OCCUPY WALL STREET

[Dominique]

I just wrote nasty (sort of) letters to the republican Senators of Pennsylvania telling them if they vote NO on the extension of unemployment benefits to 5 million Americans.....I will personally spearhead the campaign to vote them out of office. I am sick of them!

Please do the same. *In god we trust* gets voted on and passed,

before our fellow Americans are taken care of

[Dominique]

[QUOTE=SoNotHer;453785]Why Is OWS Blanketed With NYPD Cameras -- And Are Police Breaking the Law?
By Tana Ganeva, AlterNet
Posted on November 2, 2011, Printed on November 3, 2011
http://www.alternet.org/story/152896...eaking_the_law


Yes, of course they are breaking the law. SOME, not all. Remember this, when the police show up wearing riot gear, someone told them to do so. Putting the police officers on the immediate defense comes on order. Those officers have many layers of supervisors. In the ONY beatings, it was Police Commanders who were beating unarmed citizens.

For the most part , is not the bad guy. As per the usual, the BIG GUY.

[Ebon]

[quote=Yellow band;453804]

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

Why Is OWS Blanketed With NYPD Cameras -- And Are Police Breaking the Law?
By Tana Ganeva, AlterNet
Posted on November 2, 2011, Printed on November 3, 2011
http://www.alternet.org/story/152896...eaking_the_law


Yes, of course they are breaking the law. SOME, not all. Remember this, when the police show up wearing riot gear, someone told them to do so. Putting the police officers on the immediate defense comes on order. Those officers have many layers of supervisors. In the ONY beatings, it was Police Commanders who were beating unarmed citizens.

For the most part , is not the bad guy. As per the usual, the BIG GUY.

Everyone always has a choice to do the right thing.

[persiphone]

http://news.yahoo.com/occupy-protest...161355762.html


http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749...-27142668.html

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749...-27147886.html


i need to learn how to post vids. sorrrieeessss! BUT...it looks like the violence is starting to tip. bittersweet, really.

[persiphone]

Originally Posted by Miss Tick

Report: NYPD steers drunks to Occupy Wall Street

Those found drinking in city parks are told by officers to "take it to Zuccotti," the Daily News reports

There’s a bombshell allegation buried in this story from Sunday’s Daily News: The NYPD is reportedly telling drunks to hang out in Zuccotti Park, apparently as a way to undermine the credibility of Occupy Wall Street.

Harry Siegel reports:

But while officers may be in a no-win situation, at the mercy of orders carried on shifting political winds and locked into conflict with a so-far almost entirely non-violent protest movement eager to frame the force as a symbol of the oppressive system they’re fighting, the NYPD seems to have crossed a line in recent days, as the park has taken on a darker tone with unsteady and unstable types suddenly seeming to emerge from the woodwork. Two different drunks I spoke with last week told me they’d been encouraged to “take it to Zuccotti” by officers who’d found them drinking in other parks, and members of the community affairs working group related several similar stories they’d heard while talking with intoxicated or aggressive new arrivals.

…

“He’s got a right to express himself, you’ve got a right to express yourself,” I heard three cops repeat in recent days, using nearly identical language, when asked to intervene with troublemakers inside the park, including a clearly disturbed man screaming and singing wildly at 3 a.m. for the second straight night.

Emphasis mine. Siegel added on Twitter that he has sourcing for the story beyond the two drunks cited above, though he did not elaborate.

The NYPD did not comment to the Daily News. I’ve asked them for a response to the allegations and I will update this post if I hear back.

In other NYPD-related news, hundreds of off-duty officers turned out in the Bronx over the weekend to protest corruption indictments against several of their fellow officers. The scene turned ugly, with the off-duty cops reportedly shoving a cameraman and taunting nearby welfare recipients.

wow. classy.

[persiphone]

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908...42018#45142018



From - http://www.occupyoakland.org/

i was a bit taken aback by the Exxon ad at the beginning of the vid link promoting oil sands processing. whoa. really? is nothing sacred? lol

[SoNotHer]

I thought the same thing, P. In fact, it feels like reading a Kindle version of 1984 only to interrupted by micro-marketing and given a list of suggested reading. Exxon, BP and the likes have infiltrated Maddow, YouTube and some of my other places.

Originally Posted by persiphone

i was a bit taken aback by the Exxon ad at the beginning of the vid link promoting oil sands processing. whoa. really? is nothing sacred? lol

[atomiczombie]

Hey folks sorry I didn't get to posting yesterday. I was really tired when I finally got to my computer after a busy day. Some thoughts about the Oakland strike:

I was really psyched that there were so many protestors who peacefully shut down several banks. Many businesses closed their doors in solidarity with the general strike and that was heartening to see. That they shut down the port of Oakland was beyond amazing and a great victory! Yay!

It is frustrating, however, to see the local anarchist group come into the protest and break windows and throw rocks/bottles, things like that. Those people wearing black and hiding their faces weren't part of Occupy. They were there just to cause trouble. What is even more frustrating is that some of the media called them "protestors" when reporting on those incidents of violence and destruction. They didn't make a distinction, and that gives a totally wrong impression of Occupy. Violence and destruction of property is usually the first and biggest stories that the media seizes on, so that tends to overshadow the message and victories of the general strike. I don't know how Occupy can keep these anarchist hoodlums away from the protests, however. I don't think they can. That fact frustrates me.

Thank you everyone who is keeping us up to date on all the latest details of the protests and political actions, and sharing your ideas. I am going out of town this weekend so I probably won't be able to post, but I will be keeping up as best I can and will be back next week to participate more.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Toughy

police now say 4500..........

KRON 4 is probably a better news feed......it's not FOX

peaceful children and adults ....its about 1.5 hour walk to the Port from downtown........and there are still plenty o folks downtown

I heard estimates of up to 10,000.

Something on my mind- I understand fully targeting a port in terms of it symbolizing how the US trade agreements and "shipping" of US jobs outside of the US has hurt the 99%. Yet, I can't help but think of the truck drivers and all of the folks working at the port in "regular" jobs could be hurt by this if this becomes a continued tactic.

Private property was damaged by some (very small group) of demonstrators. Shutting down the port for a few hours is a big deal and makes a point- and ZI don't see how smashing up someone's house or business is going to help bring all of the groups of the 99% that need to join together- get together.

I can see that the tactic of closing down candidate offices as something that can get attention at the source. This movement taking hold in the midst of a general election year is one of the best aspects I see in terms of getting our politicians to "get" that we are sick and tired of being duped. And that the deadlock in Congress is not acceptable! This is a time in which what does work in our political processes is needed more than ever. Congress has not passed one bill since the 2010 mid-terms that can significantly promote job growth.

There is a part of me that wants to see OWS take some of the same steps in coalition building to have an effect on elections. And fight the voter supression tactics going on. The Obama administration is taking action with this, but, this should outrage every voter in the US.

Sounds like the Occupy folks that do not agree with smashing things up are out apologizing for the actions of a few today and helping clean up some of the damage.

[atomiczombie]

These anarchists in black had nothing to do with the Occupy movement. They were there just to cause mayhem and destruction. You can see here that the Occupy protestors were trying to stop them without much luck.

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

These anarchists in black had nothing to do with the Occupy movement. They were there just to cause mayhem and destruction. You can see here that the Occupy protestors were trying to stop them without much luck.

And they always show up at these kinds of things. I think it was really great that Occupy people even made signs yesterday telling this group to knock it off. It is really important for Occupy demonstrators to let people know that they do not agree with the anarchist groups that simply want to use a protest to their advantage.

Lots of Occupy people are making points today about not supporting destruction of property or violence. It is really important that this movement recognize all "walks" of the 99%. I think they are doing a good job overall with this.

[atomiczombie]

Some great pictures of the general strike in Oakland yesterday:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...0185115&type=1

[Greyson]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

It is frustrating, however, to see the local anarchist group come into the protest and break windows and throw rocks/bottles, things like that. Those people wearing black and hiding their faces weren't part of Occupy. They were there just to cause trouble. What is even more frustrating is that some of the media called them "protestors" when reporting on those incidents of violence and destruction. They didn't make a distinction, and that gives a totally wrong impression of Occupy. Violence and destruction of property is usually the first and biggest stories that the media seizes on, so that tends to overshadow the message and victories of the general strike.

Drew, thanks for your thoughts and actions you are taking for the 99%. I watched the ABC, CBS, and KRON news shows early this morning before coming into work and I thought the coverage of Occupy Oakland was balanced. I understood clearly by their reports that the anarchist were not part of Occupy Oakland. I also saw video of the the Occupy people assisting in the clean up of some of the anarchist vandalism.

I work in downtown Oakland and me and most of my coworkers are real people with responsibilities to our families and community. I do understand peaceful civil protest but I will never understand the violence. Much of the property and people that get destroyed are not the Fat Cats with no sense of humanity beyond their next take over, buy out, financial scam.

[atomiczombie]

By Jessica Firger

Police arrested at least 16 people, including journalist Chris Hedges and performance artist Reverend Billy Talen, during a rally Thursday outside the headquarters of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in lower Manhattan.

The rally was held after a mock trial at the nearby Occupy Wall Street encampment, in which Goldman’s alleged misdeeds were weighed in a “people’s hearing.” The event, led by author and activist Cornell West, was broadcast live on a radio station and drew hundreds of protesters and spectators, many of whom then marched down Trinity Place towards Goldman’s skyscraper.

“The banking system has been shot through with greed,” said West, a professor at Princeton University. He marched arm in arm with several protesters, whom he referred to as his “brothers and sisters.” Some protesters held signs that read “Out of Your Ivory Tower” and “Don’t Feed the Bull.”

Reverend Billy, dressed in his signature white suit, called the Occupy movement “real, physical, actual hope,” and he blamed President Barack Obama for “drain[ing] all meaning from the word ‘hope.’” Talen added: “He’s no less corrupt than George Bush. He’s been unable to regulate these people,” referring to financial institutions.

At the entrance to Goldman’s headquarters on West Street, protesters read their verdict aloud: “Guilty of felony fraud, violating security laws, perjury before a Senate commission and the theft of $78 billion in taxpayer money.”

Several people then sat down in front with the building with their arms linked. As police handcuffed each person one at a time, some used nonviolent resistance tactics such curling up on the ground. The final protester to be arrested made her body limp and was carried away by several police officers.

Ann Shirazi, 66 years old, attended the rally with her husband Ahamad as a member of the Granny Peace Brigade, an activist group. “We’ve lost money and our children have trouble finding work,” she said. “But the personal issues are not what’s important — everyone’s been affected.”

–Tamer El-Ghobashy contributed to this report.

Link: http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2011...ogle_news_blog

[atomiczombie]

Originally Posted by Greyson

Drew, thanks for your thoughts and actions you are taking for the 99%. I watched the ABC, CBS, and KRON news shows early this morning before coming into work and I thought the coverage of Occupy Oakland was balanced. I understood clearly by their reports that the anarchist were not part of Occupy Oakland. I also saw video of the the Occupy people assisting in the clean up of some of the anarchist vandalism.

I work in downtown Oakland and me and most of my coworkers are real people with responsibilities to our families and community. I do understand peaceful civil protest but I will never understand the violence. Much of the property and people that get destroyed are not the Fat Cats with no sense of humanity beyond their next take over, buy out, financial scam.

Thats great to hear, Greyson. I guess the news sources I was watching on the internet weren't reporting on it the same way. I am glad local news is getting it right.

[atomiczombie]

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
Public Citizen 40th Gala
Washington, DC
October 20, 2011

I am honored to share this occasion with you. No one beyond your collegial inner circle appreciates more than I do what you have stood for over these 40 years, or is more aware of the battles you have fought, the victories you have won, and the passion for democracy that still courses through your veins. The great progressive of a century ago, Robert LaFollette of Wisconsin – a Republican, by the way – believed that “Democracy is a life; and involves constant struggle.” Democracy has been your life for four decades now, and would have been even more imperiled today if you had not stayed the course.

I began my public journalism the same year you began your public advocacy, in 1971. Our paths often paralleled and sometimes crossed. Over these 40 years journalism for me has been a continuing course in adult education, and I came early on to consider the work you do as part of the curriculum – an open seminar on how government works – and for whom. Your muckraking investigations – into money and politics, corporate behavior, lobbying, regulatory oversight, public health and safety, openness in government, and consumer protection, among others – are models of accuracy and integrity. They drive home to journalists that while it is important to cover the news, it is more important to uncover the news. As one of my mentors said, “News is what people want to keep hidden; everything else is publicity.” And when a student asked the journalist and historian Richard Reeves for his definition of “real news”, he answered: “The news you and I need to keep our freedoms.” You keep reminding us how crucial that news is to democracy. And when the watchdogs of the press have fallen silent, your vigilant growls have told us something’s up.

So I’m here as both citizen and journalist to thank you for all you have done, to salute you for keeping the faith, and to implore you to fight on during the crisis of hope that now grips our country. The great American experience in creating a different future together – this “voluntary union for the common good” – has been flummoxed by a growing sense of political impotence – what the historian Lawrence Goodwyn has described as a mass resignation of people who believe “the dogma of democracy” on a superficial public level but who no longer believe it privately. There has been, he says, a decline in what people think they have a political right to aspire to – a decline of individual self-respect on the part of millions of Americans.

You can understand why. We hold elections, knowing they are unlikely to produce the policies favored by the majority of Americans. We speak, we write, we advocate – and those in power turn deaf ears and blind eyes to our deepest aspirations. We petition, plead, and even pray – yet the earth that is our commons, which should be passed on in good condition to coming generations, continues to be despoiled. We invoke the strain in our national DNA that attests to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as the produce of political equality – yet private wealth multiplies as public goods are beggared. And the property qualifications for federal office that the framers of the Constitution expressly feared as an unseemly “veneration for wealth” are now openly in force; the common denominator of public office, even for our judges, is a common deference to cash.

So if belief in the “the dogma of democracy” seems only skin deep, there are reasons for it. During the prairie revolt that swept the Great Plains a century after the Constitution was ratified, the populist orator Mary Elizabeth Lease exclaimed: “Wall Street owns the country…Our laws are the output of a system which clothes rascals in robes and honesty in rags. The [political] parties lie to us and the political speakers mislead us…Money rules.”

That was 1890. Those agrarian populists boiled over with anger that corporations, banks, and government were ganging up to deprive every day people of their livelihood.

She should see us now.

John Boehner calls on the bankers, holds out his cup, and offers them total obeisance from the House majority if only they fill it.

That’s now the norm, and they get away with it. GOP once again means Guardians of Privilege.

Barack Obama criticizes bankers as “fat cats”, then invites them to dine at a pricey New York restaurant where the tasting menu runs to $195 a person.

That’s now the norm, and they get away with it. The President has raised more money from banks, hedge funds, and private equity managers than any Republican candidate, including Mitt Romney. Inch by inch he has conceded ground to them while espousing populist rhetoric that his very actions betray.

Let’s name this for what it is: hypocrisy made worse, the further perversion of democracy.
Democratic deviancy defined further downward. Our politicians are little more than money launderers in the trafficking of power and policy – fewer than six degrees of separation from the spirit and tactics of Tony Soprano.

Why New York’s Zuccotti Park is filled with people is no mystery. Reporters keep scratching their heads and asking: “Why are you here?” But it’s clear they are occupying Wall Street because Wall Street has occupied the country. And that’s why in public places across the country workaday Americans are standing up in solidarity. Did you see the sign a woman was carrying at a fraternal march in Iowa the other day? It read: “I can’t afford to buy a politician so I bought this sign.”

We know what all this money buys. Americans have learned the hard way that when rich organizations and wealthy individuals shower Washington with millions in campaign contributions, they get what they want. They know that if you don’t contribute to their campaigns or spend generously on lobbying,

…you pick up a disproportionate share of America’s tax bill. You pay higher prices for a broad range of products from peanuts to prescriptions. You pay taxes that others in a similar situation have been excused from paying. You’re compelled to abide by laws while others are granted immunity from them. You must pay debts that you incur while others do not. You’re barred from writing off on your tax returns some of the money spent on necessities while others deduct the cost of their entertainment. You must run your business by one set of rules, while the government creates another set for your competitors… In contrast the fortunate few who contribute to the right politicians and hire the right lobbyists enjoy all the benefits of their special status. Make a bad business deal; the government bails them out. If they want to hire workers at below market wages, the government provides the means to do so. If they want more time to pay their debts, the government gives them an extension. If they want immunity from certain laws, the government gives it. If they want to ignore rules their competition must comply with, the government gives it approval. If they want to kill legislation that is intended for the public, it gets killed. . .

The article is much longer, but it won't all fit here lol. You can read the rest here:

http://www.truth-out.org/how-did-happen/1320278111

Here's the keynote speech itself:

[SoNotHer]

Moyer is a person of light and conscience. I've been following him since the Joseph Campbell interviews for Parabola. Thank you for posting this, Drew. :-)

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

The article is much longer, but it won't all fit here lol. You can read the rest here:

http://www.truth-out.org/how-did-happen/1320278111

Here's the keynote speech itself:

[Cin]

Study proves many U.S. corporations pay zero taxes


Dozens of US corporations paid no federal taxes in recent years, and many received government subsidies despite earning healthy profits, a new study showed Thursday.

The report by Citizens for Tax Justice and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, which examined 280 US firms, found 78 of them paid no federal income tax in at least one of the last three years.

It found 30 companies enjoyed a negative income tax rate — which in some cases means getting tax rebates — over the three-year period, despite combined pre-tax profits of $160 billion.

“These 280 corporations received a total of nearly $223 billion in tax subsidies,” said the report’s lead author, Robert McIntyre, director at Citizens for Tax Justice.

“This is wasted money that could have gone to protect Medicare, create jobs and cut the deficit.”

The study looked at 280 corporations from the Fortune 500 list, all of which were profitable in each of the last three years and provided sufficient data to analyst profits and taxes.

It found the average effective tax rate for the 280 companies in the study over the three years period was 18.5 percent, well below the statutory rate of 35 percent.

The study concluded that 78 of the companies had at least one year in which their federal income tax was zero or less.

Thirty companies had a negative income tax rate over the entire three year period on their combined pre-tax profits of $160 billion.

The study said banking giant Wells Fargo topped the list of corporations receiving the most in tax subsidies, getting nearly $18 billion in tax breaks in the last three years.

The report comes as US lawmakers are struggling to find ways to curb a bulging US deficit and are looking at possible revenue sources, despite opposition by conservatives to any tax increases.

[ruffryder]

Originally Posted by cara

Can someone point me in the direction of some clear, easier to understand information about the OWS movement? I support OWS, but I want to understand it more.

Thanks!

I'm seeing this a lot. Today I heard someone say, "I don't think some of these people know what they are protesting." He said, "I don't know what they are protesting."

I think it becomes confusing when people are arrested and police have to take action against unpeaceful protests and violence. That is a sad situation when some want to resort to violence to get their own ideas across and it may not even have to do with the "american dream" or jobs, healthcare, taxes, etc..

Very interesting what is playing out in Oakland and Denver. I look forward to seeing what develops with those two cities over the next couple weeks. I would hate to see this OWS movement turn into something of domestic terrorist attacks somewhere. I hope.. I can't reiterate it enough, I HOPE it doesn't come to that. I hate to be cynical but I also can see the daily violence and the bigger picture. I also do see some changes, for the OWS movement too though, in a positive way.

[ruffryder]

BTW cara, there is a lot of youtube videos and FB pages concerning Occupy Wall Street.