Article: A Manifesto For The Occupy Movement

Throughout human history, each major Movement -- from Democracy in Ancient Greece to Nuclear Disarmament in the late Twentieth Century Western World -- has had its own goals and aspirations, its own statements of principles -- indeed, in one form or another, its own Manifesto. The present Movement, which began with Occupy Wall Street and has now spread to nearly a thousand venues around the world, has taken some pride in lacking clear requisites, claiming that lack makes it more inclusive. However, in order to achieve its own goals and aspirations, it must first state them clearly. The Occupy movement may take pride in its inclusiveness, but that is no cause for inarticulateness.

Herewith, then, is a proposed MANIFESTO FOR THE OCCUPY MOVEMENT:

1) We welcome all those who are not full participants in Twenty-First Century society, whose rights are being infringed, whose voices are not heard, whose concerns are dismissed or ignored, and who have been excluded from any real role in so many matters which are of vital concern to each and every one of us.

2) We demand that all those affected by the decisions of the business or corporate sector have a meaningful say in those decisions; that all stakeholders including not only owners and managers but consumers, workers, environmentalists, and the general public be part of the decision-making process which affects us all.

3) We reject any social, political, or economic system which distributes wealth and income disproportionately to the wealthy at the expense of the many people who work diligently, each in his or her own way, to contribute to society's progress.

4) We call for such essentials as adequate education, decent health care, and the meeting of all basic human needs to be treated as inherent rights of all members of every civilized society, who are also expected to help in meeting their needs.

5) We insist on fair and just treatment for each and every person as a basic human right, regardless of such factors as race, gender, religion, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, and any and all other labels which are irrelevant to our basic rights.

6) We encourage each person to strive to be all that he or she can be, and require that each human and humane society facilitate such aspirations in every possible way.

7) We reject the use of violence to attempt to bring about social change; violence always begets more violence in an endless pattern which is as old as human history. Instead, we will use non-violent means to achieve our goals in this Manifesto. But we will never give in and never give up, until they are achieved.