Rachelle's Reading List, Monday, Oct. 3rd, 2011

1. #OccupyWallStreet and the Failure of Institutions. The group had quite the weekend. And, while they are drawing complaints that they don't have a demand and goal, Jeff Jarvis says that's precisely why they are significant. [HuffPo]

"We don't trust institutions anymore. Name a bank or financial institution you can trust today. That industry was built entirely on trust -- we entrusted our money to their cloud -- and they failed us. Government? The other day, I heard a cabinet member from a prior administration call Washington "paralyzed and poisonous" -- and he's an insider. Media? Pew released a study last week saying that three-quarters of Americans don't believe journalists get their facts straight (which is their only job). Education? Built for a prior, institutional era. Religion? Various of its outlets are abusing children or espousing bigotry or encouraging violence. The #OccupyWallStreet troops are demonizing practically all of corporate America and with it, capitalism. What institutions are left? I can't name one." -Jarvis.

More to read: Twenty minutes after posting their story on the 700 arrests, the New York Times shifted the blame from police to protestors. But why? [Voice]