The 99 Pledge; the Pledge for a Democratic America

A Democratic Tool, Three Steps to Identify Representatives that are Owned by

Big Business, and Get Them Out of Office

What is it?

The 99 Pledge is a tool designed to help you identify those representatives that are truly representing the people that elect them and those that are bought and paid for by Large Corporations and Mega-Banks.

Where can I find it?

Right here at Occupy Santa Fe or The99Pledge.com, see What is in the package, below.

What is in the package?

  • The 99 Pledge Proposal: a description giving a quick overview of the tools available at The99Pledge.org and how to begin using them.
  • The Pledge for a Democratic America: to be presented to sitting politicians and anyone running for office. The pledge calls for our representatives to pass legislation or such Amendment to the Constitution, as needed, to prohibit corporation from expending money to influence any election in the United States of America. Anyone refusing to sign the Pledge should be opposed.
  • Public Petition: to be used in the event an official refuses to sign the Pledge and the local movement wants to make it clear that there is support for “getting the money our of politics”. A petition drive can put pressure on and elected officials and gain press coverage.

Download The 99 Pledge Package here   Also, consider downloading the following:

What is the first step?

Propose the enclosed Position Paper or any similar Paper for approval by your General Assembly or local group. Once approved put out to the press your position to “get the money out of politics”.

How do you use them?

  • Start at your City Council, present the Pledge to councilors that have voiced support for “getting the money out of politics”.
  • Avoid discussions of the mechanism, Amendments vs Legislation or any particular language.
  • The intent here is to get a wide-ranging commitment to pass whatever laws will accomplish this goal, not to write legislation.
  • We should all plan to be involved in the final language of the bill once the people of this nation put representatives in office that are committed to finally getting back to “one person one vote” without the consideration of wealth or privilege.
  • Then repeat it up the line to County, State and finally Federal.

Are there any rules?

No. Some people think there are no leaders in the Occupy Movement but in fact everyone is a leader in the Occupy Movement. The Pledge Working Group of Occupy Santa Fe is putting the tools out there and it is up to each movement around the country to see how best to use them. Think out of the box and consider local customs in planning the use of the Pledge.

How do I get to my Representatives?

Any way you can, including sending it to them, taking it to them in their local office, Washington office and at town hall meetings. Make sure that the Press knows that you are requesting that your representative sign the Pledge and what the Pledge is about.

What do I do if they won’t sign?

Included is a Public Petition that can be used if the local movement thinks it might help persuade an elected official to make the commitment to the Pledge. Beyond that each local movement must decide how to exact a political cost for refusing to commit to “get the money out of politics”

What other actions might work?

Create coalitions with Social Justice groups, Trade Unions and any other group that is willing to embrace the core values of the Pledge. Continue to ask why a candidate is not taking the Pledge and return to the two core values of the pledge, To Prohibit Corporations from expending money to influence elections and that donations be set low enough that all Americans have similar access to the political process. These core values are hard to argue with and if you can get a politician to say on the record that they “understand” or “sympathize” with the Pledge goals it is easier to persuade them to sign up. Keep going back.

Where do I send the signed pledge?

Signed Pledges go to signedpledge@the99pledge.com

Need information or clarification about The 99 Pledge? 

Contact organize@the99pledge.com