Post by zarvoc on Oct 22, 2011 13:41:25 GMT -7
Hi, this is Graham, working as a member of the declaration group. This is a continuation of the 6th draft -- language struck from the 6th draft /STRIKE/is struck through, like this;/STRIKE/ language added to the 6th draft IS IN CAPITALS, LIKE THIS.
This draft was put together by Jacob, Tom, and myself; Jacob and Tom provided most of the changes last evening, and I cobbled them together by smoothing transitions and fixing grammar and punctuation this afternoon. There were two paragraphs excised in their entirely from the 7th draft; I include these after the statement, for completeness.
Personal note: I, speaking only for myself, am *not* 100% satisfied with this. I would support it in solidarity, sure, but I also don't think it's done. But it's getting there.
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WE STAND JUST INSIDE THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW, GLOBAL POPULIST PARADIGM. TOP-DOWN DECISION MAKING BY THE FEW OVER THE INTERESTS OF THE MANY HAS FAILED US. ISOLATED WITHIN OUT NARROW AREAS OF CONCERN, WE HAVE BEEN IGNORED. NOW, TOGETHER, WE HAVE FORCED OPEN A DOOR THAT POLITICIANS AND THE CORPORATE MEDIA HAD HOPED WAS SECURELY SHUT, AND WE FIND OURSELVES, ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMMUNITIES, ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.
We, the members of Occupy Missoula, are outraged by the injustices and wrongs perpetrated against humanity and the OTHER living systems of our planet by private MULTINATIONAL corporate forces which now exert disproportionate influence over the societies of the world. We /STRIKE/Occupy Missoula/STRIKE/ believe that concentration of wealth in the hands of the 1% has /STRIKE/caused the corruption of governments/STRIKE/ CORRUPTED OUR PROCESSES OF CIVIL, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE BY permitting imperialism and war; wasting and degrading our natural resources FOR PRIVATE GAIN; /STRIKE/public assumption of private costs/STRIKE/ FORCING PRIVATE COSTS ONTO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE IN THE FORM OF POLLUTION AND THREATS TO PUBLIC HEALTH; and the manipulation of the justice system to benefit corporate interests with constitutional protections originally intended only for /STRIKE/human beings/STRIKE/ INDIVIDUAL NATURAL PERSONS./STRIKE/and the takeover of the media to support corporate policies at the expense of the public trust./STRIKE/
THERE IS ONE UNIFYING REASON FOR OUR PRESENCE AT THIS TIME IN HISTORY; ONLY BY OCCUPATION OF THE STREETS AND PUBLIC PLACES CAN OUR VOICES BE HEARD. We recognize that we can no longer silently allow ourselves to be the passive subjects of a /STRIKE/anti-democratic capitalist system which includes a corporate media /STRIKE/ CORPORATE MEDIA SYSTEM that consistently ignores, trivializes and misrepresents the reality of our concerns, our histories and diverse cultures.
WE SEE OURSELVES AS A SOCIETY OF HARDWORKING TAXPAYERS, STRUGGLING UNDER THE FEAR OF SPIRALING INTO POVERTY. MANY OF US ARE ONE ACCIDENT OR ILLNESS AWAY FROM BANKRUPTCY, OR ONE PINK SLIP AWAY FROM HOMELESSNESS.
We are NO LONGER /STRIKE/not /STRIKE/ content to simply vote /STRIKE/ but must occupy the street and public places /STRIKE/. Our political representatives have failed to represent us; we must represent ourselves. Our commercial media does not or cannot communicate for us; we must communicate with one another directly.
We believe THAT A BALANCED VIEW OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY WOULD MEASURE A PEOPLE'S WELL-BEING AT LEAST AS MUCH BY WHAT IT IS ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR ITSELF AS BY WHAT IT PROVIDES AGAINST AN EXTERNAL ENEMY; AND that a fair society requires informed and meaningful, non-discriminatory participation by all people; and that democracy derives its legitimacy from treating all persons with social, political, and economic fairness. /STRIKE/and that government must protect the rights of humanity and all living things from harmful actions taken by wealthy and private corporations whose current power allows them to dictate our foreign policy and lead us into war./STRIKE/ WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE A MOVEMENT COMPRISED OF PERSONS WITH OFTEN DIVERGENT GOALS AND OPINIONS. WE SEEK TO FIND A COMMON BOND OF RESPECT AND RESPONSIBILITY, BECAUSE OUR LEADERLESS, CONSENSUS-DRIVEN MOVEMENT REQUIRES IT.
Many among the corporate and media elite are hoping we will dissolve into our constituent parts and melt back into the woodwork. However, we are fortified by our resolve to work together. Unlike corporations, we need not be bound by unsustainable greed. A different world is possible. The outcomes we seek will extend to the limits of our compassion. Our integrity will determine each step.
In solidarity with the /STRIKE/General Assembly of NYC /STRIKE/ GENERAL ASSEMBLIES AROUND THE WORLD, the General Assembly of Missoula, Montana endorses the Occupy Wall Street Declaration.
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The above is the 7th draft as edited. Below are the two paragraphs from the 6th draft which were left out completely - whether we keep them out, re-insert them, or re-edit them, is a decision best left to the group.
Many of us are poor or otherwise marginalized by society and have been ignored repeatedly by our government. Many of us have, until now, been unable to voice our concerns. Together we acknowledge the relationships and experiences which join us with one another in common understanding. Through the non-hierarchical, democratic process we engage in, we seek to address the converging crises we face, which have led many of us to question the foundations of our capitalist economy.
Furthermore, we assert that since corporations are not individual natural persons, they are not entitled to the same rights and freedoms as individual citizens. We assert that money is not speech, and the ability for corporations to communicate their interests should not be allowed to corrupt the political process as is currently the case.
---------------------------------
Reminder: If you want to work on this, meet at Break Espresso at 10 am on Sunday, Oct. 23rd.
This draft was put together by Jacob, Tom, and myself; Jacob and Tom provided most of the changes last evening, and I cobbled them together by smoothing transitions and fixing grammar and punctuation this afternoon. There were two paragraphs excised in their entirely from the 7th draft; I include these after the statement, for completeness.
Personal note: I, speaking only for myself, am *not* 100% satisfied with this. I would support it in solidarity, sure, but I also don't think it's done. But it's getting there.
-------------------------------
WE STAND JUST INSIDE THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW, GLOBAL POPULIST PARADIGM. TOP-DOWN DECISION MAKING BY THE FEW OVER THE INTERESTS OF THE MANY HAS FAILED US. ISOLATED WITHIN OUT NARROW AREAS OF CONCERN, WE HAVE BEEN IGNORED. NOW, TOGETHER, WE HAVE FORCED OPEN A DOOR THAT POLITICIANS AND THE CORPORATE MEDIA HAD HOPED WAS SECURELY SHUT, AND WE FIND OURSELVES, ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHER COMMUNITIES, ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.
We, the members of Occupy Missoula, are outraged by the injustices and wrongs perpetrated against humanity and the OTHER living systems of our planet by private MULTINATIONAL corporate forces which now exert disproportionate influence over the societies of the world. We /STRIKE/
THERE IS ONE UNIFYING REASON FOR OUR PRESENCE AT THIS TIME IN HISTORY; ONLY BY OCCUPATION OF THE STREETS AND PUBLIC PLACES CAN OUR VOICES BE HEARD. We recognize that we can no longer silently allow ourselves to be the passive subjects of a /STRIKE/
WE SEE OURSELVES AS A SOCIETY OF HARDWORKING TAXPAYERS, STRUGGLING UNDER THE FEAR OF SPIRALING INTO POVERTY. MANY OF US ARE ONE ACCIDENT OR ILLNESS AWAY FROM BANKRUPTCY, OR ONE PINK SLIP AWAY FROM HOMELESSNESS.
We are NO LONGER /STRIKE/
We believe THAT A BALANCED VIEW OF OUR NATIONAL SECURITY WOULD MEASURE A PEOPLE'S WELL-BEING AT LEAST AS MUCH BY WHAT IT IS ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR ITSELF AS BY WHAT IT PROVIDES AGAINST AN EXTERNAL ENEMY; AND that a fair society requires informed and meaningful, non-discriminatory participation by all people; and that democracy derives its legitimacy from treating all persons with social, political, and economic fairness. /STRIKE/
Many among the corporate and media elite are hoping we will dissolve into our constituent parts and melt back into the woodwork. However, we are fortified by our resolve to work together. Unlike corporations, we need not be bound by unsustainable greed. A different world is possible. The outcomes we seek will extend to the limits of our compassion. Our integrity will determine each step.
In solidarity with the /STRIKE/
--------------------
The above is the 7th draft as edited. Below are the two paragraphs from the 6th draft which were left out completely - whether we keep them out, re-insert them, or re-edit them, is a decision best left to the group.
Many of us are poor or otherwise marginalized by society and have been ignored repeatedly by our government. Many of us have, until now, been unable to voice our concerns. Together we acknowledge the relationships and experiences which join us with one another in common understanding. Through the non-hierarchical, democratic process we engage in, we seek to address the converging crises we face, which have led many of us to question the foundations of our capitalist economy.
Furthermore, we assert that since corporations are not individual natural persons, they are not entitled to the same rights and freedoms as individual citizens. We assert that money is not speech, and the ability for corporations to communicate their interests should not be allowed to corrupt the political process as is currently the case.
---------------------------------
Reminder: If you want to work on this, meet at Break Espresso at 10 am on Sunday, Oct. 23rd.