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snot

(10,967 posts)
45. This looks good. That said, I'd like more info.
Sun Feb 9, 2025, 05:00 PM
Feb 9

The "union"'s website includes a bio of the founder and a mission I like but that is only vaguely stated. Are there any officers or employees besides the founder? Is there a Board of Directors or other advisors? How has the organization been funded so far?

I do believe that work strikes and the like are probably one of the more effective strategies left to us; but don't we need more specific goals? Are there any specific demands associated with the proposed "blackout," or are its goals even vaguer than those of the 2011 Occupy Wall Street movement?

E.g., w.r.t. Wall St. regulation, I'd propose we should push to outlaw or much more severely restrict and police:

Leveraged Buy-Outs or LBO’s
Speculative credit derivatives (CDO’s, CLO’s, et al.) (i.e., derivatives purchased not to hedge against a substantive risk intrinsic to the purchaser's business but merely as speculative bets on someone else's business. Dodd-Frank tried to help here but I'm not sure how far it got.)
Depositary and speculative investment banking in the same institution (i.e., we need to restore Glass-Steagall for real).
High frequency trading
Stock buybacks
Executive compensation in the form of options exercisable within less than ten years
Manipulation of paper markets for metals and other commodities
The power of the Fed to buy securities of unsound companies
The various devices used by the Fed to indirectly set negative real interest rates
The elimination of the broker "fiduciary" rule
Revolving door between Wall St. and its regulators
And of course the self-dealing by Congress in securities of the companies they have inside knowledge of

--among other things.

Similar programmes of specific reforms in other areas (e.g., our health care system!) need to be formulated.

I realize the site calls for union members to choose agendas, but the procedures for that along with almost everything else seem vague.

I also wonder about coordinating efforts with other organizations with similar goals, such as Represent.Us.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

I'm all in! Will pass along! Bluethroughu Feb 9 #1
Thanks for passing it along! I think this has merit and is in the spirit of the Montgomery Bus Boycott that sparked the LaMouffette Feb 9 #4
I'm in too. Let's make it rolling as well. Perhaps once per week. Magoo48 Feb 9 #34
Why wait, start now. Here's a tool to go along with this one. More tools the better. Hotler Feb 9 #2
I'm already on board with this action! pazzyanne Feb 9 #10
We can do both. But one specific day will provide focus. Trust_Reality Feb 9 #15
I agree and I mentioned that. Hotler Feb 9 #18
I'm all in. Vinca Feb 9 #3
I'm in. c-rational Feb 9 #5
I'm in BonnieJW Feb 9 #25
I had planned 3/15 but will do 2/27-28 kimbutgar Feb 9 #6
Both! Think. Again. Feb 9 #12
Thank you UpInArms Feb 9 #7
On it! Quanta Feb 9 #8
I will be out of the country then RainCaster Feb 9 #9
All in Wild blueberry Feb 9 #11
I'm in! Think. Again. Feb 9 #13
I'm in. Joinfortmill Feb 9 #14
I'm in for the next FOUR YEARS if that's what it takes Bengus81 Feb 9 #16
I'm in. LoisB Feb 9 #17
Think it would put an exclamation point on the blackout YodaMom2 Feb 9 #19
Well, certainly no Facebook and Twitter. Those should be on permanent blackout. Scrivener7 Feb 9 #38
Got an email from Indivisible hermetic Feb 9 #20
Freeze the economy. Oh, income taxes are due when? Let the 49.8% that voted for Trumpf file their taxes. C0RI0LANUS Feb 9 #21
1st day of our vacation, can we move this out a couple weeks? V850i Feb 9 #22
I've been seeing that it's February 28th. radical noodle Feb 9 #23
OP should change title of post. It says the 28th in the text. Dark n Stormy Knight Feb 10 #67
Well, yeah. That makes a difference radical noodle Feb 10 #70
My apologies! And thanks for catching that mistake on my part!!! I have updated the title of the post. LaMouffette Feb 10 #75
Oh good! Thanks. Dark n Stormy Knight Feb 11 #88
it IS feb. 28. op is 1 day early. orleans Feb 10 #71
I'm in, and spreading the word. Timeflyer Feb 9 #24
I'm in! SheltieLover Feb 9 #26
Just forwarded homegirl Feb 9 #27
I am doing it for more than one day except for essentials, and those JohnSJ Feb 9 #28
Me too. This is a no-buy year except food and fuel for me. Scrivener7 Feb 9 #36
That is an essential. Keeping yourself healthy. JohnSJ Feb 9 #37
Count Me In! BBbats Feb 9 #29
I have seen so many different dates on this thinkingagain Feb 9 #30
I am SO sorry! The one I posted about will be from midnight February 27 to midnight February 28. LaMouffette Feb 10 #76
Not your fault if others have thinkingagain Feb 10 #79
There is a lot to keep on top of these days, that is for sure, what with protesting Rump/Musk and opposing and LaMouffette Feb 10 #84
I investigated orgs with this name Beck23 Feb 9 #31
What does that even mean? Interrupt what services? The OP is calling for a no buy day. Scrivener7 Feb 9 #32
There's also a Republican Party in Russia.... KY_EnviroGuy Feb 9 #63
This should be our regular all-the-time thing: "If you must spend, ONLY support small, local businesses." FakeNoose Feb 9 #33
So give the *local* MAGA's money then? durablend Feb 9 #61
Sounds like my daily life. Easy peasy. nt allegorical oracle Feb 9 #35
Economically, this accomplishes nothing. eggplant Feb 9 #39
No big deal overall economically. It is a message about solidarity and potential future action. Trust_Reality Feb 10 #69
I heard it was February 28th. I'll do both! SunSeeker Feb 9 #40
Should be at least a week. RhapsodyFav Feb 9 #41
I'm surprised they're not on Blue Sky. Not allowed because they have a website? Bengus81 Feb 9 #42
I think he's just getting started w/this -- TBF Feb 9 #47
Yeah...so that's him with his blue sky user name but only 210 followers Bengus81 Feb 9 #48
I don't think so - I put the website link up on my page w/no difficulty & pinned it TBF Feb 9 #51
On my calendar!! wordstroken Feb 9 #43
I am traveling to Hawaii that day for close to 2 weeks. ProudMNDemocrat Feb 9 #44
Well you lucky dog! Kalama beach park in Kailua. You won't be disappointed........ Bengus81 Feb 9 #50
This looks good. That said, I'd like more info. snot Feb 9 #45
Thanks for raising these issues. I literally found out about this organization and the Economic Blackout Day yesterday. LaMouffette Feb 10 #77
Thanks, LaMouffette... snot Feb 13 #91
I truly believe this will help birdographer Feb 9 #46
My entry.......your's is so much better... a kennedy Feb 9 #49
We're in. pandr32 Feb 9 #52
I am in. nt doc03 Feb 9 #53
I'm already in. Ritabert Feb 9 #54
How about we all withdraw $1000 from our banks that day? dickthegrouch Feb 9 #55
Not even a single rec for this??? dickthegrouch Feb 11 #90
So, your title seems misleading. The 28th Dark n Stormy Knight Feb 9 #56
i'm just gonna say yes. even tho i didn't write it. nt orleans Feb 10 #72
I'll participate, but targeting one company at a time for a month would be far more effective. LT Barclay Feb 9 #57
I will do this! Gladly! liberalla Feb 9 #58
At first I thought you said "an electronic blackout." Jit423 Feb 9 #59
I'll join in. SammyWinstonJack Feb 9 #60
Oh, yes! momta Feb 9 #62
Not only am I in... raising2moredems Feb 9 #64
This might help initiate thrifty habits. Trust_Reality Feb 10 #74
Thank you. barbtries Feb 9 #65
we have little to lose bagimin Feb 10 #66
I cut back right after the orange fat fraud liar was sworn in wolfie001 Feb 10 #68
A few suggestions Trust_Reality Feb 10 #73
Not really an issue with me DFW Feb 10 #78
2/28 Blackout Pamyla Feb 10 #80
Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote Feb 10 #86
That was my New Years Resolution Mr.Bee Feb 10 #81
The power of united consumers is not to be denied! GreenWave Feb 10 #82
Great! Would you consider cross posting this to... littlemissmartypants Feb 10 #83
I'm down! Dem4life1234 Feb 10 #85
Please consider participating LetMyPeopleVote Feb 10 #87
Sadly, I'll be on a business trip Happy Hoosier Feb 11 #89
Economic Blackout SLT Feb 24 #92
Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote Feb 25 #93
My family will be participating LetMyPeopleVote Feb 25 #94
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