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

[Raskolnikov]

Its just an excuse they use… but its insulting to minorities. They run their lives just like everyone else… and there is no way a person in 2011 can go through life without an ID.

When Georgia was trying to get voter id law, they even proposed FREE ID’s and that wasnt even good enough for democrats.

Somewhere, someone most likely did polls, surveys, and statistical analyses and found that the requirement of an ID deterred some people from voting, and these people would evidently be disproportionately Democratic voters. Even if it would only effect the margin by a fraction of a percent, of course most Democrats will be inclined to oppose measures that will negatively effect turnout in their favor at all. Same applies to Republicans. Why don’t Republicans campaign to get young people (like myself) to “get out and vote,” certaily not with the civic enthusiasm of the Democrats? Do they just hate the spirit of youth? Why aren’t they as excited as Democrats about getting poor people or ethnic minorities to vote? Same reason. Not racism or ageism, it’s just that they are not typical Republican constituencies. No political party, neither Democrats nor Republicans, will spport a measure that will likely have a negative effect on turnout in their favor.

 

[Darryl1958]

Its just an excuse they use… but its insulting to minorities. They run their lives just like everyone else… and there is no way a person in 2011 can go through life without an ID.

When Georgia was trying to get voter id law, they even proposed FREE ID’s and that wasnt even good enough for democrats.

Indiana’s was free too. Ironically the person who challenged it was illegally registered to vote in two states.

 

[rlg94086]

Somewhere, someone most likely did polls, surveys, and statistical analyses and found that the requirement of an ID deterred some people from voting, and these people would evidently be disproportionately Democratic voters. Even if it would only effect the margin by a fraction of a percent, of course most Democrats will be inclined to oppose measures that will negatively effect turnout in their favor at all. Same applies to Republicans. Why don’t Republicans campaign to get young people (like myself) to “get out and vote,” certaily not with the civic enthusiasm of the Democrats? Do they just hate the spirit of youth? Why aren’t they as excited as Democrats about getting poor people or ethnic minorities to vote? Same reason. Not racism or ageism, it’s just that they are not typical Republican constituencies. No political party, neither Democrats nor Republicans, will spport a measure that will likely have a negative effect on turnout in their favor.

So…someone, somewhere can feel free to provide such data, and then, they can explain to me why I should be concerned about the ability of someone who can’t figure out how to get a picture ID to vote.

 

[Raskolnikov]

So…someone, somewhere can feel free to provide such data, and then, they can explain to me why I should be concerned about the ability of someone who can’t figure out how to get a picture ID to vote.

One regularly sees statistics indicating that a significant fraction of American adults can’t find Britain on a map. So I wouldn’t find it all that surprising if someone with just barely enough will to go out and vote, will just bag it at the thought of needing an ID. Maybe his/her driver’s license is lost in the couch somewhere and can;t be bothered to look for it? I imagine if it’s suspended they probably don’t keep track of it as well.

But, legally, they still have the right to vote. Of course if you do some google searches I’m sure you’ll find some groups that wants to reserve the right to vote to people with Phd’s, memberships to Mensa, and one of those little cards that authorizes them to perform CPR.

 

[louis91766]

Democrats are afraid if you cant vote 10 times and the dead cant vote… then they will have a hard time winning any election.

Can you provide any documentation of someone who has voted 10 times? Or was this just hot air?

 

[rlg94086]

One regularly sees statistics indicating that a significant fraction of American adults can’t find Britain on a map. So I wouldn’t find it all that surprising if someone with just barely enough will to go out and vote, will just bag it at the thought of needing an ID. Maybe his/her driver’s license is lost in the couch somewhere and can;t be bothered to look for it? I imagine if it’s suspended they probably don’t keep track of it as well.

But, legally, they still have the right to vote. Of course if you do some google searches I’m sure you’ll find some groups that wants to reserve the right to vote to people with Phd’s, memberships to Mensa, and one of those little cards that authorizes them to perform CPR.

Seriously? So, you are concerned about the “I lost my ID in the couch” voting block? I suppose their dog ate their ballot, too.

 

[rlg94086]

Can you provide any documentation of someone who has voted 10 times? Or was this just hot air?

Give it a rest. It isn’t “hot air.” Its just hyperbole. Relax. The point is that voter fraud exists, and requiring an ID helps to prevent (doesn’t end) voter fraud.

 

[CMatt25]

As everyone knows the “Occupy” movement" has spread across the country. And people of all ages and from all walks of life are behind it.

Here is an example in Florida where the middle aged, seniors and veterans participated.

palmbeachpost.com/news/occupy-wall-street-movement-stages-first-rally-in-1902879.html

Among what is wanted by the movement is less corporate influence in our elections and in the political process. The wealthy and corporations paying their fair share of taxes. And an 85 yr old veteran put it this way, “Wall Street is taking over and it’s our own fault, people need to get out to vote.”

A paralegal put it so sustinctly when she said, “The corporate mentality is that the middle class has more than they need and the rich don’t have enough, well, we’re not going to take that anymore.”

I would add also the mentality that the poor have more than they need while the rich don’t have enough.

It’s about time someone stood up to the class warfare being inflicted by the powerful but small upper percent of the richest.

God bless all those in the movement and all who make their voices heard by voting for greater social justice.

 

[rlg94086]

As everyone knows the “Occupy” movement" has spread across the country. And people of all ages and from all walks of life are behind it.

Here is an example in Florida where the middle aged, seniors and veterans participated.

palmbeachpost.com/news/occupy-wall-street-movement-stages-first-rally-in-1902879.html

Among what is wanted by the movement is less corporate influence in our elections and in the political process. The wealthy and corporations paying their fair share of taxes. An d an 85 yr old veteran put it this way, “Wall Street is taking over and it’s our own fault, people need to get out to vote.”

A paralegal put it so sustinctly when she said, “The corporate mentality is that the middle class has more than they need and the rich don’t have enough, well, we’re not going to take that anymore.”

I would add also the mentality that the poor have more than they need while the rich don’t have enough.

It’s about time someone stood up to the class warfare being inflicted by the powerful but small upper percent of the richest.

God bless all those in the movement and all who make their voices heard by voting for greater social justice.

Yea for them.

So, whom do they vote for? Is Obama the enemy of Wall Street and corporations? Is the Democrat-controlled Senate the enemy of Wall Street and corporations? Let me guess…it’s all the Republican’s fault, right?

Again, whom do they vote for?

 

[louis91766]

Give it a rest. It isn’t “hot air.” Its just hyperbole. Relax. The point is that voter fraud exists, and requiring an ID helps to prevent (doesn’t end) voter fraud.

Oh?
You mean the way that George Bush stole the election from Gore in 2000?
“DELAND, Fla., Nov. 11 - Something very strange happened on election night to Deborah Tannenbaum, a Democratic Party official in Volusia County. At 10 p.m., she called the county elections department and learned that Al Gore was leading George W. Bush 83,000 votes to 62,000. But when she checked the county’s Web site for an update half an hour later, she found a startling development: Gore’s count had dropped by 16,000 votes, while an obscure Socialist candidate had picked up 10,000–all because of a single precinct with only 600 voters.”
scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0310/S00211.htm

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

Rachel Maddow has been consistently reporting about Republican efforts to limit people’s right to vote. You may not like her liberal politics, but her reporting is generally quite accurate. Here is a recent segment she did on the concerted effort by Republicans to “protect the purity of the ballot box”. She makes the case better than I can:

msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/vp/44825193#44825193

Like Maddow says, “Voting is a federal right”. I don’t think it is a coincidence that these new laws are being passed in every state where Republicans have a majority. It can only be an organized effort by the national Republican party.

This is voter suppression, plain and simple. If Democrats were passing laws that would effectively take away people’s guns like this, the NRA would be going apoplectic.

Part of expressing a right is the ability to prove that you are capable of expressing that right, like citizenship, age, and that you have only voted once in a particular race. Having a right doesn’t mean the freedom to do whatever you want.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

As everyone knows the “Occupy” movement" has spread across the country. And people of all ages and from all walks of life are behind it.

Here is an example in Florida where the middle aged, seniors and veterans participated.

palmbeachpost.com/news/occupy-wall-street-movement-stages-first-rally-in-1902879.html

Among what is wanted by the movement is less corporate influence in our elections and in the political process. The wealthy and corporations paying their fair share of taxes. And an 85 yr old veteran put it this way, “Wall Street is taking over and it’s our own fault, people need to get out to vote.”

A paralegal put it so sustinctly when she said, “The corporate mentality is that the middle class has more than they need and the rich don’t have enough, well, we’re not going to take that anymore.”

I would add also the mentality that the poor have more than they need while the rich don’t have enough.

It’s about time someone stood up to the class warfare being inflicted by the powerful but small upper percent of the richest.

God bless all those in the movement and all who make their voices heard by voting for greater social justice.

You think voting is going to help anything? Both Republicans AND Democrats are the ones that are making corporation and banks as powerful as they are. Thinking that putting Democrats in power is going to reduce corporate power is as naive as thinking that putting Democrats in power will limit abortions.

 

[Saburo]

Among what is wanted by the movement …The wealthy and corporations paying their fair share of taxes.

“The corporate mentality is that the middle class has more than they need and the rich don’t have enough, well, we’re not going to take that anymore.”

I would add also the mentality that the poor have more than they need while the rich don’t have enough.

If the wealthy were to pay their fair share of taxes, they would pay a lot less than they already do, and the spoiled whiners protesting would have to pay some income tax. Be careful what you wish for.

It’s about time someone stood up to the class warfare being inflicted by the powerful but small upper percent of the richest.

Having just engaged in a most cretinous attempt to stoke the flames of class warfare, you now applaud an unruly mob of anarchists and communists engaged in what you incorrectly perceive to be standing up to class warfare?

Do the several opposing voices in your head ever give you pause?

God bless all those in the movement and all who make their voices heard by voting for greater social justice.

God doesn’t bless laziness, ineptitude, poor life choices, the homosexual agenda, stealing from your neighbor even if you think he is rich, irrational angst, or any of the other poorly spelled messages seen on the protest signs of this herd of idiots. They are not seeking social justice. They are seeking a route to avoid personal responsibility by denouncing capitalism and embracing a system that has historically cursed God.

May winter come early and bitterly cold wherever these stinky, lazy malcontents gather.:winter::snowing:

 

[bbarrick8383]

Oh?
You mean the way that George Bush stole the election from Gore in 2000?
“DELAND, Fla., Nov. 11 - Something very strange happened on election night to Deborah Tannenbaum, a Democratic Party official in Volusia County. At 10 p.m., she called the county elections department and learned that Al Gore was leading George W. Bush 83,000 votes to 62,000. But when she checked the county’s Web site for an update half an hour later, she found a startling development: Gore’s count had dropped by 16,000 votes, while an obscure Socialist candidate had picked up 10,000–all because of a single precinct with only 600 voters.”
scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0310/S00211.htm

So you agree that we need more protection at the ballot to prevent these things from happening.

George Manos, the 75-year-old Republican, told police that Edith Walker, the 73-year-old Democrat, jumped on his back and struck him in the head three to four times with her fists. Manos said two other elections workers had to pull Walker off his back, according to a report filed with Cuyahoga Falls police.

Manos said it happened after he accused Walker of ballot tampering, and he wants to prosecute.

The alleged assault piqued the interest of Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign — as the voter in question reportedly wanted to vote for McCain but her ballot was initially marked for Sen. Barack Obama.

newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2008/10/14/akron-beacon-journal-obfuscates-elderly-vote-fraud-scuffle

 

[ringil]

If the wealthy were to pay their fair share of taxes, they would pay a lot less than they already do, and the spoiled whiners protesting would have to pay some income tax. Be careful what you wish for.

Having just engaged in a most cretinous attempt to stoke the flames of class warfare, you now applaud an unruly mob of anarchists and communists engaged in what you incorrectly perceive to be standing up to class warfare?

Do the several opposing voices in your head ever give you pause?

God doesn’t bless laziness, ineptitude, poor life choices, the homosexual agenda, stealing from your neighbor even if you think he is rich, irrational angst, or any of the other poorly spelled messages seen on the protest signs of this herd of idiots. They are not seeking social justice. They are seeking a route to avoid personal responsibility by denouncing capitalism and embracing a system that has historically cursed God.

May winter come early and bitterly cold wherever these stinky, lazy malcontents gather.:winter::snowing:

I feel that your post lacks a modicrum of charity. Simply insulting individuals does little to advane your post.

One could throw uneccessary insults at the demographics, appearance, signs, etc. of Tea Party members as well, but what good would this do?

 

[rlg94086]

So you agree that we need more protection at the ballot to prevent these things from happening.

I’m glad louis91766 is on board.

 

[Stjudeprayforus]

Give it a rest. It isn’t “hot air.” Its just hyperbole. Relax. The point is that voter fraud exists, and requiring an ID helps to prevent (doesn’t end) voter fraud.

It was just hyperbole but there was that case in NY where someone voted 35 times using other peoples identities.

And in Houston… a group discovered a woman who voted 6 times. and hundreds of people registered to an empty city lot.

 

[rlg94086]

It was just hyperbole but there was that case in NY where someone voted 35 times using other peoples identities.

And in Houston… a group discovered a woman who voted 6 times. and hundreds of people registered to an empty city lot.

Those are the more common cases of fraud…especially using other’s identities. It’s difficult to know the extent that it happens because it is not easy to trace. Requiring ID will help stop it.

 

[a_priori]

I understand someone’s frustration that people in the financial community have not been held accountable. I feel the same way. But I don’t feel kinship with people who poop on police cars and cannot explain exactly what it is they want. What is the objective with these people? The opportunistic infections of communism, socialism and anarchism always seem to be on hand whenever a wound is created in the streets for any reason.

 

[Stjudeprayforus]

Those are the more common cases of fraud…especially using other’s identities. It’s difficult to know the extent that it happens because it is not easy to trace. Requiring ID will help stop it.

I agree.