CHRIS STROFFOLINO

WHAT IS (PART OF) YOUR GREAT RECESSION EXPERIENCE?

I prefer the terms "depression" or "meltdown"--

and here's my essay "Corporate Personhood and The Case For Reparations in 2012"

The core of the Occupy Wall Street and 99% Movement is expressed in the proposed demands #1 and #2 at http://atung.net/2011/10/17/the-99-declaration/

which are essentially the same as proposed demands #3 and #8 at http://coupmedia.org/occupywallstreet/occupy-wall-street-official-demands-2009. Another version of this demand exists at Dylan Ratigan’s www.getmoneyout.com. In short:

Congress Should Enact Legislation for Publicly Financed Elections And Reverse the Effects of the Unconstitutional Citizens United SCOTUS decision by passing an amendment to prohibit any private financing of elections and ELIMINATE "PERSONHOOD" LEGAL STATUS FOR CORPORATIONS, and restore the 14th Amendment to its original purpose.

Read more HERE.

And another essay "Why I Support Occupy Oakland’s Direct Action of 11/2/11":

In a statement released on 11/3/11, Occupy Oakland explains their logic for peacefully taking over 520 16th St, before being brutally raided by Oakland police, for the second time in two weeks. “ All across the US thousands upon thousands of commercial and residential spaces sit empty while more and more people are forced to sleep in the streets, or driven deep into poverty while trying to pay their rent despite unemployment or poverty wages.” One of these empty buildings had housed The Traveler’s Aid Society, a non-for-profit organization that provided services to the homeless but, due to cuts in government funding, lost its lease. “Given that Occupy Oakland feeds hundreds of people every day, provides them with places to sleep and equipment for doing so, involves them in maintenance of the camp (if they so choose),” on November 2nd, 2011, they decided to secure use of this building to provide the same services, at much cheaper cost to the city

Read more HERE.

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HOW HAS THE GREAT RECESSION AFFECTED YOUR POETRY?

I'm primarily doing music and political essays these days, trying to speak more common languages without losing any intensity....


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PLEASE SHARE A POEM(S) ADDRESSING YOUR GREAT RECESSION EXPERIENCE:

Here's a link to a song/video about wall-street

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lolqyPYB1c

and on HMOs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xoB2IcfFts

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ABOUT THE POET:

Chris Stroffolino lives in Oakland.




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