General Discussion
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(115,101 posts)And not third-party wheel spinning!?
Where am I?
TheWraith
(24,331 posts)Good things!
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Actually, I think the reason they caved on that was not just because of the activism, but BECAUSE it is election season. The very best time to raise issues and get them to listen to the people.
What else can we do? Get them to start prosecuting the bankers who caused the financial meltdown. That's another issue that has huge public support.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)huge number of individuals and organizations across the Web. The problem is to come up with an issue simple enough to explain quickly and basic enough to attract most people. For example - "prosecuting bankers" may be too broad an issue. "Prosecuting X for breaking law Y " may do it, if we can solidly identify X and Y. (I'm uncertain whether any laws were actually broken!) "Bring back Glass Steagall" may be doable.
"Kill the Keystone" sounds doable. I know Obama has knocked it to the ground for now, but we need to be sure no zombie arises!
jwirr
(39,215 posts)interested in a specific issue. In the case of the internet the problem would hit all of us - so we had the numbers.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)people. Here on DU eg, threads about them dropped pretty quickly a few weeks ago.
What made it a success was, as you pointed out, the broad number of organizations who came together and the action they took to demonstrate what it would mean if they passed.
Regarding Wall Street. I think polls show that the bailouts were extremely unpopular also, and if you recall, there was a huge effort to stop the last one, which worked initially. Congress voted against it. We thought we won.
But, it was brought back for another vote and that time, it passed. We found out later why, Congress was threatened, according to Rep. Miller I believe, they were told that if they did not pass it there would be 'martial law'. When asked who made that threat, he said it was Henry Paulsen.
I think 'Wall Street Corruption' works for most people now. Then a huge campaign to pressure the US Attorneys, and it does seem to be working as at least 13 of them have now refused to make deals with the banks, to go ahead and start investigations.
The other action now in progress is to get an amendment to end Corporate Personhood. It is gathering support. Members of Congress are on board also. So imo, it is during election season when these issues need to be raised, once they are elected they seem to relax for a while.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)BTW - I'd love to see an on-line groundswell to go after James O'keefe for voting fraud!
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)As for James O'Keefe, it is amazing that he is still operating and has not landed in jail for parole violation at least. As for election fraud, if he had been from OWS eg, he'd be in jail already. I would love to see a groundswell to put a stop to his antics also.
riverwalker
(8,694 posts)Revolution 2.0
How Power Of The People Is Greater Than The People In Power.
A Memoir
by Wael Ghonim
Just released last week, am reading it now.
Practically a handbook in how the Internet can change the world, and how one person can start a historical chain of events.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)Cleita
(75,480 posts)Single payer health care
Banning nuclear energy
Preventing any oil pipeline between Canada and the Gulf
Banning deep water oil drilling
etc., etc., etc..
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)That would let out complex areas such as deep water drilling and nuclear power, maybe even single payer. But I think we could all go viral on the Keystone.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)it as well. It would help him fight the pressure from BIG OIL that he's getting.