It's time for us to EVICT the CORRUPTION from politics*
[* not saying Occupy is over - it is simply going to phase 2, this is a phase 2 framing diary]
I think that Evict Corruption is the "core" message of Occupy, but also the core message of the Tea Party and most Independents.
EVICT CORRUPTION is a simple, direct and self-explanatory message. It resonates with almost everyone and encompasses all the core values of Occupy (at least as I understand them).
Does money corrupt politics or does government corrupt business? Are corporations more corrupt than state governments, Congress or federal agencies?
Personally, I don't think this difference is material. Corruption is bad, no matter where it comes from. The whole issue is really a wedge to try and distract everyone from the corruption:
- Don't blame corporations, the government made them corrupt
- Don't blame the government, the corporations made them corrupt.
That's a distraction. I want to EVICT CORRUPTION no matter where it comes from. The rule of law and equality under the law means that it doesn't matter who engages in corruption. So let's completely disarm this bullshit excuse and simply apply the rule of law across the board.
EVICT CORRUPTION means:
- Evict corruption from the financial services industry
- Evict corruption from the financial regulatory agencies
- Evict corruption from campaign finance
- Evict corruption from lobbyists
- Evict corruption from Congress
- Evict corruption from elections, voter registration and gerry-mandering
- Evict corruption from corporate boards
- Evict corruption from the police and oversight agencies
- Evict corruption from unions
- Evict corruption from regulatory agencies
- Evict corruption from the media
- Evict corruption from student loans
- Evict corruption from academia
Who is more corrupt? That's besides the point. All of these institutions of our society suffer from corruption to one degree or another.
This is a message that almost every american can agree on. Tea Party, OWS, Greens, Labor and Independents can all agree that corruption is bad. We all disagree on which corruption is worse, but we all agree on fighting corruption.
There's a tremendous opportunity to consolidate the message of OWS, tighten the focus, while not abandoning any of the goals and important issues.
There's a tremendous opportunity to bring together the common cause that is at the root of the american dream and american experiment: all equal under the law.
A populist, direct, easy to understand and universal message:
EVICT CORRUPTION