Occupation Wall Street and others

[sangom]

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Wall Street Occupation and then OccupyChicago, OccupyFlorida, OccupyDenver or Occupy LA, are these initial nascent signs of a "sons & daughters of the soil (SOTS)" theory taking roots in crisis-looming US?

If the US politicians - now that there are Indian brains in US Politics also as per some recent post - decide to cultivate this SOTS and win elections, what will be the fate of NRIs?

I request members to give their learned and informed views.

 

[prasad1]

Sangom sir,
The sky is not falling.
There are various factions in US politics. There are various election time politics at play. Us should rectify some of the trade imbalances. Will have to correct their immigration policy, Tax policy and some other policies. Majority of NRI's are citizens so they are in no danger. People who are not citizens may have cause for worry as services to retirees may be changed. We do have to choose our country, you can not row two boats at the same time. SOTS has not even hit the airwaves here in US. They are still not resolved the situation with illegal immigrants.

 

[Yamaka]

Dear Sangom:

1. Most Americans (except a few "red necks") believe that America is a land of immigrants, built for the kids of Immigrants by Immigrants... therefore, the SOTS is really not the issue.

2. However, when there is persistent unemployment (about 9%) and there are about 11 million people grossly underemployed for a long time, sometimes the anger level boils over...and people want to blame "Chinese" "Indians" or whoever they see looking "different". This will not stand.

3. "Occupy WallStreet" is a belated reaction to the financial tsunami we had in 2008, and one Oscar winning documentary highlighted the roles played by the Mega Banks in Wall Street, and the director asked a simple question when he received the award, "Why NO one has gone to jail, as yet?".

4. Last month, Federal Home Association (an arm of Govt) has decided to sue 27 biggest Banks in Wall Street for knowingly selling bogus bonds (the so-called Mortgage Obligated Securities) to Federal agencies like FNMA and others.

We have to wait and see what the federal courts say about it after the trial.

5. In a way, this OccupyWallStreet is an antidote to what the "Tea Partiers" did to Healthcare Reform two years ago.

Wait & watch.

 

[prasad1]

The situation is nothing like the situation in Tamil Nadu for TB's, not getting admission, or jobs because of the quota system.

It is not like Maharastra where MNS or what ever the flavor of the month party decides.
It is not like UP where ones life depends on Mayavati's whims.

It is not like Andhra & Telengana where you are not sure of your future.
Like Yamaka said life has become little bit more complicated with the economic downturn.
Still US is the place to be.

 

[Nara]

Wall Street Occupation and then OccupyChicago, OccupyFlorida, OccupyDenver or Occupy LA, are these initial nascent signs of a "sons & daughters of the soil (SOTS)" theory taking roots in crisis-looming US?.

Sangom sir, an occupy protest event is planned in the city where I live this Friday, my wife and I are planning to attend.

This has nothing whatsoever to do with SOTS.

The angst is against the economic policies of Republican and Democratic parties alike that have resulted in 1% of Americans owning 95% of the wealth, top 400 wealthy richer than half the U.S. population, and yet, these rich and powerful are able to game the system with the connivance of both parties for their own benefit while the ordinary folks suffer.

It is convenient to blame the Republicans, but the Democrats are no less guilty. President Obama surrounds himself with the same Wall Street bankers who were part of the problem. Not a single Wall Street banker has been indicted in his presidency.

The protesters are motivated by a desire for justice, not parochial politics of "us" v. "them".

Cheers!

 

[Haridasa Siva]

That is perhaps the difference between "us" (Indians) and "U.S.":scared:

 

[sangom]

Respected members,

Thank you for the valuable feedback. FYI i give below the gist of an e-mail msg I recd.

Occupation: Wall Street (by David Graeber in the Guardian and quoted in Hindustan Times dt 3/10):

“Why are people occupying Wall Street? Why has the occupation sent out sparks across America, within days, inspiring hundreds of people to send pizzas, money, equipment and now, to start their own movements called OccupyChicago, OccupyFlorida, OccupyDenver or Occupy LA?

There are obvious reasons. We are watching the beginnings of the defiant self-assertion of a new generation of Americans, a generation who are finishing their education with no jobs, no future, but still saddled with enormous, unforgivable debt. Most were of working class or otherwise modest backgrounds, kids who did exactly what they were told they should: studied , got into college, and are not being humiliated – faced with a life as deadbeats, moral reprobates”

One often comes across some worthy immigrants, including NRIs, in the West criticizing the local governments for all and sundry omissions and commissions and what they perceive to be their bankrupt policies.

Suppose the West’s politicians turn as vile and venal as ours and take a leaf out of the example of the parochial kazhakamwallas in TN, sainiks in Maharashtra and equally narrow-minded worthies in other States, and take up the cause of the hard-hit and financially-strapped citizens in their own countries and successfully wrest power on the promise of a better deal to their own poor citizens, think of the fate of all the immigrants. So it would be far more worth their while for the immigrants who have taken safe shelter there to start offering special pujas and prayers in Balaji or other temples there that the local politicians do not follow in the footsteps of their counterparts in India.

 

[Nara]

and take up the cause of the hard-hit and financially-strapped citizens in their own countries and successfully wrest power on the promise of a better deal to their own poor citizens, think of the fate of all the immigrants.

Sangom sir, I don't know who the author of this e-mail is, but it is clear he/she is unfamiliar with the political realities in the U.S. Even the most virulent anti-immigration zealots talk about "illegal" immigration only. There are a few states in the south and west that have passed strict laws against "illegal" immigration and these are being challenged in the courts. This will be settled through judicial process, not in the streets.

U.S. is one of the most immigrant-friendly countries. Most are citizens too. For such elderly immigrant citizens who have not put in a cent's worth of taxes towards social security and medicare get to enjoy 100% free medical care, drugs, and supplemental social security income as well. There is no grumbling for this at the grassroots level. When these old immigrants go to the social security office, mainly for medical insurance, the officers there sign them up for everything they are eligible for.

So, there is nothing called "their own" poor. Talk of taking "safe shelter" is LOL material.

the example of the parochial kazhakamwallas in TN

.. this is not nice on the part of the e-mail sender. For all the rhetoric the Kazakamwalas have never acted the way the Shiv Sena people or the Karnataka people acting against Tamil, have acted. Dissing Kazhagam is now second nature I suppose, sigh!

Cheers!

p.s. Is not red font reserved for moderators?

 

[sangom]

p.s. Is not red font reserved for moderators?

I thought only "red" was so reserved. So, I used brick red. Is that also not allowed? Anyway I have changed it to blue now.