Xmas email sent to all MLAs

antrim | anti-capitalism | other press Monday January 02, 2012 09:55 by Jimmy McPseudonym - Occupy Belfast occupybelfast at live dot co dot uk

Xmas email sent to all MLAs

Below is the full text of an email sent to all MLA's on Christmas day. Sorry I'm putting this up a bit late.

A Christmas Message to all MLA’s

A corrupt and greedy elite rule this country. You know this to be true.

We know that most of you have spent a life time of work to improve the lives of those you represent. We know that you care about your communities, and that you have their best interests at heart.

However you must understand that you have failed.

Your life’s commitment to your country has been in vain because the 1%, made up of bankers, developers, judges and a small but powerful political elite have made real democracy- liberty, equality and fraternity- impossible.

From 2004-2009 male suicide doubled from 12.5 to 24 per 100,000

From 2007-2009 unemployment among 16-24 year olds increased from 9% to 19%

From 2003-2008 the life expectancy gap between males in deprived areas and those not in deprived areas increased from 4.1 yrs to 4.6

From 2000-2010 homelessness increased from 11,000 to 19,000
And while this has happened bankers bonuses have increased 1400% since the crisis began, and there has been massive tax avoidance by the super rich.

We could go on. These figures illustrate the collective failure of those in power. The NI Assembly has escaped judgement on the policies that have caused this by adopting the policies of the Tory/Liberal Coalition and presenting this adoption as forced. You know this to be a false representation of fact. Do you believe that the current political regime can do anything to improve these figures?

Are you willing to remain in a position of power while the lives of the people you represent get worse and worse while the 1% have got richer and richer living on obscene profits.

At what point will you say ‘enough is enough’? At what point will you say you will have nothing more to do with this corrupt state?

The world is changing quickly so it is up to you to draw your line in the sand now, before it is too late. Someday soon you may be asked to answer for your crimes against the people in this country.

At this time of good will Occupy Belfast is willing to forgive and forget your role in these crimes, pending your response. We urge you to make the biggest decision of your life. Have courage and,

Leave your party
Leave your position of power
Defect, and publicly show support for the Global Occupy Movement

And, if you have real courage, join the movement, and use your physical presence as a weapon against that which you know to be wrong.

‘You’d better start swimming or you’ll sink like a stone- because times they are a-changing.’

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 2012 will be biggest year in history, so make sure you are on the right side.