It's a non-binding referendum instructing the reps for the district voting in approval to push and vote for cutting Pentagon spending by 25%, ending the wars, increasing taxes on the 1%, and using that money to find our communities.
http://www.fundourcommunities.org/
We also got Westport to approve the MTA resolution against Citizens United, and we're waiting on Fall River and Somerset.
I think learning how to do referendums would be good for Occupy since it's one of the few elements of democracy we have, despite that it's extremely flawed. I've been advised that there's a movement to simplify the overly complicated process, and we'll look into that more after this campaign.
I found out yesterday that Fall River cuts its check with Bank of America, which may be the next issue we take up. I like how Occupy Buffalo was able to get the city to move some funds from the big banks. I think that could be pursued by other groups. There really are a lot of opportunities out there.
Direct action works, but we also have to make many of the changes within the system ourselves. As I've learned since October, no one's going to do this stuff for us, so we need political direct action as well. My two cents.
Solidarity,
-Justin Val
Occupy Fall River Media Committee
Facebook.com/j.val.r
On Jun 5, 2012, at 10:13 AM, deh43@comcast.net wrote:
The Quincy City Council passed the proposal 4 to 0. 4 for and 4 abstentions. Many thanks to all who participated. Time to get started in your own town.
Many thanks, again
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: deh43@comcast.net
To: "vfp al"
Sent: Saturday, June 2, 2012 5:16:35 PM
Subject: citizens united proposal
I have presented a proposal to the Quincy City Council to vote on the overturning of the Citizens United Decision. It is on the agenda for monday nights city council meeting at 8:00. Jain and I can use all the support we can get in this endeavor. If you can be there it would be greatly appreciated. If you cannot and know anybody in Quincy could you get them to e-mail their councillor to express their support for this proposal.
If anybody would like a copy of the proposal to adapt to their own city or town or need more information, please e-mail me and I will send it on to you. The following are my prepared remarks on the issue.
Dan Higgins, VfP, Occupy Quincy
The Case Against citizens United
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am pleased to have the opportunity to present to you on a matter of great importance to our democracy and therefore our community, a matter that is being addressed not only by cities and towns in our own great Commonwealth but across the nation as well. I am speaking of course of the 2010 Supreme Court Citizens United decision that has declarded that corporations are people and thus have the right under the consitution to make unresricted political payments. Citizens across this country disagree. Corporations are not people They are essentially ATM machines for political campiagns used to buy influence. Citizens United allows anonymous superpacs to feed a needlessly increasing appetite for money within the electoral process and provides unprecedented access for special interests over not only our elections but our elected officials. What chance does your vote or my vote have against a million dollars?
A dark cloud has descended over our democracy. We are returning to the gilded age of robber barons and an aristocracy of wealth. The gains our society has achieved over the last century are being undone as people lose their jobs, their homes, their pensions and their sons and daughters to endless wars, in a political and economic environment that favors the monied few at the expense of every day people like ourselves. Citizens United codifies this new social order. Across the country the democratic citizenry are outraged. We have lost faith in the ability, and the willingness of our elected officials to right these wrongs and are seeking to take direct action against this injustice and work together to overturn the Citizen United decision by calling for a constitituional amendment to do so.
I am sure you are famiiar with the old saw “Think Globally, Act Locally.” In this case, we must think NATIONALLY and act locally. In our own Commonwealth of Massachusetts over 50 cities and towns have adopted resolutions calling for the reversal of Citizens United. It is time now for the great city of Quincy, the City of Presidents, to once again serve its nation by joining in this effort and adopting this resolution on behalf of its democratic citizenry. The time to act is now.
I thank you for your kind attention.
Most sincerely,
Daniel E. Higgins
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