Kimberly Wilder writes: I am following the Occupy Wall Street protests closely at my other blog, onthewilderside.com, where it is more on topic. Though, of course, when there is a big demonstration, political issues arise. So, wanted to share some third party allusions which have been made.
The group that started the demonstration is Adbusters: here.
There is a Live Stream of the Occupy Wall Street protest happening at Liberty Square (Zucotti Park) and the streets around Wall Street: here. At times during the Live Feed, there have been blasts of messages about Ron Paul. The moderators have requested not to promote candidates in the chatroom.
As mentioned here at IPR, and also at Green Party Watch, former Green Party NYC Mayor candidate Reverend Billy spoke at the protest on September 17th.
This morning, author Chris Hedges was interviewed from Liberty Square. A quick transcription of the bulk of the discussion can be found at onthewilderside: here.
Below are some excerpts of Chris Hedges’ comments, where he mentions third party candidates and movements:
The Democratic Party will use the rhetoric, but then again serves the interest of the corporate state. The Liberal Class and Clinton did it through NAFTA, thrust a knife within the American Working Class. Michelle Bachman, Republicans, etc. are right in some way about the hypocrisy of the Liberal Class, and because they can see that hypocrisy, they can use it…
Advice: Speak in a language of justice and truth, which I think cuts across ideological lines. It is not surprising that Ron Paul came in second. Even with Libertarians there is an anger at corporatism that comes across. Theft, greed, corruption and fraud that affects the American people…
The Tea Party is not the problem. It has been used by Koch brothers. The problem is corporations and unregulated capitalism. If we don’t destroy the corporate structure, then we are finished. And, that is where we should put our focus.
“Because we’re locked out of the corporate media, we have to play around the edges, because we don’t have the numbers” it takes a lot more time and work. But that is how it has always been with these kinds of movements. “If we keep at it, if we keep sort of slogging forward, we will be able to get messages out that the corporate mainstream wants to silence” Example – Kucinich and the debate in Iowa, the insurance and pharmacuetical industry sponsored it. They did not want Kucinich there. They shut Nader out. They didn’t want people to hear that message…
Final comments:
“Well, 70% of the US economy is driven by consumption, so we actually have a fair bit of power, if we can break that cycle of consumption, we can begin to hurt” that corporate structure…
We can change if, “we act in ways that defy the definition of a good life that is handed to us by a consumer society.” – Chris Hedges
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Related: Reverend Billy at Occupy Wall Street video:
27 responses so far ↓
1 Kimberly Wilder // Sep 25, 2011 at 11:58 am
PS – I do not think that the moderators at the Occupy Wall Street Live Stream chatroom should stifle any discussion about politics or candidates. Though, if someone wants to dive in, they should do it gracefully, and follow guidelines. I think some people were getting too adamant, and writing campaign slogans over and over again.
2 Kimberly Wilder // Sep 25, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Clip from the chat room connected to the Live Stream:
CrazyBirds: no Religion OR Political party debates in here
CrazyBirds: were here to support
CrazyBirds: and offer Ideas
3 Third Party talk at Occupy Wall Street protest // Sep 25, 2011 at 7:23 pm
[...] September 25th, 2011 · 2 Comments [...]
4 AncientAryan Astronaut // Sep 25, 2011 at 7:37 pm
They can do nothing about the real wall street problem until their realize that at it’s heart its the jewish problem.
Their socialism means nothing without nationalism.
5 Michael Cavlan RN // Sep 25, 2011 at 8:29 pm
Well cloud cookoo astronauts aside.
Kim, I have followed this from the very start. I even know some of the mods. They are committed to keeping the chat on the Wall Street protests only. Even discussion on the Troy Davis state murder is not allowed. Inn deepest irony, I agree with them and I am a candidate.
I am really excited about what this can become. I am gearing up to go to DC October 5th-6th-7th……..
It is starting folks. Here we go.
6 Kimberly Wilder // Sep 25, 2011 at 10:04 pm
Well, when you have 5,000 people in a chat room, you are not truly going to accomplish one thread, anyway.
I think they should give up, and let people chat with free speech on that chat. Then, have a message board, or organized place for other discussion.
That is kind of happening, anyway. Because, their are websites and FaceBook groups for voting on the “demands” proposals.
7 Kimberly Wilder // Sep 25, 2011 at 10:05 pm
PS To folks at IPR -
I think some people would be interested to know that there are “End the Fed” signs showing up in the protest photos/videos.
Ending the Fed (or forcing Congress to buy it, or something) is one of the 20, possible demands, to be voted on and prioritized.
8 Darryl W. Perry // Sep 25, 2011 at 10:26 pm
When, where & how will these demands be voted on?
9 Michael H. Wilson // Sep 25, 2011 at 11:34 pm
I have a problem with all this End the Fed talk. What do people expect will replace it?
In the 1800s when we had a gold backed currency, and we had variation on that theme, we had plenty of game playing by congress and in those days most congressmen knew something about monetary policy. Today with the dunderheads now in office I think we would be in a mess.
Drill Baby Drill! will become Print Baby Print!
10 AroundtheblockAFT // Sep 26, 2011 at 8:31 am
This is rich! Look how effective the boycott against Whole Foods was. Can you imagine the
unemployment level if these folks convinced Americans to start consuming, say, just 25% less? One wonders at how much they put into the corporate coffers by traveling to Wall Street from wherever they came from!
11 Kimberly Wilder // Sep 26, 2011 at 9:15 am
To AroundtheblockAFT and all:
I am a teacher. Teachers often face the dilemma of how much resources to spend vs. the educational impact.
Is it wrong to have a class of 6-year-olds make trees out of brown and green construction paper, and write poems about saving the world on them? Or, better not to waste the paper? Overall, is the educational impact worth it?
The Wall Street protesters are trying to send a message. They are a few hundred souls changing their usual consumption patterns/travel plans, who are trying to build a model of something new, and to wave a big banner of ideas and creativity to the world.
Is it worth it? I think so.
The Wall Street demonstrators also get extra points on the side of positive, educational impact for their ideals, since they did a great interview with Chris Hedges, which will be seen by thousands of people. In the interview, Chris Hedges explains the strategies you listed about less consumption.
Peace,
Kimberly
12 AroundtheblockAFT // Sep 26, 2011 at 10:10 am
I understand your point #11. Just so they practice it when they aren’t engaged in a protest, or propagandizing six year olds.
13 paulie // Sep 26, 2011 at 11:15 am
http://politeaparty.blogspot.com/2011/09/occupy-wall-street-protest-enters.html
“….They are a politically diverse group as well. There are disillusioned Democrats, Ron Paul Republicans, Independents, Socialists, Libertarians, and anarchists, among others. If there is one thing they all appear to agree upon, however, it is the sense that the Democratic and Republican parties no longer represent the interests of the people of the United States. …”
14 paulie // Sep 26, 2011 at 11:46 am
From Jim Cook at Irregular Times:
Watch this video, in which demonstrators on the sidewalk (not the street) are first penned in and then maced by cops. I defy you to show any instance of provocation by the demonstrators. I encourage you to watch it a few times and notice the white-shirted officers hot-footing it away from the scene as soon as the macing is done.
15 paulie // Sep 26, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Voting is so bourgeois
16 paulie // Sep 26, 2011 at 1:08 pm
Free market in money and banking would be good.
17 paulie // Sep 26, 2011 at 1:20 pm
I don’t think that necessarily follows, although it certainly could.
18 paulie // Sep 26, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Via http://punkpatriot.blogspot.com/
19 AroundtheblockAFT // Sep 26, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Paulie #17: GDP fell 29% from 1929 to 1933.
You know what happened to employment.
20 Ross // Sep 26, 2011 at 4:49 pm
I was there wearing a Green Party shirt, as well! You can see some photos of me online if you look around…
21 paulie // Sep 26, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Paulie #17: GDP fell 29% from 1929 to 1933.
You know what happened to employment.
It’s possible to have an economy with lower consumption, yet higher employment.
That might entail more people working in service industries, or less use of work-saving machinery, or more people employed as artists…there are a number of possibilities.
As I said, “I don’t think that necessarily follows, although it certainly could.
22 paulie // Sep 26, 2011 at 5:09 pm
I was there wearing a Green Party shirt, as well! You can see some photos of me online if you look around…
I don’t know what you look like. Which one is you?
23 paulie // Sep 26, 2011 at 5:10 pm
BTW, I don’t recall reducing consumption being one of the central points.
24 Ross // Sep 26, 2011 at 10:28 pm
I’ve got some nice big brown curly hair. It’s a Green Party of Philadelphia shirt. I got arrested Saturday, so you might see some photos of that. It’s the only green shirt that says “Green” in the Green Party font that I saw.
25 IPR’s Ross Levin arrested at Occupy Wall Street protest | Independent Political Report // Sep 26, 2011 at 10:53 pm
[...] Comments George Phillies on LNCC: We Want YOU to Volunteer to Help Libertarian CandidatesRoss on Third Party talk at Occupy Wall Street protestTrent Hill on PSL: Islamophobia is a form of racismGeorge Phillies on Open Thread for September [...]
26 history ----- on the current system .... Lake // Oct 14, 2011 at 8:55 pm
America is “in a declining mode,” Friedman says, which is why we’re falling behind emerging nations not just on a relative basis, which was inevitable given how far ahead we were after WW2, but on an absolute basis. “China’s not only rising but we’re actually falling,” he says.
The really frustrating thing is Friedman believes the solutions to these problems are “pretty obvious but our politics is so paralyzed we can only produce suboptimal solutions.”
In an effort to end on a (somewhat) optimistic note, Friedman recommends parents encourage their kids to “think like an immigrant” — who know expect nothing will be given to them — and “act like an artisan,” meaning take tremendous pride in everything you do.
“Average is over,” he says. “An average performance is not going to return average wages.”
Aaron Task is the host of The Daily Ticker. You can follow him on Twitter at @atask or email him at altask@yahoo.com
27 Alaska Constitution Party // Oct 14, 2011 at 10:45 pm
Corporate Fascism must end. We must all work together to break through the false dichotomy of left/right-democrat/republican-conservative/liberal. It’s about human worth and dignity versus centralized corp-gov power. Freedom versus Tyranny. The Tea Party and Occupy movements are not enemies or even at odds. Remember we have been divided and conquered far too long. Let’s join together in peaceful opposition to the enemy which seeks to consume us ALL! United We The People Stand, Divided We Fall…
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