Is Occupy Wall Street transforming into an electoral movement?

By: Daryl Northrop

Maybe so.

Occupy Wall Street, and its related regional and local movements, have captured the attention and imagination of American's everywhere who fight for the rights of the 99% (in simple terms, that everyone who isn't a millionaire). The current political system serves the needs of the top 1% of income earners and wealth-owners quite well. They and their corporations fund the candidates, and the PAC's, and the think tanks, and the research instutions that support their system of greed. The "Occupy" movement has been characterized by a populist, non-partisan orientation. Meaning, they support values and policies that lift up the poor, the middle-class, and the small business owners, while standing against huge corporations that buy off our politicians, and send our jobs and profits overseas.

So the question on the lips of jaded political pundits and consultants everywhere is "What's next?" Will the Occupy movement become another pressure group like the NRA or the Sierra Club and lobby for change within the framework of the status quo? Or, will they become an independent political movement, similar to the "Tea Party" before they were co-opted by the GOP establishment?

Some in the Occupy movement have started an electoral wing to recruit and support candidates who stand with the 99%. Here is what Occupy The Ballot says about itself.

The problem isn’t that people don’t vote; the problem is that candidates are in debt to the top 1%. When people see both parties as the same, why should they vote? Instead of just encouraging people to keep voting for the lesser of two evils, we need to get the 99% to run for office! We know what needs to be done – let’s elect ourselves to office and fix Wall Street!

This country was founded on the idea that the people are qualified to decide what is best for them, and that everyone has the ability to run for public office and represent their neighbors. You don’t need to be in politics for years to know that pollution is poisoning people, that everyone deserves a fair shot at a healthy, prosperous life and that corporations and the top 1% can afford to give back to society!

 Here in Northern Virginia, there is already a group that stands with the 99%, it is the Green Party. Our party and our candidates take zero funding from corporations, PAC's, and other special interest. We represent the needs of people first! Fairness, decency, respect, grassroots democracy, and equal justice for all are our values that we form policies and solutions on. Occupy The Ballot makes an excellent point - you do not have to be an expert on politics to know the system is rotten, and that it needs to be changed.

To join the Northern Virginia Greens and take a stand for the 99% in our region, click here.

The Northern Virginia Green Party stands with union employees!

Saturday, February 26th, across the nation, citizens, workers (unionized and non-unionized) stood in solidarity with public employees and union members in Wisconsin. They are fighting to retain their rights to collectively bargain with the state for wages and benefits. In attendence was our own Paul Hughes (head of the Northern Virginia Green Party) along with his granddaughter, Sierra. It was Sierra's first public rally, and a great way to see democracy in action.

The Green Party stands in favor of the right of workers to freely organize unions, have a safe workplace, and to be treated and compensated fairly in exchange for their expertise, time, and labor. A vibrant, just, and sustainable economic system cannot exist without workers protections.

Unions - what have they done for you? They brought you:

1. The weekend.

2. The 8 hour day.

3. The 40 hour work week.

4. Workers compensation insurance.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch covered the event. Their article can be found below, and by clicking this link.

Union advocates rally for Wisconsin workers

By Olympia Meola

Chanting "the workers united will never be defeated," several hundred union advocates rallied at the state Capitol on Saturday to support their Wisconsin counterparts.

They railed against what they view as an attack on the middle class and workers' rights in Wisconsin, where Gov. Scott Walker is trying to curb collective-bargaining allowances for public employees. Walker also wants workers to pay more toward pensions and health-care costs to help alleviate budget troubles.

"I say we can not, should not, and will not balance the budget on the backs of the middle class," said Richard Hatch of the Communications Workers of America, Virginia council.

"Pensions are deferred compensation," he said. "They are not taxpayer handouts."

Gov. Bob McDonnell has come to Walker's defense, saying states must make tough choices to balance their budgets. McDonnell is also seeking changes to the Virginia state employees' retirement system, and has asked the legislature to require workers to contribute 5 percent into their plans and receive a 3 percent salary increase.

The crowd waved signs like, "In the Confederacy, stand with the unions," and "corporations are not people," while some signs targeted the politically active billionaire Koch brothers — "VA GOP: Addicted to Koch too!"

The afternoon Save the American Dream rally in Richmond was part of a "national day of action," with events held across the country. Richmond's rally was organized in part by the liberal MoveOn.org political action committee and labor groups.

Rabbi Ben Romer of Congregation Or Ami told those gathered that "all budgets are moral documents."

"When you steal from the poor to give to the rich, when you steal from the workers to give to the corporate greedhead, you violate ... all religious values in the West," he said.

And now, some pictures:

A diverse crowd of 350 people standing strong for workers rights.

One of the signs reads "Corporations Are Not People " - important to remember. The Northern Virginia Green Party puts people first. We do not accept ANY donations from corporations, political action committes, or unions.