Direct financial attacks on the worst corporations

[UndyingFlame]

We need to take action to take the money away from the 1% - it is not enough to call on congress, which openly serves these oligarchs, to end their power and influence over government.  Direct action to break their power is required.  This does not require violence - indeed, violence would be counterproductive to this end.  Instead, we must work to destroy the brands and drain the finances of the companies that run the system.

We must not spread ourselves too thin.  There are many tempting targets to take on - too many for us to take on them all at once.  We must instead act like a well-aimed spear - placing all our focus on the most critical part of the enemy, breaking into the weakest part of their armor.  Therefore, it is proposed that we focus upon two companies - large companies that have engages in all the above listed reprehensible activities to a far greater extent than any others.

Therefore, the proposal will read as follows:

We, the Occupy Chicago movement, commit to destroying the finances of Bank of America and Verizon, in retaliation for their overt bribery and manipulation of our elected officials and public policy, their abuse of the rights of their customers and workers, and their shameful use of offshoring to avoid paying a single cent in taxes over the last few years.  We commit to posting citizen activists outside their stores and bank branches, from open to closing, every day they are open for business, beginning on Black Friday of 2011, and continuing until they either pay their taxes, end all lobbying, and respect the rights of their workers - or until we drive them into Bankrupcy.

[skeptical]

I worry that actions like this will harm the 99% for whom we claim to stand.

[KMcCoop98]

Bank of America and Verizon are good targets. However, not all 99% have
opportunity to boycott them as customers (i.e. not everyone has BOA or Verizon
account to close). I'd like to suggest two alternative corporations, that all
99% that shop at discount department stores, or fill their cars with gas, have
an opportunity to boycott. Those two corporations are Wal-mart and BP. Three members of the Walton Family are
most definitely part of the 1%, as they are listed within the Forbes 10 richest
Americans. http://www.forbes.com/forbes-400/
BP is responsible for one of the largest
ecological crime in this country, as well as the murder of 11 of its employees.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D....._oil_spill

[CYoung]

We need to take action to take the money away from the 1%

Instead, we must work to destroy...

placing all our focus on the most critical part of the enemy, breaking into the weakest part of their armor.

Please understand, if there is one thing that will hurt the occupy movement more than anything, it is militant, violent rhetoric.

[kevinr]

I agree the rhetoric is unnecessarily militaristic. I like the call to specific action but think the proposal could have been better phrased.

 

I believe the movement needs to focus on the issues in the system that allow abuses to happen rather than "attacking" those who commit the abuses. Most of the larger problems are sanctioned by law. That needs to change. Closing BofA will just open the market to another megabank. 

 

I would also like to see proposals include specific, measurable goals. There was a friendly amendment to this proposal to change the language from "until they pay their taxes" to "until Bank of America keeps their profits in American institutions rather than skirting taxes by sheltering them in foreign nations." This was suggested because BofA has paid taxes. 

 

Actually, on that last point, proposals are often summarized rather than repeated verbatim when requested. The language of the statements we publish is very important. I encourage everyone writing a proposal to think carefully about the connotations and import of each word. Though we are all eager to voice our grievances and take action, we should not rush statements we will be judged by.

 

I discussed an initiative for a moderator training program last night and wonder if we should hold a teach-in to assist with proposal writing. 

[KMcCoop98]

Thanks for your input. I really like your suggestion about holding the
corporations responsible, by stating the boycott will continue until an issue is addressed.

I'm still stuck on boycotting corporations that all, or most of the 99% have
the potential to be customers.

In the case of BP, I would suggest the boycott would continue until the citizens of New Orleans, and the surrounding area are satisfied that they have been made "whole" again, with special emphasis on the families of the deceased oil rig workers.

As for Wal-Mart, I would recommend speaking with current and X-Wal-Mart employees, to determine their needs/demands.

Please Note: My characterization of the deceased oil rig workers, as being
murdered, was just my opinion. To my knowledge, no criminal charges have been filed against BP. I apologize for letting my emotions dictate my language.