Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by gaabi on November 18, 2011 at 12:36pm

There's a new book out by a reporter on "vulture" firms and swindling and corporate bad acts that I want to get,  I mentioned it in the book forums yesterday, "Vultures' Picnic" by Greg Palast  http://www.gregpalast.com/vulturespicnic/

 

He gives the example of Zambia, which owed Romania (or Bulgaria, can't remember which!) $4million and a vulture firm bought that debt and then told Zambia they had to paid $40million! The company tried to bribe the president of Zambia with a shopping spree at an exclusive store in Switzerland to get him to acknowledge and accept the debt on behalf of the country so this company could get money that would have been better spent saving babies from dying of cholera.  The sued Zambia in the WTO and got a judgment saying that Zambia owed them $40million.  How does that happen?!  Imagine taking out a loan for $4000 from your bank, your bank sells the debt to another company that then tells you you owe $40,000 and they're suing to take your house - and things like that have happened.  

 

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Permalink Reply by Swansea Jack on November 18, 2011 at 1:24pm

You KNEW it would be a best fit here, in PFFZ.

 

As I indicated to Paul, there WILL be topics that can fit either side of the page divide - MAIN versus FORUM.  It is only after the 2nd or 3rd response that it become clearer where it 'best fits'. 

 

Do you have the ability to extract all the posts from Paul's initial blog and move them here, to Forum's PFFZ ?  I think that would be useful - so 'newbies' to the fray can see ALL previous rantings, mine and those of others!

 

I support and give my blessings to any 'relocation' that you as Admin-in-Chief' deem appropriate.

 

Bring it on - er, I mean bring it over! 

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Permalink Reply by Ceri Shaw on November 18, 2011 at 1:29pm

Well....I suppose I can transfer the various rants in digest form. A kind of "Previously on Occupy this Form". What do you reckon. I'll probably leave out my posts from last night

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Permalink Reply by Ceri Shaw on November 18, 2011 at 2:25pm

k....attachment added

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Permalink Reply by Swansea Jack on November 18, 2011 at 3:52pm

 

Crap!  It didn't post everything I typed - now I forgot what I had in there.

 

I think I was saying, in a more concise way, was that the media tend to focus on what sells - whatever they deem to be the best 'ratings-getter' angle of a story.

 

They all (name you favorite cable channel) would do us a favor by giving more coverage to worth-while' news - and keeping all that Linsay Lohan, Justin Beiber crap off the air. Who, that has a real life and an IQ above 60, gives a flying Friar Tuck about those 'celebs'?

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Permalink Reply by Swansea Jack on November 18, 2011 at 4:15pm

Oh yes - now I partially remember:

 

'Something is happening here and we dont know what it is....yet.' - Sure, after 2 months or so, we (including many of the 'occupiers') STILL don't know exactly what it is they (collectively) want - much less them having formulated a REAL plan to rectify the problems they complain of. 

 

' btw Are these guys in St Louis anarchists or advocates of further welfare state provision? It seems to me that they'd have to be one or the other' - I believe they are very similar to those in Portland, NY, Cardiff, etc. - except there were far more arrested in Portland. Did I already post the clip from the Oregonian? I think it said 48 arrested. An Anarchist is opposed to government (or any) authority; many of the 'occupiers' espouse that sentiment but also embrace the government programs that exercise its authority to give away one man's (the 53%) earned riches to another. So, yes, they do advocate 'nanny-state' provisions. If you believe they have to be one or the other, you'll see they do play both sides of the fiddle.

 

Glad to help boost the 'stats' - you know where to send the check!        lol

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Permalink Reply by Swansea Jack on November 18, 2011 at 4:21pm

Apparently, comments posted here STILL appear in the Feed (on Home page).

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Permalink Reply by Ceri Shaw on November 18, 2011 at 5:19pm

They will until I click them off...cant automate that I'm afraid

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Permalink Reply by Swansea Jack on November 18, 2011 at 9:58pm

Found on CNN.com - regarding Occupy Portland:

 

 

To which one commenter (whimsically, not seriously, I hope) said: 'If the 99 cent'ers weren't so poor they could buy nice equipment like the police have. Perhaps that's what the protest are about?'

 

CNN PRODUCER NOTE     ‘I feel as if the (protests) prior were more peaceful,’ MPGPDX said. ‘I found myself unnerved and at times scared during this protest. Something in the air; everyone was yelling "Nazi's" and quoting from past wars, yelling hard enough to make their veins visible upon their necks. Many protestors started making attacks more towards the police themselves, causing a personal defense as well as for the city. You could see fear and uncertainty in the policemen’s eyes, when before they were relaxed and talking, even laughing with protestors.’
- ccostello3, CNN iReport producer

 

This commenter revealed this inciteful truth: 

 

Somehow we have recently nurtured a Culture of Blame. OWS is an example of this.

If I have failed in life, somebody is to blame:

Some evil plotting group: bankers, corporations, capitalists, the rich, or a certain privileged ethnic minority.

There is seems to be zero interest among those who have failed in life in examining personal reasons for personal failure.

These un admitted reasons include untreated mental illness, substance abuse, and an unpleasant self-obsessed personality.

My experience with people has taught that losers blame others for their failure.

Ayn Rand aside, all personal failure really is personal at the end of the day.

People destined to succeed in life fail, learn, and try again. Stop blaming others.

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