Speak Out Network
Hot Stuff: Occupy Wall Street
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sage on -
So proud of Dr. West and my Uncle for being at Wall Street protesting!
Oligarchs beware!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Warren on -
I can not be there, but I ordered 100 space blankets for the protesters. Here's hoping that others get involved as well.
Power to the People !
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Permalink Reply by Bri'on on -
America: Freedom to Fascism is a 2006 film by Aaron Russo, which alleges among a variety of claims that income tax is illegal. The documentary covers many subjects, including: the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the income tax, Federal Reserve System, national ID cards (REAL ID Act), human-implanted RFID tags (Spychips), Diebold electronic voting machines, globalization, Big Brother, taser weapons abuse, and the alleged use of terrorism by government as a means to diminish the citizens' rights.
The Film Determined to find the law that requires American citizens to pay income tax, producer Aaron Russo set out on a journey to find the evidence. This film which is neither left, nor right-wing is a startling examination of government. It exposes the systematic erosion of civil liberties in America since 1913 when the Federal Reserve system was fraudulently created.
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Permalink Reply by Bri'on on
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Occupy Wall Street Goes to College
Help students, not billionaires, student says.
If you’re wondering why the Occupy Wall Street movement is drifting over to college campuses, take a minute to listen to Salina Mendoza.
The 19-year-old Chapman University sophomore works hard outside of class for a marketing company, but she’s still up to her neck in student loans. Her mom has moved into a one-room rental in Pacoima just to save money and help with the tuition, but Mendoza still doesn’t know whether she’ll be able to afford to go back to school next year.Why should Wall Street bankers get bailouts and bonuses, she says, when there’s little money to help young people who are trying to go to college? And if she does graduate with all those loans coming due, how is she going to pay them back if she can’t find a job in today’s economy?“I know graduates who became strippers because they couldn’t pay their student loans,” she said, breaking down in tears. “I know some graduates who have stooped to levels they’ve never began to even think of, Just to pay off these student loans. They tried to better themselves to get these great jobs and there are no jobs out there.”Mendoza spent the morning Wednesday painting posters for a last-minute “Occupy Colleges” protest planned for noon today at Chapman's campus in Orange. Other events, also at noon, are taking place at UCLA, Cal State Northridge and other campuses, part of a day of protest called by students at college campuses around the nation.It’s not clear how many students are actually planning to participate in the protests. Mendoza said she only knows of about a dozen who plan to gather at Chapman.But she says she’ll have posters ready for them. “Whether we have 12 people or 100 people, I will be out there,” Mendoza said.“I love Chapman University with all my heart,” the business major said. “But I don’t know if I will be able to be here next year. They should help you if you’re doing all the right things.”
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Permalink Reply by Don Mutters on -
Military is an option...
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Warren on
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The problem is that we have a system that doesn't work. Pure capitalism created a system of three classes : Rich, Middle Class, and Poor -- and then, just as in the days of medieval europe, the rich waged war on everyone else... so that now there are really only two classes...the top 1% - and everybody else.
Clearly, we need to look at other options. The only systems which I have seen which work all involve a parliamentary system - where the president is required to appear before representatives of the people on a regular basis to answer questions put to him.
I have also noticed that the best of the parliamentary systems place limits on the number of terms a legislator can remain in office, and have criminal penalties for both lobbyists and representatives in all cases where the representative receives a gift, the promise of a gift, or a flat out cash donation to their campaign funds from corporations which hired the lobbying company or the lobbyist.
In such cases where corporations are involved in giving anything (even an after dinner mint) to a representative, the corporations lose their charter, all of their assets are seized by the government, and the board of directors all go to jail. As for what happens to the company...sometimes the government just nationalizes it and runs it as a public service...and sometimes they just close it up. It all depends on what is best for the country.
The reason such things can be done, of course, is that Corporations do not have any legal personhood status in most countries. They are therefore held accountable for everything they do. And the idea of turning a former corporation into a public service is not anathema to others, as the money earned all winds up going to take care of things like education (no student loans, other countries take care of everything), healthcare, water (yes, many countries are deeply concerned about the coming water crisis...and are building giant conversion facilities to convert seawater to fresh water...and of course, working hard to convert all available existing water supplies to high quality drinking water.) and most importantly...energy and (in some cases) renewable energy research and implementation.
Other countries even get involved in dealing with their own infrastructure...building and maintaining roads, bridges , schools etc. As well as building affordable housing ...with the simple goal of providing a place for those who might otherwise be homeless.
Does it cost more? Absolutely. But the question is...what do the people get for their money? Lets look, shall we?
1: A top notch education - including college degree's - all paid for by the government. Result? Better jobs, better salary and a much happier public...for everyone is able to do the job they love.
a) A place to live while going to college, as well as basic living expenses to cover food, phone and other utilities. Rent is taken care of by the government.
2: A top notch healthcare system - where anyone who needs healthcare can see a doctor of their choice.
a) And women who are pregnant are given an assistant - paid for by the government - to help them around the house - cooking, cleaning or whatever.
3: The right to engage in collective bargaining with their employer...or, if they are the only employee...the right to bargain for themselves, without fear of being fired for trying to bargain for what they want.
In addition to this...clean water to drink (from the faucet !) clean air to breath (without the need of an air purifier !) a minimum wage which is actually enough to live on (for HS level students, or those who are going to college and want a bit of extra cash)
And of course, most importantly of all... Politicians who go to JAIL if they take from corporations. Corporations which KNOW that they will be DESTROYED if they try to give anything to politicians...and lastly...corporate leaders which go to jail if they put out advertisements concerning their positions on any politician or public bill. Why? Because spending money on an ad which takes a side is the same thing as DONAtING to that side.
As for the mortgage crisis created by wall street? Every bank and corporation that was involved would have been seized by the government, and their leaders (from the CEO/COO/CFO etc.) on up through the board of directors...would have ALL gone to JAIL.
As for the banks themselves? They would have all been nationalized into one national bank. The corporations? Depending on how important they were to the economy...they would have either been nationalized or sold off right down to the last paperclip.
Of course, in such a country, the Supreme Court, the congress and the senate would all have term limits. The supreme court would probably get 6 years (with a 1 term limit), with the senate (6 year term) and congress (a 4 year term) each getting 2 terms each - with the President getting a 5 year term- but still limited to only 2 terms in office.
The result of such a country is that the idea of holding the same office for 30 years or more would be eliminated...and the Supreme Court would be more subject to the will of the people instead of the will of corporations....for its members would almost certainly be rotated with every election.
What is wrong with this? Many believe that the legend of the soldier who won christ's robe meant that a divine influence was involved in his winning it. If this is true, then isn't it reasonable to believe that a divine influence would guide a country whose judicial decisions were reviewed on a regular basis...and applied by the best -- current -- justices that the results of a vote (the ultimate lottery) for President resulted in ?
Is such a system socialism? I honestly don't see how it could be. If anything, it is democracy in action - with a government which not only represents the people...but which SERVES the people. Where accountability is swift and sure.
In such a system, capitalism is still alive and well...its only enemy is when its participants break the laws. Those who pollute would be penalized, and the company would be forced to clean it up. Those who lie and cheat and defraud the public...would be held accountable. Those who tried to buy off politicians, would also be held accountable.
But bakery's could still bake. ISP's could still operate. Grocery stores would still be open. Gas and other things would still be sold.
Is it a crime to say : Get all you can, but don't trash my country while you're at it?
I don't think so.
Is it socialism to say : Lets help the sick, the old, and the homeless.
I don't think so.
Is it socialism to say : Let us teach our people...and if they are sick or hurt...let us care for them.
I don't think so.
Socialism however, is a word which means "A government of, by and for the people"
OMG ! Abe Lincoln was a socialist ! Run away !
Run Away ! Run Away !
This is the kind of country I'd like to live in...and this is the kind of country which I sincerely
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Permalink Reply by LibyaWest on -
Libya was a successful, socialist, secular, consensus-driven democracy. Too bad more people, including the educated ones, don't know that.
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