Groupthink, The Thought Police, and Future Article in Need to be Published for the 99%

In 2004, the documentary The Corporation was released and featured in some indie film houses and later, through the now obsolete video rental stores and Netflix. It paints a broad portrait on how the corporation is structured, its mindset, and how information is filtered and tightly controlled with a unifying message. In short, this is the film of all films for why we're seeing a building movement of protests worldwide who are uniting to stop the wealth disparity.

Consumer capitalism's funadmental core message is simple: You're not o.k. and never will be o.k. There is this mythical, imaginary image given to you for how one day you could live like -- the 1 percent. And what's worse, this land is just down the road from where you live. The messages are fragmented -- anything from purchasing a reverse mortgage in conniving someone to believing they could earn money on their homes which usually the opposite occurs to an expedient, convenient way to earn a degree and become employed right away with plenty of time to spend with the family. So, how is the message created and who is behind it?

For the most part, psychologists and sociologists work to provide a better understanding and way of life for diverse individuals. However, there are many who abuse this profession for their personal gain. Corporations hire these people to begin the messaging process. What will visually attract someone the most? Who are you targeting? What is the most effective means to make someone feel insecure? And finally, how can someone be convinced what I'm selling is a necessity? Inevitably, ideas float around based on these types of questions and they ultimately end up in front of our faces, enticing us to live a lifestyle beyond our means.

The corporate stamped message is delivered to the masses. This is when it spreads like wildfire. Unknowingly, people begin a word-of-mouth process, convincing themselves they need what was just offered. Someone purchases from the message, creating envy among others. Profits begin to soar, as people rush to keep up with "The Joneses." It's everything from the free new toy in the cereal box on the bottom shelves at grocery stores where they're easily accessible to children to the latest cell phone device packaged with the fastest download speeds for all Internet, applications, and games features (I guess making a phone call is not what a cell phone is intended to do nowadays).

The People vs. The Thought Police

Around 1 a.m. a few days ago, protesters camped out in tents at Zucotti Park in New York City were abruptly interrupted by a policeman on a megaphone demanding everyone leave immediately. Take all belongings with you. Many had little to no time to react. Police set up barricades, dressed like storm troopers with heavy-duty bullet proof gear and shields over their faces waving batons, stormed into the park. Video footage shows the New York City Police Department senselessly beating individuals who were trying to move to a less congested area to those who were simply sitting on the grass saying their encroachment is wrong. After the chaos subsided, all the tents and personal belongings were tossed into dump trucks and likely sent to the nearest landfill despite claims people could pick up their items with verifiable state issued IDs at the santiation department's office.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg effectively united and reignited what was recently reported as a fractured community in Zucotti Park. Many were becoming frustrated with how donated funds were being dispersed. Some believed their demands were being ignored, while others continued receiving first dibbs. Now, all those who had their differences are likely to be more focused and determined to renounce the mayor's bogus claims that too much violence and sanitation concerns were reasons for staging a military stealth-like operation overnight. More support and even greater numbers coming out to protest will certainly be encouraging to see, but we can expect to see more resistance from officials.

The irony is this: The U.S. supports the resignation of Syrian President Bashaar al-Assad for the horrific actions he has had his military impose on the Syrian people -- actions that have resulted in numerous civilian casualties who are simply exercising their universal right to protest. We now see what our so-called blind allegiance to symbols like our flag have done to us. Whenever unpopular speech arises that questions and/or challenges the status quo, authoritative figures will inflict harm. This isn't just a U.S. problem right now. It has occurred throughout our violent history.

Adbusters, a Canadian ad agency who promotes anti-consumer messages, helped to form the Occupy Wall Street movement. We've already seen some great acts of humanity: sheltering and feeding localities homeless population, providing medical care at the encampment that doesn't require a referral or an outrageous co-pay, and most importantly, building solidarity and community with one another. This certainly is a movement in the right direction where perhaps one day, stereotypes about what we wear, the color of our skin, how our hair looks, and political correctness dictated by established institutions will erode away.

Future article idea

My girlfriend is experiencing the same frustrations I went through for 13 months -- finding a job. In this day and age of outsourcing, we typically view it as jobs being shipped overseas. There's another outsourcing problem we face -- staffing and temp agencies. Less and less employers in the Atlanta area are hiring for permanent, full-time employment. More and more staffing agencies are used as vendors to help companies trim costs on employee pay and costs of benefits. This is a growing epidemic, as Georgia was one of seven states to lose jobs in 2010. In the meantime, the Georgia General Assembly seems to feel issues like putting "In God We Trust" on all license plates and eliminating immigrant workers from doing what very little to any would do is more important than doing one thing -- presenting a jobs bill. To date, there has been none issued by Republicans at the state level along with the national level.

I would like to explore just how many of this area's top employers use these staffing agencies. How many of this area's workforce, particularly top employers like Home Depot where she worked before they saw it wasn't in their budget to hire her on permanently with the company, use these fly-by-night staffing agencies? What is the staffing agency's selection process? Is it based on merit or like everywhere else, on who someone there knows? How much of an economic impact have these agencies had on this area and state? All these questions really express the frustration all of us in the 99 percent continue to experience.

Is the recent uprising after 'The Arab Spring' about more than just class warfare?

Since 2001, we've seen more and more tax cuts passed that've greatly contributed to an unprecedented wealth disparity. The "Occupy" movement started in New York City and now has made a global impact. Naturally, independent observers and critics have questioned the organized efforts, claiming there isn't a goal or coherent message. The message is very clear: End the corporate crime and corrupt influence that has directly impacted so many lives. As former progressive Congressman Alan Grayson has repeated, There hasn't been one arrest made or trial conducted over those who continue to rig the financial game.

Yesterday, the United States along with the United Kingdom, were the only two nations who voted against accepting Palestine as a member of UNESCO, a humanitarian arm of the United Nations. State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland dodged a direct question posed by a reporter. She was asked what "serious harm" has Palestine done that has outweighed its good to the global community. Nuland continued to persistently say the United States supports Palestine, but she never directly answered what "serious harm" the state has done. This vote should come as no surprise.

Each year, the U.S. and Israel have a strong business relationship worth billions for the U.S. in arms supplies for Israeli defense. Since Israel's independence and despite our mainstream press reporting, it has perpetrated numerous hostile aggressive actions in Palestine. The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated areas on the planet. So, who shoulders the blame?

The Oligarchy and Oligopoly System

Political dissident Noam Chomsky said democracy always comes at the expense of others. So, one can argue Israel's democracy comes at the expense of the Palestinian people. And our democracy also comes at the expense of the Palestinians. Are we truly looking after this region's best interests or our own? It appears the defense contractors and our Pentagon have the gold and make the golden rule.

The "Occupy" movement has inspired many to come out and have their voices heard -- voices silent for too long by those with deep, deep pockets. Oligopolies like the financial industry are being targeted for criminal behavior -- setting up a manipulative system that will vastly enrich their own pockets at the expense of others; others who have had their homes foreclosed on by shady mortgage practices, going bankrupt from health care bills, long-term unemployed who view themselves as useless to society, and unions who ask for a fair shake at the bargaining table where they can still retire with dignity and security.

Canesha and I have been to a General Assemby and marched to Capitol Hill with Occupy Atlanta. Both events were peaceful. We heard stories from individuals who have personally experienced the aforementioned effects from our olygarchy structure. The message is clear: We want democracy for all and not to the corporations, for the corporations, and by the corporations.

Many of us have been through hellish times, but we shouldn't discount all those times we've had with those who truly love and support us. Canesha and I have had unique journeys. Famed author Paulo Coelho wrote: "We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to think you're on the right path, but it's another to think yours is the only path." We seemingly have too few in high places who feel their path is the only one. If you can't get on that path, then you will be stripped bare.