Occupy Wall Street

e_wind · Oct 06, 2011, 06:50 PM

I literally payed no attention to this until today. I was bored on campus and have been reading all day and watching videos. Just wondering what everyones thoughts are on this subject, because I brought it up at work and all my coworkers had not even heard of it.

Sticky Icky Green Stuff · Oct 06, 2011, 07:31 PM

I think it's pretty awesome. people are finally calling out the bullshit:

New York Observer: Exclusive "Occupy Wall Street" Unaired Fox Footage

YouAre_GivenToFly · Oct 06, 2011, 09:27 PM

That guy loses all credibility because of his 1864 hat.

Plus, busting on Newscorp/Fox is old hat. Pun intended.

el_chode · Oct 06, 2011, 10:10 PM

Mixed. While I'm glad someone is standing up, I have been pissed off at the people. Many are trust fund babies who can afford to do this because their parents made money on wall street (at least in Manhattan). Other times, I saw people whine because they paid $400,000 for a house that's now only worth $90k or $200k in debt for a dual major in english and "niche" study degrees.

Yes, some of the burden is on the system for charging so damn much for tuition because people want to make a better future, and yes, some of the burden is on the banks for knowingly giving bad mortgages then complaining when their bets went bust. That's what needs to be rallied against (the student loan shit hasn't hit the fan yet).

But at the same time, I feel like some people just want to scapegoat against the banks too because they wish they could be as reckless and irresponsible with their investments and get away with it. And while it's true that in many situations, it was a bad investment on both sides, I've never been one to believe in a quid-pro-quo system of doing things. One person cheating doesn't justify the other doing the same.

YouAre_GivenToFly · Oct 06, 2011, 10:17 PM

This "dialogue" that is starting because of these protests can only gain traction if they start to recognize that the blame for our financial mess lies not on wall street alone. This needs to become "occupy congress", and "occupy the front yards of people who bought a house they should have known they couldn't afford". The banks and their mortgage backed investments (derivatives) are to blame, but so are the politicians who made those products legal back in 1999-2000.

Crispy · Oct 06, 2011, 10:31 PM

I'd like to "Occupy the Hummers, McMansions, Luxury Vacation Condos, and Giant Fucking Boats" that executives have bought for themselves with giant bonuses that corporations continue to pay after collecting bailout money while still making gigantic profits and employing fewer people.

YouAre_GivenToFly · Oct 06, 2011, 10:40 PM

Well yes there's that too.

Sticky Icky Green Stuff · Oct 07, 2011, 12:22 AM

Quote from: el_chode on Oct 06, 2011, 10:10 PM
Mixed. While I'm glad someone is standing up, I have been pissed off at the people. Many are trust fund babies who can afford to do this because their parents made money on wall street (at least in Manhattan). Other times, I saw people whine because they paid $400,000 for a house that's now only worth $90k or $200k in debt for a dual major in english and "niche" study degrees.

Yes, some of the burden is on the system for charging so damn much for tuition because people want to make a better future, and yes, some of the burden is on the banks for knowingly giving bad mortgages then complaining when their bets went bust. That's what needs to be rallied against (the student loan shit hasn't hit the fan yet).

But at the same time, I feel like some people just want to scapegoat against the banks too because they wish they could be as reckless and irresponsible with their investments and get away with it. And while it's true that in many situations, it was a bad investment on both sides, I've never been one to believe in a quid-pro-quo system of doing things. One person cheating doesn't justify the other doing the same.

the thing about these protests is they are economic protests. and it's the poor vs the wealthy. the truly poor people can't be out there occupying shit because they have to work to feed their families and pay their bills. they really aren't defined now at all, but I think at this point it's simply about spreading basic awareness to the public about the corruption going down. people shouldn't be shutdown if they feel outraged, it is a right to protest, even if you're a poop dick tea bagger. it's a bigger deal than the media is making it out to be. there are protests starting to build up everywhere. same basic movement. occupynation.org,

our country is fucked if the poor can't even afford to protest for their own rights. and they can't, it's up these people for now. still think it's more awesome than not awesome.

Sticky Icky Green Stuff · Oct 07, 2011, 12:24 AM

unrelated but about protesting. saw it on PT and want to post it up anyway, it's pretty solid:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqzcUMrDmjM

bowl of soup · Oct 07, 2011, 10:56 AM

You know Mr. Sticky, you really are hitting at the real issue here. As someone who wasted alot of time getting a niche degree with a specialization in Latin American politics - I had to spend hours comparing various revolutions to one another. The mistake that people always make is presuming that revolution comes from a gigantic gap between the top and the bottom of the pyramid, the bottom finally getting fed up, and revolting.

This is somewhat true, but rarely does change take place until there is a slip from the educated middle back into the bottom. Succesful dictators in Latin America are usually the ones who keep very few very rich and 95% of the people starving and controlled. The grip fails when the starving and controlled are fed and free and then asked to starve again.

I really think something is happening here. I recently read a very interesting article that argued that we are transitioning from a society where everyone expects a job and the abilty to work to a society where there aren't enough jobs for people. Essentially an unavoidable welfare state. Technology has made our lives easier as is always the goal, but at the same time, it takes alot less people to accomplish the same tasks. My phone replaces ten people that I used to need.

ALady · Oct 07, 2011, 01:01 PM

This movement hasn't quite coalesced into something I can support just yet. Though I share some of the protesters' viewpoints, I'm a pretty moderate liberal and wary of being painted (read: dismissed) with the hippie-dippie brush. Maybe some moderate Republicans feel the same way about the Tea Partiers.

With an election year on the horizon, I can't help but feel that this energy would be better spent finding, vetting and funding candidates who would further the movement's agenda.

Jaimoe · Oct 07, 2011, 01:25 PM

The same protest (no doubt with some of the same protestors) is hitting Toronto very soon, probably on Bay Street, Canada's financial hub a la Wall Street. Although it's not organized and lacks focus, I can't but agree with the protest's overall message(s).

e_wind · Oct 07, 2011, 01:37 PM

I read somewhere that it has moved to Canada, London, Australia, Egypt, and Europe (Occupy Europe in general).

I haven't read up fully on it, but I tend to agree with most of what I've read. What sucks, which has been said here, is that until there is any kind of actual recognition, people who are employeed can't just drop their lives to go live in a tent.

Jaimoe · Oct 07, 2011, 01:41 PM

Quote from: e_wind on Oct 07, 2011, 01:37 PM
I read somewhere that it has moved to Canada, London, Australia, Egypt, and Europe (Occupy Europe in general).

I haven't read up fully on it, but I tend to agree with most of what I've read. What sucks, which has been said here, is that until there is any kind of actual recognition, people who are employeed can't just drop their lives to go live in a tent.

From what I gather, a big part of the message is unemployment, so the demographic of those involved makes sense. Also, unions are getting involved, which will only raise the profile and give the protest focus. If you think about it, if it could, Big Business would operate with as few (if any) employess as possible; we are all under threat.

CC · Oct 07, 2011, 02:31 PM

Quote from: e_wind on Oct 07, 2011, 01:37 PM
I read somewhere that it has moved to Canada, London, Australia, Egypt, and Europe (Occupy Europe in general).

London and Amsterdam (and probably more cities) are planning big events for oct. 15
http://occupylondon.org.uk/
http://www.occupyamsterdam.org/

Sticky Icky Green Stuff · Oct 07, 2011, 03:49 PM

the DC protests seem to be picking up a little steam:

#OccupyDC Shuts Down US Chamber of Commerce Peacefully and Demand Jobs

pawpaw · Oct 07, 2011, 03:54 PM

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2011/10/07/some-'occupy-sacramento'-protesters-lash-out-at-questions/

We've got our best and brightest on the job out here in Sacramento. ::)

Tracy 2112 · Oct 07, 2011, 06:07 PM

sort of like this (NSFW)

Rant worth listening too.mp4

Nevermind90 · Oct 07, 2011, 07:48 PM

STOP POLICING THE WORLD!

add

I have never been a republican, im just a supporter of Ron Paul..

lucylew · Oct 07, 2011, 11:17 PM

I'll be honest and say I just don't get it. I hear interviews with people who are protesting that are saying they want to put an end to corporations and greed. Really? That's pretty broad.

I live in Sacramento and it seems like the protests are costing our already broke city a lot of money that we don't have and there does not appear to be a clear, realistic goal behind them.