tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471471289744825428.post4393590007083487650..comments2024-03-11T00:31:41.186-07:00Comments on The Oregon Economics Blog: My Op-EdPatrick Emersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17242234148546323374noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471471289744825428.post-42349771195776664962011-12-19T21:42:59.824-08:002011-12-19T21:42:59.824-08:00I get you point about the the Occupy movement bein...I get you point about the the Occupy movement being vague about the specific policy actions they seek. But, really, what do you expect from a “movement”? The roots of our economic malaise are deep and complex, and there are no simple bumper sticker solutions. It's more that enough for the Occupy movement to bring attention to the core problem (economic injustice) and raise its visibility to the public and policy makers. When the public and policy makers are sufficiently convinced that something needs to be done, then the appropriate technical and political resources can be brought to bear to formulate solutions. We're still a long way from that point as is demonstrated by the push-back from the power elite in government, industry, and the media.<br /><br />Concerning the port boycott, sure most large enterprises are global capitalists with ties to Wall Street and the international banking industry. But the real question is what target will resonate with the core Occupy message and garner the most attention from the press and the public. On this score, the port boycott is a good symbolic choice. Intuitively a port is a focal point of global capitalism. It brings to mind images of outsourced American jobs, cheap foreign products manufactured by near-slave labor, the international race to the bottom that enriches international corporations but leaves American workers behind. And it's visible and attracts attention – something that boycotting, say, a computer chip fabrication plant or an e-commerce data center wouldn't accomplish nearly as well.<br /><br />We could do with a lot less whining about a lack of specific policy recommendations from the Occupy movement and a lot more support for their message that the system is rigged in favor of the corporations and the wealthy and is leaving 99% of Americans (and the world) behind.coasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03544638904475858428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471471289744825428.post-15043275221781593942011-12-16T20:43:57.350-08:002011-12-16T20:43:57.350-08:00This Op-Ed basically sums up how i feel about the ...This Op-Ed basically sums up how i feel about the movement also. I am personally glad to see people on the streets protesting issues around inequality and economic injustice but the Occupy movement is keeping way to vague on what they want to see done about it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03551904586302918944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471471289744825428.post-13948706376624411822011-12-16T13:02:26.472-08:002011-12-16T13:02:26.472-08:00Cool, but I still can't find it. Can you prov...Cool, but I still can't find it. Can you provide a link?Patrick Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242234148546323374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471471289744825428.post-805447326287631762011-12-16T11:01:50.180-08:002011-12-16T11:01:50.180-08:00Patrick:
Your piece didn't appear (until now...Patrick: <br /><br />Your piece didn't appear (until now) on The Stump, The Oregonian's opinion site because the staff member who blogged it failed to take the last step to publish it earlier in the week. I found it in the system unpublished, and now it's up. Our apologies.<br /><br />Rick Attig, Associate EditorRick Attighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09540278293343447827noreply@blogger.com