My wife and I recently took part in the Occupy Wall Street demonstration at Times Square. It was a very enlightening experience. There were signs expressing all kinds of protests: against racism, war, corporate greed, lobbyists, the bailout of banks, everything but the common cold! They are not united in their complaints but they are united in their frustration, anger, and impotence.
These young people have put themselves in tuition debt and credit card debt with no possibility of a job. They will remain slaves to that debt for a lifetime. They see a world with no future for themselves in which they are powerless. They see a world in which the rich get richer and the poor get poorer and the extremes are growing more polarized. They see a disfunctional government that pays no attention to their needs so they have decided to take it to the streets. They are circumventing the system and they are powerless no more. The whole world is watching, paying attention, and, as in the past, the establishment eventually will respond if they are smart about it.
So they have our attention, which is the whole purpose of their demonstration. Now what are they going to do about it? First, they need to take it directly and specifically to the corporations and banks that are raping the public, laying off American workers, outsourcing jobs, all while making record profits which pleases Wall Street not Main Street. In numbers there is power. Corporations can't survive without the support of the people. They need to carefully target specific, greedy corporations and, through the power of the internet, organize a boycott of their products. For example, Bank of America has levied a five dollar fee for using a debit card each month. People need to withdraw their savings and deposit their nest egg in a bank that is consumer friendly. Just as Netflix reversed their policy when they lost 600,000 customers, so will BOA!!!
By signing up millions of frustrated people who are out of work, they must use the power of the internet to organize boycotts monthly, and redirect people to alternative companies that are consumer friendly.
Most Americans support these young people, as witnessed from the growing number of middle-aged and gray-haired protestors I saw at the Times Square rally. It is not difficult to find people today who are not outraged by what our financial institutions did to this country. American tax payers bailed them out to avoid a total financial meltdown and they repaid us by hoarding profits, outsourcing jobs, and foreclosing on homes of the unemployed or underemployed. Corporate America has no moral compass, or patriotism, for that matter. They worship at the altar of their bottom line. That is why the boycott of their products is the most powerful weapon of the 99%. We need to change the way we do business in America and not give in to the corporate blackmail demanding a rollback on government regulations. The Republican Party is doing their dirty work so they will keep the economy weak to favor their cause. In the meantime, people are suffering, losing their homes, and even starving while they play their games and hold on to their two trillion in profits. Wake up, America!
We need to educate all people on many matters, but here's one.... to act responsibly with their money! My Mom was an at home Mom teaching us to be good people and my Dad was NOT a Wall Streater. My parents paid the entire bill for 3 kids to go to college in full. How? B/C we didn't take fancy vacations or live in a mansion. So why are all the college kids in debt today? Oh that's right, when the 90's economy was good, their parents decided to have a big ass house and fancy car on driveway instead of investing in their kids education! I'm so very grateful for having parents with much wisdom. Thus after 20 years working
ReplyDeleteand making similar monies to a teachers salary in NYC (Long Island teachers
make a Wall St salary), I own a half million $ property and have half million cash
saved. Oh how did I do that? because I acted responsibly with my money, never lived above my means! BTW, I'm married to a NYC teacher who was down in Wall St chaos last night at a UFT meeting. He thinks the protest is quite comical. He also shares my viewpoint. Don't you think we would love to travel around the world on his summer break but we don't....we save for the "what if". While I was hiding under a desk at a school drill waiting for the bomb to blow who would have known 30 years later that people would want to be in a socialized world with no form of competition. Oh competition, "that's difficult".
You know, that's what made America supreme above all nations, now look at us
with our nations credit rating dropping the way that it did. Maybe the kids today
should learn Chinese and Spanish as a language so they can get some form of
job. Take a look at the Queen of England's chompers (teeth)? There's your free healthcare one day! And kids shouldn't spend 60K at college anymore b/c there will be nothing to compete for when they get out. The next generation may never experience a republican president. Why ...b/c every lazy freeloader in this country will vote democratic, to continue to get all their benefits. How people are so proud to stand in the "soup line" with their Nike sneakers and Smartphone. My grandfather is turning in his grave now. America can't "wake up" quick enough. I love America that's why I only buy American...bet you bought a little girl "the American Doll" last year....Made in China. Who cares what govt does....take some responsibility Americans! I will tell you like a caveman would, when it comes to "survival of the fittest", I have saved for the "what if" ....the end of the great world we used to have. I'm prepared for it....are you? And holding a sign up in Wall St didn't get me there!
Phil you are right on target. The 99% are right and the right is wrong!
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