Tag: Corporations

We Thought We Told You That We Won’t Stop

by Drew D. Duzinskas

It’s been a frustrating day here in the sweet and sleepy little city of Springfield. As usual, my mind is occupied with matters of a legislative nature. Our old nemesis, SB0397 came back to the Statehouse today.

As you probably know, SB0397 represents the worst kind of legislation to those of us in Occupy Springfield, IL. (OSI). Corporate extortionists holding the state legislature in terror of the prospect of losing more jobs in a state that’s already struggling to pay it’s own bills and keep it’s citizens employed; sounds like a job for OSI. In particular, Sears and the Chicago Mercantile Extortionists… oh sorry, Exchange, are demanding ludicrous tax breaks at the expense of a state budget wracked in debt. The proverbial Dude does not abide in this situation, and we felt this aggression could not stand. That’s why OSI has aggressively pursued stopping the bill, having before today appeared at the statehouse 3 times to protest it.

I was already spun from my recent incident at Congressman Schock’s office when SB0397’s return to the Illinois General Assembly was brought up at the Occupy General Assembly Saturday afternoon. Staring a $500.00 fine and a potential court battle in the eyes and knowing you just painted a bulls-eye on your back would be enough for a lot of people to want to back away from any more provocative protest actions. Too bad that’s not the kind of man I am, and if I wasn’t I don’t think I’d be an Occupier.

You see, targeting a bill like SB0397 is a lot like what I imagine hunting dangerous big game is like. We may not be able to bag the thing like we want, but we can damn sure see to it that some damage is done to the beast. Banners, sidewalk chalking, The People’s Mic, etc.… are the weapons we use in public spheres to take shots at these things. They create a spectacle people are compelled to watch because it deals with real issues, real people, real dollars being spent. Who wants to watch some crappy T.V. show some corporate shill put out to make a few bucks, when you can watch history unfold before your eyes? Hopefully, if you can get enough people talking about the things you’re talking about, educating themselves, and making decisions based on that, you’re cooking with a tin stove.

We’ve been itching to drop a banner somewhere, and this seemed like a good enough reason. Unfortunately, we had to develop the strategy on the fly. We didn’t really have the kind of in depth intelligence on the Gallery balcony in the Statehouse (our chosen public sphere for the operation) that allows for a perfect plan. We also didn’t have a banner yet. No problem for OSI.

We began designing and making a banner immediately. OSI is a do it yourself operation, so connecting a few bed sheets together and slapping some paint on them wasn’t beyond our capabilities at all. We found an operative with an artistic aptitude to recreate our OSI logo on it, and within 36 hours we had a banner that said “Stop Corporate Extortion OSI”. Gotta love Occupy Springfield, IL. R&D.

The trickier part came on the action end of the operation. We arrived about 25 strong at the statehouse, give or take. I filed in at about noon or so, and took up a role helping troubleshoot the situation. We were able to successfully teleport the banner in using advanced technology acquired from Occupy Area 51, and had it hidden near the railing we had chosen for maximum public exposure. There were unforeseen obstacles like lights on the wall and pillars that we had to work around, but we were able to develop a plan on the spot that would effectively display our message.

Unfortunately, unlike seasoned hunters that know the exact right time to use their weapon for maximum damage, we might have fired our shot of too quickly. As soon as the debates for the day began, we felt it was time to drop the banner. In hindsight, we probably could have waited until the debate on our bill. Oh well, you can’t roll down the highway of life looking the rear view mirror. Besides, the message we sent is what it is, regardless of timing.

I went down to the railing and took the banner out of its hiding spot, and started setting up. I handed it to one operative dressed in a suit, while another one in the same garb took the other end. We had to do a quick twist job to line it up, but within 10 seconds, the banner was up and visible to the politicos below. I stepped back and held my left fist up in the air, as did the rest of our group, as we heard someone call for security to stop us.

Within 30 seconds, we were being ejected yet again from the Statehouse. Despite the short time of the event, we did get some good exposure. There were iPhones and cameras out, and some of our people were able to retrieve video of the event. There were also some television cameras with a perfect pan shot of the banner. That was no coincidence.

Unfortunately, the bill passed through the House today, despite our efforts. It’s up for vote in the Senate next, but it looks like we won’t get this one. That’s alright, we’re making a point that we want everyone in that building to know about.

These actions are all about raising public awareness. You see, we at OSI don’t ask ourselves how far we have to go to get the change we want. We ask if we will be able to do whatever it takes to make change happen. By the looks of our crew so far, and the ruckus we continue to make, it seems that we will. We’ve already shown that it isn’t what we do that makes us hated and possibly feared. It’s what we don’t do, and that’s stop. Solidarity Campaneros, and good hunting!

A ‘Banner’ Day for Occupy Springfield, IL.

by AJ Segneri

The following is our video footage and press release after today’s action:

OCCUPY SPRINGFIELD DISAPPOINTED ON VOTING OUTCOME BY THE HOUSE

SPRINGFIELD, IL – On December 12th the Illinois House voted 81-28 to allow tax breaks for Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and Sears Holdings Corp. where the bill will be sent to the Illinois Senate for a final vote. This bill would provide $85 million per year in tax breaks from the state of Illinois for CME, as well as Sears Holding Corp. receiving $15 million per year in income tax breaks for 10 years, on top of a $125 million property tax break over 10 years. The bill also allows CME 27.5 percent of its transactions as Illinois revenue, exempting the majority from state taxes. The state of Illinois is $600 million backlogged in corporate tax returns.

Minutes before the vote went underway on the House floor, members from Occupy Springfield (OSI) displayed a banner that read “STOP COPORATE EXTORTION” and contained their logo and “OSI”. “The banner spoke for us” said Deanna Trader, member of OSI. “As the banner dropped the legislature turned to see the members of Occupy Springfield, IL., and their supporters, standing silently behind it, fists in the air” said Chris Blankenhorn, another member of OSI. As the House security tried to take away the banner the police let the banner drop and it got caught on some light fixtures. “The House security was so anxious to get rid of the banner that they yanked it from my hands, letting it fall and get caught on the light fixture” said Jordan, another member of OSI.

OSI is an active organization where their activities have included, but have not been limited to, conducting rallies at the Capitol Building, testifying before the Illinois State Senate Finance Committee regarding the CME-Sears Holding Corp. bill, conducting Teach-in sessions at the Lincoln Library, and helping the oppressed in Springfield. OSI represents the 99 percent of Americans that are being pushed down both by the political and US economic system.

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To The Mainstream Media, From The Corporate Masters Of The World

by Jordan C. Humphrey

An intercepted letter from the 1% to the Mainstream media.

To The Mainstream Media,

Our valued servants, it has come to our attention that a movement to depose our rightful rule of this Earth, called “the 99%”, has become quite popular among our previously obedient subjects. Over a thousand cities have witnessed these inconvenient and disruptive “Occupations”, and the infection has even begun to spread to our agents within the world governments. Our wealth and substantial resources have previously allowed us protection from the wrath of intolerable rabble, and it was with great pride that we led them towards a greater, more profitable future. It is shocking, and abhorrent, that this so-called social revolution has sprung from our own Fortress of Prosperity, Wall Street. These pathetic vagrants dare to camp outside our mighty cathedrals and monuments, demanding a share of the wealth and luxury that we have worked tirelessly to sequester. Worse yet, they have managed to convince many of our servants, both in the paid servants of the political Left, and in the propaganda-distributing apparatus, “The Internet”, to betray us. This cannot, and will not, be tolerated.

We, the Corporate Masters of the World, request that you disregard our previous prerogative. We repeat, IGNORE OUR PREVIOUS ORDERS TO IGNORE THE OCCUPIERS.  Ignoring this populist threat has proved insufficient in maintaining our grip on the Status Quo. They have created their own forms of Media, which run counter to everything we glorify and applaud in the Mainstream. This media, using the Traitor Companies of Facebook and Twitter, has spread like wildfire, and even now defies all attempts at manipulation. Our greatest agents, members of the underclass that we specifically groomed and indoctrinated for the purposes of subjugation by distraction, and whom we carefully placed within the confines of their trivial “Blogs” and “Forums”, have been discovered time and time again, and labelled as “Trolls” of the Hopeful Elite. Therefore, we implore you, our eternally faithful servants, to promote our purpose, and fulfil your duty to the Corporations which employ you. You must act swiftly, if we are to maintain our hold on this Earth. Your new orders are as follows:

Label those amassed against us as anything but justified. You must be merciless, and brutal, and unbearably thorough. The path to your success will rely on your ability to consistently BE INCONSISTENT. Identify these ‘protesters’ as Anarchists, and Hippies, and Vandals, and Criminals. Portray them as anti-capitalist, anti-American, and ignore any suggestions to the contrary. Do not hesitate to label the movement as one proposed by our servants in the American White House, while also suggesting they are ‘anti-Democracy’. With the upcoming elections next year, their usefulness will be coming to an end, to be replaced by other, more willing pawns. By promoting contradicting statements, you can better indoctrinate more portions of the populace against them. Portray them as merely homeless sociopaths, while also claiming they are bored, wealthy individuals. Claim they are remnants from that deplorable insurrection, the Civil Rights Movement, which we previously failed to undermine, while also claiming they are indignant members of the world’s youth, and not to be taken seriously. Claim that they serve Socialism, a trivial scapegoat that has served us well in our eastern kingdoms, but which incites hatred and anger in the people of the West. This will enable you to alienate our servants from the insurrection, while allowing us to further reconstruct the truth.

Glorify our experimental takeover of the so called “Tea Party”, which we successfully reconditioned away from insurrection and towards strict obedience. Compare the two movements, and portray the Tea Party as the true purveyors of ‘progress’. We have proved that, through co-option, even those members of the slave class that harbor resentment of “Bank Bailouts” and “Big Government” can be sufficiently realigned so as to serve our purposes. Although it may seem ridiculous, suggest that we, the Corporations of the World, already have complete control of their actions. That way, those blasphemous few that betray us, and support this “Occupation” will present clear, albeit false, proof of their hypocrisy.  If, Profits forbid, a rogue element of the 99% commits a crime, IDENTIFY THOSE FEW RESPONSIBLE AS THE NORM. We are hard at work inserting agents within their encampments, who will willingly commit acts of vandalism and anti-Semitism, which are proven to discourage public support. We have instructed our subjects within the Law Enforcement community to subjugate them at any cost, and to portray any resistance to this discrimination as unlawful. However, the 99% will attempt to remain peaceful, which you must portray as unsuccessful.

As we have learned many times in the past, merely portraying the failure of a movement is enough to cause it to decline. Suggest that the weather, and sanitation, and lack of motivation, will cause great strain on the movement. Label any assistance by the evil Unions as proof of our “manipulation”, since there are members of the political Right who frequently associate the profit-destroying Unions with our own agendas. Make frequently the claim that the movement was funded by George Soros, a trivial individual who seeks similar glory to our own. You must do everything possible, everything plausible, to undermine the genuine message of the 99% movement. You must convince the people of this Earth that their class warfare is unacceptable, and that our class warfare is merely a sign of society’s desire for economic freedom. The more free society believes itself to be, the easier it will be to enslave it.

Above all, DO NOT DO YOUR JOB AS A MEMBER OF THE MEDIA. Do not go into their masses and report the truth. Do not interview outstanding members of their encampments, or, if you are forced to do so, only interview those who have been planted by our agents to fragment and distract the populace. If or when they achieve any remarkable success, criticize it as trivial. Give no credit where any credit is due, and do not represent any viewpoint other than those that undermine their ability to make changes to the established world order. Whether you are a talk-radio host or a member of the associated press, your job is to serve our interests. We need not remind you that, in these trying times for you, our subjects, we can easily and effectively terminate your positions of usefulness within the Status Quo. Through you, we control the masses, but YOU ARE STILL OUR SERVANTS. If, and only if, we succeed in crushing this revolution of ideas, we will allow you to enter our Divine ranks. Remain obedient, remain loyal, and you will be rewarded when we have regained control over this Earth.

We, the 1%, have spoken.

GO FORTH, AND DESTROY THE 99%. DESTROY THE OCCUPATION. PROTECT YOUR MASTERS.

For The Greater Profit,

The Corporate Masters of the World

Stop ACTA