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Forum Post: Seriously, though, what is this all about?

Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 14, 2011, 2:21 a.m. EST by workingmanblues (4)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

From what I have seen on television, read on the internet, and told by participants, this OWS stuff is more or less a mass demonstration without any concrete agendas. After surfing through this website, it's become even less clear as to why the men and women on Wall Street are being protested.

22 Comments

22 Comments


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[-] 1 points by RichardGates (1529) 13 years ago

actually they do have a voice. http://nycga.cc and i am pretty sure the message is money out off politics. but also, everything every one of the 99% feels. i am taking a poll, no ads, not a money making site, just my poll and bs. http://blog.richardkentgates.com

[-] 1 points by workingmanblues (4) 13 years ago

Just finished the survey.

[-] 1 points by RichardGates (1529) 13 years ago

thx very much

[-] 1 points by middleclasssara (5) 13 years ago

The main purpose of the protest is to protect the middle class. The government depends on the citizens of the United States to pay almost 43% of the total tax revenue. The majority of individual income taxes come from middle class payroll taxes. Corporations only pay $297 billion in comparison to the $2.57 trillion received by individual income taxes (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/budget-2010/). That's a fairly large disparity if you ask me. These people are trying to stand up for you and me. Another issue at hand is the fact that we, the middle class, bailed these huge corporations out. We had our taxes used for something we didn't agree with and had no promise of return, just more debt added on to the national total, which we will again pay for with our taxes. A basic list 1. Eliminate Corporate Personhood( When civil rights came to be it was also used as an opportunity to call a corporation a person) 2. Make Elections Transparent and Verifiable 3. Enact Term Limits for Congress 4. End the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 5. Create Jobs Through Public Works 6. Pass Universal Health Care 7. Prosecute Leaders Who Violate Constitution 8. Defend Liberty, Repeal Unjust Laws, and Decriminalize Victimless Crimes 9. Protect the Environment 10. End Capital Punishment. They are explained in more detail at http://www.occupycommunity.org

[-] 1 points by ComplexMissy (291) 13 years ago

As of now we are still in a development mode. We are discussing many different issues and trying to come to a consensus. One thing we all agree on is that there is a vast amount of corruption that needs to be stopped and there needs to be accountability. One of the messages that seems to be gaining a lot of momentum and support is "Get the money out of politics". This may end up being our central theme but we'll see how things progress.

[-] 1 points by workingmanblues (4) 13 years ago

How do we take the money out of politics? As far as I can tell, money is what gets things (or prevents) done. I'm going to go ahead and assume people mean elections and not politics as it's impossible to cut funding out of the political process. Even then, I believe it'd be near impossible to eliminate money from elections as it takes money to travel, rent out areas to canvas, create commercials to raise awareness of your campaign, etc etc. Plus, if we were to eliminate money from elections, that opens the doors to just about every person to throw their hats in the race, meaning we would have 1,000s of people running for positions (and more than likely most of them will not be the types of people you want in office).

[-] 2 points by ComplexMissy (291) 13 years ago

Yes, out of the election process. There are people on here with some good ideas about that who may be able to answer your questions better than I can.

Have you seen this? There are some interesting points here that correspond to what OWS is trying to do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX1N3opw5eI

[-] 1 points by equazcion (688) from New York, NY 13 years ago

You're correct, there is no concrete agenda. However, Wall Street was chosen because, largely, the movement is about publicizing the influence of corporate money on government and speaking out against it.

[-] 0 points by Esposito (173) 13 years ago

Yeah! And where's the ice cream?

[-] 1 points by workingmanblues (4) 13 years ago

Big Gay Ice Cream Truck... it should be rolling around the area.

[+] -4 points by darkhound (66) 13 years ago

It's just a big whining fest by the unsuccessful, mostly lazy people of our society. Plus a bunch of entitled liberal arts students who think a crappy degree should guarantee them a cushy job.

[-] 1 points by ccozza (3) from Chicago, IL 13 years ago

And teachers, lawyers, firemen/woman, children, vets, grandmothers, union workers and yes, hippies with bongos and for pete's sake...don't say the word....homeless people.

[-] 1 points by darkhound (66) 13 years ago

Yes, everyone has a freaking grievance. So they're all bitching together. Yay.

[-] 1 points by ccozza (3) from Chicago, IL 13 years ago

and your bitching here so I guess your in good company.

[-] 0 points by Esposito (173) 13 years ago

and people who want free ice cream which is part of my civil rights. Where is the ice cream?

[-] 1 points by ccozza (3) from Chicago, IL 13 years ago

Who wants ice cream for your civil rights? What are you talking about? If you want some go buy some...duh.

[-] 1 points by Esposito (173) 13 years ago

Free Ice Cream is a Civil Right!