Below the fold, I offer a critique of the "9 Demands From the 99%." But first, I would like to clear a few things up and tell you where I'm coming from.
I am one of the 99%. OWS does not speak for me. OWS fails to speak for me primarily because it speaks about host of liberal/left grievances which are non-essential to the core issue that makes the 99% the 99%: income inequality.
OWS claims to speak for the 99%. It does not. OWS speaks to a major concern of the 99%: gross income inequality. That OWS claims to speak for me, and the dismissive attitude that more that a few here have shown towards me, that I am deluded, or a traitor or a troll, will not persuade me that you speak for me. It annoys me, in fact.
Further, I am neither interested nor inclined to participate in OWS. Let me repeat: I do not wish to join your movement.
I am much more left of center on nearly all domestic issues than most. If you can't persuade people like me, you're not gonna persuade Middle America.
Y'know, the 99%.
One final point before the critique below the fold: I do not support OWS. But I am not against it. The two are not the same. I want to support OWS. OWS does not speak for me, or the 99%. I am showing you a way it can.
You may not like my position. But you should understand it. If you want to take back your country.
As I said, the core message of OWS is income inequality. The powerful slogan "We Are the 99%" illustrates that very point. OWS should focus, at this time, on gross income inequality. Understand, I favor broad liberal left concerns. But I am on the left.
The 99% are not. The 99% include today's Archie Bunkers.
If OWS is to speak for the 99%, it must speak for the Archie Bunkers. Now, it must focus on the real concerns that We, the 99%, share. Not the concerns we should have, but the ones we do have.
So let's take a look at the 9 Demands and determine whether they address in an understandable manner what We, the 99%, really care about. That includes Archie Bunker. When We, the 99%, are all on board with fighting the most obvious and obnoxious causes and odious results of income inequality, then OWS can go forward.
First, there are only 8 Demands. The last "demand" is fill in the blank. This does not appeal the overworked/under-educated schlub. He or she wants solutions. He or she wants results, not process. Since OWS claims to speak for the 99%, it must speak to the 99% in language the 99% understands. The 99% do NOT WANT their consciousness raised. They want economic security. OWS must never forget that the 99% not interested in participating in OWS's process. To repeat: the 99% wants results, not process.
On to the Demands:
Demands 1 - 4
SUPPORT COMMUNITIES NOT WALL STREET
1. Tax Wall Street for gambling with our money. Pass the financial speculation tax.
2. Support education. Put teachers back in classrooms and ease the crippling burden of student debt.
3. Keep working families in their homes. Pass a mortgage relief plan that puts the needs of homeowners above the greed of mortgage bankers.
4. End too big to fail. Rein in the big banks NOW and hold the people who caused the financial crisis accountable.
Analysis of Demands 1-4
1. Pass the financial speculation tax.
A very good demand. Concrete, on point. Meaning: easy to understand and directly relates to the core issue of income inequality. Added bonus: targets Big Money. Americans feel deep anger towards Big Money. This is a winner in every way.
2. Put teachers back in classrooms and ease the crippling burden of student debt.
Weak. Neither concrete nor on point. And though student debt relates to income inequality, it is not central to the core message. Many of the 99% did not go to college.
3. Pass a mortgage relief plan that puts the needs of homeowners above the greed of mortgage bankers.
Good. On point to one of the major odious results of income inequality. Specific proposal and relates to the predations of Big Money. I'd phrase much more concisely for the 99%:
People over Banks: Pass Mortgage Relief!
4. End too big to fail.
Not bad. Needs work. Not concrete enough. MoT's "Investigate Wall Street" says the same thing much more clearly and persuasively.
This should be No. 1 on the list. Central, on point, and well appreciated by the 99%. Wall Street/TARP is both the root and the symbol of what makes the 99% the 99%. Wall Street is the W in your name.
Always put your strongest argument first. Investigate Wall Street!
Demands 5 - 7
5. Fair share of taxes from the 1%. End the Bush tax cuts for the 1% and close corporate tax loopholes.
6. Businesses should invest in jobs. Corporations must stop sitting on their profits and start hiring again here in America.
7. Extend unemployment insurance. Millions of Americans are still out of work, and unemployment insurance is a vital lifeline.
Analysis of Demands 5-7
5. Good. Concrete and on point. Better would be:
Tax the Rich: End the Bush Tax Cuts.
Corporate tax loopholes are both difficult to understand and much more difficult to take on. Simply ending the Bush Tax cuts would be major accomplishment. Once that is attained, then go after the loop holes.
6. Bad. This is not a demand. This is an injunction. The 99% does not want exhortation. We want results. We want clear demands. Much better would be:
"End NAFTA. Support Unions."
7. Good. Its all about jobs, jobs jobs, and this deals directly with the most odious result of income inequality. Still, the 99% needs things clear, so:
"Extend Unemployment. Pass the Job Bill."
Demand 8
Restore Democracy
8. End corporate control of our democracy. Abolish "corporate personhood" and restore full voting rights to real people.
OK. Needs work. Corporate Personhood is unpopular and central to income inequality. The most disinterested and ill-educated of the 99% understand and want that. So say it that way:
8. "End Corporate Personhood: Corporations are not people. We, the 99%, are!"
And this should be No. 2 on the Demands.
Demand 9: Defend Social Security. Expand Medicare.
Popular programs all about income equality. And AARP loves it.
** * *
So here is the revised list, that We, the 99%, can understand, and prioritized with what resonates with We, the 99%:
9 Demands From the 99%
1. Investigate Wall Street
2. Get Big Money out of our Politics: End Corporate Personhood. Corporations are not people!
3. People over Banks: Pass Mortgage Relief.
4. Extend Unemployment. Pass the Job Bill
5. Defend Social Security. Expand Medicare.
6. Tax the Rich: End the Bush Tax Cuts
7. Tax Financial Speculation, Hold Wall Street Accountable!
8. End NAFTA. Support Unions
9. Get Big Money out of our Politics: Publicly Finance Elections!
That is language the 99% understands.
And remember, always frame those points in the following way:
Big Money and their bought politicians hurt 99% of Americans.
'Cause it's all about the $$. They got it, and I don't. That angers me.
The floor is yours.