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We are the 99 percent

Communiqué from the 99%

Posted 10 years ago on April 4, 2013, 9:21 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
Tags: debt, wearethe99percent

I am a female mechanical engineering student. Dean’s List student, even for Calc 3 and Dynamics. I have no co-signer for loans, so I am only eligible for enough to cover books and tuition. It’s taken me 5 years to complete 6 semesters because I run up my credit cards to pay for gas and food, and I can’t go back until I pay the balance down. My cards are currently completely maxed, and I fear that I am beginning to lose Calculus knowledge that I learned in 2005. My car is ready to break down at 130,000 miles, and my debt payments are $700 just for interest every month. I have been paying on and off between semesters and I still have $5000 to go before I even begin to pay the principal balance. I’m 25, live at home, and I bartend 50 hours a week. I want to design machines and energy systems that have a positive impact on our society, but I’m getting you HAMMERED and cleaning up after your party instead. I especially enjoy when people talk to me like an idiot because you got the wrong cheese on your burger. I know - I’m serving you dinner because I must be a stupid girl.

From: We Are the 99 Percent

169 Comments

169 Comments


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[-] 11 points by rocket88doowop (30) from Brooklyn, NY 10 years ago

I understand how you feel. I am angry at those people who say that if you do not have a job, it is your fault, that you did something wrong at the job interview; these people refuse to understand that it is not true, that the truth is no matter what you do, you will not get a job and these people refuse to comply with G-d's laws of compassion. Also, many people refuse to understand that it is not a poor person's fault that he/she is poor and these people, even if they are religious, also refuse to abide by G-d's laws of compassion.

[-] 3 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

"The Elephant in the Room: Militarism", by Jeff Cohen :

"Today there’s an elephant in the room: a huge, yet ignored, issue that largely explains why Social Security is now on the chopping block. And why other industrialized countries have free college education and universal healthcare, but we don’t. It’s arguably our country’s biggest problem – a problem that Martin Luther King Jr. focused on before he was assassinated 45 years ago, and has only worsened since then (which was the height of the Vietnam War). That problem is U.S. militarism and perpetual war."

Thanx for your heartfelt and spot on comment and as the comments below by 'bw' are also so critically important, I can do no better than to quote the first and final lines of her initial comment and recommend the exchange with 'inclusionman' below to all readers :

  • "We need an economic system that works for ALL people. & Remember: Workers are the backbone of any nation and should be revered not humiliated."

ad iudicium ...

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

MIC - now with a new toy - Lazer cannon mounted on Naval ships capable of shooting down drones ( or manned Airplanes or I suppose could engage ground targets as well ).

The Navy ( MIC ) - looking for conflicts to test and refine new toys.

[-] 5 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

Endless 'toys for boys' should mean logically that we need to give more of the reigns of power to 'the girls' - with Maggie Thatcher ('The Milk Snatcher' - so dubbed because as UK Minister for Education in 1970's, she stopped universal free milk for school children !!) being the most egregious and conspicuous exception to the rule !

fiat lux ...

[-] 3 points by Ache4Change (3340) 10 years ago

The damage that Thatcher did to the cause of The Global 99% is incalculable and will need time to unwind and further to your excellent link and the important OP, please see -

http://www.nationofchange.org/margaret-thatcher-1925-2013-tariq-ali-late-british-pm-s-legacy-austerity-apartheid-1365435030 and

http://www.nationofchange.org/interest-rates-student-loans-set-double-even-students-fall-deeper-debt-1365602608

Never Give Up Exposing The Deep Truths! Occupy The Debate! Solidarity.

[-] 2 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

In the early 1970s, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher declared, 'there is no alternative', to economic prescriptions to help liberalize the marketplace and expand trade. This approach came to be known as "globalization" :

Never Give Up A4C & Solidarity !!

pax et lux ...

[Removed]

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Such a conflicted person well perhaps not - the person was no doubt not conflicted - the credited history of being a savior - THAT is conflicted. Credited with saving England and yet attacked the poor and working class of England.

[-] 2 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

If she wasn't dead already, Thatcher would probably have 'popped her clogs' at reading the likes of :

fiat justitia ruat caelum ...

[-] 1 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

Reagan and Thatcher set in motion this pathetic economic situation that we find ourselves in today. Decreasing wages, higher prices, and high unemployment for the masses while the wealthy run off with all the cash.

[-] 7 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

“Tramp the Dirt Down”, by George Galloway, MP :

I excerpt, echo & ditto both GG & u with : "I hated Margaret Thatcher for what seems like all my life. I hated her more than I hated anyone – until the mass murderer Tony Blair (A BLiar!) came along and it would have been utter hypocrisy for me to have remained silent about all of her crimes today whilst the political class – including New Labour – poured honeyed words, lies actually, over her blood-spattered record. I could not do it. I believe I spoke for millions. The wicked witch is dead. Tramp the dirt down."

multum in parvo ...

[-] 3 points by frovikleka (2563) from Island Heights, NJ 10 years ago

Shadz I can feel both an honest outrage, and sadness in your comment not only for the victims of her reign of terror, but also for 'what could have and should have been'

~Odin~

[-] 2 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

You intuit correctly and '''in the early 1970s, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher declared, 'there is no alternative', to economic prescriptions to help liberalize the marketplace and expand trade. This approach came to be known as globalization" :

e tenebris, lux ...

[-] 0 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

I have to say I feel the same way about Ronald Reagan. I was only a teenager when he became President, but I felt the very same way about him then and still do today. There was something dark in those smiles.

[-] -2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

RayGun the corpoRATist's favorite paid actor in office?

Yeah the smiles would have had to have been dark.

[-] -1 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

When all is said and done I think history will prove him one of the most dangerous Presidents in U.S. history.

[-] -2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Depends on who is commissioning the writing.

[-] -1 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

History, itself, will tell the story. When no middle class is left, the environment is degraded to the point of no return and poverty is rampant. It will all point to the early 1980's.

[-] 1 points by jrhirsch (4714) from Sun City, CA 10 years ago

The lower 90% shared a large portion of the growth in income from 1945 to 1974. Even under Nixon.

The real cause of wealth inequality is going off the gold standard in 73 which has allowed the value of the dollar to plummet in the last 40 years. (about one seventh of it's 1973 value)

If people don't have a stable currency, they don't have a stable view of it's value, so when they sell their labor for a few percent too little, and buy the products from their labor for a few percent too much, they lose on both accounts. Compare the two graphs below. The third graph shows inflation taking off in the mid seventies.

http://stateofworkingamerica.org/who-gains/#/?start=1945&end=1974

http://stateofworkingamerica.org/who-gains/#/?start=1974&end=2008

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/US_Consumer_Price_Index_Graph.svg

[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Forgive student of teachers who work in low income areas.

http://news.yahoo.com/teachers-works-low-income-schools-college-debt-forgiven-003400783.html

What do you think.?

[-] 1 points by notaneoliberal (2269) 10 years ago

Nonsense on the gold standard. The gold standard was in place during the robber baron era. The gold standard was in place at the start of the Great Depression. Wealth inequality is low in Scandinavian countries NOW without a gold standard. Co-relation is not causation.

[-] 0 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

I agree with you re: the gold standard. Excellent point. That combined with Thatcher and Reagan brought us down.

[-] 0 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Perhaps - but it will definitely have to point at the MIC and the rise of the corpoRATions ( the living dead).

[-] -1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

One can hope it will pop some currently living Greedy assholes minds - um - too late for that - they are already insane - well maybe it will make em pop an aneurism. Fingers crossed everybody.

[-] 4 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

Fingers crossed indeed & fyi "Ken Loach Wants Thatcher's Funeral Privatized", by Ben Arnold :

"Filmmaker says that putting the plans 'out to tender' is what she would have wanted".

quad erat demonstrandum ...

[-] 4 points by JesseHeffran (3903) 10 years ago

Wow, I wish the we would have thought of that when Reagan died. We would have seen first hand how the invisible hand of the market treats its own.

[-] 3 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

On Adam Smith - "What we would call capitalism he despised", by Noam Chomsky :

There's nothing 'free' about the 'free market' as someone else, somewhere always pays a price and Adam Smith himself warned against the 'free hand of the market'. Finally, I also append :

caveat ...

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Hmmmm - the working & poor public may want to donate some firewood and a can of lighter fluid.

[-] 1 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

We need an economic system that works for ALL people. First step to getting that is valuing labor in a humane way. So, scrap the way we value work right now and create a living wage and enough jobs to provide a decent living to all. People over profit. Believe me, there is plenty of money to go around.

And, everyone needs to understand that it is the economic system that is causing their financial anxiety, not anything lacking in them. Shaming people for not becoming the next Mark Zuckerberg is some kind of joke on humanity, but TPTB have become experts at doing so.

Remember: Workers are the backbone of any nation and should be revered not humiliated.

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Well said.

Alan Grayson recently quoted Pres Lincoln on this important issue.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-alan-grayson/lincoln-congress-speech-_b_1127058.html

[-] 1 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

Young people need to fight for change. They are the greatest hope as they will be the most affected by apathy. I know a lot of young college age kids that want revolutionary change. They are dedicated to making this world a better place like the young woman in the post.

We must provide them with as much knowledge as possible about their economic plight so that they know exactly why they are in the position they are in and then encourage them to fight like hell.

And, I like Alan Grayson very much. He doesn't get much media attention, unfortunately.

[-] 4 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Grayson IS great. Young people are getting more involved then ever. Even my daughter who loves hangin with her friends has gotten involved deeply.

I am always positive, although I know that TPTB have such overwhelming control & power that it will take years of hard work, inevitable setbacks, & failures.

But as you say, the young have most to gain (& lose) and their involvement will be a determining factor.

[-] 1 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

I think we should focus on the age group that is in college right now and younger. Those who have graduated already seem to be depressed and just trying to survive. The younger ones also have seen their parents suffer through major economic tragedies while growing up and so they are clued in that this is no joke and not going to go away anytime soon.

Perhaps Occupy could formulate a day of action for college age kids, maybe across the country, on college campuses, so they don't have to travel too far, as they don't really have the money to travel.

[-] 5 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

That is absolutely the right approach. This post represents a bit of it. There are many student debt efforts, education day efforts, and indeed many colleges and college students are becoming more active.

In NYC we had a robust movement fighting new tuition at the free Cooper union a few months ago. Early on we began with occupations of CUNY buildings protesting tuition increases.

And of course Montreal was most active in their efforts to stop tuition increases.

So these actions I think illustrate the potency of young people. We should build on these actions because as you pointed out the young people have the most at stake.

A day of action is always an excellent idea. It can show our support level. Imagine dozens of cities and thousands of students all calling for the same thing. (whatever is decided that be)

[-] 3 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

I draw attention to the critical exchange here by excerpting :

a) "Perhaps Occupy could formulate a day of action for college age kids, maybe across the country, on college campuses, so they don't have to travel too far, as they don't really have the money to travel."

& ...

b) "A day of action is always an excellent idea. It can show our support level. Imagine dozens of cities and thousands of students all calling for the same thing."

I earnestly hope OWS & students in general take note.

per aspera ad astra ...

[-] 1 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

Young people have the most to lose and the most to gain. They are the future, and they can take their country and their world back and place them squarely in the hands of the people.

[-] 3 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

Some of what the young need to know (inter alia) IF they are to reclaim 'Democracy' in The U$A :

respice, adspice, prospice ...

[-] 5 points by Middleaged (5140) 10 years ago

Good Info here for all.

[-] 3 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

"A Tax System Stacked Against the 99 Percent", by Joseph E. Stiglitz :

"Today, the deadline for filing individual income-tax returns, is a day when Americans would do well to pause and reflect on our tax system and the society it creates. No one enjoys paying taxes, and yet all but the extreme libertarians agree, as Oliver Wendell Holmes said, that taxes are the price we pay for civilized society. But in recent decades, the burden for paying that price has been distributed in increasingly unfair ways.

"About 6 in 10 of us believe that the tax system is unfair — and they’re right: put simply, the very rich don’t pay their fair share. The richest 400 individual taxpayers, with an average income of more than $200 million, pay less than 20 percent of their income in taxes — far lower than mere millionaires, who pay about 25 percent of their income in taxes, and about the same as those earning a mere $200,000 to $500,000. And in 2009, 116 of the top 400 earners — almost a third — paid less than 15 percent of their income in taxes.

"Society can’t function well without a minimal sense of national solidarity and cohesion, and that sense of shared purpose also rests on a fair tax system. If Americans believe that government is unfair — that ours is a government of the 1 percent, for the 1 percent, and by the 1 percent — then faith in our democracy will surely perish."

Thanx 'Ma' & I also draw attention to your important comment on another recent thread :

fiat justitia ruat caelum ...

[Removed]

[-] 3 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

Oh, sob - the poor dears !!! John Galt overdose, much ?!! Vous etes un 'Randian Human Hating Psychopath' peut etre ?! Consider :

Flat Tax ?!!! I take it that you didn't read the Stiglitz article, then lol !! Dare you to listen to this less than half hour, NPR audio link above - if your misanthropic 'Libertarianism' will allow ! {:-p)

ad iudicium ...

EDIT : I do NOT get why your comment has been vanished

[-] -3 points by TiredofVictimMentality (-16) 10 years ago

Not a Libertarian. Just a plain vanilla Republican who takes responsibility for my own failures rather than blaming others; i.e. the Puritan work ethic America was founded on. It's much harder than being a victim but much more rewarding in the end.

[-] 2 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

'Vanilla Republicon' ? OMG, lol & thanx for your emotional, irrational and distinctly self-righteous, self-regarding and self-absorbed reply !!! ''Me, myself and I" seems your creed but is your head hard enough and your heart soft enough to listen to the audio-link above or are you the other way around ?!! Also btw The Puritans were early 'commune-ists and collectivists' !

fiat lux ...

[-] 1 points by TiredofVictimMentality (-16) 10 years ago

shadz66

Seems like your excessive use of exclamation points, dares and insults would indicate you are the emotional one.

The Puritans practiced a communal life for one season until they realized several members of their fold were not contributing yet taking an even share of the food. They quickly changed their rules to let every one enjoy the fruits of their own labors.

[-] 3 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

There are some commercials running here in the U.S. right now about "How old is the oldest person you know?" It goes on and makes a fancy graph about how very old people are now, but really it's just a b.s. ruse to get Americans to agree to the vast cuts in retirement, both Social Security and private pensions. Just because you know one person who made it to 95 doesn't mean the majority of people will.

In fact, socialist Cuba has a higher life expectancy than the U.S. Woe is me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_life_expectancy

Dont' be fooled young people! Fight for what is right!

[-] 5 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

"Dont' be fooled young people! Fight for what is right!"

Excellent link & points. "Commercials" huh ?! Consider : “The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.” by Edward Bernays (Sigmund Freud's nephew) from his seminal booklet :

"Dont' be fooled young people! Fight for what is right!"

per ardua as astra ...

[-] 2 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

Bernays probably had more influence on this nation than anyone. Here's a link to the documentary that studies it, "The Century of the Self":

http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-century-of-the-self/

Also, I can't help but think of how much talk there is in our school system about teaching kids to think critically when all we do is stuff their brains with garbage through MSM.

[-] 2 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

"The Propaganda System That Has Helped Create a Permanent Overclass Is Over a Century in the Making", by Andrew Gavin Marshall :

"Where there is the possibility of democracy, there is the inevitability of elite insecurity. All through its history, democracy has been under a sustained attack by elite interests, political, economic, and cultural. There is a simple reason for this: democracy – as in true democracy – places power with people. In such circumstances, the few who hold power become threatened. With technological changes in modern history, with literacy and education, mass communication, organization and activism, elites have had to react to the changing nature of society – locally and globally.

"From the late 19th century on, the “threats” to elite interests from the possibility of true democracy mobilized institutions, ideologies, and individuals in support of power. What began was a massive social engineering project with one objective: control. Through educational institutions, the social sciences, philanthropic foundations, public relations and advertising agencies, corporations, banks, and states, powerful interests sought to reform and protect their power from the potential of popular democracy.

"Yet for all the efforts, organization, indoctrination and reformation of power interests, the threat of democracy has remained a constant, seemingly embedded in the human consciousness, persistent and pervasive."

Excerpted from the above linked article, which is a really good corollary to my previous link and to your reply comment & many thanx for your excellent link re. Adam Curtis' ''The Century Of The Self'', which I must Highly Recommend to all interested readers.

fiat lux ...

[-] 3 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

"Liberty" is such a ruse. They use that phrase to indoctrinate us because as long as we "think" we are free, we follow like sheep, and they know it.

[-] 3 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

The 'Illusion Of Freedom' is a powerful drug, incessantly pushed by TPTB and their wholly owned MSM lackeys, lap-dogs and pimps - so 'ewe' are dead right and we all need to get ba-a-ack to the struggle ;-)

The only freedom 'They' are interested in, is our 'freedom' to buy their goods, services and propagandist B-S, while they gouge at every turn !! WTFU America & http://MayDay.tk/ & solidarity for a bw for us all.

veritas vos liberabit ...

[-] -1 points by TiredofVictimMentality (-16) 10 years ago

When Social Security was enacted early in the 20th century, the full retirement age was 64 and the average life expectancy was only 61. Congress wasn't worried about funding it because they knew most people would never live to collect it. Now that the average life expectancy is well into the 70s the full retirement age will have to be raised unless you want our grandchildren to devote all their earnings to supporting the baby boomers in their old age. It's always amazing to me that liberals chant sustainability when protesting environmental issues but immediately forget the concept when it comes to the economy.

[-] 3 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

Right. We should all work until we drop. No retirement for anyone but the capitalists. If you pay into a system by supporting retirees for 45 years, from approximately age 20-65, that ought to be enough. Raising the cap on income is the way they should go, but no, no, wouldn't want to hurt the wealthy. It's all a ruse to keep taking from the people who need it most.

Fair wages would be a nice way to sustain the economy as well, but no, we don't want to pay fair wages either. Make 'em suffer while they work, and then suffer some more when they retire.

[-] 7 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

There's Only One Class War !!! The one being waged by The 0.01% Parasites, using The 1% against The 99% - as Warren Buffet almost said !! Be careful being so clear ; plain and simply heart centred & so logical, as it could cause Right-Wingnuts' heads to pop ! U wdn't wnt tht on yr cnscnc wd u bw, lol ?

radix omnium malorum est cupiditas ...

[-] 2 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

LOLOL! Yes, all true. I try to be clear, but they just don't seem to listen! They even just voted down new gun safety laws. WTF? What's up with that? Where is their humanity? I really want to know.

And, awesome, re: Public Banking. Gar Alperovitz, Matt Taibbi. I wish I could go.

[-] 3 points by shadz66 (19985) 10 years ago

There's A LOT ''up with that'' in truth !!! I am hoping OWS can link up with and/or 'LiveStream' the 'Public Banking Conference' on June 2nd-4th : http://www.publicbankinginamerica.org/ and I'll also append here. this relevant and highly referenced article for later perusal :

fiat justitia ruat caelum ...

[-] -3 points by TiredofVictimMentality (-16) 10 years ago

Raising the cap on income is fine as long as my benefits increase accordingly when I reach retirement age. But I suspect you want to raise the cap in order to subsidize those who have paid less into the system over their lifetimes; i.e. wealth redistribution. If I pay the one gallon price for milk, I get one gallon of milk in return. Why do you think you deserve to get two gallons for the one gallon price?

[-] 1 points by Middleaged (5140) 10 years ago

Why do you think the two party paradigm is valid? Neither party is focused on the important issues: they only support Lobbying, Insider trading, Status Quo, and Fraud.

Why can't you see how corrupt the financial systems are ... and how close relationships between people with power and people with money has created a hidden world of corrupt influence.

Why don't you think DOJ Holder & FBI Mueller should go after the Control Accounting Fraud in banking that puts the American Union at Risk? Why don't you see how ratings agency are influence by money to provide AAA rated Financial Instruments. Why don't you acknowledge all the Fraud Prosecuted against Independent Accounting Firms ... as proof of hand slap punishments and proof of the Corruption. Why can't you see the hand slaps for LIBOR scandal and Money Laudering as proof of the Corruption or Ineffectiveness of the SEC, FDIC, OCC, GAO, DOJ, FBI, US Treasury, and the entire 12 Federal Reserve Banking System (Who are all Regulators). Don't you think it is time for a look at the effectiveness of FINRA?

Can't you see that Point By Point the Risk to US Households and all Levels of Government has increased? But you still don't want to break up TBTF banks that are 33% larger today than when the 2008 Crisis struck. And by the way FDIC said they didn't have enough money to cover TBTF Depositors in 2008.

What you have is a Marriage of Government & Money (Banks & Wealthy Corporations) This is Corporate Socialism.

There are still some good systems out there. Most of the institutions set up by the 1970s seem valuable. Not sure about the FTC which was set up to go after the Money trust (Banks) and to prevent consumer fraud. The FTC lost it's mandate to go after banks like in 1934.

But you will be glad to know that J.P. Morgan gets a percent off of all Food Stamps are part of it's Corporate Socialism.

[-] 1 points by beautifulworld (23769) 10 years ago

"TiredofGreed" That would be my new moniker if I ever get booted off here. Thanks.

[-] 1 points by Middleaged (5140) 10 years ago

The Social Security program's benefits include retirement income, disability income, Medicare and Medicaid, and death and survivorship benefits. As per Investopedia

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/socialsecurity.asp

Well, I didn't know that Medicare and Medicaid were part of that. But you have to admit that Survivor Benefits and Disability Benefits are great programs.....

In fact Social Programs take many forms. You can't say we live in a democracy... we have a limited democracy ... or a Limited Republic ... but we have social programs of all kinds ... including corporate social programs/corporate welfare. So you have to say we have a "Mixed Economy" with corrupted, quasi free-markets (since you need the structure of Regulations to get Exchange markets or free markets to work). So was going to list other social programs

1) K-12 or 1-12 is publicly funded
2) Federal Education Department spends like $80 Billion a year at least ... but really don't have schools except maybe in the state department or for military dependents overseas.
3) Social Medicine for all Military Members
4) Social Medicine for Military dependents
5) Social Medicine for all of Congress ... if they go to the Naval hospital they can get treatment.
6) Congressmen get low rent on K-Street Housing in some cases ... this is basically social housing provided by Lobbyist (either than or it is Criminal activity)
7) Education Benefits for Military and Veterans is Social Education
8) Passing education Benefits to kids of Veterans is Social Education (Tax Payers pay)
9) Survivors benefits & Education for Kids of Military that died, this is a Social Program.
10) Congress gets retirement benefits, pension benefits, health care benefits, Long Term Health Benefits, dental Benefits, and life insurance benefits... these are social programs even if they contribute.
11) Federal Employees get Health Care Insurance and retirement benefits ... these are taxpayer supported Social Programs.

**So really you live in a Mixed Economy with Capitalism, Socialism, Structured Financial Markets (not free markets), and you life in a Limited Republic. Is it a Kleptocracy? Probably, the reason is the amount of Fraud is 88 Time greater than in the S&L Scandal of the 1980-90... and it appears with naked short selling (counterfeiting money), high speed computer trading, and Selecting Winning Accounts for Trades... that Investment Banks can "Rig the Markets".

[-] 0 points by shoozTroll (17632) 10 years ago

Well then, do us all a favor and get yourself a Darwin award!!!!

It shouldn't be too difficult for you, considering your depth of understanding.

TIA, for your full cooperation.

[-] -1 points by TiredofVictimMentality (-16) 10 years ago

You are an angry boy!

But you do provide a good illustration of the liberal mindset of "my way or the highway." Cooperation and consideration of other perspectives was not one of Karl Marx's key tenets.

[-] 1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 10 years ago

So you don't know about the Darwin Awards??

Really, you should get yourself one.

You'll be famous.

Plus you'll be doing the World at large a big favor.

[Removed]

[-] 0 points by LittleMatchGirl (-143) 10 years ago

I loved to see what you said here. Real people are coming back to this forum, and to this movement. That is inevitable. They say the stock market is up, and so the recession (depression) is over. Bullshit.

Get active. The world is turning. We we all become politically active, come together and help each other, or we will all be swept under the ashbin of history.

[-] 6 points by OccupyPhysics (6) 10 years ago

I feel your pain. We need to work together to build a better world. If you are truely interested in designing energy systems, feel free to contact me at contact@plasmapowersystems.net or visit my website at www.plasmapowersystems.net for more information.

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Looming student debt bubble

http://www.mainstreet.com/article/moneyinvesting/education-planning/can-student-debt-crisis-outshine-housing-bubble

Time to force banks to abolish at least 50% of all working class student debts, cut the rate to near 0%, and allow delay in making payments.

[-] 3 points by frovikleka (2563) from Island Heights, NJ 10 years ago

This young lady's plight in trying to pay for her education is repeated over and over again

The enormous debts incurred by her and countless other young people who do not see their futures lining up in a multitude of ways including good job prospects will be the driving force of our revolution

~Odin~

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Debt is the tool of the corp 1% bankster oligarchs to enslave us all!

They get us early and keep us imprisoned with impossible debt levels. How else can they squeeze us on the job? Force us to put up with low wages, ever increasing reduced benefits if we ain't scared of missing payments.

Outrageous and criminal! Especially when the peoples govt continues giving banksters almost 0% loans.

http://occupywallst.org/forum/abolish-student-debt-demand-free-education/

Time to punish banks with forced debt abolishment of working class & students.

Solidarity. Don't give up.

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[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

This is life with Student debt

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2013/apr/03/student-debt-america-six-figures

This obscenity must end.

[-] 2 points by Jacklow (2) 10 years ago

I understand how you feel. It took me almost 20 years to pay off my student loans. I might be able to help you get a job at Boeing if you're willing to relocate to Seattle.

[-] 0 points by eterna (-93) from Montauk, NY 10 years ago

boeing now has a plant in brazil.

[-] 2 points by freecitizen85 (-3) 10 years ago

I definitely relate to you, as I am drowning in debt from my schooling as well. Have you heard of the blog And Then We Saved or Financial Peace University? My husband and I have 6 figures worth of debt from our degrees, and we have recently moved in with his parents in order to put all of our income towards paying off the debt. We're hoping to get out of debt slavery within the next couple of years. Thousands, possibly millions of people have become completely debt-free using the methods described in the programs I mentioned. While the Occupy movement is something that is necessary, choosing to live a debt free lifestyle is the only effective way to take away the elite's power.

[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

These links contribute to this issue.

http://occupywallst.org/article/debt-strangles-99percent/

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[-] 0 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

You received an education in return for paper. What is wrong with this?

[-] -2 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

I still don't understand. You received an education in return for paying the loan back. If you don't want to pay back the loan you can do that. What am I missing.

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

There are ramifications if you default on that debt. We need the debt abolished. At least for working class people, and perhaps starting with 50%.

[-] -2 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

So you really want a free education and why should your poverty level matter.

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

I don't want to spend tax payer money to help the rich.

[-] -1 points by freecitizen85 (-3) 10 years ago

nor do I want to spend it to help people that do not contribute to society and have an entitlement mindset. They work the system and recieve free healthcare, but they can afford to eat out for every meal, get their hair and nails done regularly, and purchase designer clothes. Oh, and they can't pay their electric bill either. There's a lot of nasty rich people, but there are a whole lot of nasty people that work the system.

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

You mean therich people who rigged the system to have low taxes, and still game the system by sheltering money overseas to avoid taxes, and then take govt subsidies in their businesses while outsourcing American jobs.

No one games the system, & and "takes" more government largess than the rich. What you fail to see is that the benefits to the poor you deride are responsible for only 6% of the budget, the percent of those "working" the system (10%?) reduces that further.

So YOU are talking about a tiny amount of money. The Rich are costing us massive amounts of money with their scheming thefts of the tax payer.

So don't worry about it so much, we can increase money to fight welfare fraud but it won't yield much money.

Sorry. Try again.

[-] -3 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

The rich are the ones who pay a good chunk of the budget. If all you are doing is taking from the rich to give to others then eventually the rich won't work and then nobody is producing. It's called socialism and it has not worked.

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

They suck up 93% of the wealth that the rest of us create. You keep that up and soon people will rise up and take their money back by force. It's called revolution and the greedy, selfish, do nothing, govt leaching corp 1% oligarchs better check themselves, before the wreck themselves.

[-] -1 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

Why do you say the 1% are do nothing? Was Mitt Romney do nothing? Ted Olson? the heart doctor down the street? Why are they greedy because they went to school, studied, stayed married and got ahead. You want to penalize good behavior.

[-] 1 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Mitt Romney is the epitome of lazy, do nothing, govt leach wealthy He made his money by inheriting it, and buying/raiding corps, loading them up with debt & sending American jobs over seas.

Greedy because he and his vulture capitalists (no not drs) enrich themselves y hundreds of millions by taking thousands of peoples livelihood, & life savings.

I penalize that BAD behavior.

[-] -1 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

You honestly think you could do what Mitt Romney did - BYU, Harvard MBA, CEO of one of the top consulting and private equity firms, governor of MA, ran the Olympics, ran for President. Are you kidding?

Do you even know who his investors were at Bain? Try fireman, policeman, teachers plumbers and grocery store clerks.

Could you do the same? Why would we want to penalize that type of good behavior.

[-] 1 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

We must denounce & renounce all the vulture capitalists who put profit ahead of peoples jobs in America.

And no I could never destroy peoples lives and profit off it it to boot.

LOL What a fuckin moron. I stand with the 99% motherfucker, you stand with the corp oligarchs who have destroyed the middle class.

You're a traitor to your own class! And you have no honor.

[-] 0 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

Oh my goodness, anger problems? From your response and use of vulgarity it is clear than you don't have the skills to start a company and lead people like Mitt Romney does. So now the truth comes out.

You say you are for the 99% but you are against teachers, firemen and policemen? Are they not worthy of a retirement also.

What class are you speaking of? I have enough honor to not throw vulgar diatribes at you.

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Romney and the vulture capitalists you're speaking for destroy middleclass jobs/families, To equate working class people with those greedy selfish fucks is dishonest and offensive.

[-] 3 points by JesseHeffran (3903) 10 years ago

Do you know? Back in the day that used to be a very compelling argument. That was until the rich exploited that argument and began working less and taking more. It don't work no more. You need to go look at some growth charts.

[-] -2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

BULLSHIT

The wealthy have enjoyed continuing lower taxes. While their income has shot up into the stratosphere - while their employees wages have stagnated so that the wealthy could have even more money.

Their ( wealthy ) incomes have increased 400% at the expense of their employees and at the expense of the Public/government coffer.

So - GO FUCK YOURSELF SHILL

[-] -3 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

Don't let the facts get in the way. The highest decile pays a higher percentage of the budget today than they did in 1980. I don't make the numbers up.

[-] 2 points by JesseHeffran (3903) 10 years ago

Well, that's nothing to brag about. That just means every one else is broke.

[-] -2 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

BULLSHIT how do you stay stacked so high - being that you are just a steaming pile of BULLSHIT. The wealthy pay less far less in taxes - due to all of the loopholes and welfare subsidies to successful/profitable businesses.

[-] -2 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

Oops, sorry Charlie, don't let the facts get in your way:

"Earners in the top 1 percent pay 37 percent of the income tax. Earners in the top 5 percent pay 59 percent".

[-] -1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Ooooppps My bad - you are not stacked tall. Calm day - the fumes coming off of you are so thick and going straight up - that I mistook the fumes for you standing tall.

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[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

indentured servitude is unamerican

[-] -2 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

Then don't accept the education. I don't understand. You received a good and only gave back a promise.

[-] 4 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Our young people are forced to take massive student loans in order to get a good job and live the American dream, then are left with low paying jobs (or none) because of how the corp 1% has rigged the system against decent hard working Americans..

Colleges are overpriced, interest is too high, Grants are too low. This is a broken system that must be remade.

College is a societal investment, it should be free to students like k-12 education is. Big wealthy businesses should be footing the bill since they have the largest stake in an educated population.

[-] 0 points by TiredofVictimMentality (-16) 10 years ago

I worked in the student financial aid department of my college all through graduate school and I don't recall anyone forcing students to sign loan documents at gun point.

The problem is that many degrees (sociology, psychology, art history, etc.) have limited economic value yet young people continue to take on massive amounts of debt to finance an education they can't market after school. On the other hand trades like welding, diesel mechanics, plumbing, etc. can provide a very good living but trade schools are frowned upon.

[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

The problem is unjustified, excessive tuition cost increases, Banks exploiting students with high interest rates, Austerics cutting Pell grants for 30 years, and the destruction of middleclass jobs (outsourcing, wage stagnation) by corps who use their profits for exec compensation, or overseas investing as opposed to improving workers pay, or creating new jobs.

[-] 1 points by TiredofVictimMentality (-16) 10 years ago

I have to agree with the "unjustified, excessive tuition cost increases" part but "Banks exploiting students with high interest rates"? Please! Student loan interest rates are set by the Feds and students are not forced to take out loans. They can do what I did thirty years ago; live at home and work on weekends, holidays and summer break.

Corporations didn't destroy middleclass jobs, the unions did by pricing American labor out of the market. I have a client in the electrical industry in a union area. Their average all in cost per hour for a union electrician is $75 per hour when they pay wages, benefits and all the apprentice and retirement funds. They are struggling to hang on while competing with non-union contractors who don't have to pay all the union slush fund costs.

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Unions have weakened starting 40 years back. Corps have been and are much more powerful.

Fighting for better worker pay/conditions is not the reason corps outsourced, or stagnated wages. The reason for that is corp greed, maximizing profits at the expense of decent hard working Americans (mostly non union)

Banks absolutely exploited students with high interest rates. Govt may dictate rates, but banksters dictate govt actions with corruption, bribes, etc.

I support the recent action to remove the corrupt banksters out of the process. That will help a bit.

I also support not doubling the student loan interest rate. Do you?

I also support the pressure govt has begun putting on colleges to keep tuition costs down. Now we must pressure a roll back of tuition costs.

I also support the increase in Pell grants. We MUST pressure for more increases.

30 years ago college costs were very different, The wage stagnation had only just begun, the outsourcing of jobs in it's infancy. Your situation is not a relevant comparison.

And we are absolutely FORCED to take out loans. Just as surely as if a gun was put to our heads. By setting up success as only achievable through college, and allowing the costs to be prohibitively high (designed to keep the poor, poor?)

Anything else?

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[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Please stop trolling me.

This post is about strangling debt. Put aside the off topic childishness and engineer a comment on that.

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[-] -2 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

College is not free, and students accept the loan in order to go to college. They accepted the education and now you want them not to hold up their end of the bargain. No one is making them go to college.

In my opinion, college is not for everyone. Corporation haven't rigged anything. They need smart people to create product and if you are not blessed with those smarts there is a problem. That's life, that's not rigging.

[-] 4 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

"Smarts" are learned. not "blessings" from the invisible old white guy with superpoweres in the sky.

LOL

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Our society forces everyone to go to college by setting up the proposition that if you don't you cannot achieve the American dream.

[-] -2 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

So what, are you not responsible for yourself or are you blaming society for your actions. I am sorry, I am not trying to be mean, but I cannot understand how you can accept something knowing that you have to pay for it, and then not hold up your end of the deal.

[-] 4 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Our young people have done everything they were told to do, They held up their end of the bargain.

It is society that has not held up their end of the bargain, Adequate well paying jobs are supposed to exist in order to have these young people pay these loans back.

I am sorry, I am not trying to be mean, but I cannot understand how you can agree to provide "the American dream" knowing that you have to provide it, and then not hold up your end of the deal.

[-] -1 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

Who is suppose to provide the American dream?

You want well paying jobs, but you want to enact policies that don't provide them. There is no government in history that has provided well paying jobs. And you want to invest in green technology when every smart investor in the world is scurrying as fast as they can to get out of them.

[-] 4 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

The society MUST provide good paying jobs. "general welfare" and all that good stuff.

I do support the necessary policies. Punish outsourcing, reward insourcing, higher minimum wage, infrastructure, & green jobs investment, tax the rich, cut taxes for working class, free college (for students), affordable health care,

And more! So yeah I support important policies that WILL improve the likelyhood that our young people can leave college and pursue the American dream.

What policies are you suggesting?

[-] 1 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

You want to protect domestic business so that there is no trade? So when Bayer invented aspirin you would not want it imported?

If you raise the price of a good - labor - there will be less demand for it. Setting the minimum wage higher makes it more onerous for companies to hire. If you have any question about this just look at how companies are reacting right now with the new healthcare laws. They don't know what the expense is so they are not hiring; e.g. Walmart

Infrastructure - as long as it makes sense.

Green job investments are currently too expensive and don't work

Tax the rich - why, shouldn't everybody be treated fairly or do you want everybody to make the same.

Cut taxes for the working class - not sure how you are identifying this but taxes should be reduced for all. It's the people's money.

Free college - not everybody should go to college.

Health care - sure but people have to pay for it or the demand will be too high.

The policies that work are to give freedom and liberty back to the people. Treat them the same by taxing everybody the same.

[-] 1 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

I never said I supported "no trade". That's you blatantly lying and created a straw man (false position) for you to knock down, because your position can't stand up to the truth.

Raising minimum wage is good for business by getting more spending cash into the economy. And it has NEVER created unemployment. That is just greedy corp oligarchs bullshit talking points.

The only reason businesses are not hiring is because consumer demand is low, this is because too many are paying down debt, are unemployed, underemployed or underpaid.

So raising wages (not just min wage) is absolutely critical, but also abolishing large amounts of debt will help.

Green jobs do work and are unstoppable. The more you make, the more you should be taxed, that is a fair tax system.

I support freedom and liberty, which means taxing everyone fairly.

[-] -1 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

"I don't buy it. Lotsa businesses are makin money where demand exists, No concerns about taxes, or regulations (which are ALWAYS in flux!!).

When I hear that propaganda I know it is just right wing talking points to attempt to get lower corp taxes, weaker regs, and a desperate attempt to repeal Obamacare.

C'mon you smart enough not to fall for that partisan crap, ain'tcha"

So I business are making money where demand exists then why aren't they re-investing that money. Costco is making lots of money and the CEO spoke at the Democratic convention in support of raising taxes. And you know what they did last November, a special dividend, Why, to avoid the raising of the income tax,. So here is one of your own doing it. Why criticize George Bush when these folks are in your camp.

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Whats wrong with avoiding tax increase ramifications.?

[-] -1 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

"Say's law is wrong if it disagrees with the supply and demand facts I outlined.

Money can be cash, gold, bonds, even stocks, the issue is that it ain't being used to hire Americans."

So why should we believe you and not a noted economist.

Money is not being invested because people are unsure of the direction of the economy and taxes. If you know your taxes are going up - the man in the WH has said so - then you need to keep more in cash to pay that.

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

I don't buy it. Lotsa businesses are makin money where demand exists, No concerns about taxes, or regulations (which are ALWAYS in flux!!).

When I hear that propaganda I know it is just right wing talking points to attempt to get lower corp taxes, weaker regs, and a desperate attempt to repeal Obamacare.

C'mon you smart enough not to fall for that partisan crap, ain'tcha'

[-] -1 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

"Oh yeah people started hiding money when Pres Obama came to power 4 years.

Are you joking.?

Don't worry profit drives all business people. When we do what is necessary to bring back demand, business people will invest, and hire as required.

Doesn't matter who is pres. Demand will drive supply."

So Say's Law is incorrect?

If people aren't hiding money why is there so much money in cash? Are cash numbers up or down?

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Say's law is wrong if it disagrees with the supply and demand facts I outlined.

Money can be cash, gold, bonds, even stocks, the issue isthat it ain't being used to hire Americans.

[-] -1 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

"Eventually the traitorous repubs will end the obstruction of every jobs bill and growth will speed up".

Those are strong words and will get you no where. Jobs programs don't work and you can't prove that they do so Republicans are the only ones doing the prudent thing by saying no. Growth will not speed up under this President as the market and the people already know he is wants to redistribute income. People are afraid and are hiding there money in safe harbors. If you can't see this, then you are missing what is happening.

[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Oh yeah people started hiding money when Pres Obama came to power 4 years.

Are you joking.?

Don't worry profit drives all business people. When we do what is necessary to bring back demand, business people will invest, and hire as required.

Doesn't matter who is pres. Demand will drive supply.

[-] -1 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

"how am I gonna pick industries" ? Better than has been done thus far.

"all businesses have only US workers"? Nope. Only some percent.

It is not a penalty when you pay more tax with more earned. We call it progressive, and we consider a duty to the country since this country creates the conditions that allows the wealthy to soak up all the wealth.

There is more money in the economy when workers get a wage increase because the owners are not otherwise spending that money. Just hoarding and sitting on it in the ank.

Workers spend all their money and save almost none. So obviously the money gets spent and therefore circulates in the economy.

You and I and our personal experiences are not relevant. This country has a problem TODAY with price gauging college, slashed Pell grants, unemployment crises, & decades long stagnating wages.

We MUST act to correct these injustices so that our children have the opportunities we had.

Unfortunately I fear that we are in for a long period of slow growth.

[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Eventually the traitorous repubs will end the obstruction of every jobs bill and growth will speed up.

[-] -1 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

So how are you going to pick which industries you protect and which you don't. Are you going to regulate that all businesses have to have only US workers.

How is it fair that the more I make the more I am taxed. So the harder I work, the higher the penalty?

Explain how green jobs work since they haven't.

How is their more money in the economy from raising min wage. The money is already in the system. All you are doing is taking from one to give to another.

What is fair? I went to both undergrad and grad and paid my way. Grad was night school. Should I be treated differently than you?

[-] 1 points by TiredofVictimMentality (-16) 10 years ago

Liberals don't care about fairness. They just want their pie and most of yours too.

[-] 0 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

"how am I gonna pick industries" ? Better than has been done thus far.

"all businesses have only US workers"? Nope. Only some percent.

It is not a penalty when you pay more tax with more earned. We call it progressive, and we consider a duty to the country since this country creates the conditions that allows the wealthy to soak up all the wealth.

There is more money in the economy when workers get a wage increase because the owners are not otherwise spending that money. Just hoarding and sitting on it in the ank.

Workers spend all their money and save almost none. So obviously the money gets spent and therefore circulates in the economy.

You and I and our personal experiences are not relevant. This country has a problem TODAY with price gauging college, slashed Pell grants, unemployment crises, & decades long stagnating wages.

We MUST act to correct these injustices so that our children have the opportunities we had.

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[-] 1 points by gestopomillyy (1695) 10 years ago

if you live at home,, what else did you need paid for you? your rents paid, your utilties, there are only 7 days in a week, you only have to drive from home to school and work your not fat so you didnt spend that much on food, i think your forgetting to mention the clothes, jewlery, trips, and fun you had on those credit cards. that sounds like a personal problem of 'i got to look good and have fun' there are thrift stores, and public transport. you made a choice, get over it.

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[-] 1 points by TiredofVictimMentality (-16) 10 years ago

College is tough these days but something about your story doesn't make sense. If you are indeed working 50 hours per week, even at minimum wage, you should be taking home around $19,000 per year which should be plenty for food and gas. It sounds like you live rent free and if your car has 130,000 miles you probably don't have a car payment. With no rent and no car payment, $19k should be plenty for a college student to live a modest life on. That's about $365 per week for one person to buy groceries and gas. I know myself and millions before you lived on less while in college.

Also, where are you attending college that your interest only loan payments would be $700 per month? At the current unsubsidized Stafford Loan rate of 6.8% you must have borrowed well over $120,000.You should consider transferring to a school with a more reasonable tuition. Mechanical engineers with their PE can make some really good salaries but it will take you forever to pay that off.

You clearly aren't stupid. You can handle calculus and express yourself clearly so you are probably a member of the 1% when it comes to intelligence but it sounds like you could use some money management training. Best of luck.

[-] 1 points by anonimoLast (10) 10 years ago

Spanish Translation to the original article;

Soy una joven que estudia ingeneria mecanica. Estoy en la lista del decano, incluso con Calculo 3 y Dinamica. No tengo a un prestamista para el prestamo, y solo me prestan lo necesario para pagar los libros y las matriculas. Me ha tomado 5 años completar 6 semestres porque he gastado para pagar la gasolina y alimento usando la tarjeta de credito, y no puedo regresar hasta reducir el balance de esta. Mis tarjetas de credito estan completamente al maximo y temo que voy a perder lo aprendido en Calculo, cuando la vi en el 2005. Mi carro esta casi por dejar de funcionar ya que tiene 130 000 millas, y el pago de interes de mis tarjetas es de $700 al mes. He estado pagando un semestre si y uno no y todavia debo $5000 para empezar a pagar el balance principal. Tengo 25 años, vivo en casa, trabajo de mesonera las 50 horas a la semana. Quiero diseñar maquinas y sistemas de energia que tengan un impacto positivo a nuestra sociedad, pero estoy siendo GOLPEADA y ademas limpio lo que dejan los demas. Especialmente me gusta cuando la gente que atiendo en el restaurant me trata como una idiota cuando le traigo un queso distinto al que pidieron en su hamburguesa. Lo se - les estoy sirviendo porque soy una joven estupida.

[-] 1 points by freecitizen85 (-3) 10 years ago

A real weapon we can use to fight the evil bankers: Don't use credit cards, don't overdraw on your bank account. Don't go into debt for anything.

[-] 1 points by grapes (5232) 10 years ago

It enrages me when our politicians and business people say repeatedly that we have a shortage of people in the STEM areas so we need more foreigners while we have domestic talent like you who can be grown to fill their so-called grave needs. Our system is so rotten. Some blame it on poor choice of majors by our youngsters. That is not the case here!

Can you somehow ditch the car because car expenses are significant and cars are a kind of fast depreciating asset? Can you move to a place closer to work, perhaps moving in with some like-minded people to cut mutual expenses? Do you have any relatives who may provide some loan guarantee so that you can refinance your credit card debts? Elderly people are getting ridiculously low interest rates for their savings so there is an opportunity there to loan out their money so that you can finish your degree. It just takes an angel investor or guarantor of loan. Nowadays computer programming skill is sought after so can you find an area in demand such as web development and train yourself for it?

With a 'digital Pearl Harbor' threat looming on the horizon, there is a great need for cyber warriors and these jobs may even be done by you remotely and protected by their U.S. citizenship requirement from revolving door off-shoring/out-sourcing companies' 'highly skilled' employees.

[-] 1 points by WSmith (2698) from Cornelius, OR 10 years ago

Suppression has many faces, voter, employment, imigration... and financial. And suppression is one of many weapons ~ assassination (MLK's anniversary today), union busting, offshoring, bogus wars, Wall Street bank heists, on and on ~ in the Class War that the 1% is winning against the largely oblivious 99%.

The 1% was horrified by a thriving Middle Class and angry college students making demands in the 60s and 70s. They've done their best to make sure that never happens again. This "Communique from the 99%" is titillating pornography to the greed-addled and entitled 1%. They love it!

Let's show them millions of new voters flooding the polls, eradicating the gerrymandered RepubliCon Districts (which is their ace in the hole)!!! Then they will panic. Then we fight back!

[-] 1 points by OTP (-203) from Tampa, FL 10 years ago

Awesome post.

Student debt defaults rose 38% in one year. She aint alone, thats for sure.

[-] 1 points by jrhirsch (4714) from Sun City, CA 10 years ago

The obvious cure is to increase the supply of schooling.

In a free market, increased demand usually causes supply to be increased. Why aren't more schools being built to accommodate the greater number of students which would lower student costs?

Or is the problem an increasing number of students wanting name brand educations from a fixed amount of name brand schools?

[-] 0 points by c3smith (1) 10 years ago

And so who is going to pay for more schools to be built? This is no cure it is the problem. Schooling is welfare indoctrination. You have to learn to study the world and be responsible for gaining your own knowledge and experience. How are you going to guarantee that what you are taught in a school is good or bad? By government? and how do you know that the government is good or bad? YOU have to be responsible for studying the world and making your own choices of what to learn. Then you can test and see if it is good or bad and make changes before you have wasted your life learning obsolete garbage.

[-] 1 points by DKAtoday (33802) from Coon Rapids, MN 10 years ago

Student loans should not be necessary - as every graduate - "IS" a Benefit/Resource of/to society.

That being said - usury is illegal - and is that not what continuing growth of interest payments are? Usury? Should not interest on any loan be a fixed amount? WTF is with interest that compounds/confounds?????

[-] 0 points by freewriterguy2 (3) 10 years ago

To the girl fired from whole foods, can you pass a drug test? To the girl who cant get the right cheese on the burger, care a little about your current job and stop thinking about how you are so much better than it. We aren't dumb and yes you do need to earn your place in society.

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Did the execs pass a drug test?

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[-] 0 points by c3smith (1) 10 years ago

I am a 60 year old man. I spent my whole life searching for the understanding of this experiment called the "United States of America". Yes, the founders of this great Nation called what they had created an "Experiment". It was a break from traditional governments, kingdoms etc. The defining element of this "experiment" was that the people would govern themselves and were free to "fail". There was put in place laws of bankruptcy to soften failure and keep people from being put in prison for failure. In doing so the Nation was in fact encouraging risk taking. The founding fathers new that a free people would make mistakes but they would also learn from those mistakes and eventually become very successful.

So here we are some 200 years into the "experiment" and we have made some mistakes. The question is are we going to learn from them? Or are we going to fight with each other and destroy our chance of moving on to great success?

I vote for moving on. We can use technology to start our own people controlled money systems. We can use technology to produce many more times the amount of food in vertical agriculture systems to feed all. We can find new energy systems that are better than solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, carbon etc. We can replant the earth with trees and plants to stop the ill effects of traditional agriculture etc. Yes, we can have our cake and eat it to. This earth can support many billions of people if we work together and learn from our mistakes.

How do we get started? We need to learn to use the new tools of virtual world creation where we can learn by trial and error how to solve our problems on a national and global basis working together. Let the rich have their spoils. Trying to take back what they have will only slow us down from getting the rich world we desire. Let our common need be the catalyst to bring us together through the power of the Internet and solve our problems in a few months. I have spent a life time researching how all people can live well without population control and destroying the planet we live on. And I have found that it is very possible to do and remain free from socialism, communism, capitalism etc. We need to learn to govern ourselves and learn from our mistakes and avoid those who promise to take care of us in exchange for our vote, enslavement.

The system that we have been duped into living in that says "get your schooling and find a job" has let us down and is enslaving us by causing us to rebel. Rebelling is not the answer. Just let them go and let us work together to learn by virtual world creation and experimentation to build our own sources of food, energy, transportation etc. and then build robots to increase our production and replant our earth. People ask me are robots really the answer? Yes, for they will allow us to increase our production to feed the world and replenish it at the same time. What will people do then? Find more work for the robots to do instead of practicing slavery as we are still doing today.

https://vimeo.com/user16311094/review/59179151/722b038e19

this is a link to my video intro the password is "chsmith" without the quotes. My website is kesssynergy.com I invite all who are under-trodden to join us and make your own success story. You do not need schooling or paper to work with us. We consider traditional schooling, college, degrees etc. obsolete! Please do not waste your time rebelling you only will fall more into the hands of those who want to enslave you. Thanks

[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

You think all our hard work rebelling, and the millions of others amongst dozens of groups are all "wasting our time"?

You think only your way is worth any effort?

[-] -1 points by c3smith (1) 10 years ago

Good exercise always has value, however, many countries have fallen into more difficult times by rebel action. It is better to avoid things that can turn the wrong way. Do you want to be taken care of then go for socialism, however, it will only end up in a class society with the rich still telling you what to do. The smart way is to count your losses and start anew so you will be free and rich and there is more than enough to go around. If you try and fight for justice you are only going to start another cycle of slavery. Learn to take care of yourself. I am sorry you got duped by your public school teachers into thinking that education would entitle you to a good life. Free education is only welfare indoctrination. Your parents did not know that so you have been lead down a path to your current condition. The worst thing is using loans to pay for an education that will not pay itself back for many years. This was not your fault you were duped into it also.

So how do we stop the rush into a even more serious situation? Rebel ? If you want, but I do not think you even know what you want really, other than for someone to pay for the mistakes and scams that you and many others have fallen into. But demanding that will just make thing worse. We have been dumbed down and will make even more serious mistakes if we try and force government to fix the wrongs. Government is already too big and a very big part of the problem.

We had better just pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and make sure we inform the next generation not to make the same mistake of trusting others to lead us to prosperity. Public education needs to end. People need to be very careful about how they get their knowledge and who they believe. If you want to be free and prosperous you have to live by the correct principles. These ideas of freedom and prosperity are built on self-reliance. Whenever you turn responsibility for your needs over to someone else or some government you will be lead into slavery slowly but surely.

This is what has happened, you have been cheated into thinking that getting a college degree was going to guarantee you a job so you took out loans to pay for it and made the 1% even richer. It is criminal and they will have to pay for it some day. You are not going to get any better off by taking revenge. You have to learn from this mistake and do better. You have an opportunity to unite with the many others who are in the same mess and turn this lemon into a lemonade.

You can be hardheaded or realize you have lost this battle and do better by it. I am just offering to help you find the way to turn this mess around to a success as quick as possible.

[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

I was duped"? "My parents didn't know"? What the fuck are you talkin about.?

You speak like you know me, but you don't. Are you mentally ill?

"Fighting for justice will only create new slavery"? LOL

So you are advocating we STOP protesting, rebelling, dissent, fighting for justice?

NO!

You offer only submission. You offer nothing of substance, no realistic alternative to the correct approach of Occupy and dozens of like minded organizations fighting for income equity, job creation, college for all, abolishing debt, stopping foreclosures.

You are wrong and misguided. You are obviously here to criticize and divide. You're goal IS inaction.

We will not be swayed, You have failed. Our fight goes on, & we will be victorious, resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.

[-] 0 points by c3smith (1) 10 years ago

listen to your self. You are out of control. You lack wisdom and are ready to jump off a cliff. That is just where the 1% want you. I am sorry you have fallen for their trap. I do offer a solution, however. you have to be in control of your emotions to see it. What do you want me to do for you? All the things you just listed are advocating ie. income equity, job creation etc. are the wrong things to be championing. I did not say stop working together. What I am saying is put your effort into learning the truth. The truth is you can get knowledge in other ways than the !% system and you can create a world that is free. When you are in control let me know and I will show you what I have learned. I just want to share.

[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

I disagree. I don't see that you can teach me anything.

You are simply offensive, insulting me, my parents, the millions of activists as wasting their time.

You offer nonsensical suggestions that serve only to end the struggle.

You're obviously a phony, seeking division, and an end to this great movement.

Please!

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[-] 0 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

Life is not fair, get use to it. What do you want.

[-] 2 points by windyacres (1197) 10 years ago

I want the direction of life not being fair going in the opposite direction.

[-] -2 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

Then believe in God and go to church.

[-] 2 points by c3smith (1) 10 years ago

and how do you know that the church is teaching you the right thing? Have you ever considered that church is made of man not God? Believing in God is worthless unless you put forth tremendous effort to find out what is truth.

God does not want dumb people saying they believe in him but not willing to search out the truth.

[-] 1 points by windyacres (1197) 10 years ago

That was not the conclusion of my thoughts. I like to post things on this forum clinging to hope that others will recognize the need for large numbers of people to step up and agree on action.

[-] 1 points by OTP (-203) from Tampa, FL 10 years ago

Numbers matter indeed.

[-] 1 points by windyacres (1197) 10 years ago

They really do. It's significant that Holder sent a letter to Rand Paul saying, "no", to Paul's question of whether the president could kill Americans without trial. i emailed both of my senators the night of the filibuster, only asking that the US Senate insist on clear answers to their questions at hearings, and the questions should not be politicaly motivated. Many others also acted. The event was so widespread that the administration sent the letter the next morning. Numbers matter.

[-] -1 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

So what do you want?

[-] 1 points by windyacres (1197) 10 years ago

One thing i would like would be for everyone to learn the definition of fascism. I believe Americans think of fascism in a very negative way. If they universally agreed that we have too much of it, we could change it.

[-] -1 points by Nationwide (-93) 10 years ago

Not sure what you mean but you want an authoritarian form of government?

[-] 1 points by georgeorwell84 (15) from Montgomery, NJ 10 years ago

Too many people refuse to take responsibility for their actions. If this is a real post (I know this happens, but this story feels off) - she should have worked full time and used the money to attend community college. She then could transfer to a 4 year school for her final two years. Attend state schools that cost less. Work and attend part time. This takes longer - but you can graduate with NO DEBT. I did. Oh - about the car, mileage does not mean that much if you do basic maintenance. I have a 2000 VW with double the mileage that I commute with. Ditch the credit cards, work and attend part time. Good luck.

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[-] 0 points by freecitizen85 (-3) 10 years ago

Genius!

[-] 0 points by freecitizen85 (-3) 10 years ago

Unfortunately personal responsibility isn't something that's highly valued here. People like to blame others for their decisions.

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[-] -1 points by hazenoff (-1) 10 years ago

Credit cards are unsecured debt. File Bankruptcy. Go to school, save your money from the bar-tending gig and live your life free of debt. It usually cost 1000 / 2000 dollars to file a chapter 13 and then poof, debt slavery is gone. Now, the trick after that, is giving up the crack cocaine of debt known as Credit Cards, and learning to use those Calculus skills to balance your checkbook and live within your means.

[-] -2 points by freecitizen85 (-3) 10 years ago

Thank you! I'm getting frustrated with everyone wanting to blame the big bad bankers but no one wants to take responsibility for their own decisions. Bankers do not make people go into debt, people decide to get credit cards, student loans, car loans, etc. And people buy cars and houses that are too big and too expensive. They want to live beyond their means instead of living below their means and saving their money.

[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

Bankster criminals have been forced to settled many court cases/accusations of defrauding borrowers and other improprietees.

Are you equally outraged at the banksters irresponsible, wrecklessness? I mean they did get away with the loot. Or are you only frustrated with the people who lost their life savings by the bankster con jobs.?

[-] -1 points by freecitizen85 (-3) 10 years ago

Yes, I think it is atrocious. However, we purchase what they are selling all the time: debt. If we didn't, they wouldn't be so filthy stinking rich. Yes, they need to be held responsible for their actions, but we need to personally take responsibility for our poor financial decisions.

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

I blame the con artists selling bad loans to unsuspecting decent hard wprking American families.

You blame those families.

We disagree.

[-] -1 points by freecitizen85 (-3) 10 years ago

What I'm saying is that decent hardworking Americans need to make better financial decisions. If decent hardworking Americans like you and me decided to live debt free as a lifestyle, it would put the bankers out of business. I think credit card companies are nasty, terrible things, all I'm saying is that we need to wise up to it and not buy into debt slavery any longer. We take responsibility for ourselves, and we also hold irresponsible bankers accountable. Everyone takes responsibility.

[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

The decent hard working Americans were lied to!! They were cheated!!! They were defrauded!!! They were foreclosed on illegally!! They were given subprime mtgs when they qualified for prime!!! They lost their jobs because of bankster wrecklessness that crashed the world economy.!!!!

I blame the criminal bankster con men who got away with the loot.

You blame the marks. The victims, The decent hard working Americans, The 99%.

We disagree.

[-] -1 points by freecitizen85 (-3) 10 years ago

I don't disagree with anything you said about the bankers. They need to be held accountable. What I'm saying is that it's not so black and white. The 99% need to make better financial decisions. I'm suggesting another weapon that we can use is to boycott debt. And it will work. Plenty of people choose to live below their means and they never are enslaved to the wicked banks.

[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

I support boycotting debt, specifically dishonest criminal big bank debt.

I just refuse to blame the victims of the con artist banksters.

Even ifsome individual peoplewere less than careful, I won't accept the distraction from thereal criminal in the vast majority ofcases.

The criminal banksters.

Sorry

[-] -1 points by freecitizen85 (-3) 10 years ago

Con artist banksters need to be held accountable. But no one has forced anyone to go into debt. People made decisions to go into debt. I'm not saying it in an accusitory way, I'm sitting in a bunch of debt myself. But no one forced me to do it. I made the decision, I signed my name when I took out those student loans, I got a credit card. Now I am responsible for paying them back. It sucks, but I have hope. Because I have a plan to live below my means and pay back my debt in a short amount of time and then continue to live below my means so I can give money away to whatever charities or people in need I want.

I don't see that we disagree in our hatred of the situation. But I am convinced that America would not be in this problem if we hadn't created a culture that is materialistic and debt-driven. And everyone is responsible for that. Are the bankers more responsible? I can definitely see the argument for that. Because they certainly know how to market debt. But we, the 99% are responsible as well.

[-] 2 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

The culture of consumerism, the culture of keeping up with the joneses, along with the stagnation of our wages, and the conscious strategy to make us indentured servants are all part of it.

People must be educated to consume less, & wisely, Occupy should take a lead role in that effort.

I just refuse to blame the victims of the con artist banksters.

Even if some individual people were less than careful, I won't accept the distraction from the real criminal in the vast majority of cases.

The criminal banksters.

Sorry

[-] 0 points by freecitizen85 (-3) 10 years ago

We certainly agree on the culture of consumerism topic!

The criminal banksters wouldn't be rich if we didn't buy their product: debt.

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

And we wouldn't be driven to that debt if the corp 1% oligarchs had not destroyed the middle class while continuing the brainwashing to keep up with the joneses, and achieve the American dream.

[-] 1 points by freecitizen85 (-3) 10 years ago

Yes, they are certainly very good at marketing. That's why we need to educate people to not buy in to the lies.

[-] 3 points by inclusionman (7064) 10 years ago

It is the highest priority to inform, & convince people to consume less, locally made, to borrow less, & from credit unions/community banks.

Move your money

http://www.moveourmoneyusa.org/