Why I am Going to Occupy Vancouver – my personal reasons

1. Because I believe in an economic system where good ethics, compassion, and creation are more important than unlimited profit.

2. Because I believe that an economic system that values unlimited profit before all else ultimately results in poor treatment of workers, wage slavery, destruction of the environment, and expensive goods of poor quality. I believe this system is especially dangerous when applied to the basics of life – increasingly frequent food recalls are an example of this.

3. Because I am sickened that high-priced clothing and electronics are made by overseas slave labour simply to raise profits, not out of any need to break even. There is no reason for sweatshops to exist, but they do, because of the model of unlimited growth and profit, which is only possible with terrible working conditions.

4. Because I believe corporatocracy leads to a growing divide of rich and poor, as the middle class and small businesses disappear. The end result of complete corporatocracy is the destruction of the middle class and huge class divides within countries, and between countries.

5. Because I believe that corporate welfare is unjust. I think corporations should not have the same rights as people. I believe corporations should pay much more in taxes.

6. Because I believe the class warfare has been waged long before any of us were born, and it will continue to be fought with mounting casualties of the poor and disenfranchised until we start implementing real solutions. The first step is acknowledging that it exists, and that the rich started it.

7. Because as my father, an oilman, put it: “There is no question that the oil will run out. The question is, will we still be able to breathe the air by the time that happens?” We need new solutions.

8. Because I want to stand in solidarity with my Native friends upon whose land this country is illegally built. Because I want an end to all oppression everywhere.

9. Because every “special interest” group, region, and city has its own complex and unique struggles, but together we can rise up against corporate rule in favour of a true democratic economy.

(Because in my heart of hearts, I believe in a united socialist Earth, but I don’t think we can wait around for the Vulcans to help us build it.)

I’m not keen on the “We are the 99%” slogan and will not be embracing it. It might have fit within an American context, but globally I do not think it is true. While I, my family, and everyone I know and work with, do not ~own capital~ and control the wealth of the nation, by living and thriving within a Western country we do help with the oppression of foreign slave labour and the squandering of foreign resources. While I can only start out by helping locally, we need a global solution.