Today, I took a look at the Occupy Wall Street Declaration. I was going to post on some news articles I read in the paper over the weekend, but my only fan (so far) asked for my opinion on the OWS protests. How could I refuse? Besides, it might cost me extra burpees!
Because I haven't been following this particular story in much detail, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. What follows is the Declaration, taken right from their web site. The text of the Declaration is in italics, my comments are indented and not in italics. I could write whole posts on just some of the points made by this group, but I am trying not to write a full blown novel! My full opinion on the whole movement is at the end. This is going to be a long post, so grab a cup of coffee and pull up a chair!
The OWS Declaration
As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. We write so that all people who feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world can know that we are your allies.
It’s Interesting that they only feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world. There are no ill feelings toward the government(s) that allow corporations to act as they do.
As one people, formerly… divided by the color of our skin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or lack thereof, political party and cultural background, we acknowledge the reality: that there is only one race, the human race, and our survival requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their brethren; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power. We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known.
This paragraph is pretty good. Some of it I can completely agree with. “…our system must protect our rights…it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights…a democratic government derives its just power from the people…” is all great. Right on! You’re on a roll. What’s next?
“…corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth…” !?! You just lost me, and I’m sure lots of others. Corporations cannot extract wealth from the people unless they are willing to pay for their products. Only the government can extract wealth from the populace. It’s called taxation! And it is forced (try not paying them). No one forces any of us to buy the products that corporations are selling. Besides, they absolutely do seek consent. Try to start a business without paying for the multitude of licensing fees, permits, taxes, etc. that are required by cities, counties, states, and the federal government. That is seeking consent to open and run the business. Any one of these governments can prevent the business from becoming operational.
If you have a problem with how corporations are run, regulated, monitored, and penalized, then your beef is with governments; local, state, and/or federal. Corporations cannot operate with impunity to the laws – at least not for long.
1. They have taken our houses through an illegal foreclosure process, despite not having the original mortgage.
Uh – say what? They bought the mortgage from the original bank that made you the loan. The government also forced them to make the loan, even though you normally wouldn’t qualify! What, you didn’t know that? The 1977 Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), which compels banks to make loans to low-income borrowers, is responsible for the entire subprime meltdown. It’s not over yet, either. The federal government (i.e. us, the taxpayers) is still on the hook for another very large payoff to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Want to see how the government operates on a level far worse than corporations? Read this, but make sure to take your blood pressure medication first! http://cnsnews.com/news/article/true-cost-fannie-freddie-bailouts-317-billion-cbo-says
I love the wording here, “They have taken our houses…” Well, it’s not really your house until it’s paid off! If you can’t make the payments, they can foreclose. It’s really pretty simple to understand.
2. They have taken bailouts from taxpayers with impunity, and continue to give CEO’s exorbitant bonuses.
Would you turn down free money if it was offered? No? I didn’t think so. Yes, they took the bailouts. Who wouldn’t? Do I agree with it? No way! Once again, the problem you have here is with the government, not corporations. Our government has no legal authority whatsoever to offer bailouts to any private company. How did they get away with it? They ignored the public, that’s how. Public opinion was overwhelmingly against giving bailouts to anyone. The government ignored us! Why is your beef with corporations on this? You should be marching on Washington, D.C.
3. They have perpetuated gender inequality and discrimination in the workplace.
Really? They have? How? With all the laws and regulations in place to prevent this, just how is this happening? I’m afraid I’ll need your definition of gender inequality and discrimination. More information, please…
4. They have poisoned the food supply, and undermined the farming system through monopolization.
Well, there are plenty of examples of contaminated food and farming is definitely big – BIG – business. You may have a point here, but I also know that the government has its nose in the middle of this mess. Government meddling by telling farmers what they can grow and what they can’t is causing all sorts of economic problems.
5. They have continuously sought to end the rights of workers to negotiate their pay and make complaints about the safety of their workplace.
Wrong! I have to assume that you’re talking about unions here. Corporations are not trying to end the rights of workers to negotiate their pay. They are trying to end negotiation of pensions and some other benefits. These are benefits they aren't even required to provide. You should count your blessings that they're trying to keep them. By the way, state governments are trying to do the same thing. Why don’t you have a problem with that?
6. They have held students hostage with tens of thousands of dollars of debt on education, which is itself a human right.
Whoa! Huh?!? Corporations did that? I’m pretty certain that only institutions of higher learning are responsible for setting tuition rates. Why the hell are you laying this at the feet of corporations? Besides, didn’t you sign tons of paperwork informing you of the terms of the loan? The only one holding you hostage is you!
And another thing. Education is a right? Since when? You have lots of rights, life, liberty, freedom of religion (or not), free speech, free press, peaceful assembly, petitioning the government to redress grievances, owning a weapon, reasonable searches and seizures, private property, speedy trials, trials by jury, etc. Sorry, I've looked long and hard for it, but education is not on the list.
7. They have consistently outsourced labor and used that outsourcing as leverage to cut workers’ healthcare and pay.
Is your problem really with the corporations? Look, you yourself mention being in a global community and saying it’s a good thing. Other countries love the deal! Their economy is benefiting from this relationship. I think your problem here is that, now that you have to compete on a global scale for a job, you don’t like it.
8. They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility.
They didn’t influence the courts to do this. The laws that allow the formation of corporations, written a long, long time ago, state that the corporation is legally considered a person. This is so that they can be sued and be held to the same laws as everyone else. If they have lobbied for, and were successful in, changing laws, then – again – your problem is with the government that writes the laws!
9. They have spent millions of dollars on legal teams that look for ways to get them out of contracts in regards to health insurance.
Haven’t heard about this one. Sounds bad. I’ll have to get more information before commenting.
10. They have sold our privacy as a commodity.
Yes they have! This is terrible and has to stop.
11. They have used the military and police force to prevent freedom of the press.
Huh? Surely this is illegal. So just what is going on here? Are you saying that corporations have control over the military and police forces?! I'm pretty sure that there is only one person in charge of the military. That would be, umm, wait... it's on the tip of my tongue. Oh yeah! The Commander In Chief! The President of the United States! Last I checked, he is a member of the government! Police forces work for governments, too! Are you accusing corporations of bribing the military and police? If so, that's against the law already. Why aren't you marching on Washington in an attempt to get them to enforce the law?
12. They have deliberately declined to recall faulty products endangering lives in pursuit of profit.
Ok. This is true and should be stopped.
13. They determine economic policy, despite the catastrophic failures their policies have produced and continue to produce.
No they don’t! The government and the Federal Reserve determine economic policy. Once again, your anger is misplaced.
14. They have donated large sums of money to politicians supposed to be regulating them.
Yes, and our politicians are accepting the bribes. Why is your beef only with the corporations? I’m seeing a theme here.
15. They continue to block alternate forms of energy to keep us dependent on oil.
Are alternate forms of energy being blocked or are they still too costly to produce? The public doesn't want, and certainly cannot afford, to pay more for alternate forms of energy than they're paying right now. I know there are companies working on water powered vehicles. There's also a company in California producing a car that gets 400 MPG. Yes, 400.
16. They continue to block generic forms of medicine that could save people’s lives in order to protect investments that have already turned a substantive profit.
Are you talking about legislation like this? Here we go again! Generic forms of medicine become available after a patent lock out expires. By law (there's that word again), once the patent expires, other companies can access the formula and offer generics. To change this would take, quite literally, an act of Congress! You're focusing your energy in the wrong place.
17. They have purposely covered up oil spills, accidents, faulty book keeping, and inactive ingredients in pursuit of profit.
How, in this world of immediate news, do you cover up an oil spill or an accident? Not buying it. Covering up faulty book keeping? Ok, so what? I'm sure this hurts the investors more than it hurts the general public. Sooner or later, there will be an audit and the cheats will be caught.
Inactive ingredients?! What the... Where is this coming from and why does it matter? They are, after all, inactive.
Inactive ingredients?! What the... Where is this coming from and why does it matter? They are, after all, inactive.
18. They purposefully keep people misinformed and fearful through their control of the media.
The media isn't the only source for information these days. Corporations can try to hide their messes this way, but the problem will be reported. Oh, and just in case you didn't know, this has been going on since the beginning of corporate time. Not really a good excuse, I know. But this is nothing new.
19. They have perpetuated colonialism at home and abroad.
Huh? How are they doing this? Colonialism at home? What, they're bringing in entire colonies of people from other countries? For what purpose? Why is this bad? What are you talking about?
20. They have participated in the torture and murder of innocent civilians overseas.
Please, cite examples, and have the SOBs indicted! There are already laws against this. Just what do you want to happen here?
21. They continue to create weapons of mass destruction in order to receive government contracts.
WOW! Really! Umm. I'm flabbergasted! You know, if the government didn't want the weapons, corporations wouldn't make them! Rule one for corporations: make a profit. Can't do that if nobody is buying what you're selling.
22. They have participated in a directly racist action by accepting the contract from the State of Georgia to murder Troy Davis.
Wait. What? I know the circumstances around the Troy Davis case. His execution was stayed four times. Witnesses recanted their stories. Another confessed (maybe) to the crime. And yet, the government still executed him. And somehow, corporations are the problem?!? Unbelievable... just - wow.
23. They have profited off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless animals, and actively hide these practices. *
Ok. Look. There are organizations getting to the bottom of this. And again, there are laws concerning the treatment of these animals. If this is happening, and I'm sure in some cases it is, then sooner or later something will happen to prevent this behavior. Maybe it's not happening fast enough, but it's in the works.
Unless your position is that they shouldn't be testing on animals at all. If so, then I only have one question. What would you have them do? Test on humans? As Larry the Cable Guy says, "That's like wiping before you poop! It don't make no sense."
Unless your position is that they shouldn't be testing on animals at all. If so, then I only have one question. What would you have them do? Test on humans? As Larry the Cable Guy says, "That's like wiping before you poop! It don't make no sense."
To the people of the world,
We, the New York City General Assembly occupying Wall Street in Liberty Square, urge you to assert your power.
Exercise your right to peaceably assemble; occupy public space; create a process to address the problems we face, and generate solutions accessible to everyone.
To all communities that take action and form groups in the spirit of direct democracy, we offer support, documentation, and all of the resources at our disposal.
Join us and make your voices heard!
*These grievances are not all-inclusive.
Conclusion
It's obvious to even the most casual of observers that the people that wrote this declaration are under the control of, or belong to a very left wing organization. They have it "in" for corporations because they are anti-capitalist. They don't offer solutions at all. They don't have any demands either, for that matter. They just don't like capitalism.
I get the feeling that their solution would be for the government to just take over all corporations, thinking that these problems wouldn't exist. Yeah, none of these problems would exist if our friendly, very efficient, and un-corrupt government could just do it all for them.
These people are looney to max! This declaration confirms it.
Conclusion
It's obvious to even the most casual of observers that the people that wrote this declaration are under the control of, or belong to a very left wing organization. They have it "in" for corporations because they are anti-capitalist. They don't offer solutions at all. They don't have any demands either, for that matter. They just don't like capitalism.
I get the feeling that their solution would be for the government to just take over all corporations, thinking that these problems wouldn't exist. Yeah, none of these problems would exist if our friendly, very efficient, and un-corrupt government could just do it all for them.
These people are looney to max! This declaration confirms it.
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