Thoughts for the Day (10/23/11)

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. -Margaret Mead

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             We are confronted with insurmountable opportunities. -- Pogo 

Thought for the Day (10/20/11)

"It [Occupy, 99%, OWS] rightly puts the focus on the economic institutions rather than on the politicians who are merely their lackeys. The countless grievances may not constitute a coherent program, but taken as a whole they already imply a fundamental transformation of the system. The nature of that transformation will become clearer as the struggle develops. If the movement ends up forcing the system to come up with some sort of significant, New Deal-type reforms, so much the better — that will temporarily ease conditions so we can more easily push further. If the system proves incapable of implementing any significant reforms, that will force people to look into more radical alternatives." - Bureau of Public Secrets

Thought for the Day (10/18/11)

". . . the rise of the social-welfare state was a response (often of market-oriented liberal democracies) to the threat of popular revolutions, socialism, and communism as the frequency and severity of economic and financial crises increased . . . Any economic model that does not properly address inequality will eventually face a crisis of legitimacy. Unless the relative economic roles of the market and the state are rebalanced, the protests of 2011 will become more severe, with social and political instability eventually harming long-term economic growth and welfare."

Nouriel Roubini writing at truth-out.org