Forum Post: I am the 99% and I am not paying for this protest
Posted 12 years ago on Oct. 18, 2011, 6:24 p.m. EST by NotOccupying
(94)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I am a member of the 99% of Americans who are not the wealthiest but these protests infuriate me. I get up every morning and I go to work. I come home every night and I work on my masters degree. I do these things becasue the American Dream is to work hard to build something for yourself. The people who own the corporations worked hard to build something. Now you who clearly don't work hard since you have time to sleep in parks want to tear down what they have worked for instead of going out and working hard yourselves. On top of that you want me and the rest of the 99% who are hard at work every day to pay the taxes to clean up the messes you are making in the parks and to pay for the police force who are having to babysit you day and night. Why should we have to do that when we are trying to feed our families and pay our student loans and make our rent and mortgage payments? You clearly aren't the ones who are going to pay for this mess since you aren't working. I am alerady tired of paying for your unemployment checks. Why should I pay for this mess too when you could be taking this time to go out and find a job in fast food or retail or some other industry that is gearing up for the holiday season?
Look, the facts are the facts:
1 in 7 Americans is on food stamps (One has to basically be indigent to qualify for food stamps - that's a lot of indigent people in a country of 307 million)
22% of children live in poverty, 40% of African American children live in poverty (Does this not make you at least concerned?)
The Unemployment rate hovers at 9.1% (Seems many people don't understand the Unemployment Rate - It compares the number of jobs available to the number of people seeking work - So, it tells us that there are not enough jobs for everyone.) Still tired of paying for Unemployment? You should know that you don't pay for the first 26 weeks - it is an insurance plan that employees and employers pay for. Look for the deduction in your paycheck.)
CEO's earn 343 times the average worker's pay. (Does this not sound like an exploitative way of distributing company profits? Do you not want more fairness in wages for labor productivity for all workers?)
College tuition at a private school averages $35,000/year (Do you think that is fair, normal, good for our society?)
To deal with all of these issues, which are just symptoms of greed and corruption, OWS is protesting. Protesting is a basic human right here in America. They are trying to make the world a better place and they are trying to bring a more fair economy to the U.S.
They want to get money out of politics so that corporations and rich people don't have more of a say about how our government is run than anyone else. They want to reinstate the Glass Steagall Act to separate commercial and investment banking again because since it was repealed it has been a major contributing factor to the Financial Crisis. They want a fair tax system so that the wealthiest Americans don't pay less tax than the middle class.
This is just a summary and I've only given a few of the symptoms and solutions.
Try to find compassion in your heart and really think hard before you judge others. I think the occupiers are working very hard. Have you ever slept on concrete/cardboard for something you believe in? I think there are other places they'd rather be. And, don't think that everyone with money and a job and a Master's Degree is against OWS. I have all of those things and I support OWS wholeheartedly.
Please go protest in traffic, preferably a freeway
You're very angry. I wish you peace.
Your view is very narrow minded. You oversimplify things. Not everyone has the same situation in life as you. And you sound very selfish in your post. I think you should try a little harder to understand the situation that others face.
I work too. I'm not rich either. But I do recognize that it's not all about me. It's called humanity. It's what separates us from the animals.
Don't fall for this psychological crap from any one percent goon. It's an obvious attempt to divert our attention from the obscene, unjust, immoral, and illogical concentration of wealth. Donald Trump went on record the other day telling us to blame the government instead of Wall Street and the richest one percent. His goons are obviously online and on air trying to divert our attention. Don't fall for it. Just keep protesting no matter what the one percent goons say or do. Our message is vital. Below is my two cents:
We have been mislead by Reagan, Bush Sr, Clinton, Bush Jr, Obama, and nearly every other public figure. Economic growth, job creation, and actual prosperity are not necessarily a package deal. In fact, the first two are horribly misunderstood. Economic growth/loss (GDP) is little more than a measure of wealth changing hands. A transfer of currency from one party to another. The rate at which it is traded. This was up until mid ’07′ however, has never been a measure of actual prosperity. Neither has job creation. The phrase itself has been thrown around so often, and in such a generic political manner, that it has come to mean nothing. Of course, we need to have certain things done for the benefit of society as a whole. We need farmers, builders, manufacturers, transporters, teachers, cops, firefighters, soldiers, mechanics, sanitation workers, doctors, managers, and visionaries. Their work is vital. I’ll even go out on a limb and say that we need politicians, attorneys, bankers, investors, and entertainers. In order to keep them productive, we must provide reasonable incentives. We need to compensate each by a fair measure for their actual contributions to society. We need to provide a reasonable scale of income opportunity for every independent adult, every provider, and share responsibility for those who have a legitimate need for aid. In order to achieve and sustain this, we must also address the cost of living and the distribution of wealth. Here, we have failed miserably. The majority have already lost their home equity, their financial security, and their relative buying power. The middle class have actually lost much of their ability to make ends meet, re-pay loans, pay taxes, and support their own economy. The lower class have gone nearly bankrupt. In all, its a multi-trillion dollar loss taken over about 30 years. Millions are under the impression that we need to create more jobs simply to provide more opportunity. as if that would solve the problem. It won’t. Not by a longshot. Jobs don’t necessarily create wealth. In fact, they almost never do. For the mostpart, they only transfer wealth from one party to another. A gain here. A loss there. Appreciation in one community. Depreciation in another. In order to create net wealth, you must harvest a new resource or make more efficient use of one. Either way you must have a reliable and ethical system in place to distribute that newly created wealth in order to benefit society as a whole and prevent a lagging downside. The ‘free market’ just doesn’t cut it. Its a farce. Many of the jobs created are nothing but filler. The promises empty. Sure, unemployment reached an all-time low under Bush. GDP reached an all-time high. But those are both shallow and misleading indicators. In order to gauge actual prosperity, you must consider the economy in human terms. As of ’08′ the average American was working more hours than the previous generation with far less equity to show for it. Consumer debt, forclosure, and bankruptcy were also at all-time highs. As of ’08′, every major American city was riddled with depressed communities, neglected neighborhoods, failing infrastructures, lost revenue, and gang activity. All of this has coincided with massive economic growth and job creation. Meanwhile, the rich have been getting richer and richer and richer even after taxes. Our nation’s wealth has been concentrated. Again, this represents a multi-trillion dollar loss taken by the majority. Its an absolute deal breaker. Bottom line: With or without economic growth or job creation, you must have a system in place to prevent too much wealth from being concentrated at the top. Unfortunately, we don’t. Our economy has become nothing but a giant game of Monopoly. The richest one percent already own nearly 1/2 of all United States wealth. More than double their share before Reagan took office. Still, they want more. They absolutely will not stop. Now, our society as a whole is in serious jeapordy. Greed kills.
Plagerism
I am not a 1% good. I am a 99%. My income is $34,000 per year and I have over $50,000 in student loans to pay back just like all of the people you say that you represent. I live check to check and if I lost my job tomorrow I would be on the street. You can accuse me of being a 1% but if the 1% have those financial stats then our country is in trouble. Now that we are clear on the fact that I am in the 99% I will repeat that I should not have to pick up the burden of your expenses on top of my own when I am making on $34,000 per year. I should not be paying for your unemployment and I should not have to pay for the expenses assicated with your protests. You do not represent the 99%. You only represent yourself.
My situation is similar to yours. People have a right to protest. And if you lost your job, you would file for unemployment yourself. Don't be deceptive.
Also, I'm sure that you get some sort of grant money. Nearly every student does. So why shouldn't someone tell you that they don't want to pay for your schooling?
The key to a civilized society is to fight for fairness, to stand for those who can't stand on their own. If we all had a selfish, self-centered disposition, we'd have anarchy.
I would encourage you to watch a film released a while ago. It's called "White Man's Burden". If you can watch it with an objective mind and open heart, I think you could better understand what it means to have humanity, to be humane.
You don't have to agree with everyone. No one is looking for you to be a yes-man. But you could at least consider that not everyone has a life situation like yours. Some may have better, and many may have it far worse.
Very well said kerry. He/she is just not listening. Not worth your time.
I'm not so sure. We must always try to persuade, to try and challenge people to look at things from more than one perspective. It is our duty to contribute to the common good.
When I die, I want to return to the universe knowing I tried. That I fought for the common good of all lives. Life is what binds us. Life matters. Our lives matter. We must stop dividing ourselves. We must embrace life, and contribute to the good and betterment of humanity. I must spread love to know that it grows, even if I don't survive to see it's harvest of abundance.
There is a famous Chinese proverb about knowledge. It goes something like: If someone is thirsty, you give them a half cup of water, and if they are still thirsty they will get more water. If someone wants to learn something or is ignorant to something, it is your responsibility to show the person, but knowledge can only be gained if the person truly wants to gain or is open to something. With that being said, I do agree with trying to persuade and maybe it is worth your time. :) Especially knowing that you tried.
Kerry if I were on unemployment I would spend all day every day looking for a job. I wouldn't be hanging out in a park wasting the time that I could be spending looking for a job. I would also take the first job I could get instead of being picky about what job I wanted.
Okay. Understandable. However, some can't even get hired at Burger King because they're "overqualified" and soforth, which is code for "they're going to want something we can't give, and cause us trouble". You can't just presume that everyone that draws an unemployment check does so out of an overwheming desire to eat Fritos and play Xbox.
And secondly, if protesting is American, I for one prefer the unemployed fight for fairness as opposed to playing said Xbox. It's at least a socially productive and positive constructive pursuit. I mean, say these people become the catalyst that blinks our school debt out of existence. Then what would you say, that they wasted their time? I don't. I love them for what they do. They are the front line for my inevitable freedom.
No matter what one may believe the impact of the movement will have, it's the first of this decade and really, this millenium to confront these current financial, political, and social issues. Essentially, one would be hypocritical to criticize the movement for wasting time.
Kerry, what isn't American about this protest is the concept of demonizing those who have worked hard and achieved the american dream. This is a group that wants to change the american way from being about hard work to being about handouts and that will be our country's downfall. Those 1% got there becasue they or their ancestors came to this country and workd hard to build something and to make each generation more successful than the last. Even though I am not a 1% hopefully the fact that I work overtime every day at a corporate job and then come home and work on a MBA will make it so a few generations from now my children's children will be in that 1%. That's America. The fact that just 4 generations ago my ancestors were 1st generation immigrants working in copper mines in michigan and now I can work in a corporate job and work on my masters is what America is about. Refusing to take any job available and sitting in a park complaining about those who are in the 1% isn't America, its just embarrassing.
You're a real turd. "American Dream" is to suck the poor and middle-class dry of all assets and resources through unregulated banking schemes? And what would you know about the "American way"? You're too young to understand what the American way is apparently. The American way is to protest injustice, not sit on your ass and judge those that do. "Hard work for handouts?" You're delusional. You have no concept of what this movement is.
That's not exactly the "American Dream" it once was. The only way to get a house, without buying it outright with cash as I have done, is to take on a mortgage loan with such interest that the buyer ends up paying 3x or more for the house. There's no other system in place, so people are compelled to "work for their American Dream" by the means set forth.
When they default, they lose their investment and their assets. You would have millions more Americans lose their homes while you sit in judgement, saying that those who are homeless are worthless.
Your job means nothing. In each one of your posts, you're intent on reminding this forum of how much of a hard worker you are, how much of an upstanding citizen you are and how the millions of us around the world are just unlike you in all ways. I'd wager that you're probably some 40 year old douche living in the basement of mommy's house just looking for some attention. In the very least, you're some snobby elitist prick with ideals that are lacking all sorts of common sense and compassion for humanity.
I'm not 40. I'm 27 years old. I came from parents who struggled to make ends meet but never defaulted on their mortgage because my father worked two jobs if necessary to pay the bills. He taught me about hard works and about nobody owing me anything from the time I was young. One year ago I was unemployed so I sent out 20 resumes a day until I was offered a temp job at a fortune 100 company. I worked my ass off 60+ hours per week with no benefits to get myself hired at that company on a permanent basis. Thats why I have a good job today. Not becasue somene handed it to me on a silver platter. I'm not out there participating in your protest because I fundamentally disagree with your idea that anyone owes you anything.
Your father taught you arrogance and prejudice but was too short-sighted to teach you objectivity.
You have the right to fundamentally disagree with 'our' cause. You also have the right to protest said cause by various means. We will ensure that you are able to continue to exercise your rights by exercising ours toward that end.
Have a wonderful day. :)
You have the right to protest. You do not have the right to build communes in public parks throughout the country costing the taxpayers millions of dollars. There's a big difference there.
But you are sidestepping the fact that my ancestors, like yours, also stood up for the rights of the worker. They protested the greed of Washington, the greed of the Oil barons, the factory owners, the corporations and genuinely wicked people that haunt us. Ohio gang of seven, Teapot Dome. Don't ignore our history.
No one hates corporate CEOs that do the right thing. Tony Robbins is massively wealthy, employs lots of people, and is firmly 1%. No one's out there hating him. They are against the Enrons, The Georgia Pacifics, the PG&Es, the GEs... those that thumb their nose at ethics, morality and social justice! It's what lawyers (good ones) go into law for. Justice. Protest can bring forth that justice. It did during the civil rights movement, during the Women's sufferage movement... Women's equality? Burn baby burn? Protest IS American. So is dissent! Ask anyone in the history department at your university. Again, don't be deceptive.
Please, just ruminate on the things I've said. I don't want to convolute this conversation. Consider all sides, that's all I'm asking.
[Deleted]
I'm talking about Pacific Gas and Electric. Erin Brockovitch's mission prosecution. I suspect the PG&E you are referencing is a different one.
How did things get this bad that you (as a smart hardworking person) are one paycheck from disaster and would work at anything as a wage slave even if it was dangerous or you would not have time to find better jobs?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oztdRo9GLLk
http://idlenest.freehostia.com/mirror/www.whywork.org/rethinking/whywork/abolition.html
http://conceptualguerilla.com/?q=node/47/
http://www.conceptualguerilla.com/?q=node/402
When productivity has doubled or tripled over the last few decades, why have real wages gone down by about 27% for males 30-50 years old during that time? And been flat overall? http://immigrationreform.com/2011/08/26/american-working-man-becoming-obsolete-reports-bloombergbusiness-week/ "The data are pretty bleak. Only 63.5 percent of working age American men have jobs. Those who do have jobs are earning substantially less. Real wages for American ages 30 to 50 have dropped by 27 percent since 1969. The trends are not likely to reverse any time soon. The article offers numerous explanations for this phenomenon – globalization, mechanization, the increasing number of women entering the labor force."
Why were you forced to take on almost two years salary worth of debt to get a credential that only gives you a chance (not a certainty) of getting a job? See: http://www.capitalismhitsthefan.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/opinion/sunday/kristof-americas-primal-scream.html?_r=2
http://motherjones.com/politics/2004/11/two-income-trap
If you get a job, why will you have to work about 25% more than people in Germany who essentially are more productive in less time than workers in the USA?
http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2010/08/25/german_usa_working_life_ext2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/opinion/sunday/jobs-will-follow-a-strengthening-of-the-middle-class.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
Why do people need to be motivated by money in an information age economy where creativity diminishes when something is done for material gain? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc
Why is the process of getting a graduate degree one of so much subjugation? See: http://www.disciplined-minds.com/ "In this riveting book about the world of professional work, Jeff Schmidt demonstrates that the workplace is a battleground for the very identity of the individual, as is graduate school, where professionals are trained. He shows that professional work is inherently political, and that professionals are hired to subordinate their own vision and maintain strict “ideological discipline.” The hidden root of much career dissatisfaction, argues Schmidt, is the professional’s lack of control over the political component of his or her creative work. Many professionals set out to make a contribution to society and add meaning to their lives. Yet our system of professional education and employment abusively inculcates an acceptance of politically subordinate roles in which professionals typically do not make a significant difference, undermining the creative potential of individuals, organizations and even democracy."
If the USA spends about a trillion dollars a year on defense (or more, everything considered), why do we all feel less safe? http://www.lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm
Lots of hard questions... Most people see or feel the suffering, but can't figure out why...
Anyway, sure, you've been forced to the edge and you are angry about it. Who wouldn't be? Just do something constructive with that anger. http://pbskids.org/rogers/songLyricsWhatDoYouDo.html
Then do your part. Help the little guy as much as possible and the big guy as little as possible. If and when we begin to reverse the obscene concentration of wealth, buying power will increase on the low end. There will be less need for financial aid. In the meantime, you and I are obligated to pay our taxes.
Only a few can stay overnight, but they've been the basis of many more who march with them when they can. I can't, but I appreciate that people are finally speaking out about how power has been hijacked in this country.
I don't believe money is speech, so that unlimited money should be free to pour into elections. That's a core value in the protests. And the protests are help wake a lot of people up.
It's a psychology of hazing at play here. This guy claims he worked hard to get his job and it really pisses him off that next generation might not suffer like he did, if OWS succeeds. It's the I-suffered-in-this-evil-system-therefore-you-must-suffer-too-even-if-you-won't-have-to mentality. Even if he's aware of how unfair the system is, he will defend status quo and will block progress. He's sitting comfortably in the "have's" camp now and is quite anxious to boost his ego by labeling all below him on the social ladder as "lazy" or "entitled" and lecturing protesters about "responsibilty". A typical selfish poster child for capitalism.
well said!
I'm a 27 year old woman. I am your generation. The issue here is that you are making the lives of the hardworking majority of the generation harder by making those older people assume that our entire generation has entitlement issues and is lazy.
Do you realize that defending status quo will lead to a catastrophe after which even you won't have a job? And even if economic collapse doesn't happen, do you realize that unless you work directly with people, your job will become obsolete, automated or outsourced in several years? These protesters are actually trying to save your ability to support yourself in the not-so-distant future.
I think the essential issue here is the fact that you've bought into the "American Dream" lie. If you do your research you will see that worker productivity has been increasing in the last 30 years while wages (for workers) have stayed virtually the same while CEO wages have skyrocketed. The "bootstraps" lie is one that assumes that there are enough boots available for everyone. Many people are born without boots - lacking the bootstraps to pull themselves up. It is true in this country that some people are born with economic and racial privilege and find that if they "work hard enough" (largely depending on the privilege that they don't recognize) they can gain more wealth. 60 years ago the "American Dream" was to be middle class. Today the "American Dream" is to be as wealthy as possible - damn the consequences for the rest of society. As someone who works with children in the foster care system I can assure you that not everyone is born with the same access to opportunity. If you claim to buy into the American Dream and want to work hard - work for something meaningful - work to fight economic and racial inequality.
Your a friggin donkey
Be thankfull for these people in the park protesting for your rights since you can't. It isn't easy sleeping in the cold rain on some cardboard with a tarp( no tents allowed) not having a bathroom or shower onsite.
Then go home and sleep in your bed. You don't represent me. You only represent yourself and your self-interest.
Well we represent a whole lot of other people that sleep in bed at home
So you are basically on a self-rightous camping trip.
And you're here. So you are basically on a self-righteous trolling trip.
I understand you.
But try to understand us.
Most of us are a young generation appalled at what has been allowed to go on for far too long. Yes, there are many corporate leaders who strived their whole lives to occupy their position today.
BUT there are even more out there who have done so within the loopholes intentionally made by those who have influential power in law-making because they have hidden agendas, insidious plans, and selfish greed.
There is SO MUCH wrong with our systems in place because they are based on dysfunctional values and ideals.
Money is very easy to hide, therefore it is easy to do that which is not acceptable to those in their right mind because you can easily hide your trail.
Why not at least implement a system of visible currency? Why not change the infrastructure of our supposed democratic government? It is not working if there are still people out there living in unfair conditions and being treated even more unfairly.
Please understand we do this out of love for EVERYONE, including you, and our future generations of children.
It's not corporations that are at fault. How did Steve Jobs and Apple wrong you? It's the politicians for the last 90 years that are to blame from the creation of the Central Bank, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac to CFMA act of 2000. Wake up and educate yourself. Don't begrudge corporations for acting in their own self-interest, you would do it too and are doing it right now. Place the blame where it's due, with the political system. You blaming others for being self-interested and winning is like cursing the other team for playing to well. Geeez.
Well, I'm not only blaming corporation. I'm blaming everyone, including myself.
We'd have to kid ourselves if none of us had any part, however indirectly and unknowingly, to continue to allow this to happen. 'This' being a lack of love, concern, and care for everyone on this planet. I personally believe it is not only political issues that are at play here, but religious, spiritual, economic, social, cultural, and seperation issues.
I'm not begrudging anyone, because given an individual's model of the world, they are not doing anything "bad". I just think we need to remember that everyone matters, and no one should ever suffer.
I invite you to take a moment to understand that self-interest is not a disservice to humanity unless it is without the interest of others as well. Self-interest without the interest of others is what motivated many of the fucked-up shit that has happened over the millenias.
Notice that wherever our "interest" is, is where our concern shall be.
Self-Interest and Others-Interest are opposites. To say you one must exist with the other is akin to driving down the road and trying to make a left and right turn at the same time.
Also, suffering is good for the soul. True suffering is what brings one closer to spirituality, and everyone suffers, especially the rich. George Eastman is a prime example, or read Tolstoy's Confessions, or Chapter 2 of Castaneda's "The Fire From Within".
The mother or father who has no interest for his/herself cannot properly care for his/her child. If you cannot operate within the interest of yourself and others, then you have no business making deeply serious impacts on this planet and its inhabitants.
Are you talking about suffering like those unfairly slaving all day for 20 cents a day in foreign workmills in order to feed a family of 10 or more, or like the millions of children unneccessarily starving to death every day, or like the thousands of millions worldwide not getting the dignity of basic medical help, or like the veterans who were not given their "guaranteed" compensation for the horror they went through and are still going through, or like the hardworking, loyal PEOPLE of this country (and obviously in others) that are being degraded, laid-off, uncared for, and ignored, or like the..............Dude, I could go on, because until we at least TRY to think of the interest of self and others being the same thing, we will NEVER evolve and do good for everyone...No one should ever suffer to the obscene amount we have let go on for far too long.
If you were to read Chapter 2 of Castaneda's book you may understand what true suffering really is. It's probably one of the most chapters ever written and the suffering is 100x worse than anything you've described and that person actually sought it out. But you won't read it, because I think you would rather not have anything disrupt you're way of seeing.
Could say the same for you, brother/sister. Do you agree then that it is okay for children to starve to death?
I'm 27 years old I am part of the "young generation". I do not want your group speaking on behalf of me.
Not a problem. Nobody here is going to represent your short-sighted views anyway. Just sit at home in blissful ignorance. We'll leave the comfort of our homes and get the job done without you, believe it or not.
Then declare your allegiance and continue on with your life knowing that you are paying taxes for more than "our" mistakes.
So what's your point. You seem to have a problem with others making the decision to support Occupy. You are free not to support it, I am free to support it.
My problem is that you may have a choice to support it or not to support it but I don't have a choice as to whether I have to pay to clean up the mess it makes. I'm just stuck with that tax burden.
Sorry that's the price you pay to keep your first admendment rights. One day you'll want to protest and then the shoe will be on the other foot.
Really? It would be nice if your movement started writing checks to the cities to pay for the park maintenance and the police force (most nonprofits have to pay for the use of parks and the rental of police forces when they use them for events) and it would also be great if you stopped pooping on the ground and throwing your trash everywhere.
We did pay for the police force. It's called taxes.
I think that's a feasible request. Once the lawsuits settle in NYC for all the police brutality cases, maybe we'll go ahead and give old Brookfield a kick-back and maybe even allow the NYPD to apologize for their notorious incite and abuse of power.
Again, your FOX News viewing is shining. If you had any sense, you'd go down to Zuccotti Park and have a look at how clean it's being kept under this "legal" civil occupation. It's undoubtedly much cleaner than your own backyard.
You have referred to me as a communist yet you loathe seeing people exercise their democratic rights. The FOX News spin must be contagious.
Actually I despise fox news. Thanks.
Your level of political consciousness is extremely low.
My level of political consciousness is very high. So is my knowledge of economics and my sense of personal responsibility of which you apparently have none. I have enough personal responsibility to pay for my own food, clothing, shelter, taxes, etc and to apparently pay for yours as well. In my free time I volunteer for congressional campaigns and write letters to my representatives but don't stop meeting my personal responsibilities to do so.
Your knowledge of the facts is also lacking.
Wow this person is really uneducated on the issues and facts, maybe getting info from the media???
Fact 92.1% of Occupiers has some college, a college degree, or a graduate degree....these are EDUCATED people
Fact ** 50.4% are employed full-time 20.4% employed part-time.....yeah that means they are paying taxes too hello....
Fact...ONLY 13.1% are unemployed....its harder to obtain employment these days case ya didnt notice....
2.6% retired, 1.3% disabled, 2.6% homemakers and 9.7% full-time students.
And you clearly have NO idea the criminal activites these corporations have been involved in to the demise of the American economy.....
http://occupytogether.spreadshirt.se/
BTW, your tax dollar aren't paying for this. JP-Morgan already made a 4.3 Million dollar donation to the NYPD.
Your tax dollars however, did go to a bail out of the major banks, one that they haven't paid back, oh wait they did, with 0% interest, basically handing us our own dollars back with debt attached.
It's called the American dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it.
Right on, im with you.
Agreed. But this "movement" had to come sometime.
I spy with my little eye.... a straw man!
We need to boycott imported goods Buy Made in the USA!!!!!
Well, it's this protest, or prepare to pay for the next "bailout" that wasn't a bailout.
Money went to the wrong things, and the wrong people.
What was that worth? 700 billion dollars or something, yeah?
Some people fall into the category you describe. We all know of a number of lazy bums that want it the easy way but this characterization doesn't apply to everyone. There are obvious issues with our government and the special interest groups and corporations that pull the strings.
I think you're being naive, these corporations have lost sight of reality. The American dream has been extracted, sold off and outsourced to other countries. Corporations operate within a governed society, they're ill-equiped and ill-suited to serve society beyond the sight of their own interests. And our government is in their pockets, and it's disgusting.
What sort of corporation would invest in space exploration when profits from these endeavors are decades away - they won't. What good is the American dream when we live in a dead society, a society who stopped dreaming and reaching for the sky. This deadening has happened because of our policies, not of lacking interests. I don't know about you, but no amount of money will satisfy me - my interests, my aspirations are far beyond the confines of some silly monetary interest.
We need a strong government, one that works to better society through infrastructure and scientific exploration/endeavors. We can't even break the cycle of wars we've been in for 10 years, wars which have wasted lives and resources. What good is the American dream when all hope of a truly better future for humanity is gone, usurped by the limitless expansion of corporate interests.
Now you're just trying to incite. Read your last post, do some research into what's really going on and quit whining about how you feel this movement offends you.
This movement, whether you want to believe it or not, is to ensure that your precious job remains solid, that your precious mortgage gets paid without foreclosure and that your retirement savings don't end up leached off by bank heads.
Being close-minded and judgmental is pointless. Read the responses to your own posts and make an informed decision for a change.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/will-you-give-up-your-personal-bailout/
Just as a test, why not try sending out your resume a bit. Apply for a job for a month. Keep it scientific, go to the interviews if you get called. If after a month you were able to find another decent paying job, I will personally pack up and leave and change my political view.Unemployment doesn't last forever, mines gone. Wasting my breath, just like you wasted yours. No one wins an argument. ever. Work hard wage slaves.
By the way how many jobs have you applied for this week?
One year ago I was unemployed and I sent out 20 resumes per day until I found a job. It took me less than a month because I flooded the market with resumes and took the first job I was offered. I guarantee you if I had been camping in a park instead of sending out 20 resumes per day I woudln't have gotten that job.
Ya, you're absolutely right. Protesting is pointless. It solves nothing.
Good thing the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement didn't think like you... or those of the Women's Rights Movement... or the Revolutionary War for that matter.
They were protesting for freedom. I just read your little manifesto and your protesting to take away our rights and put a communist nation into place. You all are so far all base with what America wants its scary. Please stop calling yourself the 99% becasue you don't speak for 99% of America.
HAHAHAHA communist nation? You are SO not 27. Go pick your grandkids up from school and turn up your hearing aid so FOX comes in clearly.
Communist? It's socialistic enough already! What part of "US Dollar owned by private, civilian central bank" don't you understand? Anywho, you clearly didn't read or understand my "little manifesto" or you wouldn't have just subjected yourself to calling the US Constitution a communist document... because that is what I'm referencing.
Read Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution and tell me if anywhere in there it states that the power to control US currency resides with central banking.
The history of central banking dates back to 1781, at which point the idea of central banking, though scrutinized by virtually every one of the original Presidents up to Woodrow Wilson, was tested and given charters of 20 years each to prove its worth. In most cases, charters expired because the incumbents realized the potential for corruption of such a system. However, certain events in history led to the 1913 enactment and permanent installment of the Federal Reserve system, a privately owned bank that effectively tread on the Constitution by removing the right of Congress:
Article 1, Section 8 - To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
I saved you the reading.
As far as "freedom protests", this is just that. The Constitution requires liberation. The deal signed between Wilson and the Rothchilds in 1913 not only allowed for a civilian owned, civilian governed system through which all US currency flows but violated the Constitution by removing the regulatory powers from Congress, placing those powers in the hands of non-elected, non-government businessmen without any oversight beyond self-appointed directors.
You are coming to this forum under the guise of being the "99%" but we both know who you are. You lack insight into the cause of this movement. You lack understanding of it even when it's put in terms YOU can understand and you are presenting yourself as a corporatist drone. Go back to your Rupert Murdoch-spun news networks and stop pretending to be anything but an extreme conservative, close-minded, half-wit that hasn't the motivation to research history beyond what FOX News teaches you.
I hear ya bro, but you're wasting you're time with these children who feel entitled to have something for nothing. Unfortunately, it's the way the most recent generation was raised.
No it isn't. I'm 27 years old and what makes me more angry than anything is that people think my whole generation feels entitled becasue the loudest whiniest of them feel that way.
I want to work hard...but our manufacturing base is in China and jobs are scarce!!!!! I'm 26 and I only have an AA degree. I want to save money to start my business but I need to work a full time and a part time job in the evening to make ends meet. It's unhealthy I'm always stressed out. I wish I had one decent paying manufacturing job. Do you feel me??
I get that its stressful to work a lot. I dont' love working overtime at my job. You're right working a lot is stressful and unhealthy. I'm home sick from work today because I've caught the flu. Probably from working 10-12 hours per day. Welcome to adulthood.
I'm with you. I'm sick of people feeling they are entitled to whatever they want and don't have to do anything to get it except raise a fraucus. Go out and create the next great product, many people in the protest could they seem to have some level of creativity. Go get an education or continue your education to get a good job. My father's dad passsed away when my dad was two, leaving my grandma to raise five children by herself. How did she do this? She got two or three jobs and worked her butt off to support her children. My mom's dad was a police man and also delivered milk. He worked hard to support his family until he passed away when my mom was 12. What did my grandma do? She worked numerous jobs to support her three children. That hard work trickled down to my parents, my mom works as a secretary at a high school putting in long hours and my dad has worked two or three jobs to support my two siblings and I. My parents hard work trickled down to their children. My sister is currently a law student who has paid for her own schooling, housing, food, gas ect. I'm currently working on dual agrees in accounting and finance and plan to get my Master's in Accounting, you are free to attack my choice in degrees now. But, know that I am paying for my own schooling, housing, food, gas ect. in the hopes I will be able to get a good job and create a better world for the next generation. My brother works his ass off as a landscaper putting in long, tough days creating his own life. I do not want the government forgiving my student loans, it is my responsibility to pay those off. I made the choice to go to school and I have to be responsible for that choice (yes I do get grants and yes they do help, just know I want to pay off the loans I have out). Work to create a life for yourself and stop expecting everyone be clean up your mess or be responsible for you. I'm sure they are many of you in OWS who are creating your own life and working hard and I respect that. I'm sure they are things you guys are fighting for that people like myself and NotOccupying can get behind. Speaking for myself, one of those things is giving the public the same or more of a voice as corporations in government to name one and I am sure there are many more.
DLM I think you have the right idea about what it takes to get ahead. The entitlement in this movement is disgusting and embarrassing.
pardon me for wanting something better
Then get off your ass and make something better for your life. Go out and get a job and get a degree and work for a better life. That is how people get better lives in America. My ancestors came here four generations ago and worked in copper mines which was the worst job in america at the time so that their children could have a better life. Then each generation after that worked hard so the generation after would have a better life. Now I work 8-12 hours per day in a corporate job and go to school for my MBA to make a better life for the next generation. Nobody but you is responsible for giving you a better life in America.
Another brainwashed corporate zombie. Someone explain to this person and wake them up.
I've seriously been trying. I think this one's a total lost cause.
What are you getting your master's degree in?
MBA in Healthcare Management
The people who own some some of those corporations worked hard to build a class-based empire of which we are all currently victims. If everyone who made it big was really as noble and as capable as some people say, then why is the planet sick? Why have we had centuries of war? Why can't some people find jobs?
You are not a victim. You are just being whiny becasue you don't want to do the hard work that it takes to get to the top. Go out and get a job and work day in and day out to get to the top if thats where you want to be.
NotOccupying - as I said before, you're the one that's whining. We are doing the "hard work", working day jobs, attending classes AND hitting the streets to protest corruption and loss of civil liberties.
You're whining about how you're personally carrying the burden for the entirety of the US welfare system. Beyond it being an irrelevant complaint because this has absolutely nothing to do with "entitlements" (that's how I know you're watching FOX News, btw), the majority of your taxes don't even go to "entitlements". Only 11% of the US budget goes to the welfare system and only about 1/4 of that goes to food/cash assistance. A smart person would wonder where the rest of their tax dollars go. I don't expect you to wonder.
BTW: you will never get to "the top". No matter how hard you strive under this system, you will not. Not because you're mentally incapable, though I do have serious reservations, but because the system isn't designed for that anymore. Unless you've got your daddy's money, you'll never get beyond upper-middle class... for as long as that tax bracket lasts.
You are not a winner. You are just being whiny because you don't want to face your odds or who stacked them. Go out and look at the world clearly every day to see the truth if that's what you want to see.
And what would you do if I was on top, making sure you had good, wholesome, nurturing work rather than drudgery and a hand in the rape of the Earth? Would you still call people like me who are sensitive to the plight of others' whiny? Would you call those of us who fought hard for justice on everyone's behalf whiny?
Stop saying they don't work hard. Do know all of them, NO. You're just making generalizations about people, that's what racists and nazis do. Do you really wanna be like them? We're sorry you are not willing to sacrifice or fight for anything, and if you don't wanna pay, then fine don't pay your taxes.
Sacrifice is working 10-12 hours per day to pay the bills. Camping in a park is not sacrifice.
Many of those people do that though, and sacrifice is more than just working a job.
Fine, no one is twisting your arm
The longer this goes on the more people are going to feel this way.
This movement needs to figure something out...
Wow...the brainwashed trolls are really out in force tonight
Wow...the brainwashed trolls are really out in force tonight
Robespierre,I find it hilarious that your form of arguing is to throw childish insults. Sounds a lot like the political adds Americans hear around elections. And a second note, your name Robespierre is obviously taken from the infamous Maximilien Robespierre of the French Revolution. One of his greatest 'accomplishments' was silencing any opposition to the revolution by literally killing all of those with different opinions. I agree that the power division in the country is extremely corrupt but I wont find my self standing with someone who glamorizes one of the worst free-speech suppressors in history. I hate corruption but I love my Free speech more.
Sorry but yes, you are paying for this protest. Especially if you live in New York. The protest is directly costing New York taxpayers millions.
You also paid for bail outs and bonuses. But that was ok.
Actually it wasn't okay with me, and I was the one who said that I understand when reasonable amounts of public funds are invested in supporting peaceful public assembly.
But if you try to stop me from getting to work, then I'm not going to support you, no matter what you stand for. If you jam up the street or the subway and leave me stuck somewhere intentionally then you will have become a bigger problem for me than any bank or war or endangered species or whatever it is that you're protesting that day.
I'd love to see each of these cities gather the names of the protesters and sue them for the expenses associated with the protests. Why should the tax base eat the expense of a bunch of immature children?
You're right, people never should fight against corrupt system. America should have stayed under British rule, how dare the revolutionaries cost the Imperial Brits money! (Sarcasm by the way).
Oh please do say that you are declaring a revolutionary or civil war against America so the US can deploy their troops.
I declared war a long time ago but the US wont send troops because there's not oil in my property.
You don't get the whole "democratic process" thing, do ya. An immature child is one who enjoys "freedom of speech" but complains about a movement that's clearly as Constitutional.
Your MBA... you getting that from one of those fly-by-night online venues? You've clearly been deprived of many prerequisite courses along the way and it's obvious that you have no desire for higher education. Make the Dean's List even once? Awe, I'm sorry. :P
Well, as an American I do support anybody's right to peacefully assemble. And sometimes that does cost the public money. But there are a lot of protestors agitating for blocking traffic intentionally to keep people from getting to work, and to interfere with commerce. If that happens then the protest will have crossed a line. A very serious line.