Occupy The DOE
Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 27, 2011, 12:53 p.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
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In that room the people´s voices won over the elite panel. Thru dedicated struggle the people´s ACTIONS will win over the FINANCIAL ELITE.
The police brutality lately shows that the Occupy Movement is gaining more and more strength. The finacial elites are getting scared and therefore use state and police to try to crush the Occupy Movement. They will fail - just like the panel in the video. The police brutality shows that the Occupy Movement is on the right track.
"What you should do is exactly the kinds of things that are going to lead to hysteria among privileged and powerful people"
-Noam Chomsky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27gfHU6G-hI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHse0oaddr8
btw, the human microphone is beautiful and genius. Its the voice of the PEOPLE!
This isn't the first time we've been down this road. My favorite example is the Pullman Strike. In 1894, workers living in George Pullman's factory town, Pullman, Illinois (named after himself, and a fine example of totalitarianism, in which the workers had zero rights), went on strike. Pullman wanted to use troops to suppress the strike. When the Illinois governor, John Peter Altgeld, opposed this move, Pullman appealed to President Cleveland. Using false reports of violence and exaggerated claims about danger to the US Mail, he convinced Cleveland to send in federal troops. The strikers weren't a threat to Pullman's wealth, they just wanted fair treatment. Even that tiny thing was too much for a rich man's ego to endure. To quote one of my favorite authors: "...the powerful do not willingly endure the frustration of their desires."
Postscript: Pullman became so hated, he feared for his body after his death, so he ordered massive amounts of steel and concrete be used at his burial, fearful the workers he had abused would dig up his corpse.
just so everybody knows: "job4me" is a troll. Just pretend he doesnt exist and vote him down.
'Occupy Madison' loses permit due to public masturbation.
Probably in front of kids.
You parasites have no shame. None.
Please define "troll."
anyone who doesn't agree with struggleforfreedom80, apparently.
I'd love to see this the next time that awful woman Michelle Rhee comes to NY bleating about standards and other nonsense.
This stuff doesn't help education. What helps are educationally hungry kids and that will take progressive education reforms these elites just don't understand.
Grades, standards, homework, testing, big class sizes, anti-unionism, cutting of funds, art, music, civic education, social integration, these are all bad for kids and for America.
Occupy Arne Duncan.
I'd like to point out that the Common Core State Standards are actually quite progressive and a huge step toward what we need in education. They are much more succinct and allow teachers to teach in greater DEPTH through EXPLORATION and DISCOVERY rather than throwing a huge, repeating curriculum at them every year and hoping that something sticks.
(This is totally aside from budgetary issues)
My wife is a teacher. Next year will be the first year for Common Core at her school. Her and her fellow teachers say the jury is still out in their opinion.
It will definitely be a transition! For me the most important things are: teaching fewer topics per year but in greater detail, having everyone on board with the same curriculum (so if a child moves they won't miss out), and the fact that these standards are research based (i.e. made by people actually in the field of mathematics and teaching, instead of someone in a state office or committee that just discusses what sounds good (not to say that there haven't been some good things in the past, but here in CT it seems that the curriculum was really clogged up)
Can someone please explain what the set-up of the meeting was "supposed" to be like? Just curious. Excellent work, btw.
Phew, sorry, didn't mean to say work... I know you're all lazy slobs who never heard of "work"... especially that little girl... if she's not in a sweatshop or being trained to reinforce neoliberal capitalism, then what good is she? (i say with my tongue in my cheek)
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2010/04/30/217381/we-are-wall-street-we-are-smarter-and-more-vicious-than-dinosaurs/
gwaaaaaahahhaahahhahahhahhahahahhahhahhahhhhhaaaaa ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hahhahahahahhahahhahahahhahahhahahhahahhahahahhahahah love it man love it
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2010/04/30/217381/we-are-wall-street-we-are-smarter-and-more-vicious-than-dinosaurs/
A typical PEP meeting is supposed to go like this:
This limited interaction is the the only way in which the DOE allows for public voice to take part in policy decisions.
As a side point, it should be noted that 8 of the 13 appointed members of the PEP are directly chosen by Mayor Bloomberg. In the past, when they have disagreed with his policies, they have been summarily replaced.
I think it is SOOOOOO poetic that Bloomberg housed PEP in Tweed Hall. NYC's largest symbol of corruption.
"...Bloomberg housed PEP in Tweed Hall...." lol, I did not know that. Thanks.
Yeah, I was there visiting on a tour this summer. It was just disgustingly corporate. If you weren't wearing a tie, you were wearing panty hose. I'm in the field of education, and really wanted to be a fly on the wall. But we were on an architectural and historical tour of the building.
I understand. I had a similar experience in Denver several years ago. I was there for a conference and managed to swing an historical tour of the state capital building. We were walking through offices and even into the state senate chamber, lawyers and legislators chatting away about the business of the day, not paying us any mind at all, so used to the tours they didn't even notice us.
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2010/04/30/217381/we-are-wall-street-we-are-smarter-and-more-vicious-than-dinosaurs/
http://ftalphaville.ft.com/blog/2010/04/30/217381/we-are-wall-street-we-are-smarter-and-more-vicious-than-dinosaurs/
thanks, eph. that's a real democracy for ya!
The word "farce" comes to mind. As well as "shadowy puppet governance." Also "illusion of choice." Just sayin. :)
This is very good....Those in power have to feel the wrath of the people. That's the only way to stop the corruption and the privatization of public funds.
Feeling the wrath is good, but what happened in that room did far more to alienate the very people in a position to help you. After all is said and done, and a democratic consensus is built, those with the expertise to run a school district need to do their job. Shouting at them and preventing them from saying anything themselves is not the way to go about it. Since there was a time for Q&A, that would have been a great time to ask those on the panel to attend a GA meeting, or to implement a GA type process going forward. Every time they tried to speak, they got shouted out. That's not consensus building, that's mob rule.
I was really hoping the GA process would scale differently. In this case it did so badly. Occupy DOE = epic fail.
For all you Naysayers, I suggest you watch the video : "Occupy Wall Street: Outing the Ringers" (4:19). It is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9zkQcLi4Yo&feature=colike
Huge thank you to those of you who were there! As a NYC parent i have been shocked to learn first hand how cozy bloombergs handpicked chancellors and PEP panels are. The process of co-location at our school has been more corrupt and undemocratic than I thought possible in a great 1st world western city. Sad that the PEP meetings are puppet shows but given that they truly are the people's mic represents a wonderful attempt of parents and teachers to regain a voice and a political say.Thanks again!
In the words of the great Henry David Thoreau-
Oh please, HDT...more utopian insensibility. Even while at Walden, HDT took breaks for dinner at the Emerson household. And before you retort, you best be able to link the philosophy of E. Kant to the Transcendentals....and Google will not help.
We published books about the corruption on Wall ST. and why people are protesting this situation...titled: "MELTDOWN: Scam vs. Scam" -- ...and another book: "A SCHOOL IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE."
They are on Amazon.com -- or people can contact us for big discounts so that you can offer it to raise funds.
Its amazing what you are doing! i am proud to be human.
So when are you students going to take back your colleges and university. Would be nice to have the tops schools run by and for the students. It is your brains that make them the top.
Go in take them over, kick out the administration cut bloated budgets lower sky high salaries. Show them what democracy looks like.
Take Harvard Take MIT Take Berkly Take Yale
After you take control take the trust funds and pull them out of wall street....
It's amazing how they can just ignore their cries!
Shame on them.
http://www.easymuaythai.com/
Some people can be pretty heartless bud, don't be surprised.
Thanks from Clive @ http://easydiablo3.com/.
I say, 10,000 people need to knock on McConnell front door at home in Kentucky. Maybe then he will get the message
Mitch McConnell's home address 2318 Dundee Rd Louisville, KY 40205-2070
For at least a decade I have seen absolutely no reason to be optimistic about America’s future.
On the one hand, there is the idiotic divisive partisanship of many Republicans and Democrats and the resultant utter failure of the American political system to govern for the good of the Nation. No matter which political party you may favor, the truth is that you have been played for a sucker. The simple fact is that the American political machine is oiled and maintained by the rich and powerful with no meaningful oversight by either the American people or the Mainstream Media. Us “little folks” have been kept in the dark and fed a never ending diet of superfluous issues like family values, abortion, birth certificates, religion, homosexuality, terrorism, crime, liberal vs. conservative. As a result, this nation is more divided than at any time since the Civil War and Congress is paralyzed and unable to govern during the most dangerous times since the Great Depression.
On the other hand, we have these two insane wars in the Middle East which our dear leaders seem absolutely incapable of either winning or ending. Osama bin Laden along with a mere handful of fanatical followers has been the real winner by helping bankrupt the United States and turning it into a writhing frightened community which has reacted by terrorizing its own citizens and even suspending constitutional rights. So far the cost is approaching $3,000,000,000,000 and 7,000 lives, not to mention an estimated 250,000 lives in the countries invaded. Of course, this cost is justified and supported by the war profiteers such as Halliburton, Bechtel, General Dynamics, Exxon, Chevron, Titan, and Aegis who have gotten rich on “no-compete” contracts. The really sad part, however, is that we have created far more terrorists thru our foolhardy actions. “Nation Building”….kiss my ass.
Then, we have Wall Street and the bailouts. Too big to fail. Wall Street or Main Street. General Motors. The Housing Bubble. Massive Unemployment. Gutting of the Middle Class. The National Debt Ceiling. The Tea Party. Foreclosures. Plummeting Real Estate Prices. Insolvent Entitlement Programs. Out of Control Health Care. Unions. The War on Drugs. TSA. Homeland Security. The Greek Debt Debacle. And just this week, the MF Global Bankruptcy – the largest bankruptcy of a private firm in American History ….and much more. Is it any wonder many people are more pessimistic than they ever imagined they’d be? Who would have imagined 20 years ago that Western Democratic Civilization – America and Europe – would so soon be on the brink of collapse? That the very nations who crowed the loudest about being the “best hope of mankind” would cut their own throats and be eclipsed (and financed) by a Communist country? For several years I’ve been saying that “the American people are about to get exactly what they deserve”….but recently, there’s arisen a glimmer of hope on the horizon.
The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) Movement is the first REAL movement for POSITIVE change this country has seen in decades and it appears to be fueled by Americans of all walks of life and all political persuasions. Is it possible that Americans are actually waking up and stating publically “I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore”? Will the United States (and Europe) experience their own versions of the “Arab Spring”? Are the American people (finally) waking up and educating themselves to what is REALLY going on in the World? Will this movement “grow legs” and scare the living hell out of both political parties to the extent that governance on behalf of the People is again possible? We can only hope. So far, the OWS movement seems to be embraced by the Democrats more so than by the Republicans, but is that any real surprise? One thing’s for sure, if the OWS movement catches fire, a lot of politicians will lose their jobs….again, we can hope.
We are truly living in historic times. There could be a sliver of hope after all. It could be that we become a united people once again…even exceptional…again….OWS may be our only chance.
03NOV2011
This Video is Amazing. Great work and excellent message.
For me, I don't care if the little girl was standing there holding the papers while a a tape recorder that was strapped to her chest played the message. Fact is, it's not going to be politics as usual where the Board holds these sham public meetings, pretends to listen and do what they had intended all along. That's insanity.
The Board has acted with impunity for far too long. Their rhetoric about raising standards often coincides with elections and requests for grants. Post election/ grant collection they revert to finding the place for their head in the sand while collecting government paychecks (dream jobs for the truly uninspired).
The inspector general should investigate this group and charge them all with theft of service. What else would you call repeatedly collecting money for services not rendered? That's theft of public funds! In short, they have been an abysmal failure and they should hold their heads in shame.
Actions have consequences. The Mayor’s time is up. All of his political appointees can start circulating your resumes because your time is up too.
It's obvious that this Board has the wrong leadership, but he won't resign - not in this economy! No, he will stay in place because... that's the way the system works. I mean it, if there were ever a fraternity of “status quo” maintainers, this would be the group. Absent the secret handshake, crest and colors, this group will keep things just as broken as possible.
Enough is enough already. With decades and decades of failing schools, instead of the Board leadership wearing fresh pressed suits, the board should wear orange prison jumpsuits because that is exactly the fate that they bring to a high percentage of its students.
Looking forward to the next meeting.
Amazing. The PEPs would not sit still for the people's voice. They would only stay in the room if they could do the talking. Pretty obvious that that's the way the meeting was intended to work: we talk; you sit there and listen, or stay home.
It is an obvious mockery, rather than a democracy. One cannot help but wonder if this is a glimpse at what the bigger picture truly is.
Bloomberg. Bloomberg. Clean up. Wall Street.
Abolish OR audit the Federal Reserve by petitioning the Obama Administration. Here is the official petition at Whitehouse.gov: wh.gov/bC0. Be American, love democracy!
In school where I work we say to children that are being to loud to even begin to have a discussion: 'when you use your quiet voice then we can talk". This is a ridiculous form of democracy where nothing can get done.
Who would ever think this group of shouters and followers are lunatics?
The mob is mindless!
Who would ever think this group of shouters and followers are lunatics?
The mob is mindless!
Time to Occypy the BOE board of $Election
FL 7, 32 BROADWAY NEW YORK, NY 10004-1662 (212) 487-2170
a few people yelling at something they don't like is not a democracy. the vast majority of this country is way more respectful than that and know how to raise their hand and vote for the change instead of just shouting out loud in class like a spoiled brat.
if that is what democracy looks like then what does a small gang of stupid people yelling at appointed officials look like?
i guarantee you that the vast majority of the country is much more respectful than that and knows how to vote for what they want including change.
Oh yes, we need the kids present. This is a good reason not the have kids around. Occupy Madison loses permits due to lewd behavior (masterbation) and misconduct by occupiers. http://theview.abc.go.com/forum/occupy-madison-loses-permit-youll-never-guess-whylol
Any more of this and the public will definitely not continue to support the movement.
all i can see from you protesters is where one of your leaders says something and everyone else repeats it. you guys don't really seem to want to engage in reasonable conversation. are you a bunch of mindless drones who repeat everything someone says? will someone please correct me if i'm wrong?
Try this for Energy and take it away from Wall St.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Navy-to-Energy/167361126687299
I held my breath and squeezed my nut as hard as I could while watching this. It was a pretty good experience. Id give it a 6 out of 10.
Article V is one way, but let me point out that the Articles of Confederation were brushed aside by a method not spelled out in the Articles themselves. According to the Articles, the Articles could be amended only by a unanimous vote.
I wouldn't classify the outlook of OWS as socialist. It seems that conservatives have a narrow outlook on options- it has to be republican OR democrat, liberal OR conservative. When I listen to the statements of discontent what I hear is a group that desires Distributism. Which is not socialism. Our faux economy is a disaster because it is so easily influenced towards upswings and downswings for the very reason that it is a false, manufactured and managed economy. It is a starving green monster no matter how much you feed it; no matter how many government regulated programs there are for the poor they are kept poor because the government is inept at management. The American Dream- he who has the most toys wins- is a nightmare. Distributism is the answer. Return to a country that produces more than it consumes. Give freedom and the land back to the people. Also- give us all our share of the gold that was stolen from the American people when we went to monopoly money.
Our school district has a k- 5 cap of 27 however this is not always upheld. We currently have kindergarten classrooms with 29 children in them. It is shameful. Class size directly impacts instruction and attention to students. These young children need education but there must be time time to tie shoes, wash hands, dry tears, and provide encouragement or no one will be listening!
I can't wait until a class of thirty kids does the human mic to a teacher. Bet that won't sit too well.
You're not going to make us YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE US Do anymore writing DO ANYMORE WRITING You can call my mother YOU CAN CALL MY MOTHER As much as you want AS MUCH AS YOU WANT
especially when the children are excluded for disruption.
Occupy Wall street has enough money to rent a big facility hall for the winter. I don't see why they need to be out sleeping in the cold to practice their freedom of speech and movement.
Next: Occupy the DOD. You go first...I'll be right behind you...
i am glad the movement reached places like albany,ny but how can i get help in remote places like cairo,ny or catskill,ny.? we are suffering too........but i am only one person ............ how can we occupy greene county? who is there to help us in the struggle...........
Charter schools are more about serving the corporate privatization agenda, but do not miss the major point.
Public schools are public only in the sense that they target the public. They do not serve the public.
They were never intended to educate anyone, but to discipline people into become wage slaves. Doing boring meaningless work for a grade translates readily into doing boring meaningless work for a paycheck.
Prisons were modeled after schools, not the other way around.
Before you continue with the education panel, which I wish I could attend, you need to ask what our system of compulsory schooling was created to do and to whose benefit? Think thought-control. Teachers are slaves to the corporate state. They dare not raise certain topics in class, for fear of being fired.
Our current schools do not serve the value of education, but only the corporate values of political heteronomy and economic individualism.
If education is going to be a plank of the OWS platform, you need to develop a more democratic vision of what schools might look like once you wrest them from the control of the corporate state.
I forgive those who comment with hate because I have love for humanity at heart but I am no fool, you clearly have never been to one of these meetings in NYC or ever been a part of the DOE in NYC as a teacher or student.
the mob rules............take back what is ours and occupy the homes of the ones that put us in the streets and anybody else that stands in our way............fuck the police.......occupy everywhere
I hate it when parents use their kids for personal reasons. This could have been done in a far more sensitive, tasteful manner.
Agreed. What's wrong with the parents highlighting the problems in their children's schools and proposing a sensible, acceptable solution?
Wonderful!
NOW Yer Talk'n! Great Idea!
Isnt it Wonderful how America has a 'Fail safe System' Against ..Full Autonomy!?
Definite shift taking place.
You guys are kind of AWESOME. For once I'm proud of America.
Another battle won with the Human microphone, now we now what works! thanks to NYPD for taking away our electronic communication device so we can use the real power OUR VOICES!!
I first thought the NYPD was so petty in disallowing bullhorns at Liberty Park. I was so wrong. This will turn out to be the way that every American develops their own strong voice. Thank you, NYPD. To the rank and file of the NYPD: You too are part of us, We the People. Please join us, and add your voice to the peoples microphone.
This is peaceful nonvilent noncooperation with government which is insensitive to the aspirations of the people. This was taught by Mahatma Gandhi.
They didnt seem to enjoy the citizens opinions. http://therevolutionarytruth.tumblr.com/
Excellent!
http://www.change.org/petitions/protection-from-police-brutality stop police brutality now!
For a lot people this movement seems to be a game. we have to get organized or the movement will fizzle out like the Israel movement.
FIGHT THE CAUSE - NOT THE SYMPTOM
OsiXs (Revolution 2.0)
Please tell me if there is an Occupy NYS Dept of Education
what advice would you offer the Occupy protesters today? http://littlebiggy.org/4660547
This is what I've dreamed for my entire life. As a college student who will soon be graduating in the on-coming years with a degree in Journalism the topic of #OWS has been imprinted into my mind for the rest of my life. I will always remember these moments. The moments when people stood as one for a life where money does not rule our reality, but what rules it is truth. With truth comes love. And with love comes life. Knowing full well that I will be in debt post-graduation for many years to come, I am prepared to still travel to see and live experiences like these. I am touched by the strength of all who occupy. For whatever good fight you may be battling do not let this be your last. Fight with peace and with heart. One day our lives will be rewarded and I'll be there, just like everyone else, and see you ALL at the top.
Brilliant! Take our democracy to the streets, to the bureaucracies, to the corporations, to the government! This is a revolution in progress!
Beautiful! Well done people~~~
Bravo! I wish more people had the opportunity to pull this off.
OWS is out of touch because Article 5 controls America IF Americans are educated enough to understand that Article 5 is how to make constitutional government. Out of touch because they are not demanding that Article 5 be taught in schools. Assuring another generation will not know how to make competent demands.---
Our first right in our contract is Article V, the right to have congress convene delgates when 2/3 of the states have applied for an amendatory convention.
Article. V.
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.-------
A effort each evening to create a web conference to discuss Article 5 is beginning.--
http://www.articlevmeeting.info/
Comprehensive strategy.---
http://algoxy.com/ows/strategyofamerica.html
So now, I am officially disgusted. Per usual, I want to rewrite the laws, but established, common decency does not apply to me. This is exactly what will drive opinion away from OWS.
What? How far do you think polite conversation will get you with anyone at PEP? They've been assigned a mission to implement more sophisticated mechanisms for controlling teachers' work and students' learning than has ever been imagined. All in the name of standards and accountability. Accountability to whom, for what?
"Follow the White Rabbit."
I do not live in NY nor claim any concrete opinion toward PEP. My general philosophy in the education of children is that the decision making process should be driven with the best interest of children first. So, a shout down is the best way to facilitate a discussion? Accountability is providing measurable results that move children toward becoming productive citizens. To assess what the benchmarks should be requires a strategic perpective of all the invested stakeholders. Shout downs do little other than provide a perception of pettiness.
I think the movement is in its nascent stages. I do know from my experience not with PEP or in NYC< but things like it, that they have a pre-determined agenda, and they are not given to authentic dialog. The events at PEP with OWS are more of a demonstration of protest than anything else. I understand your point, but we are a long way from beginning rational conversations on what we want schools to do.
For all you Naysayers, I suggest you watch the video : "Occupy Wall Street: Outing the Ringers" (4:19). It is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9zkQcLi4Yo&feature=colike
Too funny, when the tea party shouted down the congressmen/women at the town halls all the liberal media claimed unruly for not allowing them to speak.
Now the shoe is on the other foot and all the libs love this....
And all the Tea Partiers hate it. See how that works?
'Occupy Madison' loses permit due to public masturbation.
Probably in front of kids.
You parasites have no shame. None.
It's not about Liberal or Conservative or any other labels ... This is about the people not excepting a corrupt top down relationship anymore ... Notice the media is not even showing this ... This is what the Oligarchy is scared of ... Direct Democracy with the people participating in decisions
That is why this will go no where. You have a chunk of the population that are hard conservative (like myself and friends) who are more aligned with the Tea Party and would like to see someone like Herman Cain win. Then, you have the hard leftist or liberals who are in the OWS who are more socialist and are demanding their kind of change. Lastly, you have all of the people in the middle who either don't care, aren't worried about it, or think all of it is a waste of time. Basically, the country is divided, the government is equally divided, so nothing is going to change!!
That is only because we let them the oligarchs divide us ...OWS has alot in common with the original tea party people befor it was co opted be the republicans... OWS is not left or right. The oligarchs that control us are trying extremely hard to label what is happening as far left hippies ... Bit don't believe the hype
Do you conservative people just want to win an argument or do you want to improve the country, you know make it a better place for everyone?
Why side with the rich that are fleecing you? They are rich and they don't need you to defend them and they don't care about you either.
I am on the side with less government and spending. We don't have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem. That is what those in the Tea Party are trying to do. Cut the spending!
Why do you have to be conservative to cut spending. Spend where it makes sense (healthcare) stop spending where it doesn't (corporate bailouts)
I am against the healthcare(Obamacare). The more that comes out, the more it prove it was rammed to pass. Even Obama has removed the long term care provision because of cost. In 2014, our flex spending will be capped at $2500. With there being 6 of us, we will spend that easily. Just like it was revealed this week that it will be much more costly for married couples to purchase from the "exchange" than single people, etc. The longer it goes on, the more details come out. Most of Congress admits they never read the thing. I really don't want the government involved in my healthcare. The government is involved in too much now as it is. They cause more problems than the help.
In Canada since the whole country has socialized medicine I guess it's easier since the insurance companies aren't in there raising prices.
I guess in your system, that is what has occurred, so that even if you could agree to transition to a single payer system, the costs will make it difficult. then you have to get all 50 states to agree, good luck with that.
It's a bit like your political system is gridlocked.
Seriously it's a sad situation because it's literally true that the US health system costs you twice as much as our system costs us and not everyone is even covered, or covered equally.
The other unfortunate thing with the US system is that healthcare is tied to employment. In a country that celebrates entrepreneurship, ironically, this prevents a lot of people from starting businesses or leaving jobs they hate just because they don't want to lose their health coverage.
This creates a distortion in the labour market.
Canada isn't great. I know people who live in Canada. One American I know is based up there for his company. He told me if one of his kids are sick, then his only option is to go to the ER. There, he has waited as much as 24hrs to see a doctor. There are people who come from Canada to the US because it takes so long to see a doctor up there.
It's not the case where I live, viz. in Canada as a Canadian citizen.
I never have to go to the ER for routine medical care.
I'm not sure why his 'only option' would be to go to the ER.
Not being unfriendly here but, as a Canadian, who undoubtedly knows a lot more Canadians than you, that your anecdote grossly mischaracterizes our medical system.
(From HRDC: In 2007, the majority (85.7%) of Canadians were very or somewhat satisfied with the health care services they received in the previous 12 months.)
There is room for improvement, but this is a far cry from the message many of your republicans politicians are telling you, i.e. that Canadians are dissatisfied with their healthcare.
And yes some canadians come down for medical treatment in the us. Some of which get reimbursedI by our healthcare system
If you are a Canadian, then what do you care about the US healthcare system. If you are happy with yours fine. Ours is not perfect, but I am happy with it the way it is. The more information that comes out of this plan we have, the less I like it.
Well that's the whole thing while it's still up to Americans to solve their healthcare problems,I do care despite not living in the US.
Just like some people in the US care about the uninsured or poorly insured even though they are adequately covered themselves.
Agreed - the last thing the working people need is to be dependent on the government for healthcare.
I have been waiting for THREE YEARS for the unemployed to march on Washington!
OCCUPY CONGRESS!
Use the donations for buses.
How many million are unemployed? Aim for at least 1 million to head to Washington and MARCH AROUND CONGRESS EVERY DAY until they start taking meaningful action on jobs, housing, financial regulation, and taxation fairness.
Ask for people living in/near Washington to offer places to camp/sleep. In backyards there will be safety from the police, solidarity that can LAST!!
THE TIME FOR CHANGE IS NOW!
This is freaking heartwarming and inspiring.
I love how the mic check is used to steal the floor. It's like a battle cry for the 99%.
what an amazing show of solidarity and power, to all the people for all the people. and how nice of you to invite the old system to engage in our new one! this IS what democracy looks like, this is what world peace feels like. much love to all my brothers and sisters all over the world, we are truly the 100%. peace and love always from the isle of man x x x
Great idea! (Updated and Amended) Modnex Intel/Katsura Worldwide: Katsura, "The Pre-Obama Student Loan Conspiracy" http://modnexintel.blogspot.com/2011/10/modnex-intelkatsura-worldwide-katsura_16.html
Modnex Intel/Katsura Worldwide: Power News "Red Alert" - "'The Invisible Tax' by Private Univ/Colleges on The American People" http://modnexintel.blogspot.com/2011/10/modnex-intelkatsura-worldwide-power.html?spref=fb
www.myspace.com/kenkatsura www.myspace.com/gokatsura2016 www.facebook.com/gokatsura2016
Great idea! (Updated and Amended) Modnex Intel/Katsura Worldwide: Katsura, "The Pre-Obama Student Loan Conspiracy" http://modnexintel.blogspot.com/2011/10/modnex-intelkatsura-worldwide-katsura_16.html
Modnex Intel/Katsura Worldwide: Power News "Red Alert" - "'The Invisible Tax' by Private Univ/Colleges on The American People" http://modnexintel.blogspot.com/2011/10/modnex-intelkatsura-worldwide-power.html?spref=fb
www.myspace.com/kenkatsura www.myspace.com/gokatsura2016 www.facebook.com/gokatsura2016
How is that what democracy looks like? What I saw was a mob of people who shut other people out of the conversation. The mob accused the PEP of having their minds made up before the meeting, but all I saw was that the mob came in to the meeting with their minds made up.
This was not democracy. This was the literal meaning of 'mob rule.'
How would the mob feel if another group of people drowned out voices at a general assembly? Oh, wait, I can just read the comments on the OWS.org story about the drummers to see how people would feel if someone tried to drown out their voices at a ga.
Have you been aware of the history of the educational policy in the US over the past decade? Its been entirely top down and unresponsive to public input.
You push the Bush and Obama style education policy which is extraordinarily hostile and destructive to public education throughout the united states and favors privatization of education - and this is what you get. Backlash.
This is what you have to do when you have been shut out of public process for this amount of time. And you need to do it every day until either gov't works with you, or it is overthrown.
That is exactly why conservatives want the federal government to be smaller. There should be no federal DOE. The federal government has only certain enumerated powers, but our federal government stepped way over its bounds.
We are supposed to have a federal system with much of the power belonging to the states and the local communities. But most of you hippies don't believe in states' rights. Then you get mad and have a tantrum when you are "shut out" of the public process!
For all you Naysayers, I suggest you watch the video : "Occupy Wall Street: Outing the Ringers" (4:19). It is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9zkQcLi4Yo&feature=colike
Wow, someone else here with some sense. Who would have guessed?
Clearly, the ranked choice voting system in multi-winner districts for electing names and making decisions needs to be implemented in the DOE, OWS and all elections, so that that all people and ideas can be represented mathematically perfectly.
Not like the D'Hondt parliament seat distribution system currently used in Israel which has a 2% threshold and guaranteed minimum satisfaction level of 50% minus 60 votes (180 votes cast minimum requirement, for 120 seats under plurality voting), but the Sainte-Lague parliament seat distribution system which has a minimum guaranteed satisfaction level of 99.9% plus 1000 votes (one ballot cast minimum requirement, for electing 1000 seats, under ranked choice voting).
To engage and participate in such a system, please check out the 8th USA Parliament. We welcome all voters and non voters and we're trying to build an advanced, democratically legitimate elected team of 1000 starting on 1/1/2012.
No individual, presidential candidate, prime minister, secretary, queen or princess is more important than the team. The team. The team. The team.
Thank you for your consideration, and feel free to call or email the 8th USA Parliament if/when you have any questions, comments, ideas, comments, improvements, etc.
Best,
--James Ogle [Free Parliamentary]
http://www.usparliament.org
this is what DEMOCRACY looks like and don't you look BEAUTIFUL! too many bullies running education and BRUTALISING our children's minds. this is the number one issue because it is our future. we are taking over for our children's sakes. we have been brutalised with their BS for TOO LONG!
The will of THE PEOPLE will always prevail
Representative Kevin Brady of Texas said on MSNBC about 20 minutes ago, "Those Occupiers are IRRELEVANT. They do not have a cohesive message. They simply don't matter" CALL HIS OFFICE AT 202-225-4901 and tell him you are not IRRELEVANT.
They've always regarded us - the vast majority of the population - as irrelevant. That's the whole point of OWS, isn't it? We won't be treated as irrelevant any longer?
Representative Kevin Brady of Texas only accepts email from people within his congressional district. I bet they get as much of a hearing from him as those of us outside his district. For all you Naysayers, I suggest you watch the video : "Occupy Wall Street: Outing the Ringers" (4:19). It is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9zkQcLi4Yo&feature=colike
If they are irrelevant, then why are the police attacking them all over the country? Why are the 1% getting scared? What a weak person he is.
the rules and policies that have been set up are designed to silence the people's voice and prohibit true democracy
the people's voice through the people's mic cannot be silenced except by imprisoning or killing us all
together we stand united as equals in true democracy against the forces of greed and corruption
The powers that be are having democracy served to them by the people,. about friggn' time!
See those suits go running away to hide,. unwilling to actually interact with the people.
The 1% (and their lackeys) time has come,. real democracy will remove the power whores and fix the greed infected system.
A great action!!!
hahaha! the suits just walk out offended. so rich!
Seriously though, besides a general strike, this should be one of the movements next steps. infiltrate every city council, BOE meeting, election campaign gathering, and fundraising event worth our time. Take all this poor excuses for democratic convention and expose them and replace them with real democracy like in this video.
There should be a new working group dedicated to getting our hands into the closed doors where our policies originate, and where our politicians originate. Address our problems at the source.
Agreed.... this is ONLY the beginning!!!!
It's time for direct action against the banks and credit card companies. As one we can stop paying them today and end the debt game the 1% plays with our lives. Learn more at debtrebellion.wordpress.com
The 8 year old would have been more effective unscripted. Having a kid read demands pretty clearly written by adults as though they were her own is not compelling - it's kind of disgusting and exploitative actually, inasmuch it takes away her voice and objectifies her - treating her as a megaphone for some adult's voice instead.
Aside from that, loved this video - people refusing to lie down while their kids are being used as pawns by teacher's unions and edu-crats. Beautiful.
FACT UPDATE: 3 children spoke that night, and each of them wrote their own piece and was reading their own handwriting. Just thought you should know, b/c I was there.
that is a pretty big assumption, that 8-year-olds can't write their own thoughts.
I think it is a good assumption. This is the age group my wife teaches. I help her grade papers and see the kind of work done by these kids. This is written on a level way higher than kids this age are typically capable of.
Plus, depending on the state, k-3 have caps on how large the class size can be by law. Upper grades can have higher ratios. I am not sure about all states on this point though. Our particular state caps those grades at no more than 20 kids.
i would dispute this. we cant judge all based on some. after all, if we did that we would be turning into the kind of people we are against. my cousin is eight, and i can tell you that some of the thoughts going through his head are a lot brighter than the thoughts that govern America.
I have a 13 year old who took the SAT last year, he has an IQ over 140, but he doesn't go into any of the level of politics or comments brought on by these 8 year olds. Like I said, I have helped her for years and never seen kids communicate on this level at that age.
That sounds like a lie. If your 13 year old has a 140 IQ, they could definitely keep up with any political commentary out there. Good try though.
Even if it was true, your son is the benchmark for all children? "I'm not smart, but my kid, is real smart. So that kid can't be that smart."
Not a lie. I just don't see the point in inundating him with politics. He needs time to be a kid. He has no interest in the news. We live out in the country where we don't have any exposure to that mess up North.
All kids are smart, or have the potential to be because at that age, they literally absorb all information given them, unlike adults. A big part of your intelligence is in your ability to store information and recall it. The more you know, the better you are to make wise decisions, communicate, and judge situations. There are kids out there speaking 6 different languages by age 5. It's not impossible for an 8 year old to speak on that level. The key is cramming all you can in their heads while they are young.
In Connecticut the cap is 30. I've substitute taught in a 2nd grade with 28 kids. They were literally unable to stand up from their desks at the same time(chairs back to back and desks close together).
For all you Naysayers, I suggest you watch the video : "Occupy Wall Street: Outing the Ringers" (4:19). It is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9zkQcLi4Yo&feature=colike
'Occupy Madison' loses permit due to public masturbation.
Probably in front of kids.
You parasites have no shame. None.
While I was tempted to say something to change or redirect your mind/opinion, I will simply have faith that will happen on its own with time. I simply urge you to consider the underlying intent and mission. I am confident the changes that WILL come from this movement WILL make YOURs and our country's life and future better, no matter what are your politics. Be well :)
Thank you for bringing up intent and mission. Many people from all around the world have been compelled to join this movement. What is its intent? That is difficult to answer because the movement is made of so many different people from different backgrounds. But it is the intent that matters. If we can focus on intention, in the right environment, with a common goal..WOW!! The sky's the limit. A better future is certainly what everybody wants. That is a very broad statement. For me that means all us humans together, interdependent and interconnected creating a world where we live within the laws of nature, rather than trying to conquer them. This begins with education. We need to teach our children how to be human, to live in this global society of interconnectedness. The schools today are still designed to produce robotons for industry, they are an indoctrination into a world that doesn't exist anymore. It is time for new systems that set us on a path for sustainability. What better place to start than with our education system.
YES! I "upvoted" your comment (i just learned how to do that...for those who dont know, you can click the little arrow to the left of comments...up arrow if it adds constructively to the dialogue, down arrow if it doesn't--not just because you disagree though).
I wholeheartedly agree education is a long term solution. I am no expert in education but support genuine efforts to make meaningful reform and improvements to our educational system. How and when will there be the necessary OUTRAGE, desire and determination to do that??? I say this movement is definitely a significant opportunity towards that. Perhaps especially one of the initiatives after tackling some of the "system" reforms. Such as fixing campaign and electoral problems to ensure WHOMEVER is elected (republic, democrat, independent, etc.), that they be ACCOUNTABLE to those they represent (i.e. STOP THE CORRUPTION, back-room deals and disproportionately serving the wealthy and powerful). And economic and tax reforms that would effectively, fairly and sustainably fix the economy to direct, invest and maximize our LIMITED resources. Then we could possibly entrust such representatives to honor the people's desire to fix education and whatever else we democratically decide (I HOPE education is high on that relatively short list of limited things we can really tackle as a nation).
I have to agree with you on the intent and mission. This is a big beef of mine with the protest though. I know the protest have a lot of valid points, but it appears to me that no one is doing anything about them. I see people camped out everywhere, but there doesn't seem to be an official spokesperson to move this anywhere. There doesn't seem to be any clear goals or wants here. Just a lot of people camped out waiting for things to happen that probably won't until people start pushing for clearly defined wants. But remember, you have to have realistic goals too. Asking for immunity for student loans is not realistic. The ability to consolidate them with lower interest rates to make them easier to pay off is realistic.
Acts like this only serve to discredit the movement. I would be wise as to who exactly you let into the occupied areas. If people are acting stupid, kick them out. They will only discredit you and will not allow you to curry favor with anyone. This is politics after all.
is that true?
(1) way to slip in the waiting for superman kool-aid.
(2) do you have proof that the child did not write that?
I totally disagree with you. Young children are capable of intelligent and coherent thought and analyzing and producing logical thought processes. I often thought about all kinds of issues when I was young. Not every kid is only focused on toys and video games. Please give children more credit than that.
In fact, many kids are more capable of reasoning than a lot of adults are.
And how many children have you raised?
how many children do you know? i am guessing not all of them.
I know many and have raised "my fair share." Thanks for asking. You?
If they are in a school with not enough chairs or books to go around, they are bright enough to realize the class sizes are too large.
Those schools do exist.
Waiting for superman is widely decried as a propaganda film to help push charter schools. Ever wonder about the relationship between the film director and his subject matter? How about the film's funding? And then there is the simple fact that charter schools have a higher fail rate than public schools.
I was just told by a ten year old neighbor about her issues with class size this last weekend while we are asking her about her experience at a local school. I can't think of a kid that does not care about the size of their class in fact.
my three year old complained that there were too many kids in his class, too few teachers. this is how the conversation went:
MY KID: mama, how many kids is it in your class? [he still says "your" instead of "my"]
ME: i believe you have 17 classmates.
MK: and how many teachers is it?
ME: well, of course two, mrs. and mrs. _ [i named his teachers].
MK: is not enough teachers!!!
ME [laughing]: so, you object to the student-teacher ratio, huh? that means you think there should be more grownups in the room.
MK: more and more and more!!!
i personally am not up, in general, for putting kids on stage. i think it's bullshit. i was sometimes used that way as a kid. even the brightest, most articulate kids can get caught up in trying to deliver what they intuit are their parents'/teachers' missions. but hell yeah an eight year old -- even a three year old -- can have complaints about the logistics of their classrooms.
"...people refusing to lie down while their kids are being used as pawns..."
Um...so they go to a meeting and use their kids as pawns?
Sarah Palin uses her kids as pawns. Not these people.
it's exactly the same principle even if the politics are different.
Facepalm.jpg... Just kill yourselves. You're the parents with the kids that end up with D's and wonder why you live a life of misery.
You have accomplished nothing. You will not accomplish anything. Well, except other people laughing at you.
Actually, the people who are laughing at this movement are in the minority (that means you).
For all you Naysayers, I suggest you watch the video : "Occupy Wall Street: Outing the Ringers" (4:19). It is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9zkQcLi4Yo&feature=colike