Understand the 99% vs. 1% issue. By Geniusofdespair

Link to this video.

Excellent video - easy to understand. Send to your friends. There is a very short ad first. This does appear to be non-partisan so don't be turned off.

Occupy Miami and Occupy Wall Street: what next? by gimleteye

Listening last night to NPR's Marketplace, I was curious about comments / suggestions from business and political professionals about the Occupy Wall Street movement. Grover Norquist, arguably the most powerful person in Washington, slyly suggested that the OWS'ers follow the Tea Party that gained popular support by advocating for limited government. Norquist is one of the main architects of "government-designed-to-fail". The OWS'ers have a different agenda, although the question-- what is that agenda?-- occupied other commenters, who one by one criticized the fuzzy "branding" of the protests.

I came of age in the 60's through the politics coursing through campuses and streets. What we know, today, is that the populist movement of that time energized and focused a conservative movement that eventually cemented the power of leaders like Norquist. Their target--overreaching government--grew from the fear and paranoia of wealthy business interests. So much has changed since then. For one, the false promises of globalization had yet to materialize. In the 1960's, the great middle class was swept along by the military draft and the Vietnam war. 

It is a vastly different landscape today. Most Americans are fed up with paying for wars waged to secure oil supplies, costing billions of dollars per week. The economy has passed through profound structural changes. Only the aspirations of citizens in China, Asia and India seem immune to the ratcheting down of expectations. 

What is similar is the energy of young protesters. The higher pitched calls to "smash the system" are part of the amped up hormones we ought to recognize from our earlier selves. Here are two observations: first, removing the OWS'ers from their encampments across the country was a lousy idea. What the mayors of American cities have done is to take away an escape valve for public pressure. It will express itself, one way or another. As a parent, I never expected my children to always behave like angels and I was always more pleased to have them and their friends at home where I could see and hear them than out somewhere, where I couldn't.

The Tea Party started out in a populist direction but was quickly usurped by a corporate agenda and funding by business interests advocating the Grover Norquist line of limited government. The OWS'ers have been adopted by the unions and shell-shocked opposition to the conservative wave that capitalizes on fear and greed. This gets a second observation; the point of a simplified message.

Last Sunday CBS 60 Minutes broadcast an investigation that exposed how members of Congress are permitted by law to trade on inside information of stocks and industries members regulate. Add to this, news that Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich received millions in fees from Freddie Mac, a key corporate player in the debt crisis that is swallowing the US economy.

 

The OWS'ers need to focus on the role of corporations in elections and reform the campaign finance system. I have been on the front lines of the 40 Year War Against the Environment-- one of the gauges of the health of our democracy-- for more than two decades. We are not making headway. Florida Governor Rick Scott set back environmental protection by generations. Corporations are too powerful. Corporations dominate elections. Change the campaign finance system and there is a chance that democracy can right itself. 

Keep it simple. Keep the pressure on. Don't give up.

Occupy Miami is Facing Eviction! By Geniusofdespair

Occupy Miami’s participation in Thursday’s action will be taking place on the eve of its possible eviction from the grounds of the Stephen P. Clark Center at 5pm on Friday.  The impending eviction revolves around a dispute between the occupiers and Miami-Dade County officials over the validity of the original permit to occupy the property.

In a strong show of unity by Miami's "99%," Occupy Miami will join many other community organizations in a march and massive show of force on Thursday, November 17, at 4pm from Bayfront's Jose Marti Park to Brickell Village.  Occupy Miami members plan to organize a feeder march through Brickell beginning at 2pm, holding mock trials of several banks before joining the main mobilization at 4pm.

Although the groups represent a variety of political viewpoints, they are united in their belief that democratic processes are being undermined and that the economic future of working people is at risk while the power of the top 1% continues to grow.  "Some of us studied hard, only to be burdened with debt but no jobs, others have worked their entire lives only to see their savings plundered.  People have lost the homes they raised their children in, the jobs they built the city with, but our politicians only seem to cut more jobs and give more welfare breaks to the super-rich!" said Kevin Young of Occupy Miami.

(THEY WERE EVICTED in New York since this was written.)

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg instructed police to forcefully evict Occupy Wall Street from its two-month old Zuccotti Park home.  "It has been said that you can't evict an idea whose time has come.  We are waking up to the fact that our future has been stolen from us, and we are here together and united to get it back."

Big Protest Thursday, Nov. 17th -The March on Brickell! By Geniusofdespair

Expect lots of traffic on Brickell on Thursday - The March on Brickell is at 5pm...the organizer is an idiot and the unions are behind 1Miami....but it is a good idea nonetheless....

CITIZENS TO STAND UP, MARCH ON BRICKELL BANKING DISTRICT NOV. 17 TO DEMAND FAIRNESS, HONESTY FOR WORKING FAMILIES

A coalition of citizens and community groups organized by 1Miami will hold a Stand Up Florida rally at Jose Marti Park (at 4 pm)  in Little Havana and march on the Brickell  (at 5 pm) Avenue banking district on November 17.

Organizers expect more than 2,000 citizens to participate, with many more possible as 1Miami points to public desperation and dissatisfaction grows with large financial institutions and the practices, policies and politics that have harmed the public.

“It’s obvious that the bankers, big lobbyists and their beholden politicians will first protect their own interests, rather than fairness for working families,” said Jose Suarez, communications director for 1Miami. “But if together the 99% of us stand up, speak up and act up, we can create real change for the better. People are taking to the streets all over the country to demand fairness and honesty, and we’re just beginning to see some results.” 1Miami is inviting other organizations and individuals to join them.

Also joining 1Miami at the November 17 action will be: