(concluded) Voting would end when a field of that size got a percentage of the nominating votes also so determined, preferably 90 percent. This field would form the ballot for the election. The highest vote-getter would be president and the second, vice president."
"I propose a college formed of nominators elected popularly in each congressional district, plus two for each state chosen as per state constitution, with a suitable arrangement for the District of Columbia. The nominators would meet in Washington to choose, with one vote each, a field of candidates for president, with a size determined constitutionally, preferably five. (cont.)
You should check out my proposal, from a April 11, 2007 letter to the Editor of The Washington Post, for a Nominator College to replace the party primaries.
While some of his proposal seems legit the demand for the 'Abolishment of the Electoral College' would be last nail in the coffin of State's Rights. That alone would undo any advance made if all his other provisions were enacted.
UPDATE: The Reform Party has accepted my candidacy and I am in full bore mode for December, registered with the FEC, bought the URLs for BigBatUSA, hiring a campaign manager, hiring a CPA to be treasurer, and starting to gin up both modest contributions (IndieGoGo) while I work on the December program to confront every Representative while they are home with their own constituents demanding Electoral Reform Pledge. Learn more at TINY URL /Reform-Steele-2012
@RobertDavidSteele You've got my full support! The 2000 election, the corporate takeover of the electoral process, and people's dissatisfaction over the Republican field and congress- it all lays the groundwork for electoral reform. First-past-the-post stagnates our democracy- it allows the people in power to control elections. And what exactly is the objection to approval-based voting? I really can't think of one.
Maybe you should give that URL another go though. No spaces.
Trying to convince young people indoctrinated by crony capitalism who don't understand where the root problems are is a task I myself would not attempt. Hats off to this guy. These kids have been so screwed over they don't know who or what to trust. I do agree though that electoral reform should be done 1st, emphasis on public funding. Any group or person working on that is to be applauded. imho-
That sounds a good demand but it probably wouldn't represent all the ideas and demands of this movement. We are suffering from two party system syndrome in this country. We have two dysfunctional parties and this hasn't been working so far. So, we can be either OW Party or associate with other marginalized parties.
@sssatrunnn I'm not sure if you actually watched the video, but his electoral reform idea is how we eliminate the two party and gain public interest in politics.
I agree. The electoral system is the real problem. If we could change the way it is funded and how funds are distributed we could completely alter the way politics are done in the country. The part of the reform that allows the general public to amend the constitution or state law would set us up for the tyranny of the masses by virtue of the propaganda of corporate news agencies and mega-churches. All campaign funds should be evenly distributed among the participating parties.
@RobertDavidSteele 247,725 signatures so far at getmoneyout & unitedrepublic. They have a similar goals to take the money out of politics. Have you considered working with them?
To assume that electoral reform is the cure for American ills is sadly naive (and wrong). And to think that all Occupy movements should take this up as a major "cause" is to deny the realities of each city.
The "Trash Capitalism Mob" (TCM) heap up their trash wherever they are found festering. Taxpayers pay cleaners to remove their trash before it stinks up the city. Other people are paid to clean up their faeces. Demented TCM'ers don't even use doggy bags to bag their crap.
@xxxwarpathxxx recovering spy - left the dark side, had a conversion experience, publishing a book about it, The Open Source Everything Manifesto: Transparency, Truth, & Trust. Thanks for the comment at YouTube. Hackers on Planet Earth (HOPE) invite me back every time, my keytone at Gnomedex is the authentic me.
@coolerow Thanks for the upvote - the road trip got cancelled after the video went viral, for two reasons: did not attract contributions for the gas money (am unemployed) and Reddit said I would be more useful tending to the Internet conversation on this. Up to version 4.2 of the Act, all changes from crowd-sourcing.
Unite .together with Our Friends here and everywhere..We r showering Divine Love and Blessings from our ♥s 2 all beautiful Islands of Japan and Our Beloved Earth and Humanity ♥ safely shifting 2 The Golden Crystal Age~Happiness 2 All~Oneness Love and Light Infinite~Thank U Beloved Mighty I Am Presence- ♥ Heaven and Earth United Us~as We R accepting this divine ~Gifts~of I AM~Oneness Love Light Supreme Infinite~The Light of God that Never Fails~in all its forms~We R Forever Flowering
I wish I could like this a thousand times. This is what I've been saying all along. People need to understand the root of the problem and stop just railing against the banks. Let's use our brains and fix the government at it's core.
Gainful employment floats the consumer - the consumer floats the tax base - the tax base floats the infrastructure, schools, and prosperity of the nation.
Take any one away and the capitalist circle is broken. Employment becomes impoverished servitude. The tax base becomes a dependent. And the consumer becomes a futile 1 %. Finally out of desperation, the strained system taxes what prosperity remains, the 1%. The once viable nation of consumers bleeds out and dies.
DO NOT avoid the truth.... Obama's staff (cabinet) is full of folks from WALL STREET INCLUDING GOLDMAN SACHS -- The "Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010″, SUPPORTED by President Barack Obama, expand bailout authority for the federal government.
These bills provide a back door bailout of Wall Street. THE LINK BETWEEN -----THE BAILOUTS AND DC -GOES TO THE WHITEHOUSE, OUR LEADER SIGNED THE BILL TO OK & FUND, THE BONUSES/BAILOUTS..
Perot called it, we didn't want to hear it. We're now purposely kept out of the nation’s industrial loop, stripped of all collective leverage. And leverage, collective control, especially where a nation’s industry is concerned, is what transformed our huddled masses into middle classes. Collectively shutting down the industrial money machine alone checked exploitation. Capitalism is circular, like rock paper scissors, not this Indonesian wage American price, bleeding linear system we've become.
”OCCUPY PROTEST”.LUKE 19:13 JESUS SAID “OCCUPY TILL I COME.”COINCIDENCE?DAMASCUS SYRIA–OLDEST CITY,NEVER BEEN DESTROYED(ISAIAH 17:1)ISRAEL DIVIDED(JOEL 4:1-4)JESUS SAID,HIS 2ND COMING,IF U SEE DMASCUS DSTROYED & SRAEL DVIDED.IF U THINK QUAKES R COMMON THINK OF THESE PROPHECIES,THESE R N THE NEWS NOW.JOHN 12:25-26 ANYONE LOVES THEIR LIFE WILL LOSE IT,WHLE ANYONE WHO HATES THEIR LIFE N THIS WORLD WILL KEEP IT FOR ETRNAL LIFE.26 MY FATHER WILL HONOR THE ONE WHO SERVES ME.REPENT!YOUTUBE:PAUL BEGLEY
Bring it on Robert Steele, no lack of women's voice in Wisconsin. We have a huge group going on Election Reform and your words are exactly what we feel. Let us know what we can do.........thank you!
@barbwith how about creating your own version of the Statement of Demand and the Electoral Reform Act, and your own version of the briefing video, and post those? Looking for an electoral reform point of contact for every congressional district and every occupy group, building up an email list that will be restricted to those on it, my goal is to get a simultaneous call on every home office of every senator and every representative the week after thanksgiving "inviting" them to co-sponsor
Calling all females! Concerned that this has been a male thing, perhaps my language is too rough, would love to have a female version of this, make it your own. version 3.5 of the act is up and I am hoping all those who commented recently including Victoria will get in touch to shape version 3.6. Happy to have someone come back at me with a death to all male macho shits version. Bring it on (smile). We're in this together, warts and all.
Just posted link, at Phi Beta Iota the Public Intelligence Blog, this is a new book by Gordon Cook honoring and documenting Eva Waskell's decades of electoral reform work -- the link has a list of the table of contents, extracts from each chapter, and a link to the full book free online. It is a mind-altering collection of FACTS that should strongly support the Electoral Act of 2012 - the transparency of the process is the new #1 in the Act, two voting elements were consolidated.
Victoria cont'd: "...Both increase voter turn-out, they also increase the capacity for election fraud. You can't sacrifice safety for expediency in this case. The ballots MUST be cast and counted at the precinct on election day, by hand.
We have a lot of experts working on this issue for many years. Please get in touch and work with us on developing the proper language and proposal to make sure any electoral reform has real teeth and doesn't allow for election thieves to game the system."...
@RobertDavidSteele - thank u so much for the response! Great! I'll be in touch / very excited about your message and what you're doing at the occupies! (Oh, and I'm with the media team here at occupyLA / let me know when you're heading our way!) Thanks again! - jd
Victoria Collier, daughter of Jim Collier, co-author of VOTESCAM writes:
"One major issue with your proposal is a lack of strength in protecting the safety of the ballot. For example, ANYTHING that breaks the chain of custody of the ballot must be outlawed. Early voting is currently something that does just that -- as does mail-in voting...."
@jeanniedean Added NEW 01 Transparency, have asked Gordon to ask Eva for 2-4 sentences to put there, in interim, see what I have put at TINY URL /OWS-ER-HO
pretty much these mega corps can go up to any government leader in the world offer them anywhere from 1 million to how ever much they want and that worker or leader will do what ever they want
i mean our president only gets paid about 300000 a year
you don't think he'll take a bribe that makes him 10 times more then he makes in a whole year???
@490er Right but the bribes come in the form of gold certificates on the gold we captured in the Philippines from the Japanese, Marcos was rolled out when he refused to provide Reagan with another big shipment. Libya was about gold as well as oil and water (the aquifer). Bottom line is that NO ONE can be trusted in government unless we keep them naked 24/7 (transparent). That's what the Electoral Reform Act does, I hope.
@490er actually, Libya was the only country in Africa where everyone got free health care and education to graduate level, and Qadaffi was sitting on more gold than most countries have; :Libya is also on top of one of the most important underground aquifers in Africa.
How will he pay for his tour? Essentially he blames congress for the problems and if he is associated with a company, then beware the hegelian dialectic. Also, what he is saying could be useful, but dont forget, the companiesndid this with the polictians.
@andrew1717xx Tour may not happen, everyone at reddit is telling me to do more of this (online dialog) and let the locals handle the face to face. Am letting the IndieGoGo campaign expire, this has gone viral, now my role is to be responsive, AMA.
@RobertDavidSteele That is unfortunate to hear, but it also expresses the genuine nature of your proposal. That is all, you can do, and that is not a bad thing. My only point to you now would be for you to play devils advocate and critique yourself, figure out what the counter arguement for what you are saying.
Ron Paul would make this an amendment. And end the the wars, and end the Federal reserve, and end the business welfare, and act like a true statesmen who represents the people- Not mega banks/corporations.
@spunkitydoda Everyone put their faith in Obama. It is time to do things ourselves, Ron paul can join, but he should not lead. remember he is part of that same bird.
@andrew1717xx I agree with you on Ron Paul, one reason why I wanted to create a "People's Cabinet that includes him, Dennis Kucinich, even Newt Gingrich. We are the feathers of the bird, and just now learning how to fly on our own.
It doesn't matter about what Al Gore did or didn't do. All that's important is electoral reform, that's the only point anyone should be considering from this video.
In hindsight he probably shouldn't have said anything about Al Gore to accomplish that better xD
@iEffluo you're probably right about Gore, but it was a completely unrehearsed presentation and that is what moved me--also a person in the group who was one of the disenfranchised. I really felt betrayed, and that is when I realized two-party tyranny was real.
That bullshit about Al Gore just rolling over is rewriting of history. It's nothing more than crazy conspiracy theory nonsense.
Further more electoral reform is completely meaningless if Washington politics keeps consisting of TEN lobbyist for every politician in Congress. Just to illustrate the problem, the 12 member special budget committee will have over 200 lobbyist to hear from. Over 200!Are you being heard out there or is it just Boeing, Wall Street and Halliburton that's being heard?
I'd also be inclined to suggest no more reelections for any office. They simply cannot be trusted. Politics in America were never indended to be a career, but that's what they've become. Without having to worry about reelection, our officals would be able to actually focus on the issues at hand and solve problems in the best interests of the citizens.
I really enjoyed this. Well thought and excellent ideas. My own $0.02... You want to get rid of campaigns being bought and sold? Tax all political contributions at 99%. No loopholes.
@andraxx112 Tax all political contributions at 99%. That made me laugh (good laugh). We eliminate both personal and business taxes and end all campaign contributions. Revenue comes from the APT tax on financial transactions between banks. I took taxes out of the Act because plenty of people said it was a distractor, but I totally agree with you on stopping all financial influence on individual Members.
ACTION 1: Share the core links. I am probably going to cancel the MGB tour for now, but I have a vision of a national ride for liberty with caravans joining me from county or state line to county or state line. Bike tours and walking tours also.
ACTION 2: Buy GO TEAM white marker and write "Electoral Reform Act of 2012" on the sides of anything that moves whose owner consents.
I will be faithful to the group, this is not my agenda, this is my intelligence helping to restore our integrity.
ALERT: Best discussion is at reddit. We are trying to find one person to be part of a nation-wide electoral reform information sharing network. I am doing all one man can do to harvest comments into both Phi Beta Iota where there are individual YouTubes, Link Collections, and Strongest Comments, and into reddit. Reddit is where it is at in terms of reach, I think.
Putting Citizens United overturn into both the Constitutional Amendment and Easy Voting -- the money is taken out in the public finance section, but you are right, this absolutely does need to me mentioned multiple times. I have been surprised OWS has not focused on hounding the Supremes that did this into retirement. If we can make Ron Paul Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, that will be fun (after he shuts down the Fed as the LAST Chairman of the Federal Reserve).
Instant Run-Off is clearly a bad idea, all the core comments are being put into the Reddit discussion and featured at Phi Beta Iota, and this will surely be changed in version 3.4 late Monday night.
We cannot get to a Constitutional Amendment without electoral reform act first, in my view, this is the path to direct democracy, and if you pay careful attention to the details, you will see that this does NOT lead to a "second tyranny" but rather to direct democracy.
Instant run-off voting is a shit system. It's a tiny step above our current system. Proportional representation, with an open list, and a 4% minimum is used by the happiest and most successful countries in the world (Scandinavian countries). I suggest we fight this all the way unless he changes it to open list proportional representation like every other civilized nation.
Why are you promoting Instant Runoff? That is a crappy voting system that encourages insincerity. Look up and research the Condorcet method. It guarantees sincere voting in every way. Instant Runoff is impossible to keep a paper trail and impossible to understand or audit. Condorcet is simple and easy to verify. Instant runoff is promoted by those who want to create confusion and retain control over elections. Replace that and I'll support it.
electoral reform is stupid, we need to restore state appointment of senators and remove the winner take all rule from states. that's the only reform needed, we don't need to head in the other direction away from the republic model. We also need to shrink the total size of government and make it less efficient. A small useless government gives less opportunity for bad politicians to screw it up. Return to a government of the 20's, that was prime size.
well, they don't seem to be letting me post the link but just go to citizen dot org.
if there's no party happening near you, host your own! we need to get on the same page here! and i agree, we need to do it soon. but let's be sure we're on the right page! we can do this! in solidarity! :)
@jpwnyc I will gladly join any group anywhere via skype, and if you desire, you could record it and load it to YouTube and help make this your own. Not about me. We need at least 100 million pissed off voters to see this video and decide to make the Act their own demand. Someone else is creating a petition that will be rolled out Monday, trying to get IndieGoGo to sponsor a single page for all Occupy fund-raising to end the embezelment that is happening (e.g. Oakland).
and a coalition of like minded groups (including public citizen, people for the american way, & move to amend) are planning a national day of action to commemorate this most unfortunately occasion and to mobilize people to come together around the idea of passing a constitutional amendment to declare once and for all that corporations are not people and money is not speech! this wednesday, november 9th, they are having house parties around the country to plan for this day. please join them!
as i'm sure you are all aware, especially if you've partaken in any of the general assemblies happening around the world (especially nyc) this process can be slow and difficult. but we are getting there. please join us! join your local occupation's political action and electoral reform working group! join one of the many organizations who have been working on this since before we ever stepped foot in liberty plaza! the 2nd anniversary of citizens united is fast approaching (january 21st)!
I'm 100% against all the protests going on right now. The reason for this is that there is no clear agenda other than "99% vs 1%". This man has the right idea. If we want to end corruption in our government, we reform the electoral system. This is the ONLY way to deal with "two-party tyranny" and other forms of corruption. If this man's proposal becomes the main agenda of the occupy movement, it will be something I will get behind with full force.
i beg of you! rethink this! we and many others are already focused on getting such a constitutional amendment passed as our first collective action! we haven't agreed on the best path to take yet because many of us have been working on this on our own for a while now and many of us are just now beginning to realize that this is where we need to focus our energies. we have several different ideas and we need to talk about them and decide collectively which would be the most effective....
they could no longer hide behind the absurdity of corporate person hood or the ridiculous (and pernicious) idea that cash equals speech. and we will have been battle hardened with experience in state politics learned getting our amendment passed by the state legislatures (a much easier, although admittedly difficult, task than unseating the majority of congress right now) and ready to unseat any politician who dared defy our wishes and replace them with one of our own....
something the majority of the 99% can get behind. but also something big enough and something so deeply integral to the 1%'s dominance of our government, that achieving it will be a death blow. it won't instantly change everything. of course, so much more will have to change. all the things you've proposed for example. but with such a huge win, the 99% would be unstoppable. we could then easily pressure congress to make those changes. this time with proof of our collective power.....
yes, i agree. electoral reform is where we as a national (if not global) movement should concentrate our energies now. but we need to keep those energies focused and at maximum strength leading in to what will be our first and most ferocious battle with the 1%. we must maintain the largest numbers and sprinkling whatever action we choose with multiple, unrelated and controversial elements is the surest way to dilute those numbers. we need to choose a singular, galvanizing issue....
that's enough cover right there for congress to say their hands are tied. robert, and the rest of you who are rightfully impressed with his proposal, you are right. most, if not all, of these things need to be implemented. but, strategically speaking, is this cornucopia of a relatively vague list of demands (we're still not sure of the actual language of many of the elements of this "bill") the thing we should be focusing on as our first, national "demand"? or should we focus a bit more?
i meant to say citizens united earlier. which brings me to the crux of it. you don't even mention it in your proposal. i'm shocked. you dismissed it at the meeting, i thought, as not being sufficient but i don't understand how you can think it isn't relevant at all. the supreme court has firmly stated that corporations are people and that money is speech. any attempt by congress to ban corporate campaign contributions would be instantly declared unconstitutional by said court.....
i don't know about you but i'd say the odds are in their favor. and even if they aren't, i'd say the corporate shills in washington are so enraptured with their captors that they will take their chances. all each of them really only worry about is themselves anyway. if they stick with wall street, even if they get voted out, they'll still have a cushy job waiting for them somewhere. we also will have our strength severely diminished by having to suddenly focus on so many different races....
sure, we're riding a wave now. but how strong is that wave, really? even we don't know. will it be enough? is it worth the risk? you said, we'll only have one shot. because not only will we have to go after every congress member who voted against us (which i figure would be at least half but probably more if history is any indication) but we'll also have to contend with, in the wake of citizens union, an unmitigated avalanche of corporate cash.....
and by submitting a proposal filled with so many different parts (some of which are tenuously tied to electoral reform and sure to be lightning rods, like eliminating personal income tax) we are sure to instantly split our unity and diminish our power. also, should they call our bluff, we will face a hugely impossible task. we would then be forced to do what we've been trying to do for years, but all at once, to vote out all of the corrupt politicians in washington....
thirdly, this all or nothing plan, if even possible, hinges on congress being sufficiently scared of being voted out of office to work. unfortunately, i fear that most members of congress will take that chance. we have done nothing to prove to them that we really have the power to do anything but sleep in tents and close down a port. can we really vote out every member who doesn't vote our way? maybe. but maybe not. that's a huge risk....
From BradBlog: Every U.S. citizen 18 years of age or older who wishes to vote, gets to vote. Period. Those votes, on hand-marked paper ballots, will be counted publicly, by hand, on Election Night, at the precinct, in front of all observers and video cameras.
even if i agree that we only have one shot (and part of me does), i'm not sure this proposal, as written, is the best ammunition. for one thing, you suggest we gamble everything on a hodgepodge of potential laws that you say the federal government must pass but some of those, from my understanding, are state issues not subject to federal law. secondly, some of them, like public campaign financing (which i whole heartedly agree with!) would fly in the face of the supreme court's recent rulings!
@jpwnyc Understand your comment - a full court press by Occupy and everyone else (have to win over the Independents, 63 other parties, and moderates within the two-party tyranny) must impact on states at same time that the Federal law passes. I do not have all the answers, but I do believe that we can together force this issue, e.g. Occupy each state's electoral process until they yield. Run Occupy candidates who are elected outside the process and then Occupy the offices until the state folds
robert, you know i love you. i came to that meeting because of you. and i think your proposal has many great and important ideas that need implementing to make our government responsive to the people. but, as i told jason, i think you may have jumped the gun a bit. i would have spoken to you myself but i thought maybe it would be better coming from him. you probably would have ignored my advice anyway. and now that this is going viral i figure i might as well post here....
I strongly believe this is an important next step, we must build a consensus in America that this is necessary for the future of our country. This should be embraced by the Occupy Movement across the country, it should be the important second national step of this movement after the initial occupations themselves. Please help spread this.
there is no "forcing Congress". Does anybody really expect Congress to reform electoral reform when they are the beneficiaries of the benefits of the current system??? "You can't expect someone to understand a problem when their paycheck depends on them not understanding the problem". Check out my voted-revolution - Jeff Block 2012
@JeffBlock2012 Checking out your voted resolution. Think outside the box. If we cannot recall or impeach a specific person, we can hound them out of office. Remember when Karl Rove's house was surrounded and they chased him from window to window? That was a whiff of what can come now.
I do want to praise Phil Small, he did an absolutely phenomenal job under terrible working conditions, and with full respect for the privacy concerns of all present. A top professional.
This guy speaks much sanity, but the problem is well beyond simple electoral reform.
The concept of electing a singular person or small body of elite people to perform decision making on behalf of the populace is the core problem we face in our leadership structure.
We don't need elections anymore.
We can decide as a group, through discussion and direct democracy, just like we are doing with the GA's at every OWS.
If we dont use a "leadership power structure" then they can't lie to us.
@JoshReflek I agree with you. Electoral Reform is how we destroy the two party tyranny and pave the way for Panarchy (all minds, all information, everyone votes themself on every issue at every level).
Government is what brought us this crisis and it certainly won't be the one to solve it. Why is Steele trying to convince us to stay in the statist trap? No thanks, I think I'll pass.
Electoral reform is part of it - but we should not trust Congress (as he suggests) - we instead need a Constitutional amendment which does that and a few other system change reforms.
@roxybeast Electoral Reform is how we shit-can the existing Congress and create a transparent Congress that represents the people instead of the parties and their special interests (and in fairness to Wall Street, it is Congress that shakes wall street down for bribes, not the other way around).
@roxybeast I agree with you and have the Constitutional Amendment as the last item, but I earnestly do not believe we can GET a Constitutional Amendment without first flushing Congress down the toilet. We need BOTH electoral reform AND (then) a Constitutional Amendment (IMHO).
It is way to early to be talking about specific reforms. We can agree on demanding zero tolerance for corruption in government, but how that will come about hasn't reached consensus yet. Election reform does no good when politicians are corrupted in so many other ways. But here is an idea: Sortition. Google it.
@sphinx77449 No, that happens to all new videos on YouTube. If a video gets tons of views in a short time, YouTube stops officially counting the views, to deter "cheating." If YouTube really wanted to, they could just delete the video or something. Don't be ridiculous.
@KanYeWest18 youtube doesn't show the real viewcount until it confirms that all those views are legit. The real viewcount should show up in a few days
Get rid of electronic voting, or at least paperless electronic voting. Or even better, simply ban the companies that develop the electronic voting booths from developing proprietary software to go in said booths.
@Circa9993 check the link in the video description. it will destroy the two party domination of the US government. it will allow the people to be fairly represented, not just given two shitty choices.
Some good points but unfortunately his proposal only focuses on one part of 100,000+ issues. Yes fixing the way politicians are elected would change allot of the evils in our country as stated on unacceptable.co but legislation that forces corporations to be 100% transparent and makes internal corporate policy accountable to the people is just as, or more important then election reform. The power in the Occupy movement is that it has no absolute focus keeping it fluid and mobile
Revolution will happen with or without the blood of tyrants, it's in our Declaration of Independence. Will it be a progressive transition in which laws are passed and the mandate of the masses are recognized? Or will it look more like what happened in Libya?
@RobertDavidSteele I didn't mean you were reciting it (as the other guy suggested, although I don't see why that would be bad anyway) - on the contrary, I thought it was extremely evident that you both care about and are knowledgeable of the topic you were speaking about. In my experience, it's easy to find the words when you care about something, and you demonstrated that very well.
@phstrat It is threatening and its because we really do only have one shot. This is the biggest movement to happen in awhile, and once the public sees it fail then whoever tries it the 2nd time, they will just bring up how OWS failed the first time and say its a waste of time or a stupid cause. The time is now people, step up or step out
@phstrat when he said that i all i could think was " one shot, one opportunity, to seize everything you wanted in one moment, would you take it?"-shady
@phstrat He's saying that you've got the kind of momentum going on right now to do this -- it truly is a once-in-a-generation thing. You have the power to change the world right now. Don't let it slip away.
what is happening now with this
ceovp 1 hour ago
(concluded) Voting would end when a field of that size got a percentage of the nominating votes also so determined, preferably 90 percent. This field would form the ballot for the election. The highest vote-getter would be president and the second, vice president."
cpklapper 4 weeks ago
"I propose a college formed of nominators elected popularly in each congressional district, plus two for each state chosen as per state constitution, with a suitable arrangement for the District of Columbia. The nominators would meet in Washington to choose, with one vote each, a field of candidates for president, with a size determined constitutionally, preferably five. (cont.)
cpklapper 4 weeks ago
You should check out my proposal, from a April 11, 2007 letter to the Editor of The Washington Post, for a Nominator College to replace the party primaries.
cpklapper 4 weeks ago
While some of his proposal seems legit the demand for the 'Abolishment of the Electoral College' would be last nail in the coffin of State's Rights. That alone would undo any advance made if all his other provisions were enacted.
elohim4hire 2 months ago
@elohim4hire No, it wouldn't. The electoral college does nothing for states' rights. It only distorts the will of the electorate.
macarion 2 weeks ago
UPDATE: The Reform Party has accepted my candidacy and I am in full bore mode for December, registered with the FEC, bought the URLs for BigBatUSA, hiring a campaign manager, hiring a CPA to be treasurer, and starting to gin up both modest contributions (IndieGoGo) while I work on the December program to confront every Representative while they are home with their own constituents demanding Electoral Reform Pledge. Learn more at TINY URL /Reform-Steele-2012
RobertDavidSteele 2 months ago 2
@RobertDavidSteele You've got my full support! The 2000 election, the corporate takeover of the electoral process, and people's dissatisfaction over the Republican field and congress- it all lays the groundwork for electoral reform. First-past-the-post stagnates our democracy- it allows the people in power to control elections. And what exactly is the objection to approval-based voting? I really can't think of one.
Maybe you should give that URL another go though. No spaces.
dwhee 2 months ago
Trying to convince young people indoctrinated by crony capitalism who don't understand where the root problems are is a task I myself would not attempt. Hats off to this guy. These kids have been so screwed over they don't know who or what to trust. I do agree though that electoral reform should be done 1st, emphasis on public funding. Any group or person working on that is to be applauded. imho-
HostileNegotiator 2 months ago
@4:20 gotta love it. ONE bird,two wings, same sh*t
anamarie8 2 months ago
That sounds a good demand but it probably wouldn't represent all the ideas and demands of this movement. We are suffering from two party system syndrome in this country. We have two dysfunctional parties and this hasn't been working so far. So, we can be either OW Party or associate with other marginalized parties.
sssatrunnn 2 months ago
@sssatrunnn I'm not sure if you actually watched the video, but his electoral reform idea is how we eliminate the two party and gain public interest in politics.
XavierCrandis 2 months ago
I agree. The electoral system is the real problem. If we could change the way it is funded and how funds are distributed we could completely alter the way politics are done in the country. The part of the reform that allows the general public to amend the constitution or state law would set us up for the tyranny of the masses by virtue of the propaganda of corporate news agencies and mega-churches. All campaign funds should be evenly distributed among the participating parties.
JabborWacky 2 months ago
He is absolutely correct. This should be the central message of Occupy Wallstreet and the most important demand it could make.
perrottetm 3 months ago
I am in Miss..video it so i can read it if you can.Nov 21st -2011.
1Littleagger 3 months ago
@RobertDavidSteele 247,725 signatures so far at getmoneyout & unitedrepublic. They have a similar goals to take the money out of politics. Have you considered working with them?
thew3t 3 months ago in playlist Occupy Wall Street 3
A simultaneous statement of demand would be very impressive.
BUT
a) a real ex-spy would probably not tell you he is a real ex-spy
so if that's not true - what the hell?
and b)
IF he was a real ex-spy who tells us the still isn't working for the man?
So if he isn't he isn't telling the truth and if he is we can't trust him.
Everything he says should be taken into consideration!
That means - it is ok to think about it! Just be weary.
HaploidCell 3 months ago
To assume that electoral reform is the cure for American ills is sadly naive (and wrong). And to think that all Occupy movements should take this up as a major "cause" is to deny the realities of each city.
margiemsbooks 3 months ago
OPTOR = ROBERT DAVID STEELE
RODY63 3 months ago
Approval Voting. :)
thebrokenladder 3 months ago
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The "Trash Capitalism Mob" (TCM) heap up their trash wherever they are found festering. Taxpayers pay cleaners to remove their trash before it stinks up the city. Other people are paid to clean up their faeces. Demented TCM'ers don't even use doggy bags to bag their crap.
JohnHay57 3 months ago
This guys seems like a good American although that comment about being a spy worries me. lol but I agree
xxxwarpathxxx 3 months ago
@xxxwarpathxxx recovering spy - left the dark side, had a conversion experience, publishing a book about it, The Open Source Everything Manifesto: Transparency, Truth, & Trust. Thanks for the comment at YouTube. Hackers on Planet Earth (HOPE) invite me back every time, my keytone at Gnomedex is the authentic me.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago in playlist RobertDavidSteele's favorites
this video needs MILLIONS of views
coolerow 3 months ago in playlist Liked 2
@coolerow Thanks for the upvote - the road trip got cancelled after the video went viral, for two reasons: did not attract contributions for the gas money (am unemployed) and Reddit said I would be more useful tending to the Internet conversation on this. Up to version 4.2 of the Act, all changes from crowd-sourcing.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago in playlist RobertDavidSteele's favorites
Unite .together with Our Friends here and everywhere..We r showering Divine Love and Blessings from our ♥s 2 all beautiful Islands of Japan and Our Beloved Earth and Humanity ♥ safely shifting 2 The Golden Crystal Age~Happiness 2 All~Oneness Love and Light Infinite~Thank U Beloved Mighty I Am Presence- ♥ Heaven and Earth United Us~as We R accepting this divine ~Gifts~of I AM~Oneness Love Light Supreme Infinite~The Light of God that Never Fails~in all its forms~We R Forever Flowering
OnenessNow 3 months ago
I wish I could like this a thousand times. This is what I've been saying all along. People need to understand the root of the problem and stop just railing against the banks. Let's use our brains and fix the government at it's core.
MrVenus85 3 months ago
if this get's banned....
414834 3 months ago
Gainful employment floats the consumer - the consumer floats the tax base - the tax base floats the infrastructure, schools, and prosperity of the nation.
Take any one away and the capitalist circle is broken. Employment becomes impoverished servitude. The tax base becomes a dependent. And the consumer becomes a futile 1 %. Finally out of desperation, the strained system taxes what prosperity remains, the 1%. The once viable nation of consumers bleeds out and dies.
johnnyfuxtik 3 months ago
DO NOT avoid the truth.... Obama's staff (cabinet) is full of folks from WALL STREET INCLUDING GOLDMAN SACHS -- The "Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010″, SUPPORTED by President Barack Obama, expand bailout authority for the federal government.
These bills provide a back door bailout of Wall Street. THE LINK BETWEEN -----THE BAILOUTS AND DC -GOES TO THE WHITEHOUSE, OUR LEADER SIGNED THE BILL TO OK & FUND, THE BONUSES/BAILOUTS..
TOO FEW OWS UNDERSTAND THAT SIMPLE LINK!
6852033 3 months ago 10
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Perot called it, we didn't want to hear it. We're now purposely kept out of the nation’s industrial loop, stripped of all collective leverage. And leverage, collective control, especially where a nation’s industry is concerned, is what transformed our huddled masses into middle classes. Collectively shutting down the industrial money machine alone checked exploitation. Capitalism is circular, like rock paper scissors, not this Indonesian wage American price, bleeding linear system we've become.
johnnyfuxtik 3 months ago
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”OCCUPY PROTEST”.LUKE 19:13 JESUS SAID “OCCUPY TILL I COME.”COINCIDENCE?DAMASCUS SYRIA–OLDEST CITY,NEVER BEEN DESTROYED(ISAIAH 17:1)ISRAEL DIVIDED(JOEL 4:1-4)JESUS SAID,HIS 2ND COMING,IF U SEE DMASCUS DSTROYED & SRAEL DVIDED.IF U THINK QUAKES R COMMON THINK OF THESE PROPHECIES,THESE R N THE NEWS NOW.JOHN 12:25-26 ANYONE LOVES THEIR LIFE WILL LOSE IT,WHLE ANYONE WHO HATES THEIR LIFE N THIS WORLD WILL KEEP IT FOR ETRNAL LIFE.26 MY FATHER WILL HONOR THE ONE WHO SERVES ME.REPENT!YOUTUBE:PAUL BEGLEY
ENTERRAPTURE20 3 months ago
Fantastic!
Lynettemcclain1 3 months ago
choose42
/watch?v=Smqh7EemSXY
CHOOSE42 3 months ago
Impeach all corrupt congress members> and arrest all corrupt banksters !
niceguy1060 3 months ago 27
Bring it on Robert Steele, no lack of women's voice in Wisconsin. We have a huge group going on Election Reform and your words are exactly what we feel. Let us know what we can do.........thank you!
barbwith 3 months ago 3
@barbwith how about creating your own version of the Statement of Demand and the Electoral Reform Act, and your own version of the briefing video, and post those? Looking for an electoral reform point of contact for every congressional district and every occupy group, building up an email list that will be restricted to those on it, my goal is to get a simultaneous call on every home office of every senator and every representative the week after thanksgiving "inviting" them to co-sponsor
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
Calling all females! Concerned that this has been a male thing, perhaps my language is too rough, would love to have a female version of this, make it your own. version 3.5 of the act is up and I am hoping all those who commented recently including Victoria will get in touch to shape version 3.6. Happy to have someone come back at me with a death to all male macho shits version. Bring it on (smile). We're in this together, warts and all.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
You're a smart man Robert Steele
MrJonnyKilljoy 3 months ago
Comment removed
MammalAnonymous 3 months ago
Just posted link, at Phi Beta Iota the Public Intelligence Blog, this is a new book by Gordon Cook honoring and documenting Eva Waskell's decades of electoral reform work -- the link has a list of the table of contents, extracts from each chapter, and a link to the full book free online. It is a mind-altering collection of FACTS that should strongly support the Electoral Act of 2012 - the transparency of the process is the new #1 in the Act, two voting elements were consolidated.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
Do contact her thru her VOTESCAM website, or just contact me and I'll put you in touch. Thanks, Robert! - best, jd
jeanniedean 3 months ago
Victoria cont'd: "...Both increase voter turn-out, they also increase the capacity for election fraud. You can't sacrifice safety for expediency in this case. The ballots MUST be cast and counted at the precinct on election day, by hand.
We have a lot of experts working on this issue for many years. Please get in touch and work with us on developing the proper language and proposal to make sure any electoral reform has real teeth and doesn't allow for election thieves to game the system."...
jeanniedean 3 months ago
@jeanniedean please email me at robert.david.steele.vivas [at] gmail.com, let's work on version 3.6 of the Act together.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
@RobertDavidSteele - thank u so much for the response! Great! I'll be in touch / very excited about your message and what you're doing at the occupies! (Oh, and I'm with the media team here at occupyLA / let me know when you're heading our way!) Thanks again! - jd
jeanniedean 3 months ago
From Victoria Collier via Jeannie Dean: @RobertDavidSteele
Victoria Collier, daughter of Jim Collier, co-author of VOTESCAM writes:
"One major issue with your proposal is a lack of strength in protecting the safety of the ballot. For example, ANYTHING that breaks the chain of custody of the ballot must be outlawed. Early voting is currently something that does just that -- as does mail-in voting...."
jeanniedean 3 months ago
@jeanniedean Added NEW 01 Transparency, have asked Gordon to ask Eva for 2-4 sentences to put there, in interim, see what I have put at TINY URL /OWS-ER-HO
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
We will need a new government and Robert Steele for PRESIDENT!
niceguy1060 3 months ago 2
the system is rigged against the 99% !
niceguy1060 3 months ago
Comment removed
niceguy1060 3 months ago
no 5:50... wait... why was I watching the timer?
firewolf47 3 months ago
Good luck driving to Hawaii. 1:45
jeremythom92 3 months ago
there's nothing wrong with America the beautiful except for the assholes in congress that need to be flushed down the toilet. Priceless
PrSasuke 3 months ago
i hate to break this to everyone
but were in a globalized market
pretty much these mega corps can go up to any government leader in the world offer them anywhere from 1 million to how ever much they want and that worker or leader will do what ever they want
i mean our president only gets paid about 300000 a year
you don't think he'll take a bribe that makes him 10 times more then he makes in a whole year???
490er 3 months ago
@490er Right but the bribes come in the form of gold certificates on the gold we captured in the Philippines from the Japanese, Marcos was rolled out when he refused to provide Reagan with another big shipment. Libya was about gold as well as oil and water (the aquifer). Bottom line is that NO ONE can be trusted in government unless we keep them naked 24/7 (transparent). That's what the Electoral Reform Act does, I hope.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
@RobertDavidSteele what???
gold has very little to do with the middle east man
oil is pretty much the only reason were their well then theirs the opium for our medical industry
490er 3 months ago
@490er actually, Libya was the only country in Africa where everyone got free health care and education to graduate level, and Qadaffi was sitting on more gold than most countries have; :Libya is also on top of one of the most important underground aquifers in Africa.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
@RobertDavidSteele yea i said Middle east
i didn't say anything about northern africa
i don't know a ton about that crap
490er 3 months ago
How will he pay for his tour? Essentially he blames congress for the problems and if he is associated with a company, then beware the hegelian dialectic. Also, what he is saying could be useful, but dont forget, the companiesndid this with the polictians.
andrew1717xx 3 months ago
@andrew1717xx Tour may not happen, everyone at reddit is telling me to do more of this (online dialog) and let the locals handle the face to face. Am letting the IndieGoGo campaign expire, this has gone viral, now my role is to be responsive, AMA.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
@RobertDavidSteele That is unfortunate to hear, but it also expresses the genuine nature of your proposal. That is all, you can do, and that is not a bad thing. My only point to you now would be for you to play devils advocate and critique yourself, figure out what the counter arguement for what you are saying.
cheers,
andrew
andrew1717xx 3 months ago
Ron Paul would make this an amendment. And end the the wars, and end the Federal reserve, and end the business welfare, and act like a true statesmen who represents the people- Not mega banks/corporations.
He is our only real hope for restoring liberty.
spunkitydoda 3 months ago
@spunkitydoda Everyone put their faith in Obama. It is time to do things ourselves, Ron paul can join, but he should not lead. remember he is part of that same bird.
andrew1717xx 3 months ago
@andrew1717xx I agree with you on Ron Paul, one reason why I wanted to create a "People's Cabinet that includes him, Dennis Kucinich, even Newt Gingrich. We are the feathers of the bird, and just now learning how to fly on our own.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
@spunkitydoda I disagree. Ron Paul is powerless if you leave the system in place.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
dont you ever seek the treasure
/watch?v=AEXzCb7ocb4&feature=channel_video_title
aimbotscott 3 months ago
indeed Robert Steele ! thumbs up !
micoforion 3 months ago
It doesn't matter about what Al Gore did or didn't do. All that's important is electoral reform, that's the only point anyone should be considering from this video.
In hindsight he probably shouldn't have said anything about Al Gore to accomplish that better xD
iEffluo 3 months ago
@iEffluo you're probably right about Gore, but it was a completely unrehearsed presentation and that is what moved me--also a person in the group who was one of the disenfranchised. I really felt betrayed, and that is when I realized two-party tyranny was real.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
SO, THE SUPPORTING LOBBYIST HAVE TO GO AS WELL !
niceguy1060 3 months ago
@niceguy1060 Lobbyists do not call on Ron Paul. We have to force everyone else to have that degree of integrity. Transparency does that, I think.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
i have goosebumps
coolerow 3 months ago
That bullshit about Al Gore just rolling over is rewriting of history. It's nothing more than crazy conspiracy theory nonsense.
Further more electoral reform is completely meaningless if Washington politics keeps consisting of TEN lobbyist for every politician in Congress. Just to illustrate the problem, the 12 member special budget committee will have over 200 lobbyist to hear from. Over 200!Are you being heard out there or is it just Boeing, Wall Street and Halliburton that's being heard?
SquirrelFromGradLife 3 months ago
@SquirrelFromGradLife
The only way is take up arms! Kick the useless bums out of Congress and replace it by a People's Congress.
petersz98 3 months ago
MAKE THIS VIRAL
MiniDJBeirne 3 months ago 2
It is an exciting time for positive change.
niceguy1060 3 months ago 31
THIS GUY IS SMART>LET'S LISTEN TO HIM AMERICA !
niceguy1060 3 months ago
Glad we connected :)
Wandering2000 3 months ago
I'd also be inclined to suggest no more reelections for any office. They simply cannot be trusted. Politics in America were never indended to be a career, but that's what they've become. Without having to worry about reelection, our officals would be able to actually focus on the issues at hand and solve problems in the best interests of the citizens.
andraxx112 3 months ago
I really enjoyed this. Well thought and excellent ideas. My own $0.02... You want to get rid of campaigns being bought and sold? Tax all political contributions at 99%. No loopholes.
andraxx112 3 months ago
@andraxx112 Tax all political contributions at 99%. That made me laugh (good laugh). We eliminate both personal and business taxes and end all campaign contributions. Revenue comes from the APT tax on financial transactions between banks. I took taxes out of the Act because plenty of people said it was a distractor, but I totally agree with you on stopping all financial influence on individual Members.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
ACTION 1: Share the core links. I am probably going to cancel the MGB tour for now, but I have a vision of a national ride for liberty with caravans joining me from county or state line to county or state line. Bike tours and walking tours also.
ACTION 2: Buy GO TEAM white marker and write "Electoral Reform Act of 2012" on the sides of anything that moves whose owner consents.
I will be faithful to the group, this is not my agenda, this is my intelligence helping to restore our integrity.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
ALERT: Best discussion is at reddit. We are trying to find one person to be part of a nation-wide electoral reform information sharing network. I am doing all one man can do to harvest comments into both Phi Beta Iota where there are individual YouTubes, Link Collections, and Strongest Comments, and into reddit. Reddit is where it is at in terms of reach, I think.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
Putting Citizens United overturn into both the Constitutional Amendment and Easy Voting -- the money is taken out in the public finance section, but you are right, this absolutely does need to me mentioned multiple times. I have been surprised OWS has not focused on hounding the Supremes that did this into retirement. If we can make Ron Paul Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, that will be fun (after he shuts down the Fed as the LAST Chairman of the Federal Reserve).
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
Instant Run-Off is clearly a bad idea, all the core comments are being put into the Reddit discussion and featured at Phi Beta Iota, and this will surely be changed in version 3.4 late Monday night.
We cannot get to a Constitutional Amendment without electoral reform act first, in my view, this is the path to direct democracy, and if you pay careful attention to the details, you will see that this does NOT lead to a "second tyranny" but rather to direct democracy.
THANK YOU for the comments.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
Stop trying to co-opt a movement for your own pet cause. Electoral reform can be a part of what comes, but it should in no way be the goal itself.
sarsmask 3 months ago
Instant run-off voting is a shit system. It's a tiny step above our current system. Proportional representation, with an open list, and a 4% minimum is used by the happiest and most successful countries in the world (Scandinavian countries). I suggest we fight this all the way unless he changes it to open list proportional representation like every other civilized nation.
yorgrish 3 months ago
Why are you promoting Instant Runoff? That is a crappy voting system that encourages insincerity. Look up and research the Condorcet method. It guarantees sincere voting in every way. Instant Runoff is impossible to keep a paper trail and impossible to understand or audit. Condorcet is simple and easy to verify. Instant runoff is promoted by those who want to create confusion and retain control over elections. Replace that and I'll support it.
cliffordwagner 3 months ago 2
@cliffordwagner killed instant run-off. now have hand counted paper ballots and (tentatively) condorcet/round-robin
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
electoral reform is stupid, we need to restore state appointment of senators and remove the winner take all rule from states. that's the only reform needed, we don't need to head in the other direction away from the republic model. We also need to shrink the total size of government and make it less efficient. A small useless government gives less opportunity for bad politicians to screw it up. Return to a government of the 20's, that was prime size.
JRayMalcolm 3 months ago
Uh, why didn't he explain what 'electoral reform' is? Approval voting or nothing.
npinp 3 months ago
@npinp read the link in the description
macarion 3 months ago
@npinp approval voting it is (version 4.2 just posted of the Electoral Reform Act
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
One bird, two wings, same shit. Wisdom.
mathmexican4234 3 months ago 22
bankers+lawyers+police+judge+politicians+criminals+terrorist+gamblinglords
+rebelnarcopolitician+dictators+rulers+etc = DIRTY CAPITALIST SCUM PIGS.
BANKERS & DRUGLORDS screwed life & society in human history.
BURN THE BANKS. BURN DRUG LORDS ALIVE & OCCUPY THE WORLD...!!!
BURN THE BANKS. BURN DRUG LORDS ALIVE & OCCUPY THE WORLD...!!!
"GOD HANG the LANDGRABBER PIG ROYAL LAZY FAMILY"
SAVE the ANIMALS & NATURE. END THE DEBT!!! END SLAVERY!!!
---- copy & paste WE ARE THE 99% FREEMAN ----
kopellhinex 3 months ago
@kopellhinex ca't end the debt... untrained unskilled or unwilling to work types keep wanting more free chit... chit ain't free = debt
cwhardin1 3 months ago
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CAPITALISM = NO REAL FREEDOM.
CAPITALISM is LANDLORD GRABBER PIG ROYAL LAZY FAMILY waiting.
google it: GLOBAL DEBT CLOCK
@cwhardin1 = COMMONER & MODERN FUTURE SLAVES
kopellhinex 3 months ago
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nwo+freemason+illuminati+scientology+secretsociety+religion+bohemiangrove+occult+government+etc = LANDLORD GRABBER PIG ROYAL LAZY FAMILY
fight for LAST DROP BLOOD for MONEY & POWER = LAZY ROYAL PIG FAMILY
kopellhinex 3 months ago
well, they don't seem to be letting me post the link but just go to citizen dot org.
if there's no party happening near you, host your own! we need to get on the same page here! and i agree, we need to do it soon. but let's be sure we're on the right page! we can do this! in solidarity! :)
jpwnyc 3 months ago 2
@jpwnyc I will gladly join any group anywhere via skype, and if you desire, you could record it and load it to YouTube and help make this your own. Not about me. We need at least 100 million pissed off voters to see this video and decide to make the Act their own demand. Someone else is creating a petition that will be rolled out Monday, trying to get IndieGoGo to sponsor a single page for all Occupy fund-raising to end the embezelment that is happening (e.g. Oakland).
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
and a coalition of like minded groups (including public citizen, people for the american way, & move to amend) are planning a national day of action to commemorate this most unfortunately occasion and to mobilize people to come together around the idea of passing a constitutional amendment to declare once and for all that corporations are not people and money is not speech! this wednesday, november 9th, they are having house parties around the country to plan for this day. please join them!
jpwnyc 3 months ago
as i'm sure you are all aware, especially if you've partaken in any of the general assemblies happening around the world (especially nyc) this process can be slow and difficult. but we are getting there. please join us! join your local occupation's political action and electoral reform working group! join one of the many organizations who have been working on this since before we ever stepped foot in liberty plaza! the 2nd anniversary of citizens united is fast approaching (january 21st)!
jpwnyc 3 months ago
I'm 100% against all the protests going on right now. The reason for this is that there is no clear agenda other than "99% vs 1%". This man has the right idea. If we want to end corruption in our government, we reform the electoral system. This is the ONLY way to deal with "two-party tyranny" and other forms of corruption. If this man's proposal becomes the main agenda of the occupy movement, it will be something I will get behind with full force.
asladsljkdsfljkafsd 3 months ago
i beg of you! rethink this! we and many others are already focused on getting such a constitutional amendment passed as our first collective action! we haven't agreed on the best path to take yet because many of us have been working on this on our own for a while now and many of us are just now beginning to realize that this is where we need to focus our energies. we have several different ideas and we need to talk about them and decide collectively which would be the most effective....
jpwnyc 3 months ago
they could no longer hide behind the absurdity of corporate person hood or the ridiculous (and pernicious) idea that cash equals speech. and we will have been battle hardened with experience in state politics learned getting our amendment passed by the state legislatures (a much easier, although admittedly difficult, task than unseating the majority of congress right now) and ready to unseat any politician who dared defy our wishes and replace them with one of our own....
jpwnyc 3 months ago
something the majority of the 99% can get behind. but also something big enough and something so deeply integral to the 1%'s dominance of our government, that achieving it will be a death blow. it won't instantly change everything. of course, so much more will have to change. all the things you've proposed for example. but with such a huge win, the 99% would be unstoppable. we could then easily pressure congress to make those changes. this time with proof of our collective power.....
jpwnyc 3 months ago 2
yes, i agree. electoral reform is where we as a national (if not global) movement should concentrate our energies now. but we need to keep those energies focused and at maximum strength leading in to what will be our first and most ferocious battle with the 1%. we must maintain the largest numbers and sprinkling whatever action we choose with multiple, unrelated and controversial elements is the surest way to dilute those numbers. we need to choose a singular, galvanizing issue....
jpwnyc 3 months ago 2
that's enough cover right there for congress to say their hands are tied. robert, and the rest of you who are rightfully impressed with his proposal, you are right. most, if not all, of these things need to be implemented. but, strategically speaking, is this cornucopia of a relatively vague list of demands (we're still not sure of the actual language of many of the elements of this "bill") the thing we should be focusing on as our first, national "demand"? or should we focus a bit more?
jpwnyc 3 months ago
i meant to say citizens united earlier. which brings me to the crux of it. you don't even mention it in your proposal. i'm shocked. you dismissed it at the meeting, i thought, as not being sufficient but i don't understand how you can think it isn't relevant at all. the supreme court has firmly stated that corporations are people and that money is speech. any attempt by congress to ban corporate campaign contributions would be instantly declared unconstitutional by said court.....
jpwnyc 3 months ago
i don't know about you but i'd say the odds are in their favor. and even if they aren't, i'd say the corporate shills in washington are so enraptured with their captors that they will take their chances. all each of them really only worry about is themselves anyway. if they stick with wall street, even if they get voted out, they'll still have a cushy job waiting for them somewhere. we also will have our strength severely diminished by having to suddenly focus on so many different races....
jpwnyc 3 months ago
Dont agree.
mr37212 3 months ago
@mr37212 Wow, great argument!
macarion 3 months ago
sure, we're riding a wave now. but how strong is that wave, really? even we don't know. will it be enough? is it worth the risk? you said, we'll only have one shot. because not only will we have to go after every congress member who voted against us (which i figure would be at least half but probably more if history is any indication) but we'll also have to contend with, in the wake of citizens union, an unmitigated avalanche of corporate cash.....
jpwnyc 3 months ago
and by submitting a proposal filled with so many different parts (some of which are tenuously tied to electoral reform and sure to be lightning rods, like eliminating personal income tax) we are sure to instantly split our unity and diminish our power. also, should they call our bluff, we will face a hugely impossible task. we would then be forced to do what we've been trying to do for years, but all at once, to vote out all of the corrupt politicians in washington....
jpwnyc 3 months ago
Bush faked the moon landing! Pass it on... peacefully.
RDJim 3 months ago
thirdly, this all or nothing plan, if even possible, hinges on congress being sufficiently scared of being voted out of office to work. unfortunately, i fear that most members of congress will take that chance. we have done nothing to prove to them that we really have the power to do anything but sleep in tents and close down a port. can we really vote out every member who doesn't vote our way? maybe. but maybe not. that's a huge risk....
jpwnyc 3 months ago
From BradBlog: Every U.S. citizen 18 years of age or older who wishes to vote, gets to vote. Period. Those votes, on hand-marked paper ballots, will be counted publicly, by hand, on Election Night, at the precinct, in front of all observers and video cameras.
sierranolan 3 months ago
even if i agree that we only have one shot (and part of me does), i'm not sure this proposal, as written, is the best ammunition. for one thing, you suggest we gamble everything on a hodgepodge of potential laws that you say the federal government must pass but some of those, from my understanding, are state issues not subject to federal law. secondly, some of them, like public campaign financing (which i whole heartedly agree with!) would fly in the face of the supreme court's recent rulings!
jpwnyc 3 months ago
@jpwnyc Understand your comment - a full court press by Occupy and everyone else (have to win over the Independents, 63 other parties, and moderates within the two-party tyranny) must impact on states at same time that the Federal law passes. I do not have all the answers, but I do believe that we can together force this issue, e.g. Occupy each state's electoral process until they yield. Run Occupy candidates who are elected outside the process and then Occupy the offices until the state folds
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
The guy was a secret agent once in the CIA he knows how shit really works
cfrend 3 months ago
robert, you know i love you. i came to that meeting because of you. and i think your proposal has many great and important ideas that need implementing to make our government responsive to the people. but, as i told jason, i think you may have jumped the gun a bit. i would have spoken to you myself but i thought maybe it would be better coming from him. you probably would have ignored my advice anyway. and now that this is going viral i figure i might as well post here....
jpwnyc 3 months ago
who controls the NY legislature...democrats! zonk
jg325 3 months ago
I am sold, OWS just got its voice.
tcholland360 3 months ago 2
I strongly believe this is an important next step, we must build a consensus in America that this is necessary for the future of our country. This should be embraced by the Occupy Movement across the country, it should be the important second national step of this movement after the initial occupations themselves. Please help spread this.
mhougey 3 months ago
@mhougey make copies of the Electoral Reform Act hand out. Pass them around to the Occupy nearest to you.
jloppy 3 months ago in playlist Liked
there is no "forcing Congress". Does anybody really expect Congress to reform electoral reform when they are the beneficiaries of the benefits of the current system??? "You can't expect someone to understand a problem when their paycheck depends on them not understanding the problem". Check out my voted-revolution - Jeff Block 2012
JeffBlock2012 3 months ago
@JeffBlock2012 Checking out your voted resolution. Think outside the box. If we cannot recall or impeach a specific person, we can hound them out of office. Remember when Karl Rove's house was surrounded and they chased him from window to window? That was a whiff of what can come now.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
I do want to praise Phil Small, he did an absolutely phenomenal job under terrible working conditions, and with full respect for the privacy concerns of all present. A top professional.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
You guys should also focus on encouraging the OWS members to vote for third party candidates. Anything but the Democrats/Republicans
spp41 3 months ago
This guy speaks much sanity, but the problem is well beyond simple electoral reform.
The concept of electing a singular person or small body of elite people to perform decision making on behalf of the populace is the core problem we face in our leadership structure.
We don't need elections anymore.
We can decide as a group, through discussion and direct democracy, just like we are doing with the GA's at every OWS.
If we dont use a "leadership power structure" then they can't lie to us.
JoshReflek 3 months ago
@JoshReflek I agree with you. Electoral Reform is how we destroy the two party tyranny and pave the way for Panarchy (all minds, all information, everyone votes themself on every issue at every level).
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
Fantastic, people on the street have come up with better solutions than our actual government.
MiniDJBeirne 3 months ago 2
Government is what brought us this crisis and it certainly won't be the one to solve it. Why is Steele trying to convince us to stay in the statist trap? No thanks, I think I'll pass.
anewmatrix 3 months ago
If you get the money out of politics, everything else can and will follow.
zooryanzoo123 3 months ago
Electoral reform is part of it - but we should not trust Congress (as he suggests) - we instead need a Constitutional amendment which does that and a few other system change reforms.
roxybeast 3 months ago 19
@roxybeast Electoral Reform is how we shit-can the existing Congress and create a transparent Congress that represents the people instead of the parties and their special interests (and in fairness to Wall Street, it is Congress that shakes wall street down for bribes, not the other way around).
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
@roxybeast I agree with you and have the Constitutional Amendment as the last item, but I earnestly do not believe we can GET a Constitutional Amendment without first flushing Congress down the toilet. We need BOTH electoral reform AND (then) a Constitutional Amendment (IMHO).
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
It is way to early to be talking about specific reforms. We can agree on demanding zero tolerance for corruption in government, but how that will come about hasn't reached consensus yet. Election reform does no good when politicians are corrupted in so many other ways. But here is an idea: Sortition. Google it.
MrBubblebelly 3 months ago
He's gonna drive to Hawaii! :D
5Sybon 3 months ago
Yet another pro-99% video with more likes than views. Seems pretty obvious YouTube is intentionally keeping the counts down.
sphinx77449 3 months ago
@sphinx77449 No, that happens to all new videos on YouTube. If a video gets tons of views in a short time, YouTube stops officially counting the views, to deter "cheating." If YouTube really wanted to, they could just delete the video or something. Don't be ridiculous.
macarion 3 months ago 3
@sphinx77449
Wow.... you are a bit of an idiot, eh?
TheOeberon1 3 months ago
Oh look it got 301 views, why that youtube ?
KanYeWest18 3 months ago
@KanYeWest18 youtube doesn't show the real viewcount until it confirms that all those views are legit. The real viewcount should show up in a few days
ComradeMagnum 3 months ago
Get rid of electronic voting, or at least paperless electronic voting. Or even better, simply ban the companies that develop the electronic voting booths from developing proprietary software to go in said booths.
ZacksEnder 3 months ago
Here is a link to Robert's full proposal: phibetaiota (dot) net/2011/10/2011-electoral-reform-act-2-2-full-text-online-for-google-translate/
kylecb 3 months ago
what exactly will the electoral reform do? He doesn't really give a clear explanation.
Circa9993 3 months ago
@Circa9993 check the link in the video description. it will destroy the two party domination of the US government. it will allow the people to be fairly represented, not just given two shitty choices.
macarion 3 months ago 2
@Circa9993
Read the reform, just look up the image file.
garveya1 3 months ago
privately funded politicians will NEVER propose, or vote for public electoral financing. Their contributors would never allow it.
nonindividualist 3 months ago
why would the congress want to pass electoral reform? when the party that has power in congress is taking advantage of the electorals flaws? lol
imPathogenic 3 months ago
@imPathogenic we can use referendums
macarion 3 months ago
Some good points but unfortunately his proposal only focuses on one part of 100,000+ issues. Yes fixing the way politicians are elected would change allot of the evils in our country as stated on unacceptable.co but legislation that forces corporations to be 100% transparent and makes internal corporate policy accountable to the people is just as, or more important then election reform. The power in the Occupy movement is that it has no absolute focus keeping it fluid and mobile
unacceptableco 3 months ago
Revolution will happen with or without the blood of tyrants, it's in our Declaration of Independence. Will it be a progressive transition in which laws are passed and the mandate of the masses are recognized? Or will it look more like what happened in Libya?
Ripples2288 3 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
this dude is scripted, a fake.
depro9 3 months ago
@depro9 It's almost like he's actually thought about what he wants to say.
PMonty146 3 months ago 3
@PMonty146 My video on electoral reform was off the cuff, the time limit set by the group helped me focus. Thanks for the comment at YouTube.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago
@RobertDavidSteele I didn't mean you were reciting it (as the other guy suggested, although I don't see why that would be bad anyway) - on the contrary, I thought it was extremely evident that you both care about and are knowledgeable of the topic you were speaking about. In my experience, it's easy to find the words when you care about something, and you demonstrated that very well.
PMonty146 3 months ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Boring bullshit...fuck this shill fuck.
deniedretried 3 months ago
We only have one shot at doing this? Seems kinda threatening...just sayin'.
phstrat 3 months ago
@phstrat It is threatening and its because we really do only have one shot. This is the biggest movement to happen in awhile, and once the public sees it fail then whoever tries it the 2nd time, they will just bring up how OWS failed the first time and say its a waste of time or a stupid cause. The time is now people, step up or step out
CurLy24 3 months ago 2
@phstrat when he said that i all i could think was " one shot, one opportunity, to seize everything you wanted in one moment, would you take it?"-shady
freeealry 3 months ago
@phstrat He's saying that you've got the kind of momentum going on right now to do this -- it truly is a once-in-a-generation thing. You have the power to change the world right now. Don't let it slip away.
BCLaraby 3 months ago 2
This thing includes doing away with income tax. Bad idea.
blahbl4hblahtoo 3 months ago
@blahbl4hblahtoo I took the tax thing out in edition 3.2. keep the comments coming.
RobertDavidSteele 3 months ago