What the World Will Look Like If Occupy Wall Street Wins

[housewolf]

What the World Will Look Like If Occupy Wall Street Wins

http://m.minyanville.com/?guid=37701&catid=4

There are many reasons why the Occupy Wall Street movement could fail -- a lack of cohesion, too many directions, no leadership, not enough money, and no representation, to name a few.

But what if it "succeeds?"

What would our investing landscape look like and what would we do about it?

I think that's an interesting question, especially since Occupy Wall Street has gained some traction, even taking on a global appeal. And more importantly, there are two other reasons the movement could succeed:

First, our political system is broken and has deteriorated into little more than a fancy debating society.

And second, the world's central bankers remain out of control; their bailouts are saving the irresponsible at the expense of the hardworking. Our regulators and Wall Street remain locked in an unholy alliance that has done very little to fix the underlying problems that have resulted from decades of bad fiscal policies, unsound monetary practices, and dysfunctional leadership.

You may remember the 1960s and the many protest movements that were very clearly focused on civil rights and the Vietnam War. You even may have been part of a few.

A lot of people thought they would go away, too. But Tom Hayden and his collection of Students for a Democratic Society didn't. Nor did Abbie Hoffman, Bobby Seale, and others. Their passion and that of thousands who joined in eventually succeeded in changing the course of social consciousness.

OWS could too.

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Read more at the link above

[ixion]

1. I wouldn't even grant it the title of "debating society"

because there is no real debate. There is a very controlled conversation that abides, at all times, to the established status quo narrative.

[Hydra]

2. I rec'ed this

But only because I want people thinking about where they're going to.

The article has a goal, and funny enough it seems to lead back to the putting the status quo back in place.

That's not good enough.

[lunatica]

3. Values need to change

There's no need to worship greed, hatred or wars. The US is better than that in so many other ways. OWS is showing us just that. And it can be very different than it is today.

[TBF]

4. Values won't change anything.

It is the economic system that much change or folks will continue to behave as they do now.

[lunatica]

6. The economic system of corruption is based on the value of greed

Values are by definition those things that hold value. When money for the sake of power holds the highest value, then those who have it will be valued above everyone else.

Let me repeat myself. Values need to change. Valuing the planet as our only source of life should trump valuing the ill gotten money that comes from destroying the planet.

[TBF]

7. Doesn't work that way.

Corruption is not an economic system - capitalism is. Capitalism is not corrupted by chance, it is inherently unequal and oppressive by definition. It only rewards greed. To get rid of the behavior, change the system.

[lunatica]

9. Basically that's what I'm saying. But in order to get rid of the system

Something must be of higher value to people than the system. When values change then that which is no longer valued cannot continue.

I don't see why this is contradictory to what you say. But if you do then more power to you.

[TBF]

11. I see what you're saying -

The only difference is that from my view "values" (beliefs would be another word) have more to do with religion than politics. Conditions will dictate when folks are ready to change the system - whether it is through peaceful or revolutionary ways. Thanks for your clarification - it helped me to understand what you were saying.

[fascisthunter]

exactly...

[JDPriestly]

5. OWS accomplishes something every day it exists.

OWS is claiming the right to assemble and exercise free speech by camping out and occupying areas commonly open to public use, without regard for limitations established by local ordinances or laws.

The corporations claim the right to exercise free speech by inundating the airwaves, disseminating their political propaganda through other means and through these means, preoccupying the minds of millions of Americans without regard for the limitations set by Congress.

Even/Steven.

As long as OWS claims its right, it is challenging the idea that political speech must be so free as to allow a corporation or a citizen to ignore the time, place and manner limitations of various levels of government.

I don't know whether that was the intention of the organizers, but I'm hoping that Citizens United will be cited or at least used as an example if it isn't on point, mentioned in any lawsuits that go forward in the courts.

[TBF]

8. What would be a "win" for OWS? nt

[Fire Walk With Me]

10. K&R!