This is the second part of the first diary I wrote today, so that we all understand where I am on this co-opt issue regarding OccupyWallStreet.
Simply put, I will not allow the Democratic Establishment that consistently sides with Wall Street and the special interest groups over the needs of the rest of America to co-opt OccupyWallStreet and turn it into a cheerleading squad for corrupt Democrats.
OccupyWallStreet is NOT here to get Democrats who could never stand up to Bush elected. My own NY Senator Chuck Schumer has already stated that the Democratic Party will have two main messages in 2012, jobs and income inequality, and while I applaud the intent I will not settle for platitudes and promises, I want ACTION.
We want REAL REFORM that includes the over-turning of Citizens United, real investigations and prosecutions of corporate crimes on Wall Street (start with Bank of America's foreclosure fraud scandal, for instance), a return of Glass-Steagall, a return to at least the Clinton Tax rates on the top tax bracket and many other reforms, just to name a few, but I doubt that NY Senate Chuck Schumer with his deep ties to Wall Street and his leadership position in the bank owned Senate, will ever actually institute any of the real reforms that working class people who are losing their homes really need.
So I don't want to hear petty platitudes and promises from Democrats who would love to turn OWS into a big campaign rally for their elections so they can go back to the austerity bipartisanship that is the change Wall Street needs. Part of the reason I am going down to OccupyCongress next week is to let certain Democrats I think are part of the problem know, in polite terms, what exactly I have a problem with.
Consider this the bookend to my first diary today, so that I can make it as clear as possible, the Occupy movement goes beyond Democrats or Republicans, we need systemic change. I expect Republicans to spit in my face and call me Nazi because I disagree with them, I expect Republicans to be toadies for the rich and their special interests, but I'll be damned if the Democratic Establishment that triangulates and seeks self immolating bipartisanship at all costs thinks that I'm going to be the progressive red headed step child of the family that will do all the hard work getting them elected so that they can go back to their lobbyist infested beltway Versaillies with another mandate to cave on behalf of their special interest fundraisers.
The reforms we need are bigger than either party at this point, and I have seen this before, Democrats promise big things, get elected, bipartisanship resumes, and things get worse. We're not going to let that happen this time.
Action speaks louder than words.
Tips and flames for my humble thoughts on this matter . . . .
Cheers, and peace and love to all
You can follow me on twitter while you still can @JesseLaGreca