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No one's happier to see the Occupy Wall Street movement than me. I've been predicting this and wanting this for so long. I think Wall Street is inflated b#llsh*t that sucks money out of the United States. Then other cities got involved. Finally, the majority is showing that it's fed up with the distribution of wealth in this country. We blame the rich, mainly because its a recession and they have money and we don't. Which flat out sucks.
My only worry with the Occupy movement is that its not enough. Protesting sends a message but the 1% probably really doesn't mind it too much. I think maybe if certain people got labeled as 1% it would start bothering them. Say like Oprah or Jennifer Aniston or Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg. Soon there maybe a slang word for them. Onef%cks sounds good. However, that's a little mean and petty – though that doesn't stop it from being how its going to go down.
The point of this article though is to wonder. Should we start boycotting the 1%? You see, the 1% only has power because we give them power and their power is tenuous at that. A lot of 1%er's or Onef%cks spend their money really poorly. When the NBA had its last labor strike, so many of the players were living paycheck to paycheck that they easily folded once things lasted so long (a practice Stern seems intent on using again). We've all heard about their lavish lifestyles. Start boycotting them and those lifestyles go away, and fast, since a lot of them are extended on credit and don't retain resale value. Boycotting the 1% would be tough though. It'd mean no more watching network television (some cable would be OK – maybe, maybe not), no more going to the movies to watch big blockbusters (little Indies are fine, they're not made by the 1%), no huge music stars (again, only indies), no more professional sports (minor leagues are OK), no shopping at Wallmart, no buying Macs, don't buy a new car, buy a used one, conserve gasoline, don't eat name brand food, don't shop at amazon.com (buy it from a local independent dealer), bank at a credit union, drop out of really expensive college to go to a jc or state school......the list goes on and on, and somethings are in a grey zone. Difficult I know, and I don't really see this happening massively all across the US. But it is a for sure way to get the 1%'s attention. Protesting looks cool – but money is something they really care about. As long as they're able to control our spending, they control us.
I know that some people work for 1% companies and individuals and by not spending on those products or services those companies would be put in danger and they would in turn lose their jobs. However, the money doesn't just get burned. By spending elsewhere, you'd create jobs elsewhere and since so much of the money wasn't going in 1 man or woman's pocket, there would be more jobs in general. By supporting independent and small businesses we would take away a huge amount of power from the 1%. Change would happen hard and fast.

Yes! I totally agree. The 1%
Submitted by alrightypewriter on
Yes! I totally agree. The 1% don't speak any language we can scream loud enough except for the monetary one.
How is this movement really going to affect them to institute change? They can see our protests and see our signs but I imagine they just laugh because they know no harm will come to their business. No corporation does anything out of the goodness of their heart. They see a market and they exploit it. You think Nissan put out an electric car because they care about the environment? Of course not. They see the eco consumer trend and try to figure out a way to get those dollars.
So how is this movement really going to put pressure on the bankers, the CEOs, the corporations, the politicians, the governmental policies? Being out there, in my opinion, is not enough. They have the means to wait it out. What they can't cope with is fiscal losses.
Yes, it may be inconvenient but it's the conveniences that corporations have provided us that have made us complacent to just accept their greed and take it. No, it's not going to be convenient to pay for US manufactured goods and for food not grown in a 3rd world country but we are the ones who allowed that to happen because we voted with our money for it. So how can we use our monetary vote against them? I think we need some kind of boycott list if only to show their bottom line what angry means.
boycott?
Submitted by Supersean on
C'mon man, can we leave the NBA out of it? I love basketball!
seriously though, it sounds like what you're advocating is frugality, something we need in spades! btw, what percentage of your spending is really controlled? last I checked you can choose to buy most things or not.
Ride a bike, walk, take
Submitted by alrightypewriter on
Ride a bike, walk, take public transit? Not always ideal, I know. But at the very least, none of us should be going to Arco.
I don't think you have to be
Submitted by alrightypewriter on
I don't think you have to be frugal. Surely there are a few key corporations that really shouldn't be getting our money and I think it's important that we identify them and put some pressure on them by means of a boycott. By not supporting one company, you can still put your money out into the economy by choosing a different company.
This is where I think this movement is not going to be taken seriously by those on Wall Street. How much of an effect can we really have on Wall Street if the traders are doing business as usual because everyone is supporting the very corporations we got screwed over by?
Maybe the problem is that there is a lack of options out there?
Boycott takes discipline and personal sacrifice
Submitted by Felix the Cat on
As much as a lot of us like new electronic gadgets, especially Apple stuff – look how many good jobs left for China to produce it. Apple would still make profit producing in the US, just less – this is GREED. A million consumers have already preordered the new I-Phone – do they really need it that bad, more than a decent job? You’re really need water, food and shelter - that about it. If the majority of us won’t be ready to sacrifice some of our personal conveniences, we’ll be taking for fools and treated accordingly. You can communicate on the MS laptop for now; deal with Apple first and then move to others. One target at a time.
Felix the Cat
which corporations?
Submitted by Supersean on
which corporations are we talking about? The TBTF banks?
Which corporations?
Submitted by David Lowe on
Exxon Mobil, GE, BofA,Chevron,Boeing,Halaberton,Valero Energy,Goldmen Sachs,City Group,ConocoPhillips, I think thats a good start.
I posted a link to an artical that explains who is the 1%
Submitted by David Lowe on
http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html
boycott boycott boycott
Submitted by MeliJune on
I think boycotting is a great way to go; afterall this is a movement against corporations and where best to hit them where it hurts. as consumers we have significant power, and i feel part of this movement is to educate the public of criminal activity of these corporations, specifically the fast food industry and meat packing, which are additionally strong financial supporters of the legislative. create the list and distribute to all!
boycott boycott boycott agree
Submitted by alhs06 on
A boycott is our only means of action against the greedy 1% corporation's & financial institutes, without having to go through our corrupt politician's. But it could be a risk if not successful, we saw that with Black Monday five years ago regarding Immigration Rights.
It is the Ultimate pressure we as The 99% could apply, but it's the most difficult & damaging if we were to fail. Boycotting takes discipline with large scale management & coordination, as well as weathering the threats of lay offs, higher prices or rates and whatever else the corrupt who run whatever would-be targets could come up with. We could do it but we would need to be strong & committed. I personally love the idea, trying to rely on our corrupt elected officials to correct legislature in our behalf, without a show of force such as this, could prove to be very difficult, but still not impossible.
"Long Live Occupy, Long Live The 99%"
Banks you can trust?
Submitted by alrightypewriter on
I'm just curious if there are any banks that we can trust and we can put our money into? Cos right now I feel like the only way I can avoid the corrupt ones is to put my money under my mattress but that doesn't seem secure at all.
I'd be curious to see what would happen if everyone took their money out of B of A, for example, on the same day just to make a point. Would that put any pressure on the banks or would that just call for another bailout?
I don't really know what to do anymore since corporate ties go deep and they all seem to have hundreds of brands under a parent company to fool you. I just feel like I have to do something but I'm not sure what.
i think thats an awesome idea
Submitted by MeliJune on
i think thats an awesome idea! i bank with chase, but i am in. we just need some organization and more willing participants...
Move Your Money Day
Submitted by alrightypewriter on
MeliJune, I bank with Chase too. I looked around online and saw that the Occupy Wall Street people are having a Move Your Money Day. Some Chase customers will close their accounts on Saturday. I plan to do the same. I've already looked around for a local credit union so I submitted an application. I'll just have to hang onto my cash until my new account opens. But the longer I keep my cash with Chase, the longer they can do god knows what with it.
I think it's a good idea that others move their money if they can since these companies only look at the bottom line.
Saw the story here: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/10/occupy_wall_street_mo...
Right on the mark. Your money
Submitted by eric1 on
Right on the mark. Your money talks. And when you boycott the Big Banks they will hear it loud and clear. Also give thought to supporting public banks. http://www.publicbankinginstitute.org
Those with the best information are most likely to succeed.
Evil people rule when good people do nothing.
thanks for link, informative!
Submitted by MeliJune on
thanks for link, informative! especially link to "know your legislators" as we will be writting letters
Collapse bank of america
Submitted by cbkn76 on
Everyone cancel bofa accounts on the same day, it will collapse the system
New social site for the movement, just trying to do my part http://www.ioccupy.org
FYI: Brookfield Office Properties in L.A.
Submitted by Corporal Thing A. on
Brookfield Office Properties are the "owners" of Zuccotti Park / Liberty Square in NYC.
Here are some of their 'properties' in L.A. : Ernst & Young Plaza, Landmark Square, Marina Towers ( North and South ), and ( drumroll, please ) BANK of AMERICA PLAZA, Spring St. near Coyote Diagonal.
I am sure that the executives thought the OCCUPATION would be small and fringe, short lived, and embarrassing to the occupiers. Didn't turn out that way. Now, they are acting scared.
So telling are the words of Gandhi: "First, they ignore you ...Then, they ridicule you ...Then, they fight you. Then, you win " . This movement is now in Stage Three in NY , Denver, Boston, and a lesser extent in Seattle. We're way past Stage One everywhere. Many communities, large and small, are a blend.
When we, the 99%, MOVE our money, our business, and ourselves; it would be better done EN MASSE, and with visibilty.
Keep being smart people ...be resolved, and be prepared.
Corporal Thing A. 'Civilizationalist'
Global Day of not shopping or working
Submitted by PMbeers on
I would like to see a global day of not shopping, buying or working. I think this would be an effective way of showing the power of the people. This made a huge impact when people supporting immigrants rights did this for May 1.
Patti
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