This is a simple message. Loud and clear. Heard in every barbershop, student union, basketball court and after-school hangout. Not a message that is wrapped nicely with the perfect bow. We were never too good at gift wrapping, cause we were too busy rockin’ to the beat of Kurtis Blow’s “Christmas Rappin’.”
Not a message for soundbites or talking heads. Not a message for politicians to send around in emails to raise money for their campaigns.
This is a message understood by the recent college graduate that can’t find a job. A message understood by the high school student who works late after school because her mom and dad were layed off when the factory closed in town.A message understood by the young woman who works three jobs just to put 2 1/2 meals on the table for her children. A message undertstood by the 25 year old who can’t keep up with his student loan payments. A message undertstood by the first time home owner who had to file for bankruptcy because of a faulty mortgage.
The message is loud. It is clear.
The future for our generation has been severely compromised due to the undue influence of corporations on policy created by our government, and we’ve had enough!
In no way do I represent the protesters who “occupy” Wall Street … or who occupy the financial districts of Boston, Washington, Seattle, Los Angeles or any of the protests in the 150+ cities around the country.
This is a new form of organizing. New tools. New people. New mission. No leaders.
A people’s movement with a message that is loud and clear. We don’t have campaign slogans or white papers, we make trending topics and status updates. And once we trend, we put boots on the ground.
You are skeptical of us and we know that. You were skeptical of us when we started to spit the truths of our realities and waxed them poetically on vinyl. You were skeptical of us when we knew we could elect the first black man to be President of the United States. You were skeptical of us when we built a social network that you now use more than us. You were skeptical of us when we believed that all people should be able to get married and be happy. We accept your skepticism, but we also invite you to join us.
Join us, as we know you are part of the 99 percent too. Although we understand that many of the 1 percent who have been profiteering have not “broken” the rules, the rules still have allowed for the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer and they need to change.
The power must be transferred out of the hands of the corporations and back into the hands of the people. Many Republicans and some Democrats think they are “made” men, we see right through you, and know that you are paid men.
The message is loud and the message is clear. The demands are obvious.
Don’t be fooled by some lazy media outlet or “get-out-the-vote” politician to have to provide a punch list of “what we want.” This is not about checking off boxes or scratching out to-do lists. Remember, this is new. This is fresh.
This is about pushing forward a more compassionate, perfected union that will loosen the grip of lobbyists, special interests and big corporations on our government.
It will take the commitment of students, workers, organizers and the unemployed as well as the courage of a few politicians to write sweeping legislation that the people will make sure gets passed.
Until that day, we got 99 problems but greed ain’t one!
Michael Skolnik is the Editor-In-Chief of GlobalGrind.com and the political director to Russell Simmons. Prior to this, Michael was an award-winning filmmaker. Follow him on twitter @MichaelSkolnik
