News Anyone Involved In The Occupy Wallstreet? Or Another City?

[olaja]

I thought the protests came right at the time banks were lobbying for immunity. I was reading that not only did banks receive the gazillion bail out dollars from the treasury of the citizens of the United States (a closed door deal that was NEVER voted on in Congress), but they are pushing for immunity from prosecution as well.

I am not able to attend protests due to health concerns, but I am a letter writer, and a petition signer.

 

[ms spock]

Go Groovers Go!

I am so there with you all!

[DLMURL]http://www.buzzfeed.com/fjelstud/the-best-signs-from-occupy-wall-streethttp://www.buzzfeed.com/fjelstud/the-best-signs-from-occupy-wall-street[/DLMURL]

Back to contribute and debate later on!
ms spock

 

[PerfectEmpire]

They have one in my city and I've been too busy to join. I will probably join towards the end of the year when my workload lightens up. I've been trying to decide what to write on my sign!

 

[ms spock]

In Australia the top 250 companies avoid enough tax every three months to pay social security payements to every man, woman and child for five years - and those are 1980s figures.

I have been involved with protests, marches, demonstrations, conferences, working parties, delegated legislation for 20 years. Every time we had violence it was un undercover person that started - it got so that we could identify the people and get everyone to stand away from them.

I once got the living daylights beaten out of me and arrested for walking across the street with my shopping to say hello to friends at a peaceful protest. It was reported in the media that the protestors started it and that has been standard fair over two decades of activism. So be very wary of what is presented in the media. Unless you were there at that particular time you don't know what happened. There are vested interests there in the media which are owned by certain companies and corporations and they have vested interests in other arenas as well and there are strategies engaged in the portrayl of those who engage in their democratic right to dissent.

ms spock

 

[Froggie]

I would have gone if it wasn't for the operation I had and my mother's promise to show up. The last time was in 2001. Kind of miss that energy to speak out and denounce what is really going on.

 

[Srain]

I find that there are always going to be those that will show up either being encouraged by the "other side" or seeing a chance to make the news or just plain act out. I've seen it time and time again over everything from jury verdicts to election outcomes.

 

[dharmaBum]

I went to an #occupy event at a nearby state capitol. It was a true peoples' forum, including the "human microphone" which adds an experiential theater element making the moment so much deeper than simply hearing someone's complaints. Many people were level-headed and non-violent. And then there were the anarchists. The occupiers have become successfully established in that city.

Wouldn't it be just like me to go out on a limb and start one in my city- oh wait- I don't need another reason for my countrymen to assume that standing against poverty, hunger, and homelessness means that I am anti-American and a good target for attacks. I know why some participants are wearing masks.

Primarily it seems like the #occupy movement is successfully redirecting media just a tad toward the middle and causing news outlets to cover the fact that not everyone in the U.S.A. is happy with pell mell capitalism, or capitalism without conscience.

 

[heidi]

I'm very surprised by the spontaneous growth of this movement. I honestly thought nobody cared.

 

[anthony]

Capitalism is a major issue affecting many countries globally... its ok to be rich when you earned it, but its not ok to be rich when you have ripped off others to do it, or maintain it, crossed the line to theft, fraud and any other means to continue wealth creation.

Australia doesn't have the issues America does with this, however; top CEO's are still paid big bonuses even during globally difficult times, when they shouldn't be and the company they run is under performing. That only equals bad things for the company in the long term, and employee's, customers, the economy. For example, the Government here is now looking at implementing legislation and capping CEO bonuses, to stop companies paying over the top amounts to people who don't really deserve that type of money. This stops companies needing to make more and more profit, which helps regulate the economy as a collective, which is how economies do this. Banks and small business are the heart of most economies... they regulate the economy collectively. Big business is usually a small amount of the economy, yet if one big business crumbles, it creates ripples throughout small business, which can turn into small waves if left unchecked.

I think some people should be getting on planes and bolstering Wall Street and other US financial institutions, as this is the primary issue for the globe... along with a few European countries who as a result of America collapsing, have some rather large holes in their own policies.

When America collapsed, it only created ripples around the globe, but waves internally. Over time, those ripples have grown to waves in some countries, they still remain ripples in the majority of countries. Within America, those waves have grown and keep dumping on small business and the middle class, again, which is the heart and soul of most countries financial stability. It all started from the top end of America collectively being greedy. If they took a hit in the pocket every now and then, instead of coming up with fraudulent and unethical schemes, this entire issue wouldn't have happened.

 

[Ananda]

I live in a medium sized town in OR - I joined the march on Oct. 15 - there was a 2000+ headcount! That was a historical record for my city! & this town is known for it's political activism.

People can say whatever they want about the occupiers & the movement around the globe - but they can't argue with this - they have a message of some fundamental truths that affect all of our lives & our futures - economically, socially & ecologically - all of these things are deteriorating at an alarming rate - and if we don't all step up, our future is f**ked. The core issue agreeably by most being that as long as we allow big business to influence government we have no control over our society or our future. What they are accomplishing is getting people thinking about this issue, getting people talking about this issue, getting people together to figure out how to make change - and with enough people working toward the same goal - positive change can & will happen, in my opinion. We can all at least give our support to the cause & hope for the best - at the very worst, more people will pull off their blinders & become more aware & more involved in making this a better world for everyone & I don't see how that can be a bad thing.

 

[Ananda]

I'm going to link in my personal PTSD issue here too - I've been managing mine pretty well, things are going well for me & my symptoms have really been minimized. A friend mine who is currently going through a mortgage foreclosure started posting images of people holding up signs explaining their situations and stating why they are part of the 99% on her FB - I think she was identifying w/it & wanted to put it out there for feed back. I saw a lot of really ignorant right wing feed back blaming the people who lost their jobs & lost their homes for getting themselves into the situation. I just feel so strong about this issue & I'm so sick of that ignorant, brainwashed mentality that I started putting in my two cents about the real issues. It was great discussion & I think I really opened some peoples eyes -- but confrontation is one of my triggers & as I was typing some of my replys my hands were literally shaking. For the past year I have had very little PTSD symptoms & they generally don't last more than a day when the do happen -- I've been anxious & a little OCD about the whole Occupy movement (just watching & trying to get involved a little locally) for the past week. I'm finally calming down & feeling OK again - but continuing to do what I can to stay involved. I think this movement is offering me a positive opportunity for healing my own issues. Standing up for what you believe in is empowering & it feels a lot safer to do this when you have a crap load of people on your side :)

 

[Srain]

Oh Lord, I said I wouldn't get political..sure! But the truth is the 1% is doing everything they can to denied my husband what is his!! I'm pissed and it's long overdue..

.I have NO problem with people making money either, I have worked all my life for them and had my battles here and there being a woman trying to break through the glass ceiling and get paid more than the 70% of my co-workers, but things have gotten ridiculous and I'm grateful to this Generation for standing up. Generation X (I hate that term) got a bad rap, my Son is included, they were busy trying to catch up to technology, so this Generation is standing ...move forward!! Good job...I'm right there too...I'm Generation Lost...70s....???