Occupy Providence in Off Topic

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ID:120401
 
Oct 23 2011, 9:48 pm
I realized, tonight, that I am a member of a global reformation movement. Our financial, economic, and political systems no longer work in the best interests of the majority of people, but protect and advance gross economic disparity. Our political process is bought and sold, and our politicians do not represent our interests. We no longer have a government "for the people". It's time to take up the appropriate tools and get to work.

http://occupywallst.org/
http://www.occupyprovidence.com/

http://www.facebook.com/OccupyWallSt
https://www.facebook.com/OccupyProvidence
#1 Oct 23 2011, 9:52 pm
Good man.
#2 Oct 24 2011, 12:06 am
Week 4. Pitchforks Gentlemen!
#3 Oct 24 2011, 12:27 am
It's true. We the people is now a lie. It's we the rich guys who control everything.
#4 Oct 24 2011, 4:48 am
Just a bit of perspective guys:

In Tunisia it took dozens of people to die setting themselves on fire.

In Egypt, it took millions to camp out in the major cities and the military to join their side.

In Libya, it took over 8 months of civil conflict, mostly with regular joe citizens to fight it.

And the ones that have failed so far:

In Yemen they shot, and nearly killed their own president and still haven't got anywhere.

In Bahrain, they brought in the Saudi's and Pakistan to go shoot up their own people "occupying" the pearl roundabout, and then demolished it.

In Saudi, a dozen people tried to form a political party and are now serving a life sentence in jail.

In Syria, protesters have been labelled terrorists, gangsters, and foreign agents while the army sieges and kills people in the street.

Good luck and all with this "occupy" thing, but you don't seriously believe anything is going to change by this lack of action so far? Not saying anyone needs to get violent but in my short years of monitoring politics simply camping out and doing marches is easily ignorable by the political establishment because even though it represents something, it isn't being represented to anyone in particular. The message needs to be narrowed down and delivered to people who you think are actually going to do something about it or (and I know its nearly as difficult as running in Saudi in the US) stand for election yourselves.

Not trying to be an ass, just will find it funny when it dies down in a few weeks because the best people can come up with is being a pain for the general population by sitting in high profile areas (which is pretty common anyway).
#5 Oct 24 2011, 5:39 am
"We no longer"?

When did we ever? I've yet to meet a selfless rich person, or an honest politician. Corruption existed since the founding of this country, it didn't just suddenly appear here in 2011. Anyone who ever thought the government truly cared about them is beyond naive, and is the main reason why the people running our country get away with the stuff they do. Because you still have people that think mayors, presidents, governors etc. are innocent little angels. No, they're greedy liars who are slaves to the almighty dollar.

It's the reason why I refuse to vote. When you submit that ballot, you're basically saying "I want this money-hungry hypocrite to make my laws for me" and I just can't see the sense in it. I'll vote when there is a candidate who isn't a wealthy conniving douchebag who says whatever they think "the people" want to hear just to get a vote.

So, never.
#6 Oct 24 2011, 6:20 am
Acebloke wrote:
Good luck and all with this "occupy" thing, but you don't seriously believe anything is going to change by this lack of action so far? Not saying anyone needs to get violent but in my short years of monitoring politics simply camping out and doing marches is easily ignorable by the political establishment because even though it represents something, it isn't being represented to anyone in particular. The message needs to be narrowed down and delivered to people who you think are actually going to do something about it or (and I know its nearly as difficult as running in Saudi in the US) stand for election yourselves.

Not trying to be an ass, just will find it funny when it dies down in a few weeks because the best people can come up with is being a pain for the general population by sitting in high profile areas (which is pretty common anyway).

This is my take on it as well. An admirable effort but the wrong approach.

Which is why my pitchfork is out... Iain :)
#7 Oct 24 2011, 7:41 am
Acebloke wrote:
Just a bit of perspective guys:

In Tunisia it took dozens of people to die setting themselves on fire.

In Egypt, it took millions to camp out in the major cities and the military to join their side.

In Libya, it took over 8 months of civil conflict, mostly with regular joe citizens to fight it.

And the ones that have failed so far:

In Yemen they shot, and nearly killed their own president and still haven't got anywhere.

In Bahrain, they brought in the Saudi's and Pakistan to go shoot up their own people "occupying" the pearl roundabout, and then demolished it.

In Saudi, a dozen people tried to form a political party and are now serving a life sentence in jail.

In Syria, protesters have been labelled terrorists, gangsters, and foreign agents while the army sieges and kills people in the street.

Good luck and all with this "occupy" thing, but you don't seriously believe anything is going to change by this lack of action so far? Not saying anyone needs to get violent but in my short years of monitoring politics simply camping out and doing marches is easily ignorable by the political establishment because even though it represents something, it isn't being represented to anyone in particular. The message needs to be narrowed down and delivered to people who you think are actually going to do something about it or (and I know its nearly as difficult as running in Saudi in the US) stand for election yourselves.

Not trying to be an ass, just will find it funny when it dies down in a few weeks because the best people can come up with is being a pain for the general population by sitting in high profile areas (which is pretty common anyway).

I don't think anyone in the occupy movement wants the kind of Regime change that those revolutions are going for. I think by merely sending a message to the politicians and 1%ers that we're mad as hell and not going to take it anymore, we can hopefully in a couple of years get politicans to fix terrible govt policies such as Citizens United.
#8 Oct 24 2011, 11:30 am
"I don't think anyone in the occupy movement wants the kind of Regime change that those revolutions are going for. I think by merely sending a message to the politicians and 1%ers that we're mad as hell and not going to take it anymore, we can hopefully in a couple of years get politicans to fix terrible govt policies such as Citizens United."

Obviously its different areas, different circumstances, but the Arab Spring was almost exclusively about the cost of living, and this has featured in Spanish/Greek protests that have been going on longer than both the Arab Spring and the Occupy movement. Regime change in those countries is just an added benefit.

It seems like the UK occupy movement is heading into the direction I was talking about:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15425738

"Campaign group UK Uncut has said it will join the activists.

It planned a march to Whitehall on Monday afternoon, to demand the resignation of HM Revenue and Customs' chief executive, Dave Hartnett.

It claims Revenue and Customs allows some big companies to avoid making certain payments."

Its not much, but still better than simply camping.
#9 Oct 24 2011, 11:30 am
I support the occupy movements 100%. I wish I could go to occupy Detroit, but I dont have the gas money.
#10 Oct 24 2011, 11:44 am
Boxcar wrote:
I support the occupy movements 100%. I wish I could go to occupy Detroit, but I dont have the gas money.

Occupy your street... unless you're in the ghetto. Then just like... stay inside...
#11 Oct 24 2011, 11:48 am
Ganing wrote:
Boxcar wrote:
I support the occupy movements 100%. I wish I could go to occupy Detroit, but I dont have the gas money.

Occupy your street... unless you're in the ghetto. Then just like... stay inside...


Lol i'm not in the ghetto, but I think occupying my side street wont have quite the effect a group of people will have in a major city.
#12 Oct 24 2011, 11:50 am
"Lol i'm not in the ghetto, but I think occupying my side street wont have quite the effect a group of people will have in a major city."

Then do something productive, contact your local politicians, media, etc. It'll be more effective.
#13 Oct 24 2011, 12:06 pm
Acebloke wrote:
"Lol i'm not in the ghetto, but I think occupying my side street wont have quite the effect a group of people will have in a major city."

Then do something productive, contact your local politicians, media, etc. It'll be more effective.

I've called Rick Snyder before, and Ive sent letters about budget cuts etc and been to town halls. Im not ignorant to how the system works, I just wish I had the money to go to Occupy Detroit.
#14 Oct 24 2011, 12:07 pm
"I've called Rick Snyder before, and Ive sent letters about budget cuts etc and been to town halls. Im not ignorant to how the system works, I just wish I had the money to go to Occupy Detroit."

In that case, apologies :p
#15 Oct 24 2011, 12:20 pm
Lol Box, don't bother. MI is a lost cause and it's why my family don't even live there any more. The governors, the mayors, the city council... all puppets. Save yourself the time and energy so you don't end up like this guy.
#16 Oct 24 2011, 12:34 pm (Edited on Oct 24 2011, 12:45 pm)
Ok, the look on that guys face is hilarious.

But on a serious note, I cant believe Rick Snyder even got elected. Since then I've been thinking the votes were falsely counted. Nobody Ive talked to except for one man voted for him, and even he says he sorely regrets it. Of course, my experience doesn't mean it isn't possible, but I remember talk of a recall a while ago, when he was slashing the education budget, but giving more tax breaks to corporations.

I just cant sit and say its a lost cause. I don't want to take it up the ass from the top % bracket. We cant just let them get away with it. I cant think of anything else to do besides a social movement like the one taking place. Any talk of a violent revolution and you'll probably lose support from the middle and lower class. I suppose we just have to hope the sheer scope of the occupy movement will inspire some change.

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil ...
is for good men to do nothing.~~Edmund Burke
#17 Oct 24 2011, 4:46 pm
Cool thing is, we learned about social movements in my History and Sociology of Rock N Roll class. The ones that happened during the 60's/70's did fairly well, but after Vietnam and the Watergate, many people just threw their hands up in disgust and isolated themselves. I don't care too much for politics, but when I hear stuff that doesn't make sense to me, I KNOW it can't be right.

I'm honestly scared for this country. Arnold Swarzenegger became governor and then the cracker tries to ban violent video games. He totally knows the Bill of Rights amirite? Then everyone in my high school voted for Obama just because he was black. Except for one black guy... I remember him... he voted for McCain. His words were like "You some dumb niggas". I wonder if he was right...
#18 Oct 24 2011, 5:55 pm
You talk as if there is a better reason to vote for a candidate. They're both douche bags, so the best thing you can do is try to see which douche bag is least douchiest. Or which candidate has the most similar skin tone to yours.

Besides, it was about time to get a black president. Not because he was better, but because the reactions of the KKK ( Hannity, Beck, you know who they are ) are priceless. "Stopping Obama's Radical Agenda", lol. More like "Please Don't Give A Black Man A Second Term". BTW, I'm not calling every anti-Obama person a racist, but the type of BS that comes out of Hannity's mouth just makes it obvious. I wonder if they're still whining over the radio about his birth certificate, hahaha.
#19 Oct 24 2011, 9:10 pm
I have very little time to read through all the comments and write my own response. I do want to respond to Acebloke's first comment. I think I completely agree with what you wrote. The "Occupy" movement does not currently have the structure or direction to effect meaningful change, and will be forgotten quickly, and rightfully so, if we don't get our act together.

I said as much on the first night that I attended an Occupy Providence general assembly, during the "People's Soap Box" portion. Up until last night I was still viewing myself as an observer, even though I'm dug in deeper than many of those camping in the park who are just there for the social phenomenon and who are actively resisting any movement toward structure or a cohesive message.

This post is an echo of what I have written elsewhere, posted here on BYOND mostly as a curiosity for people who may be wondering what's going on. The purpose of this message (when posted outside BYOND) is to get across that we are members of a global reformation movement, and that we have work to do. Either we're playing the part of protestors, or we're committed to doing what is needed to effect real change. In the words of a wise man: shit or get off the pot.
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