by Rob Higgin Occupy Wall Street rebellion around the world is a welcome and unprecedented phenomena.
The message is clear: “To corporate America and Europe: You’re not to be trusted. We will find a better way.”
This is not the first time in history that wealthy men have plundered and bankrupted their own nations. This time it is both global and ecological.
For the past 70 or more years, Canadians, Americans, British and Europeans have been sliding inexorably into collective bankruptcy, living on a massive overdraft while our creditors mock us and play games with our money. The derivatives game alone is valued at 23 times the world’s entire Gross Domestic Product (http://seekingalpha.com/article/198197-why-derivatives-caused-financial-crisis).
Our contribution to the pot is $85 million stolen from Canadians every day through compound interest on the national debt. Add to that all the interest paid on mortgages and credit cards then multiply it by the United States and all of Europe. What good comes of it?
Imagine what could be done in a world where 23 or even 10 times our productive capacity was put back into the common pool. We could certainly fund better education, alternate power technologies, real health care and take better stock of our direction. Twenty-three times our productive capacity would be the equivalent of saving $23 for every dollar spent on your household budget. Or it would be 23 days of time with your children for every day spent working. Twenty-three days or $23 to spend on researching new ways of producing power, food, transportation, for every day or dollar needed for daily living. It would mean the ability to employ 23 more people for every person now employed.
That is the opportunity being squandered.
Everything on earth ends eventually to make way for something new. We will see the end of British/American banking, and just as well: the paradigm or pattern of finance has brought us to the brink of destruction culturally, ecologically and spiritually.
The Occupy Wall Street and Bank Transfer Day are only the beginning of the second American Revolution for the very same reason as the first. This time, however, it’s a global revolution. People on the streets of New York, London, Amsterdam and Berlin have the education, the capacity for diverse viewpoints and now the will to change. They are joined by millions who quietly pray for them for a better world.
Now is the time for all of us to ask “How can we take the profit out of war?” “How can we reduce our dependence on oil?” “How can we share of our abundance?” “How can we make our money serve the common good?” Ask these questions in unison and the universe will bend to us with light and knowledge beyond anything now dreamed.
The wheels are in motion, they will not be stopped.
Rob Higgin lives south of town and can be contacted at 604.487.1119 or through email [email protected]. Occupy Wall Street planning sessions are being held at 7 pm every Tuesday evening at Higgin’s Inn.
