Capitalism's woes cheered at World Social Forum

[Blue_Tires]

Source: WaPo

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil -- Leftists are pouring into town to rail against freewheeling capitalism during the World Social Forum, gleefully cheering the humbling of bankers and business titans by the global economic meltdown.

At the opening of the five-day event, some 25,000 activists paraded exuberantly through Porto Alegre on Monday, serenaded by the pounding of drums and salsa blared from sound trucks as they waved communist flags and shouted slogans against corporate greed.

The 10-year-old conference is the left's counter to the World Economic Forum at Davos, a Swiss ski resort where presidents, corporate leaders and others gather annually to discuss international issues. It is also being held this week.

Gustavo de Biase, a 22-year-old Brazilian wearing a shirt proclaiming "Socialism is Liberty," said the world's leftists are convinced they can get presidents from the U.S. to Brazil to embrace policies "of respect and equality aimed at lifting the poor out of misery."

"We want to distribute the riches to people," he said. "We're fighting for a more equal society and we're saying 'Down with hunger' and 'Down with war.'"



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/25/AR2010012501689.html

[bitchkitty]

1. Wow, sounds like some party! n/t

[GinaMaria]

2. the humbling of bankers...

Where can I see that? I would really like to see that. Where are these humble bankers they speak of?

[fascisthunter]

3. this will be a World Wide Movement for Economic Justice

Maybe Ravi Batra is correct.

[Dave From Canada]

4. Those people are complete tools. n/t

[Mudoria]

5. +1

[Flaneur]

6. Would you care to elaborate?

Or are you just channeling your prime minister?

[Dave From Canada]

7. Yes of course I'll elaborate. "Down with hunger", "Down with war", is that really protesting? As

if the vast majority of people are for more hunger and more war. Their message is the most naive, simplistic message one can adopt. In fact, I wouldn't be suprised if it was crafted by Sarah Palin. Not to mention, that most of the protestors, are late-teens, early-20's, who don't know a goddamn thing about the real world.

Also, their waving of communist flags earns them zero points. Actually, it subtracts points. It's one thing to fight for more socialist-type policies. It's a completely seperate matter to envoke and celebrate communism. These kids arrive to protest from their cushy freedom oriented countries, and their solution to help the poor is to champion communism? Are they retarded? Seriously.

[Peace Patriot]

8. "Hey, mister, can we have our ball back? Can we have our ball back, please, mister?" nt

[polly7]

14. What would be your chants that could be heard and understood clearly? nt.

[Dave From Canada]

15. I don't know, but not those. I wouldnt advise waving the flag of communist countries either.

[Flaneur]

16. Slogans by their nature are simplistic things.

I don't know how many kids came from "cushy freedom oriented countries." The Post article only mentions people from Brazil and India.

This is a leftist counterpart to Davos. Although you are offended, I am not at all suprised that there might have been some communist flags there.

And with you comment about young people "who don't know a goddamn thing about the real world," you just sound like a grumpy old man.

"Damn kids, get offa my planet!"

[defendandprotect]

9. America should finally wake up to capitalism as an enemy of democracy . . !!

[unkachuck]

10. "...some 25,000 activists paraded exuberantly through Porto Alegre..."

....I love a good parade....

[Hardrada]

11. Viva La Revolucion!

[Odin2005]

12. K&R

[DavidDvorkin]

13. It's not the bankers and business titans who are suffering

It's the rest of us. I've been out of work since May, thanks to the global meltdown.

These people are deluded and blinkered.