Why Occupy Wall Street Is A Must October 13, 2011
Posted by nrhatch in Mindfulness, People, Sustainable Living.trackback
Greedy bankers are running amok on Wall Street and running this country (and the global economy) into the ground.
Dishonest financiers, who took home multi-million dollar salaries and bonuses for ripping off the American people, put politicians in office.
Politicians pay them back by granting them key political appointments ~ effectively putting sly foxes in charge of regulating and overseeing our investments in chicken coops and hen houses.
The wrong people are getting thrown in jail. Our representatives have forgotten WHO they represent. It’s time for a change.
It’s time to take back Wall Street for We The People.
For more information: Protesters Against Wall Street (The New York Times)
Related post: The Better World Handbook * Crises of Capitalism * Jail Wall Street Crooks! * Food, Inc. * Why We Fight * Good Night & Good Luck * The Story of Broke * Musings: We Are The 99% (Mirth & Motivation)
Yes! I agree.
It’s time to change . . . bankers!
I find it amazing that my first response to this post somehow got lost in the system – No I’m not Joking!
I agree entirely with you Nancy. I’m fed up with hearing the ‘We have to pay bonuses to get the best people’. The ‘best’ people have shown that they are just useless and greedy – time to sack them and let the youngsters have a go.
Someone will please explain to me why a manager needs a bonus to do his job properly while us mortals do our job properly on our standard pay.
I checked my Spam folder . . . it’s not there. Not sure where it went.
Wish we could get rid of the Greedy Crooks on Wall Street as easily as that. I’m delighted that people are finally waking up to realize that we need to take an active role in world affairs because our representatives are mucking it up!
I also couldn’t agree with you more. The figures that representtive quoted were appalling. And yet those greedy bankers, shortly after the feds bailed them out, gave themselves humungous bonuses for doing a good job. If an ordinary person did that, s/he would be jailed AND convicted of any number of broken laws and infractions.
It just makes me sick, and this one gets me going even more than the women’s rights debate did.
They should ALL be in jail. And the money they stole should be taken back from them.
This is the first time I’ve heard a take on this over here in the UK. I agree totally: someone’s got to say, thus far and no further. How much longer must we champion crooked values?
Fingers crossed that we have turned the corner and will now start to fix what’s broken.
Did you see that the mayor is planning on evicting the Occupiers tomorrow? http://civic.moveon.org/defend_ows/?rc=c4_defend_ows_letter.fb.v2.g0
I did. I hope he doesn’t.
It’s time for our greedy leaders to pay attention to what’s ailing us.
My son has been in support of this movement from the start. At first they didn’t have a very clear message. I think they are getting more focused.
Wall St. Isn’t an entity per se, more a conglomeration, so it’s kind of difficult to lash out against “Wall Street.” but you’re right about the banks and bankers.
They are more focused and they are growing. Even if they are evicted from Wall Street . . . the movement has spread to other cities and I expect will continue to grow in numbers.
I know what they mean by “Wall Street” . . . it’s not just the street or the stock exchange, it’s the Greed Is Good mentality that we object to. It’s time for a change. Our representatives in Washington DC need to represent US not THEM.
I am astonished that my fellow Republicans are calling for more deregulation. Are they nuts? That’s what got us into this mess.
Yes. They are nuts. 😦
Warren Buffett has the right idea . . . TAX THE RICH! They can afford it. 😀
I’m thrilled that you wrote this post, Nancy.
It’s too bad that we’ve come to the point we have . . . it’s time to hold our politicians accountable for failing to adequately represent us.
There are more than one hundred cities involved now. We are getting a sign for our yard that says we are the other %99.
Thanks for posting on this Nancy. Education and knowledge are our weapons.
It’s time to take back our country for “We The People.”
Glad to hear that they are getting their message a little clearer! And what a crock that we’re in this mess to begin with!!
(and it’s good to be back, Nancy!)
Marianne Williamson spoke at Occupy L.A. today. She made some good points. Time for a change.
I saw Alan Grayson on Bill’s show, he was very sharp with his words about what is going on in America. The Occupy Wall Street has just this weekend come to South Carolina’s cities–Greenville and Spartanburg. And to Asheville in North Carolina. We have to stand and give our support.
I am optimistic that (1) We The People have opened our eyes to what’s been going on and (2) that our representatives in DC will see that we mean it . . . TIME FOR A CHANGE!
I am watching this with great interest, Nancy. Just over a year ago I posted:
http://adeeyoyo.wordpress.com/2010/08/05/greed-is-a-pig/
I’ll check out your link . . . the title seems familiar to me.
Capitalism is fine . . . the guy selling fruit from a farm stand is a capitalist. Unbridled greed is not ~ it’s toxic.
Nancy, I find it hard to keep up with blogs these days, but did manage to catch this one. I totally agree with you. I think greed is international, and so is the disease which drives people to seek excessive remuneration.
Thank you for the post, Nancy.
John
We are taught to measure our self-worth by WHAT we do for a living instead of by HOW we do it.
I’d rather be friends with an HONEST day laborer than with a DISHONEST billionaire.
At the moment, unbridled egos are running amok wanting larger and larger compensation for the bragging rights, power, and prestige. When we STOP venerating wealth above all else, things will change. We will focus on BEING the best we can be, instead of on collecting the BIGGEST piece of the pie.
I second that… A travesty indeed! 😦
Here’s to shaking up the status quo . . . and changing the way we do business.
Yes! Yes! Wherever we are in the world it seems to be the same.
It’s time to change . . . bankers! 😉
How to make political representatives accountable for what they are supposed to do is something that no political system I know of is designed to do – power is the ultimate corruptor and I see very few politicians in it “for the people” – politics is the very ugly face of human nature
We are supposed to have checks and balances between the Executive, Judicial and Legislative Branches. Sadly, they are all in cahoots and cannot be relied upon to rein each other in.
We may be witnessing the fall of the Roman Empire in the not too distant future.
My objection is that the protesters want to raise the taxes of the rich, which means that the money will go to the government, not to any individual citizens, so we still won’t have more to spend.
What I would prefer is that the pay given to top corporation executives, should be spread out among all the company employees, so they will have considerably more to spend as consumers. That is what will get the enconomy working again.
The protesters job is to protest the status quo. They are not responsible for drafting the legislation needed to fix things. 😀
If they’re not making any helpful suggestions to any legislators, about how any laws should be drafted, then they are not being responsible citizens. According to the Constitution, people have “the right to assemble peacably, to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The key word is “petition”. That is a document signed by citizens not only expressing their complaints, but also containing suggestions about how to correct the situation.
If the protesters aren’t drafting or signing any petitions, containing any constructive ideas, then they are just a mob.
If any protesters do have constructive suggestions, but don’t want to sign any petitions, they could put down those signs, then log on to the internet, and send the suggestions to his or her congressman or congresswoman.
The right to petition government for redress of grievances is the right to make a complaint to, or seek the assistance of, one’s government, without fear of punishment or reprisals.
A petition can be oral or written.
I agree with your ‘take’ on why they are protesting; that is, there is a need to change our system …but after seeing many of them interviewed, I don’t think many of them know why they are protesting… that’s a problem, in my opinion. Also, flat out “change” isn’t neccessarily a good thing… it depends on ‘how’ we change, do you agree? I don’t want to live in a socialist or communist country. I believe in Capitalism to a certain extent. I own my own business; I get out of it what I put in. I don’t expect the government to hand me money just because I want some and feel disenfranchised. What I don’t believe in is “lifelong politicians”. I think that’s where the change needs to begin, in DC where honest ‘for the people’ types can then regulate Wall St.
You make excellent points, Anne.
The problem is not “capitalism” . . . it’s unbridled GREED. It’s CEO’s and bankers wanting a bigger piece of the pie no matter the cost to the planet, the economy, or the laborers.
And, yes, the change needs to begin in DC ~ immoral politicians are prone to helping immoral bankers and businessmen. We need honesty and accountability from our representatives.
As the movement has grown, it has started to solidify from general discontent into more focused grievance. I appreciate the protesters passion. They are starting to get the attention of the powers-that-be.
[…] Why Occupy Wall Street is a must (nrhatch.wordpress.com) […]
Changes . . .
Time may change me but I can’t change time.
~ Bowie