Who are the protesters behind Occupy Wall Street–and what do they want?

[manualman]

news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/protestors-behind-occupy-wall-street-want-133222625.html

I find this interesting and I’m concerned that the spin doctors are quickly trying to create an image here that this is an equal and opposite reaction to the Tea Party phenomenon.

I strongly disagree. I think there is an enormous amount of room in politics for people to be disgusted with BOTH excessive government spending and intrusion into people’s daily lives AND disgusted with the machinations of the Wall Street elite who constantly dream up new schemes for screwing Americans out of their money.

Myself, I’d happily claim membership in BOTH movements. I’d like LESS government bureacracy, agencies, red tape and obstructionism, less government funding of dubious programs, grants, handouts and giveaways to the well connected, less military spending.

I’d also be quite happy to see tax structures changed to place higher burdens on larger companies than exist on smaller ones. I’d favor a constitutional amendment to eliminate the ‘personhood’ status currently enjoyed by corporations in order to limit their political activities. I don’t see why we need a huge agency to review and deny merger requests when they clearly would create corporations “too large to fail.” And so on.

It’s not at all clear to me that this movement is a groundswell demanding that the wealth of the rich be seized and given away to the poor. What I see in everday Americans is disgust with the insider’s club on Wall Street that takes care of each other first and let’s the actual stockholders have the leftovers, when there are any.

 

[SamH]

Leftist “Tea Party”, occupation of public spaces, vandalism and mass arrests with violence acts.

Conservative “Tea Party”, civil obedience and public areas left cleaner than they were found. Only violence is perpetrated by democrat counter protestors and union thugs.

 

[Wolseley]

I’m sorry, but I find it awfully hard to work up any sympathy for these kids. Have you read any of their “demands”?

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/7637/1317611501365.jpg

Oh, so she only gets $15.00 an hour. Boo-hoo, cry me a river. The last time I even approached $12.00 an hour was ten years ago, and I was happy to get that. What, did she think she was entitled to a $250,000.00 a year job straight out of college? She never heard of entry-level?

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/6402/1317609463971.jpg

What can I say? Maybe if she learned how to spell, she might actually find a job. Quick tip, sweetheart: “I before E except after C”.

Granted some of the complaints are legitimate, and I can certainly understand the anger and the bitterness, but Wall Street is not the enemy here: the politicians are. If Washington would get the hell out of the way and stop putting the squeeze on small business and the middle class, then the economy would start to grow, wages would rise, and there would be more employment.

Everybody is hurting right now. But as long as Obama stays in office, it’s not going to get any better. And he’s spreading his usual pack of baloney about how it’s the rich who are the problem. Guess what, kids? It wasn’t the rich who are passing things like Obamacare, making small employers refuse to hire any more people because they just simply cannot afford it. And that’s only one example.

For more examples, go here: wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/

 

[SamH]

A college senior that hasn’t graduated is complaining there are no jobs in her field. Perhaps she should take this opportunity to switch majors instead of skipping classes to protest people that don’t owe her anything.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

A college senior that hasn’t graduated is complaining there are no jobs in her field. Perhaps she should take this opportunity to switch majors instead of skipping classes to protest people that don’t owe her anything.

Or, invest in a dictionary…or pay attention in English class.

 

[SamH]

If the first one didn’t know that Volkswagens are known for their electrical problems her research abilities are in serious question anyway.

Why would you march on Wall Street over your lousy choice in cars?

 

[PaulinVA]

The demands are so extreme as to be laughable.

They don’t deserve a point-by-point refutation - just a hearty belly laugh!

And, the biochem graduate shouldn’t have bought a VW…

 

[Brendan]

A college senior that hasn’t graduated is complaining there are no jobs in her field. Perhaps she should take this opportunity to switch majors instead of skipping classes to protest people that don’t owe her anything.

That was my first thought as well. Why would someone major in a field with no job prospects?

And the solution to this person’s mistake is to ‘occupy Wall Street’?

 

[Charlotte408]

For more examples, go here: wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/

This is hilarious. I’ve never seen a bigger group of people feeling sorry for themselves.

My Father would rather live in his car than be a slave to the system

oooOOOoookay A ‘choice’ someone made, never mind the countless people who can’t afford a car.

I got sick of working in a cubicle too. Maybe that’s what they mean. I took a pay cut and found another job that allows me to move around and make my own schedule. I think maybe these people expect the world to bow down, provide them with the job they ‘enjoy’ and then pay them extravagantly for it. Sorry guys…reality check. Your life happiness is what you make it, the government can’t provide that.

 

[SVP]

By Occupy Wall Street’s estimation, I am the 1% and I don’t make anything close to those wages the “rich” are making.

Occupy Wall Street is not analogous to the TEA Party. There will not be any political candidates that come out supporting it.

Taxed Enough Already is counter to the list of demands from the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) which favor redistribution of wealth through taxation of the so called “rich”. The definition of the so called rich is an ever moving target designed to make it impossible to truly define the motives of the OWS agenda.

While the two photos of OWS 99%-ers are commendable, perhaps they should have looked at what the future of employment in America was before settling on their respective fields. More so, because they were among the second largest demographic that voted for Obama.

Leftist Tea Party? no
Rebels without a clue? yes

 

[ANNE_2]

Much of these leftist protests are instigated behind the scenes - by Communist and Socialist leaders of some large UNIONS.
Joining in are students who want something for nothing.
This has all been planned for this month, and I am providing a video link to prove it.

If someone merely wanted to change the laws, they would picket the White House, and Congress, not Wall Street.
(Unions would not picket against their great buddy, Obama.)

Here are recent Steve Lerner’s (of the SEIU) speeches - on CREATING a CRISIS which** includes breaking the law** to be arrested, and escalating in breaking the law.
talkingunion.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/stephen-lerner-create/

They clearly want to shut down this Country and its economic engine. They do not care about law abiding citizens, or citizens need to work to feed their families, or fair taxation.

It’s too bad that forced union dues are used to support these union leaders, and their personal objectives.

 

[manualman]

…Granted some of the complaints are legitimate, and I can certainly understand the anger and the bitterness, but Wall Street is not the enemy here: the politicians are. If Washington would get the hell out of the way and stop putting the squeeze on small business and the middle class, then the economy would start to grow, wages would rise, and there would be more employment.

You think Wall Street isn’t in bed with Washington?? It’s not the massive publicly traded firms that suffer from massive regulation and government oversight of business. Those companies BENEFIT from it because it blocks entrepenuers from opening up shop and competing against them.

Do you have any idea how much red tape it takes to start a business today? You have to be a masochist to even try. The transnational corporations give lip service complaints about federal red tape, but really it is what makes them rich. You and I and who pay the price in reduced competition and fewer consumer choices.

That’s what resonates in me from these people. Yes there are lots of loonies. Seen a Tea Party rally ever? Plenty loonies there too! And you are the first to cry foul when pundits tried to paint the whole movement with those tiny samples. The bottom line is that this points out a glaring problem that nobody else is addressing. Republicans are in favor of ANY sort of businessman and Dems are great at ‘little guy’ PR, but enact policies that close the door on little guys in favor of the mega corps. Obama is a great example. Been to a small neighborhood bank lately? Can’t around here, they’ve all been gobbled up by mega banks since the Obama handed them shiploads of cash. Good luck opening a new bank these days.

 

[ANNE_2]

When SEIU’s Steve Lerner talks about creating a CRISIS for business, he is not doing it for the common good and the moral order.

He is doing it to over-throw our system of government.
Listen to him very very carefully.

Again, if he wanted to change laws he would be picketing the White House and Congress - only those who can change the laws.
And he would do it in a peaceful and law abiding manner, so that persons and property are not damaged.

Today’s union workers are well paid with good benefits for the work done.

 

[ProVobis]

You think Wall Street isn’t in bed with Washington??

Precisely. There are corporations like Goldman Sachs which contribute to the elections of Democrats and Republicans. They use money printed by the Fed at taxpayer expense to elect officials to perpetuate their fraud. So much so, can we really say GS is a private or public company any more? These WS biggies sounds more like a new government than our elected officials, whom at least we can vote out of office.

 

[ProVobis]

Or, invest in a dictionary…or pay attention in English class.

Do they still teach it?

Judging by the declining SAT scores in math, science, and reading, who’d want to hire some of these people even if they needed the help?

 

[JimG]

Well, I’m still not sure just what they want. But apparently nobody at their college gave them the talk that my entering freshman class received from the dean on our first day. The gist of it was this: “You are here to get an education, not a job. Nothing you do here will gurantee you any particular job in the future.”

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

Do they still teach it?

Judging by the declining SAT scores in math, science, and reading, who’d want to hire some of these people even if they needed the help?

I mean, why teach grammar, comprehension, logic, critical thinking, when we can teach Gay Naked Wicca Pottery, World Lesbian Muslim Poetry, Economic Models that don’t involve capital investment, Life without Profit Motive, How to Earn a Living Wage Without Ever Leaving Your Couch, etc…

 

[JimG]

I mean, why teach grammar, comprehension, logic, critical thinking, when we can teach Gay Naked Wicca Pottery, World Lesbian Muslim Poetry, Economic Models that don’t involve capital investment, Life without Profit Motive, How to Earn a Living Wage Without Ever Leaving Your Couch, etc…

Well, I suppose one can now major in Women’s Studies, Black Studies, Gay Studies, or North Korean Dance with text by Kim Jong Il, but the jobs in those areas are drying up as well.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

Well, I suppose one can now major in Women’s Studies, Black Studies, Gay Studies, or North Korean Dance with text by Kim Jong Il, but the jobs in those areas are drying up as well.

Ya, I always laugh when I see classes where the only purpose of the subject is for the professor is to teach students who will eventually become professors in the subject, who teach students to become professors, etc…

 

[sedonaman]

I wonder why a lender would make a student loan to someone if there were no job prospects in the student’s major. Lenders give a fairly good shakedown of borrowers who want to start a business. Where is the equivalent scrutiny for college majors, or are they feeding the “much needed” diversity machine?

I also wonder about WSO2’s own choice for a major since she doesn’t say. When I was in college, suspect majors were nick-named “Underwater Basket Weaving.” These days they are a little easier to spot: “____________________ [fill in] Studies,” “studies” being the key word. Those students of more traditional majors have dubbed them “Communism 101” for their Marxist bent.