The Socialist Menace Piercing the corporate veil of deception

Egyptians show solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, including Oakland

"Obama & Tantawi R 1"

I hear a lot of people wondering what the protesters are so angry about in the Occupy Wall Street movements throughout America and worldwide.  In a recent NY Times editorial, Thomas Friedman gives an example of something outrageous that Citibank did that eventually caused it to pay a $285 million settlement:

"[W]ith one hand, Citibank sold a package of toxic mortgage-backed securities to unsuspecting customers — securities that it knew were likely to go bust — and, with the other hand, shorted the same securities — that is, bet millions of dollars that they would go bust... It doesn’t get any more immoral than this."

"From #tahrir to #occupyoakland and #USA"

Eventually, Citi settled the case for $285 million, without admitting that it did anything wrong.   The bankers were never individually punished at all - if anything, they were rewarded.  And this was the situation that took place over and over again at many banks and other financial institutions that make up the metaphorical "Wall Street" of modern America.

No wonder people are furious.

The Occupy protests have spread not only across the country but throughout the globe.  In Cairo, protesters were showing solidarity with Americans, particularly after the incident in Oakland when an Iraq war veteran was struck in the head by police, fracturing his skull.  These were not isolated protesters expressing unity; many different signs were on display.  One read "Obama & Tantawi R 1 Hand in beating the protesters in #tahrir #occupyoakland."  Tantawi is the nominal head of the military government, or junta, currently ruling Egypt with all the tyranny of Mubarak.

"from Egypt to Wall Street"

Another sign reads "From #tahrir to #occupyoakland and #USA one case, one goal #socialjusticeforall, fuck police."  The hashtags, of course, are borrowed from Twitter, which has proven to be an invaluable tool in helping protesters organize across the Middle East during the "Arab Spring."

"From Egypt to Wall Street," another sign proclaims in broken English, "don't afraid.  Go ahead #occupyoakland #OWS."

Workers are increasingly aware of their ties across national borders; the international working class is struggling against the capitalist system with growing ferocity.  This is setting the stage for revolution, something that the ruling class in all nations will attempt to brutally repress.