hashem
7th February 2012, 13:08
The Occupy movement was formed On September 2011, this movement draws hundreds of protesters who are unhappy with the current economic, social and political system that has polarized the society into rich and poor classes. The vast majority of people are exploited by the minority. The unemployment rate increases every day. The protesters are occupying Wall Street that is a symbol of corporate and capitalist greed, the police violently hassled to prevent the protesters to continue the occupation in Wall Street. But the protest and occupations continued in Zuccotti Park, New York. Very quickly the protest spread all around United States with the slogan of “We are 99%” and within one month became a worldwide movement.
This movement was formed on basis of the economic crisis that started in 2007 and still continues in United States and spread to all capitalist countries around world. This crisis created the most serious consequences for all working people in United States. In the USA the rate of unemployment increased, currently 14 Million people are unemployed. Many also have only part time jobs with low income and many are living in poverty. More than 46 million households live on food stamps, over 46 million people are living below the poverty line in “the richest countries in the world“At same time more than one million women in US have lost their jobs. According to official government sources around 50 million of American people don’t have even Medicare. The consequences of the economic crises which increased unemployment and more low income people created the situation for many working people that they couldn’t pay their home mortgage, consequently they have lost their houses. When the houses of low income people were confiscated by the capitalist banking system, those who lost their house have joined the homeless people in United State. The living standards of millions of workers degrade and government try to transfer the cost of the economic crisis onto the shoulders of working class people by imposing “austerity” while bailing out the banksters, US government is contributing trillions of dollars to prevent the bankruptcy of businesses while attacking the living conditions of working people.
In the last three decades neo liberalist globalism has become the major policy of the capitalist system. Now that loud voice of failures and scandals of these policies rise everywhere. The result of these bad policies in the last three decades has increased the gap between poor and rich people in US and worldwide. 1% of the US population who are richest people in United State use their capital to dominate everything from business to government and the media. According to official sources including America Congressional Budget Office in 1980 one percent of the American population had 9.1% of GDP, in 2006 increased to 18.8 % of GDP. From 1979 to 2007 the average gross income of 1% increases up to 275 %. The incomes of the 1% of the US population from 2002 to 2007 were 66% of total revenue resources. From 1992 to 2007 the income of 400 rich people in US 392% increased. But the rate of the tax for these 400 has decreased by 37%. Concentration of the wealth in hand of rich people has grown exponentially. As statistics in 2007 show the wealth of 1% population in US increased from 34.6 % to 37.1% of America’s wealth. And wealth of 20% richest population increased from 85% to 87.7%. The asset of the poorer 80% of the population is only 12.3% and this is the true reality of the inequality of American society and the dominant capitalist system. That’s why they call of the Occupy movement the 99%.
A society with such an inequality, poverty and class differences which lead to many tragedies. So this is the reason that led to a movement with thousands of protesters supported by millions of the working people. Polling shows the vast majority of the American people who are concerned with criminality and corruption of the capitalist system are supporting the Occupy movement. According to a survey on October 59% were supporting the Occupy movement. Another survey by Time magazine in October also shows 54% supporting and 23% are against the movement. The movement grows while police desperately try to end the Occupy movement and have arrested thousands of the protesters in the USA. The capitalist parasite 1% uses all its power and media against this movement.
In New York Occupy has the support of many large unions and union members such as the National Union of Nurses, Transport Workers Union, Employees Service Union of New York and Metro and also many unemployed and students who joined the Occupy Rally on 15 October in New York. Occupy is organizing and mobilizing rallies in hundreds of cities, this show the support of vast majority of American people for the Occupy movement. Although the majority of the Occupy movement are workers and working people including many of the middle class of America who have been bankrupted by the recent financial crises. The first organizers of this movement were mostly conscious youth but later on the majority of the movements were workers. According to the university research on 19 October 33% of the Occupy activists are over 35 years old. Half of the movement have full time job and 13% are unemployed. The Occupy movement it is working class movement although it is very populist and doesn’t have clear aim, but this is clear that the movement generally is anti capitalist movement and it is against American system and absolutely against injustice and realizes that the poverty and unemployment are result of capitalism. The movement supports free educations, health care, social security, housing and public transport for all.
Although most of the people are participating in this movement are workers, but the middle strata of society in America has also felt the damage that accompanies the economic crises. The Occupy movement is against war and military attacks by the US government on other countries by Imperialists in the interest of ruling class people, the 1%. We don‘t expect from any spontaneous movement to have the clear demands. Only through the action and progress of the class straggle that workers can try to implement their alternative. Therefore everything depends on the continuation and growth of movement that can mobilise the mass working class people against current capitalist system of America. This will happen when the industrial and service workers shift from the street protest movement to industrial action so they can take over the direction of the movement by concourse tactics. If delay happen in this improvement we cannot see a good progressive prospect for the success of this movement. Because the movement is currently facing many difficulties on strategies and tactics in organising the movement.
On one hand the movements need to explain to the people what they fighting for and on the other hand it is impossible to develop clear tactics and strategies in such broad movement with people from many political backgrounds such as communist, Anarchists, social democrats and liberals. That’s why the majority of the Occupy movement in USA called for a National Assembly in mid 2012 in Philadelphia. All consensus that approved till now, I was only reform within the current system trying Democratize the current system.
The Democrat party of US trying to constrain the movement but still they are not succeed. The Democrats trying to make the Occupy movement as alternative to the right wing fascist tea party. That is organised by fascist’ supporter in Democrats party. . However occupy still only a reformist anti-capitalist movement in any case and this is only hopefully a first step of the American workers towards a socialist revolution and we cannot expect much from this movement at this stage.
The Occupy movement has become a model to many countries around the world. It was in solidarity with Wall Street movement that protest and rallies have taken please in 1000 cities in 82 countries. In some countries the protesters attack to financial institutions and political puppets of the 1% and occupy different places according to the Wall Street Occupy model.
The most important Occupy movement are in Europe which have a similar situation in terms of economic and social condition to the United States. In these countries the neo-liberal policies have same tragedy for working class people which we mentioned in United States. In these countries while the profit and wealth of rich people increase continually, the living standards of workers continually getting worse. The financial crises make the living condition of working class worse as “austerity” is imposed. Millions of workers have lost their jobs. The unemployment population in Europe has increased a proximately 23 million.
While the financial crises make the worse living condition for working class people, the European governments transfer one trillion euro in bailout from National general treasuries into the Accounts of financial institutions, business and rich investors. But these measures do not make the financial situation better but only deepen the financial crises; most of these countries in Europe now have empty treasuries and are facing bankruptcy. The capitalist governments decided once again to socialise the cost of the capitalists’ losses especially onto the shoulders of working class people. The austerity policies carried out and attacks on workers’ Rights increase. The living standard of working class people fall down and poverty spreads. The workers movement in Europe stand up against these policies. The Occupy movement was formed in these conditions with radical demands and slogans. Although the Occupy movement in America didn’t focus on world revolution but in Europe the world revolution was the main slogan with calls to overthrow the capitalist system. There were Hundreds of thousands of protesters on the October 15 march in the streets of Italy and Spain. In Greece it was similar situation, in these three country vast majority of the protesters were workers. But the protests in other country of Europe were not more than tens of thousands. The importance of the October 15 protests was that world revolution was the main demand for overthrowing the capitalists system! In some of European cities groups are still occupying 24 hours at centre of financial institutions and raising their revolutionary flags.
The Occupy movement in Europe couldn’t and cannot continue the same as America. Because in Europe the workers movement are stronger and organised based on a long history and tradition of workers and Union struggles. Therefore the Occupy movement in Europe couldn’t play same role as America. However the Occupy in Europe is another step towards overthrowing the capitalist system and establishing a socialist system. The class straggle movement of workers will only reach the final goal when tens of millions of workers in factory and service workers start industrial action. The current Occupy movement itself can only help and accelerate the workers towards class straggle.
This movement was formed on basis of the economic crisis that started in 2007 and still continues in United States and spread to all capitalist countries around world. This crisis created the most serious consequences for all working people in United States. In the USA the rate of unemployment increased, currently 14 Million people are unemployed. Many also have only part time jobs with low income and many are living in poverty. More than 46 million households live on food stamps, over 46 million people are living below the poverty line in “the richest countries in the world“At same time more than one million women in US have lost their jobs. According to official government sources around 50 million of American people don’t have even Medicare. The consequences of the economic crises which increased unemployment and more low income people created the situation for many working people that they couldn’t pay their home mortgage, consequently they have lost their houses. When the houses of low income people were confiscated by the capitalist banking system, those who lost their house have joined the homeless people in United State. The living standards of millions of workers degrade and government try to transfer the cost of the economic crisis onto the shoulders of working class people by imposing “austerity” while bailing out the banksters, US government is contributing trillions of dollars to prevent the bankruptcy of businesses while attacking the living conditions of working people.
In the last three decades neo liberalist globalism has become the major policy of the capitalist system. Now that loud voice of failures and scandals of these policies rise everywhere. The result of these bad policies in the last three decades has increased the gap between poor and rich people in US and worldwide. 1% of the US population who are richest people in United State use their capital to dominate everything from business to government and the media. According to official sources including America Congressional Budget Office in 1980 one percent of the American population had 9.1% of GDP, in 2006 increased to 18.8 % of GDP. From 1979 to 2007 the average gross income of 1% increases up to 275 %. The incomes of the 1% of the US population from 2002 to 2007 were 66% of total revenue resources. From 1992 to 2007 the income of 400 rich people in US 392% increased. But the rate of the tax for these 400 has decreased by 37%. Concentration of the wealth in hand of rich people has grown exponentially. As statistics in 2007 show the wealth of 1% population in US increased from 34.6 % to 37.1% of America’s wealth. And wealth of 20% richest population increased from 85% to 87.7%. The asset of the poorer 80% of the population is only 12.3% and this is the true reality of the inequality of American society and the dominant capitalist system. That’s why they call of the Occupy movement the 99%.
A society with such an inequality, poverty and class differences which lead to many tragedies. So this is the reason that led to a movement with thousands of protesters supported by millions of the working people. Polling shows the vast majority of the American people who are concerned with criminality and corruption of the capitalist system are supporting the Occupy movement. According to a survey on October 59% were supporting the Occupy movement. Another survey by Time magazine in October also shows 54% supporting and 23% are against the movement. The movement grows while police desperately try to end the Occupy movement and have arrested thousands of the protesters in the USA. The capitalist parasite 1% uses all its power and media against this movement.
In New York Occupy has the support of many large unions and union members such as the National Union of Nurses, Transport Workers Union, Employees Service Union of New York and Metro and also many unemployed and students who joined the Occupy Rally on 15 October in New York. Occupy is organizing and mobilizing rallies in hundreds of cities, this show the support of vast majority of American people for the Occupy movement. Although the majority of the Occupy movement are workers and working people including many of the middle class of America who have been bankrupted by the recent financial crises. The first organizers of this movement were mostly conscious youth but later on the majority of the movements were workers. According to the university research on 19 October 33% of the Occupy activists are over 35 years old. Half of the movement have full time job and 13% are unemployed. The Occupy movement it is working class movement although it is very populist and doesn’t have clear aim, but this is clear that the movement generally is anti capitalist movement and it is against American system and absolutely against injustice and realizes that the poverty and unemployment are result of capitalism. The movement supports free educations, health care, social security, housing and public transport for all.
Although most of the people are participating in this movement are workers, but the middle strata of society in America has also felt the damage that accompanies the economic crises. The Occupy movement is against war and military attacks by the US government on other countries by Imperialists in the interest of ruling class people, the 1%. We don‘t expect from any spontaneous movement to have the clear demands. Only through the action and progress of the class straggle that workers can try to implement their alternative. Therefore everything depends on the continuation and growth of movement that can mobilise the mass working class people against current capitalist system of America. This will happen when the industrial and service workers shift from the street protest movement to industrial action so they can take over the direction of the movement by concourse tactics. If delay happen in this improvement we cannot see a good progressive prospect for the success of this movement. Because the movement is currently facing many difficulties on strategies and tactics in organising the movement.
On one hand the movements need to explain to the people what they fighting for and on the other hand it is impossible to develop clear tactics and strategies in such broad movement with people from many political backgrounds such as communist, Anarchists, social democrats and liberals. That’s why the majority of the Occupy movement in USA called for a National Assembly in mid 2012 in Philadelphia. All consensus that approved till now, I was only reform within the current system trying Democratize the current system.
The Democrat party of US trying to constrain the movement but still they are not succeed. The Democrats trying to make the Occupy movement as alternative to the right wing fascist tea party. That is organised by fascist’ supporter in Democrats party. . However occupy still only a reformist anti-capitalist movement in any case and this is only hopefully a first step of the American workers towards a socialist revolution and we cannot expect much from this movement at this stage.
The Occupy movement has become a model to many countries around the world. It was in solidarity with Wall Street movement that protest and rallies have taken please in 1000 cities in 82 countries. In some countries the protesters attack to financial institutions and political puppets of the 1% and occupy different places according to the Wall Street Occupy model.
The most important Occupy movement are in Europe which have a similar situation in terms of economic and social condition to the United States. In these countries the neo-liberal policies have same tragedy for working class people which we mentioned in United States. In these countries while the profit and wealth of rich people increase continually, the living standards of workers continually getting worse. The financial crises make the living condition of working class worse as “austerity” is imposed. Millions of workers have lost their jobs. The unemployment population in Europe has increased a proximately 23 million.
While the financial crises make the worse living condition for working class people, the European governments transfer one trillion euro in bailout from National general treasuries into the Accounts of financial institutions, business and rich investors. But these measures do not make the financial situation better but only deepen the financial crises; most of these countries in Europe now have empty treasuries and are facing bankruptcy. The capitalist governments decided once again to socialise the cost of the capitalists’ losses especially onto the shoulders of working class people. The austerity policies carried out and attacks on workers’ Rights increase. The living standard of working class people fall down and poverty spreads. The workers movement in Europe stand up against these policies. The Occupy movement was formed in these conditions with radical demands and slogans. Although the Occupy movement in America didn’t focus on world revolution but in Europe the world revolution was the main slogan with calls to overthrow the capitalist system. There were Hundreds of thousands of protesters on the October 15 march in the streets of Italy and Spain. In Greece it was similar situation, in these three country vast majority of the protesters were workers. But the protests in other country of Europe were not more than tens of thousands. The importance of the October 15 protests was that world revolution was the main demand for overthrowing the capitalists system! In some of European cities groups are still occupying 24 hours at centre of financial institutions and raising their revolutionary flags.
The Occupy movement in Europe couldn’t and cannot continue the same as America. Because in Europe the workers movement are stronger and organised based on a long history and tradition of workers and Union struggles. Therefore the Occupy movement in Europe couldn’t play same role as America. However the Occupy in Europe is another step towards overthrowing the capitalist system and establishing a socialist system. The class straggle movement of workers will only reach the final goal when tens of millions of workers in factory and service workers start industrial action. The current Occupy movement itself can only help and accelerate the workers towards class straggle.