Forum Post: Hi Occupiers :)
Posted 12 years ago on Dec. 5, 2011, 2:30 a.m. EST by Bystander
(41)
from Sissonville, WV
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I am here trying to learn about OWS and also help spread word about the issues of epidemic corruption and economic disparity that our country is struggling against. To that end, I would appreciate relevant informative links to articles and videos you can provide on those topics.
Trolls will be ignored, and I will also ignore any extreme conspiracy-related material such as "9/11" theories, Please try to stick to facts. Thanks!
I always recommend a documentary called 'The Corporation'. I think it is a more less fair look at, assessment of a part of how the economy really operates and part of the problem with the way the system is set up, mainly as the title would indicate, having to do specifically with corporations. It gives some historical context, the situation as it stands today (as of 2003 anyways) and also suggests some potential solutions, which is refreshing to see.
My prof showed it to us in a class called 'Elite Deviance' though i had seen it before then, a friend put me onto it long ago. It isn't completely objective, but as i say, fair for the most part, though i do not necessarily believe everything in it to the tee, it's a well done documentary if nothing else.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnE8D3tgZ5c
It's good to see some honest curiosity. Chomsky in is the doc, but also some CEO's of major corporations, and other people you will likely recognize.
This is btw the way a massive question, there is so much, that is just what came to mind at the moment.
There's another more recent, MUST-SEE DVD called "Inside Job".
I have seen that as well, it was good though i cannot remember some of the details. I also recommend 'No End In Sight' which is about the Iraq war and the U.S. involvement in it, with many interviews of qualified people including very high, top U.S. government officials, in some cases former officials.
Soooooo... o.k. The truth is, that you will find many, many answers to that question, and, you're NOT the only one asking it!
The fact is that, there IS NO single reason for protest, there are simply too many to consider... Here is a great video, which may summarise (if a summary is what ur after) much of the 'problem definition'.
http://www.dystopiafilm.com/
Which of course covers all the things, that are not economics... for that you will have to do much digging.... but here...
http://www.unitinghumans.com/
Great resource...
And here are some more things that occupiers have said....
http://occupywallst.org/forum/im-here-to-listen-what-is-it-you-want-to-be-heard/
That page contains more info on occupy than many I've found.... if your after a brief cross-section....
And on it goes...lol....(I'm here to help!)....
http://www.occupytogether.org/discuss/#/discussions
Thats another forum, much more serious, many more 'intellectual' discussions....
And finally...
MY ideas... on all of the above...hehehe
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/50500650/yourtopia-your%20official%20final%20beginning.pdf
Thanks everybody! Lots of interesting info to go through! Some of it I'm already familiar with or have been meaning to check out, like The Corporation. Big fan of Chomsky here too. Thanks again!
okay bystander I'm not a troll but i think these occupiers should do something like this www.nationalday911.org...and get a broader base of support ...I have submitted it to the committee they are considering it Welcome....submit your own ideas.
Also you are aware that congree gave banks 800 billion to bail them out (arguably much much more.) The banks were also supposed to do what they could to help homeowners to keep their homes (refinanacing at better rates, at true home values and such.) Do you know anyone personally who went through foreclosure. I would suggest that you talk to them one on one in real life about there experiences. Ask them if the banks were lenient or nearly as "understanding" asthe government was with the banks.
http://shortsaledailynews.com/banks-make-more-money-on-foreclosures-than-short-sales/
http://www.socialistalternative.org/news/article12.php?id=1462
Also read what occupt atlanta is doing about the problem and why... http://occupyatlanta.org/2011/12/05/occupy-atlanta-goes-home/#.Ttx4jGCfuBY See if this is the kind of action that you agree with
Wikileaks said Eritrea didn't do it and it has a US embassy cable to prove that the accusations against Eritrea are unfounded, based on lies, and politically motivated. But the Obama administration is pushing for severe UN sanctions against Eritrea despite the evidence suggesting that Eritrea is innocent of any wrongdoing.
Please help us petition the White House to stop President Barck Obama from imposing harsh economic sanctions against a promising young African nation whose innocence has been proven by secret US embassy cables released by Wikileaks. Your signature can really save the lives of 5 million people. The Revolution Continues Worldwide!
Thank you for signing the petition. Link below: http://occupywallst.org/forum/vindicated-by-wikileaks-but-not-freed-from-accusat/
Here are some stats from a ( ridiculously priced) textbook we used last year in school. They are good as of 2008, and are U.S. statistics.
" - In industry, 100 out of 200,000 corporations control 55%of all industrial assets.
In transportation and utilities, 50 out of 67,000 companies control two thirds of assets in airline, railroad, communications, electricity and gas industries.
In banking, 25 out of over 12,000 banks control over 50% of all banking assets. Three of these banks, Bank America, Citicorp, and Chase Manhattan, control almost 20% of such assets.
In insurance, 10 out of 2,048 firms control over half of all insurance assets."
not sure how that first one isn't in bullet point format, but yeah pretty bare bones numbers that suggest the disparity between the highest organizations and the rest of them.
I would recommend 'Zeitgeist: moving forward'. http://youtu.be/4Z9WVZddH9w
It gets down to the root causes of the problems in our society and offers a rather unique train of thought leading to a possible solution.
I am not saying vote for this guy but here is Ron Pawl schooling Ben Bernanke, head of the Fed on the bailout plan. This is an actual congressional hearing so youcan watch it and take bernanke's responses at face value. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv6rQ0U01Yc