Weekly Update: Which Debate Are You Invited To?

Last week the Republicans made it official, plutocrat Mitt Romney will be their nominee.He will be running against President Barack Obama who has surrounded himself with Wall Street and big business interests after they funded his path to the presidency.

Commentators are saying the only potential game changer is the presidential debates. In fact, Romney has taken time off from the campaign to prepare for the debates. But, the truth is the debates are choreographed by the two parties in a written agreement and are nothing more than joint press conferences controlled by the phony debate commission. The commission is not an official entity, rather it is a corporaton created by the two parties and funded by the big corporations.
We are collaborating with Occupy Denver to Occupy the first debate and hope you will participate in the national People's Dialogue by organizing Occupy the Debates activities in your community. People across the country are having conversations in their communities about the issues that concern them and the solutions they want to see. Occupy the Debates will show the disconnect between the people’s concerns and the issues that will be discussed at the tightly controlled “debates.” 

You can get involved by setting up your own event and Occupy the Debates will provide support.  Take this survey and share it widely! Results of the People's Dialogue and survey will be given to all of the candidates for response. These responses will be posted on the Occupy the Debates website prior to the election so that voters will know where the candidates stand on issues that are of concern to the people.

Forward this email throughout your community, make these two videos viral by sharing the video above and this excellent video that explains the history of presidential debates and how they became corrupted when the two parties created a corporate-funded, two-party controlled debate corporation.  Also, let people know about the Occupy the Debates Facebook page and follow our twitter @OccupyTheDbates.

These debates are a great opportunity to bring your community together and discover your common concerns.  This is a critical step to organizing your community.  If you want to get involved contact us and we’ll provide resources to help your organizing. Contact us at info@occupythedebates.org.

Of course, Occupy the Debates realizes that within the current political structure, which is dominated by corporate power and concentrated wealth, lawmakers will not adequately address the many crises faced by the nation and the planet. Thus we will continue to protest, to educate and organize and to build alternative sysytems that place human needs over corporate greed.

There are still a few slots available for this weekend’s Occupy the Trans Pacific Partnership training and protests. We have excellent national trainers coming in including Bill Moyer of the Backbone Campaign and Kim Marks of Earth First! and Rising Tide North America. Space is limited and running out. This recent report indicates how “free trade” (really corporate trade) agreements cost the U.S. jobs and spread poverty and environmental damage around the world. Buses are available from New York,Washington, DC and Baltimore this Sunday. If you want to attend the Baltimore training or join the bus from Baltimore write info@october2011.org – reply now as only limited space remains.

The October2011/OccupyWashingtonDC site is covering the protests at the Democratic National Convention. Here are photos from the first actions. Of course the Democratic Convention is a continuation of the influence peddling free-for-all that began in Tampa at the Republican Convention, also covered here. And during the Republican Convention, Hurricane Isaac battered New Orleans. OccupyIsaac is providing relief to those affected by the hurricane.

Finally, on this Thursday, September 6^th join actions across the country in support of Bradley Manning.  For the latest blockbuster news in the Manning case read “Manning’s torturous confinement controlled by top military Lt. General at the Pentagon” and see why dismissal of all charges is the only result that will serve justice. Actions are planned at Obama campaign offices in more than thirty cities.

Check the October2011.org website for reports on events that are happening around the country. And share your news with us too!

In Solidarity,
October2011/OccupyWashingtonDC

P.S. Today at 3:30 pm (EST), Kevin Zeese will be on Al Jazeera English's "The Stream," in a dialog and debate between #OWS & #TeaParty. The other guest will be Max Pappas of Freedom Works. We will be looking for common ground and at our differences. Very transpartisan.