OCCUPY WALL STREET

[persiphone]

Originally Posted by Corkey

The human race is on the road to self destruction, we can debate all day long who that includes, but its safe to say we as a Nation are the ones responsible for out own woos, we've done it to our selves by not voting and by being complacent.

is this where i can bitch about methods of voter suppression?

[atomiczombie]

A huge part of the financial crisis of 2008 was an out of control derivatives market. Derivatives are basically bets that corporations make on whether the markets will go up or down. It's WAY more complicated than that, but that's the best I can do in one sentence. In the late 90's a financial regulator in the Clinton administration tried to impose regulations on over the counter derivatives, and here's what happened:

The scary fact is that the Dodd-Frank bill didn't include any regulation of the derivatives market. So basically, there is nothing in place to prevent the financial collapse of 2008 from happening again just as easily. Gah!

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by persiphone

is this where i can bitch about methods of voter suppression?

Yes, bitch!! Right now there are many voter suppression campaigns going on in many states, mainly via the Republican party.

The OWS movement ought to be moving us all to action, including fighting these efforts. There is a part of me that agrees with Corkey about how many years the 98/99% did not remain active in our democracy. We do have to participate in a democracy in order for it to represent us.

As much as I hate to say it- the Tea Party has gained power because it decided not to stand by and allow government run without considering the core values of those that "belong" to it. It went right into our political system via our democratic vehicles of organizing and voting in blocks. It has redefined conservatism in the US to an extreme that big business simply loves.

The work we need to do is far beyond protesting in the streets.

[Toughy]

If history does indeed repeat itself, let us not forget, the hippies were right. The Gulf of Tonkin never happened, it was the figment of the imagination of an over excited radioman...according to Robert McNamara himself!

Actually there were 2 reported incidents in the Gulf of Tonkin in Aug of 64. The first one did happen and the second one did not happen. It was the second incident that resulted in Congress giving Johnson the power to really go to Vietnam. Years later it finally came out that the second incident never occurred.

So yes there was a real Gulf of Tonkin incident (North Vietnamese navy firing on a US warship in the Gulf) and a fabricated incident a couple of days later.

[atomiczombie]

The Super Committee is deadlocked - no surprise there. The triggers that are set in place won't actually happen until 2013 - well after the 2012 election. So they have another year or so to fight over the budget and avoid the triggers. Talk about kicking the can down the road! *shakes head*

[Diavolo]

Originally Posted by Toughy

Actually there were 2 reported incidents in the Gulf of Tonkin in Aug of 64. The first one did happen and the second one did not happen. It was the second incident that resulted in Congress giving Johnson the power to really go to Vietnam. Years later it finally came out that the second incident never occurred.

So yes there was a real Gulf of Tonkin incident (North Vietnamese navy firing on a US warship in the Gulf) and a fabricated incident a couple of days later.

Yes, I left the first one out because we went to war over the second one, which didn't happen. But I got a lot of butch on butch love for your history schoolin'

[ruffryder]

I have seen much debate on the UC Davis pepper spraying incident. I think this will have a huge impact on the OWS movement and protestors. I look forward to seeing what becomes of this incident and how it will affect what happens with tactics and force in time to come with protesting and occupying.

[Corkey]

So apparently police brutality and genocide only applies to people living within the confines of the borders of the US. Correct? Um who do you all think the corporations test their stuff on first? Having been in the military and law enforcement do you not think I have a bit of inside information? Nahhh ... go ahead deny, it will bite one in the behind one day.