The Occupy Wall Street movement that spread to Los Angeles this week has now popped up 100 miles east in the Coachella Valley, where unemployment is as high as 20 percent in some desert cities.
Just short of 100 people are expected to protest Saturday, Oct. 8 from 2 to 5 p.m. outside Rep. Mary Bono Mack's Office in Palm Desert, according to an organizer John-Paul Valdez.
"I’m feeling a lot of response here. I think it will help put us on the map to understand we are every bit as viable as Los Angeles and New York. It might be seen as far away in terms of Wall Street but it is in every way a local movement," Valdez said.
He noted the movement is non-partisan and wants Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs, to realize that Coachella Valley residents are hurting because of the economy and the mortgage crisis.
"Our lives are more difficult here in the valley. This is the hardest hit area here in California. It’s even worse here in Riverside County," the former banker said.
Valdez, who said his home is underwater, lives in Desert Hot Springs, which has an unemployment rate of 20 percent -- much higher than the national rate of 9.1 percent.
Two other branches of the movement have sprung up at the (COD) in Palm Desert and in Indio.
Jayel, who co-founded an anti-war group, "Come Home America Coachella Valley" at the COD, told Patch that he plans to join Valdez's event on Saturday.
"One thing I do want to make clear is that this 'Occupy' movement is not a leftist movement. It’s not a Democratic movement. It’s not a liberal tea party,'' Aheram said.
The antiwar group -- a conservative-libertarian coalition of antiwar activists -- has grown to 15 people and organized the valley's first two "Occupy Coachella Valley" events earlier this month, he said.
He said they "are protesting a policy started by a right wing conservative president and continued by a left wing president."
In Indio, a group that has dubbed itself "Occupy Coachella Valley" has an event planned for Oct. 22 at Indio City Hall.
The group is using a Facebook page to organize and spread the word.
"Soon we will move all across the valley,'' one Facebook post stated.
https://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2011/09/04/opinion/04reich-graphic.html There's fear about a "lost decade." The middle class has lost three decade already. Income inequality kills economic growth http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/10/study-income-inequality-kills-economic-growth
I also don't see how any of Obama's policies caused the unemployment which began in 2007, or the general lack of new employment since 2001. I fail to see how any of Obama's policies began deregulating the banking sector in the early 1980s, leading to decades of banking corruption, including the S&L fiasco. I fail to see how Obama's policies are responsible for the stranglehold the banking sector has on the entire global economy, which they've had for ... well, since globalization started in earnest in the early 1990s. I fail to see how Obama is responsible for the outsourcing of jobs, the stagnation of middle class income for the past 30 years, the growing political influence of powerful, global megacorporations, and the general lack of humanity corporations have shown. I fail to see how Obama is responsible for the repeal of Glass-Steagall. I also fail to see how Occupy Wall Street supports Obama when one of thee chants is, "No more Wall Street White House" and they're planning on occupying Pennsylvania Ave.
The US media will lie to you with all kinds of crazy reasons why things happen ... but you will keep believing everything you see in a biased paid off media source.... grow some damn brains people like actually research your shit and get the real problem.
For the most obvious reasons
I think it's funny that you seen to know what we're protesting more than the actual protesters. Why don't you let us speak for ourselves. We know what we're for and what we're against. It's you who have no idea what we're about. You just take your talking points from your right-wing website of choice and project that lie onto us. We're not anti-corporation, we're anti corruption. Corporate charters are granted by us, we the people, through our government to protect capital investment from risk. We do this because we value risk, so we want to protect those who would risk their capital. But these corporations have abused the privileges we've given them to wrest control of the government away from we the people and into the hands of the wealthy elite. We the people want our country back. We don't want to bring an end to corporations, just corporate practices that aren't in the best interest of we the people. Stop corporations from abusing workers, spoiling the environment, and buying politicians. They can run profitable businesses still, they just have to respect who gave them the right to exist in the first place. We the people.
Well lets go further, Hollywood actors and actresses you make a movie good or bad you only can make 1/2 million dollars per movie. Your a NBA player, really don't care if your Kobe or Joe Schmuck you should not make any more then $10,500 per game. If you play MLB does't matter who you are I say $3,500 per game. If you play NFL, contact sport they should not make any more then $50,000 per game. Your R singer or song writer no more then 1/2 million per song. Attorney you get 1/3 of the settlement up to $350,000. The client you get 2/3 of the settlement up to 1/2 million dollars Whether Hollywood actors or actresses , NBA NLB, or NFL, song writer, singer AAttorney or client all money above my stated levels must be returned to the Government in the form of Taxes. This way the young men and women, the US poor, handicap and the Government debt can be eliminated. Class war fair will not exist, and all can live as Happy Campers.
Or you can get the real story: http://nycga.cc/2011/09/30/declaration-of-the-occupation-of-new-york-city/
That is what bothers me, any time you want a free handout or a hand out because you think some one else has a leg up on you. ......................Your are dipping in to the cauldron of Socialism..................... Steve.... Paint it anyway you want, but at the end of the day it is Socialism that the movement is built on. Margret Thatcher said , "Whats wrong with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other peoples money". Ask Marie-Atoinette, she callously stated "let them eat cake" it got her a one way ticket to the guillotine. Funny about history it has a way of returning to haut todays society. Young people didn't study history in High School and God knows in College. If they did it wasn't history as many Red White and Blue Americans know it. One should always study history.for the fear of repeating it. This is a Socialist movement..... any way you paint it.....color it........ describe it. OMG I have had this handle "Far West Coast" longer then you can even imagine.
We're not demanding hand outs, we're not demanding government control of production. We're demanding the government actually represent the people of these United States instead of the moneyed interests. We're not asking for the government to give us anything except a voice in government.
We're not anti-corporation, we're anti-corruption. Corporate charters are granted by us, we the people, through our government to protect capital investment from risk. We do this because we value risk, so we want to protect those who would risk their capital. But these corporations have abused the privileges we've given them to wrest control of the government away from we the people and into the hands of the wealthy elite. We the people want our country back. We don't want to bring an end to corporations, just corporate practices that aren't in the best interest of we the people. Stop corporations from abusing workers, spoiling the environment, and buying politicians. They can run profitable businesses still, they just have to respect who gave them the right to exist in the first place. We the people.
To everyone out there Please, Please ,Please go to the site Steve Kipple has referenced for you and read the manifesto under a appealing name they have come up with, "New York General Assembly". I say call it any name you want, color it anyway you want, describe it any way you want............... it is still SOCIALISM. Then take the opportunity to look up Socialism...................................................... read carefully a dictionary description of what socialism is. Then return to the web site Steve Kipple references and read it again. Every group is represented under the guise of a wrong, from environmentalist, discrimination, Peta, energy, unions etc. the manifesto lays it all out for you to read and see. Yes, Ladies and Gentleman it is a perfect example of people who really don't get it. And want you to buy into it. OMG
You want a" voice in government", I agree. Start by getting this organization of yours to obey the rule of Law. Pick out a candidate that represent your manifesto which you reference in a early post. Find Candidates thru out the country...... New York......Chicago,.....Milwaukee,.....Denver,....Phoenix,.....Los Angles etc. Back your chosen candidates, get out and stomp for your chosen candidates use the Democratic process to turn your ideas into governance. Then you can change American by the American Rules. Go for it Steve Kipple and others of same ilk. And don't say it can't be done. The Tea Party rose from the ash and but candidates on the voter ticket and a fair share won. You and your ilk can do the same this can be done. If you chose this path I sincerely mean good luck. OMG
"A political and economic theory of that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole." This isn't what Occupy Wall Street is seeking. We're not seeking for public ownership of the means of production. We're not seeking for public ownership of the means of distribution. We're not seeking for public ownership of the exchange (currency). You're missing the point just because you want to fit reality into your pre-conceived biased opinions. It's too bad you don't understand nuanced political theory. This movement isn't looking for centralized control of anything, but of broad control. We're fighting against centralized control, not for it. But that's something you probably couldn't grasp. We're on Wall Street because too much wealth is controlled by too few individuals. We're at the White House because too much power is controlled by too few individuals. We want a free society, where we the people have power. Socialism puts too much power into the hands of too few individuals. Capitalism puts too much wealth into the hands of too few individuals. We're looking for a third way. Private ownership of production, distribution and exchange, but regulated so nobody gains too much power. The philosophy is called Distributism.
When the elite controls the production, distribution and exchange, and also controls the government, you have plutocracy.
Great, I encourage your belief in the rule of Law and the right of a American citizens. In regards to age.... well I haven't been to a rally yet, but that will come to a end today. Look at the pictures on the news mainly young people actually a majority. The Monterey x Fred Warning protest the picture shows young people and two middle age guys smiling in the back round. And I wouldn't call that a crowd either. More like a handfull of ten. Other pictures show young people again, news videos show the young people again. You Judy and others like you are a minority in this crowd at best. Stay on the sidewalk, stay out of the public's way, do not destroy property, do occupy private space and most of all I can only hope you can muster up a candidate or more thru out the country. Then your movement with its "New York General Assembly" "manifesto" can put it out there for all to see and vote on your beliefs thru your candidate. Now!!!!!!!!!!! that is the American way! OMG
I did not say you will become a socialist. I am saying that after you read the........." New York General Assembly" "manifesto" and you adhere to those beliefs you are a socialists. OMG
They have taken our houses through an illegal foreclosure process, despite not having the original mortgage. They have taken bailouts from taxpayers with impunity, and continue to give Executives exorbitant bonuses. They have perpetuated inequality and discrimination in the workplace based on age, the color of one’s skin, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation. They have consistently outsourced labor and used that outsourcing as leverage to cut workers’ healthcare and pay. They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility. They have sold our privacy as a commodity. They have used the military and police force to prevent freedom of the press. They determine economic policy, despite the catastrophic failures their policies have produced and continue to produce. They have donated large sums of money to politicians, who are responsible for regulating them. They have purposely covered up oil spills, accidents, faulty bookkeeping, and inactive ingredients in pursuit of profit. OMG! THEY'RE GOING TO KILL US ALL! RUN FOR THE HILLS!