Is it any wonder that people around the world are protesting in one way or another about climate change, inequalities in society in one form or another, so called free-trade agreements, unemployment the rich controlling far too much, etc. etc? The likes of a Donald Trump are readily finding support for they challenge the powers-that-be and the status quo with all in inequities.
Take this example #1:
"In a massive protest attempting to raise awareness of and spark outrage about America's corrupt campaign finance system and crumbling democracy on Monday, marches and sit-ins organized by Democracy Spring drew national attention and celebration on social media — though, unsurprisingly, they garnered little coverage in the mainstream.
Democracy Spring is an amalgamation of many high-profile progressive groups and public figures, and its stated goal is to organize in opposition to a political system that has permitted the wealthy few to "dominate the 'money primary' that decides who can run for office" and rig voting laws to their advantage.
"As hundreds of peaceful demonstrators were being hauled to jail for calling attention to a system that permits the rich and powerful to buy the government and get away with tanking the economy."
"We will make this election a referendum on whether our democracy should belong to the People as a whole or to the billionaire class alone."
Well, as the protests were taking place in front of the Capitol and elsewhere, headlines drew attention to another event of quite a different nature: Goldman Sachs, one of America's most prominent financial institutions, settled with the Justice Department for $5.1 billion and admitted that it defrauded investors.
While this case is unique in that Goldman acknowledged the "facts" about its behavior put forward by the Justice Department, it is also business as usual for one crucial reason: None of the executives involved are going to see the inside of a jail cell, and no criminal charges were levied.
Witness here the stark contrast, a striking example of America's two-tiered justice system — one tier for the rich and one for everyone else — on full display.
"Too-big-to-fail, meet small-enough-to-jail," as Matt Taibbi wrote in his book The Divide.
As hundreds of peaceful demonstrators were being hauled to jail for calling attention to a system that permits the rich and powerful to buy the government and get away with tanking the economy, those who played a significant role in tanking the economy were making a deal with the government that allows them to walk, scot-free. This case was, in fact, a victory for Goldman Sachs and America's most powerful financial institutions, as many have observed."
And then there is this across the Atlantic - example #2:
"A police crackdown will not deter France’s burgeoning Nuit Debout (or ‘Up All Night’) movement that has swept across the country in recent weeks as the unifying call for change sparked protests in over 50 cities this weekend.
Riot police early Monday cleared the encampment in the Place de la Republique in central Paris after 11 nights of protest, but demonstrators have vowed to maintain their nightly vigil.
Demonstrations this weekend were held in as many as 60 cities and towns across France as well as in Belgium, Germany, and Spain, according to reports, as an estimated 120,000 protested against austerity, globalization, increasing inequality, privatization, and the continent’s severe anti-migrant policies."
Take this example #1:
"In a massive protest attempting to raise awareness of and spark outrage about America's corrupt campaign finance system and crumbling democracy on Monday, marches and sit-ins organized by Democracy Spring drew national attention and celebration on social media — though, unsurprisingly, they garnered little coverage in the mainstream.
Democracy Spring is an amalgamation of many high-profile progressive groups and public figures, and its stated goal is to organize in opposition to a political system that has permitted the wealthy few to "dominate the 'money primary' that decides who can run for office" and rig voting laws to their advantage.
"As hundreds of peaceful demonstrators were being hauled to jail for calling attention to a system that permits the rich and powerful to buy the government and get away with tanking the economy."
"We will make this election a referendum on whether our democracy should belong to the People as a whole or to the billionaire class alone."
Well, as the protests were taking place in front of the Capitol and elsewhere, headlines drew attention to another event of quite a different nature: Goldman Sachs, one of America's most prominent financial institutions, settled with the Justice Department for $5.1 billion and admitted that it defrauded investors.
While this case is unique in that Goldman acknowledged the "facts" about its behavior put forward by the Justice Department, it is also business as usual for one crucial reason: None of the executives involved are going to see the inside of a jail cell, and no criminal charges were levied.
Witness here the stark contrast, a striking example of America's two-tiered justice system — one tier for the rich and one for everyone else — on full display.
"Too-big-to-fail, meet small-enough-to-jail," as Matt Taibbi wrote in his book The Divide.
As hundreds of peaceful demonstrators were being hauled to jail for calling attention to a system that permits the rich and powerful to buy the government and get away with tanking the economy, those who played a significant role in tanking the economy were making a deal with the government that allows them to walk, scot-free. This case was, in fact, a victory for Goldman Sachs and America's most powerful financial institutions, as many have observed."
And then there is this across the Atlantic - example #2:
"A police crackdown will not deter France’s burgeoning Nuit Debout (or ‘Up All Night’) movement that has swept across the country in recent weeks as the unifying call for change sparked protests in over 50 cities this weekend.
Riot police early Monday cleared the encampment in the Place de la Republique in central Paris after 11 nights of protest, but demonstrators have vowed to maintain their nightly vigil.
Demonstrations this weekend were held in as many as 60 cities and towns across France as well as in Belgium, Germany, and Spain, according to reports, as an estimated 120,000 protested against austerity, globalization, increasing inequality, privatization, and the continent’s severe anti-migrant policies."
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