OWS - Reality
-
Upload
savarkar5200 -
Category
Documents
-
view
221 -
download
0
Transcript of OWS - Reality
8/3/2019 OWS - Reality
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ows-reality 1/5
The ‘Occupy Wall Street’ movement and the issue of democratic
change
Introduction
The ‘Occupy wall street movement began as a protest against corporate greed. The
venue of the protest was ‘Wall street’ – the financial center of corporate America.
The first protest was on September 17, 2011.The protests ‘occupied’ Wall Street
and claimed to represent the 99 % of the population who were being exploited by
the rich, greedy 1%. The movement caught the imagination of millions across the
globe and there were similar protest movements against corporate greed in many
other nations including European and Asian countries.
We have seen American popular culture dominating lifestyles and fads all across
the world. Right from the hippism of the 60’s to the low waist jeans of today,
America has defined attitude and style. The same can be said about many
‘movements’ of today.
As a movement of protest, the OWS street movement got more media attention
than any other supposedly non political demonstration.
Americans generally have been worshippers of wealth. Concentration of wealth is
seen as a necessary evil which fuels American growth and industry. Even then, the
show of opulence and the greed of the corporate CEOs who give themselves larger
salaries and perks even while the nation totters at the brink of recession has caused
great heartburn among the ordinary people of America. Ordinary Americans are
losing their jobs and healthcare benefits even while the Government is handing
over large sums of money to bail out banks and financial institutions which have
performed poorly.
8/3/2019 OWS - Reality
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ows-reality 2/5
8/3/2019 OWS - Reality
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ows-reality 3/5
In the 1990s, the Democratic President Bill Clinton repeatedly bailed out his
friends at Goldman Sachs and Citibank under the tutelage of his Treasury
Secretary Robert Rubin -- former chairman of Goldman Sachs. U.S. taxpayers
were fleeced to prop up nations that were about to default on risky bonds
purchased by Goldman and Citibank. But for today’s OWS protestors Clinton is an‘ally’.
The people who have come up with support to the OWS movement include
Democratic multimillionaires like John Kerry, Nancy Pelosi, Alec Baldwin, and
Micheal Moore, "God bless them for their spontaneity. It's independent, it's young,
it's focused. And it's going to be effective," parroted the wealthiest former Speaker
in the history of the U.S. House, Nancy Pelosi, who continues to ask lobbyists to
write the bills she passes to find out what's in them.
"I think it expresses the frustrations the American people feel...” added President
Obama.
Mob rule
In India, this movement has been endorsed by the CPM as a people’s movement
against Capitalism. Well and Good. In the absence of Communism Capitalism is
the bane to be opposed tooth and nail. But the spirit behind the OWS movementdoesn’t seem to be about opposing capitalism. It seems more and more like a
movement for crony Capitalism at the behest of John Soros and his allies in the
democratic establishment.
The CPM which has been pointed in its opposition to the anti corruption movement
of Anna Hazare in India has identified itself with a semi political movement in the
US.
Perhaps it was the nature of the protests has appealed to the CPM. Instead of AnnaHazare and his compatriots peacefully offering Satyagraha to force the government
to curb black money and crony capitalism, the OWS activists have attacked the
Police, blocked roads and defecated on the streets. This mob mentality
synonymous with communist’s movements around the country and especially in
Kerala seems to have done the trick for the CPM.
8/3/2019 OWS - Reality
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ows-reality 4/5
Topless protest : Artistic Director of Dance Theater Group Kandake, Olga El, went
topless as an artistic expression to relay frustration over Christopher Columbus
Day during the Occupy Wall Street protests on Monday October 10th.
Zuni Tikka, on the metaphore of protesting bare-breasted: "I can't afford a shirt.Wall Street has stolen the shirts from our backs". She has been protesting next to a
poster "I didn't say look, I said listen."
Another historical blunder
If the CPM believes that it can reverse its historical irrelevance by identifying itself
with the OWS movement, it is clutching at straws. It reminds me of an incident
during the Gorbachev revolution is the USSR when pro communist troops
attempted a military takeover from civilian rule. It was in 19–21 of August 1991.A
bunch of Army officers had commandeered some tanks and moved towards
Yelsins’ office. Our CPM leaders suddenly saw this as a turning point in the
otherwise slide towards destruction of their fatherland and were ecstatic. An overly
excited Harkishen Surjeeth announced on primetime TV – “ The great fight back
by the people’s army had begun. The counter revolutionary rebellion of the
criminals led by Gorbachev will now be crushed”. By nightfall, the soldiers went
over to Gorbachev and Yelsin. I have to say that Surjeeth was never the same
person after that setback.
History keeps repeating itself. Yet, the orphans of history refuse to learn its
lessons.
OWS today
Anarchy is something that people tire off quickly and the response to the OWS
movement has not been any different. Governments across states in America , even
those which has expressed support to the OWS protesters are firmly moving
against the mob action and clearing the street of these protesting vandals.
Police guarded newly-cleared plazas early Wednesday in Atlanta and Oakland
after clearing Occupy Wall Street protests. Dozens of demonstrators were arrested
8/3/2019 OWS - Reality
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ows-reality 5/5