Forum Post: List of Demands from a Fellow in the 1 Percent
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 9, 2011, 3:25 p.m. EST by 1percent
(3)
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I am 27 years old and I have a bachelor's degree from a public university. During my senior year of college, I searched tirelessly to secure a job upon graduation. While the job market at the time wasn't great, I finally found an out-of-state job after dozens of unsuccessful interviews. I accepted the job 600 miles away from home, leaving my friends, family and girlfriend behind. I felt grateful, but not lucky. I spent countless hours submitting resumes and searching for jobs while some of my other classmates were busy partying. I have $0 in debt and I suppose I am the "1 percent" so here are my 3 demands for you: (1) stop feeling sorry for yourself, (2) don't live beyond your means and (3) plan for your future. There are jobs out there, you're just not looking hard enough. You won't find a job sitting at your campsite in Zucotti park...that, I can promise.
We could use more details, but I would bet real money that you are a long way from belonging to the 1%. I get that you've got their backs but, seriously, don't kid yourself.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/a-rally-cry-to-occupy-join-in-once-voice/
My fellow citizen, you obviously hold a lot of resentment toward your fellow "partying classmates," however I do not see the corollary between the people you seem to assume are protesting, and the actual protesters. These are people from all walks of life, all background, all educations, and all ages.
Did you ever stop to consider that maybe you shouldn't never have had to move 600 miles away to find job in the first place? That if the economy had been just a little better, you could have stayed closer to home instead of leaving your loved ones behind? You have been duped into believing this is what your American life has to be, but that is not the case at all. We all make our own choices, stand by your own, but don't judge others for theirs.
I can tell you actually have a strong sense of justice, and by what you wrote between the lines you are acknowledging that something isn't adding up structurally with our economy (that it's more than just the status of the economy, which is your surface impression). For future reference, add "Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream" by Barbara Ehrenreich to your potential reading list. I hope you maintain your success, but if not you then one of your acquiantances in your very same position: Your effort will not be appreciated, and everything you worked hard for will collapse. This shouldn't have to happen to anyone no matter what their income bracket. THAT is what our movement is about.
Those camping at Zucotti park are doing something more meaningful than work and making money. They are representing all American's that think and know our system is corrupt and I thank them for that! I am forever grateful! Human advancement and enrichment is more then work and money. Why do American's base everything on money and how hard someone works. We put money and work before family and friends when it should be the other way around. We should make enough to survive and take care of our needs, and learn to enjoy the company of others more! We work rediculous hours to survive and have more, which leads to us getting sick, which then leads to us spending all of our money to get better, and then once better repeating the cycle without ever enjoying the present. Think about it, we are pawns to money.
True, we must "plan for our future", and although I'm all in favor of taking down today's ineffective and inefficient Top 10% Management Group of Business & Government, there's only one way to do it – by fighting bankers as bankers ourselves. Consequently, I have posted the Strategic Legal Policies, Organizational Operating Structures, and Tactical Investment Procedures necessary to do this at:
http://getsatisfaction.com/americanselect/topics/on_strategic_legal_policy_organizational_operational_structures_tactical_investment_procedures
Join
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/StrategicInternationalSystems/
if you want to support a Presidential Candidate Committee at AmericansElect.org in support of the above bank-focused platform.
Top 1% are really families with at least $5-10 Million in hard assets. Income means VERY little and can be fleeting. A programmer might have an income in the top 1% after cashing in a stock option-but that doesn't necessarily mean they have any long term control over their lives or the corporate system.
I doubt very much that you are making an income that puts you in the top 1% as a person who is recently graduated. That said, this whole movement is about more than just jobs. It is about the need for ethical behavior in the financial markets as well as in the government sector because without it the viability of our economy , government, and nation as a whole are seriously at risk.
You were indeed lucky to find a job after putting in the hard work that I, and so many others, have also put into. Now that you've landed a job, however, all you need to do is work on getting a conscience.
Don't forget, if 100 people apply for one job, 99 aren't going to get it.
This is perhaps one of the more popular themes from those that do not understand what #OWS is about. The theme goes something like: I got my great job after working hard. You should stop complaining and get off your ass and find one too.
Well I have had jobs for more than 40 years (I'm 62) , my house is paid for, I'm completely debt free, and I've planned for my future by saving money for my retirement (with any luck I will have a comfortable but modest retirement). So I've done all the things that 1percent has suggested.
So why do I support the #OWS? Well one of -many- reasons is:
Because my so called representative government has abandoned me. My representatives don't give a damn about what I think. The Big Corporations have invested an enormous amount resources to first buy my representative through unlimited campaign funding then telling him what to do through a vast lobbying network where there are 6 lobbyist for every Congressman. Any ideas I might have about government policy is drowned out by the flood of money that comes from the big corporations. #OWS offers the possibility that 99% can have a voice in the political system by collectively joining forces. There is power in numbers!
It is a joy to see someone who is stereotyped as "computer-dumb" posting on this forum! Breaking stereotypes is a big part of this movement.
There is nothing computer-savvy about point-click-read-click-type.
My surviving grandparents would argue differently. As would I, for doing everything computer-related for them except writing their emails to their antiquing buddies.
It disappoints me that in our modern nation, the only people who have the TIME to express themselves in protest are the unemployed, the unoccupied, and the homeless. The abuses of criminals like Ben Bernanke and his predecessor Alan Greenspan, among a few dozen other people have been documented. OWS isn't about whiny babies complaining about how they can't get jobs; its about people who have value to add to their country that aren't allowed to by excessive competition and artificial scarcity.
Its appalling how important networking is in finding jobs when compared to acquired skills. You can be overqualified for a position, but someone who has a friend in the company gets chosen over you. This happens OVER and OVER again. Congrats, 1percent, for networking your testicles off. That such actions are necessary to get a career is sad.
i wish i DID NOT have the time to complain.....i would work 60 + hrs per week if given the opportunity....i cant even get burger king to call me back,,,,NO b.s.
"there are jobs out there, you just arent looking" my friend, i spend 40 hrs a week honestly looking for work. i was let go from a job i had been at for 14 yrs. my house is a meeger 850 square feet and by no degree out of my means. i was given NO assistance when let go, now ive lost my home, my children are hungry and my credit forever ruined. I do NOT party, i.e. "smoke weed", "drink beer" or "pop pills"....i create a food budget of $3 per day to feed myself, my wife and our 2 children. how dare you call anyone lazy until you have walked a mile in those shoes, and starved, and watched your children cry and ask you "why"???.... you had to move 600 miles away....boo hoo....i would take that job in a instant
I came to this site Friday night to offer my assistance as a non-profit organizer. I can do basic coding of web pages, accounting, and other functions.
Mainly I wanted to get some sanitation facilities out to Zucotto (sic) park.
In a matter of about 20 minutes I found over 15 contact listings, and left vmail and email on every one of them.
24 hours later, no response. They aren't even updating the site anymore.
Where did everyone, and the "tens of thousands" http://afgj.org/?p=1765#more-1765 of dollars go?
Well, the General Assembly never was in the US, they are operating out of a hotel room somewhere in Nicaragua, and the money has been deposited in a Central American bank.
How could the people do this to our citizens, how can members of our government support this?
They have to know, it only took me 20 minutes to find out, and they had days and hundreds of people on their staffs.
You're no where near the 1%. You're not even a "wanna be". Read carefully: The 1% are the people who have the top incomes in the US. They got there by manipulating the system through financial coercion. These are the people who have BOUGHT our legislators (the law makers). They are now WRITING the laws that allow their corporations to legally take advantage of the 99%.
We, the 99%, must find a way to regain control of our legal system so that laws, once again represent the fair, honest and moral will of the 99% (WE THE PEOPLE) and restrict corporations to operate within those boundaries.
The point of no return will be when Corporations buy a law that gives them the right to vote or renders the 99%'ers' votes impotent. We are in danger of losing our democracy.
WAKE-UP!
"KISS" GET CORPORATE MONEY OUT OF POLITICS AND LIMIT CORPORATE INFLUENCE OVER GOVERNMENT.
1) Because someone isn't happy with the way things are being done/run does mean that they are feeling sorry for themselves. It means there can be a better way and if we work together it can happen. 2) Live beyond my means? Yeah, I guess I could cut out food, shelter and water. Many of us struggling are not living outside our means, we would be happy to be able to pay for living expenses without having to sell every damn thing we have. 3) Plan for your future? When you get that crystal ball let me know. You can do everything "right" and still end up laid off, out of savings and living day to day.
You are not a member of the class to which these protests are directed. So feel free to join us.
Exactly, having a job & no student debt hardly puts you in the same financial classs with Warren Buffet, Bill Gates or Paris HIlton
I second those demands and agree with them. Can we vote now?
Voting is another thing, like career development, that doesn't seem to be on the minds of very many people in Zucotti park.
Their "career" is to steal what they need and use the government as the stickup man.
if you're not making over 250k you're not the 1%
people making over 250k are in the 99%. The top 1% are over 800K
i make nowhere near $800k but i don't want to be associated w/ the "99%"...how can i make that happen?
Go on with your life and continue having the fruits of your labor unjustly taken from you by the top 1%.
"fruits of your labor unjustly taken from you" The irony...
It's not irony. That's what has been happening the last 30 years. Unfortunately, a lot of Americans have been successfully distracted by the same forces who are picking their pockets.
Why is it unjust when it happens to you, but just when it is done to someone else?
Taking back what is justifiably yours is not "doing something to somebody else." I don't know why you are defending thieves of our work. Do you?
If you want to learn about how this has happened, read this: http://pas.sagepub.com/content/38/2/152.full.pdf
stop being a troll
Don't visit the websites of the protesters and carry on with your life?
maybe it should be called 15% instead. it appears that there are people that don't make $800k that don't share your views
Seriously, dude- good for you. That's really impressive that you found a stable job and have zero debt. But, consider the effort it took you. You should definitely feel grateful for finding a job like you did, because you spent tireless amounts of effort to find it. But I've also expended endless hours of effort looking for a job and I still haven't found even a retail job that will hire me. I also have a BA from a public university and I'm twenty five.
I don't feel sorry for myself, I just want to work. I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to work even a menial labor job for a living that gives me at least twenty hours a week. I think that's actually a pretty minimal request.
Most of us don't even have means to consider the phrase "don't live beyond your means." If I don't have money, I still do need to pay rent, pay electricity and pay for food. I sold my car, so I don't have to pay for gas, but all that money has already been poured into the previous three things.
I planned for my future. I had my entire future mapped out very specifically. Including bank accounts. None of that planning is possible without means or a job.
All of your points are valid and I respect that you were able to find a job and establish a stable lifestyle. Many of us are here, engaged in this movement, because we seek the type of stability that you were able to find and we would be eternally grateful to find it.
here's a link to mcdonald's job openings in nyc. there are over 100 openings in nyc alone right now. i have no idea where you live but surely there are openings in your area as well. it sounds as though you are more qualified for this line of work. or is this job not good enough for you?
http://www.mcstate.com/careers/jobs?stateid=31&type=all&locales%5B%5D=31%3ANew+York&Search=
You sound like a real arrogant self centered asshole. Just so you know, being an asshole the way you are will make no friends and when you are unlucky one day and become broke, nobody will help you out because you were an asshole to them. Karma is a bitch and I hope it hits you in the ass. Sorry to resort to such profanity and reduce my level of class down to the animals, but people like you make me sick!
This job is certainly good enough for me, as are all the ones in my area and I have been and will keep trying for them as hard as I possibly can, just like you did. I'm not sure if you're mocking me or not, but the point was not that there aren't jobs openings, but that there aren't jobs that will hire. Even simple retail jobs like the one you've presented me won't hire me, even though I have a BA. They're all looking for years of experience and for you to complete a long online psychological evaluation, so I can do what? Operate a cash-register? Even so, I've still applied and gone through the psych evaluations with a smile, just for the hope of getting an interview. I would have loved to call someone or talk to someone in the actual store to follow up on that interview, but it turns out that I'm not allowed. Most places don't allow you to even talk to the manager in any way, shape or form, or even to HR to follow up on your application- you just have to wait and pray.
Those are real problems inherit in the hiring system and they actually do need to be taken care of. Regardless of those problems, I'll obviously keep looking for a job, but people like myself are in this movement to highlight that type of absurdity in our employers. They're the same employers who have the gall to keep raising prices on their products while they can't even spare a second for an interview so maybe we can afford the products.
By the way, there's several McDonalds in the area to which I've already applied and none of them are interested in even interviewing me.
Amen and I am sorry about your bad position. Hopefully OUR movement will bring change for everyone, including you and I.
maybe you should wake up and smell the coffee. Then start using the last 99% of your'e I. Q.
you are probably right that the people out there and those that support them are closer to 15% as was the case with the Tea Party. Perhaps the 30% should go back into the woodwork because everything's fine :).
go down to Zucotti Park and propose that, otherwise just go on with your life and let everyone else go on with theirs