Tweedling Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 What do you guys make of this? What are they protesting? Seems like Washington is where they should be protesting.Thoughts? Know anyone there? Stories?Let's not argue. I'm just wondering what you all think about it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kim Bodnia Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I'm sure there have always been protests and demonstrations since the beginning of history, but I feel that nothing ever was the same, after the WTO Seattle protests of 1999. It's probably because the event is fresh in my memory, or probably because it marked my generation, I somehow feel like that event changed everything, as if today's demonstrations had their root in those particular events. I may be wrong, but that's how I feel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 What do you guys make of this? What are they protesting? Seems like Washington is where they should be protesting.Thoughts? Know anyone there? Stories?Let's not argue. I'm just wondering what you all think about it. Kids who are sorry they missed Viet Nam? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
theashtraysays Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 1,2,3, what are we fighting for? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sonicshoulder Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I'm pretty sure if its mid October and your not in school or at work you fall into the deadbeat category. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Plumplechook Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 When Stan O'Neal, the boss of Merrill Lynch, destroyed the company in the subprime mortgage crash of 2008, he got a $161.5 million 'golden parachute' severance package funded by the American taxpayer and he now sits on the board of Alcoa. Meanwhile the rest of the country is dealing with the aftermath of the 2008 crash, a great recession that has resulted in tens of millions of Americans losing their jobs and livelihoods. It's facts like these that create the anger and disillusionment among the American public that is energising these OWS protests. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
anthony Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dark Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 These folks in general want to blame others for their struggles ....they have communicated their angst about corparate America via thier computers and cell phones manufactured by the people they hate and powered by electricity produced by evil corporations ... many of them would love to have a job with a pension that would no doubt be invested in the risk taking risk taking corporations .....many of them are supporters of Obama who has benifited by donations of hedge fund operators .... it goes on and on ....greed is a part of human nature and all the protests in the world wont change that .. so my advice is work hard, create and maybe like Steve Jobs and many others make a difference Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 These folks in general want to blame others for their struggles ....they have communicated their angst about corparate America via thier computers and cell phones manufactured by the people they hate and powered by electricity produced by evil corporations ... many of them would love to have a job with a pension that would no doubt be invested in the risk taking risk taking corporations .....many of them are supporters of Obama who has benifited by donations of hedge fund operators .... it goes on and on ....greed is a part of human nature and all the protests in the world wont change that .. so my advice is work hard, create and maybe like Steve Jobs and many others make a differenceIn some senses you are totally correct. Corporate America is not bad as a whole (I work for a large corporation and am happy to do so). It is an important part of our economy, of course. But, to a point, corporate oversight needs to tighten up.Too big to fail = too big to deregulate. But it takes money to make money. With the widening gap and the increasing cost of a college education, the kids growing up today -- MY kids -- have no chance, unless some of the money that is being doled out to these thieves is diverted to a place that will help those with the most potential to achieve that potential (and I mean small start-up businesses, as well as college grants). Instead of being put into the hands of the ones who fucked it all up in the first place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I'm pretty sure if its mid October and your not in school or at work you fall into the deadbeat category. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 These folks in general want to blame others for their struggles ....they have communicated their angst about corparate America via thier computers and cell phones manufactured by the people they hate and powered by electricity produced by evil corporations ... many of them would love to have a job with a pension that would no doubt be invested in the risk taking risk taking corporations .....many of them are supporters of Obama who has benifited by donations of hedge fund operators .... it goes on and on ....greed is a part of human nature and all the protests in the world wont change that .. so my advice is work hard, create and maybe like Steve Jobs and many others make a differenceIt's not a lack of jobs they're protesting against, nor is it the cellphone manufacturers etc. It's the banks, the financial institutions, and the lack of accountability for the actions that led up to the crisis. It's the marriage of politics and money that keeps working stiffs exhausted and alienated from the process. No offense but I really don't get it when people react to these protestors with "Pull yourselves up by the bootstraps" and whatnot. That just reeks of ignorance and assumptions. What are they protesting? Like this comment: Really? I could understand this question a few weeks ago, but now? It couldn't be clearer at this point.I don't know if this movement is the right way to go about changing the system, but at least it's getting people thinking and talking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bgz23u-pI8 http://www.dailykos....-to-that-53-Guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IRememberDBoon Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 These folks in general want to blame others for their struggles ....they have communicated their angst about corparate America via thier computers and cell phones manufactured by the people they hate and powered by electricity produced by evil corporations ... many of them would love to have a job with a pension that would no doubt be invested in the risk taking risk taking corporations .....many of them are supporters of Obama who has benifited by donations of hedge fund operators .... it goes on and on ....greed is a part of human nature and all the protests in the world wont change that .. so my advice is work hard, create and maybe like Steve Jobs and many others make a difference yeah its just as shallow as that..............:rollseyes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
IRememberDBoon Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 this whole thing is so Fing stupid. All we need to do is return the marginal rates a few percentage points to where they were ten years ago and we can do every single thing that needs to be done. We can fix it all and noone would even notice the difference. Its so friggin easy and logical but the republicans have this new oath of thou shalt never raise taxes on anyone ever again and its killing everything. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cam Jones Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I dont know where people get off calling EVERYONE who is participating in this protest a "deadbeat" or whatever else.I know a few people who are in the Occupy Portland (ME) protest... They are defiantly not deadbeats. They just support this cause and want to make a statement. I see this as a protest to show we're all fed up with corporate greed, tax cuts and loopholes, and the like. And how that just doesnt happen for the shrinking middle class and people below that line. A lot of people don't get that... they're just doing it just to do it. I doubt this will work though. Notice how Washington hasnt commented on it?The #1 thing on the Republicans list is to destroy the Obama presidency which is completely wrong... If he has "destroyed the country" as much as they say he has... Then your #1 thing should be to talk about you undoing these problems... Much like how Obama was talking about in '08 when he was elected. Yes he has been a pretty big disappointment but I do not blame him completely. I think he needs to grow a set of balls and learn how to not roll over and take it like a little bitch from the Right. Until someone with real common sense gets to the front... Barack Obama still has my vote. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ih8music Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I'm on board with a lot of what the OWS people are protesting about. While the vast majority of Americans are seeing increasingly tough times, corporations and their executives are doing better than ever. CEOs used to make 30x what their average worker made; now it's closer to 300x. And Wall Street specifically - we spent billions of dollars bailing out the banks over fears of economic collapse, and now that they've recovered they're literally sitting on billions of dollars and not putting it back into the economy. I'm fully in favor of returning marginal tax rates for the top income earners to what it was in the 90's (39.6%). I also think there needs to be increased regulation of Wall Street specifically to prevent the reckless speculative investing that contributed to the collapse (reinstating the Glass-Steagall act, preventing banks from also being investment firms). At the same time, we also need to increase taxes on corporations who move jobs outside of the US, while significantly increasing tariffs on all imports. But I'm also in favor of cutting taxes on corporations that bring jobs back home from overseas & increasing federal subsidies in domestic industrial growth. The best way to keep jobs here and prevent them from leaving is to make it economically attractive to stay and devastating to leave. This country once made stuff -- made it better than anyone else at the time -- there's no reason we can't do that again. The only thing I have against some of the OWS people is that there seems to be a streak of anarchy running through the crowd. I get the impression that some of them want the entire political & economic system destroyed -- the "Obama is no better than Bush" crowd. Not only do I think that's incorrect & unrealistic, I don't think it's necessary. The system has flaws, but it can be fixed -- with the right amount of gov't regulation and a tax policy designed to keep jobs here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Yes he has been a pretty big disappointment but I do not blame him completely. I think he needs to grow a set of balls and learn how to not roll over and take it like a little bitch from the Right. Until someone with real common sense gets to the front... Barack Obama still has my vote.This. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
choo-choo-charlie Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 1,2,3, what are we fighting for? Don't ask me I don't give a damn. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
williamblanda Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 From Wilco's FB page... In response to questions re: the band and/or Jeff's thoughts on Occupy Wall Street, we rang Mr. Tweedy today and asked. His comment: "Occupy Wall Street is the best example of democracy in action we've seen around here in a long time. I'm inspired by their willingness to stand up and make themselves heard. I really hope it continues to grow and spread and inspires you, too. History shows pretty consistently that no positive change comes from people sitting on their asses." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 From Wilco's FB page... In response to questions re: the band and/or Jeff's thoughts on Occupy Wall Street, we rang Mr. Tweedy today and asked. His comment: "Occupy Wall Street is the best example of democracy in action we've seen around here in a long time. I'm inspired by their willingness to stand up and make themselves heard. I really hope it continues to grow and spread and inspires you, too. History shows pretty consistently that no positive change comes from people sitting on their asses." This says - I am the bass player for Wilco. It's not all young kids: If you look around, you will see images of WWII vets, union members, grandmothers, and all sorts of people there. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
choo-choo-charlie Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Whoah! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sweet Papa Crimbo Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 It's not all young kids: " Not only is he wearing his cammies at an improper time and in an improper location, you don't ever put your medals or ribbons on that uniform. The insignia belongs on the collars, not the chest." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hixter Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 From Wilco's FB page... In response to questions re: the band and/or Jeff's thoughts on Occupy Wall Street, we rang Mr. Tweedy today and asked. His comment: "Occupy Wall Street is the best example of democracy in action we've seen around here in a long time. I'm inspired by their willingness to stand up and make themselves heard. I really hope it continues to grow and spread and inspires you, too. History shows pretty consistently that no positive change comes from people sitting on their asses."And now it's gone. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caliber66 Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 " Not only is he wearing his cammies at an improper time and in an improper location, you don't ever put your medals or ribbons on that uniform. The insignia belongs on the collars, not the chest."A scathing critique of his point that he doesn't want cops beating and pepper spraying unarmed civilians. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Oil Can Boyd Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 And now it's gone.Really? Wow. Some of the comments were getting pretty heated though. It sort of proved Tweedy's point about the internet as he was quoted in Magnet Magazine: “‘Look at this beautiful kitten.’ ‘Fuck you, that kitten’s a socialist.’ ‘You’re a fag.’ Basically, that’s the crux of all Internet discussion.” Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tweedling Posted October 18, 2011 Author Share Posted October 18, 2011 I believe when this started it seemed a little more focused. As it has gone on I think they're losing some of that and becoming somewhat tattered. Not to mention it does seem as though it's picking up more of an anarchist vibe to it.I guess the real ignorant question is, what do they want? It's not real easy to understand what they want when I look at some of the signs they are holding."market globalization""human rights""workers rights""anti-capitalist""anarchy""honk if you're in debt""will you pay my tuition"Those are just a few. They are indeed causing people to talk and think.......but what? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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