Poster child for the 1%

On this Day of Action for the Occupy movement fighting for the 99% of Americans outraged over corporate greed on Wall Street and in Congress that is destroying the middle-class, we now have a poster child for the 1%--Tom Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The U.S. Chamber is the leading advocacy organization for everything 1%.  From defending the practice of multinational corporations off-shoring jobs and profits to opposing every effort to protect the personal and financial health and safety of Americans and small businesses.

For Mr. Donohue’s largely successful efforts to lead this 1% organization, he was paid $4.6 million in 2010 according to U.S. Chamber Watch.   That is one million more than his compensation the year before. 

In a Huffington Post story yesterday, spokesperson for U.S. Chamber Watch Christy Setzer says: 

The U.S. Chamber is an organization that's made up of the one percent, to advocate for the one percent. That's reflected in every aspect of the Chamber's operations, from the nearly $5 million compensation package received by their president, Tom Donohue, to the policies for the wealthy that they've taken their biggest stances on -- including their support for extending the Bush tax cuts and a tax 'holiday' on overseas profits. That may be cool comfort to big corporate CEOs, but hardly helpful to struggling Mom and Pop shops across America.

If you’re a business person and want to support the Occupiers efforts to focus the nation’s attention on the growing wealth disparity in the country and the resulting plight of small businesses suffering from low customer demand, then sign on to the letter below from my friend Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s.  Simply send an email to Molly.Turner@BenJerry.com.  Molly will be in touch with you

 

Statement in Support of Occupy Wall Street

October 2011

We, the undersigned businesses and businesspeople, wish to express our deepest admiration to all of you who have initiated the non-violent Occupy Wall Street Movement and to those around the country who have joined in solidarity.  The issues raised are of fundamental importance to all of us.  These include:

·         The inequity that exists between classes in our country is simply immoral.

·         We are in an unemployment crisis.  Almost 14 million people are unemployed.  Nearly 20% of African American men are unemployed.  Over 25% of our nation’s youth are unemployed.

·         Many workers who have jobs have to work 2 or 3 of them just to scrape by.

·         Higher education is almost impossible to obtain without going deeply in debt.

·         Corporations are permitted to spend unlimited resources to influence elections while stockpiling a trillion dollars rather than hiring people.

We know the mainstream media will either ignore you or frame the issue as to who may be getting pepper sprayed rather than addressing the despair and hardships borne by so many, or accurately conveying what this movement is about.  All this goes on while corporate profits continue to soar and millionaires whine about paying a bit more in taxes. And we have not even mentioned the environment.

We know that words are relatively easy but we wanted to act quickly to demonstrate our support.  We realize that Occupy Wall Street is calling for systemic change.  We support this call to action and are honored to join you in this call to take back our nation and democracy.

Sincerely

Ben Cohen

Co-Founder

Ben & Jerry’s

Jerry Greenfield

Co-Founder

Ben & Jerry’s