UPDATE:
Thanks for the amazing support my video has received! Special thanks to John Cusack, Roseanne Barr, Karoli, OneVoice2, MoveOn.org, Charles Gaba & Daily Kos and Lawrence O’Donnell (for airing a portion on The Last Word 10/11/11)!
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Why #OccupyWallStreet? This is what I asked myself a week ago. But after some reflection and a very good article from FireDogLake.com, I have since come around to embracing it with excitement and hope. But let’s start with a week ago.
From what I could gather online, their goals seemed so sweeping and romantically abstract that I felt some disappointment. Yet again, Democrats had the bodies but not the message.
As much as I deride the Tea Party, at least they have specific goals in mind. (Of course, it helps when those goals are distributed by a well-financed Koch machine and a guy with Wolverine sideburns.) But it seemed to me that Occupy Wall Street was priding itself on the fact that their demands were a “work in progress.” This just baffles a calcified liberal brain like mine that’s been in the Southern California sun too long.
Here are the aspects of OWS that sort of chaffed my political sensibilities:
1. When a movement focuses on police brutality, the message gets lost.
Sure, JP Morgan Stanley donated 4.6 million to the NYPD. But that was back in June. Conspiracy theorists don’t seem to care, though, and that just adds to the “crazy” drawer in America’s kitchen, tossed on top of the Birthers and Truthers.
My take on the “Bologna” attitude is that it is a byproduct of the NYPD militarization over the decade since 9/11. Good for fighting terrorism, bad for handling protests.
2. It’s offensive when people start comparing OWS with Tahrir Square.
Yes, the tactical approach to demonstrating is similar. But the Egyptians had a very specific goal in mind. And much more importantly, everyone was risking their lives just by being there. Every day. As flawed as America may be, it is not Egypt.
3. Kill Capitalism.
I don’t want to kill Capitalism. It’s been my friend more days than not. I’d rather fence it in and teach it how to play well with others — have compassion at its center. Otherwise, it’ll just eat itself. I like the potential of the Capitalist/Socialist blend we’ve been tinkering with. It’s just that the tinkering needs to be a full blown overhaul!
4. The lack of a tangible set of demands.
Without it, how do you win? Yup. This was my Western treadmill thinking. I’ve since realized that my ideas of how OWS should be run are irrelevant. It’s happening, baby! It ain’t perfect, but it encompasses many things that I’ve been thinking and feeling. And since its goals are fluid and arguably grandiose, it’s all-inclusive by default.
5. This is the left’s astroturf movement.
Okay, this one is but a right wing bloggers circle-jerk assertion. Just wanted to address it.
There are many “occupiers” who do not like Obama one bit. There are others who are Ron Paul devotees (by the way, guys, please end your comments with something more catchy than “Ron Paul 2012!” … like “Ron Paul would let you smoke pot – 2012!”).
And even if it is an astroturf movement orchestrated by Soros, the left has a much better sense of humor. And, aside from long walks on the beach and getting caught in the rain, I like my astroturf movement to have a sense of humor!
I attended Day 1 of #OccupyLosAngeles on Saturday. But after loving some signs and finding others antithetical to my world view, I decided to embrace the tangible goals I saw there. I found three that I think could be effective in partly reversing the inequity of the last 30 years.
I also thought they’d be a good excuse to make another video. (Yes, my videos are a bit of an addiction, but it’s a healthier addiction than my ice cream one… Oh, Twix ice cream, how you taunt me…)
If you like this, please feel free to pass it on to others.
Related posts:
Some interesting stuff here. I agree with your point three. Unfortunately the tactics of many Ron Paul Libertarians and the far right is to brand anything that has social merit, humanitarian goals and involves government as "socialism". I find it difficult to engage in any form of debate without being branded with a blanket term. We have a significant number of people who parrot slogans and bumper sticker rhetoric without really understanding the issue or the terms. From what I hear and see "Occupy Wall Street" is about corporate corruption and the other 99% not about the Ron Paul mantra of "End the Fed" although the Ron Paul Libertarians are attempting to hijack it at every turn. Scandinavian countries have pretty much proven that social programs and capitalism coexist quite comfortably much to the benefit of the general population. It should be enough for people to realise that trickle down economics don't trickle and that small government and deregulation was the favourite often repeated mantra of Ken Lay and Jeff Schilling CEOs of Enron. Ron Paul 1812!
I tweeted this through your YouTube site. I'm not that strong a twitterer. Great job. I really liked yhis.
This is fantastic. I'll be spreading it around today for certain. Thanks for putting together such a high quality piece, one that lays it out so clearly.
1. I have no objection to reinstating Glass-Steagal, which was repealed under the Clinton Administration.
2. Auditing the Fed is one thing the Left and Right agree on.
3. The Supreme Court decision was correct. Why shouldn't corporations and unions have the right to express political opinions?
4. I don't see these or any other goals clearly articulated (thus far) in the OWS movement.
5. Those who block traffic should be prepared to be arrested.
6. Elizabeth Warren's rant is ridiculous. She screams about the use of infrastructure and public services without bothering to mention that the businesses she talks about are providing jobs, revenue to suppliers, half their workers Social Security taxes, property taxes, etc., etc. If she wants changes in the tax code, let her say so, without attacking business owners.
If #3 doesn't bother you, then there isn't much I can say in response.
How about #4, #5, and #6? No response to those either?
As for #3, you didn't answer my question. Why shouldn't corporations have the right to express political opinions? You didn't even attempt to introduce the matter of total transparency, with which I happen to agree.
Here's the Citizen United opinion. Try reading the first 10 or 15 pages.
I won't presume to respond for DC, but here are my thoughts on 4, 5 and 6:
4. You clearly haven't been looking, or if you have, you've been following OWS through the prism of MSM. That's like trying to understand French politics by reading Tin Tin.
5. Agreed. I'd also prefer that they do so politely and in numbers so large that they overwhelm the jails to the point that the police and mayoral offices begin to rethink the rules that were set in place to quell public dissent.
6. Elizabeth Warren's "rant" is in direct response to those on the right who have claimed that they "pulled themselves up by their bootstraps," without any help from anyone else. This claim is *utterly* absurd. Over the past 50 years – and especially over the past 30 – we have steadily lowered taxes from those who have gained the most from our past investments in public infrastructure and education. At the same time, both state and private pensions have been looted to boost profits, support subsidies, and generally shifted the costs of maintaining public infrastructure and education to payroll and consumption taxes, both of which have *wildly* regressive impacts.
Excellent. I co-sign.
I forgot to append the link. Here it is… http://www.scribd.com/doc/25537902/Citizens-Opini…
And it's pages 18-25 that ar particularly interesting.
Nicely said.
Jeff=Alfi
Deep stuff…
Attacking business owners?? Are you seriously delusional or just so deeply brainwashed you refuse to entertain any deviation from your extremist right wing indoctrination? The real attack started when they changed the name of business customers to consumers! Taking back responsible behavior and becoming and demanding to be treated as CUSTOMERS and using FACTS to deal with reality is a must if this insanity you seem not so bothered by is to be stopped. But the real problem is that you and those like you are never going to be swayed by the truth because your minds have been altered with decades of hate talk and propaganda radio and TV such as faux fraudcasting. What you call a rant is a statement of reality and that seems to be the last thing the extreme right is in a position to tolerate without screaming down and accusations and false claims.
Hey Alfi…Elizabeth Warren isn't talking about or attacking "business owners" like your local car repair garage or hair salon…she is talking about corporations. They make an exponentially large amount of money off of OUR infrastructure. Conservatives like you lump these together like mom 'n pop = Monsanto. Time to nuance your economic views. The utopian, reagan era view of assumed corporate "goodness" will not create a sustainable and equitable future.
Well done Alfie, I'm on the Cain Train!
Fantastic D.C. – I'll be spreading this around!
This is excellent!
i loved the video!
Who are the drummers? I think they're great!
DC… I have been a fan of your work since I first heard you on Thom Hartman's show regarding the whole Freedom (not) Works thing. I love your videos and share theme widely with my social network (my Facebook ClanM8s).
I absolutely LOVE this latest video and hope it goes viral.
If you would be interested in coming on my internet radio show to talk about occupy wall street, occupy together, october2011.org's DC occupation, the demands of the people etc etc… I would love to have you on sometime (soon).
I am FB friends with several organizers for the DC action and have been following these two movements since I heard about them a couple of months ago.
I am a night crawler, though. I am up late. My show is Up Late with Pinko the Bear and is on from midnight to 2am pacific time.
We are Facebook friends so you can find me there. Brad Holhut (ABear) is my registered name on FB.
I think it would be great. We can talk about this stuff as well as do some promotions for you. Play some clips etc..
Let me know:)
Peace, ABear
Your video is great. I just saw it on KTRH Connected, a website for a talk radio station in Houston. I've shared it on my FB page. The video is nicely done and it may go viral.
1. Glass-Steagall needs to be reinstated. The nay-sayers say it can't be, but it can. The good news is that the "toxic assets" that it created all come with an expiration date and can be grand-fathered.
2. I was surprised to find out that the Fed is not audited. It should be. But having said that, I don't think any smoking gun or surprises will be found.
3. The original Supreme Court decision involving corporations as individuals took place in the 1880s. It was when corporations were a new thing and government was trying to figure out how to deal with them. It started with the case Santa Clara vs. Southern Pacific. The wording got into the opinion very casually and now we are paying for it. The precedent needs to be overturned. See it here: http://www.ratical.org/corporations/SCvSPR1886.ht…
4. People need to realize that there is no such thing as a self-made American. People like Steve Forbes and Donald Trump need to realize that just because you were born on third base doesn't mean you hit a triple. Whatever success we have all had comes from the institutions and creations of previous generations of Americans. That includes our system of regulations that create a fair marketplace and greater opportunity than any other country.
5. And speaking of regulations, there is a lot of talk right now about business being stifled by too much regulation. I tend to view someone making this statement as someone who wants to pollute or ripoff the public to make his/her money. When you hear this from someone make them name specifically the regulation that is giving them trouble. Chances are it's something that has been in place for some time now. Make them be specific and hang on to your wallet.
6. I liked your line about Ron Paul supporters. We should borrow from Star Trek and call them Ronulans.
Re #2: At least some of the hue and cry arose because Bernanke refused to say where the bailout money went.
Re #4: BIll Gates, Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison, Warren Buffet, the founders of Home Depot, etc., etc., etc. were not born on third base.
Re #4 and #5: Some regulations are needed, e.g. anti-trust, some public health, some clean air and clean water. But we have far too many, e.g. Obamacare, the Endangered Species Act, some EPA regulations. There have been 1471 waivers granted from Obamacare as of July 15. Companies — large AND small — are not hiring. For example, the latest survey of the National Federation of Independent Businesses shows that only 11% of employers are hiring, the lowest figure since the survey started. BTW, I don't own a company and never have.
The endangered species act? Seriously? Are you blind? So we should continue are destructive pathway and destroy nature?