WeThePeopleNow.org

We The People, not corporate executives, not lobbyists,

will exercise control over our governments starting Now, not next month, not next year.

(www.WeThePeopleNow.org formerly ACERSNow.org)

 

Dedicated to Helping

The People of the United States

Gain and Exercise Control Over Our Governments Now! 
 

 

Welcome

Greetings:

 

Welcome and thanks for your interest in www.WeThePeopleNow.org.

 

We are dedicated to helping the People of the United States gain and exercise control over our governments now!

 

 

 

 

I. NEED FOR CHANGE AND REFORM

 

Our country is in political, constitutional, environmental and economical crises. Our democracy is being eroded by some in our own government who have no allegiance to the founding principles of our Republic, and who practically scoff at the idea of accountability to the people. They are taking this country in directions that are very damaging. They are making decisions and taking actions behind closed doors without consulting with we the people, as it is our right under our system of self-government. 
 

Some executives from large corporations, some extremely rich individuals, neocons, radical religious fundamentalists and others - not, we the people, - are exercising excessive control over many of our federal, state and local governments. They control most of the media, public sector resources, environmental laws, judicial institutions, political parties, etc. They tweak the tax code, manipulate the regulatory agencies, and funnel campaign contributions to their favorite politicians who conduct a shell-game of carefully crafted misinformation and theatrical propaganda. 
 

In a June 14, 2007, article, Americans Unready to Revolt, Despite Revolting Conditions, Joel S. Hirshhorn states, “the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal national poll results vividly show a population incredibly dissatisfied with their nation's political system. A whopping 68 percent think the country is on the wrong track. Just 19 percent believe the country is headed in the right direction. Bush's approval rating is at just 29 percent, his lowest mark ever. . . . Even worse, only 23 percent approve of the job that Congress is doing. On the economic front, nearly twice as many people think the U.S. is more hurt than helped by the global economy (48 to 25 percent). Globalization does not spread wealth; it channels it to the wealthy, making billionaires out of millionaires. There is a super wealthy and politically powerful Upper Class that is literally raping the nation. Meanwhile, the huge Lower Class continues to lose economic ground while their elected representatives sell them out to benefit the Upper Class”. 
 

Senior U.S. government officials used false pretenses to justify the invasion of Iraq. The ensuing occupation paved the way for U.S. oil company executives to illegally take control of Iraq's oil industries and reserves benefiting only themselves. The obscene profits adding up to trillions of dollars will not make their way back to the people of Iraq, or even America. These oil profits are pocketed by the multinationals corporations, who will pay neither U.S. nor Iraqi taxes on these profits or have to sell the oil in the U.S. This is not what our fine enlisted military men and women signed on to defend.
 

It is a crime that the people of the United States are paying with their tax dollars and lives for the invasion and occupation of Iraq mainly for the purpose of generating business and profits for corporations. Gas, oil, munitions makers and defense contractors pay millions in lobbying as their ante to ensure trillions flow back to them in militaristic adventurism. In turn, senior corporate executives are rewarded with lavish compensation and bonuses and politicians with lavish campaign contributions and other favors.
 

Our governments, institutions and systems are failing us not because they are basically unsound, but because of the actions or lack of actions of individuals, not organizations, agencies, or corporations. Not enough of us take the time to understand our constitution, our rights and the underlying causes of our problems. The people who do pay attention tend to be misled by corrupt politicians and the “in-bedded” industrial-media complex who willingly publish misinformation because much of the media's revenue comes from these same companies through advertisements.
 

The world is facing many tough challenges which are not being adequately addressed. Concerns include global warming, poverty, stagnant wages, lack of affordable housing, chronic worldwide unemployment, malnutrition, poor physical, dental, mental, and emotional health, failing ecological systems, continuing wars, conflicts, nuclear proliferation and many uncaring and unethical government officials. 
 

There are no excuses for the extent of these problems. We the people deserve better. 
 

II. WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?

 

So how do we the people wrestle control of our government from legislators, appointed justices and senior government officials who have us sold out and have turned over control of their functions to the executives and lobbyists of large corporations? 
 

How do we return to the people the benefits, the freedoms, and the justice that are rightfully ours. We the people must demand that members of all three branches of the government:

 

•  Truly care for the people, the environment and natural resources of the entire world.
•  Adhere to the spirit and intent of the Constitution and the other laws of the land.
•  Stop using technicalities and loopholes to get around the law, rules and regulations
•  Adhere to their oaths of office
•  Step down if they are not willing to do this.

 
We must have broad “climate and cultural” changes. 
 

Those of us activists, no matter whether progressive, moderate or conservative, republican or democrat need to address these issues by committing to work together. With better dialogue, respect for opposing opinion, and the opportunity to air our beliefs in a respectable fashion, we can come to a better understanding of these problems, examine their underlying causes and develop mutually satisfactory solutions. 
 

III. WHAT WETHEPEOPLENOW ARE DOING

 

In general, WeThePeopleNow, among other things, works with others, tries to maintain the overall picture, and

• To provide plans, documents, training materials, frameworks and other tools to help activists, progressives, moderates, etc. work together better, divide up the work, and work more effectively to accomplish the change so vital to the world and its inhabitants.

• Help define and articulate goals, concerns, problems and their underlying causes and develop pragmatic solutions.
• Make available pertinent documents.
• We are focusing on the following priority items:

 

1. Ending the violence in Iraq and withdrawing U. S. Forces from Iraq in a peaceful, just and timely manner, resolve the U. S.- Iran & Syria - and Arab-Israel-Palestine situations . (See sections III. F., G., H., I., and J. below.)

 

2. Replacing President Bush, Vice President Cheney and others with well-qualified individuals. (See sections III. J. K. and L below).

 

3. Getting money, corporate executives and their lobbyists out of politics and ensuring that the people have control over their government.

 

4. Reducing/eliminating massive, unneeded nuclear and other offensive weapons, corporation subsidies, etc.

 

5. Working on programs that would provide job opportunities, improved education and training programs, etc. for everyone, in particular in areas such as: curtailing and ameliorating the ill effects of global warming, environmental protection, developing alternative energy sources, transportation and traffic programs that emphasize more trains - less traffic and reduced dependence on foreign oil, etc. Funds for this work will come from ending the occupation of Iraq, reduction/eliminations of the massive, unneeded nuclear and other offensive weapons systems, corporate subsidies, etc. See The People’s Comprehensive Goals and Agenda for these and other priority items, section II. C. below . 
 

6. Helping to protect human, civil and economic rights of all people.

 

IV. Pertinent Documents Developed by We The People Now and Others 
 

NOTE: Please consider all these documents as draft, open ended “works in progress” and provide critical comments and suggestions for improving them to Fisher@WeThePeopleNow.org, phone 703-521-3926. 
 

A. Memorandum of Law.

http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/memo_of_law.pdf

This document, among other things, provides insights into and educational material on the Constitution, international treaties and conventions and other laws, civil rights, responsibilities of government officials, rule of law, etc. It specifically shows:

• That constitutional rights cannot be limited, taken away or eroded without an amendment to the Constitution.
• Violating, limiting, taking away or eroding rights guaranteed by the Constitution is a crime.
• Absent a formal declaration of war by the Congress, the U. S. Constitution prohibits Congress authorizing the President to use U. S. forces in or against Iraq, to occupy Iraq or to appropriate funds to be used for any of these purposes.
• Absent a formal declaration of war by the Congress, the U. S. Constitution prohibits the President or anyone using U. S. forces, private security contractors/guards, the CIA or anyone in or against Iraq, to conduct clandestine operations in Iraq or occupy Iraq, or to detain people in Iraq, etc.

 

PLANNING

 

B. The People’s Reform Plan.

http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/peoples_reform_plan.pdf

This plan provides, among other things, approaches for those interested in putting control of the government in the people’s hands to:

• Improve coordination among like-minded organizations and individuals, divide up the work, and work more effectively to accomplish the change so vital to the world and its inhabitants.
• Define, frame and articulate the People’s Comprehensive Goals and Agenda
• Define, frame and articulate a People’s Information, Education and Training Program.
• Develop/refine systems for finding, nominating and electing better candidates and keeping them honest, effective and efficient once they are in office.

 

C. The Platform of the People. http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/platform_of_the_people.pdf

The objectives of this document are to define, frame and articulate:

 

• Bold goals including, safe, stable, secure environments, free pre-K through college, education and training, job opportunities, affordable housing, healthy food, clean water, etc. for all
• All concerns, challenges, problems, issues, deficiencies, lessons learned, etc. that could stand in the way of reaching these goals.
• General underlying causes of these concerns and challenges include such things as greed, personnel error, lack of or improper education or training, poor or faulty information, rules, regulations, documentation, legislation, etc.
• Proposed solutions, reform, change actions, mechanics, etc. which are needed to reach the stated goals, and address concerns, problems, deficient systems and methods and their underlying causes.
   

D. The People’s Information, Education and Training Program. http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/peoples_information_and_education_program.pdf

This document outlines a draft program that will provide information, education and training for people from both the public and private sector who want to effect positive change. 

 

•  Concerns and challenges: the need for allying, change, education, reform and pragmatic solutions.
•  Reasoning, framing, semantics, linguistics, communications, etc.
•  Human nature characteristics, goodness, reasoning, ethics, moral values, principles, integrity, character, accountability, cooperation, teamwork, courage, etc.
•  The Constitution, international treaties, civil right, laws, sovereignty of the people, democratic process, the legal system, etc.
•  Proposed Solutions and Reform and Change Actions.

 
E. The People’s Legal Action Plan. http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/peoples_legal_action_plan.pdf

The Legal Action Plan provides tools, forms and processes to help prevent violations of human rights, obtain justice and provide restitution for victims of crimes and assist in the investigation and prosecution of senior government officials who have violated human rights, their oath of office, etc. For example, a proposed Draft Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief to Find the Military Commissions Act of 2006 to be Unconstitutional and Null and Void and For Injunctions Ordering that It Not Be Invoked is an attachment to this plan. 
 

IRAQ AND THE MID-EAST

 

F. Summary of the U.S. Occupation and Attempted Colonization of Iraq. http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/summary_iraq_occupation.pdf

This document describes the background and consequences from the illegal and unjust U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq. It shows how senior government officials, senators and representatives, wrongfully and unlawfully:

1. Invaded and occupied Iraq primarily to help U.S. oil companies illegally control as much as possible of Iraq’s oil industries and reserves as possible, and to help U.S. oil companies motivated primarily to take as much of the 21 trillions of dollars of Iraqi oil profits as they can.
2. Rewrote the Constitution and laws of Iraq so that U.S. oil companies would not have to pay taxes to Iraq on revenue and profits from the sale of Iraq oil and could immediately transfer these profits out of Iraq and to their offices in countries other than the U.S. so that they would not pay Iraq or U.S. taxes.
3. Set it up so that U.S. oil companies would not even have to sell Iraqi oil to the United States and could increase the price of oil at will by withholding Iraq oil from the world market.
4. Will keep U.S. Armed Forces and defense contractors/mercenaries in Iraq indefinitely to provide security for and help U.S. oil companies control Iraq’s oil industries and reserves because they are afraid that Iraq will re-nationalize their oil reserves if U.S. Armed Forces and defense contractors/mercenaries leave.
5. Set it up so that the people of the United States are paying with their tax dollars and lives:
   1.  For the invasions and occupation of Iraq.
   2.  The security and protection of the oil industries and reserves so that oil company executives can take Iraqi oil profits.
   3.  The salaries of the senior officials, senators and representatives who planned and caused these problems.
6. Are soliciting and accepting ever increasing campaign contributions and other favors from oil company executives as a reward for their services.
7. That except for oil company and defense contractor executives, the people of United States have not and will never receive any benefits from this war and occupation.

 

G. Proposed Plan to End Violence in Iraq & Withdraw U.S. Armed Forces in a Peaceful, Just and Timely Manner [PDF] http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/proposed_plan_iraq.pdf

This plan, a composite of H.R.,1234, H.R. 508, other resolutions, relevant books, does not call for a precipitous withdrawal nor does it call for a prolonged presence of any U.S. Armed Forces. It calls for the United States to, among other things:

1. Sincerely apologize to the Iraqis for the economic sanctions, invasion, devastation, occupation, the deaths, maiming, abuse and torture of Iraqis, the damage and destruction of Iraqi mosques, homes, facilities, historical treasures, etc., the attempted theft of Iraqi oil and oil profits, etc.
2. Order an immediate unilateral cease fire and halt all offensive and clandestine operations by coalition forces, the CIA, U.S. paid mercenaries, etc. Call on all factions in Iraq to please do the same.
3. Immediately return sovereignty, the control of all oil reserves and other resources to the people of Iraq, make amends, make restitution, reparations, and condolence payments for all the physical and emotional damages to Iraqi’s and their country, treat Iraqi’s as equals, by respecting the fundamental rights of Iraqis, etc.
4. Order an immediate withdrawal of CIA operatives and U.S. paid mercenaries
5. Move aircraft carriers, other surface combatants and submarines, if any, out of the Persian Gulf and out of sight of land.

6. Commence massive humanitarian and resettlement aid effort to insure that all the people of Iraq have access to food, water, shelter, health care, etc.
7. In coordination with the Iraq government, request that the United Nations prepare and deploy an appropriate international peace-keeping mission from neutral nations with at least 50 percent of the mission to be from nations with large Muslim populations.
8. Immediately release all "security detainees" who have not been charged with a crime and pay them restitution if their confinement has been wrongful and unlawful and/or if they have been abused or tortured.
9. In coordination with the Iraq government, the United Nations, the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and all the countries and factions in the area to encourage, support and participate in, but not attempt to control, comprehensive and broadly-inclusive negotiations on peace, reconciliation and all other relevant issues.
10. As the UN peace-keeping mission government assistance teams are phased in, conduct a timely phased withdrawal of all United States Armed Forces personnel and civilian military contractors from Iraq
11. Permanently close all U.S. military bases and facilities in Iraq and transfer them along with vehicles and equipment to the Iraqi police and/or international peace-keeping mission.

 
 

H. Proposed Legislation: To End the Violence in Iraq and Withdraw U. S. Armed Forces from Iraq in a Just, Peaceful and Timely Manner. http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/proposed_legislation_iraq.pdf

This proposed legislation, a composite of H.R. 1234, H.R. 508, other resolutions, relevant books, among other things: 
 

• Outlines the factors inflaming the insurgency in Iraq and what it will take to dampen the insurgency and get everyone to negotiate.

•  Outlines a detailed plan (which will be the same as the above proposed plan) in the form of a policy statement for ending the violence and withdrawing from Iraq.

•  Identifies potential sources of funds for the withdrawal, reparations, rebuilding of Iraq, etc.
•  Provides a schedule for timely deployment of a UN Peace-keeping Mission and withdrawing U.S. Armed Forces, supporting contractors, etc.
•  Would prohibit the use of funds for such things as offensive operations in Iraq and Iran, privatizing Iraq’s oil reserve, deploying additional troops to Iraq, deploying aircraft carriers and other combatant ship in the Persian Gulf, etc.

 

I. Proposed Lawsuit for a Peaceful, Just and Timely U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq. http://wethepeoplenow.org/proposed_lawsuit_iraq.pdf

This proposed draft Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief: To Find that the U.S. Invasion and Occupation of Iraq Was Wrongful & Unlawful and To Compel the President to Execute the Plan for a Just and Timely U.S. Withdrawal from Iraq could be updated and filed if the key elements of the above Proposed Plan are not initiated.

 

REPLACING UNSATISFACTORY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

 

J. The People’s Action Plan to Replace President Bush and Others with Well-Qualified Individuals. http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/plan_replace_bush_et_al.pdf 
 

This plan outlines the actions needed to replace President Bush, Vice President Cheney and others in the current administration with well-qualified, honest individuals. It notes that until this happens, our economy and the conditions in Iraq will likely get worse. Individuals are invited to provide, anonymously if desired: the names of officials that they believe should be indicted and/or impeached, affidavits in support of criminal complaints, proposed grand jury indictments and articles of impeachment by contacting WeThePeopleNow at 703-725-7849 or Fisher@WeThePeopleNow.org. 

 

K. United States v. Bush et al. - Sample Proposed Indictment for a Grand Jury. http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/us_v_bush_et_al_sample_indictment.pdf

This is a one-count proposed indictment for a grand jury from the outstanding book U.S. v. Bush et al. by Elizabeth de la Vega, a career U.S. Attorney and federal prosecutor. Interested parties are invited to submit additional defendants, crimes and facts to be added to this proposed indictment or to provide additional proposed indictments. The preparation of proposed indictments is discussed further in the Peoples Plan to Replace Bush and Others 
 

L. Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney. http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/articlesofimpeachmentcheney.pdf

This is a copy of H. Res. 333, Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Dick Cheney introduced by Congresswoman Denis Kucinich in April, 2007. The text of the resolution, the articles of impeachment, and all supporting references can be found at http://kucinich.house.gov/spotlightissues/documents.htm. Interested parties are invited to submit refinements or additional articles to be considered for inclusion in these proposed articles. 

 

M. Articles of Impeachment against President George Walker Bush, http://www.wethepeoplenow.org/articlesofimpeachmentbush.pdf

This is a copy of the 35 Articles of Impeachment against George Walker Bush introduced by Congressman Dennis Kucinich on June 9, 2008. It has been designated House Resolution 1258 and assigned to the House Judiciary Committee. 

 

N. The Peoples Minimum Qualifications and Characteristics Required of all Government Officials by the People (including the president and vice president, legislators and judges.) and Characteristics Which Disqualify Individuals from Serving as Public Servants. (Being developed) 
 

O. A Twelve Step Program to Reform Congress which updates Winslow Wheeler’s program in his book The Wastrels of Defense: How Congress Sabotages U.S. Security. (Being developed) 
 

V. HOW YOU CAN HELP. 
 

Please provide comments and suggestions on this web site or any of the downloadable documents and/or arrange to work with WeThePeopleNow by contacting Ron Fisher at Fisher@WeThePeopleNow.org phone 703-521-3926. 
 

Subscribe to the WeThePeopleNow email distribution list by sending an email to Fisher@WeThePeopleNow.org with the word "Subscribe" in the subject or body of your email.

 

Please support these efforts. Make checks payable to We The People Now and mail to We The People Now, PO Box 1310, Falls Church, VA 22041

 

VI. HOW TO VIEW OR DOWNLOAD PDF FILES. 
 

To view any of these document in Adobe Acrobat Reader, left click on any of the links next to one of the above items or paste the link into your browser. 
 

To download any document, right click on any of the links next to one of the above items and then click on "Save Target As. 
 

Click here www.adobe.com to download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software. 
 

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