OCCUPY WALL STREET

[SoNotHer]

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2011/12...an-we-thought/

This week, the United States Senate passed S. 1867 also known as the National Defense Authorization Act including sections 1031 and 1032 which authorize the military to arrest and indefinitely detain American citizens without trial or charge. Despite national outcry over the bill which effectively suspends the Constitutional rights of those suspected of terrorist activities and would allow Americans to be incarcerated in Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba, the Senate passed the bill by an overwhelming margin of 93-7. This means that Congress could easily override the President’s threatened veto.

But this act of Congress is even more dangerous than we first thought. Included in the bill is Amendment 1068 which was offered by Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire. This part of the bill undermines President Obama’s executive order that bans torture and overrides the list of permissible interrogation techniques in the US Army Field Manual. In other words, the US military could arrest ordinary American citizens without reading them their Miranda Rights, put them in a cell at Gitmo without the benefit of an attorney, a trial, or charges of any kind, and then torture them during interrogation. A secret list of torture techniques would be created without public knowledge...

and

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/radley...b_1123848.html

SWAT Raids, Stun Guns, And Pepper Spray: Why The Government Is Ramping Up The Use Of Force
Posted: 12/ 5/11 11:23 AM ET

In February of last year, video surfaced of a marijuana raid in Columbia, Mo. During the raid on Jonathan Whitworth and his family, police took down the door with a battering ram, then within seconds shot and killed one of Whitworth's dogs and wounded the other. They didn't find enough pot in the house to charge Whitworth with even a misdemeanor. (He was, however, charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia when police found a pipe.) The disturbing video went viral in May 2010, triggering outrage around the world. On Fox News, conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer and Bill O'Reilly cautioned not to judge the entire drug war by the video, which they characterized as an isolated incident.

In fact, very little about the raid that was isolated or unusual. For the most part, it was carried out the same way drug warrants are served some 150 times per day in the United States. The battering ram, the execution of Whitworth's dog, the fact that police weren't aware Whitworth's 7-year-old child was in the home before they riddled the place with bullets, the fact that they found only a small amount of pot, likely for personal use -- all are common in drug raids. The only thing unusual was that the raid was recorded by police, then released to the public after an open records request by the Columbia Daily Tribune. It was as if much of the country was seeing for the first time the violence with which the drug war is actually fought. And they didn't like what they saw...

[Toughy]

The 'war on drugs' is a farce and has done nothing to stop drug trafficking or drug use in the country.

Did you know pot is more dangerous than heroin or coke...according to the Schedule I classification. Coke and heroin has some medicinal use and marijuana has NO medical use....at least according to the federal government.

All drugs should be legal so we can get some control over the manufacture, distribution and sale. I would be happy to start with completely legalizing marijuana........

Occupy movement should add this to their list. More POC are in jail for pot than white folks and then there is the inconsistency between jail time for powdered coke vs crack. IF you are convicted of a felony you lose your voting rights. You can petition the courts to get your vote back but not many know that.

[ruffryder]

Originally Posted by Toughy

The 'war on drugs' is a farce and has done nothing to stop drug trafficking or drug use in the country.

Did you know pot is more dangerous than heroin or coke...according to the Schedule I classification. Coke and heroin has some medicinal use and marijuana has NO medical use....at least according to the federal government.

All drugs should be legal so we can get some control over the manufacture, distribution and sale. I would be happy to start with completely legalizing marijuana........

Occupy movement should add this to their list. More POC are in jail for pot than white folks and then there is the inconsistency between jail time for powdered coke vs crack. IF you are convicted of a felony you lose your voting rights. You can petition the courts to get your vote back but not many know that.

I'm sorry. How does this fit in or help the OWS movement.? Just trying to grasp this thought in relation to corporate greed and lowering taxes for the middle class. I think one thing at a time would benefit the movement more. Maybe they should all focus on one thing in common and attack the government and wall street with that..for instance affordable health care. Please explain..maybe it's a great idea. I'm missing it.

[Toughy]

It's relevant because of racism, which is one of the hallmarks of corporate greed (in the US). It alo speaks to the militarization of our police (as was pointed out in the article). How in the hell do you think the CIA funds itself?

[persiphone]

personally, i think we should move to suspend the presidential elections until democracy and the rights of the citizens here are restored. i'm tired of participating in a political process designed to imprison us.

[Cin]

Originally Posted by persiphone

personally, i think we should move to suspend the presidential elections until democracy and the rights of the citizens here are restored. i'm tired of participating in a political process designed to imprison us.

I agree but how could we do that? We can't even stop the senate from passing bills erasing our rights as citizens of the United States. And I don't even want to get started on the average citizen awareness of what is happening to our rights. Even when they are aware they are apathetic at best. Percentage wise people just aren't getting it.

[persiphone]

Originally Posted by Miss Tick

I agree but how could we do that? We can't even stop the senate from passing bills erasing our rights as citizens of the United States. And I don't even want to get started on the average citizen awareness of what is happening to our rights. Even when they are aware they are apathetic at best. Percentage wise people just aren't getting it.

well its not like politicians aren't aggressively trying to suppress voters. i say let's turn it around on them and show up at the polls and help them with that. let's make it impossible for anyone to vote.

[GeorgiaMa'am]

Originally Posted by persiphone

personally, i think we should move to suspend the presidential elections until democracy and the rights of the citizens here are restored. i'm tired of participating in a political process designed to imprison us.

I've pretty much decided the presidential elections don't mean squat. Congress runs the country now - a congress which is influenced by wealthy special interests. Maybe the governors run some stuff too.

I would spout off about the line-item veto and campaign reforms here, but my cynicism is starting to outweigh my optimism. I really don't know what can be done. (Is there an icon for hopelessness?)

[persiphone]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaMa'am

I've pretty much decided the presidential elections don't mean squat. Congress runs the country now - a congress which is influenced by wealthy special interests. Maybe the governors run some stuff too.

I would spout off about the line-item veto and campaign reforms here, but my cynicism is starting to outweigh my optimism. I really don't know what can be done. (Is there an icon for hopelessness?)

i think it's high time we put our foot down and just say NO to a defunct political process. if there are NO votes then there can be no decision on anything. then what can they do? make not voting illegal?

[Cin]

Originally Posted by Toughy

It's relevant because of racism, which is one of the hallmarks of corporate greed (in the US). It alo speaks to the militarization of our police (as was pointed out in the article). How in the hell do you think the CIA funds itself?

This is so true. The U.S. puts so many of its citizens in jail compared to, well actually compared to anywhere. In January 2010 the rate of incarceration was 743 adults per 100,000. Guess how many were white compared to POC. Now that the prison systems are privatized it is such a money making operation that nothing is likely to be legalized. The more jailed the better. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world.

Whenever they declare war on inanimate objects like drugs, terrorism and poverty they are really just finding new ways to continue unchallenged and overly funded with their war on the poor. It's just their fancy way of declaring class warfare.

[GeorgiaMa'am]

Originally Posted by Miss Tick

This is so true. The U.S. puts so many of its citizens in jail compared to, well actually compared to anywhere. In January 2010 the rate of incarceration was 743 adults per 100,000. Guess how many were white compared to POC. Now that the prison systems are privatized it is such a money making operation that nothing is likely to be legalized. The more jailed the better. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world.

Whenever they declare war on inanimate objects like drugs, terrorism and poverty they are really just finding new ways to continue unchallenged and overly funded with their war on the poor. It's just their fancy way of declaring class warfare.

Exactly. And we have a governor in Georgia who thinks we should use prison labor to take over all the farm labor jobs that were left when the illegal immigrants were driven out. - The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[ruffryder]

Thanks for the clarification Toughy. I don't see how legalizing drugs aids the OWS movement still. I think it would bring more financial problems still to the middle class and those that can't afford the medication they need now and aid as you say the CIA, law enforcement, and the rich and corporations are the ones who deal it. hmmm.. As for racism. I'm not seeing that either. The people in this movement that are being discriminated against are the middle class and poor and they are the ones being made to pay more for services and product, it doesn't matter what race they are only that they are in a certain income bracket and being taken advantage of. I guess if you could explain further I may see it how legalizing drugs helps anyone that is protesting for equal financial and corporate rights. Thanks.

I would love to see people not vote in the next election, especially for President. How we get people to not vote is another question and not going to happen. I do think OWS will think of something to protest though when election time comes up and I can't wait to see that and what happens.

[persiphone]

Originally Posted by GeorgiaMa'am

Exactly. And we have a governor in Georgia who thinks we should use prison labor to take over all the farm labor jobs that were left when the illegal immigrants were driven out. - The more things change, the more they stay the same.

but this is so tyical of big business when they are the ones that pushed for the visas that specifically are designed to populate the ag culture.

edited to add.....*insert for profit prison here*

[persiphone]

Originally Posted by Miss Tick

This is so true. The U.S. puts so many of its citizens in jail compared to, well actually compared to anywhere. In January 2010 the rate of incarceration was 743 adults per 100,000. Guess how many were white compared to POC. Now that the prison systems are privatized it is such a money making operation that nothing is likely to be legalized. The more jailed the better. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world.

Whenever they declare war on inanimate objects like drugs, terrorism and poverty they are really just finding new ways to continue unchallenged and overly funded with their war on the poor. It's just their fancy way of declaring class warfare.

well welcome to the world of for profit prisons. human bodies are needed to turn a profit.

[Gráinne]

I hope you don't mind my questions again . I'm honestly not trying to stir things up, or even necessarily oppose all of OWS, but I'm a great pain in the neck, you have to give me that!

1. Let's say that OWS "wins" their #1 priority, whatever that would be. There seems to be so many goals, but let's say something equivalent to the desegregation of the Montgomery buses, or desegregation of Central High School. Both of those changed a great deal of lives, no matter if the people were involved with the civil rights movement or not. What is your "win", and what would it look like to someone not in the movement or associated with banking or politics? How would I know the difference in my daily life?

2. I read a terrifying little book in high school called Animal Farm, which should be required reading. It is Orwell's satire of the Russian Revolution, and I know some would say we're already there in our own country. I know OWS is run apparently without leaders, all are equal, and majority votes and all that. How would the movement, if it grows, handle the human nature to divide up into classes, as the animals do? The novel starts with good intentions and a utopian idea but goes haywire. If you do elect leaders, are they not more powerful themselves by definition?

I can see we'll never agree, but I'm trying to see your side.