Hey G20, Here Comes #ROBINHOOD
ADBUSTERS TACTICAL BRIEFING #16
Alright you rebels, redeemers and believers out there,
At the height of the global uprisings in 1968, protesters confidently heralded "The Beginning of a New Epoch." To this bravado, Zbigniew Brzezinski, then the national security advisor to the president of the United States, retorted that the protests were nothing but "the death rattle of the historical irrelevants." And indeed the first global revolution the world had ever seen suddenly fizzled out. To this day no one quite knows why.
For the moment, #OCCUPY has the magic and the ear of the world, and anything seems possible. We could see a soft regime change in America and a resurgence of the political left worldwide.
As winter approaches, many occupiers will dig in for the long haul. Others will decamp until spring and channel their energy into myriad projects. Many of the big ideas for rejuvenating and reenchanting the world that have been swirling around the left for the last 20 years will pick up steam. From revoking corporate personhood to de-commercializing the cultural commons, to separating money from politics, to the birth of a True Cost Party of America … we are entering a sustained period of boots-on-the-ground transformation.
And every now and again we will have a worldwide blast reminiscent of the global march against the Iraq war eight years ago. The next of these blasts could happen as early as this Saturday when #ROBINHOOD strikes the G20. Imagine a few million people rising up and sending a message to the G20 leaders meeting November 3/4 in France: "This austerity vs. stimulus debate you've foisted on us doesn't mean a damn thing… It's obvious you have no idea how to get us out of this economic mess you put us in. So now we are telling you what we want: a radical transformation of casino capitalism… we want you to slow down fast money with a 1% #ROBINHOOD tax on all financial transactions and currency trades."
#ROBINHOOD marches have already been announced in over a dozen cities. Bring it up at your general assembly … then create some edgy Robin Hood graphics for the world to digest and let's march out there millions strong this Saturday … Let's leverage the G20!
This could be the first great upheaval of the financial regime … and the first delicious fruit of our movement.
for the wild,
Culture Jammers HQ
There are #ROBINHOOD actions currently planned in San Antonio, Las Vegas, Montreal, Durango, Calgary, Washington DC, Santa Fe, Denver, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Sydney, Amarillo, Edmonton, Salt Lake City, Berlin and more…
occupywallstreet.org / 29october.net / occupytogether.org / Twitter / Facebook
P.S. On Tuesday, the nonviolent protestors at #OCCUPYOAKLAND were assaulted with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash grenades. Disturbing footage of police violence is now emerging. That same day, #OCCUPYATLANTA was foreclosed and over 50 protestors arrested. The counter-revolution of money has begun but our commitment to nonviolence will win.
204 comments on the article “Hey G20, Here Comes #ROBINHOOD”
Displaying 61 - 70 of 204
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Anonymous
Ultimately, any Robin Hood Tax will most likely end up in a fund to ensure that banks are adequately capitalized, and one which will be used to bailout, or insure big bank losses and trillions in gambling derivative bets.
I think it is basically a transfer from ordinary folk to rich bankers to keep the status quo, otherwise I can't see why George Soros and Warren Buffett would support the idea. Or Bill Gates? Aren't these the guys we should be taxing not the working classes.
Initially I thought it was a good idea but now I think it will just make the bankers more powerful.
We shouldn't support a Robin Hood Tax if it harms old people with retirement savings either.
I support OWS but not this idea.
Anonymous
Ultimately, any Robin Hood Tax will most likely end up in a fund to ensure that banks are adequately capitalized, and one which will be used to bailout, or insure big bank losses and trillions in gambling derivative bets.
I think it is basically a transfer from ordinary folk to rich bankers to keep the status quo, otherwise I can't see why George Soros and Warren Buffett would support the idea. Or Bill Gates? Aren't these the guys we should be taxing not the working classes.
Initially I thought it was a good idea but now I think it will just make the bankers more powerful.
We shouldn't support a Robin Hood Tax if it harms old people with retirement savings either.
I support OWS but not this idea.
Anonymous
NO! to Robinhood! Focus on WallSt regulation, not going after handouts!
In the battle to shape public perception, Robinhood plays into the hands of the bankster. The banksters can spin it as lazy, unproductive people, seeking more ways to get by on the public dole.
You (Adbusters) and I know that WallSt is NOT actually productive - they get their profits by cheating. But the general public does not understand that as clearly.
IMO, VERY IMPORTANT TO STAY FOCUSED ON RE-INSTATING GLASS-STEAGALL, or something fully as effective. We haven't gotten rid of the 'too-big-to-fail' investment banks, and they are still, via derivatives, gambling like crazy, knowing the taxpayer will bail them out if they make too many risky bets.
Anonymous
NO! to Robinhood! Focus on WallSt regulation, not going after handouts!
In the battle to shape public perception, Robinhood plays into the hands of the bankster. The banksters can spin it as lazy, unproductive people, seeking more ways to get by on the public dole.
You (Adbusters) and I know that WallSt is NOT actually productive - they get their profits by cheating. But the general public does not understand that as clearly.
IMO, VERY IMPORTANT TO STAY FOCUSED ON RE-INSTATING GLASS-STEAGALL, or something fully as effective. We haven't gotten rid of the 'too-big-to-fail' investment banks, and they are still, via derivatives, gambling like crazy, knowing the taxpayer will bail them out if they make too many risky bets.
erik reichenbach
I totally agree with this. Its not about a hand-out its about making the banks responsible and regulated so they don't manhandle our government / society.
erik reichenbach
I totally agree with this. Its not about a hand-out its about making the banks responsible and regulated so they don't manhandle our government / society.
Anonymous
I have a friend in banking and he thinks a Robin Hood Tax will consolidate the banks position of strength because we will become dependent on the revenue from the taxes. Who controls this money? A world government?
It might be game over for any hopes of making banks accountable and bringing true democracy to the 99%.
Anonymous
I have a friend in banking and he thinks a Robin Hood Tax will consolidate the banks position of strength because we will become dependent on the revenue from the taxes. Who controls this money? A world government?
It might be game over for any hopes of making banks accountable and bringing true democracy to the 99%.
Anonymous
A Robin Hood Tax sounds very divisive.
I think we should focus efforts on finding common ground on all sides of the political debate. I am sick of all the political bickering. If we keep an open mind there is a lot that OWS and Tea Party supporters can agree on. For one, not bailing out the bankers ever again. Protect depositers, not the bankers. Make it a criminal offense for politicians to use taxpayers money to bail out private corporations engaging in proprietary high frequency trading. That money can be used to help the unemployed find work instead. Give the money to ordinary people that have fallen on hard times, not the bankers at Goldman Sachs. A true capitalist would have allowed Goldman Sachs to fail, but instead the US taxpayer allowed them to continue.
If Buffett had not invested in Goldman Sachs at the favourable terms offered to him by the US taxpayer in 2008 then the 27-year old earning $600k a year would have had to find other work. That was the big mistake and we did not hold our politicians accountable.
We should not become an ideological movement on the left or right but be as inclusive as possible. I fear OWS is being hijacked by Robin Hood campaigners pushing a political agenda. OWS was not about taxing the poor and middle class. It was supposed to be a protest against Wall Street.
Anonymous
A Robin Hood Tax sounds very divisive.
I think we should focus efforts on finding common ground on all sides of the political debate. I am sick of all the political bickering. If we keep an open mind there is a lot that OWS and Tea Party supporters can agree on. For one, not bailing out the bankers ever again. Protect depositers, not the bankers. Make it a criminal offense for politicians to use taxpayers money to bail out private corporations engaging in proprietary high frequency trading. That money can be used to help the unemployed find work instead. Give the money to ordinary people that have fallen on hard times, not the bankers at Goldman Sachs. A true capitalist would have allowed Goldman Sachs to fail, but instead the US taxpayer allowed them to continue.
If Buffett had not invested in Goldman Sachs at the favourable terms offered to him by the US taxpayer in 2008 then the 27-year old earning $600k a year would have had to find other work. That was the big mistake and we did not hold our politicians accountable.
We should not become an ideological movement on the left or right but be as inclusive as possible. I fear OWS is being hijacked by Robin Hood campaigners pushing a political agenda. OWS was not about taxing the poor and middle class. It was supposed to be a protest against Wall Street.
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