Academics Help Wall Street Protests Gain Credibility

[Bloke 32]

Source: Slate

As the Occupy Wall Street protests grow and spread across the country, media coverage has begun to take them more seriously, the New York Times points out.

One reason is their sheer size and persistence—it’s a rare street demonstration that is still gaining steam after almost three weeks. Another is the entry of media-savvy organized labor groups, with Reuters reporting that major unions representing state and city workers, nurses, communication workers and transit workers were set to take part in a march through Manhattan’s Financial District on Wednesday afternoon. Students, too, are participating en masse, with walkouts planned at some 75 universities across the country. And, of course, several of the usual-suspect celebrities have joined the cause.

A more interesting development, and perhaps an overlooked reason why news outlets have begun to treat the protesters as something more than “aggrieved youth,” is the growing involvement of some of the country’s best-known public intellectuals, who have begun to articulate what they see as the main goal of a movement whose aims so far have been vague: stronger financial reform.

An early backer from academia was Princeton professor Cornel West, who applauded the protesters for fighting “the greed of Wall Street oligarchs and corporate plutocrats who squeeze the democratic juices out of this country.” He was out on the streets of Boston Wednesday with the marchers, according to the Boston Herald.


Read more: http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/10/05/occupy_wall_street_stiglitz_lessig_west_lend_protests_intellectu.html

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This is a real news story, but I'm mainly posting it as a test. If you wish to know what I mean, go here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x622293

[Demit]

1. I am seeing the video posted by you at 3:18am (US Eastern Time)

What's your beef?

[Bloke 32]

11. I messed up, apparently.

But it's been straightened out, thanks to a longtime DUer who pointed out my error. :-)

[sce56]

16. Your Welcome Mate and Raise a Pint of that Guiness in my name Cheers!

I have not been to your Jolly old Isle since 1977! On my first tour in Deutschland. I might try to sail there in the future and welcome to DU a Limey Bloke as well as other progressive are always welcome here.

[defendandprotect]

2. kr

[Beavker]

3. We need the 'known commodity' to be involved.

Some people I know on facebook, one of which is somewhat liberal, didn't even know what this was about and poo-poo'd the whole thing...and most of this friends (not mine) basically said stuff that was so ingorant and frustratingly vapid that I don't even want to talk about it.

The country (and these idiots on FB) needs to have it articulated to them. There are a lot of different people out there with different ideas and reasons for being on the street, but I think the message is pretty obvious. Down with Corporate Greed, and the Government that supports them.

Always hoping for a miracle politically in this country. Not sure it can happen.

[tcaudilllg]

4. It's not financial reform that we want.

Reforms can be undone. The people at large will always be indifferent enough to let it happen. What is needed is JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. That, and the prosecution of those who are responsible for destroying our jobs.

[DeSwiss]

5. This is could be good.

Just as long as they realize this rEvolution needs no leaders in the conventional sense. It must remain an organic GROUNDSWELL OF OPPOSITION TO THE STATUS QUO.

And as long as none of those ''academics'' are from the University of Chicago -- the school where the hair-brained ''supply-side economic theory crappola'' had its genesis, and where much of our current problems began.

- K&R

[Kaleko]

8. I salute you,

you get it.

This is We the People finally rising up against absolute corruption.

[mother earth]

6. May this just be the beginning...we need complete overhaul.

[marions ghost]

7. I hope that

more academics around the country will join this.

Are they finally tired of the anti-science, anti-education, anti-intelligentsia agenda of the reich wing?

Welcome to DU Bloke32

[russspeakeasy]

14. When, have the academics been listend to in the last 10 years ?

Global warming for 15 minutes, banking regulations for 1 hour, Consumer credit oversight, 15 minutes. Epa concerns, 22 seconds..

[Honeycombe8]

9. I am so proud of all these protesters. They can be sure there are LOTS of

people who support them, who don't have a local protest going on to join, or who are unable to join in a protest.

[Citizen Worker]

10. Standing fast on their leaderless movement makes it difficult for the movement to be co-opted by the

political establishment.

[Ignis]

12. K&R

:kick:

[JackRiddler]

13. But what will help Slate gain credibility?

(pretty much a hopeless cause, I know)

[Kurovski]

15. K&R. (nt)