Occupy Wall St.

[irishpat183]

Who is John Gault?

I would love to see the productive of society just pick up there money and move.

Then let's see how long the liberal uptopia lasts with no funding....

OWS is just biting the hand the feeds. Don't they realize that the very people they're protesting...pay for their government handouts?

 

[kmoose]

This pretty much sums up my view of the Occupy movement:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/71966596@N04/6500666873/" title="1%0f99% by k.moose, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6500666873_87166b51f8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="1%0f99%"></a>

 

[Veer option]

^^^ So damn true!

 

[Al H.]

This pretty much sums up my view of the Occupy movement:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/71966596@N04/6500666873/" title="1%0f99% by k.moose, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6500666873_87166b51f8.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="1%0f99%"></a>

I guess as long as you can `sum it up' this simplistically you won't have to bother giving any real thought to the issues involved here.

 

[kmoose]

I guess as long as you can `sum it up' this simplistically you won't have to bother giving any real thought to the issues involved here.

I've given it plenty of thought, Al. Unlike most of those malcontents in the parks around the country! One of their points of contention is that their First Amendment rights are being violated, when the police break up their encampments. Really? You have the right to assemble, you do not have the right to camp in a public park. If you want to show up at first light, every morning, occupy the park with your protest, then go home and come back again the next day? THAT's freedom of assembly!!! Most of these idiots (not all, but probably the majority) couldn't give a rat's *** about taxes or the economy. They just don't like the government. The government tells them that their marijuana is illegal, that they have to have a permit for a march that will be large enough to disrupt traffic in the city, and that they have to earn a living, instead of being given housing, medical care, food, etc. There are plenty of people who aren't exceptional athletes, who have busted their asses to make their own way in life. The guy in this picture is one of them, I'm one of them, and I'm sure there are many more of them right here on this board. Just because some pot smoking bohemian wannabes like to do nothing more than engage in psuedo-intelligent conversations about Bilderbergers, the Tri-Lateral Commission, and black helicopters............that doesn't mean that no one else has put any thought into the real problems that this country faces.

 

[yankeehater]

The occupy movement could get pretty ugly out here in LA. They have moved the Occupy LA location to Occupy the Port of LA. Very ironic that a group, with a ton of funding coming from SEIU and other unions, would want to block the union Longshoremen from earning a living. It will be really interesting if the Longshoreman start kicking the crap out of the protesters.

I am 6'6" and would not mess with any of my Longshoreman friends and there was a lot of violence during the port strike a few years back.

 

[Al H.]

I've given it plenty of thought, Al. Unlike most of those malcontents in the parks around the country! One of their points of contention is that their First Amendment rights are being violated, when the police break up their encampments. Really? You have the right to assemble, you do not have the right to camp in a public park. If you want to show up at first light, every morning, occupy the park with your protest, then go home and come back again the next day? THAT's freedom of assembly!!! Most of these idiots (not all, but probably the majority) couldn't give a rat's *** about taxes or the economy. They just don't like the government. The government tells them that their marijuana is illegal, that they have to have a permit for a march that will be large enough to disrupt traffic in the city, and that they have to earn a living, instead of being given housing, medical care, food, etc. There are plenty of people who aren't exceptional athletes, who have busted their asses to make their own way in life. The guy in this picture is one of them, I'm one of them, and I'm sure there are many more of them right here on this board. Just because some pot smoking bohemian wannabes like to do nothing more than engage in psuedo-intelligent conversations about Bilderbergers, the Tri-Lateral Commission, and black helicopters............that doesn't mean that no one else has put any thought into the real problems that this country faces.

I still say you're dismissing the protest too easily. Hundreds of thousands of people are involved in this and the majority can't all be idiots who's singular complaint is they want marijuana legalized. That's just a right wing bullet point. It's meant to make it easy to dismiss the real issues out of hand.
We've been fleeced by corporate bullies who now own the right wing of our government and call the tune. Either through legislation or lack thereof. We have bankers and Wall Street executives who should be up on charges, but are not only free, but continuing to bilk the system. De-regulated banks and Wall Street greed going unpunished and uncorrected are at the heart of the protest movement. Many of the protesters appear to me to be average citizens who have had enough of corporate greed and government malfeasance and have taken to the streets to say so. A lot like the revolutionaries who fought for and started this country. Many of the Wall Street group wear or have worn the same uniform as the soldier whose picture you posted. I'm saying let's give a listen to what some of them are saying. I believe much of it has merit.

 

[kmoose]

I still say you're dismissing the protest too easily.

And I say that it's easy to dismiss the protest, given the issues that they have spawned, without dismissing the message.

That's just a right wing bullet point. It's meant to make it easy to dismiss the real issues out of hand.
We've been fleeced by corporate bullies who now own the right wing of our government and call the tune. Either through legislation or lack thereof.

And that's what this is really all about. The "Right Wing" (read: Republicans) has the Tea Party, so the Left Wing (read: Democrats) have to have their own "grassroots" movement. I've got news for you, Al. The Right Wing does not have a monopoly on being dependent on businesses for campaign money. If corporate bullies "own the right wing of our government", as you contend, then you better be willing to face the fact that they also own the left wing of our government. But we don't want to talk about that, now do we?

We have bankers and Wall Street executives who should be up on charges, but are not only free, but continuing to bilk the system.

So why isn't the Obama Administration prosecuting them? After all, the corporate bigwigs only own the right wing, right?

De-regulated banks and Wall Street greed going unpunished and uncorrected are at the heart of the protest movement.

Deregulation, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. It gives industries more flexibility to respond to customer demands, and to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

Last I checked, greed was not illegal. Why should Wall Street be punished for doing something that is perfectly legal? If they're exhibiting behavior that people are morally against, then those people should show their displeasure with their pocketbooks. If you want to clean up Wall Street, get rid of the people who making their primary income off of the Stock Market. Our Stock Market is so vulnerable to bad news, it's scary. That's because too many people are making their living by trading stocks on a daily basis. If there's bad news for the economy, they all start selling their portfolio, which drives the entire market down. We should go back to using the Stock Market as a long term investment, instead of a primary source of income.

Many of the protesters appear to me to be average citizens who have had enough of corporate greed and government malfeasance and have taken to the streets to say so. A lot like the revolutionaries who fought for and started this country. Many of the Wall Street group wear or have worn the same uniform as the soldier whose picture you posted. I'm saying let's give a listen to what some of them are saying. I believe much of it has merit.

If they want me to listen, and take them seriously, then they should grow up a little. Protest every day, then go home every night. Quit destroying parks and making life more difficult for the very people they profess to be "fighting" for.

 

[IrishLax]

There are not hundreds of thousands of people involved. That is just a flat out incorrect "fact" you threw out and I stopped reading there.

#SMH

 

[RallySonsOfND]

What I love about OWS is the fact that they are DESTROYING local businesses that are located in the area where they have decided to set up.

Kinda funny that you are forcing businesses to lay off workers because of your antics when you are all about "helping the little guy". Well guess what, most small business owners are THE LITTLE GUY.


Guess what, you aren't entitled to jack**** in life. Instead of occupying a freaking park, how about you occupy a SHOWER, then occupy a JOB INTERVIEW, and occupy a JOB.

Jesus, I'm 20 and have been working since the end of my junior year in high school every summer, and got a part time job while I'm in college now. And I live in a state with one of the WORST unemployment rates in the country. Oh and that first job I got, I worked over 60 hours a week, when I was 17!


Rant over.
...for now...

 

[yankeehater]

There are not hundreds of thousands of people involved. That is just a flat out incorrect "fact" you threw out and I stopped reading there.

#SMH

Unfortunately, there are enough in the city where I live that they have destroyed the grounds in front of our Civic Center. I am pissed because I just found that the association that I am part of is paying for everything including the repairs once they are evicted (I may personally go down there and do it). If my dues go up because of them, I will raise hell as well.

 

[BeauBenken]

There are not hundreds of thousands of people involved. That is just a flat out incorrect "fact" you threw out and I stopped reading there.

#SMH

I don't know exactly how many across the country are involved, but I'd guess it has certainly passed the 100,000 mark.

 

[IrishLax]

I don't know exactly how many across the country are involved, but I'd guess it has certainly passed the 100,000 mark.

Well, I tried googling it. Find me a stat that says there are over 100k campers. The best stat I found said at the most concentrated demonstrations in October that around the world there were "tens of thousands." I could not find a single place that said the number was anywhere even remotely in the neighborhood of 100k. In fact, it seems like the participants number is less than 10k.

 

[BeauBenken]

Well, I tried googling it. Find me a stat that says there are over 100k campers. The best stat I found said at the most concentrated demonstrations in October that around the world there were "tens of thousands." I could not find a single place that said the number was anywhere even remotely in the neighborhood of 100k. In fact, it seems like the participants number is less than 10k.

Wait, are we referring to only one specific location of campers?

I didn't read his wall of text. It was TL;DR.

 

[IrishLax]

No, total full time campers nationwide. There is no way you can tell me there are 100k people in tents day-to-day.

 

[BeauBenken]

No, total full time campers nationwide. There is no way you can tell me there are 100k people in tents day-to-day.

Full-time? I'd say probably not.

Campers who also continue to have jobs + full-time campers? Then I'd say there are probably certainly over 100,000.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

'Occupy' Protesters Halt Operations At Some West Coast Ports | Fox News

 

[BobD]

I find it a little funny that there are a so many educated people with the ability to give the protesters some credibility, saying they support the OWS movement, but they aren't out there protesting. I guess they're OK with sending moral and monetary support to their unemployed, pot head pawns living in the park while they pursue their goal of making it into the 1%.

 

[Grahambo]

Working in D.C., they are such a pain in the A**. They will do things like sit in the middle of the street, specifically 15th and I and block traffic during the middle of the day. I also witnessed some that were walking around with swastikas on their jackets.

 

[GoIrish41]

I also witnessed some that were walking around with swastikas on their jackets.

You many be mistaking republican congressional staffers on their lunch breaks for OWS demonstrators.

 

[IrishLax]

Working in D.C., they are such a pain in the A**. They will do things like sit in the middle of the street, specifically 15th and I and block traffic during the middle of the day. I also witnessed some that were walking around with swastikas on their jackets.

Yeah they totally ****ed up a concrete pour of mine the other day. Blocked off some streets and delayed the trucks from getting there... the driver told me if they were still there on his way back he was going to do the country a favor and flatten some of those *******s.

PS. I think it's safe to assume concrete truck drivers are not in the 1%.

PPS. Why don't cops arrest them for jaywalking?

 

[irishpat183]

The occupy movement could get pretty ugly out here in LA. They have moved the Occupy LA location to Occupy the Port of LA. Very ironic that a group, with a ton of funding coming from SEIU and other unions, would want to block the union Longshoremen from earning a living. It will be really interesting if the Longshoreman start kicking the crap out of the protesters.

I am 6'6" and would not mess with any of my Longshoreman friends and there was a lot of violence during the port strike a few years back.

EXACTLY!!! They are the supposed champions of the working man...yet they are preventing the working man from earning a wage?

 

[Grahambo]

You many be mistaking republican congressional staffers on their lunch breaks for OWS demonstrators.

 

[irishpat183]

You many be mistaking republican congressional staffers on their lunch breaks for OWS demonstrators.

Nah, it's OWS anarchists. You are what you are. And the OWS is a mash up of potheads, criminals, "intellectuals" and anarchists thugs.

Funny thing is, most these people aren't even victims of the things their protesting...

What, 20 year old "Moonbeam" lost 40% of her 401k in the market? Gimmie a break.

And I"m sorry that Kaleb(covered in tattoos), who decided to get a Art history degree can't find a job in that field. Who would've guessed?!?!

These people are a joke.

 

[Grahambo]

Yeah they totally ****ed up a concrete pour of mine the other day. Blocked off some streets and delayed the trucks from getting there... the driver told me if they were still there on his way back he was going to do the country a favor and flatten some of those *******s.

PS. I think it's safe to assume concrete truck drivers are not in the 1%.

PPS. Why don't cops arrest them for jaywalking?

They will ticket some but the DC government, not federal government but the local government, specifically the mayor invited all Occupy protestors that get kicked out of whatever city they are in to protest in DC because she feels it brings in revenue.

Quick story: A few weeks ago a few of them decided to get hit by a car and try to sue the driver, well, they got hit, nothing serious but enough to get a few bruises. When the cops showed up, there were witnesses that said it was all planned so the cops not only let the driver go but ticketed them for jaywalking. So, they got hit by a car and fined. lol

 

[autry_denson]

I find it a little funny that there are a so many educated people with the ability to give the protesters some credibility, saying they support the OWS movement, but they aren't out there protesting. I guess they're OK with sending moral and monetary support to their unemployed, pot head pawns living in the park while they pursue their goal of making it into the 1%.

Is this surprising to you? I fully support the ideals underlying the OWS movement, as does a plurality of the nation. I don't have time nor desire to go out and protest, because I'm spending my days working and trying to make as much money as I can for my family. There is no inconsistency here. The OWS movement is trying to shift power away from the top 1% (really the top .01%) and toward the remainder of the society. They are trying to move our nation back from an oligarchy to a democracy. They are trying to make it possible for a greater percentage of Americans to become economically mobile - at present there is less economic opportunity in America than in virtually any other western democracy, as measured with rates of economic mobility.

The OWS movement doesn't need "educated people" to give it credibility - it has already been astonishingly successful in redirecting the public dialogue on inequality in the US.

The demographics of the protesters have shifted, not surprisingly, toward the young and unattached, and they have attracted a wide range of hangers-on. Obviously the protests are taking on new disruptive tactics, and I can't say I agree with their new methods. I would be pissed off too if they were disrupting my daily routine or business. But the overarching message is one that is essential to the future of this country - policy should not be dictated by the ultra-rich. Obviously the millions of people who agree with this idea cannot take to the streets, because we have families to support. That said, I'm appreciative of those who have spent their time and energy getting the attention of the nation. I hope that the protests don't start to annoy people enough that public support erodes - but even if that happens, they've already accomplished much more than anyone would have thought possible when these camps first emerged several months back.

 

[kmoose]

But the overarching message is one that is essential to the future of this country - policy should not be dictated by the ultra-rich.

I don't disagree with this, but let's look at that issue a little deeper:

Why do the ultra-rich seem to dictate public policy in the US?

The obvious, but not the only, answer is that the ultra-rich contribute massive amounts of money to Politicos' campaigns. It takes money to get elected in this country. Why? Because the average "we the people" is a political f'in idiot!! And that includes many of those camping out in the streets, under the guise of the OWS movement. How many of those people do you think would vote for anyone with an R after their name, even if they were obviously the best candidate? Not many, is my guess. We the people are responsible for the state of our government. We cast the votes that elect these clowns. The problem with government is not the government, but the mostly lazy, uneducated electorate that often casts their votes based on TV ads, instead of actually researching what the candidates stand for. Why do you think it takes so much money to get elected? Because you have to buy so many TV ads. Why do you have to buy so many TV ads? Because it works! Why does it work? Because the average pro-life(or pro-choice) voter would rather vote for a candidate that was convicted of embezzling from a previous employer, as long as that candidate is on the right side of the abortion debate (and assuming that the other candidate is not). Because Johnny Trust Fund, from the Anarachy Association of America, would rather vote for a philandering, never-had-a-real-job Democrat, than to even consider voting for a Republican candidate. And the same goes for Joe Wall Street, who would rather elect a guy once convicted of securities fraud, than to vote for a guy who advocates National HealthCare.

If these people really want to change the status quo, they should volunteer the time that they are currently spending protesting, to develop unbiased "biographies" of politicians' voting records. Then they can spend the rest of the time educating the electorate about the candidates, and teaching people how to find the information they need to make an informed decision on candidates.

 

[enrico514]

Is this surprising to you? I fully support the ideals underlying the OWS movement, as does a plurality of the nation. I don't have time nor desire to go out and protest, because I'm spending my days working and trying to make as much money as I can for my family. There is no inconsistency here. The OWS movement is trying to shift power away from the top 1% (really the top .01%) and toward the remainder of the society. They are trying to move our nation back from an oligarchy to a democracy. They are trying to make it possible for a greater percentage of Americans to become economically mobile - at present there is less economic opportunity in America than in virtually any other western democracy, as measured with rates of economic mobility.

The OWS movement doesn't need "educated people" to give it credibility - it has already been astonishingly successful in redirecting the public dialogue on inequality in the US.

The demographics of the protesters have shifted, not surprisingly, toward the young and unattached, and they have attracted a wide range of hangers-on. Obviously the protests are taking on new disruptive tactics, and I can't say I agree with their new methods. I would be pissed off too if they were disrupting my daily routine or business. But the overarching message is one that is essential to the future of this country - policy should not be dictated by the ultra-rich. Obviously the millions of people who agree with this idea cannot take to the streets, because we have families to support. That said, I'm appreciative of those who have spent their time and energy getting the attention of the nation. I hope that the protests don't start to annoy people enough that public support erodes - but even if that happens, they've already accomplished much more than anyone would have thought possible when these camps first emerged several months back.

^^^ Said better than I could...

 

[GoIrish41]

Is this surprising to you? I fully support the ideals underlying the OWS movement, as does a plurality of the nation. I don't have time nor desire to go out and protest, because I'm spending my days working and trying to make as much money as I can for my family. There is no inconsistency here. The OWS movement is trying to shift power away from the top 1% (really the top .01%) and toward the remainder of the society. They are trying to move our nation back from an oligarchy to a democracy. They are trying to make it possible for a greater percentage of Americans to become economically mobile - at present there is less economic opportunity in America than in virtually any other western democracy, as measured with rates of economic mobility.

The OWS movement doesn't need "educated people" to give it credibility - it has already been astonishingly successful in redirecting the public dialogue on inequality in the US.

The demographics of the protesters have shifted, not surprisingly, toward the young and unattached, and they have attracted a wide range of hangers-on. Obviously the protests are taking on new disruptive tactics, and I can't say I agree with their new methods. I would be pissed off too if they were disrupting my daily routine or business. But the overarching message is one that is essential to the future of this country - policy should not be dictated by the ultra-rich. Obviously the millions of people who agree with this idea cannot take to the streets, because we have families to support. That said, I'm appreciative of those who have spent their time and energy getting the attention of the nation. I hope that the protests don't start to annoy people enough that public support erodes - but even if that happens, they've already accomplished much more than anyone would have thought possible when these camps first emerged several months back.

excellent post AD.

 

[phgreek]

I don't disagree with this, but let's look at that issue a little deeper:

Why do the ultra-rich seem to dictate public policy in the US?

The obvious, but not the only, answer is that the ultra-rich contribute massive amounts of money to Politicos' campaigns. It takes money to get elected in this country. Why? Because the average "we the people" is a political f'in idiot!! And that includes many of those camping out in the streets, under the guise of the OWS movement. How many of those people do you think would vote for anyone with an R after their name, even if they were obviously the best candidate? Not many, is my guess. We the people are responsible for the state of our government. We cast the votes that elect these clowns. The problem with government is not the government, but the mostly lazy, uneducated electorate that often casts their votes based on TV ads, instead of actually researching what the candidates stand for. Why do you think it takes so much money to get elected? Because you have to buy so many TV ads. Why do you have to buy so many TV ads? Because it works! Why does it work? Because the average pro-life(or pro-choice) voter would rather vote for a candidate that was convicted of embezzling from a previous employer, as long as that candidate is on the right side of the abortion debate (and assuming that the other candidate is not). Because Johnny Trust Fund, from the Anarachy Association of America, would rather vote for a philandering, never-had-a-real-job Democrat, than to even consider voting for a Republican candidate. And the same goes for Joe Wall Street, who would rather elect a guy once convicted of securities fraud, than to vote for a guy who advocates National HealthCare.

If these people really want to change the status quo, they should volunteer the time that they are currently spending protesting, to develop unbiased "biographies" of politicians' voting records. Then they can spend the rest of the time educating the electorate about the candidates, and teaching people how to find the information they need to make an informed decision on candidates.

Can I get an AMEN!