Forum Post: ------- RIGGED: In the past 45 days, more than a dozen "authority figures" / "people on the inside" have told me point blank that their industry, part of the SYSTEM WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO THRIVE UNDER, is RIGGED. Share your stories HERE...
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 5, 2011, 4:36 a.m. EST by therising
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I can't say I'm surprised at the content of the conversations, but I must say that I've be shocked at their candor.
In the last 45 days, more than a dozen people who are on the inside / in positions of power have admitted to me quietly that their industry / system (that we're attempting to thrive under) is rigged. Each of them, in his or her own way, expressed a sense of relief that these smaller and larger rigged systems / subsystems are being challenged.
Although each expressed understandable fear about what the future of reform might hold, it was clear in each conversation that the corruption was so pervasive that almost anything was better to these folks than the status quo.
Here are just a few examples of what I've encountered in the last 45 days:
Investment analyst in major firm in NYC managing wealth for high net worth families admitted to me that financial market is so corrupted at this point that all but the most inside of insiders are at a distinct disadvantage. She lamented that this lack of integrity of the market was reaching a tipping point wherein even high net worth individuals were nervous about long term stability / viability of the market.
A small city mayor admitted to me that decline of urban areas was built into current system and there was almost no way to stop it, even with small city mayors banding together. He felt particularly frustrated by this since, nationally, trends in demand show that younger generations will be skipping the suburbs in large numbers and will want to live in walkable urban environment. He shook his head as he outlined the absurdity of our nation continuing to operate and plan for a suburban existence that is neither likely nor desired.
A leading doctor in our area admitted to me that the health insurance business is so corrupt at this point that she's advised her two college age sons to choose another profession and, in some instances, she was quietly advising patients to avoid insurance altogether.
A U.S. congressman admitted to me during a meeting on an unrelated matter that majority of his colleagues ultimately had such strong allegiances to organizations or entities divorced from the mainstream of American public that the political system was fundamentally broken.
A big city policeman admitted that he was starting to feel real tension between his oath to serve and protect the people and the orders he was being given by his commanders. He suspected that ultimately his chief's orders and the mayor's directives were directly related to the wishes of financial institutions and other corporations rather than being tied to the best interest of citizens of the city.
It's pretty telling when even those who supposedly benefit from the system are uncomfortable doing their job and worry for their kids' futures.
A former State Dept. figure who now lives in another country told me that the U.S. is heavily involved in Mexican drug politics. I can't say more because I have to protect his identity.
Sanchez.....I spoke to the SAME guy (I'm sorry to reveal his sex). In other words, Sanchez....good post.
Yeah, he was incredibly knowledgeable person who knew a lot. I thought about living in the place, it was pretty cool. He was a little paranoid, quite old and not in best of health. I once talked to ex-CIA agent John Stockwell w few times. Met him in Nicaragua and then organized an event in Calif. at which he spoke. He told the most fucking unbelievable stories, literally horror stories, atrocities commited by U.S. His hands were shaking and he looked like he had been hunted (I am not making this up). He carried a manuscript which he couldn't get published. Anyway, there are many, many people out there with stories like the ones you have. I have heard my share. Some think that this stuff is conspiracy stuff or somesuch. I am not a conspiracy person but if you fuck with some of these people, you had better be careful. Very powerful, some sinister.
Secret Fed Loans Gave Banks $13 Billion good Bloomberg article http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-28/secret-fed-loans-undisclosed-to-congress-gave-banks-13-billion-in-income.html
Just read all of Upton Sinclair's books and none of this would be shocking, even though they are fiction.
We're approaching the tipping point...
The US started getting corrupted since the founding fathers died, and has reached the highest corruption possible before the system collapses by the consequences. Sometimes it is like this in history. America is being reborn.
We just need to remain nonviolent no matter what provocations occur.
It is usually as you say, I agree. But what if the founding fathers had said the same about the British?
Well, Gandhi beat them out of India and he was a little guy in bedsheet with supporters who were unarmed :)
You are right, but do you think Ghandi would have succeeded in the US? Ghandi said that his methods could not be applied to fight nazis.
I have to review my Gandhi. I don't recall him saying that. I'm not doubting your veracity. Just would need to refresh my memory.
Anyway, we're not talking about Nazis or WWII here.
We're talking about this day and time. And it's clear as a bell that as soon as we get violent, the 1% can turn mainstream America against the movement in a big way. The 1% know what to do with violence. However, they are befuddled by nonviolence because, no matter how they react to that, they look bad. Lastly, I'd remind you that we're outgunned 4000 to 1 (and the 1% control much more sophistocated long rage weapons.
http://occupationamerica.org/
Sure would like to hear a few more of those stories. Wish I had a few myself.
There are plenty out there. Eager to hear more too.
"The game is rigged, the dice are loaded, the table is tilted"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acLW1vFO-2Q
Note it's from 2005.
Brilliant. Carlin was brilliant and brave. The best. He nailed it in this clip. Thanks for posting.
A lady on this site in a dialogue I was having with her and who is in the 1% told me that her husband's Wall Street Firm takes money out of his salary to send to the campaign of a Presidential candidate that the firm supports. He has no say in the matter (he would simply be fired).
Are there specific employment laws that could help combat this practice?
Rigged. Rigged. Rigged. The cards certainly are stacked against the interests of the people aren't they? Even people who make $75,000, $150,000, $250,000, $20 million a year realize that this is unsustainable and even they and their kids will lose in the end. People want to leave a legacy and it is clear that what we're handing off is nothing to be proud of. Baby boomers of late have been admitting to me privately that they know they blew it as a generation for Gen X and millennial generation.
As a boomer let me remind you of a few things members of my generation did. We resisted the Vietnam war and forced the end of conscription. We Freedom Rode. We initiated the modern movements for rights of gays, women, disabled.
Yes, we mesed up too, and those were fought for by minorities of the generation,but fair is fair.
Good points. Agree.
Unions do the same thing with the non voluntary dues they collect.They overwhelmingly send to dem candidates. The union members have no say where their dues go. Why do you think the unions occupied the state house.Walker wanted the unions dues to be voluntary. The unions bosses knew that it would cost them money/power.
I would like to speak on behalf of someone who cannot because he has been forgotten. Wasn't Private Bradley Manning trying to do the same thing? To expose the evil and corruption in the military services.He had videotapes that showed American military murdering people in cold blood from an Apache helicopter so he thought he should do the right thing and tell the world about this. Now for doing that he is being held in a solitary confinement cell 6' x 12 foot, with no natural sunlight and for 23 out of 24 hours every day which of course is nothing short of torture. just because it was the American military who did the murdering doesn't mean it was ok.and that's all Bradley Manning did.
How can people help win his freedom?
Thank you for bringing this matter to this forum. Manning is a hero and Obama is his jailer. You should make a post about him. I mean more than a comment.
I would gladly do so if there was a need to do so but far more eloquent people than me have already done so as I have just discovered after reading this site
http://www.bradleymanning.org/
and the next person in line for this kind of treatment is Julian Assange which is a case I am also following very very closely. I am gobsmacked at how the USA's tentacles can override justice systems in so many other countries to get its revenge
http://www.swedenversusassange.com/US-Extradition.html
Bradley Manning treatment in custody concerns MEPs Open letter to US authorities raises human rights fears and urges access for UN special rapporteur on torture to whistleblower
http://www.nycga.net/groups/vision-and-goals/docs/proposed-modified-vision-statement-incorporating-feedback-from-1120-ga
• The open letter by the 54 MEPs
More than 50 members of the European parliament have signed an open letter to the US government raising concerns about the treatment of Bradley Manning, the US soldier in military detention for allegedly leaking classified US documents to the whistleblowing site WikiLeaks.
The call on the US government comes before a pre-trial hearing – Manning's first appearance in court – which begins on 16 December.
The MEPs said internal investigations into Manning's treatment in custody, which included solitary confinement for up to 23 hours a day, inspections by officers every five minutes from 5am onwards and removal of his clothes, had been marred by "clear conflicts of interest".
They call for US authorities to grant Juan Méndez, the UN special rapporteur on torture, access to Manning.
Mendez has made repeated requests for access to the military base where Manning is held, all of which have been refused by US authorities.
Manning was arrested in May 2010 after allegedly confessing to passing thousands of documents to WikiLeaks to computer hacker Adrian Lamo, who informed the authorities. He was charged with 12 offences under the uniform code in July 2010. An additional 22 charges were added in March 2011, following the publication of the Afghan and Iraq war logs, Guantánamo files and US embassy cables.
One charge, "aiding the enemy", carries the death penalty in the US, but army prosecutors have indicated they will not seek such a punishment in Manning's case.
The open letter from European parliamentarians, which follows another signed by several hundred US legal scholars, questioned the charges against Manning and warned that his pre-trial treatment may harm the UN's work elsewhere, "particularly its mandate to investigate allegations of torture and human rights abuses".
"In order to uphold the rights guaranteed to Bradley Manning under international human rights law and the US constitution, it is imperative that the United Nations special rapporteur be allowed to properly investigate evidence of rights abuses. PFC Manning has a right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. People accused of crimes must not be subjected to any form of punishment before being brought to trial," they wrote.
"We certainly do not understand why an alleged whistleblower is being threatened with the death penalty, or the possibility of life in prison. We also question whether Bradley Manning's right to due process has been upheld, as he has now spent over 17 months in pre-trial confinement."
Five MEPs from the UK signed the open letter in support of Manning, who holds dual US and UK citizenships. They were Labour MEPs Richard Howitt and Derek Vaughan, Green MEPs Jean Lambert and Keith Taylor, and Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans.
Manning will attend an Article 32 hearing, the US military equivalent of a pre-trial hearing, on 16 December. This is expected to last five days. Manning's lawyer, David Coombs, has indicated he wishes to call 50 witnesses at the hearing, but military authorities are considered unlikely to grant such a request.
The Article 32 hearing then makes a recommendation to a general as to whether to proceed to a full trial.
http://www.bradleymanning.org/
Thanks for this link. Need to spread the word and help however we can.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/29/bradley-manning-concerns-mep-letter
I'm so pleased this support network exists. Thanks for providing the link. As for all the soldiers that gave their lives for these two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, I wouldn't even give the government the time of day huh !
Good of you to bring him up here and give voice to his plight.
We need to win his release. Completely agree.
Rising, you come up with some of the best info on this site. Keep it coming. It's the kind of info 99% of the 99% would never find out. I presume you're spreading it to the other forums, since I haven't seen you over here as much lately.
I am also a big fan of @therising he shares good info and always keeps it positive.
Yes. And from what I gather, he's one of the few that are seriously in the trenches doing the things needed to move this thing forward.
Took a break from hometown west coast activity and have been spending lots of time on the ground in DC. Good stuff about to get underway there.
Glad to hear that. That should stop a WHOLE lot of complaining about us being in the wrong city.
DC is going to receive a whole lot of attention in the next 8 weeks. All these actions help directly and have the side benefit of adding support to the movement.
Ultimately though, we're going to have to also get to the less sexy but equally important part of putting together national general assembly through transparent process, getting our candidates in office etc. That's the only way we're going to win real changes described in documents like these.
The actions and protests are important but the process of developing demands (even if they are eventually similar to ones in any of these docs) must be transparent. And the essential political pressure that comes from actions outside the buildings in DC must be paired with decisive and strategic actions INSIDE that help steer the results of all that pressure. I think of it as harnessing energy. HUGE amounts of energy are built up in the halls and offices of Capitol Hill when the public has the place surrounded. But that's not enough. All that energy and angst inside those halls and offices has to result in something. And it can if we form national assembly.
I think these actions all around the country we're seeing now will and definitely should continue to happen before, during and after the more procedural part. Provides the fuel and brings real change.
I have been convinced (after reading the writing of others on this and other forums and by interacting with people at various occupations including NYC) that we need to focus right now on growing the movement by discovering what we have in common. Once we, the 99% REALIZE we're the 99%, realize that many or most of our basic interests align, then we can make decisions from a position of unified power rather than demands from a position of divided weakness.
The 1% who've benefitted for so long from the neoliberal rigged system have loved watching us carp at one another and have fanned the flames wherever they could. But we're getting wise to it. And, trust me. I've been talking to them. They're scared.
That's something to celebrate, but it is also something to be wary of. More and more they will begin to act reflexively like cornered dog and it won't be pretty.
I think we should expect more and more provocateurs from private security companies. We must accept that we cannot stop this. What we can do is practice our reaction so we are much less likely to act emotionally in the heat of the moment. There will be many setups where provocateurs attempt to incite violence so mainstream America (which is currently largely supportive) turns away from the movement.
Make no mistake. This is a struggle for the hearts and minds of mainstream America. Corporate America has largely had the allegiance for a good long while. They've had us transfixed with products and saddled with debt. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvVAPsn3Fpk&feature=youtube_gdata_player . But now the 99% are waking up and unifying. We, the 99%, are developing an allegiance to OURSELVES and our COMMUNITY. We are dropping our allegiance to consumption, a habit which only enriches the elite and enslaves us.
In order to continue this shift in allegiance, we must remain non-violent. It is essential. In the country clubs and the board rooms across the country, there is one conversation that is being had over and over and over again now that they realize the winter won't freeze us out. The 1% are praying for violence. It would be their dream come true. And they'll do just about anything to make sure that violence happens.
If you're in a march and someone starts to promote or perpetrate violation sit down immediately and encourage everyone around you to do the same. Then point at the provocateur and say "This person is not part of our movement. We are non-violent.". We should be practicing this at every occupation in the country at least once a day so it becomes second nature. We need it to be our automatic reaction when emotionally charged situation is encountered.
Indeed. And I have noticed a huge influx of pro-violence posters on this site over the last couple days. Agents inciting violence on the street, agents inciting violence on the web. Most won't realize it's a setup, but that's to be expected. Human nature. That will be a VERY effective tool. It's the best weapon they have right now. Hard to combat, especially for the average (intelligence-wise) joe.
Is the lottery rigged too? http://www.businessweek.com/finance/occupy-wall-street/archives/2011/11/this_game_cant_be_rigged_supposedly.html Bill Butler November 30, 2011 7:45 PM If I were running the Powerball Lottery, I think I might want to check out the following “system”.
1) A “regular” Powerball player buys a ticket on a normal basis before the numbers are drawn. The ticket would have random (and losing) numbers. The computer at Powerball headquarters would assign a time/date/sale location/ticket ID to this (as well as every other) purchased ticket.
2) After the winning numbers have been drawn (and are now known), break into the computers at Powerball headquarters. Change the recorded numbers on the legitimate (and losing) ticket to the winning numbers. The records at Powerball headquarters would now have the original time/date/sale location/ticket ID, but the original random (and losing) numbers on the ticket would be replaced by the winning numbers.
3) Alter your printed ticket (or print a new ticket) to replace the original losing ticket. The ticket would now have the winning numbers.
4) Present your “winning” ticket to lottery officials. The time/date/sale location/ticket ID on both your ticket and the computer records would now match.
5) Tell the world “It feels good”.
Note: I am the Durango Bill that you referred to in the article.
Hank Paulson Tipped Off The Goldman-Led "Plunge Protection Team" About Fannie Bankruptcy 7 Weeks In Advance
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/hank-paulson-tipped-goldman-led-plunge-protection-team-about-fannie-bankruptcy-7-weeks-advance
Driving my taxi I sometimes get to talk with interesting people. People in the restaurant business tell me 1- Customers are eating and drinking cheaper. 2- No restaurant could survive without "illegals" working. I'd like to see Manhattan just one night with the guys (some are children) who carry food to the rich on bikes on a strike.
I'd like to see that too. Similar to Montgomery Bus Boycott. Reminded the elite who really butters their bread. Changes ensued to improve life for the non-elite pretty quickly.
Yes, as bad as people think things are, they are actually worse. If you as an individual, for example, think your intellectual property rights will be respected by the corporations, think again. They (the corporations) however have their intellectual property rights enforced vigourously - a real issue in the information age, I can assure you!
Great point
None of those are worth crap, without attribution to a specific person. All the is innuendo mumbo jumbo. I laughed out loud when I read about the small city mayor being an authority on big cities. I also laughed at the doctor advising her patients (not her patience!!! lol) to avoid health insurance. However, I do know doctors advising their children no to go into medicine...but the reason is obamacare, not the health insurance industry. Folks....the health insurance industry was demonized only because that was the most expeditious way Obama could get his crap passed.
The police officer that though his orders from his superior was based on the wishes of financial institutions???????? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah that one made my side hurt.
Who makes this crap up?
Sooooo, the rising? how about putting forward something credible...like something that isn't a.......I heard someone say........