An informative interview with NewsLanc contributor Kevin Zeese is followed by excerpts of street activism in Washington, D. C. It culminates with extemporaneous comments by Richard Trumpka, president of the AFL / CIO.
We highly recommend the first half of the 17 minute video in which Zeese succinctly explains the history, aspirations and describes the living conditions for participants of the Occupy movement. The balance is spotty but worth viewing to gain a sense of the energy and spirit of the demonstrators and to hear from Trumpka who comes across as a shining knight.
History is being made all over the world as the 99% is waking up to what has been perpetrated by a large segment of the 1%. Nevertheless, a significant portion of persons who earn among the top 1% are supportive of government reform and higher taxes. In fact, many of them voluntarily contribute heavily to public charity.
It is largely the Finance Industry that has been looting the nation for two to three decades, distorting public policy through political contributions and seizing profits that otherwise would have gone into productive investment. Thus ‘Wall Street’ is an apt metaphor for much of what is wrong in our country.
Many of our most respected leaders have been lamenting the growing extreme mal-distribution of wealth, including Paul Volker, former head of the Federal Reserve, who points out the similarity to 1929, just before the Great Depression on a recent Charlie Rose show that can be seen on a Charlie Rose show.
What the ‘United Wall Street’ movement with its 99% slogan has done is break through the general public’s complacent and misinformed mindset and made us aware that we are being victimized by money interests that have subverted both of our political parties. These predators have been aided by five radical right wing members of the current activist Supreme Court, especially by the egregious Citizens United decision opening the door for corporate political contributions and anonymity.
‘Occupy Wall Street’ is not the answer but it may be the beginning, rays of sunshine in what appeared to be a darkness heralding the end of our social democracy as we have known it.
The only correction I’d make is re Citizen’s United. While it did open the door to unlimited donations, it did not open the door to anonymous contributions. In fact, the majority said one reason they did not see a big risk was that Federal election laws required disclosure. Karl Rove and others opened that door by misusing 501(c)(4) non-profit status for electoral work, c-4’s do not require disclosure of donors. It is too bad the Obama administration has not enforced the law since it is a clear violation of the tax code and elections laws. They could end anonymous contributions by merely announcing an investigation of these illegal activities — something I have been pushing for since the mid-term elections. ( As a result of our efforts the FBI is investigating, but quietly and too slowly.) K. Z.