For those that follow me on Facebook, Google+ or Twitter. You'll no doubt know that I strongly support the Occupy protests. Recently someone on Twitter who was from England said he didn't think that the general public was well informed on what the Occupation was about. I proceeded to send a set of tweets that he said was fairly good and suggested I make them more widely available. I'm going to include those now. You obviously could go back in my twitter stream and find out who this individual is, but since I didn't ask his permission I'm not listing his name.
His initial tweet: @CyberCowboy it's sad that the general public (including me) are mostly confused by the #OWS message. Above all else, we need clarification.
My response: #OWS means different things to different people. To me it's about breaking the hold the rich have on this country. I love capitalism in it's true form, we now have a plutocracy though. it's virtually impossible for the lower or lower-middle class to rise beyond that area unlike in the past. think of #OWS as a coming together of multiple protests, that's one of their strengths and weaknesses.
He then asked me: a good summary... So basically... bank / financial system injustice?
Response: primarily, along with corporate influence on the political arena.
That was multiple tweets and I didn't think very well done since Twitter limits you to 140 characters per tweet. I'm going to try to elaborate my feelings on the subject here.
As I've said, #OWS means different things to different people. My support for them primarily comes from moving the power from a few individuals with money back to the people. I'm not against individuals having money, or even influence. I am opposed to those individuals having power to get laws like the Patriot Act, ACTA, ProtectIP (now E-PARASITES), Homeland Security, TSA, and other laws and organizations that destroy civil liberties passed because they can buy influence for their desires even when it's in contradiction to the general public's.
As I said in my tweet, I love capitalism in it's true form, however I think we're quickly moving into a plutocracy where cronyism has the same circle of friends and family keeping the money. The fact that when institutions are called "too big to fail" and require a bailout from Americans can then go and reposes the homes and property of those who bailed them out, something is wrong.
We all used to grow together, now the divide is quite obvious. Click to enlarge
I'm not sure exactly what the solution is. I don't want a "Robinhood tax" where money is taken from the top and given to the bottom because then that will increase the sense of entitlement. I'd prefer the 1% as they're called themselves realize they are the fortunate few and create basically a private version of the CCC camps that existed during the great depression, only to fix the infrastructure that is failing (if they won't step up I guess they would have to be taxed to fund these.) This would solve the unemployment, failing infrastructure and get money flowing all at once. As much as I prefer little government that stays out of the way, I think we need more regulations on how much CEO's can make (including stock options, bonus' and any other benefits) and what can be done by companies (since we can't put them in jail if they do wrong, they can't be punished like a person, so they shouldn't get the benefits of a person, no more political contributions by companies either.)
I also don't think ANYONE in this country should go without paying taxes, because then they have nothing invested in making the country better, again the sense of entitlement becomes too strong. Along the same lines I don't think just because you are doing well you should pay a higher tax, it is your money. If I were given my way I'd abolish all income tax and have a sales tax on non-essential (HEALTHY) goods. Food would be taxed on a sliding scale with healthier foods low or no tax where as pop and chips taxed at the same rate as say a car. This sales tax would encourage more frugal living and hopefully make people think before they take on additional debt.
This post got more into trying to fix the problems than I really wanted, but I'm going to put it up. I'm a firm believer in don't point out problems unless you have solutions, these are mine for the problems as I see them. I have a good job, a home, and while I don't live extravagantly, I think my family is comfortable. I'm not support #OWS for myself, but for my son that the country will still be great when he is my age.
