The Reform Revolution

Aye, and right you are! SO right you are. Did you catch the news tonight how even a few congressman are coming clean with the facts that there is a coordinated effort by the corporate right to dominate the universe and oppress the people? IrishMan, the ball has been lobbed, the gauntlet thrown down, swords are drawn and the march is (already) on. But, we have, as you indicate, the task of recruitment, organizing and leading. But, everyone, and anyone, who dares or cares to, can be a leader!

Myself, I was all too aware of the physical danger of this effort, before beginning it. But, this is now structured as ANONYMOUS is structured, in a way, with many unidentified participants in many different venues, each one prepared to pick up where the last leader left off. In fact, there are multiple leaders everywhere, because this is not, a one prong approach. Everyone must participate in their own way and to the extent of their capacity. But we are all striving for the same general principals, and The Reform Movement is merely an umbrella term covering every group and every individual's efforts. However, my life was at risk long before I recognized that humanity is "on the mat", and I have no choice but to engage in this struggle. What good is living, if it's not enjoyable. While I recognize that we are already the oppressed, the depression of knowing that I would not do anything about it, while something could be done about it, would be a far worse fate to face, than death.

So, let's begin by spreading the word that the Revolution is on, and start, or join, even the smallest protest in your neighborhood. Try to connect that protest with another protest, or protest group, and continue scaling our numbers and efforts up. Right now we want a protest group in front of every capitol, or local government building, calling for action on each of issues concerning the people, which appear in the news every day, until we achieve all of the necessary reform.

How about we just send them to school and then pay them commensurate to their increased productivity as workers?

This site is low troll to progressive ratio, let's start here.

There have been times in history when the participants of labeled efforts have overtaken and superseded their originator's intents and purposes. Why, the passions and purposes of the people participating was greater than any ulterior motives of the instigators. Hence, the expression: "It took on a life of it's own".

The electorate has already turned out and voted, overwhelmingly, for reform in 2008. Recent experience has evidenced that the election booth alone, will not achieve life essential reform. We are now struggling, not only for philosophy, we are struggling for our lives.

The line from Helen Reddy's hit, We Are Women: "hear us roar, in numbers too big to ignore", reverberate through my mind at this time. If the Egyptian people, "in numbers too big to ignore", can bring down a Mubarak, ..., then I am not willing to accept that the population of the United States, can not free government and ourselves from the strangle hold which the corporate right now has us all in. To do so, is to willingly place our collective head on the chopping block, and to pay the axe man to cut it off. "Just saying".

If Russ Feingold is of no greater benefit than to lead the way to "campaign finance reform"; of which he is already well acquainted with, then he is of invaluable service. Every action must begin with one single little step. Several little steps starts a movement well down it's path. Many little steps, by brave citizens taking individual responsibility for common good, have already been taken. If each one of us take only one little step, to contribute to the same common good, collectively, we will have taken a monumental leap forward! No one is being asked to carry the whole load. We are merely inviting everyone, and anyone, to take their own little step, the step which they can comfortably take, but which will keep the engine of reform burning and traveling down it's path to accomplishmet.

I don't disagree one bit with what you are saying, Common. I think we are pretty much saying the same thing in different ways. I do believe in the power of the people, but we have reached a point in our history where that power has to lead to tearing down the good ol' boys network of politicians who have seized control of this county's politics and create a massive makeover in the political arena. That will come from the grassroots, lile what is happening here in WI, this I will not dispute. What I was suggesting is that the Boners and McConnells and DeMints and Cantors of this political process will fight true reform tooth and nail and they need to be removed or at least marginalized in their ability to control the way government is run. And I don't let Harry Reid and his style of "Leadership" off the hook either. He is just as much part of the problem. We need to somehow seize control back from these corporate whores and once again have a government that is by the people for the people and of the people, not corporate shills.

What I was suggesting is that the Boners and McConnells and DeMints and Cantors of this political process will fight true reform tooth and nail and they need to be removed or at least marginalized in their ability to control the way government is run. I think you stated the solution to this problem in the sentence preceding it -- how many of those republican state senators are currently on the receiving end of recalls? Is it possible that we could do the same thing with our national representatives? And even if it takes more 'noise' than what is being raised right now, if we just keep 'nagging' about those elected legislators that are NOT listening to us I truly believe that in time it will work. I live in Nebraska and none of my national legislators listen to me -- I call every time a new shot is fired over the bough of the middle class and some lackey thanks me for my interest and my 'employees' go right ahead and vote THEIR interests instead of mine.

OH! Absolutely! Now I understand. And I can not agree with you more! Let's not forget, either, that those individuals draw much of their power from the corporate right's (money). No doubt that the corporate right may be willing to go down with their ships.

However, I wonder if in the case of public corporations, when boycotts of their every product; possibly worldwide, lowers their stock values and dividends, whether stockholders will vote to have the respective corporations continue their socially aggressive and destructive practices, and continue to fund the Boehner's in Congress. You see, I believe that the people alone, simply with the boycotting of a corporations products, will be able to bring these corporations to their knees. However, I am conservative in the original and true sense of the word. I believe in multi prong attacks. And I encourage the effort to fight the war that the corporate right has been silently waging on us, with every weapon available.

Can you count the ways in which we might expand our defense?

Yes, wolfess, our elected officials do ignore us quite often. And grassroots efforts to replace those who are most unreceptive to our voices should be threatened with removal when these decisions have such cataclysmic impacts on our lives. These WI Reps were not given a mandate to wreak such havoc on the middle class. If they will not listen to reason, any elected official should face dire circumstances. This is what Democracy allows.

Common, your last point is worth contemplating. We need to develope as many forms of opposittion as we can to this plutocratic takeover. Shaming them is obviously is not an option because they do not shame. But corporations don't appreciate bad PR and the alrenative media needs to expose as many of their misdeeds as possible to contribute to their finanacial downfall.

Yes, yes, yes! I dare you, take the next step!. An organized effort to recall every senator and representative that is bought and paid for, should be identified, with an explanation and example shown of what they have consistently done which is for the benefit of corporations and wealth, without helping the people, or actually harming us, should be actually be drawn up and included in an online "Action Plan", or "Action Guide", of The Reform Revolution. We need to scout around on here and ferret out those who might have both the ability, time and inclination to start enumerating and diagramming our issues and our plans to address them. Laying out the positions and voting records of all serving legislators and encouraging recalls where possible, is a very good step.

In addition, we need to list all of the issue areas in which we can act on. For instance,
Campaign Finance Reform
Recalls of Legislative Enemies of The People
and so on. everyone can contribute here, with the group establishing the priority of listing.
THANK YOU for bringing the subject to the forum.

We need to be in front of every office, store, gas station, factory, ..., which can be identified as the enemy of the people. When we show them for what they truly are, parasitic enemies of the people, others WILL begin to catch on and act. When these protests lower the profit margins, people will start dumping the stock, and voting the directors out, and just maybe, insist on the institution of socially friendly and responsible practices; which includes paying taxes!

Good ideas and something we all need to work on.

The ennumeration and diagramming I do not have the time for at the moment, however I will certainly bring forth in annotated or abbreviated form all the issues I discover are not listed, and my memory serves in such a fashion as to allow me a strength in researching details on certain topics, but a broad "database" would not be my bag at the moment,

Ok, where do I go to find like-minded; never mind -- my facebook page every day I post something about Lee Terry, Mike Johanns, Ben Nelson AND our governor b/c he is currently trying to do the same thing here that Walker is doing in WI. If I come up with a "I'm mad as hell at my elected employees for ignoring me and I'm not gonna take it anymore" statement and post it every morning on my status, maybe people will start agreeing with me. Ooh, and I almost forgot, I joined the 'coffee club' and they have a facebook page -- might try getting some kind attention for 'project mayhem' from them ...

Any suggestions about other avenues I can try would be greatly appreciated :-).

Let's brainstorm for another approach then.

reform man say: U, 1 smart cookie! can u help with this?

is ur moniker a cajus phrase? i'm reminded of the jumbalaya song?

Ohh Figgy?! How do you feel about trying to be our initial webmaster and site developer as we attempt to recruit some assistance for that project?

Lol!

Bravo! But bear in mind, that we have to identify and deal with that splinter within the Democratic Party which has also been corrupted by corporate money, and is corrupting the image of the Democratic Party.

absolutely... thats one of the things that i'd like to see change... not that i can make it change on my own, but one person at a time... ya know?
i dont really consider myself to be a democrat, because i'm not corrupt or institutionalized like our politicians... i am a progressive liberal... i dropped the democrat some time ago

Honestly, having read the Constitution and Declaration of Indipendance again recently I see no reason not to use those VERY DOCUMENTS as our letter of intent.

Well we could change the crown to the corps. a few British brethrens to elected brethrens ect just minor changes mind you. Clear things up a bit. I really don't have any beef with the crown prince atm.

What about the part about slaves?

How about a statement of how those documents are being violated, and what needs to be done to remedy those violations?

Good points. How about a statement of how those documents are being violated, and what needs to be done to remedy those violations, while highlighting the connections between the original words and the current correlations?

What about adding some parts of Common Sense?

Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one; for when we suffer, or are exposed to the same miseries by a government, which we might expect in a country without government, our calamity is heightened by reflecting that we furnish the means by which we suffer. ... Here then is the origin and rise of government; namely, a mode rendered necessary by the INABILITY OF MORAL VIRTUE TO GOVERN the world; here too is the design and end of government, viz. freedom and security.

Considering must people haven't read the Declaration since junior high I think a refresher course would be in order for a vast majority of America. But then even in Jr high they only made then read the first paragraph.

The unanimous Declaration of the Fifty united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are insufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpation, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present Capitalist Government is a history of repeated injuries and usurpation, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A System , whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Elected brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpation, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the People of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these States, solemnly publish and declare, That these united States are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the Current Leaders, and that all political connection between them and the State of Captilism, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

changed but how many can find them

Well done! Change is not only o.k., it is necessary. I don't recall the grammatical terminology, but side notes or an explanation of what is now being specifically done, which is being tolerated or encouraged by congress, and which is a violation of the original principles or our founding documents, would be a very good thing for those who "will not have time to digest" the entirety. In fact, a sort of synoptic preamble, or a preamble preamble (lol), as brief as thouroughness will permit, would be a good thing to start the online handbook, or "Action Plan", with.

And the goal of my comment has been achieved, you each put forth the ideas necessary to make the few and minor changes that the documents needed! Good work guys, I will be perusing this info more indepth while suffering through my insomnia tonight to see what screw tightening I can think of, but solid solid start.

It needs some specific revision that was merely a test run. Many of the He has (wrongs committed) need to be aimed at specific people/ organizations but done so in away that does not divide us further then they already have No sense in doing there work for them after all. A rough draft and another document posted eventually.

But an excellent first effort! And a very BIG first step. You definitely had the right idea of a statement of intent...

Suggestions:
Paragraph 1, change "Nature's God" to "Nature's Will" or something else nonsecular
Paragraph 2, decapitolize "Creator" to again concur with nonsecular nature of government
Paragraph 2, change "Colonies" to "States"
Declaration of Facts, change "He" to "This Government" or something non 'personafied'
Declaration of Facts, change "his" to "it's" or something non 'personafied'
Declaration of Facts, article 4 may not be necessarily a crime of this government.
Declaration of Facts, article 4 change "dissolved" to "disregarded" or something similar
Declaration of Facts, article 5 may not be applicable as stands
Declaration of Facts, article 15 add to end "these States and foriegn lands"
Declaration of Facts, article 16 needs adjustment, not certain how yet though
Declaration of Facts, article 25 change "Head" to "a Just Government"
Declaration of Facts, article 26 change "on the high seas" to "through binding contract"
Declaration of Facts, article 27, should be dropped
Final Paragraph, change "Supreme Judge of the world" to "the Citizens of these States" or something less secular and more aimed towards uniting our populace by placing the power to achieve our goals in thier hands. also change "Divine Providence" to something also less secular.

Now these are suggestions and I know my insistence on nonsecular inclusions will be questioned, but this is not an issue about religion nor should it ever be, especially in a Nation whos first and foremost right is the freedom of religion, and without a State Church.

Sam at the moment, we the people are the slaves to a corporate, capitalistic aristocracy.

A point for point dissection of would be nice, but the bulk of the "Declaration" is in fact exactly that, dissemination of of factual infractions of our rights.

Well put, and quite accurate...those words seem familiar to me, was there a source for the core of that material?

Taken into account and making changes to the "Re-Declaration of Independence" working title?

As for 27 I missed that one and apologize to my ancestors and the ancestors of all offended. its staying in but it is amended to a threat we face. Corporates.

Are they banking on the military generals being able to manipulate the ground troops into "firing on Americans"? Remember, the generals and the Pentagon are part of the profiteering military industrial complex, which controls roughly a third of our annual tax revenues.

You average enlisted soldier is SOOO NOT profiting from the MIC

Interesting comment. Can you suggest how we might disconnect from the machine while keeping roofs over our heads and food in our children's bellies?

I agree that we need to tackle the corporate machine in the gut. Denying the corporate oligarchs their profits by boycotting them and their products will constitute one attack upon them. Little efforts like mimimizing our consumptions of big agribusiness production like wheat, corn and soybeans will cut into their profits. But I do not understand how you mean for us to totally disconnect and still live.

As for logging onto a site and expecting reform, no one is suggesting that reform is that simple. But, logging onto a site which provides masses of people the information they need to participate in those efforts and actions, that may encourage or force reform, is itself reforming. It is communication which enables and empowers the collective, WE, to take the actions which will produce reform. Don't forget the facebook/twitter revolutions in the Middle East.

Your suggestion of not buying agribusiness factory food is a fine start.
If you're paying big fees every month for a media gatekeeper to allow you to watch TV, or get on the internet, you might want to even reconsider that. There are a hundred ways that each one of us could, if we thought about it, start to take the tentacles off us.
True, it's not as easy as clicking a switch, and it does take time. I know we don't eat in the long run, and that's not a small problem, but don't you think we can make some significant changes in a year or two or a decade, or a lifetime? We have to start somewhere. Today is a good a day as any other.
If you are in the army, start thinking for once about what really serves your own interests of that of your families, and think about turning the guns around.The real enemy isn't in Afghanistan or Iraq or many other places around the globe that our empire sends you.
If you're in the police think about the amount of time you spend responding to security alarms in the gated end of town and how much time you spend rousting the poor for social crimes kept in place by the rich who can afford real privacy and wall-to-wall lawyers, and aren't affected by them.
If you work hour to hour with a shovel, do good work and try to connect with the conscious ones around you and build a resistant and reliable community.
That last part is the hardest, I think.
Humans are a varied and hungry species and keeping a system like that in balance is a daily effort.

I'm happy to forego t.v. But how do I get internet without paying someone like Comcast...? I'd like to shut these fuckers down!

find perhaps a way to get a neighborhood co-op formed for a wi-fi network, or even outright purchase a trunk line for your connection, otherwise plan on spending time at a library, mcdonals, starbucks et cetera to take advantage of free hotspots

Can you email him and be another voice asking for his specific participation?

Reform demand number 1.!

What would you list as number 2. And 3.?

We already have federal financing. I give money to the government in taxes. Obama gives it to MoveOn in stimulus money (how many jobs did that stimulate?). MoveOn gives it to Democratic party candidates. What could be more fair than a Republican funding Democrats? (eyes rolling)

Hey W.M., my mother told me that if I roll my eyes too far up or back, they will get stuck there. Be careful with all of that eye rolling! lol...

My mother gave me another warning when I was younger. I only did enough to need reading glasses when I got older. :)

LMAO!!! thank goodness that I can always count on you for a good laugh!

Huh?

Just a reminder of the end of the world group that we won't have to worry about after may 21st 2011. Other than that yes sign me up for reform!

I thought that was 12/21/12. Have they moved the schedule up due to so much shit hitting the fan?

Nope these people have been saying for some time and go to CNN web page they have a story on these folks video and every thing.

I see it on CNN's front page. It's too bad they won't be around this summer. Oh well they won't have they're houses or cars. I wonder who talked them into giving their stuff away and to who?

I know, what a great scam!

:-), well all I can say is 'it' (rapture) better not happen until after June 1 (my birthday) or 'God' will be dealing with one pissed - off postmenopausal witch!

Whoa God better be careful! Hehe.

Laugh at me if you want, but I have a few more names to add to the list

Willy Nelson-Grass roots activism and ecology advisor
Jon Stewart- Public relations/spokeman

Are you able to contact these people and ask them to directly participate in this effort?

It takes many participants to make a movement! All are welcome and NECESSARY. How about contacting them and asking them to directly participate. John Stewart could have some of these peeps on his show to reveal the movement. He has a great facility for presenting issues in their proper perspectives.

Project Mayhem -- ooh I love it -- like those insurance commercials with 'mayhem' driving the pink suv, etc. :-)!

what about 'Anonymous' -- I honestly think they could help quite a bit in 'cutting thru the red tape' connected to not only getting the word out, but also in helping to take down the 'powers-that-[we don't want to]be'?

I'm but a lowly space monkey, but I can ask.

My though on Annon is not so much of a group annexation, but pulling individuals for certain needs. I am sure we could weasle a couple solid IT types to build and manage a sit for us and maintain our security on said sight, but after that let thier members decide where, when and how much to throw thier weight in with ours.

I think you are correct . Anonymous will help .

Yep. The link needs correcting.
http://usuncut.org/

Where are you seeing the incorrect link? Can we correct it?

The source link at the top of your article. It says 'uncut.org' instead of 'usuncut.org'. You can probably edit it as this article's author.

fk, i corrected it. but i didn't put that there intentionally. somehow it got caught up in the shuffle. this isn't a USUncut statement.

Thanks ever so much! At the moment, we need action more than money. Ideally, this won't need much money. Of course, we are in our infancy. But our natal cries have been heard, and you can be sure, we are being monitored. Before anything else, we need organizing and boots on the ground, in person participation as protests around the country. Protests of corporations and their products, and news media coverage of those protests. We can not depend much on CNN, because they depend on corporate advertising to pay for their existence. However, as BenjaminDover has indicated above, there is a link to a site tutoring on how to utilize the media.

No sir. This is all about enforcing the existing tenets of the Declaration Of Independence and our Constitution, which are being systematically abridged and violated. This is simply about restoring accountability of government to the people, as the Constitution mandated.

This sir, is more about doing and acting for the common good, than arguing about our individual and private concerns.