ive just come on here for the first time because im really worried about everyones futures and felt the need to find out about it, what you have just said makes so much sense dont play up to the bullies just ignore them!!! ive always worked hard and have always conformed and ive ended up homeless on two occasions. theres no room for anyone to flourish! i just dont understand why all the leaders of the world cant just meet up, cast their weapons aside and make friends? is war beneficial to anyone? people who work should be entitled to at least a helping hand (rather than being taxed and extorted from every angle), those who cant be bothered to diversify and go and get a job quite simply need a kick up the rear!!!

anyway im probably wrong about all of this but thanks limey biker im gonna spread your theory and stop feeding the wrong mouths!

I suggest that people take their paychecks to the bank upon which it is drawn and turn it into cash right away, and use their neighbourhood retailers rather than the shopping centre you have to drive to. Ones local area contains most of the skills a reasonable lifestyle needs, and having the plumber up the street fix a leak keeps your exchange markers (money) in your local area. People working together to avoid plastic payments enables families to reduce the debt load, and if the Stock Exchange moneygrubbers can’t get their hands on your money, they will eat each other. Remind yourself what real bread tastes like and you will lose interest in the plastic wrapped sliced nonsense they gave us in infant school. A large twist, fresh out of Rayner’s oven was heaven to me as a boy, and as I now live in the USA I have to make do with what they call French Farm bread. It is never more than twelve hours old when I get it.

My point is to not use banks unless you have to, not use the big national chain stores that belong to the 174 corporate giants, and keep your exchange markers among you and your neighbours. It will take a little more time to do things, but you will become a community. Kids can help each other with schoolwork and maybe, perhaps win scholarships for further education, rather than forty seven bazillion points in the latest video game fad. They also may find a professional course to chart as a result of meeting the adults in other local homes. Think Coronation Street, or East Enders. Both shows were about neighbours IN each others lives. I am not suggesting sainthood for Ena Sharples, but doing things for those around you because they are needed. If one of the kids does a shopping errand for old Missus Knowles on the corner, he might come home with a square metre of bread pudding. Munchies all week.If all pull together with those around home and rely on each other we can beat the multinational financial powerhouses, 99 vs. 1

1. International agreement on a cap on wages/ ratio of lowest to highest earners
2. International agreement on regulation of banks.
3. Tax incentives for cooperative businesses

Okay it STILL is a bit wishy washy (it was on the spot thinking) and I know we can be more specific but its still a hell of alot more defined than the “Greedy corporations, lets all be equal and be as one with the planet” statement you’ve got. Be REALISTIC aswell as idealistic

IF INTERESTED please contact me through my youtube channel -professorro.

Compare how fast we got to the iPod4 from the ‘phone in a suitcase’ of the 70′s to the fact that we’re still driving a victorian heat engine when we could have gone truly electric years ago. In my opinion, this refusal to allow the next economic trigger to initiate the next economic cycle is causing the current global recession.

Any thoughts on this?

Unfortunately – as it has been pointed out before – it is not really possible/feasible to just wipe the slates clean and cancel all the debts (for governments and definitely not private debts either)

As I said, I have yet to read through all the comments yet, so please forgive me if many of these points have already been discussed below.

Going through the above list one at a time.

1. The current system is unsustainable. It is undemocratic and unjust. We need alternatives; this is where we work towards them.

Could someone please comment with any of these suggested alternatives – I would love to be able to try and discuss them in more detail (as of yet, I have not come across any real alternatives, but have only had a short time to look)

2. We are of all ethnicities, backgrounds, genders, generations, sexualities dis/abilities and faiths. We stand together with occupations all over the world.

Suggesting using education/support centres/groups/etc. to end racism/sexism/ageism/etc.? Or is this just a off hand statement to suggest that everyone from all backgrounds/genders/generations/sexualities/etc. agree with what you are saying?

3. We refuse to pay for the banks’ crisis.
But unfortunately someone has to. As it has been stated before (by other people and not just me) it is not possible or feasible to just wipe out the banks debts. Nor is it possible or feasible for them to pay the debts themselves. By ‘signing’ (not literal) ourselves up to the societies that we live in, we inadvertently agree to help support the society as a whole. This is why there are taxes/fees etc.. The banks need the society and the society (currently) needs the banks. If one fails, both suffer. Could someone please suggest an alternative to trying to dig the banks out of the hole they are in?

4. We do not accept the cuts as either necessary or inevitable. We demand an end to global tax injustice and our democracy representing corporations instead of the people.

I will take these as 2 points.
On the first one (“We do not accept the cuts as either necessary or inevitable”): As stated before, the money needs to come from somewhere. If it is not cuts, then it is increased taxes. It all depends on what medicine you find more preferable.
As for the second point (“We demand an end to global tax injustice and our democracy representing corporations instead of the people”): ‘global’ is a hard thing to achieve in practice. But if we just took it at the UK for the moment. Yes, perhaps the few who are earning the most should be taxed the most (already are for the most part), but perhaps they should be taxed more? However the problems with this are that companies will look further abroad to set up their business then the UK (as they will make more money). As for democracy representing corporations rather than people, I am guessing that you are strongly suggesting banks as the main point of this comment? Democracy also unfortunately costs money, there is no such thing as a free democracy. As such, it is difficult to separate the politics from the companies that help to fund it. Sure, the people should have a greater role in democracy (this will always be the case – unless people are willing to all turn up in person to parliament and discuss motions/laws/etc. and change the laws in person. – and I am sure that you can all see what the problems with this would be).

5. We want regulators to be genuinely independent of the industries they regulate.
Agree. But due to the interconnected society that we currently live in – it would be extremely difficult to completely separate the two without at least one person having a vested interest in something or other.

6. We support the strike on the 30th November and the student action on the 9th November, and actions to defend our health services, welfare, education and employment, and to stop wars and arms dealing.

I always think our health system should be defended. The NHS gets far more criticism then it deserves. It is possibly one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Also agree that welfare and education should also be protected – as a healthy, educated, supported populace will help to create and fund a healthy powerful society. I think changes could be made in places, perhaps, but these should be done carefully and slowly. Stopping wars is a difficult point for me, as I am not the kind of person who can see that all wars are inherently pointless, and think some wars may truly be justified/valid (feel free to hate me/disagree all you want on this topic – of course I will be willing to discuss this (like everything else) as long as it doesn’t turn into a pointless flame-fest). Arms dealing should be done much more carefully. But then again, to make a profit, companies will always be willing to trade with those they shouldn’t. : /

7. We want structural change towards authentic global equality. The world’s resources must go towards caring for people and the planet, not the military, corporate profits or the rich.

I do not think this is feasible either. The rich are not just ‘made’ rich. They become rich by doing what they do better than everyone else (or are born into it, and then someone before them did what they did best). If we look at silicon as an example of one of the world’s resources: It is extracted – then possibly refined – then turned into a product/compound – then turned into a product/compound – etc. – then sold to another set of people who will use it in construction/manufacture/etc. – before finally reaching the general public in some form or other.
In every step, the companies need to sell it for more then it takes them to buy/use to make a profit – or else the companies would go bust and someone else who is better at it would take over.
These steps lead to an inequality between people, as some people will inherently earn more than others throughout this process. The world’s resources can not go towards caring for people directly, without helping to generate corporate profits or make the rich richer.
I do think that more effort should be put into caring for the planet, but these changes will take time, and will cost money – if not in the long term at least in the short term. And it is very easy for people to only look at the short term, especially when money is involved.

8. The present economic system pollutes land, sea and air, is causing massive loss of natural species and environments, and is accelerating humanity towards irreversible climate change. We call for a positive, sustainable economic system that benefits present and future generations. [1]

Agree. But as stated above – time and money will be involved – and few people are willing to part with what little time/money they have at the moment.

9. We stand in solidarity with the global oppressed and we call for an end to the actions of our government and others in causing this oppression.

Easy to look at this point using hindsight – but even then it is not that easy, as how long is long enough for benefit to be seen from ones actions? I think this point is very subjective and situational. Sure our government should not be involved in causing oppression to others, but I do think there are times when it should get involved in others affairs. Also it can be hard to see when ones actions may in the future not lead to someone else being oppressed.

Thanks for spending the time to read any of this. Please feel free to respond, I will try to find time to reply if I can.