ows - reality

8/3/2019 OWS - Reality

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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.



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.



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

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