(ed. note: That was a really stupid title and I 've yet to come up with a new one. Sorry.)
The Republicans are convulsing over the "mobs" in the streets while comparing it to the mobs that co-opted them a few years back Now the Democrats have finally shown their strategy for usurping the momentum of OWS. Rachel Maddow had Barney Frank on the other night, a man that I admire but can't stand to listen to, and what he said was quite telling. While agreeing in general with the idea of the protests, he pointed out that demonstrating by itself did not create change. The only way to do that is to vote.
He made that point several times, and the next guest was an economist/paid talking head for MSNBC, and he supported Congressman's Frank assertion. The only way to fix the problems is to work within the system. And, co-incidentally, we happen to be the party most aligned with what you are demonstrating for, so you should probably vote for Democrats. Subtle and nuanced. Like a brick bat in the hands of Rush Limbaugh.
The problem for both sides is that, to this point at least, OWS is fronting the idea that the system is broken, and that those who are a part of that system are the problem. They are not, therefore, the solution. Yes, at some point the movement will have to become more politically active. The unfortunate truth here is that Mr. Frank is correct. Demonstrating is just that, and the only change it truly affects is the conversation we are having.
We all know that the system cannot/will not be fixed by those who currently run it. They lack incentive to make those changes, while desperately trying to hang on to the status quo. And they will spend whatever it takes to win it, then take it back from us as soon as they do. We will foot the bill for their political maneuvering. We always foot the bill.
I've asked this question here before: When you have it all, then what? The 400 richest used to be the 500, and before that the 1000 and before that the 10,000. The bottom hundred of the 400 are next, and they don't even realize it. And it won't be the people that take it away from them, it'll be the 300 above them. Then the 200. Hyperbolic? I don't know.
Like the health insurance industry before them, the corporate class cannot see that it is poisoning the apple that it's about to eat. I'm not an economist, but even I see that they are working on an unsustainable business model. Lay off workers here and hire them overseas for lower wages and costs to increase your bottom line. Fewer of your customers now have money to spend on the product that you're making cheaper, causing you to sell fewer. In essence, you've only broken even.
As corporations continue to hoard profits and as the banks continue to stash their cash and the Fed keeps handing them money, more and more have less and less and there is no way to sustain that model. When we can't buy anything, then what? What are you going to do with all that money? It' s become worthless. It's what I've been calling "Vampire Economics" because when you've taken the last drop of blood, that's pretty much it.
There is only one cure for the economy, and by extension the global problem as well. Jobs. Investment in jobs by both the public and private sectors. The bottom line is really this: We do not have to be in this mess. It's completely unnecessary and foolish. There's a simple truth here that needs to be said;
When the majority of the people have enough, they tend to keep to themselves. The majority of this country is content with enough. We don't really mind if some have a lot more money than us. We're okay with enough. Enough to pay for our housing, our food, our clothes, and sending the kids to college. And maybe an occasional night out. We really don't ask for much, just enough.
This works to the favor of the corporations and the politicians. See, we like to spend the money you give us. So much so that we'll spend our paychecks buying the stuff we sell for you. Or make for you. It's a pretty clean system of money laundering. You pay us to work for you, and we buy your stuff. And when the electorate is satisfied, it stops paying attention to politics and you guys can go back to normal and do nothing.
What we all, the majority with barely enough to not enough to nothing at all, know is that you cannot fix what's wrong. You are too entrenched in your greed and power to make the easy choices. It really is easy, too. Just decide that it's more important to save this country, and the rest of the world at the same time, than it is to hang on to your precious possessions and fake crowns.
I would also like an apology and an admission of guilt to the whole world. After all, it was our Wall Street and banks, with a complicit government, that crashed the world economy. It was them selling bogus securities to other governments with the promise that they were good. They weren't, and now every major economy in the world is in crisis. Good job, fellas. I will not be here holding my breath, though.
Austerity does not work. It never has. The only solution is investment because deficits don't really matter. They really don't. Besides, the only way to get rid of them is to have a robust economy. And the only way to do that is to have a consumer-friendly economy. Give us some of the money back and we'll give it right back to you. Geez, if I know this, why don't you? They sure know it in Vegas.
Because the system is broken and because those who broke it are disinterested in fixing it, the OWS movement will have to become political. However, in tomorrow night's post I will put forth an old idea that I think is rightly timed and plausible. I think it's time we shook up the status quo just a little bit more.
Keep the wheel greased, Hamsters, and good night.
Hamster Prez
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