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Thursday, November 17, 2011 | 1:25pm
[RANT] While Corporate America Has No Place In Politics, You Can’t Get Rid Of The Roaches
Russell Simmons Proposes Legislation Barring Corporations From Funding Political Campaigns. But is it laughable?
Russell Simmons has picked up the Occupy Wall Street movement and put a pair of Timbs on it. Maybach Faux Pas aside, Simmons has been putting into action what protestors have only managed to talk about in Zucotti Park. On Tuesday, the Hip Hop Godfather threw his weight around up in Boston by helping to introduce the early workings of a constitutional amendment that he hopes would keep Corporate America from interfering in American politics.
The law would ban private donations from federal elections, leaving candidates for the U.S. Congress and White House to finance their campaigns with public funds. Sounds difficult? Well its like in sports when athletes complain about the wind, the rims or the dimensions of the outfield fences, its the same for both teams.
He went on to criticize New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg for evicting Occupy Wall Street protestors from Zuccotti Park, the home base of the Occupy movement.
“The timing with all the attacks, the illegal attacks by Mayor Bloomberg on the protesters and the ignoring of a court order to allow them back in. Breaking the law, a one percenter,” Simmons told a Reporter.
Be careful Russell. I think he often forgets he’s part of that one percent.
“Only one percent of the one percent don’t want this country to be better and that was an example of one,” he explained. “He broke the law.”
Speaking more specifically about his plan, Simmons explained how Corporate America has had an adverse effect on the prosperity of 99 percent of America.
“I’m not saying capitalism is bad, [that] corporations shouldn’t sit around and conspire on how to take the money out of people’s pockets — they should do that, that’s their job, turn a profit to their investors, but it should not be a job to pay off politicians,” Simmons said. “That is the core of demands of all of the occupations.”
Here’s a more detailed look at his proposed Ammendment:
Section 1. All elections for President and members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate shall be publicly financed. No political contributions shall be permitted to any federal candidate, from any other source, including the candidate. No political expenditures shall be permitted in support of any federal candidate, or in opposition to any federal candidate, from any other source, including the candidate. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to abridge the freedom of the press.
Section 2. The Congress shall, by statute, provide limitations on the amounts and timing of the expenditures of such public funds and provide criminal penalties for any violation of this section.
Section 3. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Section 4. This article shall be inoperative unless it is ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution.
I love the idea. Its not some revolutionary idea however. Editing the Constitution however is unfortunately almost laughable. For better or worse its probably the hardest piece of legislature we have in this country to Ammend and for very good reason. The way the system is currently constructed allows for too much special interest and money to play into the well-being, health, housing, career, education etc. of an individual.
We say our elected officials are the “voice of the people” but it couldn’t be further from the truth. They become candidates because of the unsaid agreements and backdoor deals and promises. Then given support by those entities in the form of votes. They’re ELECTED by the people and stay in office by making sure those same certain unnamed people keep making money. That’s nothing new. But I worry that preventing the currently transparent translucent system of allowing Corporate America to contribute to campaign finances will create a political prohibition where the bootlegging of elections and American Politics will be at an all time high.
To think that big business would just fade into the night and accept that they no longer pull the puppet strings of Congress isn’t realistic. Its shocking to me to witness the audacity that some companies have to believe that they should sacrifice the health of our people and planet in favor of relaxed environmental guidelines that would have them operate at a higher profit…and actually lobby you for it with commercials on CNN like you’re a fool. *Off the soapbox*
FILED IN Business & Marketing, News
I’ve got so many problems with the ‘occupy wall street’ crowd that I hardly know where to begin.
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First is the notion that by camping out in a park for 2 months, they will make a difference to anyone other than the media and political types that are using them for air filler or political gain.
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We’re now two generations since Woodstock. And while grandma and grandpa still like telling the grandkids stories about how they peace-and-loved their way into stopping the war, I think this generation of protesters lack the willpower, technique and demands that defined the Woodstock crowd.
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I’m sure it’s fun to fritter away your time camped out in front of a bank, but have you noticed the quality of the technology that some of these protesters have? I have to be honest with you- I have a hard time listening to someone with a $4000 laptop telling me about how unfair their life is.
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And what are their goals? To bring down capitalism? To make the economy more balanced? And how to they propose to do that? No, don’t tell me a slogan. SPECIFICALLY… what policy are they promoting to make things more fair?
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They’re pissed about the fact that they owe student loans? Dear God forgive me, because I don’t remember someone putting a gun to their head and threatening to shoot them if they didn’t borrow money they don’t have to go to film school.
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For most of my life, I have seen this crowd of people passing who wanted us to bail them out for their bad decisions. And frankly, I’m tired of being screwed for the fact that I am responsible.
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When our friends were playing big shot buying homes they couldn’t afford (just wait how much money I’ll make when I sell, and I can refinance forever they would say), we lived in a home we could afford.
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While these and other people were flying around the world on vacations paid for by cheap debt, we kept my nose to the grindstone and saved for the rainy days I knew would come.
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And now that all of the free spirits have gone broke, the government decides to keep the interest rates artificially low, bailing out the worthless and screwing those of us who managed to save over the years.
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Don’t get me wrong… I’m all in favor of helping out the less fortunate, and I’ve done my share over the years. But it’s bailing out those who first ask us for a bailout, and then find the money we give them insulting that I have a problem with it.
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I’ll give you an example that I’m sure most if not all of you have had in real life: you loan a friend money. They then keep telling you how they can’t pay you back, but you always see them with a bunch of new stuff they bought.
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Come on, you know the type.
Will the real Republican please stand up. I hear your point and agree with them but I think you might be focused on the wrong premise which is in effect OWS’s fault for allowing you to do so. You’re absolutely right there is no central Ideology, no end game no goal, at least not one of consensus.
However I think that’s fine. I think this movement is about fed up middle class Americans…um…Lower class Americans…bums…No class Americans….hell Upper class Americans. ALL AMERICANS. The MEDIA is the faction that has depicted OWS as the profile you identified above. I think the whole idea that this an assault on Capitalism and any use of technology by the protestors is an oxymoron is rooted in fallacy.
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For me the enemy is wall street. You want people to be held accountable for their poor decisions lets start with Bank of America, Citi and all those coked up bankers who got fat on selling bad loans. THEY GOT BAILED OUT!
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Are there a bunch of misguided youth down in Zucotti? Yeah! They’re wilding but they represent some really good people like myself who can’t get a loan to help grow our business because we don’t seem to fit some arbitrary algorithm. Oh and yeah I checked yesterday I have a fico score of 826. Tell me I’m not responsible.
They are protesting in the wrong place. They need to go to DC where the policies they are against are created. I do agree with Malcolm though that for the most part they are wrong. I like he have worked very hard all of my life for what I have and refuse to feel guilty about it or apologize. I may not be one of the 1% but I sure as hell am not one of the 99% either.
You just sumed up what I thought would take too long to type…..
Correction: I agree with all you. There are components of all arguements that are logical. My question is after all the brain storming and philosphy and group meditation and Kumbaya sing-alongs, what action do powers that be at the OWS have to CORRECT the problem(s)? As a matter of fact, there are “no powers that be”. There is no definite leadership. And without definite leadership its a motley crew. And jimmyt states the bankers did what Washington allowed them to do to make money. Washington needs to change the regulation.
There is a reason the terrorist attacks on 9/11 happened at the World Trade Center in New York. New York is a symbol of the financial system. Those of you from NYC who actually are familiar with Zuccotti (sp?) geography know the park is actually located adjacent to the World Trade Center site and not on Wall Street persay. Hell Wall Street isn’t even on Wall Street but that’s another blog.
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My point is that this is a visiable symbol of New York, America. Its a very heavily trafficked Tourist Area and one already congested with folks from all over. Protest on the steps of the Capitol are a dime a dozen. I’m sure there’s line like the one at the women’s bathroom. One protest finishes up and the next one moves in. This was a shake up. This one has caught people’s attention namely the banks.
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There’s no secret they recently appealed the $5 surcharges they wanted to smack you with for just using your debit card. Is that an RBI for OWS? Probably not directly but it didn’t hurt.
Ok then instead of debating the effectiveness of OWS what instead WOULD be an appropriate course of action? While Russell’s proposal is a little outlandish it does challenge lawmakers in Washington.
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Look we’re The Nation. If OWS can’t do it… We can. There are a lot of bright minds that collaborate here. But Malcolm will tell you being up there in Detroit…Shit is effed up.
I stand with the OWS movement. I actually took the time to go down there and participate. The fact that they are protesting against corporate greed is a GOOD thing. Too many people are complacent in allowing the banks and corps run all over them…at least these people are TRYING.
sn: Juan…you know the banks have already come up with a new way to charge that money right? They are embedding it in other fees.
Yeah its all cosmetic. I think now you gotta give your first born if you lose your debit card and need a new one. I could be wrong, maybe its the second born.
Also, I’m very happy to see Russell providing some sort of leadership and building off of the momentum with creating new legislation. He may be part of the 1% now…but he wasn’t always…and I’m glad he still remembers that.
He didn’t remember it when he hopped out the Bentley a few weeks back to check out the action at Zuccotti.
Would you rather he had taken the train? The bus perhaps? I think that has nothing to do with and you sound like a hater LOL
But the purchase of that Bentley, if purchased in NY, had a $29,122.50 sales tax, if it was $330,000 as the media reported. Not to mention maintenance, and repairs if any. He paids the cost associated.
Correction: Maybach.
yeah I made the same mistake. Same ish. Something neither of us can afford.
I think that the different occupy movements around the country are good in principle. However, being the cynic that I am, I have little hope that it will change anything because, as Malcolm astutely pointed out, “I think this generation of protesters lack the willpower, technique and demands that defined the Woodstock crowd” (and affect changes).
This country was founded on GREED, led by unscrupolous, murdering colonizers, who recruited the poor masses from the rest of the world to serve as their labor (and let’s not even talk about the abduction and enslavement of Africans). So, this 1% and 99% thing didn’t start recently. It has become worse because the conditions for the 99% has worsene, while the 1% keep getting even richer……
Minister Louis Farrakhan wrote in “A Torchlight for America,” in 1993: “As America prepares to make a change, she is seen searching for new solutions to her plethora of problems. Every aspect of American society is suffering. Her economy is faltering, her public schools are failing, maintaining the health of the American people has proven too costly, crime is rampant, her sense of morality seems to have been lost and, in general, the whole future of the country has become a big question.” He could have writen that last week……100% dis-satisfaction brings about 100% change. There are too many 99%ers either satisfied with what they have or too ignorant/lazy to do something about their condition…when ALL of the 99% stop what we are doing and refuse to keep doing the same things that got us to this point, then things will change…just look at the Arab uprisings for proof.
“There are too many 99%ers either satisfied with what they have or too ignorant/lazy to do something about their condition…”
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And there is a reason behind this, from what I see the line to be a 1%er, depending on how liberal or conversative the reporting, has the yearly earning of the 1% at about above $350k-$500k. So, you gotta think about yourself, or ourselves, at this time. If you were making $200,000 a year, would you be at Zucotti protesting. What about at $100,000 a year? And I mean activly protesting, not just making Kanye West/ Russell Simmons walkthrus.
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Like you said, this country AND MANY OTHERS was founded on GREED or CAPITALISM. Or the government wasnt capitalist and the people revolted to make it capitalist, only to complaint and revolt again sometime int the future.
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So, it goes back to my orginal question, what do the people want besides the type of governmet they have. becasue it seems that people arent entirely happy with what they have nor what they get…..
E.L.
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I think your raise the key premise of the movement. Most 99% walk around oblivious about the conditions. Maybe this whole movment isn’t about alerting any powers that be but to serve as an alarm clock for those who have been sleeping in the matrix happy to be satisfied with subpar conditions. It is that ‘lazy’ or casual attitude that lets Wall Street take advantage. Any good businessman is going to take as much as his customer is willing to give. Want to buy a 10 year service plan on that iPod? Sure I’ll sell it to you.
Exactly! in a fist fight of 99 against 1, that 1 doesn’t stand a chance of winning. However, if the one has an AK47 and multiple clips, while the 99 don’t see the importance in arming themselves, they just keep walking up to the 1 guy and getting shot down, then that 1 guy is always going to win….this movement will hopefully show people that they do have resources at their disposal to help them get out of the condition they find themselves (and the world) in (and asking the people who are benefiting from their ignorance to stop taking advantage of them is NOT one of them)…the most important resource is unity and then determination and sacrifice…and this is where all the nonsense on TV and sports and other mind-controlling mechanisms come in to play: are people willing to give up the comforts (security) of what they know for an unknown (even if that unknown could lead to a better life for them and future generations)? … in my therapy groups, I always ask the participants, what are you willing to sacrifice in order to A. stop using drugs, B. get your life in order? Don’t ever think that you can get ANYTHING of great worth without some form of sacrifice! It’s easy to say, “I’ll stop smoking crack.” Suuuuure. If you could have just stopped, you wouldn’t be here right now. There are other changes that need to be made before you can stop “smoking crack” (or whatever other destructive behavior you are engaged in)….Sitting in a park, holding a sign and shouting stuff is SYMBOLIC! If you return to your comfortable life after your 2-4 hrs at the park, you have accomplished NOTHING. If you are trying to quit using (whatever drug), you can’t keep going to the (whatever activity) with your buddies that you get high with! You have to make a sacrifice…………
Ok, off my soapbox now …