Forum Post: Mindset we have to fight with the ninety nine percent
Posted 12 years ago on Dec. 8, 2011, 8:21 a.m. EST by karenpoore
(902)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Now an x friend who emailed me this yesterday.
You Might Be A Wall Street Occupier, If:
You moved to a tent in Zucotti Park because you always wanted a nicer place to live.
You quit your “job” to attend the protests, but your mother continues your allowance and now does the dishes herself.
You are confused that you can’t find the Wal-Mart on Wall Street.
You are enraged that the taxpayers had to bail out Wall Street even though you’ve never paid taxes or know anyone who has.
You hate capitalism but expect a capitalist to provide you a good paying job with great benefits.
You think Socialism has something to do with Facebook, and Capitalism has to do with Washington, DC.
You demand a job, forgetting that you were fired for not doing the one you had.
You despise the rich even though they pay your share of taxes.
You’re a little behind in your rent because your drug dealer insisted on cash.
You are very clear in your protest objectives:
..... “Screw the USA”
..... “Save the __ (fill in the blanks – whales, spotted owls, sturgeon)”
..... “Self-realization is the first step toward self-actualization”
..... “Down with … uh… everything!”
You think 99 weeks of unemployment is the least the government should give you for the 3 months you put in at McDonalds.
You drove a Toyota to the protest, you’re plugged in to a Sony Walkman, talk over a Samsung phone, and play a Yamaha keyboard in a punk band, but you are incensed over jobs being outsourced to other countries.
You demand your rights, but can’t quite recall where they are enumerated.
You believe you have a right to every penny earned, but the rich do not, and you base your claim on equality.
You believe a man is greedy if he worked his way up to CEO on 16-hour days, runs a company employing thousands, and made $10 million last year, but is not greedy if he made $50 million last year for making two motion pictures or shooting a ball through a hoop.
You are convinced the “system” is holding you back from gaining wealth, status, and position. Dropping out of high school, dulling your mind with crack and MJ, a few arrests on your record, and stealing from your employer had nothing to do with it.
You left behind trash, feces, urine-soaked sod, discarded clothing, and used condoms after your “Save the Environment” protest.
You know you’re not a Socialist because you stick pretty much to yourself at parties.
You want to improve the environment and you have the tattoos and piercings to prove it.
You don’t pay taxes, but somehow that’s more than your “fair share”.
You hate the rich, but hope you win the lottery.
You haven't bathed in over a month, but demand to be taken seriously.
You know your cause is just - because Nancy Pelosi admires you.
Slavery could only be maintained because African-Americans were viewed as ‘other’. Empathy is only felt for those we view as equals, “the same feeling for one another does not exist between the different classes”, excerpt from The Spirit Life: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger.
Your friend's mindset and lack of empathy for your involvement with the movement is directly attributable to the very huge Income Inequality gap in this country. Your friend has chosen to side with the class wanting more inequality. But don't sweat it, you'll be on the right side of history when all is said and done. Keep fighting for more equality so that more empathy will return among classes.
Oh, I know without a doubt I am on the right "side" because I feel it in my heart!
Everyone that has ever had a cause to fight for believed they were right, belief doesn't make it so however.
Current causes are based on fact. Where are you coming from with this statement?
Not saying your cause is or isn't based on facts. I'm saying that people will fight for what they believe in and think their position is the right one and/or the moral one. People that identify as liberals or conservatives each believe they are right and the other side is wrong. We interpret facts all the time, usually to suit our beliefs.
You "know without a doubt I am on the right "side" because I feel it in my heart". That feeling was probably in the heart of every person fighting on either side of any cause. The point is there are a lot of people that will see you list above and feel in their heart that it's close to the truth for them.
right, I know it's hard sometimes, but try to remain emphatic toward your friend's foolishness, your friend is the misled product of a hostile environment decades in the making.
I'm thinking the overblown nature of the email (most likely a chain email) shows that it is an attempt at sarcastic humor...droll humor is funny, sarcastic humor often is not.
What is funny about the email, given the information you gave us, is that there are strong Tea Party overtones, which a retired government worker thought worthy to pass on...irony often is amusing.
Don't throw your friendship away over a difference of opinion, this friend is 72 and is seeing his entire concept of the way the world is changing. Nearly everything he believed in, everything he worked toward, everything he depends on is falling apart...and he didn't see it coming.
He needs someone or something to blame for his having to open his eyes. It's obvious that OWS is making a real impact because if it wasn't, he could be still living his days in his snug little world, in his little house on the river of Denial.
Show compassion to those who have little so that they may learn.
He still does see it coming ...
He does now, but imagine what that seeing does to his psyche, his world is falling apart and he fears he can not adapt.
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Oops, I meant to say that he still does NOT see it coming ... Thanks
No oops needed, we still understood each other on the main points.
The reality of this is, that it represents the way a majority of the country feel about OWS at this time. No matter how much individuals like to complain, a majority of the country is mostly content with their life.
They're not content, they're living in fear.
That is your opinion, we disagree on that point. Either way though this movement has lost momentum and is loosing it's chance to make political change happen. I see that as a bigger problem then being mocked by the statements above.
Politicians are very good at is gaging public opinion. All these cities evicting protestors now, mayors feel they have the support of a majority of their constituents at this time to do it and win approval.
I agree with your first part, but, disagree strongly with the last. A large and growing percentage of the general population is very enraged with the morally wrong and unlawful antics of DC, Wall Street, Banks and big corporations.
Perhaps you're right. I see people out living their lives, working, buying junk they don't need, going out. If you engage them in conversation about things they will voice some animosity toward corporations, government, banks, but it seems like just making conversation, not deep anger. It always strikes me as being similar to what people say about religion. They will say they believe in god, heaven or whatever, but live their life as though there were no god. People are living as though the corruption doesn't touch them.
I think Frog is right and I applaud you for acknowledging that (so little of that maturity here)
OWS: people waking up and angry. Will they just keep getting angrier or will they go back to sleep.... again?
I'm not sure it requires any one person or group to become more angry. It requires growth through new members. Positive actions with clear goals would be better then anger when it comes to growing a movement.
" But first you've gotta get mad!" (Network) It was anger that got the occupy movement off the ground no? As things continue spiraling downward, that will grow. Sorry J, you can't wish this away. People now have the option of channeling it to something positive that won't dissolve into confrontations with our brothers in black and blue.
There is only one goal, one demand from my point of view: NYCGA publicly endorse the NGA/Declaration NOW
I'm not wishing anything away. I've seen potential here for a movement to grow like the civil rights or environmental movement and use it's numbers to get people elected through either existing political party and make change a reality. Instead I'm seeing it waste away slowly.
The cities where occupy camps have been evicted indicates to me a growing belief by politicians that the movement lacks any real support among their voters. This action also shifts the focus to demands for camp grounds instead of the corporate and political corruption.
Sorry I didn't mean I thought you were wishing away the movement, I thought you were hoping the anger that fuels the movement would abate. First you gotta get mad, then you gotta get to work.
I'm seeing the wasting away you are too and I absolutely hold the NYCGA responsible. In my opinion, they handled the eviction threat in exactly the opposite way they should have and played right into 'their' hands. The USA is not Egypt. They continue to cast suspicion on their motives and doubts about their abilities to strategize by failing to call for the National General Assembly, a body that would have clear authority to represent the 99%. It is unconscionable that the NYCGA issue 'official' vision statements published on this 'official' website that claim 'we' are a leaderless non-political movement when the truth is in plain sight. It amounts to brainwashing a la 'the emperor has no clothes'.
Ironically, it's time to Occupy the NYCGA.
NGA NGA NGA...
It's hard to perform a fair and unloaded survey in regards to Americans being outraged by their government and get results very far from 100% disapproval by The People.
However, it's hard to perform a fair and unloaded, by nothing more than, "do you identify with OWS" and find 20% of the same people claiming that they "Identify" with OWS.
Ask if Americans support their causes for anger and are glad they are taking to the streets, the number grows higher than the 20%.
These are rough figures only, except for the first example.
agreed but where are those numbers headed? up i would guess. Will they pass the necessary threshold by July 4th, the day the National General Assembly begins?
Well, many will never align themselves as long as the perception is that this movement is dominated by irrational twits and children with no life experiences.
I've learned through many frustrating attempts at sincere communication with several here, that many are still in high school and type some of the most preposterous notions about how to fix things.
I'm all for raising the age to be drafted, drink and vote to 21, with all voting having to prove a reasonable level of education, intelligence and comprehension. However, 18 would be fine for driving privileges for those who refuse to claim their sovereign rights.
Indeed, and the perception emanates largely from the NYCGA which must be populated by those you describe or it's well and truly infiltrated. Either or, it's position is untenable and refusing to endorse a National General Assembly proves they must be one or the other. I could use some help making that clear to people.
If they're not students, who I'm prepared to cut some slack, it's the die-hard party faithful posers, who shamelessly try to sway opinions to their favorite color.
I hate to say it but while it would be better if all voters strived to understand the issues and the mechanisms better, and failing to do so gives an advantage to the Dem's (is that fair to say?), an independent 3rd party may get a windfall to kick start their support base from the freaks and disenfranchised punks. gotta love those kids ; )
The sovereign rights thing is something I don't know much about, but i'm reading about it and funny One hears more and more about it these days. Wonder why?!?
Well, thanks for the reasonable and sensible dialogue. It's well received.
Check this out for a stark side by side comparison.
http://www.gemworld.com/USAVSUS.HTM
Next a test of your Constitutional knowledge.
I can promise you, of many who swear to uphold it, as being a pre-req of their positions, very few can pass. Even many, many, many, elected servants have inadequate knowledge of these two documents.
From our military, the group I've experienced with more knowledge than any others, would be those involved in the various branches' 'special forces'.
http://www.barefootsworld.net/consti16.html
As an interesting aside, the Secretary of the State, of which I am a citizen, has accepted UCC1 filings since the early 70's. As of 2004, over 25 million have been filed and accepted, from all states combined or directly, at the Federal level. I have not been able to find out the actual count, and who has actually filed, as of today, or even beyond 2004.
I'd like to know.
I'd fail dismally but as a farmer I get some time to study in the winter ; )
But what I have noticed is this:
OWS beats the drum of the 1st Amendment right of the people peaceably to assemble but yet when you mention the 1st Amendment right to petition the government for a redress of grievances I hear that that is not what OWS stands for, it's heirarchical, it's treasonous, or simply it's impossible. I appreciate that drafting that list is going to be a difficult task but I don't see how OWS is going to actually change anything if people don't use the right to petition as strongly as they've used the right to peaceably assemble.
No RIGHT to assemble, peacefully or otherwise, actually exists, This is a jagged and difficult pill to swallow. Only the privilege to do so at the discretion of those we have empowered and the system of which we've all unknowingly given implied consent.
This is why you see ZERO corrective or punitive actions as a result of the boys in blue clearly violating anything as such that would be a guaranteed right!
Again, do not lose sight of why Obama, in his official statement from the Administration on the Whitehouse's site, plans to veto SB1867.
It is not because it violates non-existent rights, it is because the bill is not craftily enough written as to exempt such military actions from the Rules of the Geneva Convention so as to prevent TORTURE of those detained!
ditto on the petition et al? Hence the goal to return to the organic constitution, as opposed to the...mmm DC version? Something like that?
Obama, and many others in power, expect the people to learn about their nation's government, how it operates as well as it's laws.
Most people are afraid to speak candidly in light of SB1867 and Obama's current push for national police/military, while not even blatant and obvious criminals are being charged, much less prosecuted.
Others suffer from denial as educating themselves push them far out of their zone of safety and comfort.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111121142446.htm
I'm not sure there are many people that know or care about SB1867. Many are totally unaware and a good portion of those that know about it are, unfortunately, willing to ignore encroachments on their rights to get the illusion of security. They buy into the idea that you have nothing to fear if you're doing nothing wrong. Your study might actually back up my feeling that people in general just don't care. They are willing to trust government just so they don't have to think about things too much.
Agreed, most prefer the Grand Illusion to knowing that if they start turning over stones and examining what is to be seen, how that would interfere with their conveniently chosen beliefs.
However, there are many how are aware of the SB and what it implies. Agreed that many successfully/brainwashed programmed citizens take the low road you describe and I not believe they deserve liberty.
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I don't need a job, nor am I seeking one, I make my own way and not by extracting wealth from the production of others.
I haven't borrowed money ever, except for ONE real property purchase, of which I now hold a free and clear deed, as I do other properties.
If you can't accept an un-spun reality of how many main stream Americans view the group as a whole, you're not seeking these truths and instead taking offense to how many, regardless if fair or accurate, view, and clearly state they see, this movement as being.
Do you think, for any reason I am opposed to the cause? You'd be wrong.
Oh! I am one of the many main stream Americans and the original post is exactly my sentiment. Let me make it clear. I agree with everything karen poore posted about how most people think of OWS. It is both fair and accurate.
I also am not opposed to the movement. It isn't going anywhere and has no effect on mainstream Americans.
Ok, so now we better understand each other. I am not so mainstream due to my choices in how I would and would not live. On the surface, I likely appear that way. On paper, not even close. Reasonably the same end outcome, different means to get there, when it's all boiled down and compared.
I'm very fortunate to not be out on the street and to outright own my real property free and clear. I have deep sorrow for those far less fortunate, even those who lost everything and may turn their noses up at what I have.
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So, people are reading emails as the truth. I am not surprised.
Here is the thing. People seemed to be consumed with the image that is being projected and how to make mainstream media love it. The problems is that this isn't how it works. Oh lawd it's anti-capitalism, it's all socialism. The reality is that if you haven't been seeing this for the past 30 years, you are willfully ignorant. There is not to much that can be done about that.
People are only seeing a bunch of kids hang out in parks. There is the occasional union march, but OWS isn't seen as the 99%, it's seen as kids doing what their parents did in the 60's or 70's. It's like they are waiting for someone to come along and make changes for them, instead of getting their people into government to make the changes happen.
Pay no attention to Food Justice or Occupying Houses. That screams no more waiting.
It is easier for most to lash out at others than to learn the reasons behind the movement.
Demean, degrade, insult, be rude, out shout, and make light of a serious issue we ALL face. It is the sign of the bullies in society. This is all they can do since they can't understand.
I would say that more than the slights in that email, the general perception is that this movement wants, not to change the legal system, but to control it. Most people think the mentality of the movement is as follows: "Someone is in control of the economy." -> "It's big business! big banks! "Wall Street"!" -> "If we were in control of the economy things would be different".
What many in this movement fail to realize is that no one has the legitimate authority to take from a man what he has earned whether he does it "for the greater good" or not.
"You haven't bathed in over a month, but demand to be taken seriously."
Charge That Hill Men....But First, a Bath
Are you [anonymous friend of Karen Poore] attempting to make one embrace the notion that if you are in battle, like during the American Revolutionary War, and you necessarily take very infrequent baths, then your foe will not take you seriously? Not likely, I'm guessing those soldiers were quite serious and that their enemies perceived the same despite the body odor of either one. Ditto Occupy.
all generalizations like the ones above are false.
(for those not so bright... that statement itself, is a generalization)
generally, newbie's don't show up and make themselves look socially inept by trying to sound superior without first proving that they know a goddam thing about what folks have been here for weeks and weeks discussing.
i found all those generalizations at the top of the post to be highly derogatory to OWS, and wanted to express that the group is diverse. and definitely not a newbie. glad you're quoting a rush album.
Haven't seen you here in the last five weeks. There's lots of shit being flung around here, better bring a slicker. Welcome.
I'm demanding the NYCGA publicly endorse the 99% Declaration (read the about page on their site to see why). It speaks specifically about, as your name implies, an inept corrupt congress. The Declaration calls for a National General Assembly (NGA) to meet July 4th in Philadelphia. Delegates are elected, one man and one woman from each congressional district (DGA) to finalize and ratify a List of Grievances as per the 1st Amendment. It is delivered to all three branches of government with a warning...
https://sites.google.com/site/the99percentdeclaration/home
modeled on the Suffolk Resolves of 1774 which led to the Declaration Of Independence
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffolk_Resolves
And you're the first one to publicly identify AFTK. I thought it seemed appropriate ; ) Congrats!
yeah, i apparently had a moniker using initials of an extremely dangerous and well-known criminal of several decades ago. i didn't know that until someone flagged me for it. why is that declaration not a link on the main page?
Did you hear about puff6962? Someone switched the #'s around and started posting and of course many of us assumed it was the puff we all knew and loved/hated. Disturbing and disheartening, but all we can do is live and learn. I'm not that forum super-savy either.
Anyway, your question raises many serious questions about exactly who is behind the scenes here. They were not elected in a fair and open way, yet they presume to make 'official' statements and publish on the 'official' website assuming the role of 'official' voice of the movement. Then they claim we're leaderless and non political! This to me is a clear case of 'the emperor has no clothes'. The NYCGA does not have real authority and by not demanding a National General Assembly, privately and unilaterally removing the working group on the 99% Declarations web-pages from 'their' site, and promoting some questionable strategies that cast the movement in a negative light, the situation has become intolerable.
In the wake of the evictions, many sense the movement is fading away. There was an opportunity to pre-empt the quite distasteful and ugly situation of confrontation and OWS could have come out of the encampments 'smelling like a rose' creating a huge buzz in the media, greatly bolstering the publics image of the movement. That opportunity was absolutely in the hands of the NYCGA. It's failure in this regard amounts to a nail in the coffin of OWS.
The NYCGA's ongoing failure to endorse the NAtional General Assembly is questionable as discussed above, but also proving to be another nail in the coffin. While the rest of the country is preparing for the christmas/winter holidays and settling in for a cold dark winter, OWS seems to want to ignore what's happening to their support base by having benefit concerts, days of action, the farmers march last week, etc, while ignoring the elephant in the room, the NGA. The 99% Declarations efforts to prepare for the NGA are made very very difficult, even to the possible point of failing, due to a lack of public endorsement from the de-facto leaders of OWS99%. In my opinion, making that endorsement (say on the 17th, the 3rd month anniversary) would have the media circling like sharks to find out WTF a NGA is. Once they realize the serious implications for the movement and the existing two-party system, the entire nation will be talking about OWS all winter!!
Missing this opportunity is so inexcusable that it can only lead people to think it is deliberate, whether the reason is stupidity. ineptitude, and foolish pride, or whether OWS was nothing more than an orchestrated event by Democrats to counter the Tea Party.
The blood of OWS pools in the hands of the NYCGA
OCCUPY NYCGA December 17th
NGA NOW all roads lead to Philadelphia July 4th 2012
https://sites.google.com/site/the99percentdeclaration/
i hope the evicted continue to occupy empty homes. i like the declaration, and think OWS should support it. it's too easy for people to believe there's no point, but the declaration provides starting points. puff is the one who alerted me on my moniker:) good phila. is much closer for me. and i agree, we cannot lose this opportunity, and MSM is already writing OWS off.
And MoveON is waiting with open arms and baited breath. Gee how predictable was that???
This is what we are fighting though ... this mindset of people refusing to look at reality and continue to live in la la land.
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E-mail him back a similar list of "You might be a high financier if" or the "24 types of libertarian" cartoon and see how he takes it. If he laughs, then the whole thing was a joke (if in very poor taste) and you're fine. If he pitches a fit or complains that you don't understand the real world, then you should reevaluate how much this particular "friend" of yours.
Thanks, I have already reevaluated our email friendship of nine years. I have not seen this 72 (now) year old person in that long. I know it will do no good to talk to this closed minded person who by the way had worked for the government all of his life. If he was truly a friend, he would not have sent me this email.
This post was great. It totally outlined the characteristics of the OWS zombies.
Seems like a ring of truth just shines off of this.
^^^ Beautiful. Colbert has great things to say about OW.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/401092/october-31-2011/colbert-super-pac---occupy-wall-street-co-optportunity---stephen-on-location
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/401261/november-01-2011/colbert-super-pac---stephen-colbert-occupies-occupy-wall-street-pt--2
These are great!
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How is it possible to support a movement that has no enunciated goals?
We have goals, but they are currently unrestrained and therefore very hard to pick out. We're currently a movement of ideas and sentiments, which can be unattractive to anyone who wants action, as you demonstrate. We are trying to focus the movement behind a few specific goals that resonate with the entire spectrum.
Duh, please educate yourself. Find other media sources beside main stream media.
I'm talking about this site. What are the enunciated goals and the strategies for accomplishing said goals?
JProffitt's answer was a bit more helpful than yours. Anytime you start a sentence with "Duh" you are both insulting others and making yourself look ignorant and ill informed. Can you answer the question I asked in my previous paragraph?
Hell, I realize why everyone is pissed off. I'm pissed off too. I agree with the sentiment but most of the "solutions" I have seen batted about on this forum range somewhere between impractical and utterly ridiculous. If you don't define the movement for yourselves, it will be defined by others. It is already occurring. Every day that goes by where the movement is nothing more than a guttural scream of anguish without any actionable objectives becomes a day in which its relevance fades a bit more.
Sorry for the "duh". Really. It is just I have spent numerous hours reading and researching and I expect everyone else to do so too.
I cannot believe this person emailed me this knowing I support OWS's mission. This is what is going around thanks to people like him!
I can believe it. It's a typically right wing form of maintaining base support, and spreading a point of view using humor.
If you examine it closely you can find some serious weaknesses in the point of view it reveals. Like this:
The only people I've met who meet that criteria are homeless. Given the rise of homelessness, it is clear that even though this is humor, it is completely oblivious to the real issues facing real Americans.
Some of the arguments posed above may in fact be valid. Those that are should be considered carefully. For example:
Obviously this kind of behavior, where it happens, is not desirable and does not further our message.
More humor - but it reveals a weakness. I'm a loner. That's just the way it is. Should I be ashamed of that fact? I don't think so.
I am aware there are some notorious examples of loners who have risen up in American culture during the past few decades - Tim McVeigh is one. What he did is reprehensible.
The process of radicalization is itself, reprehensible - I could show you some of the ways it is done. That this point is included in this list of humor is a subtle warning: you don't want to be that person. It reveals an undercurrent, or a nerve, just beneath the surface.
That there is reaction of this kind is a demonstration that we cannot be ignored - and that itself is a measure of progress.
If the structures of power were comfortable ignoring us, then the banks would have gone ahead with their new fees this past fall.
Do not be demoralized by the email above. Examine what you believe, understand the issues that underlie that belief. Test them for veracity.
Then use whatever is natural to you - get angry or get calm and reasoned - but above all, remain in control of your own behavior.
What you have above is simply a form of psychological warfare. We can use these very tools.
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Great Post !!!!!!!!!