Revolt against a system that only benefits the top 1 percent...
By louisehartmann
Tens of thousands of people flooded the streets of Oakland yesterday to participate in Occupy Oakland’s call for a general strike. Banks, businesses and schools across the city shutdown – with about one-fifth of the city’s teachers skipping school to participate in the strike – the first of its kind in a major city in 65 years. As evening fell, roughly ten thousand patriots marched to the Port of Oakland. The peaceful crowd blocked all the entrances – and then mounted containers, cranes, and trucks - forcing the nation’s fifth busiest port and a major entry point for imported Asian-manufactured goods to shut down for the night.
But after the crowd dispersed and went home – the streets of Oakland were again turned into a warzone as a small group of protestors set a fire in the middle of the street. After midnight – tear gas canisters and flash bangs were deployed by police to disperse the crowds – putting a tumultuous cap on a peaceful day of action. Seattle, New York, and Washington, DC – as well as several other cities – held solidarity marches with Occupy Oakland as well yesterday.
America is beginning to look like Europe, with young people in open revolt against a system that only benefits the top 1 percent.
Comments
#2
When we hear report after report of police brutality, like the woman's account Thom played a few times who was denied a mattress in jail, toilet paper, forced to go to the bathroom in a hole in full view of any male guard who walked by, etc., or hear/see video of poilce beating, pepper spraying, etc.--why won't local and state governments do anything about this? We have ZERO credibility when we talk about tactics used in other countries when we do the same things here. And everyone around the world hears and sees this. Shouldn't that matter to us? Too many police are on a power trip, with little to no regulation of their abuses. It's disgusting.
#3
RE: The Occupations
I have come to think of The Occupations as a permeating mist that is beginning to cover the world. Every time the mist finds a crack in the bulwark that the 1% have errected, they seep in carrying the illuminating torch of truth and freedom to expose those that would prefer the darkness to light.
#4
It is obvious "WE" must keep up the Occupy Movement, it IS making an impact. We must also get Citizens United overturned. I watched your show this morning where someone had brought up the Bill proposed by Senator Tom Udall to amend the Constituion to overturn Citizens United, this is what I have posted on Sen. Udall's Facebook page concerning his Bill;
I have read Senator Tom Udall's and the other Senators' proposed Bill. In my opinion, having read the proposal, it is nothing more than a band-aid, a farce!
Democratic/Republican/Independent Party, it matters not. WE the PEOPLE cannot continue to allow OUR elected officials to play with campaign finance reform. And to keep favoring their bank accounts! This proposed Bill does not go nearly far enough. To leave it up to the elected officals in OUR State and Federal government to say how much can be given by corporations in election campaigns is insane, does "Fox In The Henhouse" ring a bell? The problem with campaigns is the amount of money that IS involved, which goes to the media and the candidates accounts. How many legislators would vote to cut their throat to serve the 99%?
Unless this Amendment has language serving the true spirit of the US Constitution it can do more damage, than good!
Read the two page Bill for yourself here; Constitutional Amendment Bill: http://www.scribd.com/doc/71154073/A-Constitutional-Amendment-to-Reform-...
I and the majority of natural people believe, in order to represent the VOICE OF THE 99% over the Corporations' undue influences, the proposed Constitutional Amendment MUST read; CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE AND MONEY IS NOT SPEECH!
If you would like to share your opinion or ask questions of Senator Tom Udall, you can do so here; https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150364525292870&set=a.10150115...
Here is the Amendment language;
MCG11359 S.L.C.
112TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION
S. J. RES. ll
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
llllllllll
Mr. UDALL of New Mexico (for himself, Mr. BENNET, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. MERKLEY, and Mr. WHITEHOUSE) introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on llllllllll
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the UnitedStates relating to contributions and expenditures in-tended to affect elections.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission by the Congress: 82 MCG11359 S.L.C.
‘‘ARTICLE —
‘‘SECTION 1. Congress shall have power to regulate the raising and spending of money and in kind equivalents with respect to Federal elections, including through setting limits on —
‘‘(1) the amount of contributions to candidates for nomination for election to, or for election to, Federal office; and ‘‘(2) the amount of expenditures that may be made by, in support of, or in opposition to such candidates.
‘‘SECTION 2. A State shall have power to regulate the raising and spending of money and in kind equivalents with respect to State elections, including through setting limits on —
‘‘(1) the amount of contributions to candidates for nomination for election to, or for election to, State office; and ‘‘(2) the amount of expenditures that may be made by, in support of, or in opposition to such candidates.
‘‘SECTION 3. Congress shall have power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation.’’.
I totally agree with you Thom, this is NOT what is needed to serve the natural PEOPLE's interest.
Danny Williams
www.thebridgetonowhere.org
#5
heres one for all y'all to smoke for a minute. did you catch the one about how congrees has become 25% richer in the last to years? thier personal wealth grows as ours sinks, that stinks. I'd say its time to accupy congress!!!!! ONe has to wonder how a congress person can acrue 25% more wealth in 2 years to my wopping 3-4% on my retirement acount. oops wait the loss of 3-4%!!!!!!!
#6
I recently re-read Eric Hoffer's "The True Believer" about movements. I was inspired to read it again because of the Tea Party. He talks about the dynamics of movements and one of those features is that they can attract disparate groups and individuals. People come into agreement on one thing, but they can come from many disparate paths, of course.
I seriously doubt that these are agents provocateurs, because lighting a fire in the middle of a street or throwing something at a cop just seems dumb. Unless you wanted to pay someone to do something to discredit the movement. I like Thom's attitude. The main movement has peaceful aims. Any body provoking violence or mayhem is not with the program.
#7
Beautifully said, Tarry. I am part of the mist, are you?
#8
I like your subscriber jkh6148's suggestion of Christmas for Kids Only. The message will be felt in the purse of the One Percent'ers and all the way back to China!
#9
The corporate media claims the 99% are not specific enough... LET'S BE SPECIFIC! Imagine if this simple 4 word sign was shown by ALL the occupied cities ALL AT ONCE!
TAX TRADES
FIX INFRASTRUCTURE
I believe you explained (on your radio show) that there was once a .025% tax on every trade made on Wall St... Well, what we need is to concentrate our efforts and make government know exactly what we want:
TAX TRADES
FIX INFRASTRUCTURE
This will slow down the computer gambling on Wall St. and raise millions of dollars (possibly Billions) that could be directed IMMEDIATELY to fixing our infrastructure and instantly creating MILLIONS OF JOBS!
Plus, I'd also put people to work putting free solar charging stations in every public street (in front of local small businesses) so people would be more inclined to buy electric vehicles and shop at local independent businesses!
Also, I just read that they fixed the problem with solar-thermal towers (the fact that they can't produce electricity at night) - They now have found a way so heat builds up during the day and keeps the generators producing electricity for 24hrs! So, we can build these in the deserts (and vertical windmills on every Gov building) and be 100% energy independent (at least from mid-east oil).
I'm trying to do my part by organizing all the electric vehicle owners with websites I'm setting up such as: http://NeighborhoodElectricVehicles.org, http://CityElectricVehicles.com and http://Greenscioius.com (where I've written a new article on the 99%)
Let's all get behind the 99% PATRIOTS!
George Lewis
#10
HIT THEM IN THE POCKET BOOK!
The bangsters, the WSR (wall street rapists) they are all about the bottom line. That is it. Get enough people to boycott where ever their imprint intersects with our lives and sustain the boycott until they have to fold because their line has hit bottom...
NO banks... credit unions. boycot something they (Bangsters and WSR etc) hold dear for a week. Sacrifice a little, their bottom line will drop. Pick a corporation, find out their best seller, their highest profit maker and stop using it. etc, etc etc...
#11
WELL thank you GEORGE!
MAYBE THOM will mention it on his programs??
THIS month businesses of all sorts are gearing up for the after THANKSGIVING CHRISTMAS sales.
LETS consider a CHRISTMAS strike against big business. CHRISTMAS for kids only.
GIVE yourself a CHRISTMAS present by using the money normally spent on CHRISTMAS presents toward an extra credit card or car payment.
BUSINESSES will be overstocked and after CHRISTMAS will have major markdowns.
#12
REVOLUTION!
What a perfect shutdown. Now the people will know who is on the side of the Occupation. I would say a fire lit in the street to keep warm after the Occupiers had dispersed was not necessary, as the shutdown had already been effective. Many such shutdowns countrywide, worldwide, would continue in being effective.
Now, some of you believe that the Marines and branches of the Military are far and few between, so to speak, but I tell you, this is not so. It takes time to organize but you need to know how extremely dedicated these men and women are from the U.S. forces, so I am going to play a video which Thom and Louise had linked up to one of their other sites. Please watch the video until you have heard the two Military men speak on an interview with freespeach.org.
http://www.freespeech.org/category/tags/scott-olsen
People of these United States of America! Do not rise up with guns against your government. This is what THE PEOPLE'S MILITARY, YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS, ARE TRAINED TO DO. They are trained in warfare. They are outfitted for warfare. Most of you, the people, are not.
It is important, therefore to understand that the People themselves, without their Military ON THEIR SIDE, would never succeed in winning against the force of the 1%, if it comes to that. The 1% are not going to hand you, the people, anything of much worth without an all out fight.
This is where your Military comes into play, and with the Military in favor of the People of these United States of America, and in favor of upholding the Constitution as they are sworn to do, the 1% and all police forces WILL HAVE TO BACK DOWN.
When this happens, the corrupt ones can be removed out of their high and semi-high positions over the people, put in one of the 800 secret concentration camps which they have built for you, the people, and in a domino effect the old system will collapse, clearing the way for the new system FOR THE PEOPLE! The new system will be then put into effect.
Let the Marines guide you, the people, then, for they abhor anybody getting hurt when it can be avoided.
You have the shutdowns you can do. You have the coordination of collecting material goods for the protesters among you, as well as names, places, dates, and details, of the 1% criminals and their worker eyes.
Those who cannot attend the Occupations for one reason or another, there is something of importance for each and every one of you to participate in for this is an Occupation, world wide where the secret of the "ONENESS OF UNITY" is what the 1% hoped you would never learn.
This will be the downfall of the 1% and their worker eyes, for we turn the strategy of oneness right back upon them.
Speak therefore, to your sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, wives, nieces, nephews, husbands and perhaps even grandparents who are in the Military and tell them you NEED THEIR HELP, THEIR PROTECTION, SO YOU, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS DO NOT BECOME HURT.
Tell them you need the Constitution protected and the rights of each citizen of these United States and you will have succeeded in BRINGING YOUR MILITARY OF THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BACK WHERE THEY BELONG, DOING WHAT THEY WERE TRAINED TO DO - AND THAT IS TO PROTECT THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FROM TYRANNY, TERRORISM (911 inside job) WITHIN THE HOME BOUNDARIES FROM WITHIN THEIR OWN PENTAGON, BLACKWATER, ETC, , AND TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND .........
THEY WILL BE THERE!
#13
Until the mischief be grown general, and the evil designs of the rulers become VISIBLE, the people, who are more disposed to suffer than to right themselves by resistance, are not apt to stir. (Locke)
In my opinion the key to nonviolent change is widespread VISIBILITY of plain political truth. The Occupy Movement is the perfect vehicle for this, it's especially needed to counter the right wing echo chamber and it's many weapons of mass deception. The Movement seems to be an ever expanding shout out to those not apt to stir.
Attention seeking violence is not needed! To those 1%ers drunk with wealth and power, I think the message is quite clear, "We The People," demand real change.
#14
I don't think we can accomplish change here without violence as long as money has the greatest voice in our society and there are those willing to lick those finely made boots to keep that power in place. Citizen's United tells our leaders that the voice of the voting public does not matter. The 2000 and 2004 presidential elections have shown us that the voice of the people does not matter--voting/elections are just as corrupt here as in any place on the planet. The American Revolution, the Russian Revolution, the French Revolution, etc. are examples. In the Middle East, currently, the corrupt leaders would not step down until they were FORCED, hunted down with violence.
Those who feel they deserve ALL and are entitled to ALL will not give it up unless FORCED to. Currently the logic that "we do better when we ALL do well" has not made an impact. The bare-assed fact that money cannot keep stopping with the 1% does not register in their minds. The economy is a circle; they have broken that circle.
THEY are destroying the economy. THEY are destroying the United States. They claim they are smart. I don't see anything smart in keeping all the capital for themselves and starving the rest of us. We outnumber them. They are just ASKING FOR IT, to be dragged into the streets for justice. They DO NOT LOVE the United States. They are driving it toward destruction for profit.
I abhor violence, but I don't see any other way. The wealthy must fall on their sword of arrogance and selfishness so that the rest of us may live.
#15
I was part of the mist going all the way back into the 60's!
#16
We need to organize an international movement to demand a 4 day work week. Say it in english, say it in spanish, french, german, russian, chinese. We Want A 4 Day Work Week Now. We want a 4 day work week at an affordable wage. Give the children their parents back. Give us our lives back. With this economic reform we can create a new international middle class where everyone has a job and prosperity.
#17
There is something going on. I am going to be a part of it. I was at the WTO protests in Seattle when a bunch of anarchists started busting windows with crowbars. We surrounded them and they got in a circle with their crowbars. I tried to get the Seattle police to come arrest these people that were thirty feet away and threatening violence and breaking windows... The Seattle police would not budge from their "police line", making all of us the enemy. The Corporate Occupation of the United States Our corporate controlled government (through corporate lobbying and election funding ) is out of the peoples control. People want government control back. Makes sense to me... I feel US corporate capitalism (corporatism) is a type of economic fascism: To have a corporate being where the chain of command eventually muddles all responsibility to any human being. These corporate beings are running your life and controlling your government. (Enough to really make an individual mad and protest.) The corporate being does not exist, and when it comes to face it's corporate responsibility, it is a piece of paper. That is plain and simply wrong. Restore capitalism to individual responsible chains of command, or this struggle will be lost. (This also includes corporate lobbying and corporate election funding, being outlawed; and a new form closer to individual control is established.) Please Sign the petition to amend the Constitution for revoking corporate personhood at: movetoamend.org I feel this will be a bigger day in history for the US than WTO in Seattle: January 20, 2012 – Move to Amend Occupies the Courts! Move To Amend is planning bold action to mark this date — Occupy the Courts — a one day occupation on Friday January 20, 2012, of the Federal Courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States and as many of the 89 U.S. District Court Buildings as we can. Inspired by Dr. Cornell West, who was arrested on the steps of the Supreme Court last month, Move to Amend will lead the charge on the judiciary which created — and continues to expand — corporate personhood rights. http://open.salon.com/blog/kennspace/2011/10/...
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