A Letdown Squid

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flannelowl

Well of course large corporations and people like Jay-Z are trying to make money off of OWS.  That’s what capitalism does: it exploits.  Nature of the beast.  Corporations have provided plenty of good things in our lives, but by their very nature they exist to continually exploit whatever they can to make a profit, because it is illegal for them to not make a profit.  This sort of thing can become hugely problematic if it runs unchecked.

The government has increasingly stripped regulations, and corporations (WHICH DO NOT REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE, THEY REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF CAPITAL—IT IS GOVERNMENT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE, HOW HAVE WE GOTTEN THIS BACKWARDS???) have done more than their fair share to ensure that government carries out this deregulation, acting in the form of large donations and by strategically placing their employees in the government itself.

If OWS is not directly targeting lawmakers, I imagine it is because the lawmakers don’t matter—they are replaceable, as they are often replaced when they lose their utility to corporate interests.  OWS is targeting the financial district because that is where the real power lies; it has taken over this country on a systemic level, replacing our government with one that no longer represents us.  If you don’t understand this, you are severely missing the point.

I’m not saying OWS is perfect, but it’s pretty much the biggest and most impressive public uprising that’s happened in this country in ages.  I personally am overjoyed every time I read a news report about how OWS is throwing a wrench into the system as it is, because the system we’ve been living under for my entire life is not friendly to the masses of this country, and it’s been getting worse every year, like a steam-roller that keeps pressing what it can out of the people and the environment.  It needs to be stopped, and the only way that is going to happen is by the people standing in its way.  If you sit back and throw insults at the protestors or you get angry that not every single protestor acts in the way you expect them to act, you are, again, severely missing the point.

If OWS is costing city governments money, that’s regrettable, but keep in mind that the cities themselves are deciding how they spend this money (and most cities, states, etc have recently been looking for any way they can to divert money away from social spending).  If they think they need hundreds of cops in riot gear out there, that’s their decision, but it doesn’t mean people shouldn’t go out and demonstrate their rights (or lack thereof).  But go back to the Civil Rights era, back in the 1960s.  Watch the videos of police officers beating and fire-hosing black people who were marching for their rights.  Are you concerned that those people who are getting hosed down and attacked by dogs are costing the city precious money?  Are you concerned that by standing up for their rights they are taking money away from social programs?  (Those attack dogs cost the city a lot of money, after all, as did the water from the fire hoses!)  People are fighting for their rights right now, and the city governments are going to do what they deem necessary; the majority of their actions, so far, have been to limit peoples’ ability of free expression, thus showing their hand as shills of the financial industry powers-that-be.  Keeping people down is surely expensive, but the fact that that’s how this is being handled by city governments (in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security) demonstrates exactly why people need to continue fighting for their rights, no matter what it costs.

You say, “The question is not whether we need reform…we do,” and I disagree.  Reform is a small thing, little piecemeal changes to existing policies.  We need more than that: we need reclamation.  We need to reclaim the government for the people of this country, and take it out of the hands of people corporations who-whether maliciously or not—alter our laws just to enhance their quarterly profit earnings.  Maybe there’s a better way to do that, but I haven’t seen or heard any better ideas yet, much less from people like you guys blogging on tumblr.

If your lobster roll restaurant is losing some business because there’s a protest nearby, I’m sorry, but remember that there are people in this country who are dying of starvation, children who would never eat food if they weren’t provided lunches at school, people who are being tossed out of their homes, and a ton of people who can’t find any jobs (McDonald’s and Wal-Mart can’t hire everyone, after all) and who could never even dream of what a lobster roll tastes like.

I want to start by thanking you. Though we may disagree it is good to encourage healthy debate and especially online which provides us with so many opportunities to add to the public discussion.  It is unfortunate more people do not take advantage of this. Okay.

Capitalism is not, by its design, flawed.  Much like Socialism is a fantastic idea, but often unsustainable because many are greedy.  And that is the nature of  the beast, us, man. I agree Capitalism can not run unchecked and the job of regulation is intrusted to the government. Government represents the RIGHTS of the people. Corporations do represent the INTERESTS of the people.  Remember these companies have investors, the majority of which are the 99% with their 401K’s, their “small” investments with their life savings. The companies die, like GMC so do their dreams of retirement.  The problem, when the government bails them out, that money is not returned to them.  The millionaire looses $10,000 and he’s okay, Joe Everyman looses $10,000 he is potentially bankrupt.  That is a problem with government regulation, not business ethics.

Many of these corporations(these generalizations are not only unfair but a little scary)give millions in charity and help to feed these “starving” Americans and help to ensure that we do not experience poverty comparable to the developing countries. 

This isn’t to say that some corporations have unfair business practices but targeting Wall Street accomplishes what exactly?  To be honest I can’t think of a single big business that is headquartered there.  It is a center of commerce, people trade there, but occupying it does not hurt the “fat cat CEO’s” these protestors envision. They are miles away in mansions with gold toilets, right? If you do not understand that than perhaps you are missing the point.

And as far as politicians enlisting corporate dollars for campaigning, it is unfortunate but otherwise unavoidable when we stop to consider the only way a presidential candidate has any chance at winning the presidency is by spending $1 billion.  It costs a lot of money to reach 312 million people, especially when they are more inclined to vote for an American Idol contestant than a City Councilmen.

Also, no city wants to divert money away from social spending that could reduce crime, poverty, and increase education. Why would they?  To do what?  You’re right,  municipalities are often faced with a choice, a difficult one. Provide necessary infrastructure or cut funding to an after school program. Pay cops overtime to make sure a large group of protestors are ensured their right to assembly for a month or stop supplementing a food kitchen.  Choices.

The system to which you are referring was created by us.  We allowed it to happen, not just the 1% but the 99% who allowed it to happen.  We have the power to change it, TOGETHER. Like I said in the previous post, OWS has been valid and impressive,  but imagine how much more of an impact it would have made if it had been focused, if instead of sitting in parks across the country we called and visted with and pestered our lawmakers.  If these corporations are as crooked as you believe them to be, if they care so little about the public opinion why would this make a difference? If they are evil and unreachable and only care about themselves and their millions, the only defense, the only hope is those lawmakers, those elected officials, and that is why this is misguided. Occupy Washington, their mailboxes, their voicemail, their lobby, their lawns. Get involved with local politics and statewide politics.  These Congressmen and women here to serve you, take advantage of it. 

Finally, trivializing Mr. Waskom’s very real problem by alluding to the poverty of others does not negate the fact that these occupations have had more of an adverse affect on the 99% than the 1%. 

17 November 2011 · Comments

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