OCCUPY WALL STREET
 

I looked and I didn't see a thread on this particular subject, so I decided to start one here. I want to have a place to specifically discuss the Occupy Wall Street movement, rallys, and how it is spreading across the nation.

Here is their newly voted on platform/declaration:


I think this movement is tremendously important and it's existence is an inevitable outcome of decades of economic injustices perpetrated by the government, banks and corporations in the US and around the world.

What do you all think about the Occupy Wall Street movement and it's message?

I am thrilled that this is happening!
I don't know a lot about what/how is happening, so I am going to support these actions until I have a compelling reason not to (and first-hand account from someone I trust).

I posted this in another thread this weekend. I've watched it a couple times now, and I find it mesmerizing as I do the movement, as I have the movie V for Vendetta and the books 1984, Animal Farm and Lord of the Flies, among others. I think it's more than high time we took on the 'bloom' of greed. "Maybe freedom's just another word for no one left to screw."

Indeed.

much better than the rioting that was the reaction here.

I'm rally glad people are shouting and calling attention. I hate the media barely covers it. I've seen nothing about it except on FB and it's a massive movement.

Thanks for posting!!

I also was thrilled when I saw this happening over the week end. I was tempted to drive to New York and get involved. THIS is ssomething I feel very strongly about.

My wishing upon a star has been answered. There is a TOWN meeting scheduled for Saturday to inform willing participants of the mission and what to expect. I also checked, a permit has been applied for, and recieved, for a peaceful demonstration on the 15th, in the center of the business district. I WILL BE THERE!

Demonstrations are starting to crop up all over! Unions are getting involved. YES WE CAN!!

There's hope in the air. Finally. People are beginning to stand up together. Together is strength.

Here is an article about the American Dream Movement and Van Jones and his take on the Occupy Wall Street protests.

http://www.alternet.org/vision/15261...n_epic_battle/



If you are in NYC this might be something you don't want to miss.

OccupyWallStreet Union March From Foley Square on Wall Street

Posted Oct. 4, 2011, 8:36 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt

On October 05, 2011, at 3:00 in the afternoon the residents of Liberty Square will gather to join their union brothers and sisters in solidarity and march. At 4:30 in the afternoon the 99% will march in solidarity with #occupywallstreet from Foley Square to the Financial District, where their pensions have disappeared to, where their health has disappeared to. Together we will protest this great injustice. We stand in solidarity with the honest workers of:

AFL-CIO (AFSCME)
United NY
Strong Economy for All Coalition
Working Families Party
TWU Local 100
SEIU 1199
CWA 1109
RWDSU
Communications Workers of America
CWA Local 1180
United Auto Workers
United Federation of Teachers
Professional Staff Congress - CUNY
National Nurses United
Writers Guild East

And:

VOCAL-NY
Community Voices Heard
Alliance for Quality Education
New York Communities for Change
Coalition for the Homeless
Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project (NEDAP)
The Job Party
NYC Coalition for Educational Justice
The Mirabal Sisters Cultural and Community Center
The New Deal for New York Campaign
National People's Action
ALIGN
Human Services Council
Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State
Citizen Action of NY
MoveOn.org
Common Cause NY
New Bottom Line
350.org
Tenants & Neighbors
Democracy for NYC
Resource Generation
Tenants PAC
Teachers Unite

Together we will voice our belief that the American dream will live again, that the American way is to help one another succeed. Our voice, our values, will be heard.


Here is a list of past present and future #occupy cities.

OccupyTogether.org probably has a more updated list but the site seems to be down. At least I can't log on at the moment. So I took this list from a blog:

[http://october2011.org/blogs/kevin-z...ccupy-together


An article that some might find interesting.
http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/...o-the-streets/

It has organized here! We/we will be marching Saturday!

BANK TRANSFER DAY Saturday, November 5 · 9:00am - 5:00pm
 

Laziness maybe, I don't know why I haven't done this sooner!!!My personal accounts will be taken care of asap but my business account will take a couple of weeks to organize.


Location: Occupy Wall Street

More Info: • Open an account with a Credit Union before 11/05
• Wire transfer your funds to the new account online on 11/05
• Follow your bank's procedures to close your account

To find a credit union near you:

http://www.ncua.gov/dataservices/findcu.aspx

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=281139538577206

WAY TO GO!

[QUOTE=weatherboi;431625]Laziness maybe, I don't know why I haven't done this sooner!!!My personal accounts will be taken care of asap but my business account will take a couple of weeks to organize.

I closed all my accounts with my bank jan. 2010 after 30 years with them. And you know, they never even asked me why.

I joined a credit union and they sent me a $2.00 bill and welcomed me to a different way to handle your money. Which prompted me to write a nasty gram to the banking institution I was with for 30 years for never asking WHY I left.

LOVE LOVE LOVE the credit union and the SHARED services.

I fully support any show of opposition to bankers (globally) who, for their own benefit, continue to bring misfortune to the average person (globally). I think it's great this is starting to get more press, the more press the better. Maybe people will start thinking instead of following the status quo.

:lol2: Not surprised that Anon are still in this. But I was disappointed with the lack of "We are Anonymous. We are Legion." ending.

o/ Anon

Here in Chicago "the greedy pig crisis" is also picking up steam. There were only 100-200 people, but there were more positive reactions coming from evryday folks just passing through like bus and cab drivers, honking, and cheering. My favorite were the sanitation crew who were drumming and dancing on the back of their garbage trucks lol! "Truth may have a wretched existence, but lives longer than a lie."-Anon

[quote=Yellow band;431652]Thank you for this reminder YB! I am going to do the same thing today. I forget sometimes how powerful my voice is and that we the people do have a say!

This guy is awesome. This was an interview meant to make fun of the protestors but he schooled the dude.

I heart that man!! Thanks, Ebon!!

fight club is another one. Although they get a little destructive and blowup all the financial institutions. Woops. :firetruck:

When I went to bed, there were a couple comments in this thread.
By morning, it had multiplied and spread. I'm so charged that this is happening and people are beginning to question the concentration and abuse of power.

Fight Club is another one that offers some response to dehumanizing corporatization. The metaphors and allegories are there.

"..where once you had the freedom to object...you now have systems of surveillance....if you're looking for the guilty, you only need look into the mirror."

Here is the petition asking Mayor Bloomber and the NYC police to allow protesters to peaceably assemble without fear of brutality and arrest:

https://act.credoaction.com/campaign/ows_2/

Perhaps they shouldn't bother. Here is an article about CNN's show OutFront's coverage by Erin Burnett. Check out some of the clickable links in the article. The second link shows a clip of her interviewing some guy at Occupy Wall St. Another is an article by economist Dean Baker speaking to this new line of crap we are being fed about how the bailouts were actually good for us.

I'm thrilled to tears about this movement! Having been a victim of corporate greed and outsourcing, I will gladly join the revolt !! We need to pull our heads out of the sand! Everytime you spend your hard earned dollar, on a product made in some other country from a company,in the USA who reap all the perks of tax breaks, greed, and politics, you add to your own oppression. We line their pockets with our money all the while they make it harder and harder for you to make that money. As they taint the waters and land the drinking supplies and farms of countries like China. Who's people have no voice and are forced to be silent about as their govt and US companies cover it up and deny it. The labor is cheap and noone is held accountable for what their operations do to the enviroment. Perfect safe haven for greedy CEO's shareholders and whom ever they are in bed with in Washington. If you outsource to other countries and reap from taxpayers money in any way, as in tax breaks, or rebates for different govt funded programs you should be fined and taxed into the hilt. Only a US company who uses us workers to make their product on US soil should be allowed to receive any govt. Kick backs of any sort. Ask these CEO's why they don't base their headquarters in China too instead of just operations. HM? I know why. Do you ?

It has gone far too far, and I know we can all see the clear watershed moments along the way when corporations were allowed to lie, when they were allowed to invade our privacy and track us, when they were allowed to receive tax breaks for various and sundry awful things, when they were allowed to patent life, when they were allowed to buy a democracy, when they pushed a widening gap between the haves and have nots into a unbridgeable chasm, and when they were considered persons and told that there we no limits on campaign spending.

Enough is enough.


"Since the crisis, which has hit the average worker much harder than CEOs, the gap between the top one percent and the remaining 99% of the US population has grown to a record high. The economic top one percent of the population now owns over 70% of all financial assets, an all time record."

http://www.alternet.org/economy/1457...to_get_it_back

I have a question. Do you think that Obama is part of the problem also or trying to help? There are several "Wall Street Types" that he has appointed into his administration.

Amy Goodman interview the author of a book that spoke largely to the subject of off-shore bank accounts. Supposably, there is a "building" somewhere in the Cayman Islands that houses over 50,000 U.S. corporate offices. Wow! As the author said (sorry, I can't remember his name)...that must be a really BIG building!

Obama COULD step in again and work to hold large multi-million dollar corporations accountable for paying their fair share of taxes. And at one point prior to his presidency he lobbied diligently to do just that! I am certainly not a fan of politicians, unless you throw Lieberman in the pile...then I'm a number one fan!...and until there is more transparency in policy making/fiscal reporting and corporate backing, one simply MUST hold the current president accountable.

AMY GOODMAN: Our first guest today is the British journalist Nicholas Shaxson, author of the new book Treasure Islands: Uncovering the Damage of Offshore Banking and Tax Havens. In the book Shaxson writes, quote, "The offshore system is the secret underpinning for the political and financial power of Wall Street today. It is the fortified refuge of Big Finance." Nicholas Shaxson joins us from Washington, D.C.

Welcome to Democracy Now! Talk about what you're calling "Treasure Islands."

Nicholas Shaxson? We'll go to a music break, and we'll come back to see if we can get the audio of Nicholas Shaxson. Looks like we got it right now. Welcome to Democracy Now!, Nicholas.

http://tangibleinfo.blogspot.com/201...1_archive.html

I want to believe otherwise, but I when see Monsanto types, for example, get appointments in Ag and over the food systems they so clearly want to dominate, I worry.

I think we an engaged, active democracy, and I see this movement as one of the most promising wake up calls toward that end that I have seen in some time.

Countdown with Keith Olberman on the Current cable tv network is giving GREAT coverage of the Occupy Wall Street movement. So are Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O'Donnell on MSNBC.

His appointment of Guitner as Sec of the Treasury bothered me- still does. He was and is a Wall Street kind of guy and was right in the middle of what was going on under Bush.

However, I'll take Obama over any of the GOP candidates that most likely will get the nomination. Frankly, I could possibly vote for Jon Hunstman, but he is far too in the "middle" to be the GOP nomination. Romney destroyed more jobs in the US than created them at Bain.

Something that I am getting really tired of is our (the United States) continued tunnel vision about the fact that we are not the only developed country in the world in an economic mess. This is not just a US problem needing to be addressed. We have got to get our heads out of our butts and realize that this just is not all about us.

Also, if we do not take drastic measures to reform our educational system, we will never recover from this recession and not be competitive ever again economically.

These pictures are cool. It's pictures of people with signs that took pictures explaining their stories.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moveon/...th/6215057626/

It certainly took them long enough. I was wondering about Rachel Maddow and read a some FB comments, tweets and posts wondering why she was ignoring Occupy Wall St.

Glad to hear this is changing

Actually, it's really sad that those stories exist. I do fit into the upper middle class and wouldn't have an issue with paying more to provide resources to those that need (no different than what I did when I lived in Canada -- although I was only middle class there). I knew that if I paid more in my taxes that the services would be there for those that needed it.

Politicians shouldn't be listening for a lobbyist. They should be listening to the people. The last time this happened in a large nation, we got the USSR. And it may yet happen again.

Live stream from Occupy Wall St.

http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews...h_coverage%21/

A tiny bit off topic, but not really.

Here is an article in the Washington Post about how rich people are being demonized for flaunting their wealth. Pretty funny. Well, actually, maybe not so funny after all. :seeingstars:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...4AL_story.html

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Citi-a...83525.html?x=0

And Herman Cain wants you to blame yourself if you don't have a job and aren't rich..isn't that rich!

I want people to do well. However, I want all people to have access to what allows us all to be successful. I have family members that certainly fall within the higher tax rates that would be paying more in taxes. They earned every penny they have and have been good employers that give a damn about the people that work for them. When that has mean't they take a cut in order to keep employees on the job, they do just that. Hopefully, they will be able to continue this. They also are willing to pay more in taxes because get that tyhere has to be increases in revenue along with smarter use of revenues in order to get us out of this mess.

I just watched a clip about how now banks in certain states (not legal in all states) that have foreclosed on a mortgage holder can (and are) suing for the remaining "short" in the foreclosed mortgage.

So, if I were to forclose on my home and it went back to the bank and the bank sold it for an amount that was "short" of my original note, the bank could also come at me for the difference!

Talk about smacking someone around when they are down!! The guy interviewed was a Iraq War Vet, to boot!! This plus the banks wanting to impose new fees for using a debit card is just insane and unfair to people.

Something I am jazzed at seeing about these demonstrations is that POC, young, old, able-bodied, disabled folks are involved. Veterans are there, union people are there, retired people are there. Maybe all that really are part of the 99% will continue to join together.

But that is the way it's supposed to be, no? That's American culture. You should be able to support yourself and not rely on "hand-outs from the gummit". Your lack of a job, your illness, your poverty is of your own creation and not the fault of anyone else in the world, don't'cha know? If you ask for help then you're a socialist and that ain't American. What are you? Some kind of anti-American!? You traitor you. (this is said in a sarcastic tone).

But really. From an outsider, this isn't a surprise since this is very much the neo-conservative American cultural view that I'm used to seeing about Americans. When I read the piece on the Washington Post that Miss Tick had linked, I read the comments. It was interesting to see how many commenters believe this. It might have been true back in the 1700-1800s, when America was first developing and it wasn't unusual to have a homestead where you were isolated. And it may even be true in some places in the US today.

It is, however, far from reality. We are an interconnected, inter-dependent global society. If one part fails, then we all do. And if a large chunk fails, we all do. I wish people would stop demonizing the idea that helping one another, whether through the creation of a national program or otherwise, as socialism and realize that it can do so much to encourage people to do more. In the corporate world (and I think of my own company), the balance of life and work, makes harder working employees. Lessen stress and it causes productivity to increase.

Well, by that logic, would the same be true in the country itself? Help the individual to meet basic needs (and based on some of the pictures that Ebon had posted) many people aren't meeting those basic needs (they trade off medication vs food vs rent).

Saw the Herman Cain interview, too. It will make a great sound bite for Obama's campaign people to use if Cain gets the nomination. I also like to envision a debate between the two. Cain better study-up!

Seems to be going well.

6:38p.m. ET: ABC News' Gregory J. Krieg reports: The march has passed through a narrow corridor along Park Row and back south down Broadway from Foley Square, returning to Zuccotti Park. We've heard reports on crowd size ranging from 2,000 (an officer guessed) and 15,000 (organizers guessed). I'd say it's much closer to the latter. And for every protester, there must be two metal barriers. This is a very tightly-held rage.

http://a.abcnews.com/images/US/abc_w..._111005_wg.jpg

Well said, Miss Tick. Well said, indeed. We've watched companies like Enron lead their employees down the garden path. We've watched companies like Walmart lock in employees overnight, ensure that no woman was promoted past a certain point and no union was ever formed. We've watched states like Wisconsin dismantle the collective bargaining rights of workers and other states try. We've watched companies bet for/against sub prime mortgage packages, make and lose more money than most of us can imagine, be bailed out and be more profitable than ever, all while the American worker's salary stagnates or s/he drowns in underwater mortgages, medical bankruptcy, job loss and 401K plans that have been all but wiped out.

When do we stop letting the needs of a few outweigh the needs of many?