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Something Big Is Happening: Occupy Together
To paraphrase one of Bob Dylan's songs of youthful protest, "Something's happening here, and you don't know what it is, do you Ms. Bellafante?"
A New York Times writer, Ginia Bellafante, is but one of many establishment reporters and pundits who've been covering the fledgling "Occupy Wall Street " movement — but completely missing the story. Instead of really digging into what's "happening here," they've resorted to fuddy-duddy mockery of an important populist protest that has sprouted right in Wall Street's own neighborhood.
In a September article, Bellafante dismissed the young people's effort as "fractured and airy," calling it a "carnival" in an "intellectual vacuum." Their cause is so "diffuse and leaderless," she wrote, that its purpose is "virtually impossible to decipher." No wonder, she concluded, that participation in the movement is "dwindling."
Whew — so snide! Yet, so wrong.
While the establishment is befuddled by the plethora of issues and slogans within the protest, confused by the absence of hierarchical order and put off by its festive spirit, that's their problem. The 20- and 30-somethings who are driving this movement know what they're doing and are far more organized (but much differently organized) than their snarky critics seem able to comprehend.
It's silly to say that the protestors' purpose is indecipherable. Hello — they're encamped next door to Wall Street. Isn't that a clue? Their cause is the same as the one boiling in the guts of America's workaday majority: Stop the gross greed of financial and corporate elites, and expel a political class that's so corrupted by the money of those wealthy elites that it has turned its back on the middle class and the poor.
Such movements don't begin with a neat set of solutions pre-packaged for The New York Times, but with roiling outrage focused directly on the plutocratic perpetrators of an unjust economy and an unresponsive politics. The movement will find agreement in due time on specific ideas for stopping the injustice, but now is the time for the passion and creative, nonviolent confrontation that will energize others to stop moaning and join the rebellion.
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Show AllThough I can't claim to know every song written by Bob Dylan, I do believe, Jim, that you are actually paraphrasing Stephen Stills. My apologies if Bob Dylan did in fact use that same phrase. At any rate, point taken.
And incidentally, "intellectual vacuum?" Are we sure she wasn't describing the Times? As for what they want, how about a functioning democracy, which must begin, to paraphrase someone else, with expelling the money changers from the temple.
Bob Dylan's "Ballad Of A Thin Man"
Because something is happening here
But you don’t know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?
Thanks. I thought Hightower was referring to the old Stills/Buffalo Sprinfield tune too.
"For What It's Worth" begins:
Something's happening here,
What it is ain't exactly clear,
There's a man with a gun over there,
Telling me I've got to beware...
It was originally written about the Sunset Strip riots in LA in the 60s, but grew in popularity to become a general protest anthem.
Maybe the protestors should have called an economic summit? Would that have made their critics happy? Fact is ordinary people aren't allowed to set policy like the "G" crowd. We're not part of the "inner circle".
I noticed Jim Hightower mentioned the poor. Is that allowed?
"To expect salvation from an election is delusional. All you can do, if you are young enough, is to leave the country. The only future for Americans is a nightmare.
Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the US Treasury, Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal, and professor of economics in six universities. His latest book, HOW THE ECONOMY WAS LOST, was published by CounterPunch/AK Press. He can be reached at: PaulCraigRoberts@yahoo.com"
The hardest part is to convince americans not to be americans because that doesn't define the issue. It is a shift in world politics and globalization, americans just don't get it. Well, to be fair most haven't been paying attention for a very long time. It explains why those who do understand look so constipated when they try to be honest and answer questions (mostly outside of the U.S.) and then it is mostly aged sage economists. It doesn't make sense to a lot of people but it will, those occupy wall street kids understand that it will be their future.
"Their cause is so "diffuse and leaderless," she wrote ..."
It is "diffuse and leaderless" and that is a weakness of this movement, great as it is.
A "diffuse and leaderless" movement runs the risk of being easily defused by the powers that be, as was the movement in the 60s and 70's.
If the Green Party would get involved that would provide cohesion, some stability, organization (OK, so it wouldn't be optimal), a political base and a center to rally around for future activities.
You make some good points, but Ginia Bellafante, as most elitists do, got that leaderless "weakness" bass-ackwards. "If only they had a coherent campaign platform, a proper manifesto, a mulit-point political policy program, subject to professional analysis and organization. If only they had better elites, better high priests, a new messiah." The protests are just too simple-minded for the Neocon Times, and just maybe too simple for the Koch Brothers or Pete peterson to corrupt and co-opt it.
That really is Jim Hightower's salient point. There's a certain degree of anarchy in genuine democracy that frightens elitist authoritarians and totalitarians, who in their heart of hearts hate popular democracy and have largely succeeded in destroying it. Democracy is too messy for them, in the same way it threatened Antebellum plantation barons. He concludes: "The movement will find agreement in due time on specific ideas for stopping the injustice, but now is the time for the passion and creative, nonviolent confrontation that will energize others to stop moaning and join the rebellion."
It's less about an intellectual catechism, market theology, or political ideology, but about heart and soul, about transcending orthodox econometric calculus for a larger, intuitive sense and measure of justice. Another perspective:
“When Jesus saw [Ginia Bellafante's column] he was indignant. He said to them, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'”
Sadly, nearly everyone misses the point of the whole "1% vs. 99%".
It's not just about the economic data, it's about how nearly all of us are Wage Slaves to a tiny minority who the Monetary System is built to serve. Our present situation is not the result of lack of regulation or wrong or poorly timed action by the Federal Reserve, the present situation is a natural byproduct of our Monetary System. The downturn phases of the "business cycle" always result in massive unemployment, foreclosures, bankruptcies, etc. These are not accidents, they're part of how it is SUPPOSED to work.
The same goes with War. The ultra rich know that a World at peace doesn't offer them the same opportunities as a World filled with conflict. In a world of conflict, they have the ability to sell munitions to both sides, direct large loans to countries who can't afford it so later they can take control of that country's basic infrastructure (utilities and such) as concessions, after the sides are tired of killing and their country is devastated and they have no money to rebuild, they borrow more and hire prick run companies like Halliburton to "help them" rebuild.
World hunger is a similar situation.
But the basic issue is that we have an unfair Monetary System, every dollar "created" by the Federal Reserve is a debt to the Federal Reserve. Through the practice of "fractional reserves" every phony debt born dollar becomes $10 all created through accounting entries. So that home loan you "received" was actually no better than Monopoly money, in truth. And should you lose your job and default on the loan, you lose your home to foreclosure. (To the same prick banks, our tax dollars bailed out just 3 years ago, I might add).
The problem I see is that everyone who's pissed off about some peripheral "issue" thinks this Occupy Whatever movement is about their issue. But the core issue is truly the issue of inherent inequity DESIGNED into our current Monetary System. Which leads to the disparity of wealth we know today.
60's and 70's - I was there, and yes, it was relatively leaderless in the beginning. But that was what scared the elitists so much. They didn't have a convenient target, a personality attached to the movement that they could disparage, belittle, and ultimately blame for the upheaval. When some personalities of the movement did eventually begin to emerge in the media, they were immediately taken apart personally, branded as "radicals," and worse. For example, I remember when Howard Zinn lost his job at Boston University after speaking out with the anti-war movement, and became a so-called "leader" or spokesman. He was promptly marginalized, branded as a "troublemaker" by conservative educators and writers, fired, and ignored thereafter by the MSM.
Having no leader right now is a good thing. No one personality can become a target. In addition, no single group is behind it. No one person or organization is bankrolling it, unlike the Tea Party.
The media is beside itself wondering who they can t attack, blame, demonize, and ultimately destroy. Who can they point fingers at? The "99 Percent" that the movement represents?
That's almost everybody, and is too much for them to wrap their meager little brains around. They simply don't realize that the rest of us are just that angry.
Nowadays, in a structured protest organisation those people identified as the central figures ("leaders") would likely get droned out.
having no leader is the only way it will work. you are correct. you describe so well what brought great difficulty to the movements of the 60s/70s.
a movement cannot be brought down if there is no leader. a movement will be derailed, co-opted or marginalized if it is too focused and provides the 'bullet points' MSM and critics whine about.
mr. hightower should have researched ms. bellafante before he used his time and energy on a non-entity. i suggest search nyt and goog.. her. ms. bellafante has stepped into territory beyond her comprehension. she would do well to see that there is no script. there is no beginning. there is no middle. there is no end. there are no main characters. this is not a made for television movie. this is not fiction. this is evolution of a movement.
take heart.
.
Leaders will emerge just like they did when our country began. Remember our history; it took quite a while before the colonists finally had enough oppression from the British government and declared independence. The long list of grievences in the declaration of independence accrued over many years. I just hope our 21st centry impetuous nature does not dampen the movement's spirit and it has time to mature. We must be patient and persevere to succeed.
Excellent post, kane 51. The biggest bankrollers of the "Tea Party" were the Koch brothers who were just exposed this week as having illegally sold oil drilling equipment to Iran - a country on our State Department's official list of terrorist States. Under present U.S. law the Koch brothers should be arrested and charged with consorting with terrorists. I'm not holding my breath. The Fat Boys Institute would rather raid the homes of protesters who sympathize with Palestinian human rights. If only Grace Slick would show up at some D.C. fat cat shindig and slip 400 micro-milligrams of pure LSD into Eric Holder's Illinois enema bandit juice.
port_lookout, I think this is a wonderful opportunity for all progressives, not just the Green Party. By the way, I don't see evidence that Green Party members are even thinking about becoming involved.
I haven't seen any evidence either, manning, and it seems to me they are missing a golden opportunity. I mentioned Greens because they are the progressive party most advanced in ballot access and recognition.
If no progressive party identifies with this movement, and takes advantage of the free publicity available (bad as it might be) now that the MSM is reporting on the demonstrations, what choice will the demonstrators have at the polls in 2012?
We certainly don't want them voting for lesser-evil Dims, but if they have no viable alternative, that is probably what they will do (if they don't stay home).
Perhaps as a beginning, the autonomous nature of these demonstrations is good and proper, but eventually, if we are going to keep this revolution non-violent and bloodless (as most of their spokesmen propose), then they must have an organized political party that reflects their demands. And neither the Rs nor Ds provide that.
So I can see no disadvantage in a progressive party identifying with this movement, but a great disadvantage if the demonstrators do not have an organized political base that they can access at the polls.
Years ago the Green Party was taken over by mole Democrats by hook and crook; thus, the Greens' uselessness and do-nothing-ness.
The mole D.'s are there to ensure that the Greens don't threaten the power/strength of the D. Party, which is why they refused to run Nader/Camejo for Pres & VP when they had the chance, and ran D.'s who exhorted people around the country to vote for Kerry ("anybody but Bush")..
. So forget the Green Party, which began so hopefully, but got mostly (there are still good people involved at the original Green Party www.greenparty.org ) got co-opted by D.'s into a more conservative role in American politics - so much easier to pretend to be "big tent" than to stick to principles.
People should run for office as Independents to challenge the usual garbage. It's another tactic and a great chance to reach the public.
. No need for political parties, which always seem to get in the way. Honest, principled Independents could get together to discuss and create their programs, but a structured party seems to do too much tamping down of spirited, creative individuals. .
"The mole D.'s are there to ensure that the Greens don't threaten the power/strength of the D. Party..."
Others have confirmed the truth of that statement, Cleanearth.
An independent has to establish an organization, and that takes a lot of time and effort.
The Greens already have an organization, but it is being sabotaged.
The effort required to exorcise the poisonous pricks that are plaguing the the Greens should be far less than the effort required to establish a new organization.
And if a new organization were established, it would compete with the Greens for votes. This splitting of the progressive vote would further weaken progressive potential.
100% progressive support for the Greens would make the Greens a political force to be reckoned with, a feat not accomplished since the Populist surge of the 19th century.
We need a single party to represent all progressives, and the Greens are best positioned to fill that role.
port_lookout, you say "We need a single party to represent all progressives, and the Greens are best positioned to fill that role." I wish I could agree, and I might agree upon further investigation, but to date the accomplishments of the Green Party don't seem substantial enough to get behind it. I also don't think there's much chance that progressives will suffer by splitting their vote if an alternative party or movement launches a campaign.
I keep thinking about Ross Perot, who was independent. Before he imploded, he was leading in the polls.
If the Green Party is going to make a difference, they need make it clear that they embrace all the issues, especially economic inequality, torture, the domination of the MIC, and the evolution of the MSM into a tool of oppression, and get candidates out debating each other so that an intelligent pre-election choice can be made by potential voters. My impression of past third party efforts is that the winnowing process (primary elections, caucuses, etc.) that the major parties use has almost never been used by independents or parties with limited appeal such as the Green Party. I would like to have had in 2004 and 2008 eight or ten people with Nader's views contending for the niche Nader stepped into.
Green Party
The Green Party has been involved. Not only have I seen members carrying banners in the Occupy Wall Street videos, but you can go to the Green Party USA, New York State, and NYC Green Party websites to see their involvement.
It would be beyond absurd if the Green Party wasn't involved.
You are absolutely right, Progressive101.
I stand corrected.
http://www.web.gpnys.com/ has a pic of one of their beautiful banners.
After years of pent up frustration, people are beginning to take to the streets. I happened across OccupyNow on a website, and googled occupy Tampa, where I live, when I am not out here on the road. I forwarded the information to my two children, and asked that they support this fledgling movement. My son wrote back that he would rather save his protesting for the upcoming Republican Convention, scheduled to take place in Tampa, my daughter did not reply at all.
Then to my surprise, on Saturday, the first of the scheduled protests, photos and short texts began to come through on my phone, and it seems both my children, and their friends were present, and joining in the small protest and march. Tears of pride welled up in my eyes! Waves of joy filled my heart! I still get teary eyed just thinking about it.
My daughter texted me, and said she joined the media group, at the gathering. This is a movement in the process of being organized now. I'm sure it is the same everywhere. It is only the beginning folks, it may seem lacking leadership and organization now, but that will change soon. Beware Republicrats, it is the beginning of the end for you and your cronies. You have repressed us long enough, there is ample evidence of your wrong doing, and ineptitude! These protests will not dwindle and go away, they will grow, and sweep the nation. These are not mamby pamby protestors you are dealing with, they are everyday young adults, who were well nurtured, learned from an early age the difference between right and wrong, and how to share and cooperate with others. These are young people who played by the rules, studied hard, got good grades, went to sports practive everyday after school, and went to college on acedemic scholarships. They come from working class families who struggled to make ends meet, and believed in the American dream, peace and prosperity, and the ethics taught in our churches and schools.
That's right Mr Hightower, something big is happening, the reign of fear and greed is reaching its end. They are mocking us now, on MSM, but we shall see how quickly they wipe the smirks off their faces, when they are led away in handcuffs to face the judgement of a jury of their peers. There is a new sheriff riding into town, it is the young and old alike, who played by the rules, while others circumvented them, avoided paying their taxes, and held themselves above the laws of the land. The new sheriff is walking softly now, but rest assured they are carrying a big stick, and plan to use it!
And it's not just "young" people. I realize they created and inspired the movement, but we're all in this together. I'm a 'middle aged' underemployed person with student loan debt (from deciding to change careers late in life); a lot of us "older" people are un- or under-employed, some have been foreclosed on; many of us lack health care and have no prospects for retirement. This movement is for everyone who is tired of the free market lies we've been fed for decades. I'd like to see people of all ages and walks of life participate.
As a middle-aged person with a secure, average wage job, I can still see the point in all this. I don't wish wealth on all of us as it leads to even more burden on a slowly collapsing ecosystem. However, the obscene wealth accumulated by the few surely rankles, when so many are struggling to find enough to eat, to pay their bills, to send thier children to school, or just to get some medical attention for gods sake.
This economic system is broken and these protesters know it. What gives when some are pulling in millions in salaries and others die because they can't afford medical care? These bankers and financiers are no smarter, nor more deserving of vast wealth than anyone else- no matter how much they convince themselves otherwise. They have become soulless powermongers with little sense of integrity and honor- witness the Koch brothers and their ilk. They accumulate riches and clothe themselves in the flag and the cross- corrupting the meaning of both. They manipulate the media to hide thier crimes against humanity and the environment. They manipulate the American public like puppeteers, and finally the People are saying enough. ENOUGH.
"These bankers and financiers are no smarter, nor more deserving of vast wealth than anyone else- no matter how much they convince themselves otherwise."
Worth repeating, blueskykate1. THEY are the ones who started the "class warfare."
With the suddenness of a broken shoelace, revolution happens.
Always followed by the counter-revolution, and the betrayal of the revolution...
"Indecipherable purpose..."
May I suggest one and only one purpose for these rallies/protests: Pass a corporate personhhood amendment, specifically limit freedom of speech to truthful, commercial speech.
This is a purpose that everyone, left, right, center can agree on. Until the corporate money is out, no other change for the better will happen.
"A Corporation is not a Person" would:
eliminate Corporate lobbying
eliminate Corporate purchasing of elections
The First Amendment rights of Corporations is at the center of the problem. Perhaps folks are confused because "free speech," per se, isn't an issue, but Corporate lobbying and Corporate political contributions are effectively modern day 'carpetbagging.'
The First Amendment rights of Corporations have allowed the rich and their corporate shells to to become We The People. It's pure insanity.
"It's pure insanity" Absolutely
If I could add one more "purpose" it would be to demand the repeal of the repeal of Glass-Steagall, which effectively breaks up the "banks", otherwise known as capital accumulation machines.
While there really is significant tactical value for the Occupy Together movement(s) to encourage and allow all of the entirely valid and important goals, issues, qua 'demands' of the now organizing 99% of us to be aligned against the well funded, elitist, corporate, financial, and status-quo ruling interests of that tiny 1%, Jim and everyone supportive of being part of Occupy Together need to be cognizant of what this NYT reporter (and all counter-revolutionary forces in the media, corporatist, political, and other reactionary elements of the 1%) are leveraging as anti-liberation barbs and potential counter-strategies --- including this more subtle NYT criticism of Occupy being an "intellectual vacuum" --- all the way to FOX's violence provoking taunt of this movement being anti-capitalist, and thus "communists" by bomb-throwers like O'Reilly has already shouted on air.
Occupy Together is not an "intellectual vacuum" nor "communist" in the sense that a former and truly "vacuous" president shouted about the "evil (communist) empire" --- as if all empires were not by definition "evil", and elitist, and violent, and guileful, and hierarchical, and inexorably lead to extinction!
However, in order to disarm such counter-revolutionary taunts and distractions, in order to confront all serious 'symptom problems', and in order to keep this popular revolt valid in the eyes of all 99% (and to avoid the possibility of violence by some who may be tricked by propaganda of the ruling 1%) it WILL ultimately become essential that the Occupy Together logic and justification of our movement/revolt against the 1%, and for the 99%, articulate clear reasons that are unassailable as being any "intellectual vacuum", and based on universally popular logic, language, narrative, and emotions that can not be attacked by the subtle reactionaries of the NYTimes, nor the fascist reactionaries of FOX.
In order to do this and create the narrative of justifiable revolution that attracts all the 99%, disarms the 1%, and insures non-violence, it will be necessary to have an airtight strategy, believable narrative, and certainly the inverse of an “intellectual vacuum” --- which means that this narrative must be the 'intellectual truth', just as were all democratic revolutions throughout history “Against Empire”.
The starting point for such “intellectual truth”, and an unarguably popular narrative, will have to recognize that we are now in a post-nation-state world --- and that the 1%'s strategy of lies and deceit is already dominating in this 'new world order' --- and by the way things are devolving that new world order is disguised as the vague-sounding lie of “globalization”, but is really the hidden and undiagnosed cancerous tumor of 'global Empire'.
It is absolutely essential, that by being intellectually rigorous and accurate, that the Occupy Together movement focus, like a laser, on the disguised and violent 'global Empire' being the consummate villain of this narrative. The global corporate/financial/militarist Empire that has captured our former country, by hiding behind the facade of its modernized TWO-Party “Vichy” sham of faux-democracy is the real underlying villain of this truthful narrative, just as surely as the occupying Nazi Empire, with its crude, single-party “Vichy” sham of government in France was the villain that all 99% of French people recognized.
In today's real post-nation-state world which we 99% live in, but don't control, the 1% 'empire-thinking' elite have already been building the structure of their disguised 'global Empire' for decades --- with global conditions, agreements, laws, organizations (IMF, GATT, NATO), labor slavery, military force, financial flows, et al all structured to their advantage, but with no allowances for the 99% of global peoples' interests. There are no popular elements to this fast devolving imperium ---- unless one counts the cynical lies of our recent 'cowboy' fascist president toward the disguised imperial wars of the “Pentagon's New Map” in Africa and the greater Middle East as being his “freedom agenda” and “democracy project”. There has been no appreciable integrated and popular movement toward real 'global democracy' including political-economic and social-democracy, “Against Empire”, until this wonderful opportunity of Occupy Together broke out of the dark (or as Morris Berman wrote, “Dark Ages America”) recently.
Realistically, the opportunity for such a people's “Occupy Together” movement to effectively recognize, expose, and then successfully confront this 'global Empire' is most likely to bear fruit in America. Attempts to confront the 'global Empire' within the empire's oil territories of Africa and the Middle East are brave but likely to be met with the “tip of the empire's lance in the face” for the 99% in these regions' popular revolutions wherever their goals confront those of the “Core” of the empire itself.
This is because of the fact, that while the reality is of a post-nation-state world of empire, the disguised reality of the global corporate/financial/militarist Empire itself must still be maintained within such “Old Core” centers of the new world empire. The 'global Empire', while violent and viscous elsewhere, must still, perhaps briefly, maintain a modicum of democratic facade in those centers which have a “special relationship” of disguised partners within the ruling “Old Core” --- most particularly the countries previously known as the US, UK, Israel, Germany, Italy, France and other supposed 'functioning democracies', which share intelligence, military resources, financial 'arrangements', media complicity, and other factors still necessary in protecting the disguise and effective control of 'their thing', the 'global Empire'.
For the above reasons and effectiveness of 'intellectual truth' and historically accurate narrative, the Occupy Together now organically evolving among the 99% of people in what can non-nationalistically be called the former United States of America have a special opportunity, responsibility, and unique popular power to achieve the start of “a great friendship” in revolting for liberty & democracy “Against Empire” both here and throughout 'our world'.
Alan MacDonald
Sanford, Maine
Liberty & democracy
over
violent/Vichy
empire
Well said.
clearbluesky, thanks for your recognition of the issue of disguised Empire, and for your kind words.
I didn't mean to write this comment out of hast or any flippancy, but Jim Hightower's quotation of the NYTimes reporter that the movement was showing an "intellectual vacuum", both annoyed me and caused me to rephrase a statement of the key problem, of 'global Empire', which so many others have been articulating heavily for quite some time.
I only hope that Occupy Together and/or the October 2011 movement in DC will bring the underlying issue of confronting Empire out in the open, the "clearbluesky", if you will --- as October 2011 and Kevin Zeese have indicated they would in their toolkit of the Oct 6 trifold brochure.
http://october2011.org/pages/toolkit
I am confident that Chris Hedges, Ralph Nader, Zeese, and the many others, who will have a voice, but certainly not authoritarian 'leadership', in this "Coming Insurrection" [Negri] and confrontation "Against Empire" [Parenti], will continue articulating a clear message, goal, and demand of confronting Empire as at least a significant, if not seminal, causal factor behind the entire array of problems, issues, and 'symptoms' that Occupy and October 2011 General Assemblies, and brave protestors are so validly been angered, concerned, motivated, and acted against.
Best,
Alan
It is a historic moment and the 99% will finally have an honest picture of the circumstances we face as individuals and know they are not alone. Check out Laura Flanders live stream on the video section here on CD. This issue of globalization is emerging. Thank you again for your articulate understanding of this message.
Cheers!!!!!
#occupy is not Communist, it is not Marxist, it is not even Revolutionary--it is people demanding their country back.
downtownwalker, right on, when you say, "it is people demanding their country back" --- and complete when we add, "from Empire".
Best, Alan
Liberty & democracy
over
violent
empire
Absolutely....This action defies labels....
Thomas Gilbert-
Hightower's comments are well taken. I think what's missing is leadership, not of the people on the streets, but of a progressive political campaign aimed at taking the presidency (and subordinate offices) in 2012. Persons willing to offer themselves as candidates, some of whom are contributors to CD via articles or comments, should be out talking to the protesters and suggesting plans for turning the unorganized discontent into a potent political force. How such persons play on the streets would give those of us yearning for viable candidates for 2012 an idea of who actually has the requisite moral strength, intellectual capacity, and organizing skill.
I think americans want their superiority back, the choice they have is between fascism or egalitarianism.
That's because we are dealing with a people who work for the corporate power who CHOOSE to be ignorant -- which is evil, in my book. Ms. Bellafante knows exactly why those people are there but she purposely will not let her mind even think of it because then she'd have to deal with her conscience.
The Occupy movement isn't hard to understand. The F'ing trycycle is busted - the military, industrial, congressional complex. It never worked well; it just ground people up for profit.
Do what you love and give it away. Distinguish between desire and need. Take/ use only what you need.
That's the real world.
Terran
I am officially declaring Occupy Wall Street the neww 911 journalism litmus test...
any writers that endorse this activity, citing the movement's lack of leadership and definition as proof of success or other, are either liars, or idiots...
hey, Jim!
shall we abandon private property, or is that question too specific for you? are you more into 'feeling' change?
shall we negate all contractual obligation, and dismantle the factories poisoning our world, or shall we play the bongos?
to every thing, turn, turn, turn...
singing and dancing are wonderful...I made a living playing music for many years...
it will not stop drones, however...just as Kennedy's skull did not stop the bullets...
can we get real, again? were we ever?
"hey, Jim! shall we abandon private property...? "
No.
think you will be able to defend yours?
Think you'll be able to abolish all private property, do you? Think that would be desirable, do you?
It worked before and quite well. Someone needs to go live in the Amazon Rainforest for a couple years and do research...:)
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win."
- Gandhi
We're already at Step 2! Now that's promising progress!