Forum Post: Mindless uninformed mobs in totalitarian regimes are scary
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 13, 2011, 9:11 p.m. EST by ExitWallStreet
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Because they can be influenced by lies and act on them as if it's their mission in life. In the Bosnian war militia were mandates to eradicate the "others" by simple arguments, such as it's God's will that we eliminate Muslims.
You guys are no different except that we live in a country where laws and enforced and the democratic process exists. Shame on those who say otherwise because you've never lived outside the country to know what that's like. So I'm glad that we have a framework to protect mobs from wreaking havoc, but sad that history always repeats itself from the same roots: thoughtless mob gatherings like OWS.
Most of you guys have gathered on the premise that Wall Street is the cause and vilify Wall Street only. Wall street is a player, in the gigantic system gone wrong and more than anything, Wall Street is a symptom of problems in regulation. However, the mindset of simplistic scapegoating and anger is all too familiar. It's the simpletons in every situation that commit atrocities: the minions of Pol Pot in Khmer Rouge, the prison guards of Hungarian Gulags are prime examples.
Go to the library and inform yourselves. Read "The Big Short", or articles by Nouriel Roubini, or get a primer on Economics. To solve a problem, you have to understand it first. It's painfully obvious that none of you understand the problem. You've just been fed a simple, digestible message "Wall Street is Evil" and took it without an ounce of skepticism. Though not to the same degree, you guys share the same mindset as those who have been so easily influenced to do terrible things to others.
Please look at history, look at the parallels of the kinds of mob-mentality that drove the slaughter of Hutus and Tutsis and yourselves.
Inform yourselves, arm yourselves with knowledge, don't bask in your ignorance.
And then look at the "mob mentality" that founded the paris commune, that propelled the civil rights movement, that demanded the 8 hour work day.
I like the suggestion to "get a primer on Economics". It seems to me, from what I've seen on the news and read on this site, that many in this "movement" cannot differentiate between the government and the economy. Therefore, I would like to suggest a primer on government also.
I agree with you on the field that many people in the movement are naive at the reason why they are actually on Wall Street in the first place. And those are the people that will end up giving the much needed movement a bad name. But there is a very large portion of people on site of OWS that HAVE done their research and know what it is they are actually fighting against.
This is a new movement, as time goes on ideals will solidify, and like it or not, some leaders will arise. With so many people finally waking up from all the corruption now finally to fight back. We, the 99%, can not fail.
barthw52 - While I agree with your premise, I do have issue with your final statement. I believe the first thing OWS needs to do is stop claiming it represents 99% of the population. It's very unrealistic and highly improbable that a movement so new and poorly defined represents even the simple majority of a population. To those observers without full understanding of an idea, perception is reality. While slogans and chants have a place in protest, ridiculous claims such as this serve only to perpetuate the perception of absurdity and ignorance within the movement. This in turn becomes the observers reality of the movement.
For instance, I myself make only $57,000 a year and in no way agree with any of what I view as political rhetoric in what I've heard on the news or read on this site. While I am surely not "poor", neither am I rich. I agree wholeheartedly with the capitalist principles of economy and completely abhor the ideas of socialist economy or government. Given that, I am neither the 99% nor the 1%.
That's why I think that this movement should rally around the single demand and goal to take back our democracy. Let's not argue about changing economic systems and policy. We need meaningful democracy where it is prohibited to spend private funds on campaigns. That's the only way I can think of to take the money out of politics and give the people the right to participate meaningfully and to allow the best IDEAS to win not just the person who can raise the most money to put their ads all over the place. Let's make this country a democracy! http://occupywallst.org/forum/one-concise-demand-prohibit-private-spending-for-p/
This is an argument-less post. "Get educated" is a fine sentiment as long as you can back it up with an example of what should be happening instead. Otherwise you're not helping.
Exitwallstreet's statements seem not to be points of argument, but rather statements or points of observance and a suggestion for moving forward in communicating the movement's ideas.
Your argumentative statement, however, appears to be the demonstrative proof to his observation.
You didn't develop well in reading comprehension, did you?
The pot calling the kettle black, apparently, as my point is precisely the lack of points of argument in this post. It's rather a generic blanket statement of "you're all wrong, get educated", only more drawn-out with pretty words.
Unfortunately, while your point may have been precise, it was not very clear.
It seems you didn't do very well in written communication either.
Well, we could argue over whether my clarity or your comprehension is the problem, but I think that's besides the point. Either way it would appear we now understand each other. Good luck instigating further animosity.
Oh, there's no argument here. You can neither write clearly nor comprehend what is clearly written. I don't feel it appropriate to wish you luck in perpetuating continued ignorance.
Being educated is helpful
No doubt. But it's also a generic statement you can say to nearly anyone about anything. Without further advice, it's pretty meaningless.
I do agree that wall street is just a player in a bigger game. The problem is in Washington not on Wall st.
Washington is a large part of the problem, but there are many players in this band. Far too many to name in this posting.
I agree. Washington is where it all starts and ends though. We can control Washington.
I read a lot of utopian novels and the new testament as well as history, economics & philosophy to realize eliminating money is the sign of an advanced, civilized society. democracy (as plato said) is mob rule. What we need is technocracy.