A government is, and represents a contract between itself/ its rulers and the people it governs.This contract is so sacred that the documents that represent this, are often enshrined and guarded. the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution are perfect examples of this. So potent are they, that they are kept in glass cases and placed on display for all to see.
Recently, many Americans have been rising up in protest. They are occupying scores of locations across the country. Up until recently there has been little coverage of this. WE owe a debt of gratitude to the women who were pepper-sprayed, and the millions of online users who made that video viral. If not for that video spreading far and wide across the internet- mainstream news media could have continued to ignore the most important political grassroots civic movement of the last 50 years. And still, it seems, much of America is at a loss to fully understand the motivation for this movement. Why have we taken to the streets and set up camps in our cities’ parks?
I currently have an intern staying with me. She has just graduated from college.a progressive and liberal college. Yet in speaking with her about these powerful events that are going on, RIGHT NOW, there seems little connection or interest in the bigger picture. I will admit to being somewhat baffled by the lack of information, interest and awareness. I have been following these events- not rabidly, but at least with enough attention to understand events, developments and significance. I know there are students and adults alike- so I am not inferring this is an age-related discrepancy.
Additionally, I don’t take this as a fault in the person. I take this as the fault of a beautifully constructed system- that has removed any neural connection between cause and effect. There is no Aha, between a concrete situation, and an abstract reality.
This intern is someone who is educated, seems to work well and would like to have a meaningful job. and yet if asked about what is going on regarding Occupy Wall street, a slightly blank and confused look crosses her young and idealistic face. Has she followed any of it? Does she know what it is, or WHY people are doing this? Is she aware of any of the democratic and constitutional travesties that are taking place? More so, that the people who are there, are there for HER. For her and every other young American that shares her plight.
Is she aware there IS a plight? I don’t know. I will assume it is in the common source of information that we have a huge jobs shortage, and an imploding economy. But what connection is made between the American dream/ illusion that she was fed, and the reality of job-hunting with a college degree? How have we come to a place where the outcomes of our sporting events elicit greater interest, knowledge and passion, than the reality of the American economic crisis? Our educational system is failing, our jobs have fled the country, and our spending on military disasters has spiraled out of control. As heinous as these realities are- the slide into a police state should be most frightening of all.
Granted, I will absolutely allow that I was no more politically savvy at 22. I had nominal interest in world events, or even domestic events. There is one HUGE caveat though. I was born into an generation when being a college graduate opened doors of opportunity. I had the chance to pursue my goals and personal dreams with a level of confidence that today’s graduates will not share.
How we have come to this point is extremely complex and convoluted. The exact reasons can and will be debated by economists, activists and intellectuals long after things have resolved themselves.
Where do we go from here? and Why does it matter? Those are the important questions. How do we reclaim civil liberties and rights? How does the graduating college student reclaim the “American Dream” and have a chance to build a future they are not ashamed of owning?
THAT is why the people who are occupying Wall Street, and Kstreet and scores of other major cities around the country and around the world, are gathering. the social contract has been usurped by corporations and bought-and-paid politicians. granted, they are bought BY the corporations and large banks who have profit-motivated interests that have NOTHING to do with the vanished middle class and NOTHING to do with sustaining the health of ANYTHING except bottom line profit: the planet, simply a resource to be exploited, as is the worker and all the machinery of the system. Large banks? EVERYTHING, and everyone- is a commodity, t be bought traded and sold- maximising immediate profit at the expense of long term economic or social health.
a few points I think are relevant.
If we are going to go to war over oil ( face it- these wars are ultimately over global resources, opening new markets and free-market exploitation of workers and resources. see above:). BUT, if our children are dying for it, and blood is being spilt to gain it. The profit should NOT be going into the deep pockets of private companies. In short- we are giving OUR life-blood so corporations can make BILLIONS, quarterly and annually. this is morally and ethically just plain wrong.
Health- no one should have the right to make exorbitant profits over the life and death of our citizens. this reduces human LIFE, to a commodity that is bought, traded and sold- again, with no consideration, ultimately, for the life in the balance. That life, is simply a commodity, a THING. It is not a thing! it is your child, your sibling or your parent!
It comes down to- WHO matters more in a society?
For starters- I don’t think ANY person will have relevance in this landscape, until the ghosts have been removed. By ghosts- I mean the shadow-”people”.. entities that have been “born,” have gotten very educated, and even spawn “children.” But these are legal entities that have never breathed the air, tasted the apple pie or held a baby in their arms, wondering if the living soul in their arms will have a better life and a chance to see how wonderful this planet can be.
These shadow-people, are the corporations legal personhood status. this means that these non-beings, experience all of the rights of any born person. However, they are immortal, and not constrained by any biological or ethical constraints. There are no true social mores holding their baser instincts in check. these shadow-people cannot be held accountable. Their names seem to be “not me” ” I dunno” and ” don’t know.” there is no intrinsic empathy hardwired into them. They do not show up at your door when your roof needs rebuilding, hammer at the ready. We have been led to think of them as caring and compassionate through media constructs. But there IS no man behind the curtain. There IS no one ultimately responsible or accountable.
Ultimately, a corporation consists of the people who work there, or own it. THEY should be the ones bearing the responsibility. NOT offshore corporations and holdings, dummy corporations and shell companies that often, cannot even be traced to an actual person.
Why are we sharing all of the constitutional rights and protections with someone who will NEVER breathe the free air or feel the rain leaking through the roof?
1. remove corporate personhood. Until this happens, and there is true corporate responsibility and accountability ( you sign it, your *** is on the line)- there will be no true change in the WAY business is done. Too many faceless robber-barons are hiding behind invisible corporations and dummy corporations and holding companies to ever successfully hold big business accountable for its actions and indiscretions.
As an aside note from corporatocracy- Each state should have the right, and should implement, the creation of a State owned bank. citizens could freely choose whether to place their money in a state owned bank, or a private corporate owned bank. State banks, would be able to put funds back into the state, rebuilding infrastructure, creating jobs and taking care of the people living within its borders, health, education, and social spending. If a bank had to make a profit with my funds- I certainly would prefer that profit went to my communities.
2. Implement state banks- that can compete with privately owned banks, much the way N. Dakota(?) has done. It is one state that now has the lowest unemployment and probably strongest economy. If a bank is going to be about making a profit- people should have the option about where that profit gets re-invested. I for one- would like to see interest in Vermont.
I do believe there are two sides to every contract. It is up to the American people, and the peoples all around the world- to assume ownership and responsibility for themselves. the first and foremost question each person needs to be asking: What do I need to know? What can I do for myself? What can I change? This is in relation to education, personal health, and environmental stewardship. We have HUGE power, if only we realise this truth. We have abundant resources, IF we know what they are, and what is available to us. And we DO have access to information and human resources- as a result of internet access and widespread use of cellular telephones. HELP is within reach. MORE- the awareness that there are MANY others and this is NOT a slow solitary march. As Occupy Wall Street demonstrates- it was “we the people,” who built the United States. It is, again, ” We the people,” who can and will come together and fix the damage that “they the politicians and corporations” have inflicted on the heart and soul of its people.
images from http://occupywallst.org please visit their site and show your support. read their stories- it is also YOUR story that they are creating and telling for all of us, collectively. OWS is a story, by us, about us, for us. All of us whom belong to the 99%.
If you are reading this, or if you have been following this thread of posts, chances are you get exactly how broken the current public education model is. Understand that when I ask- who will fix the broken system.. I never meant.. fix the public school system. I meant, literally- how we educate our children. I don’t know that there is any fixing the good ship titanic of education. It is far too entrenched, and as noted, painting a house whose foundation is rotted and sinking. No one is looking at the basement/ foundation- and praising the pretty new colours on the walls.
