Who is the "1%"?

Many of the people I hear arguing against the 99% call our efforts “class warfare” or “socialism”. Let me be clear – anyone demonstrating for the 99% that thinks what we need is wealth redistribution is not part of my platform. What we need is political transparency, laws that support fairness rather than favoritism, and quick justice for those that break these laws.

There are plenty of Americans that fall into the 1% of wealth holders that deserve every penny of their money. Anyone that begrudges hard work, the creation of new and innovative products and services, or the riches those things bring is misguided. Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Mark Cuban, Sergey Brin, and Larry Ellison are examples of what America is supposed to be all about. Like them or not, they earned their power and status.

The men that corrupt our politicians, cheat our financial systems, and bankrupt our country to achieve their wealth, those are the men we should be marching against. Men that manipulate currency instead of manufacture goods. Their mansions are the ones we should be chanting in front of. And they are the men that must pay for their crimes before the 99% are satisfied.

Two days ago, a federal indictment accusing Rajat Gupta of insider trading was unsealed. Gupta was a board member of Goldman Sachs and allegedly passed corporate secrets to his friend and hedge fund founder, Raj Rajaratnam, who then made millions off resulting stock transactions. The FBI caught Gupta on tape doing this.  Rajaratnam was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his theft. Now it’s Gupta’s turn. This is an example of the justice the 99% must demand.