Is Democracy a Conversation or a Bumper Sticker?

So, it appears that (even in it's earliest stages ) is generating a little dialog. Good! That is one of its main objectives. So, welcome to the conversation. Please feel free to actually participate (not just snipe ) by coming to one of our open meetings. At  present we are meeting at the in the back , at 6:30 pm Sun.. 

Standing in a public place exercising the letter and the spirit of the first ammendment doesn't harm anyone, it is a peacefull demonstration of fundamental Democracy, standing firmly on / in the U.S. Constitution.Unlike the erroneous notion that " money is speech", which is not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution, this  is actually freedom of speech. It is not " ideology" it is the foundation of our society. It is what sets apart from other societies.

What has hurt business on Division st., and in small towns all over our country,  is the recession caused by 8 yrs. of failed "trickle down economics " and massive irresponsibility and fraud on the part of wall street bankers and investors.  And of course the introduction of unfair competition, in the form of "big box" stores. I don't shop at Wal-mart, do you? I did all my Christmas shopping in downtown Northfield. The majority of my money is spent locally, I support my community.
   
I would also like to mention that I believe that this unsubstantiated notion that "47% of people don't pay taxes" is absurd ! In 2009, because of the crash, I lost my job. While receiving unemployment INSURANCE, which I paid premiums on for the previous 46 yrs., I was paying 5% state and 10% federal income tax on my $300 a week chk.. If you look at the tax table on your 1040 form you will see that tax owed includes taxable income all the way down to $5. I am now on social security retirement, and finally found part time work , and continue to send the IRS money every pay day. You must be thinking of these guys;

        Bank of America...took $336 bill. in bailouts-profits for '010 $4.4 Billion -0 taxes paid

        Boeing--$ 10 bil. profits- 08-'10 -0 tax

        Citicorp--$476 bil. bailout--0 tax

        Exxon/Mobil-- recieved huge subsidies, earned $45 bil. - 0 tax

        GE -- 0 taxes--17000 workers fired !  (are these the "job creators"?)

        Google--hiding $ in Bermuda paid 2.3% tax

        Merk--$9 bil. profits--0 tax

       Pfizer owed $10 bil --paid 0 tax --loopholes

       News Corp--(Fox)--0 tax

       Verizon--$24.2 bil. U.S. income--0 tax--$1.3 bil.refund

       Wells Fargo--Took $107 Bil. --bail-outs $19 bil. profit--'010--0 tax

        No wonder American Citizens are in the streets !

OK, enough for now. Once again I would like to invite anyone (seriously ) interested in continuing this conversation,in pursuit of answers that serve all "The People", to join us. Especially anyone who identifies with "the tea party", because we definitely find our selves in a situation of "taxation without representation" again!

Thanks, may all who celebrate this season of Love, Peace and Thanks in whatever way, Be blessed, Jon