Immediate Suggestion for Demands/Platform

Dear 99 Percent,

I've read through "A Declaration, Petition for the Redress of Grievances and Action Plan" and "A Non-Violent Plan of Action." I'm very excited about the possibilities that the OWS opens up for impacting positive, progressive change in America, if not for the world.

That said, I believe that it is very important to immediately develop a short, coherent, simple list of goals for the upcoming November 23rd U.S. Congressional Super-Committee Deficit Legislation. Below are some suggestions that the 99%/OWS movement might consider for such goals:

That the (Current) Political Leadership of the United States Must Develop a Grand Bargain for the Financial Issues that Confront the Nation and the Congressional Super-Committee that includes the Following:

1. Passage of a Comprehensive Jobs Bill

Explanation: Passage of a comprehensive jobs bill to employ all who seek jobs (with a special emphasis on veterans, the unemployed, the disabled, newly graduated, etc.) in the rebuilding and repairing of our nations infrastructure that also includes the building of infrastructure that will accommodate a new national paradigm shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy and conservation. Infrastructure rebuilding and or repair might be structures such as schools, bridges, clean water systems, clean sewer systems or aging transit and commuter systems, etc. New Infrastructure building might be an effort to build a new Electrical Grid System that can accommodate renewable energy systems or the renewable energy systems themselves. Another very attractive concept is the building of commuter rail and bus systems (heavy or light rail and or bus systems depending on the regional scenario) in metropolitan areas that currently lack comprehensive systems. Needless to say, shifting our national energy consumption away from petroleum can only have positive effects in foreign policy, in the environment and in the reduction of funds being siphoned out of the country to oil producing countries.

2. Reformation of the United States Tax Code

Explanation: Essentially, the same as # 5 of the "Declaration, Petition for the Redress of Grievances and Action Plan" with a special immediate emphasis for the Super-Committee Legislation of increasing the progressive tax rates for those with single incomes above $250,000 and those family incomes above $400,000 from the current 35% rate to the pre-Bush tax cut rate of 39.6%.

3. Comprehensive Plan to Reduce the National Debt to a Sustainable Percentage by 2020

Explanation: Essentially, the same as # 8 of the "Declaration, Petition for the Redress of Grievances and Action Plan" with a special immediate emphasis for the Super-Committee Legislation of a comprehensive re-deployment of our nations far-flung military installations and personnel throughout the world and refocusing national defense goals to address threats posed by the geopolitics of the 21st century and terrorism. Such re-deployment would generate enormous savings. Re-deployment may involve reductions in U.S. military personnel and those returning home must have a system in place for useful employment in the re-building of America's infrastructure and or manufacturing base.

4. Extension of Unemployment Benefits

Explanation: With national unemployment at such high levels and with the heretofore lack of the passage of a Comprehensive Jobs Bill, unemployment benefits must be extended as a way to address the economic pain and suffering of the unemployed and also as a means to keep funds fluid in the retail sectors of the country.

5. Extension of the 2% Social Security Payroll Tax Cut for 2012

Explanation: During the difficult economic transition from national malaise to hopeful prosperity it is necessary to keep funds in the hands of those who happen to have jobs so as to encourage the manufacturing and the retail sector.

Please, take into account that the above list is designed for immediate use in the Super-Committee debt negotiations and legislation. Despite how unlikely it may be that our current political leadership may come to some sort of Grand Bargain, it is still very important that the 99%/OWS stake out a viable position and platform on the negotiations and on our current economic troubles. I should point out that the right-wing political machine is, at this very moment, desperately attempting to cast the OWS as incapable of stating clear positions. They are very hopeful that if the image of incoherency can be stamped upon OWS that the movement will lose strength and will wane with time. Therefore, I believe it is very important for the OWS to immediately develop a short, coherent and simple list of goals for the current moment and debt negotiations. Of course, with the National General Assembly on July 4, 2012 a much more detailed platform and set of grievances can be pursued.

Thank you very much for all the work you are doing to address the issues of our time.

Sincerely,
James B. Delacour
jbdelacour@gmail.com

you do realize the Super Committee is supposed to cut the deficit; everything thing you listed will either do nothing, or increase the deficit. How is that going to help the Super Committee??

James, I don't agree with extending the payroll tax cut. That effectively amounts to cutting Social Security, and there is no justification for doing this, or necessity to. Progressives must stand firm against any and all attempts to cut Social Security. If anything, SS needs to be expanded, the retirement age lowered to 60, to ease the unemployment problem and give people some leisure and life back.

As to the the rest of your points, I am in agreement.

jimmybudd wrote:Dear 99 Percent,

I've read through "A Declaration, Petition for the Redress of Grievances and Action Plan" and "A Non-Violent Plan of Action." I'm very excited about the possibilities that the OWS opens up for impacting positive, progressive change in America, if not for the world.

That said, I believe that it is very important to immediately develop a short, coherent, simple list of goals for the upcoming November 23rd U.S. Congressional Super-Committee Deficit Legislation. Below are some suggestions that the 99%/OWS movement might consider for such goals:

That the (Current) Political Leadership of the United States Must Develop a Grand Bargain for the Financial Issues that Confront the Nation and the Congressional Super-Committee that includes the Following:

1. Passage of a Comprehensive Jobs Bill

Explanation: Passage of a comprehensive jobs bill to employ all who seek jobs (with a special emphasis on veterans, the unemployed, the disabled, newly graduated, etc.) in the rebuilding and repairing of our nations infrastructure that also includes the building of infrastructure that will accommodate a new national paradigm shift away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy and conservation. Infrastructure rebuilding and or repair might be structures such as schools, bridges, clean water systems, clean sewer systems or aging transit and commuter systems, etc. New Infrastructure building might be an effort to build a new Electrical Grid System that can accommodate renewable energy systems or the renewable energy systems themselves. Another very attractive concept is the building of commuter rail and bus systems (heavy or light rail and or bus systems depending on the regional scenario) in metropolitan areas that currently lack comprehensive systems. Needless to say, shifting our national energy consumption away from petroleum can only have positive effects in foreign policy, in the environment and in the reduction of funds being siphoned out of the country to oil producing countries.

2. Reformation of the United States Tax Code

Explanation: Essentially, the same as # 5 of the "Declaration, Petition for the Redress of Grievances and Action Plan" with a special immediate emphasis for the Super-Committee Legislation of increasing the progressive tax rates for those with single incomes above $250,000 and those family incomes above $400,000 from the current 35% rate to the pre-Bush tax cut rate of 39.6%.

3. Comprehensive Plan to Reduce the National Debt to a Sustainable Percentage by 2020

Explanation: Essentially, the same as # 8 of the "Declaration, Petition for the Redress of Grievances and Action Plan" with a special immediate emphasis for the Super-Committee Legislation of a comprehensive re-deployment of our nations far-flung military installations and personnel throughout the world and refocusing national defense goals to address threats posed by the geopolitics of the 21st century and terrorism. Such re-deployment would generate enormous savings. Re-deployment may involve reductions in U.S. military personnel and those returning home must have a system in place for useful employment in the re-building of America's infrastructure and or manufacturing base.

4. Extension of Unemployment Benefits

Explanation: With national unemployment at such high levels and with the heretofore lack of the passage of a Comprehensive Jobs Bill, unemployment benefits must be extended as a way to address the economic pain and suffering of the unemployed and also as a means to keep funds fluid in the retail sectors of the country.

5. Extension of the 2% Social Security Payroll Tax Cut for 2012

Explanation: During the difficult economic transition from national malaise to hopeful prosperity it is necessary to keep funds in the hands of those who happen to have jobs so as to encourage the manufacturing and the retail sector.

Please, take into account that the above list is designed for immediate use in the Super-Committee debt negotiations and legislation. Despite how unlikely it may be that our current political leadership may come to some sort of Grand Bargain, it is still very important that the 99%/OWS stake out a viable position and platform on the negotiations and on our current economic troubles. I should point out that the right-wing political machine is, at this very moment, desperately attempting to cast the OWS as incapable of stating clear positions. They are very hopeful that if the image of incoherency can be stamped upon OWS that the movement will lose strength and will wane with time. Therefore, I believe it is very important for the OWS to immediately develop a short, coherent and simple list of goals for the current moment and debt negotiations. Of course, with the National General Assembly on July 4, 2012 a much more detailed platform and set of grievances can be pursued.

Thank you very much for all the work you are doing to address the issues of our time.

Sincerely,
James B. Delacour
jbdelacour@gmail.com

Moved to 'Suggested Topics' from 'Student Loans', as student loans were not specifically addressed.

9 specific, actionable, grievances from; Taxation,Regulation,Healthcare,Military,etc...And 9 Candidates to target the Senate, and or House...Too goofy???