The Occupy Movement

The occupy movement has been going on for awhile now. It has spread worldwide, or at least through the North American Continent. According to our local paper (Springfield NewsLeader) the idea for Occupy Wall Street came out of a subculture publication in Mexico. Some folks in the states took up the idea and here we are.

It’s anyone's guess how many people are involved. It does renew my hope that people are finally starting to “get it”. I’ve looked for something like this for years but it always seems to be happening somewhere else. We’re the buckle in the bible belt here and ultra-conservative, thus change is slow. We now have an Occupy Springfield group!

Tomorrow marks the first “official” protest/rally whatever you wish to call it. We will be walking from the square to the Kitchen (our local soup kitchen), and donating non-perishables. Likely talking to people there.. Hopefully no confrontation or problems. I must admit I’m terrified. I don’t know what to expect.

“We are the one’s we’ve been waiting for, and we are dawning”. Which is to say if we don’t do something no one will.

We are beyond left or right, Democratic or Republican, Chevy or Ford. We are at the point of survival or extinction, both in a figurative and literal sense.

Since the Industrial Revolution (and likely before) we’ve been exploiting the planet and each other for profit.. be it dollars, food, or fur.

Recently (within the past 30-40 years) scientist have been able to measure the impacts of our “civilization and industrialization”. While it is impossible to determine the full consequences of our past actions, it is quite clear that our current path is unsustainable.

If we wish to be a “civilized” society, then we must start walking our talk. We must make some tough decisions. We must decide if we want to continue overpopulation the planet. If we want to support companies that exploit other human beings to make cheaper products. If we want to continue taking more and more drugs to offset the side effects of other drugs. If we want to keep paying exorbitant health care cost that covers very little when it comes down to it.

If we want to continue to support candidates that don’t vote on our behalf because they are being bribed by big business.. Medical, Pharm, AG to name but a few.

The truth of the matter is money is the game they play. They don’t give a damn about anyone but the money. They’ve even found a way to make corporations people. How sick is that? GREED

 

If we truly want to get out of this depression (not recession) then it’s going to take a lot more than bailing out Wall Street. 

 

My Ideas

 

1) If we want to drop unemployment then we can bring our manufacturing, IT, etc

    jobs back to the states. Pay livable wages. This alone should create a huge increase

    in jobs and help to reinvigorate the economy. And while we’re at it create a tariff 

   that makes it unprofitable to move jobs out of the country just to save a dollar.

 

2) Bring the local economy back. Instead of trucking things thousands of miles, eat in

    season. If you don’t grow your own veggies at least buy from your local farmer.

    Provide incentives for farmers that helps reduce production cost. Pass that savings

    to the consumer, thus making healthy food available to everyone.

 

3) Restructure the tax code. Make the rich pay their fair share of the taxes. It’s cruel

    to pay those who make your living for you low wages and then expect them to pay

    your part of the taxes too.

 

4) Provide comprehensive healthcare to ALL. The US is the only 1st world country

    who isn’t already doing this.

 

5) Provide free college education to ALL.

 

6) Funding for scientific research for things from cancer to  alternative energy. Then

    fund production and purchase of said energy products. This also should create

    Jobs.

 

7) Get to know your senators/representatives, etc..  Hold them accountable to their

     constituency. Let them know if their vote doesn’t reflect the people they

     represent, they will not get another term.

 

I’m sure I’m missing many thing as it is 2 am. But this would be a HUGE start.

 

Until we get out of the “money is god” mentality things will not improve. Greed is like crack.. the more you have the more you believe you need.

 

People are starting to see this and making it clear they want change. We’ve got a long ways to go but it all starts with spreading the message. Small steps big results!!