The big story of 2011 was the discovery of strength in numbers. From Egypt to Ohio, we woke up to a world where mass protest and mass action could be a change agent against entrenched, powerful interests.
January 17 is the first test of 2012 to see what people power can do in this new year. Here are three spots to watch:
• The Walker Recall. We don’t yet know the final number of how many Wisconsinites signed petitions to trigger recall elections against Governor Walker and Lt. Governor Kleefisch. But the organizers are doing a great job playing the expectations game and teasing us with small details.
For instance, we have heard reports that Washington County, reportedly the “reddest” county in Wisconsin, turned in over 8,000 signatures to recall the Governor. We know that the effort to recall Walker’s closest legislative ally exceeded expectations in the similarly conservative 13th Senate District. We know that the effort overall has been successful in small cities and rural areas of the state, in addition to the bigger cities where last year’s uprising was strongest.
Here’s something else we know: the petitions that will be turned in later today to the state elections board weigh 3,000 pounds.
Recall organizers are holding a press conference at 3pm Central, and we’ll provide updates as they come along.
• Occupy Congress. Members of the 112th Congress, sporting the lowest approval ratings in a generation, return to what they call “work” on Capitol Hill today. Joining them will be men and women representing the Occupy Wall Street movement, using this opportunity to call for jobs, an end to corruption, Internet freedom, and the abolition of corporate personhood.
As I type, Occupiers are gathering at the Capitol Building in DC. Some will seek meetings with representatives; others will hold teach-ins on various topics throughout the city. Already, there’s been news of the protesters overcoming obstacles to get to DC, like a Greyhound bus driver who stranded a group of 13 travelers in Amarillo, Texas.
To watch events unfold live, the folks at Occupy Congress have compiled multiple livestream feeds here at j17live.org.
• An End to Foreclosure Fraud, Or Just the Beginning? Over 21,000 people have signed messages to their state Attorneys General opposing a slap-on-the-wrist settlement that would let banks off the hook for illegal foreclosure activities like robo-signing.
Thanks to you, it seems like the AG’s are feeling the pressure. Last week, AG’s or their office representatives from 14 states met in Washington, DC to discuss alternatives to the current settlement deal.
“This past Tuesday, a group of like-minded Attorneys General met in D.C. to discuss ongoing and future investigations into the mortgage finance and foreclosure industries,” said Delaware Deputy Attorney General Ian McConnel.
“The talks weren’t just about investigations,” said a source with knowledge of the discussions. “They were also about the attorneys general offices feeling uninvolved in a process by which their federal colleagues have been negotiating on their behalf.”
Please note: This group was bipartisan – just as the group of AG’s pushing the weak settlement deal is bipartisan. Calling for a full investigation into illegal practices – reportedly widespread throughout one of the nation’s most profitable industries – is not a partisan issue. If the banks aren’t held accountable this time, what incentive do they have to stop throwing families out of their homes under false pretenses?
No matter where your AG is on this issue, please make your voice heard – sign our petition here.
