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An Occupier for Congress

Our federal government has now clearly established itself as an enabler for corporate special interests instead of being the champion of we, the people and the common good. All three branches collude in eroding our civil rights, creating laws and policies which benefit the very rich at our expense. Our situation becomes less tolerable each day. We need a new way forward.

My name is Jim Prues and I have some idea of this new way forward. I literally wrote the book on it: World 5.0 – Healing Ourselves, Our Earth and Our Life Together. World 5.0 sees Life as our foundation and the fundamental fact of our existence. It’s this experience we share even now. The World 5.0 paradigm clearly sees that we’re all in this together.

It was all the above that led me to invest energy in Occupy Cincinnati, joining other locals who appreciate the current threat to our democracy. The Occupy Movement has had many flaws, but we can be grateful for the light they helped shine on the terrible imbalance between the 99% and the 1%. Sadly, our government stands with the 1%. This must change.

And so it was that I announced my candidacy, at high noon on the summer solstice, for the First District Seat of Ohio in the United States House of Representatives. The seat is currently held by Republican Steve Chabot. I’m seeking the Democratic nomination, and according to local officials, there are no other contenders at this time.

I’m running on the World 5.0 Platform, a simple guide to the priorities which can reverse this trend toward ever greater malfeasance by government at every level. It points toward principles and a system of ethics, sorely lacking in Washington and in every state house these days. A focus on these five ideas is potentially transformative, and can bring us to a place of health and happiness unseen in our lifetimes.

Here is the World 5.0 Platform…

PEACE

“When the power of Love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.” – Jimi Hendrix

Peace is our first priority in this violent and war-torn culture. We refuse corporate and nation-state efforts to destroy life and land for profit, and are committed to peace in our lives and in our world. We actively engage in creating peace through our neighborhoods and communities, and demand the goal of peace from our elected officials.

Without peace our communities are wounded or broken. Instead what must be broken is the long cycle of violence and war. Don’t pull the trigger. Don’t push the button. Do not allow yourself to be a slave to a broken system. Recognize that we all share in this life, and find a new way forward.

GOVERNMENT

“The care of human life and happiness is the first and only object of good government.” – Thomas Jefferson

Good government depends on integrity, justice and balance. We can no longer tolerate our government undermining the common good for special interests. As citizens, it is up to us to create and ensure good government. Democracy is not a spectator sport.

We know now that our government has been twisted by moneyed interests, and does not serve the common good. We know too, that this unholy condition will not change without citizen action, from the voting booth to activism and protests. Engagement creates the change we need.

LOCALISM

“In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it.” – Marianne Williamson

Unbridled globalism with its singular goal of profit has failed us. Commerce must exist to serve human need, instead of ruining lives for corporate greed. Localism creates jobs, opportunities for engagement and abundance, increasing our safety, sustainability and happiness.

We vote with each dollar we spend. Will we support Walmart or a local retailer, McDonald’s or a local restaurant? What do we choose for meaningful work? What gifts can we offer our communities? These everyday decisions are transformative, and mark the quality of our lives.

FOOD

“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” – J. R. R. Tolkien

The industrial food system has caused massive pollution, desertification, soil loss and environmental destruction that are matched only by the terrible quality of the food produced. By migrating to organic food, we create ecologies within our land and health within our bodies.

Throughout human history, organic food was the only option. It was the diversion of World War II chemicals into pest control products that ramped up industrial agriculture, the foolishness peaking with genetically modified [GM] foods. Instead, we must renew our relationship with what we eat, and create new options to grow, process and share our food.

LEARNING

“We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish together as fools.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

The World 5.0 Platform is enabled by learning. Learning is a lifelong process, and creates the wisdom to make wholesome decisions. It is learning that opens pathways to peace, good government, localism and organic food. Learning is a right and a responsibility.

There is a clear path to wisdom. We use data to create information, and amass information to create knowledge and finally we sift our knowledge to find wisdom. This progression guides us to truth, untarnished by anecdotal stories, outlier data or bold-faced lies. This process also leads us to love.

* * * * *

We know these to be tumultuous times, and we know without substantive and positive change our planet and our lives are doomed to misery and pain. What we have not understood until now is our power. We can remake the world anew. We are the change we need. This is why I’m running for congress. We must rise up.

Jim Prues is an entrepreneur, the author of “World 5.0” and a candidate for the US Congress. A free download of the book is available at World5.org. You can learn more of Jim’s candidacy at JimPrues.org.

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