tagged w/ wall street protests
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Let's remember how we need to help each other in these trying times.
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The world has a funny way of revolving around itself. We start out with a street encounter with a presidential candidate to discuss whether or not the rich should pay their fair share of taxes. The candidate gets elected and the funny bald guy goes away. Now another funny bald guy, the last newspaper reader, reads a story about the other funny guy running for Congress. Be careful with what you wish for, it could come true.The world has a funny way of revolving around itself. We start out with a street... more
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WAKE UP EVERYBODY
Protest in America
by Dwight C Douglas
When Fox News attempted to analyze the current protests against Wall Street, it wasn’t surprising that they failed to connect the dots. The protests that started in New York and now spreading across the land have the same roots as the Tea Party, but most of the bubble-bottle-blonds and card-reading pundits missed it.
The basic difference is the villain they hold up as the evil-doer. The Tea Party aims their bile at the big-bad-brother we call Government, while the Wall Street protesters focus on the Corporation. Dwight Eisenhower’s warning about the Military-Industrial complex rings true once again. He suggested that when they work in concert, they are mega-evil.
Many do see the similarities between the slow-moving, dogma-driven government and the power-hungry, loophole-leaping corporate juggernauts. Successful corporations move faster than the government that is supposed to be looking out for the people. Successful governments create the general stability and person protection. We feel most comfortable when we see the government as a good parent, not an over-protective stage Mom.
Corporations have two sets of people to consider. One set is the humans they hope to sell their products and services to, while the other set is the people they expect to produce the goods. It is not rare that a company that customers love may be the worst place to work. On the other hand, there are companies, especially utilities, where the customers hate them, while the working environment is great for its workers.
Most Democrats will vote for Obama again in 2012. Most Republicans will vote for their party’s choice. The undecided voters and independents seem to be the prize for the next election. But in reality, the best election is when the most people vote.
The Wall Street protesters in the Sixties would have been those who were against the war, thus against the government. The naïve Tea Party faithful who will remove people from office to place their “own” into those seats, waste more time learning how Washington works and are less effective and more disruptive. The Republican agenda has been totally upstaged by this group of radicals. Calling Mormonism a cult, letting a mob put down a gay soldier during the debates, and cheering executions only sends one message to me; they are not being productive.
The reason we lost jobs in the U.S. is simple. We found cheaper workers somewhere else. Consider paying a worker $7,000 a year without any obligations of healthcare or retirement taxes against the reality of $15,000 a year responsibility and taxes, healthcare and the fear of unions. As they say, NO BRAINER. Yes, minimum wage employees only make $15,000. Think about it. Try living on that without living with your parents.
I would shout WAKE UP EVERYBODY. Like the lyrics from the Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes’ song, “No more backward thinkin’ time for thinkin’ ahead, the world has changed so very much from the way it used to be...” Really, a song from 1975 has all the advice that President Obama needs for his re-election campaign. It talks about teaching children, taking care of old people, hating war and poverty. While we argue about how to pay for things, people are suffering in this wealthy country. Please.
Banks and corporations are necessary parts of what make any country work. The moral decay of the financial industry might have happened no matter what laws were written. People do anything to get more money. People lie when it comes to Washington. Just listen to our elected officials. They are asked questions and they either lie or dance around without answering.
The protests against Wall Street’s selfishness and deception, along with the Tea Party’s demand to account for every dime that is spent, is good for the country. They are the voices from the far-right and far-left. The Tea Party is far right thinking that adds too much doctrine into the mix and pours out misguided messages and bigoted belief that the government is an alien being.
The far left, burn down the corporation, mentality of the anarchists screaming “Where are the jobs?” is a bit like a fireman standing next to a burning building screaming “Where’s the Fire”. Stop chanting and start doing something to change things.
Both viewpoints represent the disenfranchisement of sorts. There are those who have a strangely subliminal problem with an African-American president, who is true-blue Democrat. Every time they say, “We want our country back” I hear the words “We don’t want a Black man.” There I said it.
Those radicals saying they feel 99% of the nation is being treated differently than those 1% with all the money, are not wrong. Rich people are treated differently in most ways. The only way things are going to change is for the government, corporations and banks work together to start to make things here. We can do it. All we have to do is to put a ceiling the percentage of employees a company hires off-shore. Think of it, even the TV show OUTSOURCED was canceled and it was made in America. If we don’t do this, more jobs will leave this shore.
And finally, one of the things the Tea Party and the Wall Street protesters do for the political landscape is they have created a new middle-mainstream. Look at the far-right, and look at the far-left and then look at Obama – he is the middle man. And in big business middle-management must do something big and significant to keep their jobs. Obama as the middle of the spectrum can hold his position, and assume people will see him as safe incumbent, or a less-than powerful pawn in the game of politics that doesn’t work that well.
The message is simple: Wake up everybody and start to understand the government is moving too slow for the world has changed from the way it used to be. Imagine if we had all the money we spent in two lame wars. Wake up all the builders, time to build a better land. Our land, not theirs.
“Wake Up Everybody" written by John Whitehead, Gene McFadden, and Victor Carstarphen.WAKE UP EVERYBODY
Protest in America
by Dwight C Douglas
When Fox News... more
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NEW YORK — To veterans of past social movements, the Occupy Wall Street protests that began in New York and spread across the U.S. have been a welcome response to corporate greed and the enfeebled economy. But whether the energy of protesters can be tapped to transform the political climate remains to be seen.
"There’s a difference between an emotional outcry and a movement," said Andrew Young, who worked alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as a strategist during the civil rights movement and served as mayor of Atlanta and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. "This is an emotional outcry. The difference is organization and articulation."
"I think if the idea of the movement is to raise the discontent that a lot of people from different walks of life and different persuasions have on the economic inequity in this country — it’s been perfect," said the Rev. Al Sharpton, a civil rights activist who plans to broadcast his nationally syndicated radio show from the park on Monday and five days later lead a jobs march in Washington, D.C.
He said he felt it was necessary to be there to talk about how blacks and Latinos are also buffeted by the economic difficulties.
"I think it is more a movement to show dissatisfaction. I think that is effective and useful," he said.
Rev. Jesse Jackson, a veteran civil rights leader who also was an aide to King, said the protest was a growing success. "There is a legitimacy to their demands for economic reconstruction," he said, with the analysis of the problems in the economic system "dead on," as he wrote in a commentary.
He said the protest could become a powerful movement if "it remains disciplined, focused and nonviolent — and turns some of their pain into voting power."
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1267621.htmlNEW YORK — To veterans of past social movements, the Occupy Wall Street protests... more
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Demonstrations are expected to continue throughout the week as more groups hold organizational meetings and air their concerns on websites and through streaming video.
In Manhattan on Monday, hundreds of protesters dressed as corporate zombies in white face paint lurched past the New York Stock Exchange clutching fistfuls of fake money. In Chicago, demonstrators pounded drums in the city's financial district. Others pitched tents or waved protest signs at passing cars in Boston, St. Louis, Kansas City, Mo., and Los Angeles.
A slice of America's discontented, from college students worried about their job prospects to middle-age workers who have been recently laid off, were galvanized after the arrests of 700 protesters on the Brooklyn Bridge over the weekend.Demonstrations are expected to continue throughout the week as more groups hold... more
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Unbelievable video, powerful commentary... I'm incredulous. Thank goodness for video phones. They can't stop the signal.Unbelievable video, powerful commentary... I'm incredulous. Thank goodness for... more
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"You certainly cannot take over a New York City street. That is a serious situation. We have emergency vehicles to get through, people have actually jobs to get to, unlike these protestors, apparently," said Vallone. "And the police have every right to use the force that they deem necessary to arrest if people aren't cooperating."
Vallone went on to say he believes the NYPD acted well within its rights.
Okay, Queens Residents , please be advised that your councilman, Peter Vallone has basically accused people that are trying to call attention to crimes against all of us committed by Wall Street executives, of being unimportant and jobless nuisances.
Speaking from a location that does not look like where the Wall Street protestors seemed to be and not an eye witness to police actions that took place, this "councilman", a representative of his constituents, is making comments without direct knowledge about events occurring toward citizens that are upset with criminal activity and legally protesting.
Apparently, abusing protestors is okay when you can baselessly assume that they are all unemployed according to this elected official.
Please take that into consideration next time you are voting for Queens City Council."You certainly cannot take over a New York City street. That is a serious... more
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Facebook, Twitter anywhere they have posting available They troll us lets troll them and get the word out.
http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolutionFacebook, Twitter anywhere they have posting available They troll us lets troll them... more
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MDBard
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added this
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8 months ago
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September 20, 2011 | Advertisement Editor's note: Today is the fifth day demonstrators have staged an "occupation" of Wall St. and other parts of lower Manhattan in protest of America's staggering economic inequality and the influence of big finance on our politics. As of Tuesday night, 16 people had been arrested. There are also reports that law enforcement has confiscated camera equipment. Below, writer Chaz Valenza describes 11 things you can do to help out the protesters.
These patriot occupiers are fighting for 99 percent of us. Those who are unemployed, uninsured, underemployed and totally insecure in the face of ever increasing social and financial inequities. They are standing up for those who cannot be there right now.
Here's the good news -- you can help, right now today -- no matter where you are.
1) Spread the word -- there's something going on. People have started a movement -- they're occupying Wall Street. Hundreds of people have been camped out in lower Manhattan for four days!
2) If you're in New York and can only spare a little time or money: bring American flags, cardboard, markers, water, etc. down to Liberty Park.
3) If you're in the New York area and have a day, a morning, an afternoon, go down there. The weather appears to be holding. Take the day off and just go. I know it sounds hard to believe but you will be heard. This is an open general assembly effort and you will get your say and be a real participant.
4) If you are a little ways from NYC, organize foursomes to go to NYC for the day. It will cost you the train/bus/car fare. Take nothing but some food and water and your body.
5) Too far to get to NYC? Sign this petition and I will read your name and comments in Liberty Park this week, I promise. Break Up Goldman Sachs Now!
6) Be subversive against the big money interests wherever you are and encourage others to do the same. Don't give the banksters 4 percent of every purchase you make with a credit or debit card -- use cash. See: UseCashMovement
7) Be subversive: max out your credit card on large ticket items and return them the next day. (This one is right out of the Saul Alinsky playbook.)
8) Move your money from a big bank to a credit union.
9) Picket a local branch of a bank. When the press asks you what the heck you think you're doing, tell them it's in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street.
10) Send food to the protesters in Liberty Park through a New York friend or go to the live stream chat for information on local eats that will take your order. (Yes, you'll have to use your credit card, big spender!)
11) Do you know anybody who knows anybody who knows a writer, a celebrity, etc. who will show their face at the protest? Get to them now.
Bonus Support Idea 12) Spread the word again, and repeat!September 20, 2011 | Advertisement Editor's note: Today is the fifth day... more
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Financial institutions on Wall Street are preparing to pay a record 144 billion dollars in compensation and benefits, according to a study published in the Wall Street Journal. The payout, covering bonuses, premiums and stock options for the firm's executives and employees, is a four-percent raise over the previous record 139 billion dollars that was handed over in 2009.Financial institutions on Wall Street are preparing to pay a record 144 billion... more
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Several thousand demonstrators marched through the New York financial district this past week in a protest led by labor unions. They said Wall Street's biggest banks must account for record profits while average Americans still suffer financially.Several thousand demonstrators marched through the New York financial district this... more
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