Wall Street like Mecca. If you are one of the 99% that has been screwed over by Wall Street, consider it a religious (as in, deeply-held) obligation to make a pilgrimage to NYC and lend the presence of your body and your voice, if only for a day or two. If you absolutely can't go right away, help to sponsor someone who can go in your place.
4:06 PM PT: Thanks, tbetz, for these critical links: getmoneyout.com - movetoamend.com