I support the Occupy Movement and the Global Peasant Uprising

[Goldstein1984]

I am 55 years old
I own a home
I have never been unemployed
I have a six-figure income
I have two graduate degrees
I have three children
I have five grandchildren
I am married (>30 years)
I am a veteran

And I have eyes and ears with which I perceive the evils of empire and oligarchy, militarism, greed, exploitation, corruption in government, destruction of the environment, and the economic and social injustice in the world.

I am doing well largely by luck. All of my "disposable income" goes to family and friends who are not doing so well, with a little left over to support NGOs working for a better world.

Human welfare should not be a matter of rolling the dice, and we cannot trust the Few to ensure the welfare of the Many--they didn't get to be the Few by worrying about the masses.

[hobbit709]

1. Another surly peasant here +1

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. I LOVE OCCUPY! What's fantastic about this movement is the many walks of life

represented in it. From the elderly, to university students, to blue collar workers, to PhDs, women, men, all types. The second thing I think is amazing about this movement (and what makes it unstoppable) is that it has NO leader. That's sheer genius. The enemies of our country (same people who express hesitation or outright fear about movements, particularly those growing as quickly as OWS), are most terrified by the leaderless nature of the movement because, only when you identify a leader can you attack and destroy that which threatens you and your livelihood. (And those threatened by OWS are the ignorant and those doing quite well (taking advantage or being in the 1%) of the utterly corrupt system that our country has become).

And thank you so much for your post. I love to read about the many supporting OWS!!! :)

[Goldstein1984]

3. That is the strength of the movement

Horizontal organization, democracy, no leaders, and if you believe what we believe you are one of us.

Not everybody is in a position to physically occupy, or to provide financial support, but we can all help spread the rage, we can all help to create revolutionary minds that reject the status quo.

One of my favorite things about the Occupy Movement, which I think is barely recognized, is that it's creating a global community that circumvent borders, governments, and nationalism. Americans and Egyptians are recognizing that they have more in common with each other than they have with their own ruling classes, and it isn't just the U.S. and Egypt.

The other strength is nonviolence: nonviolent methods, disregard for authority, civil disobedience, and demonstrations. Ultimately, the people control all production and consumption, which gives us all the power.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

7. YES! It's the best thing that's happened since 1980, when the downfall of this country began

As a paralegal, I believe we'll soon see civil lawsuits around the country as well. The right of assembly is agreed by the Constitution, and instead, the powers that benefit from the current decades-old state of corruption here are denying that right and abusing those attempting to enjoy that right. Civil lawsuits are going to be good, because if the Constitution cannot be defended outright, then let it be defended by putting fear into the hearts of universities, towns, cities, states, and the country by going into their pockets.

[Goldstein1984]

9. There will be plenty of video evidence

I believe the Constitution only acknowledges rights, and it even acknowledges that we have rights not enumerated in the Constitution (the 9th Amendment). Those rights are "self-evident" and "unalienable" according to a well-known document ratified by the people who knew what kind of nation they wanted to build. We've strayed far from that beginning, and we can no longer rely on the three branches of government to follow the Constitution. In fact, recent history proves we can only count on them to interpret the document in self-serving ways.

I'm currently studying international treaties and declarations, many of which the U.S. government refuses to participate in. I would actually like to see U.S. citizens pursuing claims under international laws. For example, I'd love to see victims of brutality in Oakland pursuing human righs violations outside of the U.S. legal system. In my wildest dreams, I would like to see a global, dispersed, horizontally organized citizen community and assembly with the power to usurp authority from national governments.

True democracy cannot exist with the Few making decisions for the Many. The Few will always serve the interests of the Few.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

13. I love the fact that you're international treaties and declarations and have stumbled on that

I agree that the courts are the next step involved in this. It's time our Constitutional rights were honored.

I think if more people like you were involved, this movement would move even faster than it already is (and it's moving very fast even so)!

[Huey P. Long]

4. Yes sir. -eom

[deutsey]

5. K&R

[Courtesy Flush]

6. Similar story here

I'm 52, and my mortgage is paid. I've saved for retirement, though my savings don't earn much of anything now, at least I have the principal.

Today is my 24th anniversary with my employer, and I have a pension waiting for me.

Other than health issues, we're doing quite well.

Those who paint OWS as unemployed, or bums don't seem to understand the concept that you don't have to wait until you're in financial ruin before you're allowed to speak up.

[Goldstein1984]

10. I had to cash out my pension to help family

So much destruction, and so little accountability by those who caused it.

[roguevalley]

15. I retired, work two jobs, used all my annuity to pay bills when family

died and left me on my own, had a fricking fit throughout the bush years, learned to swear in public something I never did before this, and I LOVE OWS! ANONYMOUS! and all the others who network the revolution for all of us who live in the boondocks to support. (OWS is trying to raise 10K to publish their manifesto. Google it and help.) WORKERS (and everyone else) of the WORLD, ARISE! THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO LOSE IS YOUR CHAINS!

OP, what he said.

[SammyWinstonJack]

8. Thank You!

:applause:

[Goldstein1984]

11. It has been amazing to watch

My personal financial situation change so drastically over the past couple of years, not because my own job was lost, but because others simply became underemployed. I make good money, and am generally secure, but my children and grandchildren are my real investments in the future, and I have serious doubts about their futures unless the status quo is toppled.

Unfortunately, the status quo is designed to give even the lower classes a vested interest in keeping it intact. I beleive that general strikes and boycotts are very likely in the future, and they will hurt many of the Many in the process of sending a message to the Few. It will take a great deal of solidarity to end the status quo.

[azul]

12. Serious doubts about their futures

Some have fallen victim to "hurled the worst fear that could ever be hurled".

I am working less by choice, because I don't like to support much of what is being done with my tax dollars. And my mortgage was paid off, but I took out a new one to help pay for my parents' ruinous medical expenses.

[Uncle Joe]

14. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Goldstein.:thumbsup:

[Wilms]

16. Good goin'!

:toast: