Occupy Talks: What Gravy Train?

Toronto — 18 January 2012.

Over the last several decades, inequality has been steadily increasing, with the 1% enjoying ever higher concentrations of wealth, while members of the 99% experience greater poverty. What are the underlying factors that lead to this polarization of wealth? How do our economic and financial policies favour capital over ordinary people? How has the situation worsened since the financial meltdown? Who is paying the price and why?

As Millionaire Mayor Ford and Toronto City Council meet to discuss and vote on massive budget cuts, we explore the underlying structures that lead to such backward decisions with renowned speakers:

• Jim Stanford is one of Canada’s best-known economists. He is the founder of the Progressive Economics Forum and writes a regular column for the Globe and Mail. He has written seven books, including his latest, Economics for Everyone: A Short Guide to the Economics of Capitalism.
• Nathan Okonta is a community activist and researcher, studying the links between schools and prisons. He is a former member of the Metro Network for Social Justice and is currently a member of the Network for Pan-African Solidarity Toronto, and the Tabono Institute.
• Linda McQuaig is an acclaimed Canadian journalist and best-selling author. She currently writes an op-ed column for the Toronto Star and has written eight books on politics and economics, including It’s the Crude, Dude, and most recently, The Trouble With Billionaires.
• Sam Gindin is a respected academic and intellectual. Until recently he was a professor of political economy at York University. He regularly publishes in academic journals and has written numerous books. His latest is In and Out of Crisis: The Global Financial Meltdown and Left Alternatives.