Occupy Wall Street

[FreakyLocz14]

Unfortunately, things will start getting worse and worse as the protestors start getting fed up with nothing happening. Though, by doing nothing about the issues they're protesting, governments allow things to get worse. You can't really pin the blame solely on one side or the other, but I can't see things getting better from here-on out.

Why are they not doing what the Tea Party did, and actually run for office?

 

[lx_theo]

Why are they not doing what the Tea Party did, and actually run for office?

They aren't organized and funded by corporate monetary backing like the Tea Party. Not to mention, election are anywhere near soon enough for that to be an issue they would have to deal with.

 

[Mr. X]

Tea party ran for office. Guess what? Despite the rise of the Tea Party, things have only gotten worse.

Politics are ineffective. Sometimes, a protest/riot/war is the only effective answer.

 

[Guest123_x1]

They aren't organized and funded by corporate monetary backing like the Tea Party.

The Tea Party was started by grassroots organizers fed up with big goverment, but then all of a sudden, Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck took over and turned it into another neoconservative movement focusing now on waging war with Iran, and following the Republican Party in near lockstep.

Politics are ineffective. Sometimes, a protest/riot/war is the only effective answer.

We may very well be heading towards a mass riot or civil war. Some people (e.g., Jim Bakker) are predicting something like that will happen soon.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

They aren't organized and funded by corporate monetary backing like the Tea Party. Not to mention, election are anywhere near soon enough for that to be an issue they would have to deal with.

The Tea Party began earlier in the last cycle than OWS did in this one.
The Tea Party actually won a considerable amount of seats in Congress and in state legislatures.

 

[lx_theo]

The Tea Party began earlier in the last cycle than OWS did in this one.
The Tea Party actually won a considerable amount of seats in Congress and in state legislatures.

I'm not saying they can't, but are there any real elections anytime soon that they could even consider having any bearing in? Thats the point I'm making. You suggest running for office, but its not anywhere near enough to make any difference until then. Thats plenty of time for the other deterioration mentioned to happened.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

I'm not saying they can't, but are there any real elections anytime soon that they could even consider having any bearing in? Thats the point I'm making. You suggest running for office, but its not anywhere near enough to make any difference until then. Thats plenty of time for the other deterioration mentioned to happened.

There are state legislative elections this month. They could have tried for those. The Tea Party began in 2009 with the VA and NJ elections, and continued in MA in January 2010.

 

[Zet]

Why are they not doing what the Tea Party did, and actually run for office?

Alternatively they could dump tea in the ocean. That would actually be a more meaningful protest instead of sitting down and doing nothing all day.

 

[TRIFORCE89]

I still like the idea of the Occupy movement. Or at least what I assume it is (see my longish post earlier in this thread), but I'm tired of the Occupy Toronto folks.

Today they held a musical protest at city hall. Let's go all Glee on people, that'll show them.

The park they're occupying is getting pretty damn messy too.

And I just don't understand why you would occupy a city or protest at the municipal level. The issue that I think are at hand, just can't be addressed at the municipal level. The economic hubs like Wall St. and Bay St. (which they still haven't really gotten to here in T.O.. The pictures above are basically our equivalent of Times Square which makes no sense to occupy) or capitals like Washington and Ottawa make sense. The local movements do not and now I'm tired.

 

[Livewire]

There are state legislative elections this month. They could have tried for those. The Tea Party began in 2009 with the VA and NJ elections, and continued in MA in January 2010.

A group formed against the corruption within government and the bureaucracy isn't going to want to become part of the very thing they were created to oppose.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

A group formed against the corruption within government and the bureaucracy isn't going to want to become part of the very thing they were created to oppose.

The only true way to change government is to become a part of it. Are they against all government, or just corruption in government?

 

[doesn't matter]

I'm so glad you bothered to ask every single one of them, including the doctors and teachers that are in the demonstrations here in Spain. And the old people, over 40- I'm sure they also are dumb children who do drugs- hell, even I have assisted to several demonstrations in that movement! I guess I should stop doing drugs.

Yes. I am required to conduct a complete census of the OWS protesters for any conclusion I make about them to be valid.

https://theweek.com/article/index/220529/the-demographics-of-occupy-wall-street-by-the-numbers

Apparently, 64% of the protesters are under the age of 35. That said, it is interesting that a majority of them are employed - how do they get all that time off of work and remain employed? haha

Of course, this is all the US, so the demographics might be different in your part of the world.

In short, the problem here was complete deregulation that allowed banks to play with mortgages and worthless derivatives as if they were secure investments. The crisis was created by private banks, not by Governments.

Yes, but the banks were able to influence the government, allowing them to dictate government decisions, including the decision to bail them out with billions of the taxpayers dollars when they eventually failed hard.

If something is supposed to fail, isn't it best to just let it fail, rather than prolonging the inevitable?

That's the problem in current world politics (and the problem that is destroying the US's political system): democracy was based in making compromises between the views of all citizens, even if you think they are wrong. Finding a middleground everybody is happy with.

No, democracy is a tyranny of the majority. If 51% of the population want something, then despite the opposition of the 49% remaining, the 51% get what they want.

Not that the US is a democracy - it's a republic.

But, if your motto is: "I'm absolutely right, whoever doesn't agree with me is absolutely wrong", the result is extremism and war between both sides- "if I don't win, the other side is going to make sure I don't get absolutely anything out of them, so I have to win by all means".

Why fight for something if you don't believe it to be the absolute truth? If you're so willing to compromise on your beliefs then you must not hold them very strongly.

Seriously, it's the principle of it. Stand by what you believe in if you think it is the truth.

Liberal arts degrees aren't worthless. That's a common degree that teachers get before their credential programs.

On their own they are worthless, particularly in America.

Monopolies are only bad because private ones are solely their for profit. They screw over people everywhere because they can. Gov. based ones have a purposed to serve the people, or are regulated by the Gov. enough that they can't screw over people when ever. Capitalism is just as evil as socialism. One being more beneficial to you doesn't make it better. So get over yourself.

Believe it or not, the government does not care about you. In any case, you still would have a problem with the Federal Reserve, as they are not a government monopoly - they are a private monopoly SUPPORTED by the government (and here you thought they government was looking out for you, lol).

Tea party ran for office. Guess what? Despite the rise of the Tea Party, things have only gotten worse.

Politics are ineffective. Sometimes, a protest/riot/war is the only effective answer.

Well protests are worthless, but you might like this video.



edit: found some interesting news to share

Woman dies at Occupy Vancouver, mayor vows to close camp

Police cordoned off the area and called in the forensic squad. While her death is not considered suspicious, police wouldn't speculate it was caused by a drug overdose.

The death comes only two days after a man survived a heroin overdose, leading officials to clamp down on the tent city, ordering the removal of unoccupied tents. However, the city continues to supply electricity and other services.

While I know this doesn't prove that the majority use and abuse drugs, it does demonstrate that there is a problem with drugs in the protests, and perhaps a strong drug culture within them.

 

[Mario The World Champion]

Tea party ran for office. Guess what? Despite the rise of the Tea Party, things have only gotten worse.

That is because many members of the Tea Party want to get Obama kicked out of the White House and they are willing to screw over the American people and our economy to do it. Unfortunately, Obama needed as many Republicans, establishment or Tea Party, to get the debt ceiling raised before we defaulted. I'm sure the Tea Party can be good for the United States, but not if they are sticking to their guns and have that willingness to screw the country over.

That is why Crocodile Dundee along with our enemies, are basically laughing at us because the Government is so inept right now.

Politics are ineffective. Sometimes, a protest/riot/war is the only effective answer..

Part of me really doesn't want to see that happen, but on the other hand...if the economy keeps getting worse, the anger of the American people is bubbling like a volcano. if something happens between now and the 2012 elections that causes that volcano to blow, I'll be glad I live in Western Massachusetts and not in Boston.

 

[Mr. X]

Or it could just be a issue with Canada.

Either way, while I support protests even I think that that particular camp needs to be shut down by any means possiable, at least until the cause of death is determined.

Still, I'm willing to bet that the next president won't be able to fix our issues either. Despite what some people want to believe, all systems fail. Looks like ours is starting to.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

Why are we talking about the Tea Party? The Tea Party is a force for good in our national conversation, but I only used them as an example or what real activism is.

 

[Mr. X]

So, every person in the Tea Party always has the best interests of America at heart?

 

[TRIFORCE89]

Why are we talking about the Tea Party. The Tea Party is a force for good in our national conversation, but I only used them as an example or what real activism is.

Real activism is dressing up like Ben Franklin?

Not that the bongos with the Occupy movement is all that effective either.

I think we've been complacent for so long that we don't remember how to do this properly.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

Real activism is dressing up like Ben Franklin?

Not that the bongos with the Occupy movement is all that effective either.

I think we've been complacent for so long that we don't remember how to do this properly.

Real activism is taking control of the United States House of Representatives.

 

[doesn't matter]

Because some content was edited out of my post.

See, this is the sort of ignorance that is killing America.

I always laugh when folk call me ignorant. It's usually all you can say when someone disagrees with you - rather than something logical.

Monopolies are only bad because private ones are solely their for profit. They screw over people everywhere because they can. Gov. based ones have a purposed to serve the people, or are regulated by the Gov. enough that they can't screw over people when ever. Capitalism is just as evil as socialism. One being more beneficial to you doesn't make it better. So get over yourself.

Believe it or not, the government does not care about you. In any case, you still would have a problem with the Federal Reserve, as they are not a government monopoly - they are a private monopoly SUPPORTED by the government (and here you thought they government was looking out for you, lol).

Just to make it clear: the government is not your friend. They only ever pander to you to secure power and your money. Just because they aren't shooting you in the street (yet) doesn't mean they are "looking out for you".

All I can tell of you is that you're very one sided in your opinions and have a hard to match superiority complex. So it's hard to take your "facts"/opinions as seriously.

Pot calling kettle black, but I feel the same way about your posts.

And here my posts are being edited because I'm "rude".

Oh and for everybody's information, generalising isn't inherently bad. Don't be afraid to do it.

 

[jpp8]

Oh wow. A lot less support for OWS than I thought there'd be on PC.

I'm not a guy who's big on politics, or someone who knows the ins and outs of the U.S. economic system, but it is quite evident that something is wrong with the way our country is being run right now. I don't know how we should go about fixing it, but is it not admirable that so many people worldwide are calling up to arms against this system that seems to mainly benefit the top 1% of wage earners?