Why I Occupy

The Occupy movement has grown a lot (though not locally) and I support it wholeheartedly. Most people have an opinion one way or the other. Some people just don't seem to care. Being a spiritual person I don't see how I can "not" care. At the core of the movement is the people's complaint that the government is influenced by big corporations and their money. Laws are passed not based on what's best for the people but by lobbyist, campaign contributions etc. When I watch movies like Food Inc and The World According to Monsanto I get pissed. How can the government be allowing this to happen to our food supply? Is the money they receive from the big corporations so important? To the detriment of the people? What about what is being done to the Earth? Whether you believe in the Christian god or Mother Earth it is our job to be stewards of the Earth. This is our home. We don't get another one. Being able to afford to eat healthy shouldn't be a privilege it should be a right. Our children that attend public schools should be given a well balanced meal. People say there are jobs here if your willing to work but where are they really? I remember my father talking about graduation from high school. If you didn't go to college you went to work for Cat. Well not anymore. Those that came before us worked hard to unionize our work force. They made your work place a safer environment for you and the pay better whether you now work for a union or not. Well the big greedy retail companies figured out a way around that. They buy the stuff that's made overseas in the sweat shops. So many companies have left American soil citing the need to be "globally competitive." Bullshit. Your getting cheap labor and stuffing your pockets. This is fine with the government. They passed the laws to protect our own workers (I'm sure there was tremendous pressure) but are perfectly fine if our goods come from child/sweat shop labor. Hypocrits. Another problem I see is the companies that hold government contracts. I believe if your company has a government contract then your workers should be tax-paying Americans. I don't want to call to check on my medicare claim and get a call center in Manilla.

OK I've ranted quite a bit. The bottom line is that I want a better future for my children and grandchildren. The government should be for the people and influenced by their needs not the greed of big corporations.

Blessings,

Emerald