Neoliberalism understood [and what to do about it] Now is the time to speak the clear truth, which is that for America to be the nation that we want, we have to make things for those at the top worse. They can afford it. Perhaps that’s the greatest sin of all of it: the notion that what’s good for the wealthiest is good for the poorest. If we derive any wisdom from this terrible crisis, let’s start by acknowledging the obvious: that different classes are in fact natural antagonists, that sometimes we need to support one against the other, and that when those on top have too much power and too much money, it has to be clawed back, by the people, in a way that some won’t like. No more lies about rising tides, but instead the reality of class conflict. http://tinyurl.com/cr6vrey From Occupy to Quebec – Deepening the Struggle through Strategic Demands If the Occupy movement did one thing in North America, it put class on the agenda. By making it easier to forge links between differing struggles, the language of the 99 percent has acted as a social lubricant between struggles previously atomized by elite narratives. This shared language of inequality is perhaps the greatest gift the Occupy movement has given to those fighting for a more socially just world. Thus, the Occupy movement should be seen as ultimately posing the question: If our society is increasingly unequal, what are we going to do about it? http://tinyurl.com/7enkrah Julian Assange show: Occupy, the movement to fight a global ‘enemy’ “There’s a feeling out there that the enemy is becoming increasingly globalized, and the only way it can be challenged is by global movements,” [David] Graeber said. Although it is economic and social inequality that are named as the main causes behind Occupy, Alexa O’Brien from Occupy in New York and US Day of Rage says it is not just about the global financial crisis but also about a global political crisis – because “institutions are no longer functional.” [Arron] Peters [of Occupy London] agreed, saying that political failure is a global phenomenon. “We now recognize that public policy outcomes aren’t happening at the national level, and that policy makers aren’t actually the ones who are in national parliaments. They are elsewhere, and the ones that are dictating policy aren’t any way accountable, or, you know, they are not democratic representatives,” he said. http://tinyurl.com/d76q82o Advocates seek $8.50/hour minimum wage in New York Advocates including the Occupy Albany movement and clergy pushing New York’s proposal to raise the minimum wage are gearing up for the final four weeks of the legislative session. Researchers are taking a close look at New York’s debate and other states’ experience and economic models have been used by both sides. A researcher who reviewed New York’s situation counters some of the critics who say raising the wage will hurt the state’s slow economic recovery and actually cut jobs for the working poor. Harvard economics Professor Richard B. Freeman said a modest minimum wage increase will likely not have a major negative effect on the economy. http://tinyurl.com/79dceuy Occupy Santa Cruz Celebrates Past Successes with TENT MOB at Court House Community members involved with Occupy Santa Cruz returned to the court house steps with tents and other structure building equipment for a “tent mob” celebration on May 25. The event was planned in solidarity with Adbusters’ May 18 “Laugh Riots”, and the mood was geared more towards fun than a serious occupation. http://tinyurl.com/cj9xqaa Anonymous calls for ‘Occupy movement’ in several Indian cities Several India cities, including Hyderabad, are likely to witness Occupy protests, albeit on a smaller scale, on June 9 We have read about the ‘Occupy protests’ taking place across the world. Now several cities in India, including Hyderabad, are likely to witness Occupy protests, albeit on a smaller scale, on June 9 where protesters wearing Guy Fawkes masks will assemble at a place. They will register their opposition to the moves of the Centre to curtail Internet freedom and oppose blocking of websites or social media accounts. The protests are called by Anonymous, a group of ‘hacktivists’. Facebook, twitter and other social media sites were abuzz with activity on Monday, with the Anonymous calling for occupy protests in Hyderabad and several other cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh, Indore, Kolkata, Bangalore, Kochi and Calicut on June 9. Tweets by Anonymous India (@AnonDDos) and Operation India (@opindia_back) have been eliciting a good response from tweeple from these cities, who pledged their support to the protests. http://tinyurl.com/cf264kr Sinn Fein Gains Clout, Irish Polls Show The collapse of Ireland’s much-vaunted Celtic Tiger economy prompted the Irish government to take on the debts of its delinquent banks from 2008. The authorities pumped in the equivalent of 40% of Irish annual economic output to keep its banking system from collapse. But the effort proved too much for the government, which was forced to strike a deal for Euro 67.5 billion ($84.6 billion) in bailout loans in late 2010. Sinn Fein and its leader have been relentless in their opposition to the austerity, a stance that has borne fruit in the public-opinion polls. “The cherry on top for Sinn Fein from today’s poll is Gerry Adams’s satisfaction rating, which is up eight points to 37%, making him the highest-rated party leader in the country,” Damian Loscher, Ipsos managing director, wrote in the Irish Times Monday. http://tinyurl.com/86awpw5 To get a daily listing of Occupy Boston’s events and activities (and more!), subscribe to the Daily Digest by going to https://lists.mayfirst.org/mailman/listinfo/obupdates . To subscribe to the OB Media Rundown, send your request to johnm@occupyboston.org
