Forum Post: To those who say "Occupy a Job" ...
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 22, 2011, 10:36 p.m. EST by madcat
(47)
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I wasn't sure what to think of this occupy thing at first, so I decided to visit my local occupation in person. I talked to a quite a few different people, who had a variety of reasons for being there, usually involving the environment, corporate greed, and government corruption. But not one of them complained about being broke or jobless. I didn't see any signs that said "Find me a job", or "Give me money". People said they were there to protest about the world's problems, not their own problems. I did end up talking to many of them about what they did for a living as well, and found many who did have full time jobs, including some nurses, teachers, lawyers, office workers, but for sure there was some jobless as well.
It seams like some people are under the impression that the protesters are just out there to have fun at the tax payers expense. I'm not sure how much fun it is to sleep out in the cold in a tent, knowing that at any moment you could be pepper sprayed and arrested by the police. When you direct your anger towards the protesters, you are doing exactly what those who caused the financial collapse want you to do: direct attention away from them. Corporate leaders have been putting their own desires ahead of everything else in the world, and the government has done next to nothing about it. What kind of message are we sending them if we hear about this sort of thing and just let it happen? What kind of precedent does that set?
I've also heard people say, "It's their money and they've worked hard to earn it, so don't they deserve to do what they want with it?" Would you play a game of Monopoly with a person who can change the rules whenever they want? Would you think highly of this person if they win the game? This is what happens when government allows corporations have such heavy influence over them. They change the rules, and oh look, they win.
So please, next time you're tempted to shout out "Occupy a Job" to a protester (who might very well have a job), is it too much to ask that you try to have an open mind?
Great post, Madcat.
Awesome post ;)
Thank you for the well thought and honest posting.
Hi madcat, Excellent. Best Regards, Nevada
Re wall street ----------it's not their money, that's the problem. They leverage their bets with borrowed money------------who are they borrowing from? without Glass/Steagall the investment bank and retail banks are thrown in together. They lend each other money based on their assets -----------our bank deposits. Then they gamble on even more leveraged bets with that money. When they win they keep all the profit even though they used our money to bet with, when they loose our bank deposits are at risk so we need to bail them out. That's the problem it's not their money !!!
Good point, but I think the main issue is that they're using the power they have irresponsibly, for their own personal gain. What you mention is just one of several methods they use to keep money and power in their hands.
There's so much money to be made there(on a good day) ------------it's diverted from the real economy IMO. If banks were not allowed proprietary trading they would have to do things like invest in small businesses. If wall street was separated from the banks they might have to go back to being an incubator for new ideas ----------real world ideas with jobs for Americans. At least wall street could go bankrupt without putting us on the hook.
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This is true, many do have a job that are supporting this. I haven't gone to any locations because I am kind of far from where they are. But I would say I support many of the ideas that are being talked about.
Monopoly is not the game we've been playing, though defenders of the status quo will deny up and down that the game they've been selling us as Monopoly is really just a sham. In reality the game they are hawking is the same old three card Monty that is the standard for crooks whether on streetcorners or in penthouses.
"...... is it too much to ask that you try to have an open mind?" No, in fact more people will be inclined to participate when: clear-definitive goals defined, radical/extreme elements go away (progressives, Canadians, socialists, et. al.) and the look at me tantrums cease (mic checks)........
I can't disagree with you on the need for clear-definitive goals. There are allot of occupiers who are simply angry about environmental damage and economic inequity world wide, and don't really offer any real solutions. But isn't that the reason we pay politicians their salaries? Aren't they supposed to be the ones who figure out the solutions to the worlds problems?