Why I support Occupy Wall Street

I don't generally like to talk about politics on this blog - it's a photo/music/life blog.  But things have gotten so crazy - - I just feel compelled to take a stand.  I'm yet another reasonable, responsible person who supports Occupy Wall Street.  I've been protesting and putting in time along with friends and my husband.  For the record, we have all always worked hard to make a living....I'm an artist who works to survive while doing art.  I've always paid taxes and been a "contributing member of society".  There's some crazy stuff out there depicting this movement as being full of slackers or irresponsible types, rest assured....that is total nonsense.

For me and the people in my circle who are involved, the Occupy Wall Street movement isn’t about government handouts for slackers, as a matter of fact, it’s quite the opposite.  It's about people across the political spectrum (like you, like me) who work their butts off and want to restore balance to our democracy.  Corporations and lobbyists have taken over our political system with deregulation and handouts.  THEY are actually the slackers who are currently getting handouts which are a detriment to our country!

Remember....for the people?  Whatever happened to that?  We are the people who have worked and paid taxes all of our lives. We're not just out of college, we've been working awhile and have various careers.  Some of us have grown up in privilege, some middle-class, some with very little money. We come from very different backgrounds and most of us are not especially politically active - but now we have ONE BIG THING IN COMMON: we object to a government that is owned by lobbyists and corporate interests and we are incredibly angry and upset about the state of affairs in Washington.  We have no choice but to be behind this movement - - Washington is not listening.  We may not have previously considered ourselves politically inclined but we know enough to see that our taxes weren't meant to bailout banks and provide corporations with a safety net so they could engage in irresponsible risky behavior to the detriment of the rest of the country. We can see that banks being allowed to wreak havoc on the financial system (worldwide btw) because of deregulation is a mistake that should be corrected.  And, on top of this - we are appalled that these antics are being conducted with FEDERALLY INSURED FUNDS - i.e. ultimately with our taxpayer money.  These entities are essentially gambling in Vegas with our money.  If they win, they keep the proceeds.  If they lose, we cover their loss!!!!  In what world is that acceptable?  Are we dealing with the mob or a bank? What business owner do you know that gets to operate like that? And then also gets to continue with the same insane behavior after a financial meltdown?  We have a word for that in America that we like to toss around - - IT'S CALLED FREAKIN ENABLING!!  This should be immediately corrected - with some G*dd*mn toughlove....it's time to reinstate some of the past banking regulations but that isn't happening.  Why?  Because corporations and lobbyists have taken over Washington and our lawmakers.   These banks must be marveling at how stupid the American public is - they must laugh behind closed doors about what they gotten away with and continue to get away with.  It's mind boggling.

If anyone is guilty of handouts and sucking off the system, IT'S THE CORPORATIONS WHOSE BUSINESS PRACTICES HAVE BEEN SO INSANE AND SHORTSIGHTED THEY BROUGHT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY TO THE BRINK OF DISASTER AND THEN HAD TO BE BAILED OUT!  DO YOU GET THAT?  WE RESCUED THEM WITH OUR HARD EARNED MONEY BECAUSE THEY BEHAVED LIKE LOSERS.  These are people in the financial sector who should know better.  And now, they wouldn't dream of sharing their insane profits for the sake of the country or the entire struggling middle class which is for 1) in a major jobs crisis and 2) in a housing crisis. 

So now, when Americans of all shapes, sizes, colors and incomes are in trouble (hence the - We are the 99% phrase)....these very corporations who profited from the insane system that Washington allowed....they're not too interested in the rest of us.  They're not too interested in helping you stay in your home.  They're not too interested in returning your phone call about a loan modification....nope, they're not too interested in anything but their profit margins.  They don't care about the good of the country, they are shortsighted and cannot be trusted because they are blinded by their own foolishness and greed.  We have allowed them to corrupt our political system by not speaking up sooner and staying informed when certain deregulations were taking place. Our bad....

Whatever happened to one for all - all for one?  Oh I see, it only works when the corporations need help.

The middle class is out here dying but nobody in Washington is too worried about taking action. They're "gridlocked".  And why are they so gridlocked - because Washington now answers mainly to corporations and lobbyists....they aren't working for us....the voters, the taxpayers, the regular Joes.  They want our money for their salaries and fancy health care packages but all the love goes to the corporate interests that enslave them.  When those interests are involved - they can get things done.  I, for one, am sick of it and that's why I have joined the efforts of the Occupy movement.

Whatever your political persuasion, it doesn't matter to me.  Republican, Democrat.....there is only one thing we all have in common: THE VOTING PUBLIC MUST TAKE BACK THEIR POWER..... THAT IS WHAT OCCUPY WALL STREET IS ABOUT FOR ME.  We must take action and do things like reinstate  Glass-Steagall (bank regulations) - we must move our money to credit unions to remind banks that in fact, they do work for us....and need our capital.  All of this is just a starting point and of course, campaign finance reform should also be on the immediate agenda as well.

America - I love you but we can't go on like this....we're in a dysfunctional relationship and someone's gonna have to get tough....I thank these Occupy Wall Street people for doing it in their own peaceful way.  GOD LOVE EM!

PLEASE - UNITE BEHIND THIS MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO SLEEP IN TENTS IN OUR PARKS AND GET ARRESTED WHILE BEING A VOICE FOR THE REST OF US.  WE HAVE LET OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM GET OUT OF BALANCE AND THIS IS A GREAT CHANCE TO REVERSE THE TREND OF TOO MUCH CORPORATE INFLUENCE IN WASHINGTON! 

WE MUST HAVE AT LEAST AS MUCH INFLUENCE AS CORPORATIONS DO.  AGAIN, THERE IS NOTHING RADICAL ABOUT THAT NOTION.

Thanks for reading.....peace.

P.S.  If nothing else....TRY to move your money to a credit union or smaller local bank.  If enough people do it - it will matter.  Have you heard what happened to Netflix shares when they recently lost 800,000 subscribers....share values dropped 35% (somewhere around there) - - this DID get everyone's attention!!!  Go where you are treated decently - - that ain't at any of the major banks. They treat us all like sh*t....they can't even be bothered to have a live person talk to you at your own branch - it is awful.  Remember that when you are giving them your paycheck....