By the way, what you said about Skippy was genius. "That's what the protest is buying to feed itself." It was specific, it proved a point and it sounded pretentiously and amazingly metaphorical.
Surprised at the OWS website: "Soldidarity with our Egyptian comrades", "support the Chinese workers' boycott", "a woman pepper-sprayed another shopper to get a better spot in line on Black Friday...this is exactly what the 1% wants." 1stof all, who is this writer wanting to represent 99%? Second of all, what is their aim?? Blind solidarity w/ the "proletariat" against the "evil government"? How generalised. If OWS were a person, s/he'd be a megaphone-wielding romantic in a Che Guevara t-shirt.
(Cont.) Also, what makes me angry is when OWS compares itself with the Arab Spring or any other "real movement", as you say, occurring in the world. You get hundreds of videos from countries like Syria, where citizens are systematically beat up by security forces, where children are captured &tortured so as to make parents compliant, where you've got a president who admits he'd rather die than give up power. It's like OWS wants some of the imaginary heroism of the rebels in these countries.
(Cont.) Just to get my thoughts out, not that open protest should be discouraged. I don't know whether Americans, or the entire current Western generation is inclined to apathy. If yes, that certainly isn't good. But in the US, where people have the means to educate&inform themselves, &after more than 2 months of Occupation, you'd think the protestors would have more than a caricatured view of reality, in which the corporations are absolutely evil &the 99% are absolutely deprived&underprivileged
I like what you say and I've discussed it with friends. Especially two people, one is Indian and the other lives in Vietnam (they know poverty and political corruption), agree when you say that a rational comparison with the global situation and the "true atrocities" reveals the absurdity of the sentiments expressed by the OWS protestors. I think you've debunked most arguments in the comments successfully, & I'm excited to hear what "misconceptions" Myles Dyer says he's discovered in your video.
It's ironic your calling everyone a hypocrite who's invloved with the Occupy Movement, when your one to call the kettle black yourself. In this video alone while you rant about corporations and how we should stop supporting them, but you yourself support them buy buying their products (Subway, Mircowave, and YouTube). What you need to do in the future is to rethink and think agin before you speak, because you can reduce your own carbon foot print by not wasting hot gas.
@SignalsOverTheAir How is that hypocritical? I never said corporations are evil. I also do not own a microwave. That refrigerator came with the apartment and is never turned on.
@JeebJello Ok, I take back the microwave, but you are a hypocrite, your whole video is example of being one. Another thing being a Vegan isn't really helping out the world, it actually cost more to be one, so just eat an egg and some bacon and call it a day.
@SignalsOverTheAir Name one example of how I'm being a hypocrite, let alone how my entire video makes me one. And how is the rest of this "argument" relevant to anything?
@SignalsOverTheAir I have no problem with Subway. Their vegan options are quite tasty, and the more I purchase them, the more I encourage the company to offer more vegetarian options, further reducing suffering and environmental damage. Again, this is not relevant to the argument, and there is no chance for hypocrisy on my part, so you have added nothing to the debate. I used my veganism as an example of how I hold myself accountable for my own purchases. Haters gonna hate.
Its okay, you can go on with your life and be ignorant about whats going on in the world and continue to just be a slave to society and keep making shitty youtube videos.
While the rest of us will stand up for our rights,(yours too) and fight for what is right, like education for all, healthcare for all, the ability to actually afford things.. America is about people coming together, and that is what we believe in.
I was pretty excited when the Occupy protests began. I thought "hell yeah! Something's finally getting done to fight this corruption." But then more and more time went by and all I was seeing was a bunch of people sitting around doing nothing. A lot of people that attend the protests, too, just go there because that's the in thing now and don't really know shit about anything (not that everyone there is like that.) So I agree with you. These people need to actually DO something.
I think You TUbe is why im embarrassed to be an American. Everybody can post a video now of how ignorant Americans can be,........Awkward........and.........Ironic and in one video right here.
so the list of demands as decided by general assembly is non existent? just because you haven't heard of it? did you actively research? there is a committee that is actively pursuing a list of demands. now whether or not anyone is listening to those demands is a different story. if absolutely nothing was being accomplished, and there are no points being made, then why is there an $800,000+ smear campaign in the works?(if it hasn't already been enacted)
Thanks man :) it makes me very happy to hear someone talking sense - making well informed, well argued points... I think I will try and change my life
Im not sure where your reply comment went to, or if you just deleted it to save face, but if I really wanted to point by point critique you I would have made a video response (that being said I know someone else, who is doing just that so he can do it on my behalf) I was merely giving a quick capsule review of your video with the short amount of time (and characters) I had. In essence - pure bollocks. But you are of course entitled to your opinion, as am I
@aiiiunluckykid Still haven't heard anything that proves anything I'm saying wrong. Nothing specific. If you can't provide a "point by point" critique, what good is voicing your opinion? You're just a faceless username that didn't enjoy my video. That's not very productive at all. Your comment was "bollocks" because you think your "quick review" means anything to anyone. I don't know you. You haven't proven yourself to me. This video took me 3 hours to make. You just shrugged it off mindlessly.
@JeebJello I dont see why I'm obliged too, of course I can voice an opinion. We could exchange comments back and forth for maybe a week, youll make some good points, ill make some good points, we'll probably still disagree by the end of it all. I personally cant be arsed.
@aiiiunluckykid So then what's the value of discussing? Sparking debate is all that you OWS supporters seem to want. Now you're saying it's pointless to argue.
The Occupy movement can and will do all the things you suggest. Voting with your buying power. The movement's primary purpose in calling attention to itself in the first months was drawing attention to an other wise napping public to do those exact things that they can to evoke change. Like it or not a lot of people are naive to the corruption in government and the fact that wall street unregulated has been a key factor in the demise of the economy and the suffering of people.
Occupy Wall street is not about socialism. It's not about universal healthcare or any of those liberal ideas. Occupy Wall street's goal is to get corporation's money out of politics. To get corruption out of government. I don't think you understand that, and so you're not understanding what the movement is FOR. It's not a group of people standing around without a goal. If you had done ANY research on this of your own before spouting off your opinions, you would have realized this.
That's so vague. What corruption is "in" government? What corporations are you referring to? What research? What do you suggest we do? What plan do you have that's better than what's in place, and how can you assure that it won't fail? How can you apply it to the 300 million people's lives we have in this country? How can it not be about "liberal ideas" if the entire 99% of America is being represented? Please respond.
@JeebJello What corruption, what corporations? Many of the Fortune 500 corporations pay no taxes. Why? Laws that have been passed in their favor. How? Lobbyists from these corporations, with this money, pay politicians, OUR government, to pass certain laws. This effects the 99% of America. Politicians in a Democracy are elected to support the people and the people's needs, not corporations'. Why ARE people starving, even in the US? (Cont.)
@OHnewfree Which lobbyists? Which politicians? Which "certain laws"? It's so easy to say this "corruption" is going on. Show me how, and show me how it couldn't have been avoided if the 99% never financially supported these companies in the first place. All big companies started out as little companies with a dream. Evil corporations didn't precede society. They weren't here when we got here. We made them. Now we want our money back?
@JeebJello You want names, laws, fine, I'll see if Youtube will allow me enough characters. Here's a fine example: Last year, Congress (should I list all the members, first, middle and last names, or will "Congress" do?) decided upon Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, prohibiting government from censoring political broadcasts paid for by corporations. This law now allows corporations even greater opportunity to sway political opinion by monetary means. (Cont.)
(Cont.) As to your second point, of course the 99% supported these companies, and continues to, and will continue to hereafter, but why would that give these corporations the right to run our government? I’m not asking for my money back. I’m asking them to stay out of politics, they do not belong there, and certainly they should not have more political power than you or I.
@OHnewfree Sure, they should. Money is power. If you don't like it, don't give them your money. We gave them the power they have. We only have ourselves to blame. That doesn't mean you shouldn't protest or voice your opinion. That doesn't mean these faceless corporations (again, you haven't shown me how "corporations" have "swayed political opinion") are not evil. It's the fact that everyone protesting is turning around and buying corporate-made products and perpetuating this vicious cycle.
@JeebJello money is power, yes, it gives Beyonce the power to buy $1200 shoes. But government is not supposed to BE about money. Our government is there for US, for the people, with or without money. Therein lies the problem: That our government is run by and for money instead of for the people of America. If we demand that this stops, and it does, then it doesn't matter how rich the corporations get, it doesn't matter whether or not we buy their products. This is not the fault of the people.
@OHnewfree Even if corporations are "kept out," their detrimental effect on the world is still colossal. 16% of our carbon emissions come from factory farming. I want that to stop. That's real. The only way to stop that is not to buy burgers and eggs and entire turkeys. That's just one issue. And it happens to be the reason we're all obese, too. I'm not going to hold ground in New York and demand things change. All while eating a drumstick. But that's pretty much what the OWS people are doing.
@JeebJello Another way to stop or lower such problems is to get corporations out of government. Certainly, I think you will agree, the corporations want laws in place that allow them to do these things. Get them out of our government, and then perhaps our elected officials will do what is best for the people, and the planet. To boycott corporations, that is one way of doing things, and it has been done, but isn't as effective as changing laws. Demands from voters is what politicians listen to.
@OHnewfree Demands from consumers are what corporations listen to, in the form of financial statistics. Politicians don't "listen" to voters; they have to comply with what we vote for. There's no ballot that says "should corporations be a part of our government?" because that is too vague to become a law. Since corporations and politicians will not be affected by how loud we scream, we have to attack the problem practically by taking away something tangible: our financial support.
@JeebJello Voters themselves don't pass laws, Politicians do. We vote for politicians if we believe they will "vote" for us. If word gets out that voters will not vote for politicians that support corporate agendas, any politician that wishes to be elected will, then, not support corporate agendas. Politicians certainly will be affected by this, this is how our government is supposed to work. That our money matters more than our vote perhaps reveals additional problems with the system in place.
@OHnewfree Yes, this is all correct, but what I'm saying is this is all a case of "your mouth says no, but your body says yes," if you don't mind the analogy. We're supposedly telling these politicians what we want, but our money is speaking much louder and our purchases are contradicting what we're saying. If the issue here is money, that there's too big of a gap between the 99% and the 1%, and that money may be swaying politics, how does it make sense for our words to speak louder than money?
@JeebJello Well, the issue here isn't money. That's part of the problem, but not its entirety. If ,say, I purchase something from Wal-mart, that's me supporting Wal-mart with my money. That is not me supporting wal-mart's agenda in our government (for example). We want the ability to purchase gas from Exxon-Mobil (because Volts are freaking expensive), but that doesn't equate to me wanting Exxon-Mobil to run the country. Far from it. It's a business, not a politician, and should act as so.
@OHnewfree This is exactly the type of logic I'm talking about. Once you give a company your money, it's now theirs to do what they want with it. You can't include a note with your 20-dollar bill that says "don't do what I wouldn't do!"...You can't work backwards and control what happens after you've given up your money. Your purchases need to be better informed, so before you lose any money, you know exactly where it's all going. That's how to be responsible as a consumer and as a citizen.
@JeebJello I am well aware that wal-mart will use my money to do with as they like, that's their right as a business. That's anyone's right. That is not the point, and using my money to build new wal-marts or new factories is not the problem we are discussing. I feel like we are debating in circles at this point. Wealthy corporations are NOT the problem. The problem is that their money is accepted by our government, and it is more important than our wishes as voters and citizens of this country.
(Cont.) There are greater problems, yes, but this strikes at the core. The government must be for the PEOPLE. What plan is there? There is no specific plan, true. However, this movement has started the discussion. Politicians, in the next election, will not be able to ignore the people any longer. This is a PROTEST, after all. This is Americans demanding change. You cannot knock OWS for that reason.
If you leave the market to do whatever it wants and rely on the "invisible hand," things will get out of control. There are regulations to keep things from getting out of hand.
Also, you made your point about universal healthcare and education null: "Finland has free education, some of the best education in the world." You GET what you PAY for, obviously. it shouldn't be about who has the most money to afford the best colleges so they can get the best jobs. Equality of opportunity is biased.
I came here thinking that this video was just going to be some capitalist ranting about crap... now, I feel inclined to agree with you.
I don't buy nestlé products because they promote baby formula in third world countries and because they think its right, they buy it and make it with dirty water and babies die. That's me doing something about it.
I'm not part of the "Occupy Movement", I do think that some things do need to be changed, but not sure if this is the right way. I liked your video :)
Hey dude - thanks for the video response. Sincere question: Is this satire, or is this video serious? Only because I want to use your video as an example for future talks about many of the misconceptions that exist within todays society.
Most forms of governments (capitalists or socialists) have a tendency to forget who they are working for.
"Ask not what your country can do for, ask what you can do for your country" does not mean "ask how you can make your senator a rich man". It means ask how you can contribute to your community, to your neighbor, to your local economy, to others. It has nothing to do with making sure your government is held accountable to it's immoral and reckless behavior.
I am not an American but three months before the occupy movement started in the US, a similar civil movement started here, is Israel where I live. Like the occupy movement, this local movement, calling for civil justice, had no specific demands. The main thing it demanded was for the government to be reminded that IT is working for US and not the other way around.
This is obviously an extreme situation, but I think you are aware of the fact that people sometimes just do things that are hurtful to them and to others.
Just like you are demanding everyone to take a closer look at how they are affecting this planet, it absolutely makes sense to demand the same out of your government.
What you are saying could be compared to me saying- "I'm a moral person- I don't steal from anyone and I don't kill anyone. I think all this money we are spending on local police forces is wasteful. Each and every person should make sure she or he is acting like a moral person, like I am, and we can take all of that wasted money and plant gardens all over town."
This is not meant as an insult, it is just a fact. Just look at voter turnouts- for a change like the one you are describing, one that depends on the individual action of many, voting turnouts should be closer to 100% than they are to 50%.
It is absolutely true that every single person is responsible for their own actions and affects on this planet.
jesus, this goes on for 20 minutes...
thomaskaaz1 4 weeks ago
Yeah FUCK THOSE GUYS! WHEN THE BOAT FUCKING COMES IN!!
sealfet 3 months ago
Okay, I'm watching this again, and I don't understand how anybody could think it was satirical.
80Insomniac80 3 months ago 4
By the way, what you said about Skippy was genius. "That's what the protest is buying to feed itself." It was specific, it proved a point and it sounded pretentiously and amazingly metaphorical.
80Insomniac80 3 months ago
Surprised at the OWS website: "Soldidarity with our Egyptian comrades", "support the Chinese workers' boycott", "a woman pepper-sprayed another shopper to get a better spot in line on Black Friday...this is exactly what the 1% wants." 1stof all, who is this writer wanting to represent 99%? Second of all, what is their aim?? Blind solidarity w/ the "proletariat" against the "evil government"? How generalised. If OWS were a person, s/he'd be a megaphone-wielding romantic in a Che Guevara t-shirt.
80Insomniac80 3 months ago
(Cont.) Also, what makes me angry is when OWS compares itself with the Arab Spring or any other "real movement", as you say, occurring in the world. You get hundreds of videos from countries like Syria, where citizens are systematically beat up by security forces, where children are captured &tortured so as to make parents compliant, where you've got a president who admits he'd rather die than give up power. It's like OWS wants some of the imaginary heroism of the rebels in these countries.
80Insomniac80 3 months ago
(Cont.) Just to get my thoughts out, not that open protest should be discouraged. I don't know whether Americans, or the entire current Western generation is inclined to apathy. If yes, that certainly isn't good. But in the US, where people have the means to educate&inform themselves, &after more than 2 months of Occupation, you'd think the protestors would have more than a caricatured view of reality, in which the corporations are absolutely evil &the 99% are absolutely deprived&underprivileged
80Insomniac80 3 months ago
I like what you say and I've discussed it with friends. Especially two people, one is Indian and the other lives in Vietnam (they know poverty and political corruption), agree when you say that a rational comparison with the global situation and the "true atrocities" reveals the absurdity of the sentiments expressed by the OWS protestors. I think you've debunked most arguments in the comments successfully, & I'm excited to hear what "misconceptions" Myles Dyer says he's discovered in your video.
80Insomniac80 3 months ago
It's ironic your calling everyone a hypocrite who's invloved with the Occupy Movement, when your one to call the kettle black yourself. In this video alone while you rant about corporations and how we should stop supporting them, but you yourself support them buy buying their products (Subway, Mircowave, and YouTube). What you need to do in the future is to rethink and think agin before you speak, because you can reduce your own carbon foot print by not wasting hot gas.
SignalsOverTheAir 3 months ago
@SignalsOverTheAir How is that hypocritical? I never said corporations are evil. I also do not own a microwave. That refrigerator came with the apartment and is never turned on.
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello Ok, I take back the microwave, but you are a hypocrite, your whole video is example of being one. Another thing being a Vegan isn't really helping out the world, it actually cost more to be one, so just eat an egg and some bacon and call it a day.
SignalsOverTheAir 3 months ago
@SignalsOverTheAir Name one example of how I'm being a hypocrite, let alone how my entire video makes me one. And how is the rest of this "argument" relevant to anything?
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello Subway. Their is no argument anymore because I'm not going to keep fuling you so you can waste more gas.
SignalsOverTheAir 3 months ago
@SignalsOverTheAir I have no problem with Subway. Their vegan options are quite tasty, and the more I purchase them, the more I encourage the company to offer more vegetarian options, further reducing suffering and environmental damage. Again, this is not relevant to the argument, and there is no chance for hypocrisy on my part, so you have added nothing to the debate. I used my veganism as an example of how I hold myself accountable for my own purchases. Haters gonna hate.
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello If you actually think Subway's Vegan menu is geuine, then your a dumb fuck.
SignalsOverTheAir 3 months ago
@SignalsOverTheAir *You're. *Genuine. And the menu is.
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello Oh how main stream media has brainwashed you
SignalsOverTheAir 3 months ago
@SignalsOverTheAir How has mainstream media brainwashed me? Trollolololol
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello You're too far gone to try bring back
SignalsOverTheAir 3 months ago
@SignalsOverTheAir potatoes
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello now your you're just trying to just string this out
SignalsOverTheAir 3 months ago
@SignalsOverTheAir i told u bro i told you about the STAIRS
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello Go live you're Fake Vegan life
SignalsOverTheAir 3 months ago
@SignalsOverTheAir Has anyone really been far even as decided to use even go want to do look more like?
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello Someone's having trouble with English, you need those eggs to keep you bright
SignalsOverTheAir 3 months ago
@SignalsOverTheAir the sock ruse was a distaction
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello You have nothing else to say, so stop wasting gas
SignalsOverTheAir 3 months ago
@SignalsOverTheAir cool story bro
JeebJello 3 months ago
Its okay, you can go on with your life and be ignorant about whats going on in the world and continue to just be a slave to society and keep making shitty youtube videos.
While the rest of us will stand up for our rights,(yours too) and fight for what is right, like education for all, healthcare for all, the ability to actually afford things.. America is about people coming together, and that is what we believe in.
squallsmistress 3 months ago
I was pretty excited when the Occupy protests began. I thought "hell yeah! Something's finally getting done to fight this corruption." But then more and more time went by and all I was seeing was a bunch of people sitting around doing nothing. A lot of people that attend the protests, too, just go there because that's the in thing now and don't really know shit about anything (not that everyone there is like that.) So I agree with you. These people need to actually DO something.
1bloody1 3 months ago
I think You TUbe is why im embarrassed to be an American. Everybody can post a video now of how ignorant Americans can be,........Awkward........and.........Ironic and in one video right here.
zephviolent2003 3 months ago
This guy for president! What he said made more sense then those idiots at my local park have been bitching about for the past month.
David4989 3 months ago
so the list of demands as decided by general assembly is non existent? just because you haven't heard of it? did you actively research? there is a committee that is actively pursuing a list of demands. now whether or not anyone is listening to those demands is a different story. if absolutely nothing was being accomplished, and there are no points being made, then why is there an $800,000+ smear campaign in the works?(if it hasn't already been enacted)
VoDKaVicious 3 months ago
Thanks man :) it makes me very happy to hear someone talking sense - making well informed, well argued points... I think I will try and change my life
orangejuice852 3 months ago 2
i ask you this, it must be working if you spent 3 hours of your life making a video about it....
pumpbreaks 3 months ago
@pumpbreaks I think about this kinda shit all the time. I spend this much time on all my videos.
JeebJello 3 months ago
Im not sure where your reply comment went to, or if you just deleted it to save face, but if I really wanted to point by point critique you I would have made a video response (that being said I know someone else, who is doing just that so he can do it on my behalf) I was merely giving a quick capsule review of your video with the short amount of time (and characters) I had. In essence - pure bollocks. But you are of course entitled to your opinion, as am I
aiiiunluckykid 3 months ago
@aiiiunluckykid Still haven't heard anything that proves anything I'm saying wrong. Nothing specific. If you can't provide a "point by point" critique, what good is voicing your opinion? You're just a faceless username that didn't enjoy my video. That's not very productive at all. Your comment was "bollocks" because you think your "quick review" means anything to anyone. I don't know you. You haven't proven yourself to me. This video took me 3 hours to make. You just shrugged it off mindlessly.
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello I dont see why I'm obliged too, of course I can voice an opinion. We could exchange comments back and forth for maybe a week, youll make some good points, ill make some good points, we'll probably still disagree by the end of it all. I personally cant be arsed.
aiiiunluckykid 3 months ago
@aiiiunluckykid So then what's the value of discussing? Sparking debate is all that you OWS supporters seem to want. Now you're saying it's pointless to argue.
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello No I didnt say that - I just said I personally cant be bothered lol.
aiiiunluckykid 3 months ago
The Occupy movement can and will do all the things you suggest. Voting with your buying power. The movement's primary purpose in calling attention to itself in the first months was drawing attention to an other wise napping public to do those exact things that they can to evoke change. Like it or not a lot of people are naive to the corruption in government and the fact that wall street unregulated has been a key factor in the demise of the economy and the suffering of people.
MrCaltec 3 months ago
Occupy Wall street is not about socialism. It's not about universal healthcare or any of those liberal ideas. Occupy Wall street's goal is to get corporation's money out of politics. To get corruption out of government. I don't think you understand that, and so you're not understanding what the movement is FOR. It's not a group of people standing around without a goal. If you had done ANY research on this of your own before spouting off your opinions, you would have realized this.
OHnewfree 3 months ago
That's so vague. What corruption is "in" government? What corporations are you referring to? What research? What do you suggest we do? What plan do you have that's better than what's in place, and how can you assure that it won't fail? How can you apply it to the 300 million people's lives we have in this country? How can it not be about "liberal ideas" if the entire 99% of America is being represented? Please respond.
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello What corruption, what corporations? Many of the Fortune 500 corporations pay no taxes. Why? Laws that have been passed in their favor. How? Lobbyists from these corporations, with this money, pay politicians, OUR government, to pass certain laws. This effects the 99% of America. Politicians in a Democracy are elected to support the people and the people's needs, not corporations'. Why ARE people starving, even in the US? (Cont.)
OHnewfree 3 months ago
@OHnewfree Which lobbyists? Which politicians? Which "certain laws"? It's so easy to say this "corruption" is going on. Show me how, and show me how it couldn't have been avoided if the 99% never financially supported these companies in the first place. All big companies started out as little companies with a dream. Evil corporations didn't precede society. They weren't here when we got here. We made them. Now we want our money back?
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello You want names, laws, fine, I'll see if Youtube will allow me enough characters. Here's a fine example: Last year, Congress (should I list all the members, first, middle and last names, or will "Congress" do?) decided upon Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, prohibiting government from censoring political broadcasts paid for by corporations. This law now allows corporations even greater opportunity to sway political opinion by monetary means. (Cont.)
OHnewfree 3 months ago
(Cont.) As to your second point, of course the 99% supported these companies, and continues to, and will continue to hereafter, but why would that give these corporations the right to run our government? I’m not asking for my money back. I’m asking them to stay out of politics, they do not belong there, and certainly they should not have more political power than you or I.
OHnewfree 3 months ago
@OHnewfree Sure, they should. Money is power. If you don't like it, don't give them your money. We gave them the power they have. We only have ourselves to blame. That doesn't mean you shouldn't protest or voice your opinion. That doesn't mean these faceless corporations (again, you haven't shown me how "corporations" have "swayed political opinion") are not evil. It's the fact that everyone protesting is turning around and buying corporate-made products and perpetuating this vicious cycle.
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello money is power, yes, it gives Beyonce the power to buy $1200 shoes. But government is not supposed to BE about money. Our government is there for US, for the people, with or without money. Therein lies the problem: That our government is run by and for money instead of for the people of America. If we demand that this stops, and it does, then it doesn't matter how rich the corporations get, it doesn't matter whether or not we buy their products. This is not the fault of the people.
OHnewfree 3 months ago
@OHnewfree Even if corporations are "kept out," their detrimental effect on the world is still colossal. 16% of our carbon emissions come from factory farming. I want that to stop. That's real. The only way to stop that is not to buy burgers and eggs and entire turkeys. That's just one issue. And it happens to be the reason we're all obese, too. I'm not going to hold ground in New York and demand things change. All while eating a drumstick. But that's pretty much what the OWS people are doing.
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello Another way to stop or lower such problems is to get corporations out of government. Certainly, I think you will agree, the corporations want laws in place that allow them to do these things. Get them out of our government, and then perhaps our elected officials will do what is best for the people, and the planet. To boycott corporations, that is one way of doing things, and it has been done, but isn't as effective as changing laws. Demands from voters is what politicians listen to.
OHnewfree 3 months ago
@OHnewfree Demands from consumers are what corporations listen to, in the form of financial statistics. Politicians don't "listen" to voters; they have to comply with what we vote for. There's no ballot that says "should corporations be a part of our government?" because that is too vague to become a law. Since corporations and politicians will not be affected by how loud we scream, we have to attack the problem practically by taking away something tangible: our financial support.
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello Voters themselves don't pass laws, Politicians do. We vote for politicians if we believe they will "vote" for us. If word gets out that voters will not vote for politicians that support corporate agendas, any politician that wishes to be elected will, then, not support corporate agendas. Politicians certainly will be affected by this, this is how our government is supposed to work. That our money matters more than our vote perhaps reveals additional problems with the system in place.
OHnewfree 3 months ago
@OHnewfree Yes, this is all correct, but what I'm saying is this is all a case of "your mouth says no, but your body says yes," if you don't mind the analogy. We're supposedly telling these politicians what we want, but our money is speaking much louder and our purchases are contradicting what we're saying. If the issue here is money, that there's too big of a gap between the 99% and the 1%, and that money may be swaying politics, how does it make sense for our words to speak louder than money?
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello Well, the issue here isn't money. That's part of the problem, but not its entirety. If ,say, I purchase something from Wal-mart, that's me supporting Wal-mart with my money. That is not me supporting wal-mart's agenda in our government (for example). We want the ability to purchase gas from Exxon-Mobil (because Volts are freaking expensive), but that doesn't equate to me wanting Exxon-Mobil to run the country. Far from it. It's a business, not a politician, and should act as so.
OHnewfree 3 months ago
@OHnewfree This is exactly the type of logic I'm talking about. Once you give a company your money, it's now theirs to do what they want with it. You can't include a note with your 20-dollar bill that says "don't do what I wouldn't do!"...You can't work backwards and control what happens after you've given up your money. Your purchases need to be better informed, so before you lose any money, you know exactly where it's all going. That's how to be responsible as a consumer and as a citizen.
JeebJello 3 months ago
@JeebJello I am well aware that wal-mart will use my money to do with as they like, that's their right as a business. That's anyone's right. That is not the point, and using my money to build new wal-marts or new factories is not the problem we are discussing. I feel like we are debating in circles at this point. Wealthy corporations are NOT the problem. The problem is that their money is accepted by our government, and it is more important than our wishes as voters and citizens of this country.
OHnewfree 3 months ago
(Cont.) There are greater problems, yes, but this strikes at the core. The government must be for the PEOPLE. What plan is there? There is no specific plan, true. However, this movement has started the discussion. Politicians, in the next election, will not be able to ignore the people any longer. This is a PROTEST, after all. This is Americans demanding change. You cannot knock OWS for that reason.
OHnewfree 3 months ago
If you leave the market to do whatever it wants and rely on the "invisible hand," things will get out of control. There are regulations to keep things from getting out of hand.
Also, you made your point about universal healthcare and education null: "Finland has free education, some of the best education in the world." You GET what you PAY for, obviously. it shouldn't be about who has the most money to afford the best colleges so they can get the best jobs. Equality of opportunity is biased.
avfischer23 3 months ago
I'm sorry dude but this was just an embarrasing mosaic of futile statements and strawman arguments.
aiiiunluckykid 3 months ago
I came here thinking that this video was just going to be some capitalist ranting about crap... now, I feel inclined to agree with you.
I don't buy nestlé products because they promote baby formula in third world countries and because they think its right, they buy it and make it with dirty water and babies die. That's me doing something about it.
I'm not part of the "Occupy Movement", I do think that some things do need to be changed, but not sure if this is the right way. I liked your video :)
MacaroniPixxi 3 months ago 9
i like cheesecake.
cammyBH 3 months ago
Hey dude - thanks for the video response. Sincere question: Is this satire, or is this video serious? Only because I want to use your video as an example for future talks about many of the misconceptions that exist within todays society.
Blade376 3 months ago 23
@Blade376 I was wondering the same thing... It seems like he's joking
TheClasswarfare 3 months ago
Most forms of governments (capitalists or socialists) have a tendency to forget who they are working for.
"Ask not what your country can do for, ask what you can do for your country" does not mean "ask how you can make your senator a rich man". It means ask how you can contribute to your community, to your neighbor, to your local economy, to others. It has nothing to do with making sure your government is held accountable to it's immoral and reckless behavior.
danielleheller 3 months ago
I am not an American but three months before the occupy movement started in the US, a similar civil movement started here, is Israel where I live. Like the occupy movement, this local movement, calling for civil justice, had no specific demands. The main thing it demanded was for the government to be reminded that IT is working for US and not the other way around.
danielleheller 3 months ago
This is obviously an extreme situation, but I think you are aware of the fact that people sometimes just do things that are hurtful to them and to others.
Just like you are demanding everyone to take a closer look at how they are affecting this planet, it absolutely makes sense to demand the same out of your government.
danielleheller 3 months ago
But think of this-
What you are saying could be compared to me saying- "I'm a moral person- I don't steal from anyone and I don't kill anyone. I think all this money we are spending on local police forces is wasteful. Each and every person should make sure she or he is acting like a moral person, like I am, and we can take all of that wasted money and plant gardens all over town."
danielleheller 3 months ago
This is not meant as an insult, it is just a fact. Just look at voter turnouts- for a change like the one you are describing, one that depends on the individual action of many, voting turnouts should be closer to 100% than they are to 50%.
It is absolutely true that every single person is responsible for their own actions and affects on this planet.
danielleheller 3 months ago 2
The whole point of fighting for these issues to be discussed in mainstream media, is to invoke people in to being interested in their own lives.
It's quit naive to think that such a fundamental change could happen without a public movement.
Lets face it, most people don't like to think for themselves.
danielleheller 3 months ago