Anti-Wall Street protests spread nationwide
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-2
just-a-guy
The American spring, jasmine revolution throughout the 52 states!! Go people go!! Topple that doomed system and spit, a fool's errand!
1
yabits
The walls of the completely corrupt military-corporate system are starting to shake.
As with communist systems that fell under, the weight of the Big Lie that the United States has been feeding itself for the past 50 years has become clear. As with the communist systems, our young people see no reason to believe in lies and fairy tales. It's a system that saddles young people with enormous debt so as to better subjugate them from an earlier age.
-3
NetNinja
I love it. TAX the rich. That means you!! Stuffing your Louis Vuitton wallet into your Louis Vuitton Bag getting into your BMW 5, 7 series (Nazi Supported) for a quick drive to Omotesando. I want to see you taxed...MUCH MUCH More.
You treat your dog better than a homeless person.
Democrats need to pass a bill that gives the 99% what they need versus the 1% getting what they want, more bottom-feeding.
-3
just-a-guy
Is Mr Bloomberg going to up call the 'National guard ' for 'wall street cleansing'?
-3
just-a-guy
How Did The Cat Get So Fat?” .....That was definately a wrong slogan! The correct one is 'How did those THIEVES got away?'
-4
JeremiahW
Brilliant strategy here. Use young ignorant rent-a-protesters to deflect your administration's many many failings on to Wall Street.
0
yabits
Who is using them? This ain't a Koch Bros.-Tea Bag Production.
1
globalwatcher
He cannot until they cause a social unrest and danger to public as a legal paper for demonstration has been submitted to NYC. They obtain the right to assembly unlike China.
-1
JeremiahW
Totally rad slogan. But I worry that for the Nintendo Generation the reference might not be clear.
0
TheQuestion
Greed? No, you want me to be greedy. When I'm greedy I plan on long term wealth generation, not short term surpluses that are going to hurt me a couple quarters down the road. But right now these petty little short-term gains are the only things I can count on, and even those are going to lose some of their luster if/when the capital gains rate goes back up at the end of next year. I've checked books on three continents, for most of my professional life I could count on at least two of those continents not actively trying to kill me with unrest. Now...
You know what? I've got an offer for the U.S (the EU can listen too I guess). Balance the budget, ensure entitlements can function for the time being, pull all ground troops from combat zones, let interest rates get up to where they're supposed to be, and quit giving these idiot bankers money. Congress can go home, the president can go meet some foreign leaders and have fun with his dog, and the news can run some sappy fluff stories. No stimulus, no bailouts, no tax breaks, no lobbying, and no radical monetary policy. Just shut up, and go home to your spouses for about a while and let businesses go about their duties. If things aren't better by the end of two years I will personally march my giant cuban self into the Department of the Treasury and hand over every last cent I've got.
It would be worth it just to see what happens. If I'm wrong they can go back to fighting and maybe use my experiment to engineer a much better system. If I'm write I guess a Nobel prize wouldn't be so bad, men have won for less.
Ok, I guess that last bit was uncalled for...
But I'll keep a space on the mantle clear just in case.
0
TheQuestion
Though if I am 'right' I won't expect the prize to be in literature.
0
TorafusuTorasan
No worries, I'd nominate you for the Nobel prize in creative writing just for the line "I will personally march my giant cuban self into the Department of the Treasury...." How many briefcases would you be carrying, how would you know you're giving all your cash to the right person, and what will you do if they don't take your money? Gotta have a plan B.
0
Alphaape
@just-a-guy: It's 50 states not 53.
0
Alphaape
Correction: It should read 50 states not 52 as you stated.
0
zichi
There's a website and live video.
http://occupywallst.org/
-3
Lieberman2012
How does this help the Democrats? It doesn't.
-2
lostrune2
They're like the Tea Party - they don't have anyone who could be considered leading the movement.
0
Mr. Bill
How about every last bit of wealth? That will keep you from purchasing gold bars if you see a bad end in the last month.
There is a difference between greed and the profit motive. I am all for the profit motive, but not for greed. Greed is the force that makes people stupid and selfish about wealth and it IS one of the problems being protested. These people are not really against getting rich. They are against people getting filthy and unreasonably rich at the expense of everyone and everything else, which is exactly what is happening.
I agree with your plan for the most part, but not sure exactly what you mean by entitlements and ending tax breaks.
-2
unreconstructed
I pity most of the people out there playing protester. They are dupes. But if this is the "progressive" answer to the tea party movement I say
Bring it on.
-1
Mr. Bill
Glad to see people actually out and protesting greed and demanding the rich be taxed more.
America needs to get back to values that allow for more basic pleasures like friends and family and stop being so concerned about material wealth and fat bank accounts.
It may require dragging rich people from their homes, and while some may not deserve it, a heck of a lot do.
Look at Bill Gates for example. He made a virtually monopoly making his software a necessity for just about anyone to use a computer and in the process got richer than some countries. Did he ever stop and think that maybe he could lower the cost of Windows at some point since he is a BILLIONAIRE 45 times over?? That's greed for you.
0
PT24881
Everyone got Lehmaned in 2008 worldwide & did anyone get arrested in the US ? Any new laws passed to root out the guilty ones.. Indeed, Life remains as usual ( usually peaceful ) out there in the Wallstreet !
-1
TumbleDry
This not about Democrats or Republicans.
-2
yabits
This coming week, the peoples' demonstrations will begin in Washington, DC -- and they won't be going away soon.
You'll find more information at the website "october2011.org"
-1
Serrano
"anger over the wobbly economy"
Hey, how many times does it have to be said, it's going to take most of President Obama's two terms to fix the mess left by Bush and the Republicans.
-3
steve@CPFC
Why don't the protestors emigrate to Mexico, or maybe Cuba?
-1
Mr. Bill
And have people there ask them why they did not fix their own country?
But to stick to the pointed line of your rhetorical question, why don't America's stinking rich emigrate to China or Saudi Arabia where they can abuse people more freely and severely and pay them even lower wages?
-1
Mr. Bill
Comparisons to the beginnings of the Tea Party are valid. Comparisons to what the Tea Party have become are not, unless as a prediciton for the future. I had hope for the Tea Party as I do this group. But I have and had no expectations and that was smart, because the Tea Party would have dashed them.
0
zichi
It's a basic right of every democratic society to freely assemble, protest and demonstrate.
-2
unreconstructed
Fascinating to see how envy can so warp the mind.
0
TheQuestion
Heck, I'll liquidate all of my assets just for the occasion. Go big or go home.
Ah, but profits are just another short term gain. I recall a time not so long ago when it was perfectly acceptable to sacrifice a little bit of profit for favorable market placement, long term investment payoffs, and good brand image. Right now companies are in survival mode and are planning year by year instead of thinking long term and this kind of low-growth high-unemployment environment is the result.
By entitlements, I mean restructuring aid programs to a point where they are sustainable on current funding that pace economic growth. That would mean raising requirements, eliminating waste, and reducing fraud potential through longer look back periods and incentive programs aimed at making people want to get off security net programs. Everybody wants more money but people aren't stupid, they factor in food stamps, Medicaid, housing assistance, and a slew of other programs when making career decisions.
Tax credits generally exist to promote behavior that the government deems 'good'. Most of these credits make a certain degree of sense, I'll argue about the rates all day but I've always felt the tax code itself is a fairly solid device. There are some credits that need not be there such as the alcohol fuel credit which sounds alright for corn producing states but it has been driving up food costs for years now. If it were a better fuel source it should be able to stand on it's own, same goes for several other classes of alt energy sources. Then there's the credit for construction of low income housing the U.S does not suffer due to a lack of housing, there's unoccupied buildings everywhere, and the construction of more is just driving down an already crippled housing market. Theres more but I think I've made my point on the tax part for now.
1
TigermothII
Oh please, our modern version of the unwashed hippie is no different than their 60's heroes, except for they might be a bit dumber. This was even on uber liberal and semi-illiterate CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2011/10/03/erin-burnett-seriously-wall-street.cnn?&hpt=hp_c2
Helps to have some clue what the hell you're protesting about. Is it just against 'the man' -that ubiquitous villain of the peace sign crowd? Against his 'evil money' that they themselves will strive to earn after they graduate from university and realize that real life trumps the overly simple idealism of youth propagated by a general lack of any real responsibilities except to totally avoid wasting mom & dad's money by failing out of school?
It never occurs to any of you currently bleating against the rich and those bogey-man corporations that - like it or not - these same corporate giants are the same ones with the capacity to employee millions and get us out of this mess. Sure, jump on the bankers and the really bad ones that were indeed abusing their corporate power and help drive us into this morass, but don't throw the whole lot in lock, stock and barrel without pausing for thought.
America is what it is - built upon an economic freedom that allowed the average person to realize the great 'American Dream'. Those with the stones to do so put in the hard work to get to where they are. Sure some did it the dishonest way, but many did not. Sure, in their day men like JP Morgan, Rockefeller, Carnegie, Astor - they were all called 'robber barons' and in parallel the indigent masses rose up against their 'evil, crooked, ways'. But say what you will, these men made this country into the strong, economic and manufacturing giant that it became.
I don't know - it's been tried before; the idea that a greater, 'more fair' distribution of wealth can lead to a moral, living, breathing Utopia. Give me examples where that has worked out well. There's always some greedy b*stards waiting in the wings to make a mint while the others share in an ever-dwindling pool of wealth. America was great because of industry, and can and likely will be great again because of industry. The idea that a person can gain financial independence and autonomy through wealth drives our system and while the unsavory creeps in with the inevitable boom and bust, I'd still rather have this system and live here than most any other crap hole that claims to be much greater.
Liberals are often charged by conservatives as 'hating' this country, and I always thought that a ridiculous and spiteful notion by the opposition. But it seems to be quite true at least to some extent. The American system has always been based upon the ideals that the liberals seem hell bent on putting to death. A system of shared wealth irregardless of effort or ability rather than success through hard work, dedication and effort is not the American way nor the U.S. System of government as it was meant to be. Call me what you will - and I'm certain that a good many of you will take me up on that challenge - but it is fundamentally the truth.
1
TigermothII
Oh and before anyone jumps on me about good ole human kindness in providing for those who have not, back in the days that you all now claim to be the 'dark ages' where folks tended to be a bit more conservative and with a stronger moral bent, there was a thing called 'christian kindness'. Big talk coming from me as I don't really consider myself a 'christian' as I think Napoleon was basically correct in surmising that religion was created by the rich to keep the poor from killing them. But the intent was that society takes care of the 'have nots' rather than addressing this by forced taxation, increased proportionally as sort of a punishment for daring to be successful. I cannot conclude that this system was any more successful in helping the poor, but surely hoping for the milk of human kindness is better than the forced taking through taxation.
1
TigermothII
My interpretations I suppose. To me, to protest without having a clear idea of why you are doing it and what exactly your ideals behind said protest are - is dumb. A counter-culture based more upon the rejection of any moral conviction and a propensity for drug use never struck me as being the generational cultural enlightenment that it did for some - sorry. Perhaps they are not so dumb and have a clear point and purpose, but I have not seen it presented, rather just a generic 'down with corporate greed' kind of thing, which is parroted throughout the ranks. You seem incapable of enlightening me to the structure of their cause either, rather than stating that they know and I do not - which I find telling.
Note that I said listening to Jimmy do All Along the Watch Tower, which he did indeed perform and bring to the charts (his performance being more notable than Dylan's). Seems an odd thing to pick upon, but then again you have presented nothing of substance, but rather just insult and anger.
And yes, I do believe that the rejection of cultural values in the 1960's did lead to a general decline in rational thinking in this country. It lead further to a generation who, unlike those who came before and grew up during the depression and knew suffering and want, were obsessed with more of a 'me' culture who thinks more of what society and the world owes them rather than what they might contribute through difficult work. Many of us that grew up with parents who grew up during the depression (my father quit school at 14 because his parents needed the money he brought in working; my mother and her siblings at one time shared the 'best' pair of shoes) were brought up with a different set of values. What has your great 60's generation wrought except for parents who now pressure schools to enforce a 'no peanut' zone so my kid can't eat a PBJ without fear of their precocious little turd-bag doing the bacon because of a supposed 'peanut allergy'. We went from the 'Greatest Generation' who fought the Second World War to solving disciplinary problems with pharmaceuticals and a 'time out'.
So you can find it quite amusing to think that some people actually think this way - but yeah, we do. I make no apologies or pretenses. A generation whose supposed cultural enlightenment and contribution involved free love, getting high and spitting on hapless soldiers in protest just doesn't ring the same bell of cultural enlightenment for me that it does apparently for you. The current round of protesters don't strike me as being any more enlightened (and I've got a teenager). Hey man, to each his own. You idolize the 60's freaks, I'll stick to my boys who fought it out in the 40's. It's all good.
-1
yabits
I "get" why so many of them are out there, and look forward to joining in at a gathering here in Georgia. I admire the fact that they've not made their aims so clear -- as doing that would invite easy attack or co-opting. At the same time, they aren't really trying to hide anything either.
These people are smart enough to see a system that despises and fears anyone who is looking for justice and a fair share for everyone. Their response has been to try to find a new way to respond to a system they no longer believe in, and to begin to replace it with a new one. Better writers, speakers and "explainers" than I will emerge out of it and a kind of American "solidarity" movement will grow. The one percent that rules the United States does not want to see that kind of movement -- or any kind that they have no influence over.
So what can people to do join with each other to start to actively exercise the discovery of their power against a system they despise and which despises them? I think we're seeing that happening. Rather than shooting for any quick, defined goal, people are taking time to put a new process together, and practicing real democracy in the process.
I don't see why you'd have to take Ballad of a Thin Man as an angry insult. I think Dylan's words describe people who see what's happening around them and "don't know what it is."
0
TigermothII
So what can people to do join with each other to start to actively exercise the discovery of their power against a system they despise and which despises them? I think we're seeing that happening. Rather than shooting for any quick, defined goal, people are taking time to put a new process together, and practicing real democracy in the process.
Soooo...what you're telling me is that you really have no clue either, except for a general 'down with the man - with corporate greed' kind of thing. American solidarity movement? Surely you jest. A few hundred young folks and weirdos banging drums in front of office buildings and court houses will be just that. Hey - you're right in that it's refreshing to see a democracy in action, where the people can voice their opinions. But I wouldn't hole my breath for radical change because of this.
I'm always interested in the liberal 'fair share' idea. Again the assumption is that all rich people (and the definition there is tenuous at best) are evil hoarders of wealth who do not deserve what they have, and that all that have nots are just so by the luck of the draw. So your telling me that you honestly believe that if a guy works 60 hour weeks, puts heart, soul and mind into a business, suffers in many ways in seeing his dream happen because he knows the effort required, then in the end succeeds, builds a good, sound business and makes a good amount of money in the process - he owes someone else for that? (sorry, horrible and long run-on sentence) By your logic someone who works at the local Quickie-Mart because they chose not to go to university deserves their 'fair share' of this man's wealth, and those like him? How is that? And don't give me the old assumption that they 'used others' on the way up. How does someone who worked hard for the money that they have owe it to someone who did not? Explain that one to me, because I'm just not getting it.
0
TigermothII
'hold' my breath. Second para should be in quotes.
-1
yabits
I see what is happening and it makes sense to me. They're very clever folks, this bunch.
No. Not at all. It will happen. Now that the real game of American capitalism has revealed itself. (See: Retirement Heist by Ellen Schultz, for starters). Young people have two clear facts set out before them: 1) They would be complete idiots to believe in the current system where 1% reach the top and a large portion of the other 99% are considered "losers." 2) They know that it is a lie that a better system can't be devised. (In fact, a better system was in operation in the 1940s and 1950s when the New Deal was in full bloom.)
Come off of it. That's the old Horatio Alger mythology made popular by Amway and other multi-level ponzi schemes. In the current American system, the vast majority of people who put their heart, soul, and minds in their businesses will fail.
The man may not have had a real choice. After all, he wasn't born under a system that provides a real opportunity for a man such as this to realize and develop his talents -- without saddling him with tens of thousands of dollars in debt. There are societies that provide tremendous university and apprenticeship programs at little or no cost to those who apply for them. Those societies have chosen to direct funds to the development of people rather than to destructive purposes such as an over-bloated military regime starting and fighting wars without end.
1
unreconstructed
Are these people out there playing protester aware that Wall Street was behind Obama and not the other guy in America's last presidential election?
1
unreconstructed
The Occupy Wall St morons have released an official list of demands.
(http://occupywallst.org/forum/proposed-list-of-demands-for-occupy-wall-st-moveme/)
One of the more risible punch lines: they demand a minimum wage of twenty dollars an hour.
It's like watching a modern version of the Children's Crusade.
1
TheQuestion
It's so easy to demand things when you're not the one paying for it. Ah well, I needed a good laugh.
0
TigermothII
Aw come off it. What you're advocating - and with all seriousness and no sense of shame! - is the same old liberal crap - a welfare state where those that can and do pay for those who can't and will not. SOS - different protest. It isn't Horatio Alger mythology to think that hard work can get you ahead. Granted, when the liberals start wanting to tax everything that you do and take your funds to pay for 'healthcare for all' then it becomes a bit more difficult. I know tons of people (myself included) who economically were not predisposed for higher education who chose that route anyway. Many of us were saddled with debt, but we paid and it and clawed ahead rather than sitting about expecting something for nothing. Hey, life's a tough old bitch, you are guaranteed nothing. No one owes anyone else. You make what you become. I'm so sick of the 'well they didn't have a choice' BS of the liberal left who blames it all on economic standings. You make life choices, and they make or break you.
With a statement like that why do you and your ilk balk so much at the mention of the term 'socialist'? Because what you're advocating is indeed that.
Name some of them that are not economically going down the toilet right now.
Our current President has not ended the war and brought the troops home yet, has he? Because once you get in power and realize the dimensions involved, it ain't so easy. But your type always makes it seem like this is the first time such a thing has happened and 'evil America' has taken the lead. Man has been fighting pretty much continuously since organized civilization began - it's nothing new and while yes a horrible thing to be sure not the precursor to the American Apocalypse that you'd like to pretend.
Sorry but this Star Trek liberal utopia that you're hoping for is way more a myth than hard work to get ahead.
-2
yabits
Germany. Finland. Switzerland. You want more?
Then stand aside and let people who are smarter, wiser, and more humane than you obviously are build a better system.
0
globalwatcher
These protesting groups are quite different. They have a clear objectives and goals in mind. They are not looking for troubles.
I am sharing weblink here, so you can read the most updated news about it.
goals.http://slatest.slate.com/posts/2011/10/05/occupywallstreetstiglitzlessigwestlendprotestsintellectu.html?from=rss/&wpisrc=newsletter_slatest
0
arrestpaul
"they've not made their aims so clear" - vs "they aren't really trying to hide anything either" -
Apparently they're hiding what their aims are.
0
arrestpaul
I heard that they are also demanding a shrubbery. A nice one that's not to big. lol
I saw a video where the protestors were chanting:
WHAT DO WE WANT? WE REALLY DON'T KNOW. WHEN DO WE WANT IT? NOW!
0
arrestpaul
With no way to pay for it.
Socialism doesn't pay for itself.
1
TigermothII
Go to it then. In your new system I'm not going to play the fool and work anymore, but rather just protest for ideals that I have no ideas how to define or describe in my protests, and live off the state. Oh, and sit around talking about how wise and smart I am. Germany, Finland, Switzerland - real world powers these days.
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