On this very day, September 17, people throughout the world gathered fifteen years ago in public places to show solidarity concerning the breakdown of the international system of economics. Our very brightest minds in the United States of America had cooked up a scheme to process as many mortgage-backed securities as they could without concerning themselves with the mortgagors ability to pay. The originators had crunched the numbers and had arrived at a means of enriching themselves to the detriment of the entire economic order- profiting from the processing of mortgages and foisting the actual payments of the mortgages on the backs of the entire international economic order. The ratings agencies were more than happy to comply and to rate these securities as being A plus. All those involved knew that individuals had been encouraged to lie on their applications specifically pertaining to their incomes. As we chanted at the original OWS marches, “they got bailed out…and we got sold out!” When the roosters came home to roost, the institutions were bailed out and the people were stuck with the bill. Income inequality was exacerbated and anger was fueled. Occupy met the moment in solidarity across the world. It caused a shift from a language of “debt” to a language of “inequality.” That shift took hold and has never given way. Although inequality has worsened since the days of OWS, everyone is now aware of the vast imbalances in our society.
The Conversation has deepened and the Plot has thickened. Now is the time to pick up what was left behind, and drop what no longer serves us. To take the ‘Off Ramp’ together toward a Living Future. To deepen the Conversations which led us here, to catch others up to speed, and join the leagues of learners, builders, parents, growers, makers and others making it happen.