OCCUPY WALL STREET - Bernie Sanders

Sep. 29th, 2011

Bernie Sanders Is The First US Senator To Support Occupy Wall Street

By: Guest Contributor 

On Countdown With Keith Olbermann, Sen. Bernie Sanders became the first US Senator to voice his support for Occupy Wall Street. 

Sen. Sanders said about Occupy Wall Street, “What I appreciate about what’s going on in New York right now is that there is a spotlight being focused on Wall Street. We desperately need that. If we are going to get out of this recession, if we’re going to create the millions of jobs we desperately need, we need real Wall Street reform. A lot of people don’t know this, you have six financial institutions the largest six banks in the country who control sixty percent of the assets in the United States of America. After we bailed them out because they were too big to fail, three of the four largest financial institutions actually became bigger.” 

He continued, “If we are going to create a situation where capital is going to flow into the productive economy, into manufacturing, into rebuilding our infrastructure, into transforming our energy system, rather than continuing the casino type games that Wall St. is playing right now, we need a lot of pressure on Wall Street, no question about that.” 

Sen. Sanders said focusing attention on Wall Street is exactly the right thing to do. Later America’s favorite Socialist had a message for the Occupy Wall Street protesters, “My message is reach out to working people. Reach out to the unions, reach out to the middle class bring people together demanding real Wall Street reform, so that the function of Wall Street is to provide capital to the productive economy , create jobs that we desperately need rather than continue to engage in speculation and casino type activities, i.e. real real Wall Street reform.” 

Sanders said that he would try to attend the protest on October 6 in Washington, D.C. Host Keith Olbermann said that Bernie Sanders is one of the few public officials who will speak about this, and to the best of my knowledge, he is the first U.S. Senator to publicly come out in support of the Occupy Wall Street protests. 

It is no surprise that Sen. Sanders is the only member of the Senate so far to support the protests. From January 2009-March 2010, big banks and Wall Street spent $500 million on lobbying and campaign contributions to derail real financial reform and consumer protections. The Senate is infested with Wall Street cash. This is why real financial reform and Elizabeth Warren’s Consumer Financial Protection Agency had no chance. 

The fact that Washington D.C. is polluted with Wall Street dollars is exactly why these protests are so important. A popular rebellion is the only way that the American people are ever going to take their democracy back from the moneyed interests. People must demand that their dollars be spent where they are needed instead of circulating through the Wall Street/Washington Money Laundering Machine. Unless we the people demand more, we are certain to get less. 

Sen. Sanders should not only be a guest at the Washington rally. He should be a featured speaker. The Occupy Wall Street protests have a chance to spread freedom’s message beyond Madison and into every part of this country. It is time for the left to come together behind this common cause. Join Bernie Sanders and Occupy Wall Street in liberating our country from the grasp of corruption and greed.

Bernie Sanders Is The First US Senator To Support Occupy Wall Street

On Countdown With Keith Olbermann, Sen. Bernie Sanders became the first US Senator to voice his support ...

Oct. 21st, 2011

Investigation By Bernie Sanders Finds That Wall Street Runs Our Government

By: Ray 

The conservatives continue to tell us we are heading toward socialism or even worse, communism, but this is far from the truth. The fact is according to the Government Accountability Office and the investigations by Senator Bernie Sanders, it turns out our country’s economy is run by Wall Street itself. 

This is by definition a fascist government. Yes, we still have many freedoms, but our monetary policy and our laws that govern banking are formed by Wall Street’s executive. 

According to Senator Bernie Sanders 

Top executives from Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Chase, General Electric and other firms sat on the boards of regional Federal Reserve banks while their firms benefited from the central bank’s policies during the financial crisis, the Government Accountability Office investigation found. The dual roles created an appearance of a conflict of interest, according to the GAO. 

These Wall Street executives are making the rules of our nation’s monetary policy and effecting our economy. They raise and lower interest rates at the discount window which allows banks, mainly Wall Street, to borrow money at near zero percent interest rates. They pick and choose which banks get help and which banks to turn away. 

This is Wall Street running our government. Even though the Federal Reserve is a private bank, it creates rules and policies that affect our country. 

Thanks to Dodd-Frank, a law many Republicans want to repeal entirely, this information is coming to light. Once again, we are Occupying Wall Street because of this very problem. We live in a country that allows the 1% to dictate the lives of the 99% and this investigation is further proof, not to end the Fed, but get rid of the one percenters with in our government.

Investigation By Bernie Sanders Finds That Wall Street Runs Our Government 

The conservatives continue to tell us we are heading toward socialism or even worse, communism, but this ...

 1 Nov 2011 

Bernie Sanders Congratulates The American People For Defeating Bank Of America 

By: Guest Contributor 

After Bank of America announced that they have dropped their planned $5 debit card fee, Sen. Bernie Sanders congratulated the American people on their victory. 

Originally, Bank of America had planned to charge customers a $5 fee in any month they used their debit card. Since debit card usage has become a nearly universal and daily occurrence to most Americans, The B of A fee amounted to a $5 monthly charge for using your debit card. Sustained consumer outrage let to 300,000 people signing a petition, and 21,000 pledging to close the B of A checking accounts. The customer pressure worked, as Bank of America reversed course and dumped the planned fee. 

After Bank of America retreated, Sen. Bernie Sanders took to the Senate floor to congratulate the American people. 

Sen. Sanders said, 

Let me tell you, the Bank of America like the other banks that were going to go forward in imposing these fees did not withdraw them because they were nice guys. They withdrew them because the American people said ‘enough is enough’ in terms of the greed of Wall Street. Let us never forget that it was the Bank of America and the other huge financial institutions on Wall Street who caused the recession that we are in resulting in millions of people losing their jobs, their homes, their life savings. 

Let us never forget when Wall Street was on the verge of collapse it was the American people and the Fed who bailed them out, and now that Wall Street and the large banks are making very handsome profits paying their CEOs some of the largest compensation packages they have ever received their thank you to the American people was to charge them five dollars a month debit fee, but you know what happened? The American people said thanks, but no thanks. 

It wasn’t the Senate that turned this around. It wasn’t the House that turned this around. It was the American people, and I want to applaud the people of the Occupy Wall Street campaign who focused attention on the greed of Wall Street, and the millions of other people who have said enough is enough. So today, I want to congratulate the American people. You did it. You took on the largest financial institution in the United States of America, and you beat them. 

Whether it is the five dollar debit card fee from Bank of America, or Netflix reducing services and increasing fees, the arrogance of corporate America seems to know no limits. The people running these companies have been completely oblivious to the struggles of millions and millions of Americans. The Bank of America debit card fee was the height of ingratitude. There would have been no Bank of America if not for the taxpayers who rescued them from the debts of near ruin that had been caused by their own greed. 

The American people have demonstrated that are willing to stand up and fight. No longer will customers grin and bear additional fees, price increases, or rate hikes. This isn’t just about Bank of America, or Netflix, or Redbox, this about the mood of the country. The American people defeated Bank of America today, and if they can beat B of A, they can defeat anyone.

1 Nov 2011 : Watch | HERE Bernie Sanders Congratulates The American People For Defeating Bank Of AmericaAfter Bank of America announced that they have dropped their planned $5 debit card fee, Sen. Bernie San ...

 Nov. 21st, 2011

Bernie Sanders Slams The GOP For Not Listening To The American People

By: Guest Contributor 

In response to the Super Committee’s failure, Sen. Bernie Sanders put out a statement blasting the GOP for refusing to do what Americans really want, raise taxes on the wealthy. 

In a statement Sen. Sanders said, 

With a $15 trillion national debt, deficit reduction is clearly a huge issue for the country. I am disappointed, but not surprised, that the super committee was unable to reach agreement. 

The American people have made it very clear that they believe the wealthiest people in the country – who are doing phenomenally well and are paying the lowest effective tax rate in decades – must start sharing some of the burden of deficit reduction. The American people have made it clear that they favor closing tax loopholes for profitable corporations. The American people have made it clear that it is time to take a hard look at mushrooming defense spending. 

Unfortunately, the Republicans in Congress won’t do what big majorities of Americans want Congress to do. The only way Republicans want to lower deficits is by cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, education, and the environment, while providing even more tax breaks for millionaires and profitable corporations. 

Now, with more than one year to go before automatic spending cuts take effect, there is time for Congress to do what the American people want. 

Sen. Sanders was correct. The Republicans are stopping the Congress from doing what the American people really want. A new CNN poll released today found that 67% of Americans want taxes raised on the wealthiest Americans and on businesses. Yet, Republicans look at these numbers and say no. The GOP is saying no to the will of the people on a daily basis. They are saying no to Medicare, no to jobs, no to Social Security, no to healthcare, no to safe roads, bridges, and drinking water, and an especially loud no to making the richest Americans pay more in taxes. 

It wasn’t a surprise that the Super Committee failed. It was a device born out of a contrived crisis that was destined to fail. The Super Committee was never supposed to succeed. The Super Committee was by design nothing more than political cover. There would have never been a Super Committee if the Republicans would not have manufactured a crisis over raising the debt ceiling. 

The right has already tried to spin this as another Obama failure, but as usual Sen. Sanders speaks the truth. There is only one party responsible for this mess, and they go by the initials G-O-P.

Bernie Sanders Slams The GOP For Not Listening To The American People

In response to the Super Committee’s failure, Sen. Bernie Sanders put out a statement blasting the GOP f ...

 Jan. 9th, 2013

In Response to Record Heat, Bernie Sanders to Introduce Global Warming Bill 

By: Jason Easley

In response to the news that 2012 was the warmest year on record, Sen. Bernie Sanders will introduce new legislation to aggressively reduce global warming. 

Sen. Sanders said, “The scientific data is clear that global warming is real and significantly caused by greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels. After the hottest year on record and extreme weather disturbances such as Hurricane Sandy, we must take strong action to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels and move toward energy efficiency and sustainable energy. I intend to introduce legislation in the Senate to do just that. 

According to his office, “Sanders’ legislation will include a transparent fee on greenhouse gas emissions from the biggest polluters. It will call for an historic investment in efficiency, sustainable energy, advanced transportation infrastructure, and clean energy research and development. The measure also would end fossil fuel subsidies and tax breaks.” 

The United States has doubled its production of wind and solar energy and imposed new vehicle fuel economy standards, Sen. Sanders said we aren’t doing enough, “But we are not doing nearly enough. That is why I will be introducing legislation that would deal realistically with the crisis in a way that is aggressive but achievable.” 

Once introduced, Sanders’ legislation should have an immediate friend in the White House. President Obama is on record as supporting all of the investments that Sen. Sanders will propose making. 

The president had a lot to say about climate change in a recent interview with Time, “And so, on an issue like climate change, for example, I think for this country and the world to ask some very tough questions about what are we leaving behind, that weighs on you. And not to mention the fact I think that generation is much more environmentally aware than previous generations. There is that sense of we’ve got to get this right, and at least give them a fighting chance. In the same way that as a parent you recognize that no matter what you do, your kids are going to have challenges — because that’s the human condition — but you don’t want them dealing with stuff that’s the result of you making bad choices. They’ll have enough bad choices that they make on their own that you don’t want them inheriting the consequences of bad choices that you make. We have to think about that as a society as a whole.” 

Even if the president supports the legislation proposed by Sen. Sanders, and the Senate passes it, the bill will face the nearly impossible task of passing the oil dominated Republican majority in the House. 

2013 will be an important year for climate change legislation. Now is the time to get our legislative ducks in a row. Supporters need to know how many more House seats they need to pick up in 2014 for passage. Sen. Sanders has the legislation. President Obama has the support. All those who support legislation to reverse global warming need are the votes in the House to make it happen. 

In Response to Record Heat, Bernie Sanders to Introduce Global Warming Bill

In response to the news that 2012 was the warmest year on record, Sen. Bernie Sanders will introduce new ... 

 Apr. 9th, 2013

Bernie Sanders Introduces Bill That Would Lead to Jail For Too Big To Fail

By: Jason Easley 

Sen. Bernie Sanders proposed legislation today that would break up the big banks and financial institutions that crashed the economy. The ending of too big to fail would also open the door to criminal prosecutions. 

Sen. Sanders called ending too big to fail a matter of justice, “We have a situation now where Wall Street banks are not only too big to fail, they are too big to jail. That is unacceptable and that has got to change because America is based on a system of law and justice. In my view, no single financial institution should have holdings so extensive that its failure could send the world economy into crisis. At the very least, no institution, no CEO in America should be above the law. If an institution is too big to fail, it is too big to exist.” 

The legislation makes its intended purpose clear, “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall break up entities included on the Too Big To Fail List, so that their failure would no longer cause a catastrophic effect on the United States or global economy without a taxpayer bailout.” 

Too big to fail banks and financial institutions, which tanked the economy, are using their size as a defense against criminal prosecution. According to Sen. Sanders, the legislation would give the Treasury Department 90 days to identify commercial banks, investment banks, hedge funds and insurance companies whose failure would have a catastrophic effect on the stability of either the financial system or the United States economy without a government bailout. 

This is a matter of both economic security and justice. The six largest financial institutions in the US control 2/3 of the country’s GDP. They hold 2/3 of all credit cards, half of all mortgages, and more than 40% of all bank deposits. 

The same people who crashed the economy in 2008 now find themselves richer and bigger than ever. While people who now find themselves in poverty because of the Great Recession are being thrown into jail for missing a payment, the rich have gotten richer. 

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) will introduce companion legislation in the House, so that the pressure will be felt in both legislative bodies. Pressure is what this legislative initiative is all about. It is important that a message is sent to those who view themselves as above the law. Your size can’t hide your crimes, and too big to fail does not mean too big for jail.

Bernard "Bernie" Sanders (born September 8, 1941) 

is an American politician and thejunior United States Senator from Vermont. Before serving in the Senate, he represented Vermont's at-large district in the United States House of Representatives and served as Mayor of Burlington, the largest city in Vermont. Sanders is a self-described democratic socialist, and has praised European social democracy; he is the first person elected to Congress to identify as a socialist in six decades. 

Sanders caucuses with the Democratic Party and is counted as a Democrat for the purposes of committee assignments, but because he does not belong to a formal political party, he appears as an independent on the ballot. He was also the only independent member of the House during most of his service and is the longest-serving independent in U.S. Congressional history.

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