Occupy Wall Street - Economist Jeffery Sachs 10-15-2011
Channel: Richard Buckner III
Date: 2011-10-20

I was Occupying Wall Street on 10-15-2011 - after cold wind and poor sleep the night before I sat down for a nap - and awoke with Columbia University Jeffery Sachs about to literally step up on the ledge I was leaning on and start speaking so I ended up with the best seat in the house.

feel free to find me on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/richardbuckneriii

A bit about me - I spent the last 15 years working full time for 22-25K a year, struggling to get by, making the same hard choices about simple things like groceries or gas, as many in America are.  About 4 years ago I went back to school to study Politics, Policy and History, with the intention of running for Congress so I could work on these very issues.  I graduated almost a year ago and am volunteering and working hard to make that happen, while keeping my low paying job to pay my bills.  I did not address the crowd, but I did talk to many people on the ground, and it seemed to me they all seemed to like what I had to say, and some of those I talked to have given me even more to consider.

At about 13 minutes someone asks about a plan of action - and I handed him that piece of paper he is suddenly holding - which was my list of a starting place for a list of important issues - while I am not suggesting my list influenced what he said, I will say there were several similarities.  

This represents the views of myself, Richard Buckner III and not the 99% as a whole, but I humbly submit them for consideration. While I contend this is not all that need to be done, it's a place to start.

Also I would add to the list-

Re-instate Glass-Steagall

But this is what I handed him, Word for Word
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List of Demands for the 99%
(Or at least something to open a dialogue about)

For the People

An End to Money in Politics, or at least any form of BIG money ($100 donation limit would be fine)

The Right to Quality Universal Health Care 

The Right to Universal Access to Quality Education

The Right to a Minimum Wage Tied to the Living Wage 

The Right to a Job

The Right to Collective Bargaining

The Right to EASY Voting (in the wake of new Voting restrictions that try to work 
within the laws to restrict voting in many states)

A Federal Holiday for Voting Day

A Stimulus Bill that Will Get People Working NOW! (We ALWAYS find money to pay for war -- so certainly the Richest Nation in the world can put people to work)

For the Banks and Giant Corporations

Strict Regulations that keep them from creating unnecessary risk and encourages fair lending practices, especially to small business.

Re-Patriation of Foreign Profits And Close the WWII era Loophole that exists to tax that money as it was supposed to be. (Companies actually OWE that money to the US Government, they know they are supposed to pay taxes on it, but due to the law designed to encourage the rebuilding of Post WWII Europe

A Law that does not allow ANY member of any company to make more than 100 Times any other employee.

An End to Government Subsidies to any company that makes more than $1 Million Profit. (Frankly, Subsidies are still needed for startup industries, but once they pick up it must stop)
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