Monday, October 15, 2012
United Front Against Austerity Public Assembly October 27, 2012
FWIW I have come across this anti-austerity assembly scheduled for the end of the month in NYC.
I don't have any opinion on this group or what they are all about, other than to say that from what I can tell they are not within the MMT paradigm, but they seem to be generally against austerity and want to organize against it. So their hearts seem to be in the right place... remains to be seen where their brains are.
Caveat emptor, FYI.
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7 comments:
maybe a representative of mmt, who is in the area should bestow some knowledge upon them. Political organization is the only way to force change. When it comes to actual policy the factually accurate policies are often absent for lack of mass organization.
Thank you, Matt.
I can participate in that event.
What proposals should I make considering that they are most likely out of paradigm? Warren's proposals in 7DIF are readily available and I can propose just them.
That's from their site:
"Call for Proposals
We are now accepting draft proposals to be aired at the assembly. These should generally answer the question, “What is a concrete demand the American people can make in order to stop austerity measures?” Submitting a proposal indicates your intention of attending the assembly to represent this position. Please briefly describe your proposal and qualifications, and we will do our best to be in contact as soon as possible."
Ryan,
I suppose no stopping you from taking Warren's proposals and dropping them in the hopper at this event....
ie
FICA suspension,
State revenue sharing,
Transition job,
Balances for healthcare provided to individuals, etc..
You probably should check with Warren if you use his name associated with any of it imo, or perhaps he wouldn't mind if you submitted them there without attribution... probably up to him tho.
I still havent been able to identify who the leaders/coordinators are for this event...
the site mentions "occupy" so perhaps the Adbusters folks are in there???? dunno
No "who we are" link at the site... although if it is technically an "assembly" perhaps that is not needed... I have no experience with political organizing...
It would be good if you go there...
If you need further input franko.matthewATgmail_dot_com
or just keep this thread going...
rsp,
Okay Matt, will coordinate and most likely participate on Oct. 27.
I contacted this organization and proposed that I be allowed to speak. They said that they knew me from TV interviews and are familiar with my positions and they are getting back to me on that. There is a conference call scheduled for Sunday night. If anyone is interested I have the contact info.
Mike,
Hopefully you can speak on that event.
I emailed them Warren's proposals from Part III of 7DIF.
They replied that their goal at that early stage is to reach some general consensus and they think a 1% Wall Street sales tax might be such, but ideas like ours (MMT) could also be put forward.
I think that these folks will go with revenue sharing for the states, and no further cuts to any social program.
However, the FICA suspension might be a harder sell because most folks don't understand that those taxes don't anything and they are therefore afraid that a FICA suspension now will lead to calls for future cutting.
We need to explain that anti-austerity means you can't accept the untruthful premise that taxes fund the Federal government.
I personally find Wall Street sales taxes a fine policy but not to raise revenue but to limit speculation but you would need to offset the tax with increased spending or a tax cut for another sector and explaining to folks why that is the case can be tricky.
We need to push the point that government isn't going to run out of dollars and it can spend nominally as much as it wants and it doesn't need "revenue."
I've heard that the blogger Glen Ford
(Black Agenda Report) will attending and this hopefully is just a first meeting aimed at political organizing and setting up the basic message.
I hope some of you go and that you have good luck.
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