Forum Post: Thoughts on the Occupation: The Economy
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 10, 2011, 4:20 p.m. EST by Ulthanon
(0)
from Lafayette, IN
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Hi. I attended the DC rally on the 5th and liked a lot of what was said; I left after the march to and from the US Chamber of Commerce because the atmosphere got a little too far to the left, even for me- and I'm pretty liberal (though that's a story for another post). I've been listening to a lot of the debate from both sides, and what I've come up with is a series of ideas that I believe maintain the strong leftist message of the movement without going so far as to alienate the undecided and, quite frankly, start sounding downright crazy. If it seems like people agree, I might be a little self-serving and link them to my blog- but for now I'll just post them here without the plug. Submitted for your approval:
• Capitalism isn't evil but entirely unregulated systems are too vulnerable to abuses; this is because a corporation's allegiance isn't to a nation like yours or mine, but it is shareholders and executive board. Its entire existence is to make money, and even that's fine- if you can control the beast. There must be government regulations backed by a government strong enough to enforce them in order to prevent the abuses that lead to the housing and credit bubbles of the past.
• At the same time, people must accept the burden of acting responsibly. Predatory though their lending practices might have been, it was the individual citizen who signed on a $500,000 homes while making $50,000 a year or less. If we are to successfully change wall street's actions, we must also be willing to change the irresponsible practices of our own past.
• "Jobs" in and of themselves aren't enough; there must be jobs that people can live off of. Creating a thousand jobs that pay under the minimum wage only creates a thousand indentured servants who are too poor to pay taxes or support the economy by purchasing goods and services.
• Too often is the Occupy movement accused of communism, socialism, fascism... I believe that most of the Occupy protesters don't want any of those forms of government; they simply want the people who make over $380,354 a year (the 1%) to pay taxes similar to those the other 99% have to deal with. I don't believe the majority of Occupy wants a free ride, we just want the playing field to be level - and furthermore, I believe that you can achieve this without "punishing people for being successful".
Well put my friend, well put!
I think the lack of a common straight forward list of demands allows people to interject their personal and at times confused perspectives, making our cause appear that much murkier. To me we the 99%ers are those that have no voice in this country. It doesn't matter if you are a Republican, Independent, Democrat, Tea Partier, believe in Socialism or Capitalism. Contrary to what we believe none of us actually has a voice in this country. We have been taught to believe that if we elect our respective parties into power that our goals and ideas will be done. Well guess what people, it won’t. The only people in this country with a voice are the 1%ers and they have no allegiance to any specific political party!
Who are the 1%ers you may ask? Well I say they are the large corporations and special interest groups who TRULY run this country. They are the groups of individuals who spend millions upon millions of dollars each year to convince YOUR congressman, YOUR senator, and YOUR President to do what best suits them regardless as to what's in the best interest of the rest of the 99% of this country.
Think about it, the root of every problem we face as a country regardless as to political beliefs boils down to who's willing to pay the most money to see their agenda done. So until we fix this system of legalized BRIBERY also known as lobbying this country will never ever be the place we dreamed that it could be.
Oh and for those that don't believe me, ask yourself when was the last time you tracked down your congressman or senator in the capital between meetings and offered up a large sum of money in order to see a piece of legislation passed that best interested you?