May Day: A Day Without the 99% - Occupy General Strike In Over 135 US Cities
By louisehartmann
Workers of the world are uniting in a global day of action to commemorate International Workers Day. In hundreds of cities across America and around the world in London, Barcelona, Toronto, Kuala Lampur, and Sydney – there are calls for a general strike with no working, no shopping and no banking. The Occupy Movement here in the United States is branding it as a day without the 99%.
In response – Wall Street banks are coordinating with each and with the police to monitor today’s marches and rallies around New York City. While the banks haven’t disclosed exactly how they plan to deal with the protests, one security adviser compared to Occupy demonstrators to “wolves.” Since the Occupy movement began last year – more than 2,100 demonstrators have been arrested in New York City and still not a single bankster has been convicted of crimes on Wall Street.
That’s why today is so important – as working people around the world fight back against abuses of power and the corporate takeover of our democracy and economy.
Comments
#2
occupy KC held a protest ouside KCPL headquarters today to bring attention to the company not paying federal taxes
#3
the local abc affiliate did air the story of the five men that attempted to blow up the bridge in OH as terrorists and anarchists. they even showed their pictures. this was a bit surprising but it's good theykre taking fairness and accuracy in reporting more seriously since the new general manager that took over is a woman.
#4
What did I do?...called in sick, went for a light run, had a light breakfast, and participated in day long conversations with like minded citizens at the local occupy event. The crowd demographics seemed to tilt a bit in favor of the younger age group, which I think is a good sign regarding the possible future revitalization of democracy.
A variety of small group discussions followed a general orientation, ending with a protest at the Courthouse.
I came away impressed by an exchange with a member of the Socialist Party. I couldn't get him to yield one bit, to my notion that capitalism, highly regulated by....."We The People,"..... might be a functional way to distribute wealth more fairly. He's convinced that without a total Leon Trotsky...ish revolution the destructive social outcomes related to the concentration of wealth and power will remain in place....... maybe he's right!
#5
Bolshevist revolution of the Trotzkyist kind in our divided America? You have to shoot about at least 50% of all Americans (right-wingers) dead, to accomplish that. I mean, you can dream to win the lotto jackpot and dine with Mitt Romney as well. Well, actually you have to shoot much more than 50%, because even most liberals don't believe in communism. I don't either. Communism is a group of revolutionaries becoming dictators by armed force and then prohibiting the free market. The reality showed again and again, these revolutionaries become oligarchs soon and live like kings themselves.
The guy you talked to is entirely out of touch. I don't discuss with crazy dreamers like that. He can try to start his revolution, but you bet he will end up in jail before the revolution starts -- like those anarchistic crazies who planed to blow up bridges.
Did he tell you how many machine-guns, bomb-throwers ect. he already has piled? Is he rehearsing civil war daily with his Trotzkyist revolution army? I mean, the cohorts of southern rednecks are fairly well armed and many of them must be amazing shots....
#6
Fact is, the American people can make any idea or dream come true : by voting in Congress people accordingly. So if we don't have a communistic majority in Congress, it is because most Americans don't believe in communism. If your Trotzkyist pal wants to change the United States to communism, he has to convince the American people this would be good for them. This won't be too easy, since Americans are pretty stubborn and old-fashioned....
Theoretically you can change America to a felinarchy, by voting cats into Congress and White House. I mean, you can change America to everything, if you manage to convince the American people. But if you're not smart enough to convince them, you're gonna try it by violence????
#7
I knew those last few words in my post would cause someone to comment, good for you, I agree with the anti-violent sentiment, although history doesn't show this to be very realistic.
Don't worry, I'm a steadfast Democratic Socialist. I actually brought up much of what you posted during my conversation. I never got a sense this individual was advocating leading a red army into overthrowing our own oligarchy. But I did get a sense he really cared about social justice and that was good enough for me.
The concentration of wealth and power has lead to a situation every bit as destructive and violent as the "red army," armed force, you allude to, just ask the bankster victims, those who have lost their homes, jobs, and hard earned 401ks, along with their physical and mental health. How about the welfare of their children.......do they have a choice regarding the resulting misery and poverty? Ask those harmed by BP's 2010 oil spill, ask those working two low paying jobs in order to make ends meet, ask those who suffer because they can't afford proper healthcare, ask the unemployed college graduate who has to move back home because guys like Romney downsized and outsourced jobs to line their own pockets. It's already quite VIOLENT out there, thanks to the golden rule, "those with the gold making the rule", how about a little DEMOCRACY with our fascism? I recall not long ago, 3/4's of the citizens being in favor of the Buffett rule...some DEMOCRACY!
#8
I know you're a very smart guy and consistently democratic campaigner. I was just happy that you brought those ideological points up, because many Americans have no clue what it actually means. My comments here are basically trials to educate Americans -- above all to neutralize GOP prejudices.
Your saying "I'm a steadfast Democratic Socialist" might tempt some right-winger to call you a communist:
You better not dare it right-wingers! Communists considered Social Democrats their worst enemies since the 19th century. Communists hated, jailed and even killed a lot of Social Democrats during the 20th century. If you hate linguistically being beaten up by a girl, you better not spread out right-wing lies on a liberal blog....
Communists just abused the term "socialism" (Sozialimus), which actually was a Social Democratic term. As many communistic regimes even called themselves "democratic" which was lying as well.
#9
Women Protest Worldwide Mayday 2012
http://cryptome.org/2012-info/women-mayday-2012/women-mayday-2012.htm
#10
The mere fact that there are Socialist party members and leaders encouraging and taking part in the Occupy movement and promoting communism should scare everyone. It is just as simple as that.
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The occupy movement in Kilimanjaro did not have a real good day, or a day that they planned yesterday, but maybe it was because they planned to prevent work and school but didn't get organized till 10 am.
#11
I would be scared, if they were many -- but they aren't. Communists are a very small minority these days. The ideological threat are the radical government-hating libertarians, which are close the anarchism.
#12
"We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people."
John F. Kennedy
Andrew, stay fearful my friend, because, as long as you are fearful you are paralyzed. There is nothing sweeter than the thought of paralyzed Facsists!
#13
Well, to me he didn't seem to be one of those maliciously bold righties, so I held my horses. Maybe Andrew called in today.... right, Andrew??
However, there was a caller on Thom's show who uttered exactly the same fears. Let me try to explain it this way, Andrew: In our American society we also have very few people who consider themselves monarchists. Monarchists were a problem during the 1700s and 1800s, but today they are such small minority, they're nothing but a joke. Just a few crazies.
Same goes for communists : during the 1930s a huge threat -- today communism is absolutely disproved. Only a small minority believes in that, otherwise we'd see that in Congress. Did you hear any communistic speeches in Senate or House recently? No, in America communism is dead since the 40s.
Libertarianism is just as crazy as communism, but as we all know, crazy Ron Paul has lots of crazy fans. You heard them everywhere over the last months. The communistic insanity is the idea that it would be possible to plan the entire economy, including private consume. The libertarian insanity is the idea that you can let go an economy without government regulation, as if there wasn't any crime going on -- just lawless anarchy. Libertarianism is very much alive, therefore dangerous. Communism is just as crazy, but actually dead.
Another example: There are also a few lesbians, who advocate female dictatorship, by suppressing men. But this isn't a realistic threat to you guys Andrew, because it's a very small minority. Most lesbians are tolerant liberals.
#14
The caller also claimed, libertarians would be very much like progressives.
Well, progressives are actually liberals. And liberals are comparable to angles who feel like doing lots of good to the poor. Libertarians are the devils who don't care for the poor. Liberals have too much compassion to do away with food stamps -- libertarians are merciless in this.
Liberals = sharing socially
Libertarians = asocial selfishness (everybody cares for themselves)
Click my avatar and read more under my profile......
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What's really needed is a week long strike so the 1% can really see how dependent they are on the 99%.