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Forum Post: Recurring theme: work less and get paid more?

Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 18, 2011, 6:55 p.m. EST by YoungSuccessfulModerate (1) from New York, NY
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

I'm generally concerned to see the recurring theme that individuals associated with the OWS movement are quick to demand greater compensation but not willing to work harder. In one post, a OWS member advocated mandating 6 hour work days and raising the mininum wage to $20/hour. In another post, a OWS member protested the idea of working long hours as unfair. Certainly these are generalizations, and don't describe the movement as a whole, but the general theme which transcends so much of this movement seems to be entitlement. And OWS wonders why so few people take their demands seriously? This derails the movement from what should be a concerted effort to promote political transparency, entrepreneurship, a free and fair financial and legal system, government accountability, and a legislature which reflects the will of the people and the needs of the country.

The movement should be about reforming government, not a sense of entitlement and jealousy over other people's success.

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7 Comments


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[-] 1 points by AFarewellToKings (1486) 12 years ago

recurring theme: they made bad choices, not our fault, not our problem. Why doesn't that hungry child in the desert just go and start up that new business? What's wrong with them?!?

While you've been trolling around for children to pick on from your bully pulpit, the people in this movement have been working hard on reforming government. for example: https://sites.google.com/site/the99percentdeclaration/

[-] 1 points by dewitback (63) 12 years ago

I think its more about the spread of wealth. You may know that the gap between rich and poor is widening and not stopping. Also if you think about Canada there are many social benefits to living there that the US does not have in place. The US government would rather spend money on war and has accumulated debt in trillions, whereas Canada has debt only in billions.

Any sense that you have that OWS is a jealous bunch who don't want people to be successful then you have been manipulated by the very media outlets you entrust yourself with.

[-] 0 points by BillyD (6) 12 years ago

manners, no reform or revolution has ever brought human equality a millimeter nearer.

  • George Orwell
[-] 0 points by seaglass (671) from Brigantine, NJ 12 years ago

Envy for what and of whom? Thieves, gangsters in ties, pirates and brigands?

[-] 0 points by zorno (386) 12 years ago

I think the key is that people should be paid well enough so that they can improve themselves and educate their children to high levels, particularly in the areas like sciences, engineering, medicine and education.

Science and the application of science through engineering are really the only means of getting "more for less". This is what happened in our society when we used to have well paid manufacturing workers. The people that became educated were able to develop new production systems that allowed them to produce better products and whole new products for lower prices.

[-] -1 points by Lizzy0Windsor (36) 12 years ago

'The politics of failure and envy' as Winston Churchill put it.

[-] -1 points by betuadollar (-313) 12 years ago

I've noticed that, too. The unemployed shouldn't be protesting; they should be starting businesses. I mean, because, that's what real people do.