January 02, 2012

Year in Review

I always like to read a few re-caps - i usually get a huge number of ideas from reading other's lunacy. However - every once in a while somebody, like David Collum, surprises me with an analysis that hit's the head of the nail right on. Then i get to the end and it says David B. Collum is a professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Cornell University. So i go to the shelf and pull out my compost book and yes - that same Cornell University. Hmmm. Chemistry as the common factor - could be a trend. So here is a portion of the analysis from the link above. Enjoy the read - especially focused to economics as opposed to science.

'Unrest began with one incredibly flammable Tunisian. While on foreign shores, we gave it cute names like “Arab Spring”. When unrest migrated to London it became decidedly less refreshing. Social change has now washed up on US shores superficially as Occupy Wall Street (OWS). At its inception, OWS appeared almost comical, but somehow it simply would not go away despite efforts to dismiss it by those attempting to preserve the status quo. Take a volatile mix of young adults – the demographic at the center of all revolutionary social movements – add a little pepper spray, stir it with some Billy clubs, post videos on YouTube, and you have the beginnings of social upheaval. OWS is said to be a highly disjointed group with no common denominator or even well-formulated gripes. I completely disagree. Admittedly, some are asking to be relieved of pain from self-inflicted wounds, but there is one theme: They all perceive that the system has become decidedly unfair. It's not about equal opportunity; wealth and power necessarily accrue disproportionate opportunities. We all work hard to give our kids an edge. It is about a perceived absence of opportunity for a growing segment of the population. It would be incorrect to do a head count at street level and conclude the movement is small. Millions are watching from the comfort of their homes and offices in what I believe is silent support. This movement could get legs as it percolates up through the social strata.

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