Occupy Columbus Circle
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 21, 2011, 5:18 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
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With all the talk about Wall Street, I've yet to see a single person commit to selling all financial holdings -- and there are many protesting who do have investments.
This is the only way to REALLY impact Wall Street machinations -- and, also, Bank Transfer Day on November 5 -- close bank accounts and deposit funds in a credit union near you.
Let me be the first !
Lynne Murguia (retired NYC teacher; former NGO to the UN; micro-credit practitioner; funder; investor) Tucson, AZ
tanking the system is not going to change the way our government is run.
what we need is an end to PLUTOCRACY...so we can have political candidates that make choices based on the general welfare of the public...not of the corporation that fills their pockets the most...if that happens...financial regulations come back on...and things will come back into order...
Not all companies and banks are equal, some are good. Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water, let's target evil and reward the do gooders.
Perhaps you should be more specific?
I don't think it's right for me to promote my stocks that are investing in the right things and paying their investors good dividends, that would make me look like a shill. But I would implore everyone to do their homework and make the right choices accordingly. Rewarding the right companies will send a message to the scumbag companies, better than disavowing the scumbag companies imo.
Of course. --- However, socially conscious investments (?) and good dividends are not the only considerations impelling the Occupy groups. For example, do you know the amounts of:
officer salaries?
bonuses ?
taxes paid?
These are the issues I understand to be at stake here.
bonuses ...salaries.......these are the issues that infuriate folks...but its really just the cherry on top of the ice-cream...focusing on that wont do anything...in 1999 this bi-partisan bill ---> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramm%E2%80%93Leach%E2%80%93Bliley_Act
allowed banks to become financial shopping malls...creating the atmosphere that led to "too big to fail" breaking up the banks like the phone company and having smaller competitive financial institutions should be on the table....
anyone who thinks the Dems have no fault in this are as blind as the folks who thought Bush had no fault in the current fiscal crisis
Yes, of course. Due diligence takes a lot of time and effort, but it's worth it to know that you've made the right decision and not blindly followed the advice of a fee based broker.
That sounds like a good action. And I believe people are taking these actions. But it would be interesting if a statement was made, ad then responded to by a concerted effort to pull out of banks in favor local credit unions.
Dear Turtle ---
Energy follows thought -- so lets thini otherwise -- OK?
Lynne
I'm coming to OWS (with press credentials if another near me follows up on their commitments; without if not)
I agree with what I think you're saying; that actions need to follow words, and that words sometimes set energy in motion that is intended or unintended by those words. (Gandhi said much the same thing)
I can also see reason for concern. (is there a day that doesn't present reasons for concern?)
I am arriving with my own history and agendas, as I believe all persons are.
I support the general intentions and themes that I understand of this movement. (Imbalanced power needs corrected, government corruption needs to be brought to trial and to cease as a now-institutionalized way of being, etc.)
I have great amounts of respect for the effort that is going into this, and there have been more than a few times that my heart has been warmed to tears..
As stated, I also have my own ideas and concerns.
But I -will- be there, unless stopped from traveling.. I'm arriving elsewhere on Thursday night, if I can fly, and at OWS/Zuccotti Park on Friday, hopefully early in the A.M. to mid-morning.
I look forward to learning. If there's a new path that breaks the constrictions of the frameworks or 'molds' I'm living in and with, and it seems the least bit plausible to me, I welcome that with arms wide open.
I want to do stories about not just the movement, but the individuals who are a part of it, if they're willing. I also want the views of those persons who are not involved, but may or may not be aware of their part in the greater picture, or their opportunity to benefit from it.
I know this is far from my show or my turf, and I hope to arrive with as much humbleness and respect as possible.
I am bringing gifts from afar, and hopes that this thing, this movement, can turn the tide.
Take care.
We're in the throws of hopefully making that happen in re. to our meager finances, after I return home from NYC and D.C., aaron. I think it's a good idea.
One concern I've voiced to others, near where I live, is that if/when the credit unions swell with new investors' money and/or debt/refinancing, that they watch the collective egos on the boards of directors as they enter into the 'big leagues' (or, at least 'bigger leagues'; ego being an issue we can all fall prey to).
Power corrupts, and humility, whether institutional or personal, is a key to preventing that corruption... in my opinion.
Likewise, I've seen persons advocating for folks to buy silver in an effort toward affecting JP Morgan. Not sure I understand that enough to do so just yet, though I can guess that there would be multiple results from such a move; some of them causing me to be uncertain.
.
A credit union is owned by you when yo put your money in it. Think of it as socialized banking. It structured entirely different than that of a bank.
The problems in our society are issues with the system. Its not just about individual moral failings.
It was the transfer of savings or other cash toward the purchasing of silver that I didn't understand the mechanism of; particularly as it was intended to impact JP Morgan negatively.
In re. to systemic defects vs. individual moral failings, I disagree.
Human beings are inherently imperfect, and greed and power-lust run the gammet in different persons, ranging from minimal to maximal in their expressions, within any given person's willingness to entertain or deny that aspect of human behavior or desire.
Whether quasi-communist or quasi-capitalist, or some other critter, it's relatively easy to idenitify examples of persons who operate out of a sense of moral fairness, and those who operate out of hunger for power, or greed, though more typically it's somewhere in the middle, with lots of gray in between the two extremes.
I've witnessed well-intentioned persons later achieving positions of authority or prestige/esteem, and havng that authority go to their heads, later violating that trust, and I've also witnessed persons achieving similar statuses, while maintaining substantial humility and fairness in their expression of their duties.
I think that externalizing responsibility for what are common human behaviors or attributes potenitally provides false comfort in re. to humanity as a whole, while leaving 'us' more vulnerable, by virtue of denying our darker sides and ignoring our dualistic potential as a species, regardless of the system in whch we live.
The system(s) we've had have clearly been corrupted by persons seeking power, money, etc. But I'm not certain that's strictly a systemic issue in the end..I believe it's at least as much a human issue.
In tha regard, I'm somewhat Jungian in my beliefs. However, that has little to do, in my opinion, with my willingness, desire, or efforts to assist in either protesting, or righting the wrongs that the current corruption represents.
I'm not interested in taking the "Cato" approach (read up on your roman history) and try to solve all this by imposing a moral majority. Its a disgusting way to try to reform society. If people are encouraged to act with integrity great, but thats not what happens when you go down this road. Society rips itself apart as in our red scare.
The way to solve these problems is by reworking the system. You can't solve problems by adjusting each individual's moral compass.
My initial post was apparently duplicated. Then, when I attempted to remove the duplicate, both posts vanished.
So I'll try to summarize what I'd written in more concise terms;
All systems, at some point in their time-lines, have been corrupted by individuals and groups who wanted more than their 'fair share,' for one reason or another.
I'm not talking about micro-managing each person's moral compass, per se'. I'm talking about redirecting, crafting or refining laws that were diverted or corrupted from their initial goals of bringing persons closer to real justice. I'm talking about the on-going struggle, that has always been, that will need to be maintained as far as I can see forward in time, of crafting new laws that fine-tune that direction or goal.
I think that denying the human aspect of corrupted systems stands to merely re-create that same age-old corruption, though in a house that's been painted a different color, or had the kitchen re-decorated, but still houses the same occupants.
Whether looking at Soviet-style (quasi)'Socialism,' U.S.-style ' (quasi)capitalism,' or Rome, they all point to what has been, and will likely be for some time, a nearly-perpetual struggle to balance equality, until we evolve as a species to the point that we can collectively -and- individually realize that we benefit in stability and fairness as a result of our neighbors benefiting from stability and fairness.
As stated in my earlier (vanished) post(s), I've been waiting for this spark of 'correction' to our paths for ~40 years now, and was active to one extent or another throughout that time.
To clarify, I'm not a Cato subscriber; I'm aware of the Koch. Bros involvement with them, and my State is directly affected by the Kochs, who routinely -claim- to be Libertarians, right up until there's a gov. subsidy offered to rescue them from their own decisions... The remainder of their reported criminal activities aside..
I consider myself a "socially-conscious anarchist with leftist leanings, and a lower-case 'l' libertarian, who also believes that persons sometimes need assistance, and that assistance should be delivered with dignity, if our society and culture is to function without implosion."
That is how I sometimes categorize myself, if and when I must be categorized. Though categories are restrictive, and, thus, sometimes inaccurate or incomplete.
In case you've forgotten, the top 1% have 40% of the nation's wealth, the bottom 80% have 20%. Most of that is not in "financial holdings".
Regardless, transferring corporate bank held funds to a non-profit credit union is a positive action.
Please read my clarification above. Thanks.
I like the map. Keep it up with the planning and news. It really helps build momentum!!
Noam Chomsky at Occupy Boston Saturday:
http://www.occupyboston.org/2011/10/18/noam-chomsky-at-occupy-boston-tomorrow/
Alternatives to capitalism:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YftlB3AxBws
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu8J_UKKa-c
Occupy Columbus Circle Nov 10. Social Regeneration Project is inviting all NYC college students of both public and private institutions to attend a mass protest at Columbus Circle. All New Yorkers are invited to attend. Please help us spread the Occupation all over NYC and do your part to help this movement that will effect your life and the prosperity of your children in the years to come. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohZ5EDUus18
Appers trolls from the dark side have arrived...............it will not work and why you ask well truth and knowledge we have it you don't.
if you can't post something productive please do not post.
http://youtu.be/kmMiLmHiESs
Looks brilliant!
Cause and Effect • Democracy breeds freedom • Freedom breeds capitalism • Capitalism breeds Wall Street • Wall Street breeds greed Thus, Democracy breeds greed. Greed breeds collusion of the rich and powerful. OWT champions freedom. Thus, OWT will inevitably lead to no change whatsoever because democracy/freedom breeds greed. The OWT movement needs to more radical. The OWT movement should aim to ABOLISH democracy and capitalism. The OWT movement should aim to create one-party socialism. • Socialism breeds control • Control breeds equality • Equality eliminates class classification (i.e. 1% vs. 99%) Thus, OWT needs to champion more radical ideas in order to bring about change. Freedom in its current form will only lead to demise of democracy and capitalism. Control - tight fisted control - is our only salvation!
Cause and Effect • Democracy breeds freedom • Freedom breeds capitalism • Capitalism breeds Wall Street • Wall Street breeds greed Thus, Democracy breeds greed. Greed breeds collusion of the rich and powerful. OWT champions freedom. Thus, OWT will inevitably lead to no change whatsoever because democracy/freedom breeds greed. The OWT movement needs to more radical. The OWT movement should aim to ABOLISH democracy and capitalism. The OWT movement should aim to create one-party socialism. • Socialism breeds control • Control breeds equality • Equality eliminates class classification (i.e. 1% vs. 99%) Thus, OWT needs to champion more radical ideas in order to bring about change.
Freedom in its current form will only lead to demise of democracy and capitalism.
Control - tight fisted control - is our only salvation!
http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=196437
(Begin excerpt of article re. a very profitable CitiBank SCAM!!
An Example Of What Should Lead To Handcuffs
And here we have Prime #1 example (well, ok, maybe not "Prime #1", but certainly A Prime example)
The SEC alleges that Citigroup Global Markets structured and marketed a CDO called Class V Funding III and exercised significant influence over the selection of $500 million of the assets included in the CDO portfolio. Citigroup then took a proprietary short position against those mortgage-related assets from which it would profit if the assets declined in value. Citigroup did not disclose to investors its role in the asset selection process or that it took a short position against the assets it helped select.
Citigroup has agreed to settle the SEC’s charges by paying a total of $285 million, which will be returned to investors.
To recap, this is what happened: •Citigroup put together a CDO (a debt obligation) in which it selected "assets" to put into the transaction specifically for their crappiness. That is, they chose assets that they expected would decline in value.
•The company then shorted the instrument it created, a position that would lose money if the CDO performed as expected and marketed to investors. They could only make money if the investor lost their shirt.
•They did not disclose either their selection of the assets in the CDO or that they took the short to the people who were buying it!
As expected and designed the CDO blew up. The "investors" took a 100% loss; what they bought was valueless as it was a levered instrument and the valuation loss of the underlying assets was sufficient to wipe out their investment. Citigroup made a lot of money. The instrument performed exactly as Citigroup intended but they did not tell the people who were buying this thing that they expected they would lose every penny they put in up front. In fact they intentionally concealed their role in selecting the assets and that they had taken a short position against them!
(SNIP)
**Read the rest of ths story at the link above; I'm trying to respect copyright laws, but this story is virtual rocket fuel for this movement and anyone opaying taxes on a hand-to-mouth income, or with a basic understanding of con games as they're played by the Big boys on Wall St.
What incredible audacity, and the report states that CitiBank KNEW what they were doing.. And I'd wager their attorneys were also aware of that pesky statute of limitations, too!!
NESARA "National Economic Stabilization and Recovery Act" http://wh.gov/4d5 ...it is time to act now...five minutes can protect your childrens liberties...and yours...
Occupy Wall Street For A Long Time Until There is Social, Economic, And Political Change.
Three Things Come into Mind: One is Wall Street and Government Should be Separate. Two is Tax The 1 Percent Rich for Fairness and More Government Revenue. Three is Sales Tax Should Be Distributed To Social, Constructive, and Economic Programs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ZPdoExVjQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn_x5vpD8W8&feature=related
Occupy Wall Street For A Long Time Until There is Social, Economic, And Political Change.
Three Things Come into Mind: Wall Street and Government Should be Separate Tax The 1 Percent Rich for Fairness and More Government Revenue Sales Tax Should Be Distributed To Social, Constructive, and Economic Programs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ZPdoExVjQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn_x5vpD8W8&feature=related
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AG Power Grab: Out of control in Connecticut (by John Lott) National Review Online ^ | August 22, 2002 | John R. Lott
Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 2:21:38 PM by Washingtonian
August 22, 2002, 9:00 a.m.
AG Power Grab
Out of control in Connecticut.
By John R. Lott Jr.
he last decade has seen state attorney generals use the power of the courts to shape public policy in unprecedented ways. Among the most aggressive in litigation ranging from tobacco to guns has been Connecticut's Richard Blumenthal, though for Blumenthal this was just the warm up. Even if the ideas that he is now advancing fail in Connecticut, they provide a dire warning of what other state attorneys general may soon start trying.
In just 12 years, his office has ballooned in size, more than doubling its budget from $13 million to almost $27 million and increasing the number of cases completed by 65 percent. Yet, despite this growth, Blumenthal has gone so far into actions previously reserved for other parts of the government that he often neglects the real duties of his job.
On August 9, the Connecticut supreme court checked Blumenthal for overstepping his authority. The court unanimously ruled that Blumenthal's jurisdiction is largely limited by state statute to representing state agencies and officials in lawsuits brought by or against them, although the attorney general had claimed broader powers.
Unsatisfied with his traditional role, Blumenthal had gone after the administrator of an academy accused of mishandling state funds. The court noted that it was up to the Connecticut commissioner of education, not Blumenthal alone, to bring the case.
Blumenthal has received harsh words before. For instance, last December, New York state's highest court found that Blumenthal's office was "mishandling" and making "missteps" in a paternity case. The Connecticut Law Tribune reported that "the direct criticism by the court raised eyebrows in Albany .…"
The state supreme court pointed out in its decision two weeks ago that the attorney general's office had been established in 1897 because of the inefficiencies in having "each state agency and department [retain] its own legal counsel." But in July, the Connecticut Law Tribune reported that because his staff was so busy, the attorneys in Blumenthal's office "will no longer serve as counsel to state boards or as counsel to agency staffs .…"
Worse, not only is he abrogating his role to advise, represent, and defend the state of Connecticut, his office is now suing the state. The high-profile case involves Cross Sound Cable Co. and represents an unprecedented power grab. Blumenthal sued to stop a cable being laid between Long Island and New Haven on environmental grounds. The suit was brought against the Connecticut Siting Council, the state agency that approved the cable. Just as in the case decided by the supreme court, Blumenthal filed the lawsuit in his own name, not on behalf of a state agency charged with these policy decisions.
Blumenthal claims that there is precedent for state agencies to sue each other, and indeed there is when lines of authority conflict. Try as they might, legislatures cannot foresee all possible conflicts. Courts step in to determine not who made the "correct" policy decision, but who has the actual authority. What Blumenthal wants, however, is something quite different. Instead of having legislators resolving policy differences, Blumenthal would make himself and the courts the final arbiter over policy.
The grab for power also crosses ethical lines. Two of the law firms that Blumenthal contracted with to sue the tobacco companies were run separately by his former law partner and his partner's wife. Blumenthal's defenders claim that other law firms simply didn't want the job. In a Connecticut Law Tribune article, however, a few lawyers disagreed, one complaining that "we didn't ever get a meeting" with the attorney general's office and another saying that his firm wasn't included despite agreeing to the state's contractual terms. Blumenthal's former partner, David Golub, acknowledged, "I know how it 'looks' — he's my former partner ..."
Yet, whatever the concerns about Blumenthal giving a contract to a former partner, where did he get the authority at the time the contracts were negotiated to commit the state to pay private attorneys a sum then estimated to be more than $250 million?
During 12 years in office, Blumenthal has grown arrogant. People in and out of state government are afraid of him and are scared to publicly speak about their experiences. The state supreme court has better uses of its time than to monitor the behavior of an out-of-control attorney general.
— John Lott is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute
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AG Power Grab: Out of control in Connecticut (by John Lott) National Review Online ^ | August 22, 2002 | John R. Lott
Posted on Thursday, August 22, 2002 2:21:38 PM by Washingtonian
August 22, 2002, 9:00 a.m.
AG Power Grab
Out of control in Connecticut.
By John R. Lott Jr.
he last decade has seen state attorney generals use the power of the courts to shape public policy in unprecedented ways. Among the most aggressive in litigation ranging from tobacco to guns has been Connecticut's Richard Blumenthal, though for Blumenthal this was just the warm up. Even if the ideas that he is now advancing fail in Connecticut, they provide a dire warning of what other state attorneys general may soon start trying.
In just 12 years, his office has ballooned in size, more than doubling its budget from $13 million to almost $27 million and increasing the number of cases completed by 65 percent. Yet, despite this growth, Blumenthal has gone so far into actions previously reserved for other parts of the government that he often neglects the real duties of his job.
On August 9, the Connecticut supreme court checked Blumenthal for overstepping his authority. The court unanimously ruled that Blumenthal's jurisdiction is largely limited by state statute to representing state agencies and officials in lawsuits brought by or against them, although the attorney general had claimed broader powers.
Unsatisfied with his traditional role, Blumenthal had gone after the administrator of an academy accused of mishandling state funds. The court noted that it was up to the Connecticut commissioner of education, not Blumenthal alone, to bring the case.
Blumenthal has received harsh words before. For instance, last December, New York state's highest court found that Blumenthal's office was "mishandling" and making "missteps" in a paternity case. The Connecticut Law Tribune reported that "the direct criticism by the court raised eyebrows in Albany .…"
The state supreme court pointed out in its decision two weeks ago that the attorney general's office had been established in 1897 because of the inefficiencies in having "each state agency and department [retain] its own legal counsel." But in July, the Connecticut Law Tribune reported that because his staff was so busy, the attorneys in Blumenthal's office "will no longer serve as counsel to state boards or as counsel to agency staffs .…"
Worse, not only is he abrogating his role to advise, represent, and defend the state of Connecticut, his office is now suing the state. The high-profile case involves Cross Sound Cable Co. and represents an unprecedented power grab. Blumenthal sued to stop a cable being laid between Long Island and New Haven on environmental grounds. The suit was brought against the Connecticut Siting Council, the state agency that approved the cable. Just as in the case decided by the supreme court, Blumenthal filed the lawsuit in his own name, not on behalf of a state agency charged with these policy decisions.
Blumenthal claims that there is precedent for state agencies to sue each other, and indeed there is when lines of authority conflict. Try as they might, legislatures cannot foresee all possible conflicts. Courts step in to determine not who made the "correct" policy decision, but who has the actual authority. What Blumenthal wants, however, is something quite different. Instead of having legislators resolving policy differences, Blumenthal would make himself and the courts the final arbiter over policy.
The grab for power also crosses ethical lines. Two of the law firms that Blumenthal contracted with to sue the tobacco companies were run separately by his former law partner and his partner's wife. Blumenthal's defenders claim that other law firms simply didn't want the job. In a Connecticut Law Tribune article, however, a few lawyers disagreed, one complaining that "we didn't ever get a meeting" with the attorney general's office and another saying that his firm wasn't included despite agreeing to the state's contractual terms. Blumenthal's former partner, David Golub, acknowledged, "I know how it 'looks' — he's my former partner ..."
Yet, whatever the concerns about Blumenthal giving a contract to a former partner, where did he get the authority at the time the contracts were negotiated to commit the state to pay private attorneys a sum then estimated to be more than $250 million?
During 12 years in office, Blumenthal has grown arrogant. People in and out of state government are afraid of him and are scared to publicly speak about their experiences. The state supreme court has better uses of its time than to monitor the behavior of an out-of-control attorney general.
— John Lott is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute
We need to make the big one, Try to get together hundreds of thousand of people in one place and specific day.. To much woking here and there and nothing big happend. We need to focus in one big shot and make right.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s top secretary urged Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings on Friday to instruct city police to remove Occupy Albany protesters from a downtown park near the state Capitol if they tried to remain there after an 11 p.m curfew.
A person familiar with the matter said Cuomo’s secretary, Larry Schwartz, called Jennings late Friday morning and said that State Police, who control half of the park that is partly owned by the state of New York and city of Albany, would remove any protesters who did not comply with a curfew. The position of the governor’s office was in contrast to an earlier plan by Albany police to leave the protesters alone if they were peaceful, even if they stayed overnight.
Occupy Albany demonstrators began arriving at Lafayette/Academy park around noon. Half of the space is state land, the rest city property.
http://www.zazzle.com/wesdavey
Marching and singing, I am sure that this will be every bit as effective as it was in the sixties.
http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/earth-2100-final-century-of-civilization/
Watch this we are fighting back if you don't mind........
I would like some clarification - I have heard about this movement, read the personal statements on the "We are the 99 percent" site, but I still do not understand what it is that you people want. I am not trying to be hostile, but I honestly want to understand, because I do not see anywhere on these sited where the goals of this movement are clearly stated. Can someone please explain this to me?
The movement has not officially made any demands or declared what they want so far to my knowledge. At the moment it is composed of people who are simply upset with corporate greed and government corruption. Although I would agree that it must find some goal or front eventually in order to be useful. And some people are working on this.
Everyone. Be aware about the retreating troops from Iraq news, This is all to sudden to happen, I believe there will be a scape goat somewhere to call troops elsewhere, Do no applaude a single action about the troops coming home, The elite is playing there move, like a chess game, we must endure our efforts like the chinese game, the "go" territory is the issue, it is where the power lays for the people. Occupy everything. Greetings from Portugal. We stand tall together. Do not settle for words, and isolated actions from those in power... Things only change if they keep happening. We re sick of lies and stand backs.
Those of you who feel disenfranchised by the rich you have a right. The benefit packages of the corporation are heavily weighted in favor of CEO's and high level execs. The fat cats did underwrite loans inappropriately and few paid the price for their wrongdoings.
That being said which of you has done everything you can to further yourself? Have you completed any kind of post high school education, vo-tech, or college in a program sought by employers? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the unemployment rate of college grads is merely 4.5pct. Please "internalize" your blame and expectations not externalize your fears. "You" are your greatest asset. Most of you are young and able and this is the best time to use your energy to better yourself and to empower your own future!
Actually I have two years of college education, have applied at over ten places and still cant get work. But thats not the issue, Governments and corporations should not be corrupt and get away with breaking the law and undermining the people whether I'm making $100 a year or $1,000,000.
I think OWS should make as its fundamental motto de great "I´m mad as hell and I´m not gonna take this any more" from the 1976 movie "The Network" with Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and William Holden. Here it is: http://youtu.be/q_qgVn-Op7Q http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_qgVn-Op7Q
'United We Stand ! Let's build our Nation and global planet Together ! Yes, we are Us ! Oneness is better than oneness . . .'
We are US ! Together we are One
Now is the Time . .
Please Help to Co-Create an Occupy only Wiki : Real Time, Global, Wiki Occupy, We are One
'''Wiki Occupy''' !
Paris London New York Tel Aviv San Francisco Tokyo Antwerp Miami Chicago Washington D.C. Main Street
Wherever you Are . . .
We are One !
Wiki Occupy
http://wikioccupy.org
Keep hearing about class warfare--why is it not class warfare when wars begin, that the poorest in the nation are targeted by the military to join and serve? Is'nt that class warfare? To me if you make a million dollars a year and are taxed 35%-40% your still going to do much better than everyone in society--not like anyones telling the wealthy to go and die as they do when they need their causes served that help make them their exorbent wealth! What a poisened and diseased mindset they come from!!
I was at the concert, and the vast majority of attendees were longtime AARP members with long memories of marches for Civil Rights and against the Vietnam war. Seeger got a significant contingent of these folks to walk from 96 street all the way down to 57 Street. In the dark. In the cold. These concertgoers, who were mostly old enough to be the young protesters' grandparents, saw firsthand a small glimmer of the heavy-handed behavior of the police. They also saw the contempt of the wealthy barflies and their disdain for the protesters.
Sixty-somethings were chanting and marching. And they were following a frail old man with a fading reedy voice who's been America's moral compass since the Dustbowl days. It was something to see.
lets demand competing currencies and regain control of our money. Start there folks. If we allow a tiny fraction of humanity to control the tool we use to purchase goods, we can't win. Make sure you never forget this. All the rights in the world will not help us if 1% controls our currency.
Lawrence Odonnell of MSNBC, will have you believe that bringing in all the Mexican's, and then giving them full amnesty is going to save us all. He has tv ad's all over the MSNBC network, on this one issue. What's in it for him.? My gut tell's me, he must have some kind of sweatshop in his family, and doesn't want to lose the cheap labor, I wonder if he would disclose his motives, but he won't. Watch out for anyone pushing for bringing in illegals and then giving them full amnesty, don't trust them, the illegals made me sell my 1st home, now their at it again way out here in the burbs, where I thought my family and I would be safe,they (they=the illegals) have more money out here which makes them even more of a danger. If this movement is about voting in the Dumb's, count me out. I would rather vote for Mitt, and take my chance's..
Columbus circle is a windy, and very packed hub of traffic flow. There is nothing about columbus circle which makes it a target of protest, no bank, no gov't, no military, no anything.
Please re-think these objectives. I'm not questioning motive, I'm questioning tatics.
Columbus circle due it's confusing layout, and crowded nature to begin with is an ideal place for provacatures.
Broadway is narrory, busy street - not good for marching.
We, the 99 percent, are the most precious and least protected resource on the planet. Our labor is what drives the Capitalist machine. Yet; that fact is ignored or forgotten by our leaders of industry, our economic gate-keepers, our representatives in our respective governments and, most importantly, by ourselves. And; there-in lies the foundation of our discontent.
Capitalism, in spite of it's faults, has been a driving force in uniting our global community, advancing our technology and triggering our evolution. However; it's core premise (seeing the value where none is perceived) has lead us to this possible explosive situation we find ourselves in today. We cannot afford to ignore this concern; so, we must evaluate the benefits.
Capitalism is a con, fueled by our own greed, that we pull on one another. As ugly as that sounds; we can't deny the power in this type of motivation. It is under this umbrella that; in just a few decades, we've made leaps and bounds in technology, distribution and medical advancements. We, today, are the most connected, longest living and resource devouring people to ever exist on this planet; provided you can afford it. And; if any of it can be construed as evil, we have ourselves to blame. We participate in it. We adopt it as a way of life. We ignore the fact that capitalism is a concept. We ignore the fact that no concept is full-proof. We ignore the fact that our participation has a direct correlation to all the sorrow in the world. We ignore that sorrow. We endure that sorrow. Why?
It is because greed corrupts completely. We have a system of checks and balances that's supposed to look out for us; however, that was purchased a long time ago. Countless traitors have lobbied, passed bills and instituted laws to deny the people their most fundamental of rights (the greatest being that this is "our" country); all in an effort to strengthen the division between the classes. The working class has accepted this treachery all in the conquest of a big screen television.
Our government has the power to control corporations through taxes. We can make them keep our jobs in this country. If they don't tax the shit out of their goods. Make it impossible for us to buy their goods if they export the labor to other countries. We can make them pay us a liveable wage. If they don't mandate it. Yet, our current and past representation sold us out decades ago and continue to do it to us today. We apathetically accept it. We shouldn't. And; if our representation decides to side with the 1 percent. they should be relieved completely. Our democracy doesn't exist within Washington. It exists within us.
This is our country. We must not forget that. We have the numbers to combat this division in a multitude of ways. Through force, (which is admittingly the least desired and most bloody) through our vote (though in order for it to be effective we must lose our apathy and be vigilant in ensuring our representatives actually do the representing that is their charge) or through abstaining (though that requires we relinquish our own greed, look out for one another and just flat out refuse to participate in machine; if we don't make it they can't sell it; if we don't buy it they can't sell it.
give us our piece of the pie and get your uniformed thugs off our backs. march and drum and chant and bring down this fascist babylon.
Is there any chance you could do an action geared toward people with disabilities - like the racial one in Harlem?
There has been more outreach effort in that department lately. Yesterday, Cornel West and others were arrested in Harlem while protesting the "stop and frisk" policy; this was not under the auspices of OWS since that would have violated our general interest in the self-organization of communities, but there was a large number of us there, and West went specifically along with them. Here's an article from the Huffington Post (which, oddly, doesn't mention that it was in Harlem):
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/21/occupy-wall-street-cornel_n_1024554.html?ir=New%20York
This is another one from Salon, which has more details:
http://www.salon.com/2011/10/21/cornel_west_arrested_as_ows_spreads_to_harlem/
Also, there have been new outcroppings of Occupy groups in the South Bronx. I don't know that much about them, since I only heard a few things about it when people were talking at the Education and Empowerment group meeting last night. It seems like there's a good deal of interest in the downtown people coordinating with that group, as well as extending to the other outer boroughs.
I hate to spoil your party, but last week I had a illegal Mex.(well he was illegal at one time problaly until Regan gave them all amnesty, remember), tell me he was going to get me after work. Because of a very minor working issue. (very minor). Now I don't know if you all have been watching and listening to the news, but these people have a passion for cutting off heads without the blink of an eye, its in their dna, blood or something. So go ahead and vote in more Democrats who want to bring more of them up and give the ones that are here full amnesty. Called police and then my boss almost fired me, said the Mex. was a valued employee, good luck, I'm retiring soon.
We understand and support you. If John Lennon was alive he would support us.
OWS is a movement more broad based than that of the selfish, mainly old and white, citizens. OWS wants fundamental change. Wants honesty from government and business. Both!
Two books must-read books sum up much of the OWS movement!!! Amazing how the authors have nailed it.
OWS Manifesto and/or list of issues/demands should include the following: (1) First must-read: “The Price of Civilization: Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity” Written by Dr. Jeffrey D. Sachs http://www.npr.org/2011/10/18/141421746/income-disparity-and-the-price-of-civilization
http://www.amazon.com/Price-Civilization-Reawakening-Prosperity-ebook/dp/B004KPM1FS
(2) Second must-read: “Treasure Islands: Uncovering the Damage of Offshore Banking and Tax Havens”
http://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Islands-Uncovering-Offshore-Banking/dp/0230105017
http://treasureislands.org/ http://www.democracynow.org/2011/4/15/offshore_banking_and_tax_havens_have
http://www.ethicalmarkets.com/2011/03/24/treasure-islands-uncovering-the-damage-of-offshore-banking-and-tax-havens/
OccupyWEF @WEF World Economic Forum 2011 Livestream
http://www.livestream.com/worldeconomicforum
The 1% ponder and pontificate what should be done about the World Economy, in their Ivory Towers.
Keep driving the conservatives nuts!! Doing this all peacefully and with honour is something they're not grasping. When they have an enemy all they can comprehend is to use force and create wars while they profit! People standing up for peaceful truth through non violence without making a buck off it is a concept well out of their comfort zone! Keep up the good work--you brave folks are doing it the right way--never give up!!
Focus on the specific individuals - the $86 mil bonus guys - who bankrupted the country. They are intellectual frauds.
I think what people are mad about is not the rich getting richer. No one seems to be mad at Steve Jobs. Why? Because he made his money honestly. Sure he was a thorn in the side of Microsoft, but his efforts seemed to benefit all.
People aren't mad at the average guy working his butt off on Wall Street making $100k to $200k a year, well off but stuck in the rat race and not un-deserving. And not really rich.
But people are mad about the $86 mil a year guys, the Worldcomms, Enrons, Countrywides, drug companies, insurers, Halliburtons, AIGs, Goldmans, Lehmans, Bearsterns, Paulsons and the handful of very specific individuals (how many is it? 400?, 1000?, 10,000 guys?) who made fortunes in an intellectually disingenuous way. They claimed competition, honest capitalism, the motivation to succeed and earn the fruits of their labor, the drive, hard work and decency, special talent and freedom - the American way - not only to justify their rewards, but also to create jobs.
But it rings hollow. It was based on reckless intellectually dishonest leverage of balance sheets to artificially and temporarily boost ROE and stock prices and pay out $86 mil bonuses. It was a lie. It also dangerously increased the chance of bankruptcy, and cause (if not guarantee) a systemic collapse a few years down the road after the bonuses, M&A windfalls, and CDO fees were paid - resulting in worsening business and economic conditions for completely unrelated companies and people, causing widespread layoffs, loss of health insurance, homes, college tuition, and less new jobs than lost, huge debt across the entire economic system, and little chance of improvement.
Totally, utterly, Intellectually and morally bankrupt claims of creating jobs, competing and succeeding fairly. What they actually did was destroy lives and jobs. They stole the nation's wealth. They deserve punishment, not reward.
Focus on those specific people who made out like bandits and claim it was honest fair work. Highlight what they did and how they made their money. Use forensic accounting. Follow the money, and you will reveal them to be frauds.
But before you do that, could you get me a job first and an $86 mil bonus?
Timbuktoo
We are currently in a time where there are too many voices, too many opinions, to become any kind of cohesive unit. However, we can all still share an idea. If we feel this idea strongly enough, even if we do not agree on how it should be put to use, we should still act on it. If you or I see a truck coming at us, and we know it's going to cause damage, we have every right to yell about it and attempt to stop it or get out of the way. There is no indecency about how we conduct ourselves at that moment, because quite simply, we are trying to survive. I feel that under the current state of things, this group best respresents that thought process. We are trying to shake free of an overly oppressive force by acting on a type of instinct. We still need someone to lead this group mentality, and I'm sure we'll find a person to do it, but until then just do what you can. We have been raised in a society that teaches us if we want to make ourselves heard, we have to talk louder. I believe you are accomplishing this both literally and metaphorically.
Now to those who would like to insult and debase this group: If you sincerely feel that there is nothing wrong in your life, then by all means continue. If you feel that there is no greed or corruption inside of Wall Street, then please, call me a lemming, an urchin, or whatever other insulting, crude word you can come up with. If you think there isn't a single reason for these people to be doing what they're doing, if you see, hear, and feel, no evil from the current economic structure where we have gone from a 4 person family being able to, on one job, afford a house, college, and health care, to a three person family where both family members work two jobs and can't even make any extra money for their child to go to college, within a century, then please, continue to squabble with them for every bit of anger you feel against them.
I am not a supporter. I am not a protestor. I have not contributed in any way to this cause nor am I adversely effected if it simply sinks into the ground. However, my sense of justice wants to support them, and so I will.
Why do we continue to vote in the 1% Politicians who gather their financial support from the 1% to keep the 1% in power while the 99% are fooled into thinking they are FREE?!
Why do we continue to vote in the 1% Politicians who gather their financial support from the 1% to keep the 1% in power while the 99% are fooled into thinking they are FREE?!
Looking at the twitter #occupywallstreet. I see Breitbart is out in full force trying to discredit our movement. we must be strong and carry on. He of course probably has pawns posting here also.
Of course. The human scum is scared of the movement and they are tyring to do anything they can and will continue to try to discredit. I am sure there are all kinds of infiltrators and provocateurs. But. they will not suceed. We are the 99%.
I hear you out my window (I live in a studio at 98th). I'd be down there but I hurt my ankle this afternoon and can't march ='(
Keep it up!
"OTWH" !!!!!
i think it ironic that the poster posting "you are all posting in the wrong location" is posting in the wrong location. (the demands working group thread is one below this one in the main list of entries.)
if you can't get to NYC, then #OccupyYourSelf http://adamaecompton.wordpress.com/2011/10/21/occupyyourself-the-pedagogy-of-freedom/
Just read two books that are must-reads for OWC movement!!! Amazing how the authors have nailed it
OWC Manifesto and/or list of issues/demands should include the following:
(1) First must-read: “The Price of Civilization: Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity” Written by Dr. Jeffrey D. Sachs
http://www.npr.org/2011/10/18/141421746/income-disparity-and-the-price-of-civilization
http://www.amazon.com/Price-Civilization-Reawakening-Prosperity-ebook/dp/B004KPM1FS
(2) Second must-read: “Treasure Islands: Uncovering the Damage of Offshore Banking and Tax Havens”
http://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Islands-Uncovering-Offshore-Banking/dp/0230105017
http://treasureislands.org/
http://www.democracynow.org/2011/4/15/offshore_banking_and_tax_havens_have
http://www.ethicalmarkets.com/2011/03/24/treasure-islands-uncovering-the-damage-of-offshore-banking-and-tax-havens/
Why not march on GE CEO Jeffrey Immelts house? He is not only Obama's buddy and Jobs "Czar", he made enormous profits this past year and pays no taxes!!!!!!!!!!! Come on folks, wake up! The corruption within the Obama administration is beyond belief! http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/22/business/ge-profit-up-despite-volatile-economy.html?_r=1
We should think about additional forms of action.
1) How about issuing a call for a worldwide “Don’t Use Your Credit Card” day? One full day with no fee collecting for the bankers (you can still buy stuff but using cash).
2) How about everybody sending a letter or email to someone at Goldman Sachs explaining why what they do is wrong? That would clog their mailboxes.
I love you guys. You give me hope, if I can still use this word after Obama defecated on it so many times. Anyways, THANK YOU!
This is our fight and it’s the hardest. We’ll never give up.
Great idea, Emiliano. Why not set a date for the credit card holiday, as Nov. 5th was set for the bank withdrawals? Maybe send it to the Occupy Wall Street communications department and have them publicize it?
You all are protesting at the wrong location. Wall Street is not to blame for this mess, it's Obama's policies and our inept government. You should all be marching and camping out at the White House in Washington! You're wasting your time
Wow, for being at the wrong place they sure have inspired a lot of people.
Yup, Obama managed to stir up this much injustice in just two years...
To: Prime Minister Roseanne Barr [Green Tea] Prime Minister Gail Lightfoot [Libertarian] Prime Minister Charles Bruce Stewart [Green Libertarian] Secretary Jacob Covich [Catholic Trotskyist] Cc: All Voters and Non Voters From: Secretary James Ogle [Free Parliamentary] Subject: US Parliament: Commentary, "We're going too slow"
Note: Please feel free to engage or disengage from this communication link by sending the message "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" to joogle@gonott.com or by telephone at 415-686-1996. OK to "reply all". Anonymous forwarder now available upon request. http://www.usparliament.org/
In the Kentucky election for Governor and Lt. Governor on November 1st, 2011, which is fast approaching, Environmental Minister Dea Riley [Independent] for Lt. Governor is heading for certain defeat.
There is no equal time, free speech or demonstrated support for the only female candidate on the Independent ballot line with Gatewood Galbraith [Independent] for Governor.
The results are expected to be just as her predecessor, former Environmental Minister Marla Ingles [Independent], who met an unglorified defeat last October 1st, 2011 in a special election for Governor of West Virginia. See the results below.
Preliminary election results for West Virginia 10/1/2011:
Earl Ray Tomblin [Democratic] (143,746) 50% Bill Maloney [Republican] (135,871) 47% Bob Henry Baber [Mountain] (5,800) 2% Marla Ingels [Independent] (2,771) 1% Harry Bertram [American Third Position] (1,085) 0%
Single winner districts and plurality elections simply do not encourage fair elections and competition of ideas for women and Independents as the results above clearly demonstrate.
No woman has ever been elected Gov. to date in the state of West Virginia, and 2011 was no exception. The psychological momentum from the establishment media and the 50/50 odds of a victory by Dem/Rep leaves no incentive for unbiased reporting for the good of the all.
Next Test, Kentucky
It will probably require a major event to bring any publicity to current Env Minister's campaign for Lt. Gov in Kentucky's November 1st election. Something like news that all parties and independents are working together, similar to what the 8th USA Parliament promotes.
The situation is urgent for third parties and independents, and full communication and cooperation is the only way to overcome these hurdles, unless someone has a better plan.
Nobody has it as good as OUR team.
The USA Parliament is made up of cool people who like to work together as a team, and we attract team players.
Dictators and control freaks are not attracted to team plays.
When on a team and one member falls, another must be ready to coordinate and pick up more responsibility. 2011 is when we practice, and on 1/1/2012 we start all over.
We're still in 2011, so we need you to play your part on the team today, on where ever you wish, and where your talents are best used.
Mid-West Super-state Parliament Election Cast Eballots: http://www.usparliament.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=53
Scolos Narbarson's [Citizen] (AKA MP Daniel Penisten) cast eballot for Planks of Platform: http://www.usparliament.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=489
Vote now! All voters welcomed! http://usparliament.org/votehere.php
Vote Counting Minister James Ogle [Free Parliamentary] is calling for volunteers to help with the debates for the 8th USA Parliament's voter registration drive 2011/12 efforts.
Among the main things needed now, is to contact the other US presidential candidates listed with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), and to help set up telephone/audio and video debates between all parties and independents.
The current US president candidates' contact information is linked to the FEC's web site: http://fec.gov/press/press2011/presiden ... m2nm.shtml [http://fec.gov/press/press2011/presidential_form2nm.shtml]
Ad for GoNott Search and GoNott Advertise http://usparliament.org/drafts/coalition7CA2014.html Volunteer Beta Testers Wanted
Roseanne Barr for President 2012 Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Roseanne-Barr-for-President-2012/153524907998543
Re-posted in USParliament.org: http://usparliament.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=466
US-PAR: All voters, non-voters and news media (approx. 247 subscribers).
Please feel free to engage or disengage to this email list by sending the message "subscribe" or "unsubscribe" to joogle@gonott.com.
end
Hey this group has half a million in donations now. Couldn't all of you hold a GA meeting and if enough of you vote to disburse the money equally among all of you- wouldn't that have to be done? What is there a couple hundred of you now? Vote to take the money- you could be vacationing someplace warm tomorrow!
maybe you should get all the protests together and organize a one way march to CHERNOPYL. AND STAY THERE!
Why are we occupying Wall Street when the regulatory change should be made by President Obama, the Senate and the House? We should be occupying the White House, not Wall Street. ........................ ................ ................ http://www.savethe99.com/
i hope you all freeze your asses off! you inconsiderate idiots are destroying the greatest city in the world.
They're not destroying the city at all, it is a minor disruption. They have what, a few hundred regulars in the park to maybe a few thousand at bigger marches in a city of more than 8M people?
I think the fact that many of the protestors are not from here contrasted with the number of supporters from the city shows how little most New Yorkers care about the "occupation".
i hope you all freeze your asses off! you inconsiderate idiots are destroying the greatest city in the world.
Here is the truth about your movement! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WRYb5BszKgw
I can see it now, as soon as ya'll start marching all the rich folks will stop and take pictures and laugh. Then they will continue on with their business.
You all are protesting at the wrong location. Wall Street is not to blame for this mess, it's Obama's policies and our inept government. You should all be marching and camping out at the White House in Washington! You're wasting your time
Last time I checked my history books, Obama has only been president for about two and a half years. Also, last time I checked the books, america has had problems with banks for over the last 250 years, on and off. Let's blame Obama some more. (Not saying he's been a good president, but this problem, has been in the making a VERY long time, it just exploded on his watch)
Please don't arrive before midnight, I'm having dinner at Per Se and I hate it when our driver gets caught in traffic. I would hate to have to fire him because of you.
Hey,
Going to go smoke a joint, can someone reply back to me once ya'll are done changing the world.
also, Jesus is coming http://wesower.org
Is this movement of yours going to have its own party, or are the democrats your party ????, cause if its the democrats you can count me out. Last week I had an illegal Mexican tell me he was going to get me after work.. for Gods sake I'm 61 and hes in his 30s. I called the police and boss almost fired me, cause according to my boss the Illegal is a valued employee..go figure?? Never in my 30 years of service in this industry have I ever had an issue like this, thank you democrats. so go ahead and vote more of them in and see what happens, I'm retiring soon, so good luck to you allllll.....
Is this just for publicity or are people going to be marching for a reason?
We've been marching for a reason for more than a month now.
VOTE COUNTING MINISTRY, DIRECT DEMOCRACY EBALLOT:
http://www.usparliament.org/v-h-dd.php
Results to be announced on November 6th, 2012.
See the sole eballot cast, on the updated DD eballot, to date:
http://www.usparliament.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=489&sid=7a95d62e7e78591dfb0df713c813a5ee
Note: The single parliamentary eballot is the USA Parliament' signature. In case you're wondering why there are 120 items (plus three lines for write-in ideas), seventy items were nominated by USA Parliament elected members and fifty items were copied from the OccupyWallSt.org blog site.
Since only one person has voted thus far, once the second person takes time to mark the eballot with consecutive numbers beginning with the number one, then the two combined eballots' total number of marked tics from both correctly marked eballots will be added together, and any item that received 50% plus one of the tics, will be elected (i.e. two tics, since two people voted...50% of two is one, one plus one is two).
Thank you for your interest and consideration,
Very Truly Yours,
Vote Counting Minister James Ogle [Free Parliamentary]
Join the Frees, Opposite gender #1!
"Why do you THINK they called it Google?"
Go BarrOOgle 2012