Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

How do you feel about the Wall Street protests which are spreading?

Have Your Say Oct. 10, 2011 - 07:12AM JST ( 25 )

Order by Time Order by Popularity

25 Comments

-10

SerranoOct. 10, 2011 - 11:52AM JST

I sincerely hope the USA doesn't become completely socialist.
-9

SerranoOct. 10, 2011 - 12:48PM JST

OK, who gave me a thumbs-down without even bothering to post a comment?

Many of the protesters are anti-capitalist and want the people who have done well to fork over their money to the do nothings.
2

some14someOct. 10, 2011 - 01:59PM JST

It was quite expected and i had predicted it long ago (when thumbs-up/down function was not there) at the time when riots broke out in France. Needless to say, many posters just laughed away...saying its not going to happen in America.
1

gonemadOct. 10, 2011 - 07:46PM JST

Serrano, I gave you another thumbs-down. Because you are unable to differentiate and use words you obviously don't care to understand. BTW, I will never give anybody here a thumbs-down because I don't like his opinion or political standpoint.

I'm not surprised about the protests, rather that they come so late and (still?) tame.
1

yabitsOct. 10, 2011 - 08:50PM JST

I feel extremely hopeful about these gatherings of so many of my fellow Americans. Unlike the crowd that waves teabags around, these Americans are not calling for "second amendment remedies" or for violence in any way. (To witness the contrast take a look at the YouTube video by searching "nothing better than a dead liberal.")

The reason these "occupy" gatherings are taking place is because capitalism has completely failed a large and growing percentage of the American people -- "the 99%" as the people in the streets call themselves. After witnessing all we have over the past 10 years, young people have very little reason to believe in much of a future for themselves -- and a system can't survive when that happens.
-11

SerranoOct. 10, 2011 - 09:09PM JST

gonemad - You gave me ANOTHER thumbs-down? Just how many thumbs-down are you allowed to give someone here? And which words did I use that you think I don't care to understand?

yabits: "capitalism has completely failed a large and growing percentage of the American people"

No, what has completely failed a large and growing percentage of the American people are Obama's and the Democrats' policies.
2

FoxieOct. 10, 2011 - 09:41PM JST

Americans must stop standing idly by while the police state takes full control
-2

yabitsOct. 10, 2011 - 10:18PM JST

No, what has completely failed a large and growing percentage of the American people are Obama's and the Democrats' policies.

If Bush and the Republicans policies succeeded so well, there would not have the extreme economic crisis that occurred on their watch that gave the Democrats the presidency in the first place. President Obama has been trying to fight out of a very deep hole that was dug by the Republicans -- and all that the hole-diggers can do is kick him for it and pray that he fails. Talk about un-American -- that's what these Republicans are.
1

John BeckerOct. 11, 2011 - 01:08AM JST

The protesters might be doing more good if they were doing a better job of organizing and articulating their message.
-3

yaneeOct. 11, 2011 - 06:55AM JST

Serrano: Agreed Completely...gave you a thumbs back up...If obama and his crew has any understanding of economics, the first stimulus would have worked but was utilized the wrong way. the new "jobs bill" (the second stimulus) will do the same thing...nothing...even the Democrats are against it. in reference to the wall street protests, i love to see all of the "adults" whining about how much they owe not realizing how much more they will owe in the future. Will they protest ten years from now because they want a free house too?
0

JapanGalOct. 11, 2011 - 09:10AM JST

They have no agenda.
1

HumanTargetOct. 11, 2011 - 10:55AM JST

Serrano,

You mindlessly attack anyone with an even mildly left-of-center opinion on all these forums, and without fail use the term "your boy obama" when you talk to these people as though a) everyone who leans left automatically loves Obama and b) it's necessary to use ghetto slang when talking about black people, and you wonder why people give you thumbs down?

Now, I vow to never give you a thumbs down again if you vow to from now on speak in a civilized manner and actually bring something intelligent to say to the table. That is, back up your ranting with facts, an (unbiased - that means no Breitbart, for God's sake) news article, or SOMETHING instead of just "socialism is coming!!! I'm so scared!!"

So, any numbers on all these "socialists" that are present at these protests? I've read that the major socialist groups in America are turning out for the protests, but the vast majority are just regular, Capitalism-and-Freedom-loving Americans who want justice and a fair crack at a job with decent wages.
2

Michael J. MorrisOct. 11, 2011 - 11:01AM JST

These people are not against capitalism, per se, they are against the unequal treatment that large companies and the rich are receiving in the US. Multimillionaires paying little or no tax, but enjoying all the rights and freedoms that everyone else has, all the while living in gated, protected communities. And since when is it bad to protest. How many people here complain that Japanese should get out and complain about their gov't or TEPCO, but when it happens in the States, its a bad thing.
1

LagunaOct. 11, 2011 - 12:25PM JST

The lack of an adequate counterweight to the far-right radical Tea Party has caused the very moderate policies of Obama to seem leftish in comparison. Some will of course oppose Obama no matter what he does, but others who currently fear that he is too far left may well modify their opinions when his actions are placed into a more proper context.

Many on the right view capitalism from a quasi-religious standpoint: they have complete faith in its flawless nature. Other, more realistic people understand that capitalism is nothing of the sort: that the "invisible hand" can move in malicious ways when not properly supervised. Events over recent years have proven this repeatedly. Republicans howled over TARP but oppose regulation which would prevent similar financial meltdowns, for example. CEO pay has overwhelmingly become peer-based, leading to the "Garrison Keilor effect": all CEOs are above average.

It is well past time to rectify these and other flaws. This can be done in a civilized manner, as has been done previously in American history. But it will not be done without a very strong, vociferous push from the left. As Long Island Republican Congressman Peter King said the other day, "We have to be careful not to allow this to get any legitimacy. I’m taking this seriously in that I’m old enough to remember what happened in the 1960s when the left-wing took to the streets and somehow the media glorified them and it ended up shaping policy. We can’t allow that to happen.”
1

tokyokawasakiOct. 11, 2011 - 12:55PM JST

I like what they are doing, but they should focus on the Federal Reserve and not Wall Street. The US Federal Reserve and other privately owned and controlling central banks are to blame. They are the institutions who dictate how and when a government can borrow money.

If the protestors do not understand the root of all evil (the debt money system) then they are wasting their time. I feel like they are targeting the drug smugglers without even considering going after those that produce it...
-1

RiffraffOct. 11, 2011 - 01:41PM JST

Why is someone else always at fault? The real reason the United States is in the current state is the people are too apathetic/lazy/comfortable to go to the polls and vote. The politicians are more than willing to push whatever agenda to the people who actually vote or to buy votes with entitlement programs that keep the poor standing in line with their hands out. Washington is filled with these lowlife, no principal louts, whose only concern is getting reelected. If all the people who are out sitting in the middle of a park protesting would vote and actively work to put a politician of their choice in office and then hold that politician accountable, then they would have the government they are clamoring for. Most rich people got that way by having the drive and vision to go out and make money. Its easy to get people to climb on the envy wagon and claim it's all the rich folks fault that everyone is not rich. If you are not satisfied with your lot in life, you have only one person to blame… yourself!
-2

RiffraffOct. 11, 2011 - 02:04PM JST

And since when is it bad to protest. How many people here complain........ *

I think protest is a very good thing when it is directed at a just cause. These people are just out in the street because they feel they did not get their free slice of pie. I agree that there are excesses in Wall Street and the corporate world, but they exist because they are tolerated and encouraged by EVERYONES greed for more money. These protesters just represent those that were left out of the glitz and glamour line by the marketing hype and now realize they don't have the free tickets to get into the ballgame. We grow up being told that something is wrong with us if we are not skinny, rich and very good looking and that we have to buy product X to prove to the word that we are one of the beautiful people. Who wants to work for a comfortable home and food on the table and an occasional night out when the "rest" of the world is living in Hollywood?
1

tokyokawasakiOct. 11, 2011 - 02:59PM JST

The real reason the United States is in the current state is the people are too apathetic/lazy/comfortable to go to the polls and vote

Do you honestly believe that is the cause for the massive debt and political corruption in the US?
0

edojinOct. 11, 2011 - 06:08PM JST

I think I understand why they are demonstrating ... but what their exact goal is, isn't really clear. What do they actually hope to accomplish? Does everybody believe they will get a job merely by protesting against the system? Many seem to have good points ... but nobody seems to have actual solutions. What a mess ...
0

kiboushaOct. 12, 2011 - 07:33AM JST

Better late than never.

Most rich people got that way by having the drive and vision to go out and make money. Its easy to get people to climb on the envy wagon and claim it's all the rich folks fault that everyone is not rich. If you are not satisfied with your lot in life, you have only one person to blame… yourself!

Yeah and the world is made of equal squares. Not everyone is made like Steve Jobs, or born like a Rothschild.
0

Greapper1Oct. 12, 2011 - 01:39PM JST

Those people should be protesting themselves as well. As they were the ones that bought into consumer culture. more more more borrow borrow borrow spend spend spend

They just as to blame for america's current crisis as the banks and lenders.
1

unreconstructedOct. 14, 2011 - 06:12PM JST

I support the OWS factions and individuals that want the Fed dissolved but then these types are probably the only protesters in this movement who understood,sympathized with or joined Taxed Enough Already gatherings.

When I look at the crowds I see a portent of something very troubling, which I often read about: the next wave of massive defaults to wrack our economy will be among twenty-somethings with debt from university that runs to five and even six figures.
2

yabitsOct. 14, 2011 - 08:27PM JST

The real reason the United States is in the current state is the people are too apathetic/lazy/comfortable to go to the polls and vote.

So, you think if the same politicians got even more votes that things would be better?

It's not just going to the polls and voting -- that's a minor part. It is making sure you've got candidates who can challenge the two major parties on the issues that are most important to the nation.
-1

unreconstructedOct. 15, 2011 - 11:48AM JST

Dissident journalist Andrew Breitbart will be releasing some very revealing e-mails in the next few days. This movement is hardly 'grassroots,' or as spontaneous as some seem to believe.
1

UncleBudahOct. 19, 2011 - 04:13PM JST

In USA or any part of he world

Big companies will get richer. Everyone else poorer

Or killed