OCCUPY WALL STREET

[Ebon]

Originally Posted by Miss Tick

Here are counters for how much we spend every second on war and for how much the government has lost in revenue because of the Bush tax cuts for the rich. I'm no economist; I'm not even that good with crunching numbers but I don't think it takes a degree in macroeconomics to get that ending these tax cuts and curtailing our government's penchant for making war would go a long, long way toward closing the deficit. Here are two of the biggest drains on our nation's budget and yet we are continually fed the same bullshit about people on welfare dragging us down. I tried to find a counter for how much money our government spends every second on welfare for its citizens, but there doesn't seem to be a counter for that. Nor is there one for how much the government spends every second on unemployment benefits. We are told demands for a fair wage, $20 an hour, is ridiculous. We are told guaranteeing a living wage for all, regardless of employment, is ridiculous. A single payer healthcare system and free college education...just ridiculous according to most of our nation's public officials.

The numbers flying by on these counters...if you ask me, that is the definition of ridiculous.

http://costoftaxcuts.com/

http://costofwar.com/en/

The saddest part about the cost of war one is that all of that money isn't worth the life lost in fighting these bullshit wars. That includes both sides.

[SoNotHer]

Originally Posted by Ebon

The saddest part about the cost of war one is that all of that money isn't worth the life lost in fighting these bullshit wars. That includes both sides.

Ain't that the truth. Here's another Zinn quote that speaks to the moment and speaks to how in the world we got to the place where we need to fight fruitless, expensive, devastating war after war:

"The year of the massacre at Wounded Knee, 1890, it was officially declared by the Bureau of the Census that the internal frontier was closed. The profit system, with its natural tendency for expansion, had already begun to look overseas. The severe depression that began in 1893 strengthened an idea developing within the political and financial elite of the country: that overseas markets for American goods might relieve the problem of underconsumption at home and prevent the economic crises that in the 1890s brought class war.

And would not a foreign adventure deflect some of the rebellious energy that went into strikes and protest movements toward an external enemy? Would it not unite people with government, with the armed forces, instead of against them? This was probably not a conscious plan among most of the elite -- but a natural development from the twin drives of capitalism and nationalism."

http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defc...nempire12.html

[Cin]

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

And would not a foreign adventure deflect some of the rebellious energy that went into strikes and protest movements toward an external enemy? Would it not unite people with government, with the armed forces, instead of against them?

"A foreign adventure" - what an appalling euphemism for war. But I suppose we must consider poetic license. It's hard out there for a writer.

War is almost always helpful no matter what is causing a division. If you can get the public on board, which, initially, is easily done using a variety of tactics with fear in the forefront then it will be smooth sailing for awhile. It certainly helped unite the country after the election in 2000 when everyone was walking around trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. The war in Iraq, just after 9/11, catapulted Bush’s job approval rating to 90%.

This was probably not a conscious plan among most of the elite -- but a natural development from the twin drives of capitalism and nationalism."

Well perhaps the first ten times it's not a conscious plan just great timing, but eventually...

[theoddz]

Checking in with OccupyLasVegas!!!!



...and a nod to Occupy Savannah (Georgia), my own hometown!!!





~Theo~

[Cin]

Originally Posted by Ebon

The saddest part about the cost of war one is that all of that money isn't worth the life lost in fighting these bullshit wars. That includes both sides.

Yes. That is the saddest part. And I thought of that when I wrote that post, I thought of a ton of stuff that I felt was just as or even more important than what I posted about. But I wanted to make a particular point and I didn't want to digress. But yes for the record I also believe that the saddest part and actually the HIGHEST cost of war is tallied in human life.

Hopefully someone will also focus a little on the cost of Bush's tax cuts, as well as the cost of war in the context of the failing national budget. But of course human life is more important than money.

Upon further reflection that might not go without saying so thanks for saying it.