One of the most frequent complaints about the Occupy movement is that it is unfocused and has no demands, yet NY and Chicago each have a ratified list of demands. Chicago's is my favorite (
Chicago Tribune source)
October 16, 2011
1. Pass a bill to reinstate Glass-Steagall, a safeguard separating banks' commercial lending and
investment operations. "Its repeal in 1999 is considered the major cause of the global financial meltdown of 2008-09," the group states.
2. Repeal Bush-era tax cuts.
3. Prosecute "the Wall Street criminals who clearly broke the law and helped cause the 2008
financial crisis."
4. Overturn a 2010 Supreme Court decision that allows corporations "to contribute unlimited amounts of money to campaigns."
5. Pass the Warren Buffett rule on fair taxation, close corporate tax loopholes, prohibit hiding
funds offshore.
6. Give the Securities and Exchange Commission stricter regulatory
power, strengthen the Consumer Protection Bureau and help victims of predatory lending whose home loans have been foreclosed.
7. Take steps to limit the influence of lobbyists and eliminate the practice of lobbyists writing legislation.
8. Eliminate (the) right of former
government regulators to work for corporations or industries they once regulated.
9. Eliminate corporate personhood.
10. Insist the Federal Elections Commission "ensure that political candidates are given equal time for free at reasonable intervals during campaign season."
11. Pass the Fair Elections Now Act.
12. Forgive student debt.
Source: Occupy Chicago http://occupychi.org
