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Van Jones and Democratic Party Operatives: You Do Not Represent the Occupy Movement
Make Your Own Program Don’t Try to Steal Ours
By Kevin Zeese
Occupy Washington, DC
The corporate media is anointing a false leader of the Occupy Movement in Van Jones of Rebuild the Dream.
The former Obama administration official, who received a golden parachute at Princeton and the Democratic think tank Center for American Progress when he left the administration, is doing what Democrats always do—see the energy of an independent movement, race to the front, then lead it down a dead end and essentially destroy it. Jones is doing the dirty work of a Democratic operative and while he and other Dem front groups pretend to support Occupiers, their real mission is to co-opt it.
Glenn Greenwald says in a recent blog, "White House-aligned groups such as the Center for American Progress have made explicity clear that they are going to try to convert OWS into a vote-producing arm for the Obama 2012 campaign."
Before he ran to the front of the Occupy Movement, Jones' Rebuild the Dream had been saying that its first task was to elect Democrats. Now he is claiming there will be 2000 “99% candidates” in 2012. These Democrats will be re-branded as part of the 99% movement. Democrats will now be re-labeled and marketed as part of the 99% movement. Republican operatives did the same thing to the Tea Party. Tea Party candidates, who often used to be corporate “Club for Growth” candidates, ran in the Republican Party. See, e.g. Senator Pat Toomey – before and after.
Jones is urging the Occupy Movement to “mature" and move on to an electoral phase. This would only make us a sterile part of the very problem we oppose. The electoral system is a corrupt mirage where only corporate-approved candidates are allowed to be considered seriously. At Occupy Washington, DC, we recognize that putting our time, energy and resources into elections will not produce the change we want to see. What we need to do right now is build a dynamic movement supported by independent media that stands in stark contrast to both corporate-bought-and-paid-for
Democratic operatives want to steal the energy of the Occupy Movement because they do not have any of their own. These Dem front groups operate within the confines of the two corrupt parties and their agenda is limited by what big business interests say is politically realistic. Rebuild the Dream is more of the same that has been seen over and over from groups like MoveOn and Campaign for America’s Future – elect Democrats is their mantra. It is their only program. And, it is bankrupt.
Democrats need to derail and co-opt the Occupy Movement because it calls attention to what's really happening. The American people need a real jobs bill, not one that is merely a political tactic for an election year. We also need a truly progressive tax system—one that taxes wealth more and workers less. The poorest Americans pay taxes on necessities like food and clothing, so why is it that neither party urges a tax on the purchase of stocks, bonds and derivatives—a tax that could raise $800 billion over a decade? And finally, we need an end to the wars and militarism maintained and expanded by both parties, bringing huge profits to the arms industry and immense suffering to millions.
The Occupy Movement is not part of either corporate-dominated party and Van Jones is not our leader. It is corporate rule we oppose. The Obama administration and the Democrats as well as the Republicans maintain the rule of Wall Street. Occupiers have organized an independent movement that challenges the rule of the 1% and their Republican and Democratic lackeys. Bought and paid for with millions of dollars from Wall Street, the health insurance industry and big energy interests, Obama and the Democrats are part of the problem, not the solution.
Kevin Zeese is an organizer of Occupy Washington, DC and co-director of Its Our Economy and co-chair of Come Home America.
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I listened to the CNN video and Van Jones and Rebuild the Dream are making a concerted effort to help the OWS movement. This article is much too radical. You are not going to make any changes outside of the Democratic Party. Just join up and start focusing more constructively.
You mean join the same political process that just removed more of the few remaining portions of the Bill of Rights? American citizens may now be arrested and detained indefinitely without trial merely for being suspected as a 'terrorist.' The definition of 'terrorist' now on the books includes things as absurd as having more than 7 days of food. Civil rights groups are already labeled as 'terrorist' organizations. We are now living in a police state. http://wearechangetv.us/2011/11/61-senators-betrayed-you-today-they-auth...
Seriously? What will it take for people like you to wake up? Our country — and much of the world — is self-destructing thanks to Republicans and Democrats both. It is obvious that any significant genuine change will not come from within the corporate-owned two party system. Liberals who continue to support the "lesser of two evils" are only enabling this catastrophic cycle of corruption and greed.
Here's just a small sampling of what our current, supposedly less evil, president has done for us: http://www.democracynow.org/2011/11/30/report_obama_has_weakened_more_lo...
The income tax was created to guarantee the newly created Federal Reserve would get paid. The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 created a private, for-profit bank controlled by the international baking cartels that would create money out of nothing and loan it to the government at interest. This created the core of a financial system that sucks the life out of the American economy like a parasite.
Talk of tax reform distracts from the core issues of 1) Private central banks that manipulate our currencies. 2) Corruption of the political process by moneyed interests. These two issues form a self-reinforcing process: Money to buy power, power to protect money.
For a more comprehensive overview of the history, extent, and solutions to the problem I highly recommend the documentary entitled "The Money Masters". It is available at http://www.themoneymasters.com/ - and no, I am not paid for, affiliated with or in any way compensated by that website.
The first income tax imposed in America was during the War of 1812. Its original purpose was to fund the repayment of a $100 million debt that was incurred through war-related expenses. After the war, the tax was repealed, but income tax became permanent during the early 20th century. A lot of Americans are whining regarding taxes. However, compared to income taxes around the world, Americans don’t pay that much. By law, businesses and individuals must file an income tax return every year to determine whether they owe any taxes or are eligible for a tax refund. Income tax is a key source of funds that the government uses to fund its activities and serve the public. Learn more at: https://personalmoneynetwork.com/installment-loans/
You may not like the income tax but it is Constitutional as a result of the 16th Amendment. I'd like to see us tax wealth more and work less, e.g. capital gains tax, tax on the purchase of stocks, bonds and dividends. A tiny tax of 1% on the purchase of stocks, bonds and derivatives could do away with the income tax except for the highest tax brackets.
The income tax was submitted to the state's for ratification in 1909, years before the creation of the Federal Reserve. The income tax itself was first enacted in the same bill that created the Federal Reserve but on what do you base the claim it was enacted to fund the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve creates money, why does it need the income tax?
As an aside, the federal income tax was ruled as being unconstitutional in the previous attempts to have it instated. So Congress proposed the 16th amendment to make it constitutional. This is somewhat controversial since it's been argued that fewer than the 75% of states needed to ratify the amendment did so.
I any case, the need for the tax is rather straightforward and has to do with the nature of the way in which the Federal Reserve creates money. The US Government offers to sell bonds, which are essentially a government IOU, on the open market. The Federal Reserve then buys these bonds with money that it creates out of _nothing_ . The Federal Reserve literally creates electronic deposits in its accounts out of nothing and then uses this new money to pay for the bonds. Here's the catch - the bonds that the government sold to the Federal Reserve bear _interest_. So whenever money is created there is compounding interest attached to it.
In effect, the US Government borrows money from the Federal Reserve, a private for-profit bank, and then pays interest on it as a fee for using its own money. Just last year the interest payment on the national debt was over $400,000,000,000. That's why taxes are required - to pay the interest that accumulates whenever money is created. Taxes basically amount to a redistribution of wealth from the public to the bankers. This is not the only way in which banks suck the American public dry but it is the first step in the process.
At this point you may ask, "That's just silly, why doesn't the government just create the money itself instead of borrowing it?" That's an excellent question. It plays a pivotal role in our history. Check out: http://www.michaeljournal.org/plenty49.htm for an abbreviated version of this history. Check out the video I mentioned above for more detail.
Yes, the Federal Reserve is a totally different question from the income tax. Re the income tax, it passed as the Constitution requried. If you question that amendment that you question all of them.
Re the Fed, I agree -- we need public money created by the government not by a private banking entity.
KZ
The issues of taxation and the Fed are tightly linked. When the government borrows money from the Fed it will eventually have to pay it back, plus interest. This money has to come from somewhere. That's where the income tax comes in.
These issues are crucial to the understanding of how moneyed interests became entrenched in our economy and political process.
"History records that the money changers [bankers] have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling money and its issuance." -James Madison
The whole structure of voting for a compromised legislature is flawed, but if one of the parties attempts to coopt the #Occupy movement, the movement must rise to the challenge. Independent candidates who refuse to serve in the old corrupt system if elected would be the most appropriate answer. They must accept the task they are elected for only in a venue of their own choosing and in a truly democratic, horizontal manner.
Being confused is quite understandable as it is a deliberate by-product of the machinations on the part of the Democrats and Republicans [i.e. the Republicrats] and their corporate-stream media. Everyday Black, White, Brown, Red, and Yellow people do NOT have to buy-in to the farce of the corporate-controlled Republicrats. We do not, and should not, choose the evil of one or the other of the two lessers; as this will NOT bring about much-needed or genuine SYSTEMIC change. There is no need to be "confused," as long as we everyday people are honest with ourselves, and are willing to work hard in the ongoing and protracted struggle for real systemic change. This is not, and will not be easy, but it IS absolutely essential.
It is WE, the people, who are the ones with the REAL power, if only we would RECOGNIZE and ACTUALIZE it. Therein lies the importance and egalitarian power of the Occupy Movement--nationally and internationally. The Occupy movement is not without its serious challenges; which is precisely why we must recognize and address these challenges, while REFUSING to be co-opted by either of the Republicrat political parties or their operatives.
Onward...
In struggle,
Larry Pinkney
As long as politicians are the ones with the power to make laws in this country, then we will either have to choose some to align with or produce an alternative.
I get your point about being co-opted, and it's a very valid one. We must use some kind of strategy to prevent that, but i think we shouldn't just shut out anyone trying to align themselves with our goals.
All I know for sure is that a republican congress has been devastating, and we don't have the time to create a third party and gain a majority of support for them. Not while good people are standing out in the cold.
Don't offer us problems. Offer us possible solutions. We already have enough problems.
Yes, the Republicans are lousy -- on that we agree. But, the Democratic President whether or not he controlled the Congress has also been devastating. He has expanded wars consistently, killing masses of civilians, militarizing Africa, surrounding China and Iran with weapons, using record numbers of drones -- continuing wars he says are over. And, at home he has build corporate power. He is obviously a Wall Street Democrat. Rather than breaking up the big banks, he has let them get bigger. Rather than prosecuting corporate criminals he has put JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and the NY Fed in the White House and on his economic team. On health care, rather than ending insurance domination and waste, he has entrenched them further. The list goes on.
We need an independent movement that will pressure both parties, just as the early Civil Rights Movement did. They did not align, the pushed both. Once the Civil Rights Movement became tied to the Dem Party, every measure for African Americans has been in decline. The same history is true with the Labore Movement. When they were independent and pressured both parties they made gains. Since allying with the Dems they have been in decline.
We will not make that mistake. We will stay independent and challenge both parties. We will build an independent movement and independent media; and if necessar an independent party. Right now the electoral system is to corrupt to participate in. It needs dramatic change so we can have real, not mirage, elections.
Until we come up with a solution we should keep on voting because the Republican\Tea party want's to cut social programs that are vital to the 99%er's .
Voting for the very, very, minutely less worse just because they are also the slightly more guileful propagandists will only give you a somewhat smoother velvet toned voice wearing a satin gloved fist in the tow-truck with the wire-rope noose that will come for you a little later, and maybe without a siren to call attention to your neighbors and show them what happens to an 'independent thinker' like you.
There is no "less worse" when we are looking into the dead eyes of Empire.
Best luck and love to Occupy in committing to excise Empire and thus saving the informed along with the naive.
Liberty, democracy, justice, and equality
over
violent/Vichy
empire,
Alan
Division is not the answer...unless our agendas are totally different. MoveOn agenda is the same as our's,fighting for the 99%,how can we say it's alright for there members to be a part of the Occupy Movement but it's not alright for MoveOn as a organization to be a part of it,do you really think there members would take part in the Occupy Movement knowing this .The Political party's in this country are all control by the 1% money but the Republican\ Tea party wants to cut social programs for the Middle class and the working poor whereas they want to give tax brakes to the 1% and put every thing on the back's of the middle class and working poor . If you believe as I do that this GOP pledge to Grover Norquist supersedes the oath of office taken by these congressional representatives to uphold and defend the US Constitution and why is MoveOn the only organization being single out because there are other organization that's have the same agenda as MoveOn and they are not being single out,why ?
The excellent article by Kevin Zeese does not foster "division." Rather, it is the Democratic Party, which continues to be the graveyard of people's movements, which does precisely this. BOTH the Democrats and the Republicans are systemic gate-keepers and corporate parties with a vested economic and political interest in perpetuating the de facto status quo. (Watch LIFTING THE VEIL http://metanoia-films.org/compilations.php) Moreover, saying(as does yet a different reader) that the Occupy Movement belongs to "everyone," is akin to claiming that the ongoing people's rebellion in Egypt, somehow belongs to the very U.S./corporate-backed, former dictator, Hosni Mubarak. Such a claim is utterly ridiculous. Finally, the "GOP" elephant BLATANTLY stomps on the needs of everyday people even as the Democratic Party donkey CYNICALLY,INSIDIOUSLY and REPEATEDLY seeks to make an ass out of the legitimate needs & hopes of everyday Black, White, Brown, Red, and Yellow people in the fake name of being different. Get real!
The Scandalous Republicrats: Two Poisonous Peas In One Rotten Pod http://www.blackcommentator.com/294/294_kir_republicans_rotton_pod.html
Political Parasites Pimping the People
http://www.blackcommentator.com/428/428_kir_political_parasites_share.html
Incisive, no-nonsense article Kevin Zeese! Keep on keeping it real!
Larry Pinkney
Editorial Board Member & Columnist
THE BLACK COMMENTATOR
I think it will be the doom of OWS to exclude groups. Most of us have the same agenda, that is, to make Wall Street accountable and have a true working progressive tax system. Some of us may have become sidetracked and a little overzealous for our own pet projects. It’s time to refocus and define what OWS wants. Otherwise, the movement just becomes a passive aggressive temper tantrum. There are many groups that will take ownership of OWS because the movement belongs to everyone. Period.
The system works just great for those in the Democratic Party, and for the Congress, most of whom are in at least the top 15% of the country. Don't oversimplify the 99% Ali. Sure we are all the 99% for the most part, but then there are apologists for the party and system that caused the rise of the 99% we are supposed to suck it up AGAIN and support them? Hell no.
Division is not the answer...unless our agendas are totally different,we are all 99%ers,division is how movements die.
Uniting all is the best way help us to get the previlage.
cong ty tu van du hoc
A real jobs bill is exactly what we need it made me sick when I was in our nations capital and I tried to talk with Van Jones about expanding our employee base for coopers pick and he didn't agree with the occupy standpoint and well I guess it wouldnt be proper to continue to post the dirty laundry here...
Please air the dirty laundry here. We need to air it out or it will smell! Seriously, people need to know how sold out these groups are to the Dem Party and how they are willing to consistently sell out progressive principles because of their corruption.