Thursday, December 8, 2011

Raw Video: Occupy Blocks DC's Lobbyist Corridor

This is the video from the previous post, click on it

A Look at Related Sources

"The 'Occupy' Movement: What's it all about?" http://works.bepress.com/richard_philp/32/

The University of Western Ontario: From the selected works of Richard B. Philp

The main argument of this piece is relating the Occupy movement to other issues that relate to the United States and Canada including health care and environmental protection. This relates to our issue at hand because it clearly lays out the intentions of the Occupy Movement and how it affects the audience.

The article is useful because it provides basic statistics that are the foundation of the movement. It states the salaries of the CEOs from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which were "$35.4 million in 2008 and 2009 and were expected to receive $6 million each in 2011". Since these two government programs received $150 billion in bailout money, taxpayers are ultimately paying the CEOs salaries.

Since the Occupy Movement has reached so many countries and cities around the world it may be beneficial to research how the same movement affects other countries.

Occupy DC protesters arrested after building wooden structure in park http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/04/occupy-dc-protesters-arrested

The Guardian has posted this article about recent arrests because structures were not legally being built. Buildings must have permits to be constructed and the protesters were building the structure as a protesting strategy. Many protesters were sitting on top of the wooden structures to further their protest.

This article provides other examples of Occupy movements around the country including Portland where the same extreme protesting has recently taken place. I commend sticking up for what you believe in but a disruptive protest where arrests occur is inappropriate and is unnecessary.

Raw Video: Occupy Blocks DC's Lobbyist Corridor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwzFy4rCgZA&feature=player_detailpage

Associated Press posted this video

The video and the people who talk in the video are exemplifying the types of protests currently being implemented. This current one has to do with lobbyists and how they relate to corporate corruption. It is important to stay up to date in what Occupy protesters are doing.

The usefulness of this video is the fact that a woman talks about the importance of younger protesters being involved, getting every generation in the movement and being aware of our country's surroundings. As the younger generation it is important for us to be involved in our nation's decisions now because we are bettering our government and our environment for our future.

We are Students, We are the 99%

Today I went to D.C. to run a couple errands. I parked in the Investment Banking parking garage and right away realized I was out of my element. I realized businessmen, security guards, surrounded and that these were some of society’s wealthiest. It obviously occurred to me that I hope to strive to work in an environment like this. I was walking among “the 1%.” I walked outside of the investment building into a dreary, miserable day. It was pouring down rain and was cold. I turned the corner and soon encountered the Occupy DC camp in Freedom Plaza. I was complaining about how wet and cold I was, but here these people are sleeping under tarps, which I can imagine is not the idle form of shelter. This then led me to want to research what more then stand for. I am aware that they want to reform corporate and government power, but there has to be more driving them.

Below is a picture I took today of the Occupy DC camp:

Reasons People Occupy Wall Street Through Pictures

Above is a site a came across. It has few words, but explains and evokes so much emotion. This site shows fourteen pictures of different people and each detailed with an individual story of why they have joined the Occupy Movement. One girl is holding up a post card that quotes “I haven’t been to the doctor in 8 years” another one says, “My mom lost her job 5 yrs ago. I survive on food stamps and random gigs. I have a masters degree and no job prospects.” Although these are just two examples, these are two situations that a lot of Americans today face.

Part of this movement that has affected me personally, and will affect me in the long run is life after school. I am one of the fortunate people who have been fortunate to be put through college by my parents and have zero in student loans. However, I have many close friends and family members that find themselves in situations that are not as fortunate. My cousin is a Georgetown University graduate, which is a top ranked University. She was on both academic and athletic scholarships, but still has much over $50,000 worth of student loans that she must pay back. Here is an article about why so many young people are joining the movement: Occupy Wall Street College Students

Not only are student students in a large amount of debt with loans when they graduate from college, but many are unable to put their degrees to use. With the condition that the economy is currently in, the unemployment rate has risen, and the number of job opportunities is minimal. How is it that recent college grads are expected to get jobs with little to no work experience, when adults that have masters degrees and a lot of work experience can’t even find a job? It’s a relatively new stress that not only college graduates are dealing with, but also a lot of Americans are. The American dream is described as achieving “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” but its hard to obtain all three when you can’t even support yourself or your family with the shelter, food, and even in some cases water.

The Occupy DC movement has engaged a lot of people from all age groups. Many of these people are current students and recent graduates because of the ideal location that DC offers and the close vicinity to many schools. There is a valid reason that these people are sleeping and staying while even the weather is miserable. They are doing it for us, for America. This movement has brought attention to the fact that the economy and unemployment rate really is a problem and something needs to happen soon. I am a college senior, in a couple months I will start my search for a job. This thought is already lingering over my head and has created unnecessary stress when I should be enjoying my final year. After reading about peoples personal stories and even looking into my close family and friends, I realized I am the 99%.

For further reading click here: Facts about Student Loans

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Critiques of Other Sites/Sources

In this post, I will refute a sources that claim the Occupy movement is pointless because supporters of the movement do not know what they are talking about.

Read the full article here.

The first article, "Occupy Wall Street: An Utterly Pointless, Meaningless, Futile Exercise" from the International Business Times the author, Palash R. Ghosh claims that the Occupy Movement is a pointless and the supports, specifically the celebrity supporter Susan Sarandon, have not the credentials to essentially support the Occupy Movement. In addition, Ghosh claims that is apart of the wealthiest 1 percent and it does not make sense that she supports such movement and even if she some how had the credentials she could not be a loyal supporter.

I must respectfully disagree with Ghosh. First, I must refute this claim that since she is apart of the wealthiest percent, she cannot be a support or a loyal supporter. Such claim is extremely judgmental and does not have sound reasoning. If Gosh honestly believes this claim, then he must agree to the following claim as well, Abraham Lincoln was not a true support or advocate of abolishing slavery because he himself was not Black and on that matter, Anyone who is not black in the United States could not honestly be against the slavery of Blacks. This argument makes no sense and is obviously flaw. Furthermore, Ghosh claims that she does not have the background to be a supporter of such movement because she's an actress and her husband is also not involved with the economic system. This claim again is flawed. Ghosh essentially states one cannot be against an issues of which one does not hold “credentials” or “experience” in. Ghosh makes an additional error in generalizing one supporter with all supporters. Let's say that even if Ghosh flawed arguements was sound, he would only have evidence on one single person, not all the supporters. Ghosh, is wrong to use one supporter and generalize it with the thousands of supporters of the Occupy movement. Once again, if Ghosh actually believed in this connection then he must also agree with the following statement, Tina, a female failed her first time taking the drivers license test but passed the second time. Therefore, all females must fail their first test but past the second one. As one can clearly see, the reasoning of the argument is completely flawed and therefore it cannot be valid.

Monday, December 5, 2011

The Progression of the Movement

Do you wonder how Occupy Wall Street became Occupy DC?
Do you wonder what progress, if any has Occupy movement made?

This post will be dedicated in addressing these two questions by using three different Sources. The first source will be from an academic article showing that Occupy movement targets and how the movement has been able to spread across the nation, the second from the Huffington post article and shows how the Occupy movement has affected Democrats, and finally the third is from think progress, which will show how the Occupy movement has affected Republicans.

The 99 Percent Rise Up

Read the Full Article here

The article, "The 99 percent rise up" from The Nation, describes that Occupy Wall Street like pretty much anything else, it started out small. The Occupy Wall street movement, struggled for weeks to get the attention from the media, politicians, and even the general public. So how is it that now this movement has moved across the US Nation and even around the world?

The article suggest that the American people has understood and embraced the Occupy movement because it has gotten three things right from the start, the right target, the right numbers, and the right demands. The target the occupy movement chose is right because it explains that instead of aiming activism at the Government as a whole, it targets bankers and CEOs. With this, Occupy movement went to the heart of the problem and it has not gotten distracted by electoral politics because the target is the manipulator of both major parties. The numbers are right because the statement of "We are the 99 percent" invites everyone who isn't a billionaire. This is a brilliant idea because it has allowed the public to recognize themselves as part of a class that has suffered economically. The fact that there are "24 million Americans who can't find full-tie work, 50 million American who can't see a doctor when they're sick, 47 million Americans who need government aid to feed themselves, and 15 million American families who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth" allows this movement to expand nationally. Lastly, the demands are right. The movement desires to change the system of corporate domination and growing inequality.

This article is very helpful because it allows one to see that the reason this movement has been able to spread across the nation relies on the sole fact that this movement was truly made by the 99 percent for the 99 percent. It allows further insight to demonstrate that the Occupy movement does not support or blame any one individual political party but blames the corporate greed that lies in the high 1 percent. It is for this reason that I feel I must support the movement and demand a change in our system.

Occupy DC Protests the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Read the full article here

This article from the Huffington post, explains that protester of Occupy DC began gathering in McPherson Square to march downtown were the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was hosting a fundraiser with tickets going from $5000 and $75,000! With such prices the protesters were outraged. They stated that they would protest "pay for play" right in from of the Democrats. Throughout this protest there were several TV cameras which allowed them to reach the public through the media as the "Occupiers led chants and shamed the Democrats inside." The article further explains how it was a loud but peaceful protest.

This article helps to demonstrate that Occupy DC has not given up and they are still going strong with protesting. This article is a useful source because it show the strong commitment the protesters are to bringing about change to the system. This enables to have future supports because they will see that protesters are not going to give up.

Top GOP Strategist Admits He’s ‘Scared’ Of Occupy Wall Street Because It’s ‘Having An Impact’

Read the full article here.

The author of this article, Zaid Jilani, explains that Occupy Wall Street is having an impact. Frank Luntz, one of top political communications experts in the world is “scared of this anti-Wall Street effort. I’m frightened to death.” Luntz made these comments while coaching the Republican Governor's Association on how they should communicate to the public. He warn those that attended that according to the pollster, the Occupy movement is "Having an impact on what the American people think of capitalism.” Luntz also admits that the fact that the Occupy movement frightens him is a huge victory for the movement. The main points that Luntz advised was not to mention capitalism, to empathize with the 99 percent protesters, and not to mention middle class because the public does not trust the republicans to defend it.

This is article is an extremely important source. This article demonstrates that the Occupy movement is making great progress for two main reasons. One, for Republican Governor's Association to seek out help on how to communicate with the public shows that they see that the 99 percent is standing up and are no longer afraid to voice how they feel. It shows that the 99 percent expect change in the system. Secondly, in order for a well known Pollster to actually fear the Occupy movement's impact on the general public is yet another proof that they are making great progress and that change will eventually occur.

This article and well as the earlier one connects with the first article showing that in fact Occupy movement does not choose sides between the two major political parties. They are protesting and affecting both parties as they both have members that are focused on corporate greed.

A Clear Message: Occupy DC's Declaration of Frustration

This past Wednesday, November 30, 2011, the protestors of the Occupy D.C. movement reached a consensus and published a Declaration that represents their specific beliefs and issues.

This document first introduces the Occupy DC movement, a “diverse” community that is troubled by the increasing disenfranchisement of the 99 percent. Then, the document outlines the specific set of grievances that the people of this movement have. These include, but are not limited to:

exploitation by the 1 percent (those who have “40 percent of the nation’s wealth”);
the need for campaign finance reform;
polarization of our two political parties;
continuous discrimination on race, religion, sexual discrimination, etc.;
unwise, short-term decisions of financial institutions and corporations;
failure by governmental authorities to protect peoples’ rights;

as well as the fact that all of these have led to the worsening of the quality of life of the 99 percent and therefore the American people as a whole. At the end, the General Assembly urges the people of America “to collaborate and share available resources” and “join your voice[s] with ours.”

This document is very important to the movement for multiple reasons. First, the document is clear evidence that the movement does have a purposeful message. Second, it articulates the grievances that are most important to Americans, since it was documented through a democratic process. Finally, the issues it discusses are real and, now that they are on paper, cannot be easily pushed aside or ignored.

One of the complaints about the Occupy movement in general is that it doesn’t have a clear message. Allen Weiss, a professor of marketing at USC Marshall School of Business, said that “Occupy Wall Street never had a really clear message – mostly energy.” [link] However, the Occupy DC movement now has a document with specific complaints, and calls us to action and to “re-conceive ways to build a just, democratic, and sustainable world.”

Also, if nothing else, the process of drafting the document was indeed democratic. According to the movement’s website, the Declaration was drafted using “a range of over 200 submissions to a box made available to the public.” The Declaration Committee, which was “open to the public and consist[ed] of several dozen people,” then met numerous times over the course of more than a month to draft the document from these submissions. The General Assembly looked over the Declaration three times before reaching a final consensus. The Occupy movement has also been criticized for being hypocritical by not being a ‘democratic’ and unified movement, though it criticizes society of being the same. The Daily Show, though comedic, even had a segment that exposed divisions and hierarchy within the Occupy Wall St. movement. However, the Occupy DC branch of this movement has figure out how to work together to come up with a cohesive document. This process, as one can see, is what democracy at its core is all about. This Occupy DC Declaration was drafted, as famously stated by President Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg address, “of the people, by the people, for the people.”

This document, by clearly addressing its qualms, has also brought to light specific issues facing our society today. One of the most important of these is corporate influence in government. Now, I am not saying that the idea of corporations is an inherent evil: however, when they use their power and influence to make as much profit as possible to the detriment of others and society at large, then we have a problem. There are numerous examples of former lobbyists and company executives who are elected to Congress or who now hold political offices. Just one example is Michael R. Taylor, who is currently the Deputy Commissioner for Foods at the Food and Drug Administration. Before working at the FDA, Taylor was the vice president for public policy at Monsanto, a multinational agricultural corporation. [link] We realistically cannot expect that none of the government officials like Taylor will be unbiased or completely removed from the interests of their former companies, especially if these companies have funded their campaigns or helped them in other ways. And, unlike Supreme Court justices, politicians do not recuse themselves. This “purchase of political power” is just one of the issues that the Occupy DC movement’s Declaration has now put on the table, and in written form.

Read the full Declaration here.

A Worldwide Movement

An MTV documentary

True Life | I'm Occupying Wall Street

Unless you live under a rock, you have heard of MTV’s True Life documentaries. If not, they are a series of documentaries that follow people through real life issues and events. It so happens the most recent one followed two young people around the streets of New York as they “Occupy Wall Street” in Ziccotti Park. Bryan is a New York City resident who strongly believes that the government and big banks have not only hurt the unemployment rates, but have also hurt the economy. He has been camped out in Ziccotti Park since Occupy Wall Street began in September and will continue to stay until there is a call for reform. Kait is a college student in NYC who had just become interested in these protests. After visiting Ziccotti Park and talking to the people, she to decide that she was being affected the power that government and big companies have over the distribution of wealth. As a student, she explains how she is already has thousands of dollars in loans, and that there is no promise for a well paying job that will help her after college. Both of these people really show that they believe in this cause and will not stop until their voices are heard.

Although this documentary may not take place in the Occupy DC location, it does however show the living conditions that these people are willing to live in just to prove their point. Bryan is in charge of sanitation control. The NYPD monitor the conditions and can kick the protestors out at anytime they see it as unlivable. This video shows them constantly scrubbing brick, picking up trash, and sweeping the area they are sleeping. These people sleep bricks and dirt with thin blankets. They only have tarps to protect them from the wind and rain. Food is usually donated and scarce. Occupy DC conditions are no different. Its really inspirational and motivating to watch these people give up their lives for something they truly believe in.

‘Free Franklin’ Protesters Get Arrested During Demonstration

Huffington Post, 11/20/11

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/20/free-franklin-police-raid-protesters-arrested_n_1103509.html#s486324&title=City_Employee_Exits

Many are aware that there has been controversy with police involvement with demonstrations. This article discusses the event last week that had eleven protesters in Washington D.C. arrested. This particular group calls them selves ‘Free Franklin.’ These demonstrators were arrested inside of a vacant school building that is known as Franklin School. This school has recently been known for providing services to the homeless. The reason for this protest was that the lot and building of the old Franklin School is supposed to be sold without any regards to the community it serves. The ‘Free Franklin’ protestors say they are in support of Occupy DC, but are not apart of the group. Many of the Occupy DC protestors came to support the event and some even arrested.

Below is a video from the protest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7ineIExSu0

The issue here is that these protestors were arrested for doing nothing wrong. As quoted from this article:

"This is a public sidewalk," an observer on the legal team commented to HuffPost. "I'm not sure what harm there is in being here."

How can people he arrested on a sidewalk for sitting or standing? The Franklin School is also a public building, and the people were not being violent, so there was no need to arrest. What ever happened to the First Amendment? This amendment clearly states that you have the right to protest something that you think is wrong. This article simply and clearly shows that the police and government are taking advantage of the system. Not only the Occupy DC protestors, but also people that believe in the movement all over the world, are occupying an area that does not belong to anyone. It’s important to realize that many of these protestors are practicing in a non-violent way. In a sense they are having their rights as a United States citizen physically taken away from them.

Rage Against the Machine

The Economist 10/22/11
http://www.economist.com/node/21533400

This is a great article in The Economist that is accompanied by a video. It does an overview that is easy to follow of what this movement is and why people are joining this movement. The video starts out by saying that Wall Street is where the American Dream went. This reinforces that only the one percentile are able to achieve the so called “American Dream.” The article explains that this is not just a movement in New York or in Washington D.C., but a movement all over the world, such as in Sydney, Australia and Europe. They are trying to show that the world’s over all economy is favoring the upper middle class and rich giving nothing to the poor.

This article and video emphasize a different audience that maybe no one has considered. Many think these protests and occupy camps are aimed to gaining the government and wealthy peoples attention, however the audience seems to be directed at the middle class. The middle class, whether they realize if these economical changes affect them, will be affected. The middle classes make up a large majority of the people contributing to the economy. As quoted “the middle class have not had a voice till now,” this states that these protests are bringing awareness to middle class and asking them to get involved. Is this movement working? I’d say so. If you go to any news site or look at any newspaper you are bound to see something about the Occupy Movement. Something has intrigued the attention nationally and even worldwide. I look forward to watching this movement progress, and hopefully sparking an urge to reform the economy.