Forum Post: Forum 2.0
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 22, 2011, 6:21 a.m. EST by Willem
(35)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Why no effort at restructuring and organizing this forum, into different categories, search function, ...
I agree.
This forum has become inadequate. There also should be POLLS on important issues, then it could grow into a powerful tool for OWS. I think OWS should use the internet to the max as an instrument to reach consent and planning actions, instead of just using it as a 90's sort of billboard.
good suggestions!
I suspect these people are fairly busy getting high, having fun, getting laid to be bothered with a revision at this point. They, like most of us, find it pretty entertaining reading. They also don't get paid, I imagine. Which brings ups a really important point: is there ANY official site for OWS or is it so anarchic that anybody can put up any site. I mean, is this place officially sanctioned? Does not appear so.
Either that or they're busy organizing a massive ground protest, the proportions of which have never been seen before. The people running this forum are the same ones organizing street affairs, and I'm extraordinarily grateful that they're placing priority there rather than here. A good online component would be helpful, but the physical ground movement is what's gaining the real traction and attention.
True but do you know this or is it speculation? The infrastructure for proper communication is pretty damn important. This may be a real problem with a fundamental lack of structure preventing more efficient organization. There may need to be some reflection about where energies are being directed and why. I understand the point though. Are you there at ground zero?
It's speculation, same as your comment. I'm merely pointing out that which is just as plausible. The organizers are so far doing a good job and I don't see any reason to assume they're being lazy just because this forum happens to be in bad shape. I live in NYC but I'm not physically at the protest. My energies have been going into strengthening its online component.
No, not lazy but perhaps their prioritization needs refocusing. There is a risk here. Time and weather may trump momentum.
but what about garcia?
http://www.birdsnest.com/garcia.htm
Try http://www.TheMultitude.org . It's all done there.
Nice! Seems smarter in a way to just post over there 'movement philosophy' for example, cause I'm afraid this forum may just bee too chaotic. I have no programming skills whatsoever unfortunately.
The Multitude site is not user friendly, at least for me. It appears, at first glance, to require better organizing from someone who is familiar with publishing. In its present format, I feel that by the time it gets off the ground, it will be irrelevant. It needs a change in design for one. The person who put it up seems serious-minded enough but I fear it will just become another of many websites which attracts better writers on all kinds of topics, but does nothing for this Movement.
Welcoming any suggestions.
It seems very linear if you get my drift. Your mind may be oriented that way, so it appears. By the way, I admire your effort and commitment. Don't get me wrong here. I have an organizing and publishing background. Let me think on this a while, and I might be able to give you feedback. I have to study your site a little more. Is there a way to contact you other than this forum? I was hesitant to register on your forum after glancing at the agreement which turned me off. Not that it is necessarily bad but I typically want to just go ahead and contribute and getting past the initial hurdle of digesting the agreement was off-putting. Will spend some time on this today and tomorrow. I have been waiting for a more conducive site to develop. So, I have some interest here. Thanks again for your efforts in this direction.
The current agreement is a default pre-written for generic forums. Changing it is a priority. You could register at the forum and contact me that way, or private message me here.
I like this forum.
yeah me too, I'm wrong probably, it's good that it's so organic but I posted this out of concern - hoping it facilitates and not stifles change
We could facilitate change if we could find some common ground and actually promote our interests. This is not really within the reach of the forum administrator. I had two proposals, one: to demand detailed and real-time control over our gov't (ar at least info, at the beginning), and two: to begin by governing ourselves, for example find out what happened with the money donated to OWS and what decision process about how the demonstration proceeds is in place. I found no support.
MIAMI (CBSMiami.com) – Florida is touting the new jobs it created Friday after a positive unemployment report. But based on numbers from all W-2’s filed in the country, the wages simply aren’t keeping up.
According to the Social Security Administration, 50 percent of U.S. workers made less than $26,364 in 2010. In addition, those making less than $200,000, or 99 percent of Americans, saw their earnings fall by $4.5 billion collectively.
The sobering numbers were a far cry from what was going on for the richest one percent of Americans.
The incomes of the top one percent of the wage scale in the U.S. rose in 2010; and their collective wage earnings jumped by $120 billion.
In addition, those earning at least $1 million a year in wages, which is roughly 93,000 Americans, reported payroll income jumped 22 percent from 2009.
Overall, the economy has shed 5.2 million jobs since the start of the Great Recession in 2007. It’s the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression in the 1930’s.
Another word about the first Great Depression. It really was a perfect storm. Caused almost entirely by greed. First, there was unprecedented economic growth. There was a massive building spree. There was a growing sense of optimism and materialism. There was a growing obsession for celebrities. The American people became spoiled, foolish, naive, brainwashed, and love-sick. They were bombarded with ads for one product or service after another. Encouraged to spend all of their money as if it were going out of style. Obscene profits were hoarded at the top. All of this represented a MASSIVE transfer of wealth from poor to rich. Executives, entrepreneurs, developers, celebrities, and share holders. By 1929, America's wealthiest 1 percent had accumulated around 40% of all United States wealth. The upper class held around 30%. The middle and lower classes were left to share the rest. When the majority finally ran low on money to spend, profits declined and the stock market crashed. Of course, the rich threw a fit and started cutting jobs. They would stop at nothing to maintain their disgusting profit margins and ill-gotten obscene levels of wealth as long as possible. The small business owners did what they felt necessary to survive. They cut moreo jobs. The losses were felt primarily by the little guy. This created a domino effect. The middle class shrunk drastically and the lower class expanded. With less wealth in reserve and active circulation, banks failed by the hundreds. More jobs were cut. Unemployment reached 25% in 1933. The worst year of the Great Depression. Those who were employed had to settle for much lower wages. Millions went cold and hungry. The recovery involved a massive infusion of new currency, a World War, and higher taxes on the rich. With so many men in the service, so many women on the production line, and those higher taxes to help pay for it, the lions share of United States wealth was gradually transfered back to the middle class. This redistribution of wealth continued until the mid seventies. This was the recovery. A massive redistribution of wealth.
Then it began to concentrate all over again. Here we are 35 years later. The richest one percent now own well over 40 percent of all US wealth. The lower 90 percent own less than 10 percent of all US wealth. This is true even after taxes, welfare, financial aid, and charity. It is the underlying cause. No redistribution. No recovery.
The government won't step in and do what's necessary. Not this time. It's up to us. Support small business more and big business less. Support the little guy more and the big guy less. It's tricky but not impossible.
No redistribution. No recovery.
Zeitgeist on the Fed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpHp_deaBs8
:) yes, I understand what you mean, but this kind of chaos implies that there is something like emergence at work, emergence as in complex systems ... wisdom of the crowds. Do you think this would really be such a bad idea? Ah, who am I, maybe you're right. I'm just concerned and hope that this 'chaos' facilitates and not stifles change