Forum Post: what difference has #OWS made?
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 16, 2011, 12:28 p.m. EST by littlebiggygirl
(26)
from Hesperia, CA
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
have the Occupiers made any real difference or instigated any significant changes?
Or will theirs be a legacy of resentment and self imposed chaos?
http://littlebiggy.org/4660547
It has changed the national discussion on politics/economics from focusing on temporary solutions to examining the root causes of what got us here in the first place.
The 60 Minutes piece on congressional insider trading could be evidence of this. I'd like to see the timeline for their investigation and have to wonder why they released this story now when some of the information was several years old.
Yesterday Rick Perry attempted to revive his floundering campaign by attacking corruption, insider trading, and "money in politics". I doubt it works for him but it is more evidence of OWS's influence on America thus far.
Results aren't going to happen overnight or even in a few months. People need to temper their expectations and add their voices if they want to see "real changes".
The insider trading is old news. I watched a news show about it at least 20 years ago.
It opened a lot of peoples eyes. Made them see they aren't alone with their hopes for a better world. Made them dare speak out and express their views. And it restored a lot of peoples faith in humanity.
If people are willing to sit outside day after day in the cold and risk being abused by police, then they must really believe in their message.
OWS changed the debate, and gave a voice to the voiceless, punching through the veil of corporate media selectivity to reach the American people and the world. That's plenty big.
Curlyismyname, please don't make fun of people like that. Respect the fact that people will sleep outside in the cold, get arrests on their files, treat the homeless as their equals, while making a statement and fighting for your future. Your tent joke is really not funny.
Actually you are fighting for what YOU THINK our future should be not for us.Did you ever stop to think that a lot of us don't want the future that you all knowing OWS people want to thrust upon us? No because you could care less. Don't try to make it sound noble when it's not.
Thank you, Frizzle. You said it very nicely.
Littlebiggygirl, change cannot come overnight. A lot of people expect OWS to march into the white house and take over, while they sit in their comfy homes, watching it on tv and judging. We, the OWS, need your help. We need to fight for the change we want to see. So, please, help us. Together, we can make a huge difference!
I definitely think the occupiers have made a difference. We've all gotten a good look at anarchy in action and as far as I'm concerned It ain't for me; starting to look a lot like Vietnam looked to me in 1968 - too many bugs, a lot of dirt, way dangerous - and no point..
Daring to rebel? Demanding a place at the table? Refusing the status quo? Protesting to be heard? Occupying to be seen?
Denouncing hypocrisy? such as the latest: this would-be Republiganster Prez: Newt Gingrich, spitting in the soup of Freddie and Fanny, and look! He was just discovered taking $$ from them, how about $1.6M !!!
Gingrich "made between $1.6 and $1.8 million in consulting fees" in his work for Freddie Mac between 1999 and 2008.
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/16/8838779-gingrich-cant-say-how-much-he-netted-from-freddie-consulting
It has made the news on Fox more fun. It has reminded me of Black Friday deals.
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OWS has brought class warfare to the surface. If OWS hadn't taken to the streets, some other movement with a slightly different name would have arisen. It is inevitable when you have a leader who is constantly chastising the "millionaires and billionaires" and constantly talking about how the system isn’t fair. Ironic, seeing how millionaires and billionaires like George Soros are funding his endeavors.
It is an integral part of Barack Obama’s strategy to win re-election - to drive a wedge between the people of this country and portray those earning less as being victims and the rich as being lucky. The victims need the help of government, and the rich need to be taxed more to help the victims. The mainstream media perpetuates this propaganda every day and you are all taking it all in.
You see OWS; you think you are the revolutionaries and the ones that are going to free society of all its ills. When in fact, you are pawns of the very political and corporate world you demonize. You have fallen for this class war. You are facilitating a regime that is interested in only their own rise to power, all the while spewing rhetoric about how they are going to help the poor and disadvantaged. They want to perpetuate a system where they will keep you in the lower class, always in need, and tell you they are helping you.
If you are looking to government or an entirely new system of government as the solution to your problems, you will be disappointed. To further yourselves and get ahead, it has to come from within. Only you, with the drive and a desire to do better, can create a better life for yourself.
You know what OWS could do? they could put a dent in corporate welfare. OWS could make bankers cut down on the gambling and go back to being responsible with our money. OWS could educate people about exactly how we got into this mess and how we could make laws so it doesn't happen again. OWS could tell the truth about banks like Goldman and Morgan Stanley and force them work to get people to trust them again OWS could end up helping to bring manufacturing back to America by addressing tax laws that would favor companies that make things here. OWS could do a lot ------------OWS is just getting started.
I agree with almost everything you say except making tax laws that favor companies that make things here. While I completely agree its the decline of manufacturing in this country that drives most of the economic woes of the middle class, the last thing I would like to see is more tax laws.
I am in favor of abolishing the entire tax system and removing all loopholes. Flat, progressive, sales tax, value added tax - I don't care. But stop with the hidden loopholes. This is where corporations get politicians to sneak in their little perks.
Not raggin' on you bro, like I said, I agree with just about everything you said. I would really like to see OWS focus on these things. I just see too much talk here that smacks of socialism, which I fear is where our government is headed.
I was thinking of removing all loopholes except give a tax break for new manufacturing jobs, that would give some incentive. Any country needs to have some socialism and some capitaism. China and Russia tried "pure" socialism it was a disaster and China ended up having the strongest capitalist manufacturing empire in the world. Pure capitalism would be a ungoverned third world country without an insured banking system.There is a business model out there, Congo maybe ,it has been tried. We're so ideologically capitalist we end up shooting ourselves in the foot with it and making a corporate welfare state.
Yes, tent sales are up. More than 5 new ones have been sold.