Do I Smell Revolution?

WE. ARE. THE. 99%!

You know, I don't always know much about what's going on. I tend to move in and out of politics, mostly because my feelings are so strong, that sometimes I just can't face reality. But there is something that is giving me hope... evidence that some of the current activities in the US are working...

The real agenda, straight from congress...

Here is an article about the response of some congress people in the US. What I like is the evidence they are scared. They are claiming the protesters might bring about a change in policy. I say bring it on. A policy change is exactly what's needed.

Or there is this by Paul Krugman at the New York Times (who, in his defense, has been saying the right stuff the whole time), but he sums up this response well.

A valid question, eh?

The dialog has really changed. I think some people glommed onto the Tea Party because they were frustrated, but the tea party is actually a 'small government, no-reality' movement—they don't understand that real people are hurting and to STOP hurting, they need jobs, and the only way to create jobs is to get money into the hands of the people who SPEND their money—the poor and middle class—the wealthy are already spending what they would spend... their money is largely saved. Yes, much is invested, but in the decade since they got their tax cuts, these investments have NOT created jobs. Jobs come when people demand more goods and services... and won't millions of people with more money demand more goods and services than dozens with more that already don't spend what they have?

Hello, common sense.

Real people, actual opinions... (this from 'Occupy New Brunswick')

I love how this process is snow-balling. When the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement first started, they were ignored by most of the press—resounding silence and a refusal by 'forces of power' to acknowledge that anything was happening... but then that refusal to discuss them got press in itself...

The dialog has changed. The facebook stream has changed... People who couldn't agree on raising taxes on the rich, CAN agree on ineffective bailouts, and the rights of the masses to protest... The uniting We Are The 99% is too true... The people with aspirations of being in the top 5-10%, worried about their future taxes when they 'make it' still believe that once you are top 1%, you maybe shouldn't get a tax cut for it...

I love the faces of the new, rational voice making their claims. I love the old quotes being dusted off and shared. Here are a couple of those quotes I've loved:

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"You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it." ~MalcolmX (1925-1965)

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”~John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)

I guess to me, though, the BIG thing is the tone has changed. It doesn't feel NEARLY so much like the people commenting are divided exactly in half. It is far more like a few embarrassed defenders of bad behavior are trying to act like 'it's nothing'. 'It's disorganized' 'It will go nowhere.' But Congressman King up there PROVES they are actually afraid... This ISN'T nothing... this is AT LAST Democracy. People who GET IT finally outnumber robots who are chanting what they're told against their own self-interest. FINALLY, reason is getting through.

It's the first time in a long time I've felt hopeful that there are enough intelligent people in the US electorate to make a difference.

My buddy Hannah also blogged about this today, but gives far more specifics as to what Occupy Wallstreet does and doesn't want. it's worth a read (she always is).