Forum Post: The next time you encounter someone who is curious or claims Occupy Wall Street movement lacks coherent focus, SEND THEM THIS VERY SHORT SUMMARY OF OCCUPY WALL STREET MOVEMENT copied directly from homepage
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 17, 2011, 7:56 a.m. EST by therising
(6643)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Occupy Wall Street is a people powered movement that began on September 17, 2011 in Liberty Square in Manhattan’s Financial District, and has spread to over 100 cities in the United States and actions in over 1,500 cities globally.
OWS is fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations. The movement is inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, Spain, Greece, Italy and the UK, and aims to expose how the richest 1% of people who are writing the rules of the global economy are imposing an agenda of neoliberalism and economic inequality that is foreclosing our future.
The movement's success is due in part to the use of online technologies and international social networking. The rapid spread of the protests is a grassroots response to the overwhelming inequalities perpetuated by the global financial system and transnational banks. More actions are expected in the coming weeks, and the Occupation of Liberty Square in Manhattan will continue indefinitely.
[my added note: The essential fight is against Neo-liberalism. Info on neoliberalism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism#Opposition AND http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism ]
This should be printed out and handed to every one at all of the Occupy movements and to every one passing by. I know people are some what against sending a message but this would be a good message to send.
At the very least we need to share this with everyone we know. Also, if we're ever asked on camera, on the web or otherwise what we think this movement is about, we should use something like this.
I agree completely.
The best part about it is that it would shut the talking heads up and would be very hard to attack this message. I don't know any one that doesn't believe our government is not corrupt.
Great point.
The format of this forum has a lot of shortcomings to serve as a platform for much discussion.
Try http://www.themultitude.org/forum and if you like what you see, join in the discussions there.
I Would love to hook up with anyone in the southeast who has an organization. I would rather spend my money on my family and org that makes a difference than on money to the fed or state.. I AM READY TO GO MILITANT ON THE 1%! Dave Taylor 2012 oxford cir.
Leeds AL 35094 dhtpilot@gmail.com
As long as by militant you mean non-violent action, I think many people across the country are with you.
Excitejax> For over Two Hundred Years Our Goverment has taken away the indians,mexicans,and africians way of life, land, and wealth, slaved the afican Americans, funded the over throw of other countries and supported uprisings around the would now it takes what little our own people have left just to control and to stay in power .
It's Time we take America Back and give it Back to its People
How do you picture that happening?
Whatever you do, don't send them here!
Where's "here"?
Damn dude look at your address bar.
So, you're saying don't send people to this post? Or don't send people to this site? Not sure what you're saying or what your reasons are.
This forum.
Why not?
This place will remain a cesspool until there is some moderation happening.
I think people have learned a lot and have exchanged a lot on this forum.
we are seeking an end to violence
Good point
Help me understand the following so i can understand your message and try to communicate to others:
I hear you. I would say this. The common theme is that the money needs to stay out of politics, and the banking system as it is needs a major overhaul. If people do not rise up and say enough is enough, this direction we are headed will get worse and worse. Humanity is at stake. It is not really about the money. We have a broken system that won't fix with a band-aid anymore.
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HeardofEconomics (Chicago, IL) 1 points 3 minutes ago
1st of all, I am pretty sure the issues in Egypt and Tunisia was a lack of freedom, both economic and individual (exact opposite of what i believe to be your argument). Greece was over higher taxes and selling of public assets (highways etc.) to privat industry, UK was about a killing...help me understand how those causes inspired this one...i am having trouble making the link.
and isnt it less the corrosive power of major banks and more the inability of government to take bribes ...and allowing their independence to be purchased??? If you are a teacher and a student tries to buy a grade, shouldnt we be able to expect tha the teacher will uphold some integrity?...In the next election i assume we will all vote for politicians tha accept no funding from business....umm....well....there go all the candidates (both demicrat and republican).
There will always be people in every class, in every profession that try to take advantage of any system...it needs to be the lawmakers that are held to a higher standard as this is why they are elected!
Help me understand where i am wrong?
It is true that there were more political aspects to Egypt. U.S is more economic. However the two are so incredibly tied to pgether that it probably isn't a significant difference at heart.
Watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB7PwcC9qzw&feature=player_embedded#!. This sums it up in my opinion.
Yes, this definitely shows coherent focus (rolls eyes). What is the movement for? It is easy to be against something. Much harder to actually have positions that would need to be defended.
It's funny that you clIm to not understand. You're a classic ostrich. Well, my friend, this movement is now transfer,ing into a revolution so it's time for you to start paying attention. You can't ignore it anymore. It's not going away. And it's getting stronger. The essential fight is against neo-liberalism. Capitalism is fine. But unbridled capitalism is not. Ask a grandson of a former slave if his grandpa thought the unfettered free market works. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism#Opposition
In 4 short weeks, the movement has spread across the world. And the millions of people who support it (including a clear majority of Americans per Time Magazine and CBS polls) know exactly what it's about. The real question is why don't you get it? Why don't you realize that you're part of the 99%?
Indicating that something is supported by a lot of people is not a position, nor an argument for that position. What you're doing is just ad populum, you're avoiding the question by saying that a lot of people support it. Could you please answer Rael's (and my) question of what, specifically, this movement is about? All I see on this site, and in the news, are vague concepts and complaints. I'd like to see what exactly the movement stands for, what its goals are, and how it plans to achieve them.
Hello! I have also been looking for goals for this organization (response to your response below). Then I found this today. It may explain their goals to all of us better. Brilliant! http://youtu.be/1SQqjTxI3vc
We've been doing all the work. Why don't you get off your butt and read a little :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism#Opposition
That seems pretty vague. I appreciate the response, but I find it frustrating that a movement has sprung up which may have many points with which I agree but which seems incapable of defining itself. All I've seen is essentially, "I'm angry at rich people" and "I want other people to pay for my _". I haven't seen any real arguments or plans. I also find it hard to believe that many of the individuals in the masses of people who are assembling know anything about Neoliberalism. I think there are some good ideas and intentions in this movement, but I think the majority of the people involved are simply angry with the way things are and are looking for an outlet for that. While that's understandable, it's not constructive.
Really? Not constructive? Have you noticed that people around the nation and the world are sparking up about things that were taboo a month ago, calling into question things that were once untouchable. Now, I understand why a person who is part off the 1% (people who have BENEFITTED) from this system wouldn't want these things discussed and wouldn't want people marching through the streets with signs etc. I doubt, however, that you are part of that 1% so why do you keep defending their actions? Why do you insist on dividing the 99% up into factions. We're finding common ground. What are you doing?
I did not read anything into devadv's inquiries pertaining to him defending the 1%'s action or even dividing the 99% into factions. I felt he was merely asking the same questions I have been with relevant others associated with this group, as you seem to be.
We are just trying to understand the definition of your cause and a cohesive plan of progression.
I just was having the same conversation on another post with the same vague viewpoint as yours and he, too, was having a hard time defining any goals except to say that he wanted an aPolitical party with no platform. Huh? I understand your frustration and anger with the fraudulent financial dealings, and your desire to keep this group nondenominational but how can you expect a coalition to support you if you don't have a cause and a plan (and winter is on its way).
I totally support this group as much as any other of the 99%, but the time is here now where a cohesive group needs to figure out what the defined cause is going to be and a plan to carry it through.
What is vague about this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism#Opposition Or this? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism or this? Or this ? http://occupywallst.org/forum/proposed-list-of-demands-please-help-editadd-so-th/ . I don't think you're much of a reader. I think you're a typer.
I'm very much a reader. And within 24 hours, with my research, I have found a very interesting solution that may be what you are trying to describe. I get it now. Maybe you already know about this or have seen it, but I've been looking for a solution and I think this is it! Brilliant! And I've ordered the books.
http://youtu.be/1SQqjTxI3vc
Thanks. I'll be sure to watch this today.
Please spread the word.