Occupy Supporter's View and Mission Statement
"New times demand new answers; old problems cry out for better results. This morning, we leave behind the old ways and old divisions and begin a new day for Chicago. I am proud to lead a city united in common purpose and driven by a common thirst for change" (Gov. Emanuel). Once Rahm was sworn into governor of Chicago he made this statement in his speech, making the people of Chicago really believe there was going to be change in this city. I feel that he completely lied about everything and was just another corrupt politician in Illinois that was out to ruin citizen’s lives and steal their money. I am responding back to your article because I am an Occupy supporter who strongly believes we need change in our country and more personally relatable, Occupy Chicago. Relating back to the article I truly believe that politics and the government are responsible for the economic crisis. I fully understand the situation when the government has no choice, but to make the decisions they made. But when banks are bailed out before the millions of US citizens who are barely getting by, it don’t make much sense. Democracy is supposed to be for the people and run by the people or have representatives representing the people. It seems like in the United States, but mainly in Illinois, politicians just gain trust from the people to take advantage of us. I still currently hold my job because the work field I’m in was not seriously affected by the economy; but some of my friends and others I know have lost their jobs or have their jobs held hostage by these corporations; some even work for the state and city of Chicago. People like Chicago lawyer Michael Shakman back in 69', saw related situations going on even back then. Shakman ended up filing a lawsuit against the Democratic Organization of Cook County, stating political patronage was illegal and not far. "But by 1983 it finally became illegal to consider political factors when hiring or firing public employees, unless they worked in top administrative or policymaking positions" (Brackett). But since then, especially the past couple years, the state and corporations have not necessarily followed these rules, but thinking about when has anything not been broken in Illinois. This is why me and other Occupy supporters across the globe, but specifically Illinois and Chicago, are protesting. The government is not fair, politicians are not far, and corporations are being treated like people and even more important than the people. The Occupy Chicago movement has seen how ineffective the protests are in Wall Street, D.C., Los Angeles, and others in the US. This is why our part of the movement is being organized in a peaceful and respectful manor, to show other movements how to properly protest and get the government to make changes. With this said here are the common demands me and the rest of the supporters mainly believe in:
"1. Pass a bill to reinstate Glass-Steagall, a safeguard separating banks'
commercial lending and investment operations. "Its repeal in 1999 is considered
the major cause of the global financial meltdown of 2008-09," the group states.
2. Repeal Bush-era tax cuts.
3. Prosecute "the Wall Street criminals who clearly broke the law and helped
cause the 2008 financial crisis."
4. Overturn the Supreme Court decision allowing corporations "to contribute
unlimited amounts of money to campaigns."
5. Pass the Warren Buffett rule on fair taxation, close corporate tax
loopholes, prohibit hiding funds offshore.
6. Give the Securities and Exchange Commission stricter regulatory power,
strengthen the Consumer Protection Bureau and help victims of predatory lending
whose home loans have been foreclosed.
7. Take steps to limit the influence of lobbyists and eliminate the practice
of lobbyists writing legislation.
8. Eliminate (the) right of former government regulators to work for
corporations or industries they once regulated.
9. Eliminate corporate personhood.
10. Insist the Federal Elections Commission "ensure that political
candidates are given equal time for free at reasonable intervals during campaign
season."
11. Pass the Fair Elections Now Act.
12. Forgive student debt" (Rhodes).
Thank you for allowing me to voice my opinion and I hope that one day we will all be able to trust each other. As well as be able to trust the
government especially in Illinois because with its history in government corruption, unfair laws, corporate corruption, unforgiving debt, and things like that; it makes it very hard to trust the people that represent the people.
Thank You,
Anonymous Person