Dear Editor:
As the Occupy movement in cities around the world tries to expose the tide of greed and corruption that keeps the rich rich and the poor poor, there seems to be no limit to the perfect people who see the protesters as the villains.
The letters and tweets and "get a haircut and a job" columnists who saturate the mainstream media clearly show just how desperately the people need to cut through the layers of propaganda that have schooled them over the years into meekly accepting their role as the poorly paid servants of corporate giants and their pet politicians.
As it is, it seems that all those who choose not to complain about their masters are hard-working (the Establishment saves its greatest praise for hard workers), perfect people who are ever so grateful for their usually boring jobs, even though their incomes keep dropping further and further below the astronomical rewards of the tiny minority of the wealthy, powerful and political.
No matter how leaky the boat, the "persuaded" masses are too scared to rock it by supporting efforts to challenge the corporate-government system of avarice and control.
The violent police crackdowns on Occupy groups in Oakland and New York give an indication of what may be in store for the demonstrators if the powers that be see real evidence that the Occupy movement is succeeding in spotlighting the rot that is prevalent in so much of the world.
Just last week, the mayor of Oakland apologized for the police violence. Could actual freedom of expression and democracy become part of the picture?
Tony Eberts, New Westminster
