Occupy Maine has started off its occupation of Monument Square in Portland in a different spirit than Occupy Wall Street. It is organized around the idea of an internally democratic process, but it also has promptly issued a set of demands:
National Demands
! We demand an end to corporate personhood.
! We demand the removal of private interests from public policy and the instatement of publicly funded elections.
! We demand a progressive tax on the wealthy and the elimination of tax loopholes.
! We demand re-regulation of financial institutions and the prosecution of financial criminals.
! We demand the return of Bank and investment firm bailout money to the People
! We demand an end to capital punishment.
! We demand the restoration of “sound” money and competition in currency.Local Demands
! We demand affordable heating oil for Mainers.
! We demand bringing the men and women of the Maine National Guard home.
! We demand amending corporate personhood.
! We demand viable public transportation infrastructure.
This branch of the movement is clearly focused on economic concerns.
Occupy Maine will have to change its name soon. It will be joined in about a week by Occupy Augusta — demonstrating at the State House.
Nice! i appreciate the demand to an end to corporate personhood especially and the effort to get the money out of politics.
Here’s another reason why our political system is failing humanity:
http://www.tarsandsaction.org/corruption-scandal-brewing-state-department-transcanada-emails/
and way out in the fringe, the environmental issues continue:
http://news.yahoo.com/second-pacific-community-drought-emergency-012750835.html
Better hurry if they want to increase the capital gains tax before the markets & banks wipe out most people’s capital gains
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ta?s=%5EGSPC&t=3m&l=on&z=l&q=l
having a living wage for everyone that works and singer payer insurance
we have not officially released any demands. do not believe this.
I do not believe this, “this” being the statement of “No” that there has not been any release of demands by Occupy Maine. The full quote from the link I’ve provided:
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To gather or send information contact the media team at occupymaine@gmail.com
we can be reached by telephone at 207-200-1791
Hundreds Turn Out In Rain to Protest
Saturday, October 1, 2011: Leading Members of the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York traveled to Portland, Maine to rally Mainers to occupy public spaces in solidarity with the Wall Street Occupation. The event mirrors several similar demonstrations taking place in various other cities across the country. Organized over the preceding weeks using social media, the event attracted over one thousand members to its Facebook page in five days. After convening for a General Assembly on Saturday, the group in Monument Square has released a tentative list of national and local demands:
National Demands
? We demand an end to corporate personhood.
? We demand the removal of private interests from public policy and the instatement of publicly funded elections.
? We demand a progressive tax on the wealthy and the elimination of tax loopholes.
? We demand re-regulation of financial institutions and the prosecution of financial criminals.
? We demand the return of Bank and investment firm bailout money to the People
? We demand an end to capital punishment.
? We demand the restoration of “sound” money and competition in currency.
Local Demands
? We demand affordable heating oil for Mainers.
? We demand bringing the men and women of the Maine National Guard home.
? We demand amending corporate personhood.
? We demand viable public transportation infrastructure.
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Hmmm. Beware of those who “speak” for the occupy movement. The only way to know if your sources are legitimate is to go the general assembly and hear the discussion for yourself. Any group can say anything they want, every occupation is different, and many groups have media working groups that are empowered by the general assembly to release information. But, just because someone with training is writing a release set up a gmail account does not make them a legitimate spokes group for the occupation. So always take these things with a grain of salt. Check out your sources, and report responsibly. You may well have in this case, for all I know. But I is wise to consider this generally as we see more information in the media about occupy.
What you are telling me is that the goals may change, which is reasonable, but let’s recognize that this came from the facebook page put together by organizers. Maybe the group is constituted differently or its ideas are organized differently now. Could you describe the changes?
1. How did capital punishment get included in a list of financial & tax reform demands? Can’t these people focus?
2. Play out how exactly these demands will be met, by whom, the timelines/deadlines for meeting the demands, and the precise consequences if they are not met. As crafted, these demands are vague & overbroad; the threat to continue to live all Winter in tents if not met, a joke.