Choosing a campaign issue to focus for 2012

[Shentongnewyork]

Dear colleagues:

We have long recognized one of the basic strength but also weakness of OWS - many grassroots groups and just about any social, economic, political, and environmental issue co-exist in the movement.  With the recognition of the importance of self-organizing, spontaneity in protest activities, our core group have long been discussing the need of having one campaign, well-organized and sustainable based not just on good intention and virtue of the issues, but on capacity and execution.  This is to compliment the ubiquitous and catch-all small protests inspired by the moment of OWS last fall, not to replace it.  This would be the one demand OWS started to search for back in the summer of 2011  but never accomplished.  At least this one group 99% in solidarity (99solidarity.com) should seriously cultivate such a campaign.  

We've narrowed down to 7 issues now, and realized that to have the potential of a broad base, furthering narrowing down would be difficult.  However, we still would like to pick one issue as the main pro-active campaign and others as educational and outreach issues that we will be more in a supportive role to other OWS and allies.  Love to hear your input in the current exercise of a SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity, threat)  and 4 corner analysis.

The following is a simplified analysis with just pros and con to start the discussion.

		Pros	Cons
1	Living wage/Minimal	Broad public support	Focusing on government instead of banks (not mandate public has given OWS)
		Simple & clear messaging	Asking got policy (not a traditional OWS approach)
		About basic fairness	Tied with Nadar who's approaching it in a more traditional celebrity and smart messaging approach
		Winnable within this year
2	Get Money out, (End corporate personhood, Campaign public financing)	Reasonable public support, and reasonable awareness	Does inpire passion easily
		One of the most accepted reform goals OWS is aware of and not rejecting	Coalition could be complicated
		Institutional left often demands OWS to campaign this	Not that intuitive to explain
3	Healthcare for all	Simple & clear messaging	Connection to banks are less direct
		About basic fairness
		A fundamental issue if not right
		Strong ally support
4	Break up big banks	Direct connection to Occupy Wall Street	May not inspire broad imagination
		A root problem to current moneyed politics (Reinstate Glass-Stegal)	May not inspire passion
5	Occupy Student Loan	Direct connection to Occupy Wall Street	Student population are relatively unstable for sustained long term campaign compared to middle class
		Speaking to youth directly	May not inspire passion among other communities
		About basic fairness	Not solving fundamental problems
		Simple and clear messaging
6	Occupy Our Homes, Occupy Mortgage	Direct connection to Occupy Wall Street	Not solving fundamental problems
		civil disobedience that are most likely received well by general public	May not inspire passion among other communities
		About basic fairness
		Simple and clear messaging
7	Multi-party system (fusion voting)	A fundemental issue regarding desfunctional democracy in the US	Messaging may not be simple
			Lack of public awareness
	Four corner analysis
	Higher impact/Easier to execute	Higher impact/Harder to execute
	Lower impact/Easier to execute	Lower impact/Harder to execute

--
In Solidarity

Shen Tong

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[frank white]

I think the over arching issue should be the threatened democracy- Not just money out of politics- but the control of the government by corporations and monied interests.

This is the underlying threat in all the other categories. If the focus is on corporate government- then all the other concerns can be held in that context.

That's my thought.

Frank

[spiri...@earthlink.net]

Greetings Friends-

Tonight I was at the plenary for the This is How We Do It! conference at Cooper Union this weekend.  There were several threads in the conversation - capitalism is a root problem, we live in a culture soaked in a history of violence - we are traumatized as a result and that needs to be acknowledged and addressed - AND - WE need to be visionaries - meaning - we really have to be the change, live the change, and WANT the change.  This is as much a personal as political challenge.  They said this to standing ovation -

All my life I've made difficult decisions that were frequently met with misunderstanding and sometimes hostility - I am lucky to have  a supportive family and a very fundamental disregard for the status quo - which has enabled me to make these decisions - and reap some very unexpected rewards -

What I am saying is that we need to think outside the grid.  We need to dare to imagine the world we want - not the world we think we can (maybe) have by manipulating the existing power structures and institutions to bend to our will -

If we think about what is right, and just, there are only pros - no cons -

I agree with Frank - Money Out of Politics is fundamental - but we still have to think about what we DO want, not just what we DON'T

Living Wage - OF COURSE PEOPLE WANT THIS!  The issue is - we need to work to understand our interconnectedness and create real solidarity - that takes TIME - people just don't see this as 'winable' and there is too much at stake for them to put themselves on the line

Why does it matter that Healthcare for All is not connected to the banks?  Has anyone been following this in the Supreme Court?  The narrative is about consumer rights - 'Obama care' is being framed as an infringement on a persons right to choose NOT to purchase healthcare (or broccoli)  This is linked to our deeply entrenched American concept of the rugged individual/cowboy (just suck that snake venom out of your arm yerself damnit - don't need no friggin highfalutin doctor!)

Student loans are not just a 'youth' issue - many Americans carry student debt well into adulthood - and many (like myself) acquire their degrees as adults (sometimes even parents or single MOMS!)  SO - this issue is very broad demographically and experienced by multiple generations in one family - so there is a lot of support out there for this 

Homes - are irrefutably necessary for families and individuals health, well being, and functionality - this bundling of loans and selling of mortgage debt was a main factor in the recession and what we are seeing now is a massive displacement and redistribution of wealth via property - as a result we are entering a time of increased dependence - this is no mistake!  People know what's happening - again - we need to highlight our interconnectedness so that people can understand it's not their fault - then they will fight back - this is what is happening now - and this movement is national and gaining momentum -

Multi party system - OK , now, that's a tough one - but people like choice, so that should be the messaging -

Tonight at the plenary speakers were talking about the importance of reclaiming history via personal and community narratives and rememberances -

I feel like we expect too much too soon in this age of facebook and click the mouse activism - it is happening - it has to happen - and it seems to me - to a certain extent it is organic and has taken on a life of it's own.

Peace & Love,

Jessica

[Shentongnewyork]

Thanks for sharing Jessica.

Shen Tong

[Karen Jenson]

Couldn't agree more with both Jessica and Frank. If there's a single issue for our focus I definitely think it should be the separation of government and monied special interest. I love the way you're framing all of the other issues, Jessica. The only thing I would perhaps refame is the idea of a multi party system. If we decide to dedicate any energy there I wonder if we could first demand genuine cooperation from our politicians. It seems that would tie more easily back to our demand that there be no kowtowing to big business  it also seems a shorter and clearer road to travel than demanding multiple parties. 

It seems that such a demand, if its to be real would require also demanding real, honest and complex conversation about issues politicians oversimplify and that THAT will automatically become an occupation of the media. Which we badly need. Perhaps once politicians feel pressure to cooperate with each other and the public is regularly better informed about issues and it's STILL not enough, perhaps then a multiparty system could be called for. Ya know?

[Todd Gitlin]

Shen, Thank you.  This is helpful.  I appreciate the advantage of pushing a single demand.  But should we not consider the advantages a multiple-demand platform, where the demands bear a sort of family resemblance to each other, and the whole platform therefore has a certain integrity, yet the variety of demands suggests not only that we understand the limits of any one demand but that we have an encompassing vision of a whole reform package.  In this light, I'd like to take part in a discussion where we consider a combination of 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6.  

Will we discuss this Wednesday?  

Best, Todd

-------

(c) 2012 Todd Gitlin 
Nothing here may be reproduced without my express permission.

Todd Gitlin
Professor of Journalism and Sociology
Chair, Ph. D. Program in Communications

Journalism 201F
Columbia University
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Phone:  212-854-8124
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[VF ST]

iPhone, iTypo, iSorry

[sweb...@gmail.com]

I agree with Shen's assessment of the issues. I also agree with Todd's comments.  I think that we may want to consider focusing on income inequality as the encompassing Vision for a number of reasons a few of which are:

1. The public, media, and politicians have responded favorably to it since last fall, 

2. it is easy to understand and grasp

3. Items 1-6 can be discussed in the context of income inequality

4. The 99% / 1% meme is well established and focused on income inequality

All the best 

Stephen

Sent from my iPad

On Apr 21, 2012, at 4:16 PM, Todd Gitlin <tg2...@columbia.edu> wrote:

[Ben Cohen]

I agree that income/wealth inequality is the right issue for all the reasons stephen mentioned.  The question is what should be the proactive action for us to advocate that would help to solve that problem.

[Grace...@qc.cuny.edu]

Dear Ben,

I'm trying to get a conversation going among a few people about how to get money out of politics in NY state.  Any suggestions of helpful people to invite?  I feel its a bipartisan issue.

Best wishes,

Grace

Grace Davie
Department of History
Queens College-CUNY
Powdermaker Hall, Room 352WW
65-30 Kissena Blvd.
Flushing, NY 11367
tel: 718-997-5350 ext. 5381

-----non-vio...@googlegroups.com wrote: -----

To: "organizatio...@googlegroups.com" <organizatio...@googlegroups.com>
From: Ben Cohen
Sent by: non-vio...@googlegroups.com
Date: 04/22/2012 02:12PM
Cc: "non-vio...@googlegroups.com" <non-vio...@googlegroups.com>, 99%Solidarity <99soli...@googlegroups.com>, "99-chicago...@googlegroups.com" <99-chicago...@googlegroups.com>, OWS Messaging Cluster <ows-messag...@googlegroups.com>, "99solidarity.com" <99solid...@googlegroups.com>, "organizatio...@googlegroups.com" <organizatio...@googlegroups.com>, "ows_onlin...@googlegroups.com" <ows_onlin...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: Choosing a campaign issue to focus for 2012

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[Grace...@qc.cuny.edu]

All are welcome to make suggestions!

Grace Davie
Department of History
Queens College-CUNY
Powdermaker Hall, Room 352WW
65-30 Kissena Blvd.
Flushing, NY 11367
tel: 718-997-5350 ext. 5381

-----non-vio...@googlegroups.com wrote: -----

To: non-vio...@googlegroups.com
From: Grace...@qc.cuny.edu
Sent by: non-vio...@googlegroups.com
Date: 04/22/2012 08:38PM

[Mary Caliendo]

I agree with economic inequality.  Apologies for being late in this discussion, as I have been involved in social work over the past couple of days. 

 

I think the public and politicians are more than aware that there is economic injustice.  Data reflects that, without a doubt.

 

From a social psychological perspective, I can think of 100 reasons why using the term economic injustice as a campaign tag line can reflect negative connotations.  It can be spun in so many ways by the public, from class warfare to folks wanting “a hand out.” (welfare, food stamps, medicaid) to “well maybe they should get additional/better job”.   Some folks when they hear the very words economic injustice will tell you 10 reasons why those suffering are not getting the wage they deserve all of which were pointed out in the above statement plus they offer no sympathy, or empathy, some will feel that they are not entitled to it.  Some of those same folks are a few paychecks away from a bad situation themselves, it scares them, so they will hold on tight to what they have, some will transfer the aggression outward towards groups of people – it can be anything -  undocumented, color, race and creed. 

 

With that said, I do think we need to offer a solution in our message.   In my humble opinion it would be to do so in a manner where all folks across political, social and economic levels can unite under a banner where they are all stakeholders.   As a result of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in 1911, a lot of upper and middle class women championed for and some lead the worker’s cause.  It crossed all political, social and economic lines.   It makes me wonder how we can ignite that kind of solidarity today in the U.S. without such a tragedy.   We have so many modern tools available, advertising and marketing can be very useful.  It led me to think perhaps we should “market” and “advertise” a solution.   The solution for economic injustice from my perspective is a Living Wage. 

 

Maybe by embarking on the campaign for economic injustice we can couch in that kind of language.   “Living Wage”; sends a meaningful message where everyone regardless is a stakeholder.  It takes all the collective data to the next level by offering a solution.  In the American psyche, through positive association, that everyone who works hard is entitled to live on what they make. 

If worded correctly it has the potential to reignite, yet redefines the profound passion we all seem to have for the American Dream.  

 

I would also think it requires putting a human face on it, although it would be wise to expose the negatives in a positive ways.  An example of how causes have diverse effects is the ASPCA commercial.  I have heard comments of anger not towards those who abused the animals but towards the ASPCA for airing those images.   Maybe we can do so through personal stories and vision.   The “If I received a living wage then I could afford a home, healthcare (fill in the blank of what defines their personal American Dream). “  We all know that every vision requires strategy in order to bring it to fruition.  A huge part of that strategy would be to raise minimum wage. 

 

I would say that is my two cents worth, but I think it was more a buck fifty. haha

 

Kind Regards to All,

Rev. Mary

=

[frank white]

Yeah!!

I just noticed that some of these last posts are not going out to the broader group- just non-violent group. FYI. 

Mary's statement frames this question of issues so well. Like a giant step. Thank-you.

Thoughts. When I digest the last couple months, as it turns out the 99% Solidarity meme (?)- it's perfect as it comes out on the banner. Very inviting, informative- for the 99%.

I had it wrong to want to highlight corporate/government in that name/domain... The former is more hopeful, my idea for the broader theme.. sort of a downer. ie. the democracy! It's down the tubes!  ->  99%Solidarity- perfect.

Likewise I mentioned that I thought all the 7 issues Shen listed could be held in the"broader" issue that the democracy itself is fundamentally threatened by $corporations in government... But the way Mary just framed this, again- positive and in a way people would want to own it..... Fair Wage. 

Since I can't be there tonight, I'll say it here.. At the minimum, this democracy threatened piece- that I feel like I'm harping on at this point.. this is something that, if tied into.. could ignite passion in people in a big way. In terms of themes that people relate too as deeply american, this is one of them. I think, in however things are presented, pointing to this rather painful fact is a necessity.. I think there is almost an ethical neccecisty to bring it up- because people don't know- and they've been duped. There is certainly an educating element to this group, so I felt I wanted to say all that. 

 Sorry I can't be there tonight.

Frank