“I Declare my Independence”

Today is Independence Day. It is the day we celebrate our independence from the king of England. It is the day we declared our independence from the old society, to create our own new ways of operating.

Yet, today I do not feel independent. I do not see independence. I do not see it or feel it anywhere in my life, in our society, or in our country. Rather, I feel that we are living under Tyranny.

For years, I have seen and felt nothing by Tyranny. Tyranny from the government. Tyranny from capitalists and the 1%. Tyranny from willing accomplices in society. 

We cannot celebrate independence today, because we do not have independence. We do not have independence in any form.

Tyranny of the Government

The government dictates our behaviors. They tell us what we can and can’t do. They restrict anything that is fun and pleasurable. They restrict the way we talk, the things we say, the things we do. The government restricts everything about being a true, free person. The government restricts us as natural humans.

The government has selective bias. The government has long ago stopped treating people as equal. No, the government likes some people, and dislikes others. The government will help certain types of people, and not others.

Tyranny of the 1%, Capitalists, in conjunction with Government

In particular, the government assists the 1%, those people who are already wealthy beyond comprehension. The government writes laws in favor of the 1%. The government allows the 1% to commit theft on a large scale without being punished.

The government allows the 1% to commit acts of slander, extortion, and physical violence with complete immunity.

The government gives money away – money which belongs to the citizens – to the 1%, for no other reason than because the government prefers the 1%.

Yet the government has other biases as well, particularly in the area of unemployment. The government pretends to offer unemployment assistance, yet they will not give unemployment benefits to those who have been unemployed for over 6 months. Indeed the government denies assistance to those people who need it the most. (Meanwhile, the government give $ millions and $ billions to the wealthiest 1%, for no logical reason at all.)

The government is also biased in the area of job creation, still believing that the capitalists and the 1% are the ones who create jobs. (In fact, capitalists and the 1% have never created jobs. In fact, these are the people who destroy jobs).

This brings us to the capitalists and the 1% very specifically. They are the most evil beings in modern history. For decades they have destroyed businesses, they have destroyed peoples’ lives, and they have destroyed local economies. The capitalists have a power and a tyranny which is far worse than anything the colonials ever faced under England.

Tyranny in the Workplace and Restricted Human Behavior

Then there are willing accomplices in society. Between the government and the willing accomplices in society, everything is restricted beyond endurance. The rigid workplace is the most important example. In the workplace you are denied the most basic of human rights. You cannot talk to others. You cannot have friends. You are not allowed to joke. You are not allowed to have fun.

In the workplace, you are not allowed to show that you are a male or female, to dress for attention, to flirt, or any related activity. In some cases, you are not allowed to meditate, to have asthma or to have any medical condition which draws attention to yourself. You are not allowed to be human. Tyranny, tyranny, tyranny.   

Co-workers and subordinates are permitted to slander your good name, fabricate incredible lies about you. And yet the accused is not allowed any fair hearing. He or she is simply dismissed, simply based on the slander, while the accuser is allowed to remain. There is no justice.

The worker has no rights whatsoever. Everything is “at-will”, which means that an employer can fire the employee without any cause. The employee can be the best performer in the company.  He can be highly dedicated, always doing his best. Yet, simply because the employer does not like his personality, or beliefs (or because of slander), the employee can be discarded in seconds like a used tissue. No discussion, no hearing, no options of working through the problem, just simply discarded. This is unjust. This is tyranny.

Tyranny of Society and of the Social Norms

Finally, we come to personal beliefs and actions in our society.  Personal choices and lifestyles are forbidden by government. Personal pleasures such as a marijuana and prostitution are deemed criminal. (And the large scale theft of the capitalist 1% is still legal, where is the justice?)

Disciplining a child is considered abnormal, if not totally illegal. Particular religions face extreme prejudice (particularly pagan religions, new age religions, and Wicca).

Some groups have decided “social norms”. Who are they? Nebulous groups, with will willing supporters, yet tyrannical nonetheless. If any of your actions or beliefs deviate from those social norms in any way…you are deemed expendable in modern society.

Society as a whole has discarded the best and brightest of individuals. We have a tyranny composed of government, psychologists, and close-minded people, who together form a tyranny over anyone who is creative and different.

If you are a free-thinker, then you are not allowed. Just as in the days of Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, all free-thinking individuals have been driven underground to discuss their ideas - for fear of persecution.

If you have ideas and beliefs which are different from the “accepted social norms”, then you are deemed unworthy of society. You are called derogatory terms. You are forbidden from many activities which other people enjoy. If society allowed it, these free-thinkers would be burned at the stake like witches in Salem.

Remember John Nash (as shown in the movie “A Beautiful Mind”). He would not be allowed to live today. He would not be allowed to enroll in a university. In fact he probably would have been given a court order forbidding him from stepping on any university campus. This is the society we live in today. Tyranny, tyranny, tyranny.

Declaring our Independence

Therefore, rather than celebrating our independence (which we do not have), we must Declare our Independence. We must start a new War for Independence.

We must allow, and encourage, all types of human behavior. People should be allowed to exist as they are and accepted as they are. Every person should be allowed to live as they desire, to exhibit his/her personality, and pursue their desires. And they should be allowed to do this without prejudice in the workplace, restrictions from government, or being treated as a social outcast.

We must take apart our current society. We must eliminate the vast majority of concepts of “social norms”. (Only the most basic social norms shall remain - such as prohibitions against theft, murder, and large scale damage to communities).

We must fight to allow free-thinkers to prosper. We must encourage people of all beliefs, with all lifestyles, with all desires, to live as they truly desire.

We must allow, and encourage, each person to act as he or she desires, without any hindrance from government, prejudiced supervisors, or closed-minded community groups.

We must declare war on our government.  We must bring the corrupt politicians to justice. We must repeal all laws which restrict human behavior.  We must radically alter our system of elections, to create a system where only those candidates who believe in freedom will be elected.

Fighting for our Freedoms
Today we are not free. Today we live under Tyranny – in a variety of forms. We must fight our way to true freedom. Yet today we can also Declare our Independence.

Today we must pledge our hearts, our minds, and our lives to restoring true and absolute freedom. This is a War for our Independence. This is a War for our Freedom.

The methods of warfare may be different, and there are many enemies to destroy. Yet we will destroy those enemies. We will find a way. We will – WE WILL – prevail.

The individual cost will be minimal if we challenge tyranny together. The sacrifice will be minimal compared to the final benefit - a life of absolute personal freedom.

Join me in the fight for our Freedom. Join me in challenging all forms of tyranny, regardless of the personal cost, so that we may all benefit from the greater joy of absolute personal freedom

M.F. 2012

Making America Great - A Practical Handbook for Improving our Society

Making America Great is a handbook and practical guide for ordinary citizens to make improvements in their communities. Based on a decade of research and talking with experts around the country, this book provides practical tips on how to make our communities better.

In this book you will learn how changes are made in a society, including the sequence of events and the key players in any successful movement. You will understand the types of people in any major societal shift, and how to work with each type of person to get the most out of your movement.

You will learn how to deal realistically with politics, economics, bureaucrats, and the criminal element while persistently developing your vision. You will learn how to lead people effectively, including managing teams and getting the most out of discussions. You will learn how get people to perform small easy tasks which will collectively result in large scale changes.

You will also be inspired as you read the reasons we should continue to make changes, why we should continue to act, and why we should continue to care. You will also be shown that making large scale changes are indeed possible.

This book also provides a series of targets for America – who we are, and where we should be headed. This book also provides role models of great Americans – people for us to emulate, people who embody everything discussed in the book. (If millions of Americans would follow role models such as these our society as a whole will develop closer to the ideal America).

Making America Great also provides a brief summary of practical tips for improving the most important areas of our society. These include education, government operations, and business practices.

And because humor is so important to our lives and our practical achievements, an entire chapter is devoted to humor in the workplace.

The original book was published in 1998, with subsequent editions. The book is landmark book - unique when first published - with very few comparable books since that time.

Making America Great is just as relevant and just as practical today as the initial edition. In the many years since the book’s first publication, the concepts have been proven again and again. Unfolding events such as the 912 movement, the Occupy Movement, major corporate fraud, and the results of the terrorist attacks have all been “predicted” by the original book. The themes and principles remain as truthful as ever.

Furthermore, in the last 10 years, the original book has spawned an entire series of books, collectively known as the Making America Great series, numerous blogs and websites, and at least two political movements. This is in addition to inspiring the many readers who have used the information to make changes in their own sphere of influence.

Making America Great is written as a handbook, with summary points and short chapters. Read this book and understand the practical tips for making real changes in our society...and in ways that are easy for any citizen to do.

During My First Term as President I Will…

If elected President, by the end of my first term I will do the following:

a) Secure our borders with an effective physical barrier, and deport at least 25% of illegal immigrants.

b) Prosecute at least 60% of financial criminals to the fullest extent of the law, and return all stolen money to proper owners.

c) Create a Small Business and Middle Class Task Force, which will evaluate the effects of all laws and regulations on those two key segments of society, as well as make recommendations to the appropriate officials.

d) Make the financial summaries of government operations easier to access, obtain, and interpret, along with an extensive set of links for more detailed information on each topic.

e) Persuade Congress to pass a series of legislative reforms which will:

1. Provide more oversight of the financial sector.

2. Establish significant restrictions of allowable financial transactions.

3. Restrict foreign ownership of federal, state, and municipal government operations, including infrastructure, security, and bonds.

4. Return authority of most government activities to state and local regions.

5. Increase personal freedoms and allow more personal choices for individuals.

These are the goals I will achieve in my first term as President of the United States.

I am ready to run for political office

I am ready to run for political office. I am emotionally ready, mentally ready, and physically ready.

I have become an expert in government agencies, civics, and the Constitution. I know more about government operations than most people who work in the government. I know more about the Founders beliefs and legal history than most Constitutional scholars.

I have developed several detailed solutions for specific issues – and I know my reforms will work because I have the insight and experience. I have also refined my ideas over several years. My plans will work.

I also have something many candidates don’t have: integrity. I will not be changing my positions just to make someone like me. I will stick to my beliefs and my plans because they are what most Americans want.

I have been involved in politics, government, and community affairs for over 20 years. I am very ready to implement my reforms and solutions. I am ready to fight the giant squid known as the federal government, and free the people from their oppressors.

I am ready to be in political office.

Similarities between Tea Party and Occupy Movements

Introduction

There are three big movements going on today: the Tea Party Movement, the 9/12 Movement, and the Occupy Wall Street Movement.

Each movement is actually very similar. The people involved in each of these movements actually want similar things.

I am involved with all three movements. I have friends in each movement. I communicate with several people around the nation in each movement. And I fully support the goals of each of these movements.

Unfortunately, there are members of each movement who strongly disapprove of the other movements. Many citizens, political leaders, and major media personalities will strongly praise one movement, then strongly criticize the other movement.

This befuddles me. From my perspective, I see that each movement is branch of the same general ideas.

These general ideas include:

a) returning our nation to original American principles

b) restoring democracy and ensuring that the government truly represents the will of the people

c) focusing on local communities, and

d) increasing personal freedom.

 

Instead of media personalities and members of one movement criticizing the goals of another movement, everyone should see that the goals of each movement are essentially the same, then combine their forces in voicing their grievances.

To that end, I have created a list below of how the Tea Party and the Occupy Movements are very similar. Below you will find a series of paired statements, which show the similarities.

How the Tea Party and Occupy Movements are similar

1a) The Tea Party wants to get money out of Washington.

1b) The Occupy Movement wants to get money out of Wall Street.

2a) The Tea Party wants to reduce the power of government over our lives.

2b) the Occupy Movement wants to reduce the power of the financial sector over our lives.

3a) The Tea Party wants to reduce the size and scope of the federal government.

3b) The Occupy Movement wants to reduce the size and scope of the financial sector.

4a) The Tea Party wants corrupt politicians removed, punished, and replaced.

4b) The Occupy Movement wants corrupt financial elite to be removed, punished, and replaced.

5a) The Tea Party believes that families and local government are the primary elements of society.

5b) The Occupy Movement believes that families and neighborhoods are the primary elements of society.

6a) The Tea Party believes that local communities come first, and that state and national involvement exist only as necessary.

6b) The Occupy Movement also believes that local communities come first, and state and national involvement exists only as necessary.

7a) The members of the Tea Party movement want much greater freedom for individuals, allowing each person to live as he or she desires.

7b) The members of the Occupy Movement also want much greater freedom for individuals, allowing each person to live as he or she desires.

8a) Many members of the Tea Party movement have an entrepreneurial spirit, believing in owning and growing your own business.

8b) Many members of the Occupy Movement also have an entrepreneurial spirit, believing in owning and growing your own business.

9a) The Tea Party believes that the federal government is a major impediment to the growth of small businesses and the local economy.

9b) The Occupy Movement see the actions of the financial elite and the political elite as major impediments to the growth of small businesses and the local economy.

10a) The Tea Party wants the federal government to have tougher law enforcement in certain areas, particularly putting an end to illegal immigration and the violence caused by drug lords.

10b) The Occupy Movement wants tougher law enforcement in certain areas, particularly putting an end to corporate fraud and the large scale theft caused by financial criminals.

11a) The majority of members in the Tea Party Movement preach non-violence.

11b) The majority of members in the Occupy Movement also preach non-violence.

         

Myths and Misunderstandings

In addition to the similarities above, there are additional similarities which are hidden under myths and misunderstandings. When these myths are exposed, we can see that the movements are very similar in the following areas.

Myth 1: “Occupy Movement is violent”

The biggest myth is that the Occupy Movement is violent. The truth is that the great majority of the members in the Occupy Movement preach non-violence, and are very vocal in their disapproval of the vandalism during Occupy protests.

I have also heard from contacts on the streets that most vandals are simply elements of the city itself, those people looking for an excuse to behave badly, and have no connection to the Occupy movement.

Indeed, the majority of members of both the Occupy Movement and the Tea Party believe in peaceful protests without violence or vandalism.

Myth 2: “Occupy Movement has no clear agenda”

Another common myth is that the Occupy Movement has no clear agenda. The truth is that the Occupy Movement does have an agenda. When talking with members of the Occupy Movement, four common goals emerge:

a) Punish the financial elite who have committed crimes.

b) Return all stolen money to proper owners.

c) Prevent anyone from committing similar financial crimes in the future.

d) Remove and replace any government official who contributed to the problem.

So you see, the Occupy Movement does indeed have an agenda, and this agenda could not be more clear. Any difference you might see is only a difference in specifics as how to best achieve those goals.

Also notice that this very similar to the Tea Party Movement. The Tea Party has general goals of smaller government and greater personal freedom, but what does that mean in practical terms? Individuals within the Tea Party movement debate and discuss the specifics of how to achieve those goals. This is very much the same as individuals within the Occupy Movement who debate and discuss the specifics of how to achieve their goals.

Myth 3: “Leaders of the Occupy Movement want to increase the size of the government.”

I have heard this myth several times, and I am not sure why this myth exists. There is absolutely no truth to it. In all my conversations with members of the Occupy Movement not once have I ever heard anyone express the desire to increase the size of the government.

I refer you again to the main goals of the Occupy Movement: punish the financial criminals, return stolen money, prevent future financial crimes, and remove corrupt politicians. Where in any of those goals do you see the desire to increase the size of the government?

These goals may require additional law enforcement personnel in the SEC and FBI, and more laws to prevent further crimes, yet nothing that could be construed as a massive increase in the size of government.

There have also been proposals floating around regarding taxes, such as closing tax loopholes for corporations, or increasing tax rate for financial speculations. Yet neither of those proposals will increase the size or scope of the government.

The members of the Occupy Movement, like the members of the Tea Party Movement, want smaller government. Members of both movements want only the amount of government necessary to ensure justice and protect personal freedom.

Summary

The movements are really very much the same. The people within each movement agree much more than they disagree.

I see no reason why members of one movement should be opposed to the other movement.

Furthermore, it is important that everyone understands how similar their ideas really are. The future of our nation is too important for us to be divided on these major issues. If we are to take back America, if we wish to grow our economy, restore democracy, and regain our liberties, then we must unite our forces.    

Disclaimer

The statements about the members of each movement are generalities, and no statement can apply to every person in the movement.

However, I have communicated frequently with members of each movement, throughout the nation. From my discussions with people in each movement, I have created these statements which represent the most common beliefs of the members in each movement.

Again I repeat: from my discussions with members of each movement, I very much believe that the people in both movements generally want the same things.

List of General Demands for Occupy Wall Street Movement

Introduction

One of the common complaints the elite make about the “Occupy” movement is that the people are not able to articulate specific demands. Therefore in order to aid the movement it is called upon individuals like myself to offer such a list.

The following is a List of Demands, created on behalf of the people.

We desire that the federal government and the financial elite take appropriate steps based on these demands to bring economic justice back to our nation.

General Demands

In general terms, the people demand the following:

1. The financial criminals who obtained their wealth through fraud and theft must be brought to justice. All stolen money must be returned to rightful owners. All criminals must be punished according to existing law.

2. Government agencies in all jurisdictions must do whatever is necessary to return stolen money to proper owners, to bring the financial criminals to justice, and to protect the people from any future financial crimes.

3. The financial elite must put the needs of the businesses before personal gain. Executives and investors must be dedicated to gradually growing the business over time, rather than being focused on quick profits and large paychecks.

4. The financial elite are obligated to help ensure that communities are economically healthy and that the nation remains prosperous. Personal wealth must not be obtained by sacrificing the general welfare of the communities or the nation.

5. All elected representatives who assisted the financial criminals in committing their crimes must also be brought to justice. These individuals must be replaced with representatives who are more responsive to the people. These representatives may also be charged with crimes as appropriate.

6. The financial elite must never be given any preferences over other sectors of the economy and other economic groups regarding government policy decisions, legislation, or enforcement of existing law.

7. All government money (actually taxpayer money) which was given to businesses as grants, loans, or stimulus must be immediately returned to the government treasury.

8. Wealthy corporations and individuals must pay their fair share in taxes. Those who benefit from the system to the greatest degree are obligated to return some of their profit to that system. Therefore all corporations and individuals who earn a substantial income must pay all taxes at the existing tax rate, without using any of slight-of-hand accounting methods to reduce their tax obligations.

This is our list of Demands. We further add that every elected representative, every government agency, and every member of the financial community take appropriate action to meet these demands.

Class Warfare: It is based on Justice, not Jealousy

Introduction

There is indeed a class warfare going on today. But it was not started by the poor, middle class, or any politician pandering for votes.

The class warfare was started by the financial elite. The people are simply trying to defend themselves and protect what is rightfully theirs. The ordinary people of the country, the 98% who are not part of the financial elite, are engaged in a movement to protect their future.

Key Elements of the “class war”

There are a few things to remember about the class war of today:

1. The financial elite started the war, by attacking the American people and by looting established businesses.

2. The term “class warfare” was invented by the financial elite to disparage the people. The term has been used to deflect attention from the elite’s serious financial crimes.

3. The financial elite have been using the media over many years to lie repeatedly. This includes false accusations against innocent people so that the elite can deflect attention from their own very real crimes.

4. The 98% of the population who are not part of the financial elite are engaged in a movement to protect everything of value. These people are motivated by justice, not by jealousy.

5. The people are simply trying to defend what is rightfully theirs, to regain stolen assets, and to punish the criminals.

Financial Elite: Pillaging, Looting, Bully Behavior

The financial elite have been pillaging American communities and looting from the American people for decades. It is time that the people take back what was stolen from them. It is time that the people reclaim what is rightfully theirs.

The financial elite have been behaving like school bullies. Yet instead of the school principal telling the bullies to stop, the principal encourages the bully and rewards the behavior.

The authority figures should be the referees, they should be enforcing a fair playing field. Instead, these authority figures are giving the bullies bigger sticks. The referees are cheering the bullies onward as they beat their victims senseless.

Media lies and deflection from crimes

The financial elite have also been using media for their advantage. The financial elite have coined the term “class warfare.” The elite use this term to insult the people, and divert attention from those in power who have really been waging war against Americans.

These elite have always claimed that the rich are innocent, and that the people are selfish. Yet, these accusations are false. In fact, the opposite is true. The financial elite are selfish. The financial elite destroy businesses, destroy communities, and commit fraud, all for large amounts of personal wealth. 

The elite have also claimed that the people are acting out of jealousy. Again, another deflection tactic. The people are not jealous of the criminals. Rather, the people want to be protected from the criminals.

The elite claim that many people want to tear down the wealthy and redistribute the wealth in a socialist manner. This is another lie. The people do not want to steal money, they want the money stolen by the elite to be returned to their owners.

The elite claim that the people want free money for no labor. Again, a lie told by the elite through the media to deflect what is really going on. The people do not want free money for no labor. Rather, the people want honest investors and CEOs who care about the companies instead of just how to get more money. The people want executives who stay with a company for generations, and grow a company honestly. As a result, the free market economy will work. As a result, hard-working Americans can perform their work with pride and be able to support their families. As a result, our nation's economy will prosoper and continue to bloom.

The false accusations against the people are deliberate. Making false accusations against the people deflects the attention from the elite's real and very serious crimes.

Class Warfare and The People’s Army

Is there a class warfare? Absolutely. It is real, and it has been growing for years. Was it started by the people? No, it was started by the financial elite. Only now are the people gathering in large enough numbers to effectively fight back.

The 98% of hard-working Americans, the people who have been unemployed and underemployed for many years, are finally amassing into a people’s army.

In revolutionary terms, you might call this a “militia”.

The people didn’t start this war, but by God the people are going to finish this war. And the people will eventually win.

How do we know the people will win? The fight is very personal: the people are defending their homes, their lives, and their personal freedoms. The people are also motivated by justice and equality.

And never forget the numbers: 98% of the people versus 2% of the elite. If this militia is organized properly, and if effective methods are used in battle, then such large numbers cannot be defeated!

The methods used in this war may vary quite a bit. It is left to the leaders throughout the movement to develop the strategies and goals. Nevertheless, the people's militia, located in pockets throughout the nation, is now ready for the series of battles that will come.

Remember that ordinary Americans fought and died on the beaches of Normandy. Many good men died that day, yet the sheer mass of soldiers (along with their unwavering dedication) conquered that beach. Their dedication ultimately defeated the Nazis throughout all nations. In a similar way, the mass of ordinary Americans of today will fight and eventually defeat the financial elite.

Class warfare: The People Will Win

We are witnessing the natural development of a new militia. This militia is composed of the millions of unemployed and underemployed who have been harmed by the financial elite.

The people of this movement are motivated not by jealousy (as the elite claim), but by the pursuit of justice.

The people did not start this war, but they will finish it. The people will remake society according to basic God given rights and American principles. With determination and a series of effective plans, the people will win this war.

Mark Fennell

10/10/2011

Wall Street and Financial Elite: Examples of Bad Behavior

Introduction

I fully support the movement of Occupy Wall Street and related “occupy” gatherings around the nation.

A common criticism of the movement is that the people of the movement do not know what they are protesting.

I counter that criticism: The people DO know what they are protesting. They can’t always articulate it, they might not have the facts at their fingertips, but they know.

The people of this movement are protesting the repeated criminal acts and unethical behavior of the financial elite. These actions have destroyed successful businesses, depleted communities, stolen investors money, and worsened the financial state of millions of Americans. These actions have gone unpunished. These criminal acts are sometimes rewarded and praised. This is what the Occupy Wall Street movement is protesting.

However, in order to aid the movement, the citizen researchers and civic activists must help the people articulate the problem. We must gather examples of the criminal acts and unethical behavior of the financial elite.

In this article I will provide an overview of some of their criminal acts.

A. Venture Capitalists stealing money from investors

There are many Venture Capitalists who have no desire to create a business. They will admit as much when you talk to them personally.

These Venture Capitalists have a method for making money: They put their name and their money behind a new business. Then they get other people to invest in the company. The Venture Capitalists manipulate the stocks, manipulate the financial reports, and make the business appear a grand success. Then the Venture Capitalists pull their money out, with a substantial profit.

The Venture Capitalists get wealthy, while the business falters and goes under. Small investors (regular people who work full time but invest on the side) then lose their money.

In addition, because this business was deemed a failure, few investors or banks will take a chance on a similar business. The fact that it was deliberately run into the ground for the profit of a few elitists at the top is a fact that few people know. The general consensus is “don’t invest in that type of company again”, which makes new start-ups (and future economic growth in the community) much less likely.

This type of activity falls under deceptive business practices. It is a type of bait-and-switch. Law enforcement agencies should punish this behavior, but nothing ever happens. The Venture Capitalists run free to perform this deceptive (and destructive) act again and again.

B. Financial elitists stealing money from the government

The government often gives grants, loans, and other types of economic stimulus money to private companies. However, this money usually goes to the financial elite, who take the money only for personal gain.

First, the biggest amounts of money given out by the federal government tend to go to the most wealthy people. The top people at the government are friends with the financial elite. This results in money being given to the wealthy elite rather than to a deserving company.

Second, many of these recipients have no intention of using that money to build a business. The business is just a front for the real activity: pocketing government money.

The recipients of the government money will pretend to run a business, for a while. Yet if you look closely you will see extremely high salaries, padded travel expenses, and business expenses that are really personal pleasures. Yet there never really was a business. The business only exists as long as the government money is coming in.

Third, the business begins to falter. It could be from the fact that there never really was a business, and very little product was sold. Or it could be that the government money ran out. Or it could be that the high salaries couldn’t support even the smallest pretense of a business.

At this point the government (the taxpayers) have increased the wallets of the financial elite, without anything in return. In addition, the community is disappointed - they believed in that business and the economic growth it would bring. Employees at the bottom worked hard yet are now unemployed. And the thought of anyone investing in a similar company in the future seems unlikely.

Do the taxpayers get their money back? Not usually. The political leaders are friends with the financial elite, so nobody is ever going to investigate, and no one will be required to return the money.

(More examples of Bad Behavior will be written in future blogs)

Clarification of Who we are talking about

Remember we are talking about the financial elite. We are NOT talking about hard working entrepreneurs and employees. We are not talking about the people throughout a business who grow the company through their passion and dedication.

Rather, we are talking about the criminal element. We are talking about the financial elite who deliberately steal money, who manipulate markets, who knowingly break existing laws, and who don’t care about destroying communities. Those financial criminals are the people we are talking about.

Wall Street Protests: I Support the Movement

I fully support the movement of Occupy Wall Street and related “occupy” gatherings around the nation.

The financial elite have been harming our economy in serious ways over many years. These financial elitists get wealthy at the expense of the people, and the nation.

These elitists obtain their wealth not through hard work over a period of years, but through repeated criminal and unethical behavior.

These financial elitists never face the consequences of their actions. They rarely pay for their crimes. In fact, they are often rewarded and praised.

The people have known about the problem for decades, yet only now is there a movement which has taken hold.

A common criticism of the movement (again by those in political and financial power) is that the people of the movement do not know what they are protesting. I counter that criticism: Yes the people DO know what they are protesting. They can’t always articulate it, they might not have the facts at their fingertips, but they know.

The people of this movement are protesting the repeated criminal acts and unethical behavior of the financial elite. These actions have destroyed successful businesses, depleted communities, stolen investors money, and worsened the financial state of millions of Americans. These actions have gone unpunished, even rewarded and praised. This is what the Occupy Wall Street movement is protesting.

And I fully support it.

However, in order to aid the movement, researchers and civic activists must help the people articulate the problem. We must gather examples of the criminal acts and unethical behavior of the financial elite. We must show the laws written by the elite for the elite, and the criminal acts unpunished by the government. We must take back our government and our finances from the criminals who are the financial elite.

Tips for Effective Civil Disobedience

Introduction

Sometimes it may be necessary to engage in civil disobedience in order to make changes. However, civil disobedience is more than making noise and getting arrested. Civil disobedience should be effective and get results. Civil disobedience should be part of a strategy to reach a desired goal.

The following article provides tips for effective civil disobedience. I have created this list based on my observations, personal experience, and study of history.

Using other Methods Prior to Civil Disobedience

I wish to emphasize up front that other means for change should always be attempted prior to civil disobedience. The first methods are related to communicating with your representative: calling your representatives, lobbying your representatives, speaking out at public hearings, and asking questions of representatives at town hall meetings. If necessary you can campaign to replace the representative with one who understands your issue.

The second set of methods prior to civil disobedience are related to making your issue heard, including: peaceful rallies in front of government buildings, media campaigns, and public education. 

These methods should always be tried prior to civil disobedience. However, if these methods seem to fail for your particular issue, then civil disobedience may be necessary to get the point across.

Civil Disobedience Overview

The point of civil disobedience is to do something bold enough to convince the person with power to make the changes that you desire. Along the way, civil disobedience will educate the public on your issue, attract supporters to your cause, and give your opponent a negative reputation.

Always remember that civil disobedience is a means to a goal. Civil disobedience is not a license for unlimited behavior solely for attention or thrills. Be strategic, have a directed purpose, and you will get results.

The tips below are some of the most effective methods for using civil disobedience to create results. These tips are compiled from stories of civil disobedience throughout history - such as the Scopes Monkey Trial, protests of the 1960s, the Tea Party movement, and many other events.

List of Tips for Effective Civil Disobedience

1. Know the issue and be absolutely certain you are right

2. Be able to cite law and facts

3. Select the best office and location to target

4. Be able to offer a reasonable counter proposal

5. Do not make life more difficult for the general public

6. Be peaceful, non-violent, and non-destructive

7. If you break the law, accept the consequences peacefully

8. Get media coverage ready before you begin

9. Take your cause and civil disobedience to trial

10. If you plan on doing a lawsuit, have a lawyer ready

11. Do a class action lawsuit

Each of these tips will be expanded on briefly below

1. Know the issue and be absolutely certain you are right

Before diving into civil disobedience it is essential that you are certain that you are fighting for a worthy cause. Every issue has at least two sides, often more. The situation is often complex with many factors to consider. You must understand all aspects of the issue in great detail before you begin. You must be certain that your position is the correct one, and you must be able to support your position with facts.

2. Be able to cite law and facts

It is not enough to shout your opinion. Anyone can shout an opinion, but the people watching the debate don’t know which opinion is correct. Therefore you must be able to state facts. Depending on the issue you may need to cite laws, scientific analysis, or independent studies.

You must also be able to back up your facts with a reliable source. It is not enough to say “the law states” or “scientists say”. You need to cite the section of law, or cite the organization which performed the study. If you have copies of key documents to show the people then that is more effective.

The best technique is to create handouts. These will be a page or two of relevant laws or data, always with the source of that information under each section. The public watching the events can then take the information home, study the information, and check your facts. With that information they are more likely to support your cause.

3. Select the best office and location to target

Where should the act of civil disobedience take place? Select the location carefully. Make sure that the location is the office or business responsible for the problem. Then make sure that the director can actually do something about the situation. It does no good to protest at a location where the office is not responsible for the problem or where the director has no authority to make changes.

If the offense occurs at several locations then it is most effective to choose the location where the offense is most severe. At which location is freedom most restricted? Which location causes the greatest harm to the community? Select those locations first because the public will see most clearly that your complaint is reasonable.

4. Be able to offer a reasonable counter proposal

Anyone can complain about a problem. What is your solution? The representative or director made a decision based on the complexities of the situation. If you don’t like it then you need to offer up a realistic solution to this complex problem.

For example, the Massey Energy company has been polluting sections of West Virginia from coal mining operations. The company has been cited in 60,000 violations of environmental law and has caused several deaths. The people of the community have offered two reasonable counter-proposals. The first proposal is to fix the operating procedures so that the company is no longer in violation. In other words, the company can still produce coal, just in a manner which is in accordance with existing environmental law. The second proposal is for the company to build wind turbines on the hills instead of digging for coal. In other words, the company would continue to be an energy company and continue to make profit, just change the energy source from coal to wind. Both solutions are reasonable and meet the needs of all parties.

Be sure you have reasonable counter-proposals. Don’t just complain, offer a realistic solution.

5. Do not make life more difficult for the general public

One of the biggest mistakes protesters make is causing trouble for the general public. This turns public opinion against the protesters, and with the media attention you can be sure that the group will be despised for many years.

In Berkeley the protesters blocked many of the students who wanted to learn from going to class. In Ohio the protesters set fire to the ROTC building and cut the water lines used by the fire department. In the 1980s protesters commonly blocked traffic in major cities. Actions such as these are a nuisance to the general public, and the public is always displeased. Instead of getting positive attention for the cause, the protesters get negative attention on themselves. Decades later, many people who were blocked by the protesters still complain about the trouble those protesters caused. Don’t let that negative reputation happen to your group and your cause.

When planning an act of civil disobedience make sure that you are only affecting the office which is responsible for your issue. Do not prevent the public from doing their normal activities, particularly in the areas of earning a living, traveling, safety, and basic necessities.

6. Be peaceful, non-violent, and non-destructive

When actually engaged in the act of civil disobedience the most important tip to remember is to be peaceful.

Be peaceful, be non-violent, and do not be destructive. Yes, you can shout your opinion and you can express your emotions. However, try not to be hostile. Never get physical. Never cause damage to property.

The worst thing you can do is to become violent and destructive. That image will be shown on the television repeatedly. It will become your group’s image, and that image will cause you to lose public support. Furthermore, the representatives will not want to meet with you. In fact, they are more likely than ever to support the other side.

In contrast, by resisting violence, by always being peaceful, you show an inner strength. This is very powerful. The public will see you as honest and righteous. That is the image you want.

7. If you break the law, accept the consequences peacefully

Sometimes acts of civil disobedience can actually mean breaking the current law. Remember that you want attention on the issue, not on your arrest. If you break the law then you must accept the consequences. You must do so peacefully and agreeably.

Remember that the righteousness of your cause does not excuse you from the law. Furthermore, if you want to be seen as righteous, and your cause seen as an important cause, then you must accept the consequences for your actions.

When the police ask you to leave you can leave at that time. You will have gotten some media attention yet not be arrested and will not have a criminal record. However, if you remain and the police arrest you, then you must go peacefully. The public will not approve if you are violent in addition to breaking the law. Furthermore, you must accept the consequences: jail time, fines, or whatever punishments they impose. Accept the punishment gracefully.

Also understand that you will have a criminal record for the rest of your life, and you may be denied future opportunities. Be proud of what you have done, continue to explain your reasons to those who ask, and accept your limited opportunities in the future. Otherwise, don’t engage in civil disobedience.

Note that you may be breaking the law to highlight the law, in order to change the law. Until that law is changed you must accept the consequences of your behavior. Do so peacefully and gracefully.

8. Get media coverage ready before you begin

If a tree falls in a forest and nobody hears it, did it make a sound? And if a man engages in civil disobedience and nobody heard about it, then did it make any impact? This is why media attention is essential.

Acts of civil disobedience are useless without proper media attention. Therefore it is essential to get as much media coverage as possible before you begin. Start with hand held video cameras and You-Tube. These videos can be spread quickly and easily. Then call the local community newspapers, especially if your issue affects the community. Then start calling local television and radio stations. Over time your group will get greater media attention and your cause will become more well known.

9. Take your cause and civil disobedience to trial

Sometimes it is effective to take your cause and act of civil disobedience to trial. The media always loves a trial so you will be sure to get public attention. Your cause will be talked about in the media for weeks, perhaps months.

Your lawyer will articulate some of the same arguments you have been making, which further promotes your cause. The lawyer will talk about the issue during both the trial and in interviews. It is also possible that you may win your case. This means you will have made actual results.

However, trials are very expensive so get your financing before you begin. Also there is no guarantee you will win your trial, even if your position is right. Going to trial is always a major risk.

Several versions of lawsuits are possible. The most common lawsuits related to civil disobedience are:

• The government prosecutes you for breaking a law which you believe should be changed or eliminated.
• You sue a government agency for a regulation that prohibits freedom.
• You sue a government agency for not enforcing laws and regulations which the agency is mandated by the legislature to enforce.
• You sue a government agency for imposing excessive fines and punishments.
• You sue a government agency for interpreting a regulation in such a way as to unfairly limit your freedom.
• You sue a business for damage to the environment or health.

10. If you plan on doing a lawsuit, have a lawyer ready

If you are going to make a lawsuit part of your strategy then you should obtain a lawyer and develop the outline of a case before you do any act of civil disobedience.

One of the great myths of civil disobedience is that a single man acts on his own, then suddenly a fleet of lawyers appear to defend him. Not likely. What usually happens is that the legal team exists first, and they are ready to strike when the person commits his act. It is also common for the legal team to direct the actors in the civil disobedience, suggesting specific acts and procedures to take so that the team has the best possible case.

Therefore if you are planning on taking your civil disobedience to trial, first get a legal team, then create an outline of your case, before doing your act of civil disobedience.

11. Do a class action lawsuit or suit with multiple violations

Violating one person’s rights may be seen as an isolated incident. Violating the rights of two or three people may be seen as a temporary lapse in judgment. Violating the rights of 10 or more people - that establishes a pattern.

In order to win a case against a large entity such as a government agency or a major corporation, you need to have a class action lawsuit. The better class action lawsuits will have four things:

• As many people as possible
• From as many regions as possible
• From as diverse socio-economic background as possible, and
• With the clearest evidence possible.

The more you have of these criteria the stronger your case will be. 

If you are planning on a class action lawsuit then you can create acts of civil disobedience which involve all these criteria.

Get numerous people willing to undertake this mission. Try to enlist people from different regions so the events are not just concentrated in one area. Choose locations and specific actions which will bring about the clearest evidence for the future case. Coordinate the timing of the events so they appear to be home grown and natural to the general public, yet all occur within a few weeks. Putting all this together will allow several acts of civil disobedience directed at the same purpose within a short time and with clear evidence. From these activities the legal team can create a class action lawsuit.

It is possible to create a class action lawsuit from previous violations, based on people who have been harmed in earlier years. However, it is more difficult to locate the individuals and to compile the events into a coherent case.

Remember that a class action lawsuit will be very expensive and time consuming. However, your cause will get major media attention, and you are more likely to make actual changes if the jury rules in your favor.

Conclusion

Civil disobedience is a means to a goal. Prior to engaging in civil disobedience you should always try to achieve the goal in other ways. However, if after exhausting all other options you believe that civil disobedience is absolutely necessary, then you must be smart. You must be strategic, not haphazard.  

Personal note and disclaimer

Personally, I would never engage in civil disobedience. This is not my style and I have no desire to break any laws.

However, being politically active I have watched civil disobedience frequently and I have studied such events quite often. I have also talked with people who have engaged in civil disobedience. I have talked with people who were in the middle of the events.

This article is written for those political activists who have expressed concern that the government is no longer responsive to the people, and that acts of civil disobedience may be our only option. To them I say: If you are determined to do acts of civil disobedience then be as effective as possible. Do more than make noise: be strategic and create results.

Mark Fennell

July 2011