Bank of England Executive: Occupy Movement Was 'Right'
Arguments of anti-banking movement 'loud and persuasive'
A senior executive at the Bank of England on Monday said the Occupy London Stock Exchange was "loud and persuasive" and helped prompt a "reformation of finance."
Andrew Haldane, executive director of financial stability for the bank, said the protestors attracted public support because "they are right," The Independent reports.
Occupy London Stock Exchange spokesman Ronan McNern said Haldane's comments were "definitely welcome," but he added, "They could have done something about this a lot faster."
While some argue that the group's efforts have been "long on problems, short on solutions," and others that the financial system remains "essentially unaltered ... and reform has failed," Haldane said, "I wish to argue both are wrong."
He continued:
Occupy's voice has been both loud and persuasive and that policymakers have listened and are acting in ways which will close those fault-lines. In fact, I want to argue that we are in the early stages of a reformation of finance, a reformation which Occupy has helped stir ... You have put the arguments. You have helped win the debate. And policymakers, like me, will need your continuing support in delivering that radical change.
Barclays and Lloyds seek to change their "sales-oriented culture" and return to their Quaker roots, the BBC reports Haldane said. "There is the quiet, but unmistakable, sound of a leaf being turned. If I am right and a new leaf is being turned, then Occupy will have played a key role in this fledgling financial reformation. You have put the arguments. You have helped win the debate. And policymakers, like me, will need your continuing support in delivering that radical change."
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
A senior executive at the Bank of England on Monday said the Occupy London Stock Exchange was "loud and persuasive" and helped prompt a "reformation of finance."
Andrew Haldane, executive director of financial stability for the bank, said the protestors attracted public support because "they are right," The Independent reports.
Occupy London Stock Exchange spokesman Ronan McNern said Haldane's comments were "definitely welcome," but he added, "They could have done something about this a lot faster."
While some argue that the group's efforts have been "long on problems, short on solutions," and others that the financial system remains "essentially unaltered ... and reform has failed," Haldane said, "I wish to argue both are wrong."
He continued:
Occupy's voice has been both loud and persuasive and that policymakers have listened and are acting in ways which will close those fault-lines. In fact, I want to argue that we are in the early stages of a reformation of finance, a reformation which Occupy has helped stir ... You have put the arguments. You have helped win the debate. And policymakers, like me, will need your continuing support in delivering that radical change.
Barclays and Lloyds seek to change their "sales-oriented culture" and return to their Quaker roots, the BBC reports Haldane said. "There is the quiet, but unmistakable, sound of a leaf being turned. If I am right and a new leaf is being turned, then Occupy will have played a key role in this fledgling financial reformation. You have put the arguments. You have helped win the debate. And policymakers, like me, will need your continuing support in delivering that radical change."
A senior executive at the Bank of England on Monday said the Occupy London Stock Exchange was "loud and persuasive" and helped prompt a "reformation of finance."
Andrew Haldane, executive director of financial stability for the bank, said the protestors attracted public support because "they are right," The Independent reports.
Occupy London Stock Exchange spokesman Ronan McNern said Haldane's comments were "definitely welcome," but he added, "They could have done something about this a lot faster."
While some argue that the group's efforts have been "long on problems, short on solutions," and others that the financial system remains "essentially unaltered ... and reform has failed," Haldane said, "I wish to argue both are wrong."
He continued:
Occupy's voice has been both loud and persuasive and that policymakers have listened and are acting in ways which will close those fault-lines. In fact, I want to argue that we are in the early stages of a reformation of finance, a reformation which Occupy has helped stir ... You have put the arguments. You have helped win the debate. And policymakers, like me, will need your continuing support in delivering that radical change.
Barclays and Lloyds seek to change their "sales-oriented culture" and return to their Quaker roots, the BBC reports Haldane said. "There is the quiet, but unmistakable, sound of a leaf being turned. If I am right and a new leaf is being turned, then Occupy will have played a key role in this fledgling financial reformation. You have put the arguments. You have helped win the debate. And policymakers, like me, will need your continuing support in delivering that radical change."

