Cross-posted from New Deal 2.0.
One of the most common criticisms of progressives is that, unlike the right, we don't have simple messages that tell our story. Our young leaders at Occupy Wall Street have come up with a powerful answer: We are the 99 percent.
For the past several months, I've been working with a group of progressive leaders and communicators on the development of a "progressive economic narrative" -- a way of telling our story about the roles of the individual, business, and government in creating shared prosperity. The right has a well-developed view, to the point where after several decades it can now be summarized in three brief phrases: free markets, limited government and individual liberty.
If we as progressives do our job well, we will also get to the point where we have three such phrases that are widely recognized. But that actually takes a long time. (Here are three candidates, but the fact that you may not nod your head readily when you read them is because you can't shorten the process: shared prosperity, government that works for all of us, and liberty and justice for all.)
For now, I'm celebrating the fact that we now have one phrase that tells much of our story: "We are the 99 percent."
This phrase's power is in the emotions it elicits. It is triumphant, not defeatist. It says, "We have the power and the moral authority, not you!" It conveys action -- we're standing up for ourselves and occupying your turf. It declares our common humanity. It is hopeful.
The progressive economic narrative I've been helping to draft has five conceptual pillars, and understanding them helps illustrate why "we are the 99 percent" also works intellectually. The first pillar of the narrative defines the progressive view of our economic problem: the crushing of the middle class by the rich and by corporate America. "The 99 percent" is a great unifying expression of inequality, as it avoids the separations that come from labels like "the middle class," "working class" and "poor." It says we're all screwed together by rising inequality and highlights those who are responsible: the super-rich and big corporations.
The second pillar defines what makes a successful economy: the well-being of our families in a big middle class and the productivity of our nation, not the stock market and corporate profits. "The 99 percent" is a simple declaration that our economy is driven by the vast majority of people, not a few super-rich.
The fourth pillar (I'll come back to the third) defines the political problem: our government has been captured by the super-rich and corporate America, corrupted by big money and politics. "We are the 99 percent" affirms that we have to take our democracy back to ensure that our economy works for all of us, not just the richest few. This has been a consistent message from the Occupy Wall Streeters, who seamlessly link inequality, corporate power and corruption.
The fifth pillar is a call to action. And here's where the triumphant power of "We are the 99 percent" works so well. It's no accident that the phrase took root in an action that people could easily do -- posting a picture of themselves with their story -- and was adopted instantly by a movement.
The third pillar explains the role of government in building a successful economy and the relationship of public action to individuals and business. It can be summarized thus: We build a large and prosperous middle class through the decisions we make together, investing in our people, expanding opportunity and security, paving the way for business to innovate, and doing business in ways that create prosperity and economic security for Americans.
This third pillar is essential to explaining how we should solve our problems and refuting the conservative view that the economy is driven by natural forces, best left on its own without government interference. "We are the 99 percent" opens the door for us to tell that story, but we need to fill in the blanks. When people say that Occupy Wall Street doesn't have demands, we should look at that not as a criticism, but as an invitation to complete the story. Everything about the phrase establishes the point that we build an economy that works for all of us when we make decisions that benefit the 99 percent.
Helping the American public understand a progressive worldview about the economy starts with our being clear on what we believe and telling that story consistently and widely. The best evidence that we're on the right track is when a simple message captures the hearts and minds of us -- the 99 percent.
I am part of the 53%
There is no contradiction here for most of us.
It would do a grave disservice to the 99% to try to narrow the discussion down to a few soundbites.This truly would be biting the bait and would limit the number of potential participants in this great.if fledgling,movement.
1. Full Democracy. Not the partial bought-out Democracy we now have, which is more or less the same old Oligarchy of the Middle Ages.
2. Honesty, integrity and accountability in words and actions.
3. Ethics, not morality. Morals are personal/individual values and impossible to get consensus on. Religious beliefs are too diverse and not applicable to serve as a basis for running countries, business, etc. Ethical behavior and actions are more easily agreed upon. The Golden Rule is a prime example of keeping it simple and universal.
4. Co-ordination rather than 'Rulership'. People chosen with the right qualifications and intelligence in the relative field of need.
5. Clear compassionate and direct communication, rather than saying whatever is 'politically correct'.
Yes a lot to ask for, but we need major changes.
WE THE PEOPLE want to see a shift in consciousness from I to WE - www.weparty.info
WE are putting together a program for ALL governments - WE THE PEOPLE appeals to 100% of the people. At WE PARTIES WE are making a difference at www.weparties.info and not getting arrested.
See the 100% World Peace Club (www.aunitedworld.net/club) - Create WE Party websites (www.15freesites.info) - Join the shift from I to WE
"Learning your purpose is your energy source to promote kindness and pass your love forward" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOJzKMZCdCA -
Your followers can definitely help us create a shift in consciousness! http://aunitedworld.net/shift
The (http://www.aunitedworld.net) Social Network is for "People Helping People Online"
This has nothing to do with the Tea Party. It's the WE, Party and it appeals to 100% of the people, 100% of the time.
The WE Party is about helping and inspiring others primarily online. It's about doing what's right. If a person does something that 99 out of 100 people feel is right and there is one person that doesn't feel that way, then it is wrong! WE are the people with Character!
The WE Party Mentors say "WE can make a difference" - "Yes WE can" - United WE stand" - "WE can be the change WE wish to see in the world"
If either Political Party (given, the Republicans doing so is kind of far fetched) manages to take over the 99% movement, it will begin to lose support rapidly.
The Deomcratic Party in power is generally not all that Liberal. The DLC is an owned subsidary of the Corporate Oligarchy, just as much so as the RNC.
I am of the opinion that one thing - and maybe only one thing - that the Liberals, Libertarians, Teapartiers, Progressives, Greens, and many unaffiliated can agree on is this.
Our Government has ceased to work for most, if not at least 99% of us. What to do,... where to go,... and how to progress from that point is what we need to come to some sort of understanding about among ourselves.
We've got to look out for each other - the Government isn't doing it, and is instead trying to play us off against each other while they continue to try and pull our stings.
You missed a very important part of the problem. They make decisions based on PERSONAL economics. The executives make decisions that will line their own pocketbooks - often in ways that ultimately destroys the companies they work for. Bank executives deliberately made bad loans by disregarding the corporations own lending rules, they pocketed their bonus's and departed to the next company. There is a group of criminals who raid companies - this has been going on at least since the 80's. It includes outsourcing positions and pocketing per head fees and then moving on to the next feeding ground. Some of the 1% are pirates.
99%
If you take the intellectual edifice of what the conservative movement and conservative political views on the economy are made of - as grown over the past half century, say, and represented in the work of their economists and political scientists - you'll find that there is just NOTHING in it that would justify EITHER the Tea Party OR the channeling of all wealth to the top 1%.
Here's the relevant consequence of this little fact: it means that the 99% are subject to ZERO criticism of being leftist.
If those who built the intellectual edifice of the right over the past half century have one iota of intellectual integrity, they will agree with the 99%.
Because they know perfectly well that banks and special interests are to the glossy free market democracy of Ayn Rand style what computer viruses are to the internet.
That's because they found out in their theories. They are the ones who discovered it.
The 99% idea isn't about Left or Right. It isn't about wealth redistribution, though some individuals demonstrating may have that idea in mind. It is about the simple fact that "We" have had enough of a Government that works almost soley for the 1% who already have most of the benefits to begin with.
99%, to be a "powerful phrase" needs to actually mean something.
As it is, it seems to me to be an attempt to glom moral authority from the truly needy by acting as you are one of "them."
plenty of people (far more than 1%) still believe in private property and want no part of government confiscation.
Learn a bit more about it. Then think about it and rejudge.
The model for fixing our economy is not camped out in a park in New York City. It is our next door neighbor, Canada. In the 1980s Canada faced runaway entitlements, a burgeoning deficit and a recession. The fix was painful but necessary.
Pity they didn't fix their health care system at the same time, although it is still far less expensive than America's. It is not, however, less expensive than Singapore, Switzerland, Holland or Germany all of which have a public/private health care partnership.