Welcome to Occupy Congress…
a place for the 99%
The Occupation Party is a new third party that stands in solidarity with the populist message of Occupy Wall Street.
We are planning to occupy the political process and take the people’s message into Congress by electing representatives and senators who are people from the 99%, not the political elite.
“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety,
prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private
interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone
have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute
government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their
protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it”. John Adams 1776
Get involved and own your piece of democracy.
Tyrone Givens, The Occupation Party’s spokesperson, talked with Thom Hartmann on February 27, 2012, about our goals and aspirations for 2012. The interview begins at minute 52 in this Livestream video archive:
Tyrone Givens on the Thom Hartmann Show.
There are already some members of congress and senate who are worthy of joining this party. That should also be looked at as well. Bernie Sanders ftw.
The NYC councilmembers should be the first to join, some of them are already there occupying. Any elected official who has come out to support the movement should join.
I’ve never been to Philadelphia, so I am not familiar with his background. But I would encourage you to investigate retired police captain Ray Lewis as a possibility.
Hi @ Mark, We’re definitely trying to get in contact with Captain Lewis. If anybody happens to cross paths with him please let us know. We have also sent a letter of support to Councilman Rodriguez.
Hello Occupiers!
First off, thank you for this site! I very much appreciate this newer aspect of the Movement. I agree with some of the previous posts that any elected official who has come out in support, especially by showing up at the occupations and General Assemblies, should get a pass. Especially local City Councilpersons, County Supervisors, Alder persons, etc. On a national level I really also appreciate Bernie, but that is one of the few rays of hope, (besides Jim McGovern’s constitutional amendment rejecting Corporate Person-hood and defining person-hood as only applying to actual people. http://freespeechforpeople.org/McGovern).
As an elected official it takes allot of firm convictions in beliefs for what is best about public service to put oneself out there regarding the Occupy Movement.
I’ll be following along with this very intently and re-seeding information, both on the ground here at Occupy Santa Barbara, as well as through the social networks.
Thank you all for being patriots!
MG
Also, one suggestion is to change “people from the middle class” to “people from the working and middle classes” or “people from the working class and middle class”. Just a thought. Thanks!!
This is a most welcome development. I support the endorsements of people like B. Sanders and others who have supported OWS or shown solidarity with its objectives. I also support including worker’s in the Party’s name.
I am interested in running for the Ohio State Senate (39th District).
@Micheal Please email me your pertinent information @ tyrone.givens@theoccupationparty.org
Finally. Yes, this is where we can truly rise up and take the power back and place it where it belongs.
The over hauling of our government needs to be written by the people for the bettering of all the people. If an elected official goes against this He/She should be fired without severance or benefits. It is time they are held accountable to their oath`s.
This is terrific but I think we also need to remember that running a third person for president could give us a result that is even worse. Many people believe we ended up with Bush do to Ralph Naders Presidential Campaign. On the other hand we have to start somewhere and running canidates for The House and Senate is awesome. Lets not run people against canidates like Alan Grayson, Bernie Sanders or Maria Cantwell who have shown integrity and have represented the 99%. Obama well I think we need to keep pressure on him to do the right thing despite his masters and this will definitely help. When they knew he would win they simply bought him. Maybe we can buy him back with the strength and convictions of our cause, rather than money.
All great points Anna. Please see our “Plans for 2012 election” Tab.
Hey-ya-YEA Remenber this my Friends! That when the smoke has cleared, thay Y’all , Will RECONIZE , as you do the Yellow, Black, and White Race, the RED RACE of the westren hemishere. YES we are still here, cheering you on, your progress from juivenil to adult is like from the cocon to a beautiful BUTTERFLY Thank You OWS Remenber the RED RACE is still the HOSTand CARE TAKER of this Great Land we refer as Mother Earth, and OWS is the beginning of Y’all comeing to realize the Creative Spirite of the Red Race is YOU, we are but “ONE” check your DNA. Blessing…
I think it is important to remember inclusiveness. If our tagline is “the 99%” we need to ensure that this party is as close to equal representation as possible. This would require representatives from the dichotomous and hegemonic relationships we categorize by: ethnicity, religion, sexuality, class, location, and gender (forgive me if I have forgotten one.. it seems to be boundless). In order to revamp the current injustice we must seek to remain as egalitarian as possible. Incorporating a level-playing field for all individual’s who wish to run for election could possibly be broadcast on live stream. I think it is important not to “pass” anyone directly into positions of authority based upon past categories.
Hello, JBK. Thank you for posting the OWS statement of autonomy, which has been adopted by many other Occupation groups. We understand the position. We continue to stand in solidarity with OWS. At the same time, we feel the need to engage with the current political system in an effort to repair it and return it to its fundamental nature.
Jacqueline, all good points. See our core value on inclusion. It’s under the “About” menu item.
Above all else we must stay true to our roots …we have been kept down and kept out of the advantages that the 1% have enjoyed purely because of birth or who they know. We all need the same benefits that sharing creates . Banish discrimination and we the 99% have done our job …keep creating out of love and we will reap the rewards of a much better life …keep it fair and the corruption will fade away
I think that this will only end up costing progressives more than it will help our cause. I think what the movement should do is go with what we already have, at least, for the 2012 elections. We can run primary challenges to Democrats we think are not doing their jobs the right way and replace them with true progressives.
I strongly believe that a third party right now will hand the Republican Party the initiative and we will regret that. You may think you’re going to get any Republican votes for this third party candidate, but I can assure right now that you won’t. They will encourage you to do this and go back to vote their candidates and we will lose.
I’m a democrat and I’m sticking with my party because I know they’re not the problem. Republicans are and they’re who we should concentrate on getting out of our government.
Boodie. We are not running a presidential candidate in 2012 please see our “Plans for 2012 Election”. Second, this party is not meant to be a party of progressives. It is meant to be a party of the middle class. Neither major party, including the democrats, is doing a good enough job of standing up for the middle class and this party represents the idea that we must stand up for ourselves.
There ought to be a way for the average American to successfully run for federal office on the merits. Today, if you’re not super wealthy and/or powerfully connected, you have no chance. And I’m tired of all the cliched labels (liberal, left , right, etc.) that do nothing more than reduce nuanced people to stereotypes and caricatures. Finally, if we were able to bring back well-paying factory jobs and actually make things here in THIS country again, many problems would disappear rather quickly.
Good plan. Go for it!
Apart from what Marshall Getto and Neil G said, I think the Occupation Party should consider as full a spectrum of political activity as possible. Electorally, that means running for state and federal legislatures, but this also means organizing spoilage campaigns (particularly for executive offices). Non-electorally, this means organizing mass protests, civil disobedience campaigns, etc. If the organization can avoid being a pathetic repeat of the “Working Families Party” Democratic proxy, then it has a chance to at least exceed the Green and Libertarian “parties.” All the best dues-paying membership recruitment!
Want to bring back a manufacturing base and jobs to the US? Don’t buy cheap crap make in China and elsewhere… If no one buys the crap made over sea’s they will make it here…
I’m hoping and praying this Occupy party remains true to the premise that people are above governments and corporations – that government is in place to serve, protect and carry out the wishes of the people for the benefit of the people…
We need to have our government that is a benefit for the people and that the peoples voices are heard and decisions are made by that voice and not by big business alone.. How is it that a person such as Grover Norquist has found himself in charge of the republican party; that in itself should define who that party represents. We need to definitely vote democrat if nothing else. If I had my wish I would clean out the house for sure of anyone who signed the pledge with Norquist~I think that needs to be number 1 ~To me it is illegal and we represent all of the people~
This isnt the correct way to go about this. **sigh**
Why is it that people want to JOIN the problem instead of overhauling it??
it makes no sense to me why people want to do this??
PEOPLE. listen!!!!
getting someone into congress with the current system in place wont change ANYTHING. you STILL need millions of dollars to get elected. as proven by the stat, 94% of the time, the highest fundraiser wins the election.
WE NEED TO GET MONEY OUT OF THE ELECTION PROCESS!!!
GetMoneyOut.com
this is the ONLY WAY to stop this unfair practice of elitism!! otherwise, people will ALWAYS be bought. and its not inherently their fault either. its the system!!!! a candidate simply needs millions to compete with the incumbent.
GET MONEY OUT.com
lets do this!!!!
if the Arab nations can do it, we, the land of the “free”, home of the “brave”, can do it too!!!
i’m all for it!
it is a Great idea! i Believe we need to set short, mid & Long Term Goals. We need to Start setting and reaching for milestones also.
i was told if you wanted to change something change it from with-in. i do believe the system is set up to keep the rich, Rich but where the is a will there is a way & we Will Take Our Country Back!
And for Boodie, i want you to know that running for election will not help the republicans because i used to vote Republican but i have come to realize that both the Republicans & the Democrats are like Wrestlers the pretend to fight in the ring but in reality it’s all a show because they are both one and the same. That includes Obama, he sold people a dream but didn’t tell them it was a nightmare.
But this is America & We Are The People! We Hold the Power to Make Real Change. We must Occupy EveryWhere including Congress.
i am willing to run. But i am for real when i say this, “i have real solutions that will insure that corruption can not take hold of government again” the trick is getting corruptions grubby hands off our government first.
Ever Try Taking Candy From a Spoiled Kid That Never Heard The Word “NO” or Has Never Been Held “ACCOUNTABLE.”
Get Ready For Resistance!
Oh! Wait We Are The Resistance!
We Resist Violence with PEACE & LOVE!
1. We now seek something the average American has never had. equal voice and equal access to this govt. We were promised just that at the very founding of this nation but it was never realized. At inception this became a govt of by and for the money. We need to stop with the return to democracy or talk of reestablishing anything. What we seek is something we never had. A govt of by and for the people. We must end plutocractic rule in America. This govt must be forced to answer to the people who elect it, not the highest bidder. until we have this we live in a tyranny, and that word is not overused. We the people havesacrifice for this society and nation, we have fought this countries wars. The idea that powerful institutions have the ability to buy our govt out from under us in the face of our sacrifice is flat out unacceptable. If the occupy party has this one focus, then count me in. There is nothing else this party needs to stand for. if we push for the macro issue of a representative democracy as part of a republic, we can draw many American left and right to our cause. this macro tent must have the single focus of the establishment of a govt that answers to the American people. The more we stray from this concept the weaker the occupy party will get.
I have for the last year writing all the talking heads about a third party, but, none have published or responded.
The single biggest obstacle(Ralph Nadar found out) is of course monetary.The state and federal electoral committies are a very small number of officals who are appointed, not elected . They put the price of getting on the ballot for any given office,, the more influential the position, the greater the cost. The election commision’s main task is apparently, to insure that there are only two parties.
I say HIP-HIP HURRAH for instituting a third party, however dreams and idealism don’t raise money.Some one in the Occupy Movement or those persons wishing to run for a position need to offer their creditentials and the money necessary tko obtain a spot on ANY ballot. Remember, those that have been in power since 1786 have largely been wealthy,and most have legal degrees and their main goal is to limit the political horizone to argueing back and forth, a third party, which I am greatly in favor of, would necessitate compromise for legal changes, and our political system does not actually give the people the right to directly elect our governance, rather that power is given to the electoral college, and they are not obligated to vote for the person with the most votes,
so, I suggest that the first goal of Occupy Party should be aimed at the city and county levels, then the state levels before attempting a national position, as they play from a stacked deck.
David, I couldnt have said it better myself. That starting point is right in line with our goals. We will not seek the office of the president until we have credibility in congress. And we will not seek that credibility until we have a strong foundation at the local levels of government.
Hi Anti-Fascist. A quick look at our platform items will reassure you that I mean business when I say we’re standing for the middle class agenda. One of our top priorities is to get money out of politics and restore the power of our own governance TO THE PEOPLE where it belongs. Once we’ve gotten money out of politics, we will then have the ability to address real world issues concerning Jobs, healthcare solutions etc. However, until you get money out of the political arena, little else can be achieved. We’ve all seen what happens to, so called, reform bills by the time they are actually signed into law. Please be on the lookout for our volunteer signup form over the next few days. We need every voice and everyone we can get. All voices matter.
I would love to see Elizabeth Warren as a candidate for President in 2016.
The same lesser evil argument a la “Anna’s” post will be used in 2016. There is no way to avoid this tired, liberal trick to the liberal part of the 1% and their deluded supporters among the rest of us. The only way to break up this deadly ping-pong politics between the two corporate parties is to dive in and challenge them again and again. Look at the NDP in Canada, warts and all, for a rough model of how to break the back of a corporate duopoly. If we don’t fill the political vacuum that exists, including among electoral politics, than the Right will fill it with a new party because the crisis of capitalism is accute that the Dems and the Repubs. have no answers to solve it. To solve it would mean weakening the system irreperably, from their point of view. So, the Dems. and lesser evilism will not give us government jobs programs, free health care, free education, massive housing subsidies, etc… . They don’t ever want us to see these parts of our lives as human rights. They don’t even want to go back to the limited reforms of the New Deal. Stop avoiding the inevitable and politcally challenge the political parties of Capital or lie to people about the Democrats. That is the choice before us.
I now see a rising sun again for our future Government
http://www.ushistory.org/more/sun.htm
This thread is full of comments by folks who don’t grasp our form of national governance. I suggest that TOP start with local & state races. Look around & you’ll be stunned by the extent of the ineptness serving in office. Policy priorities are set locally & frequently cater to elements that are ignorant &/or ambivalent about the general public. Ever notice that Republicans always urge turning federal dollars over to state & city governments? It’s because that’s where the cronyism starts.
Consider my advice & a broader vista. The 1%’ can rely on a base of reliably regular voters. For the most part, Dems & Indies vote when enthused. Historically, Third Party candidates on the national level only drain off enough votes to benefit the 1%.
Politicians are thermometers with feet. T.O.P. activism at the local & state levels would ‘nip at their heels.’ Think about it.
keep up the good fight. You are giving me hope that I will see my country restored before I die. Thank you
Mioh/Marilyn here: Eileen, we are definitely planning on being active at local and state levels. Tyrone can speak more to this; I’m just the website editor.
I think a pledge of honor should be required of any candidate who seeks to represent the 99%. They should be 99% as well. Remember, 99%’ers are responsible for getting these current wackos elected. This happened because they were completely uninformed, partly by choice. This party which is not republican, democrat, or independent, if run properly could vote the intelligence back into the education system, change law enforcement priorities, craft common sense foreign policy, the list is endless. Very exciting times indeed. Hopefully a mature, level headed electorate is just waiting for a mature, level headed political party to appear on the scene so that the right things in America get addressed for a change. Imagine intelligent voters listening to an intelligent candidate discussing intelligent ideas.
Mioh, Thanks for the reassurance!
Folks, if you’re supportive of what we’re doing, please lend a hand. We have a volunteer sign up sheet. You can find it under Contact on the menu at the top of the page. Thanks for all your support!
Bernie Sanders would be about the only one. There is this guy, Jim Hightower, but he was Agricultural Commissioner in Texas , in the 8o’s, and I thought that he would be targeted. Power is NEVER given up. It must be taken- but nonviolently. Just reference Gene Sharp. THEY hate non-violence because it takes away their excuse to bully and maim, but THEY will try to ruin your life, UNLESS we are just too many.
We need one in every country to stand for proper political election… I’m happy to start standing here in the UK… anyone any ideas for fundraising?
I don’t know if he’s still available or not But Ohio or anywhere else that can get him should look into (dem) Tim Ryan, he’s a real don’t BS, lie, or try anything other then truth kind of guy, you can look him up on Youtube he really is a fire storm.
How do we know this is legit and in fact affiliated with the Occupy movement? So much has come out that has claimed to be a part of the movement and has later been debunked as false or as something started by a small inside group; I want to make sure that this is for real before promoting this to my local Occupy site.
Also, I agree that getting some of those who are already involved in politics is a smart idea. I personally like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. I like Al Franken too but he’s been all but absent recently.
The old political rules don’t matter any more. We saw how fast OccupyWallStreet grew. We have reached a tipping point and this party will win the Presidency, the Congress, the local offices as long as we stay true to the broad support for getting corporate money out of politics and supporting the middle class and working poor as the key to “A Whole New Day” for everyone. That’s my slogan. We need to speak truth to power and fight for our country right now. And exclude no one–many of the rich are patriotic and caring of their fellow humans. Exclude no practical, honorable idea. Let candidates and voters double register–in the new party and their old one.
I ran for the Utah State legislature as a Republican in 2008 and 2010. The Caucus system here is so closely controlled by money from the top that no one can get past the county convention and onto the ballot. I think I could have won if the public had a chance to vote for me.
I have been thinking of filing to run as an independent. Small “i”. Next, of registering a third party in Utah. Now, this new, national party sounds good.
Do not put any top limits on it. Even if you are not yourself working on a presidential campaign.
We could always, close to the election, if we see our party and our second choice both loosing a particular race, ask that party to throw its support to us. Including the Greens, Naders, Democrats, and Republicans. Or ask their candidate to carry a dual banner and support our candidate for a meaningful appointment. Occupy the government!
Tiffany, to check our credentials, please look at the News page (it’s on the menu right under the photo at the top of the page. There you’ll see a link to an interview with Tyrone Givens, our spokesperson, that was published in the Third Party Independent, which is connected to Occupy Wall Street. Here’s the link
http://thirdpartyindependent.com/node/153
Please let us know if you have other questions.
Has anyone tried to reach out to former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney?
I believe that in addition to vetting candidates, we all need to begin lobbying Congress. We all need to contact our Representatives and Senators at their local offices. We need to lobby them at their offices not just by signing petitions online. We need to instruct them on how we want them to vote on issues. At a demonstration at Sen. Bill Nelson’s office we intructed the Senator to vote for the amendment to abolish corporate personhood and he issued a statement that he too is very concerned about the influence of money in the political process. All well and good, but we plan periodic demonstrations at our Senator’s office, one a month at the Senator, one a month at the Representative’s office. We will keep reminding our representatives of what we want them to do. If only the 1% lobbies Congress, only the 1% is heard by Congress. Politics is not just at election time. Politics is full time if our government is to run correctly. Comment please, I think this is part of the solution and a practical step to achieving goals.
Palm Beach County, Florida resident. I stay somewhat current and suipport our local Occupy groups. What I say is only MY thouights and opinions.
What I have seen, read, and experienced as to Occupy leaves me wanting. For me, Occupy is multiple complaints from average Americans, along with actions to point out reasons for some complaints. Here is where Occupy comes up short for me, what and/or where are the solution(s)?
TheOccupationParty might provide that missing ingrediant, and then again it might not!
Occupy Palm Beach County (PBC) has some very valid concerns as to this ‘Party. Look them up, re: Carla Mays.
My biggest concern is what kind of damage this third party would do in the Peridential election. Possibly to suck in enough of the Democratic and independent votes to give the election to the Republicans?
Secondly, how many Occupy groups throughout America, besides PBC, know little to nothing about TheOccupatioParty?
It comes down to this, I can’t consider supporting TheOccupationParty, until my Occupy group(s) validate it!
I say to other Americans, beware. Remember how just recently the T-Potty ended up betraying many a voter.
Question posted on the wall of facebook.com/Internetocracy:
“What is the best thing that could happen in 2012 to further the “Internetocracy” vision?”.
FAVORITE answer:
“The Occupy Wall Street movement creates a party to dismantle the political system from within”. See the other answers on our page.
To Dave Kline: We are definitely NOT going to split the vote in the presidential election because we are not supporting a candidate for POTUS, and there is not now nor will there be a TOP candidate for president. What good would a TOP president be with little or no support in Congress. Running and supporting Congressional candidates is our 2012 strategy. Please go read our “Plans for 2012″ page.
Great. It seems one thing that needs to be gotten out of the mindset of people, and this tendency is, I believe, engrained by the mass media, is the tendency to view the political arena per se as an hypostatic entity: ideas like “splitting the vote” are very dangerous and should play no role in determining what policies should guide movements like TOP; the focus should certainly be to shift the realm of discourse to a more equitable, functional level, because arguably, “splitting the vote” is the least worst thing possible.
I appreciate all you are doing, but Occupy is NOT a party, and to turn it into or to imply the Occupy sites are parties will NOT help.
Please turn your efforts into spreading the word on what Occupy is, but do not make it into a party.
We voted in our GA to never endorse anyone at all. Many Occupy sites have done the same, having an Occupy party diminishes these people’s well thought out decisions.
Again, what you are doing is admirable, but please think this out. It is never too late to decide to do different, so it is not like you must stay committed to this, support Occupy in other ways please.
Peace to All.
I am ready to support this so needed third party. We the people (the 99%) deserve to have a government by the people, for the people…the Time is NOW! WE, the American people got ENOUGH ALREADY!!!!
Hello there! This post could not be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
Hello all,
I would like to join, help create policy positions, and ultimately run here in Utah with the goal of representing our platform.
How do I begin this process please?
You have my E-mail.
Hi Mike and welcome! Someone will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
I am so happy to see this taking place. It is time for the 99% to band together and occupy the elections to get someone who is for the people and not the corporations in our local, state, and national governments! We are the 99%!!!