This is what democracy looks like in 2012: THE PEOPLE'S CONVENTION
The People's Convention will be held on October 27, 2012 from 1-5pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans 5212 South Claiborne Avenue. New Orleans
The People's Convention is where the 99%, not the 1%, sets the political agenda. We the people, as opposed to we the rich, have needs and interests that are in fundamental conflict with the 1%. We need, for example, low and moderate income housing, the right to organize ourselves into unions, living wage jobs, public education, an end to imperialist war, and an end to the rampant discrimination against and brutalization of African Americans. Given the 1%’s domination of the leaders of the Republicans and the Democrats the conventions of America’s two ruling parties cannot help but sacrifice the interests of the many to satisfy the seemingly boundless greed of the privileged few. To allow the Republicans and Democrats, in this time of economic crisis, to continue to monopolize the setting of the nation’s political agenda is a recipe for disaster for the 99 percent.
So why hold a People's Convention before the November 4 Presidential Election? Because the Budget Control Act of 2011, passed by the standing U.S. Congress and signed into law by the current President, guarantees that draconian cuts in federal funding for public services that we need and regressive tax increases that we don’t need will be the focus of Congressional activity during the weeks and months following the November 4. The People's Convention and the organizing for it will put the people in strong position to give a 99 percent to an attempt to shove a 1 percent budget down our throats.
What should the People's Agenda include?
- A public works program open to all that pays a living wage?
- Democracy not oligarchy?
- Respecting the right of everyone to safe and decent housing?
- And end to brutalization of and discrimination against African Americans?
- Immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan?
- Selection rather than election?
- Environmental justice rather than pillage of the environment?
- And….?