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Forum Post: Whats the difference between the Tea Party and Occupy Wall St?

Posted 13 years ago on Nov. 10, 2011, 8:11 a.m. EST by MikeYD (7) from Alameda, CA
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166 Comments

166 Comments


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[-] 9 points by nucleus (3291) 13 years ago

The Tea Party: Conceived by former house majority leader Dick Armey, funded by corporate industrialist Koch brothers, pretends to be a "grass roots" movement but is pure astroturf. Tea party support has fallen off a cliff, tea party candidates are being recalled, and former tea party members are joining occupations across the country.

OWS: Part of a rapidly growing, global, true grass roots movement that has changed the media dialogue and in less than 60 days has directly effected special elections and political campaigns across the country.

[-] 2 points by NortonSound (176) 13 years ago

Weak tea meets strong, hot coffee!

[-] 0 points by Socrates469bc (608) from New York, NY 13 years ago

Most people advocating for the Tea Party are really decent people, but their leaders have drugged and distorted their minds too much Koch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOCHAv25uTw

[-] -1 points by figero (661) 13 years ago

yet they seem to be much more effective & organized than this temper tantrum you people are throwing.

[-] -1 points by Foreverleft (9) 13 years ago

Pull back or be censored.

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[-] 1 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

http://occupywallst.org/forum/whats-the-difference-between-the-tea-party-and-occ/#comment-327161

Please follow that comment, to see how none of what MikeYD says is fact.

[-] -1 points by sassafrass (197) 13 years ago

OWS has astroturf factions. Tea Party is still doing its best to seep into every corner of everything. They have all the money in the world and they're not going to stop using it. But they don't have all the brains in the world, and that makes it easier to spot their bullshit.

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[-] 1 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

MikeYD uses activistcash website as the argument for the support of the tides foundation, when the last money recieved according to that website was in 2003,

In addition the activistcash website is owned and operated by a lobbying group that supports tobacco, alchol, pesticides, and my personal favorite trans fats.

This person despite evidence to the contrary, still believes his views. To any reasonable minded person, I implore you to ignore him.

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[-] 0 points by nucleus (3291) 13 years ago

The tea party was hijacked before it got started. The whole idea was to build a political movement that didn't know that it was supporting a radical Washington insider and corporate industrialist agenda. It was (and is) a big lie, and tea party support has fallen off a cliff.

OWS is a popular movement, born in Tahrir Square. It is a global movement that rejects the kind of corrupt actions perpetrated by Washington insiders and corporate industrialists and financiers.

See the difference?

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[-] 1 points by onemoe (78) 13 years ago

I love you MikeYD. Big hug!

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[-] -2 points by MikeYD (7) from Alameda, CA 13 years ago

Occupy founded by Adbusters, funded by Tides/Moveon.org

http://activistcash.com/organization_financials.cfm/o/36-adbusters

http://www.examiner.com/nonpartisan-in-los-angeles/occupy-wall-street-the-class-war-the-nationalist-solution Here is Rueters reporting the same thing: http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE79C3WS20111013

only to be co-opted by Unions and Democratic special interests. Whats your point?

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[-] 7 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

The original tea partiers are actually aligned with OWS... now the the tea party has many factions but the GOP has influence on pretty much all of them, in fact the tea party express is owned by a GOP lobbyist... I know of no coopted factions of OWS, in fact they are so against it that when a politicans asks for the floor they either asked to leave or asked to get on the stack like everyone else. I know of at least one politician who went to his local occupy and just talked to individuals while he was down there, and that was it.

I think democrats can show support for the movement, and choose not to co-opt it.

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[-] 1 points by sassafrass (197) 13 years ago

Nope. sadly, there's infiltration of all stripes within the OWS on-ground and online communities. And how could it not be so? We're getting all kinds of attention, and people with sketchy agendas have money and motivation to hop onto it. So, you just have to pay attention and keep your bullshit detector on at all times, that's all.

[-] 1 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

But there is no concrete proof of this... until then it is just an assigned belief that it is occurring. I'll be the optimist, until I see proof.

[-] 1 points by sassafrass (197) 13 years ago

Just look around at all the bullshit being spouted. It's self-proving. And anyone who denies the possibility is either absurdly naive or part of the bullshit. Why wouldn't various factions want to try and hijack such a visible and news-making public voice as Occupy ?

[-] 1 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

I am not making a claim, so I dont have to support it with evidence.

However, I do not put it past "various factions" from trying.

[-] 1 points by JenLynn (692) 13 years ago

I think the democrats are waiting to see how this plays out, they are more likely to benefit if OWS people vote, but would lose independent support if there is some bad press from a demonstration. Bigger difference was the tea party put up candidates and got some elected. That made the debt ceiling talks change. OWS could make a difference if they would field candidates, but they seem to lack the ability to establish a clear set of goals. Ending greed sounds nice but people need something specific to vote for.

[-] 1 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

They did propose a convention (i.e. drafting of their views, and selecting candidates)... well see how it goes, but yeah your right... it feels not focused.

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[-] 1 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

I provided direct evidence of the tea party being co-opted. Tea Party Express, was funded and ran by a GOP lobbyist. Please, try to back up your claims, otherwise you are bearing false witness.

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[-] 1 points by flip (7101) 13 years ago

how long has george funded them - i have been reading their mag for a long time - also you could think about who designed the school system instead of blaming teachers - no child left behind ring a bell?

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[-] 1 points by flip (7101) 13 years ago

i noticed you know how to use google so you could look into who set up the school system and how it functions. anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that the power elite (not my term - c wright mills) can not exist if we had a population that can think - that is why the school system is DESIGNED for obedience and control. read a bit - chomsky would be a good start (google chomsky and education). but i am afraid you are a waste of time and energy - i can't help but wonder who pays you people - i wonder if you are all sitting in a room somewhere listening to hannity and getting paid by the koch boys. you cannot be hard working free market types or you would have something better to do than crab at people here

[-] 1 points by thestruin (83) 13 years ago

Or overhaul our teaching methods to actively reinforce the ability to learn instead of memorization, provide materials that are unbiased or at least generally accepted as accurate.

[-] 1 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

Your cant put sense into the nonsensical.

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[-] 1 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

Please give unbias proof that AdBusters is funded by any of those...

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[-] 1 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

Really pal, are you incapable of reading!

I am sorry, I had to use your own belligerent language against you.

"Tides Foundation & Tides Center $334,217.00 1996 – 2003 "

they have not received any funding from that organization in 8 years, so you argument is quite flat.

Now if you want to talk about your bias source, the lobbiest group that owns that website is quite a fascinating group. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Consumer_Freedom

In that link you will see that activistcash is owned by a lobbyiest group that advocates for pesticides, alchol, tobacco, and my personal favorite trans fats (scientifically known to cause heart disease)... sounds like an unbias source to me. If you cant tell that was sarcasm.

[-] 1 points by HarryCrew07 (433) 13 years ago

Hi! Just wondering what makes you blame the school system entirely? They aren't the only ones that have influence over people...

[-] 3 points by nuclearradio (227) 13 years ago

I think MikeyD has FOX News and School confused.

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[-] 1 points by unimportant (716) 13 years ago

Like with your claim that logic is taught is school. Education begins in the home. Parents are responsible for such "relative logic" skills. Comparing the worth of one point to the worth of another point as it relates to the first point and drawing a conclusion from that comparison.

This way to die is good because it is better than being killed that way.

Stuuuupid. Neither ways to die are good.

[-] 0 points by stevemiller (1062) 13 years ago

School doesn't teach a logic course. That's THE ONLY reason Americans are irrational.

Raising the age to collect social security

read more - http://overthecoals.blogspot.com/

Diane Swonk claims to be an economist who just said, "I work hard and I don't mind having to work 2 more years to collect social security." That was in response to a caller on C-span who said she was 48 and she opposes raising the age.

While I'm sitting here at age 69 writing this blog post I don't claim that this is hard work sitting on my ass. If Diane Swonk drove an 18 wheeler and had to pull the pin to release the trailer every day or did some meaningful work making products, cooking food, repairing things, or building things Diane would grasp that increasing the age to remedy social security will be impossible for many workers.

Diane Swonk is another clueless economist who never saw the mortgage bubble and doesn't know what she's talking about on any subject. When she claims to being a hard worker, even if that was true, she's never accomplished anything. The economists designed the slave trade called "globalization" that has destroyed America for 50,000,000 workers who earned money by working. Its the economists who refuse to admit the mistake of advising the government to use policies that have destroyed the economy.

Any reader who wants to read my entire composition posted just under this post will receive a copy if they send their email address.

[-] 0 points by happybanker (766) 13 years ago

Steve you have admitted that you are a convicted felon who spent 9 years in prison for extortion. Why are you looking for your next prey here?

[-] 0 points by JesseHeffran (3903) 13 years ago

little mikey, go away so the big boys can talk, we'll give you your talking points once we devise a solution.

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[-] 1 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

I actually think most of us on this form enjoy completely obliterating your arguments with fact and reason.

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[-] -3 points by Danimal98367 (188) from Port Orchard, WA 13 years ago

No coopting? You're right. The radicals, Communists, and Zionist-haters were there from the beginning.

[-] 4 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

It is so easy to spew talking points...

Any proof at all for any of your accusation.

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[-] 2 points by Febs (824) from Plymouth Meeting, PA 13 years ago

They can try to co-opt what they will. Only an individual can change their mind.

The individuals who started tea parties haven't changed their vast majority of people in OWS on the streets haven't changed their mind - the co-opt only works if they change your message - and they haven't. They can advertise false messages and try to pass themselves off as you but it doesn't change who you are or what you believe.

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[-] 2 points by Febs (824) from Plymouth Meeting, PA 13 years ago

There were all types at both Tea Party and Occupy in the beginning. ( I go to both events). Tea Party and Occupy have some large overlap areas however the age difference of their average member and the slight lean to the right and left of the respective organizations is only playing into the hands of the power brokers as they try to engineer our opinions so that the two groups do not engage in discussion and unite on their common goals.

Divide and conquer is very effective.

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[-] 1 points by Febs (824) from Plymouth Meeting, PA 13 years ago

I don't know how many Tea Parties have lasted for months and had the police direct mentally unstable homeless people to them so I don't think that the comparison is accurate.

I've been to the meetings at both and I've seen the following on your list at both: anti-capitalism support for socialism and big government bullying and intimidation lack of intelligent arguments filth

So lets stop trying to interject some talking points from talk radio (I listen and I've heard these things repeated a ton - they are talking points - and you're falling for them) and lets start talking about the important thing - issues.

I've been two Occupy and Tea Parties. Thus I feel I am well informed to comment about their similarities and differences. Have you been to both?

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[-] 1 points by Febs (824) from Plymouth Meeting, PA 13 years ago

I witnessed it at FDR park in Philadelphia. A homeless woman was directed to head to the Occupy protest because of the free food there (it is currently the second largest distributor of food to the homeless in the city).

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[-] 1 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-boston/boston-police-force-homeless-to-sleep-at-occupy-boston-tent-city

Remember, you provided this same source in one of your arguments above... so dont even attempt to knock the argument on the source.

[-] 0 points by MikeYD (7) from Alameda, CA 13 years ago

Good article. Glad to see Occupy take an interest in the horrid conditions of our country's underprivileged.

[-] 1 points by Frizzle (520) 13 years ago

Geez man. At least respond to what he say instead of copy paste the same list you wrote to me.

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[-] 1 points by Frizzle (520) 13 years ago

I already said how they are the same. But your response to that was that silly list. A list that has nothing to do with what those in the party/movement believe in.

[-] 1 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

Actually as the message is to get money out of politics, that would include unions.

second, OWS as a movement has never endorsed any of your bullet points, and there is no evidence that OWS as a movement has ordered people to commit those acts.

Some could point to individuals in the tea party, who are racist, but also enjoy stomping on women. For instance, take Tim Profitt, a staffer for tea partier Rand Paul, who physically assaulted a woman. Yet, no one would associate these acts with the entire tea party movement. Doing so, would be indecent and dishonest with out direct proof.

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[-] 1 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

It makes sense for unions to support OWS, if they succeed, then unions would not have to waste dues on influencing politicians. It also makes sense for OWS to gain support of unions as unions represent people in the 99%.

One of your articles is off a blog, the examiner article uses as its main source The New York Post, which is biased (arguable not much better than a blog)... the ctv story says the liquid could of been apple juice, we dont know all of the story yet, the same goes for the vancouversun article... the latimes article specifically mentions people who are not affiliate with the movement, that the space is still a public space, and the official message of the LAoccupy is non violence... so again you cant attribute any of these to the movement.

[-] 6 points by changeinmotion2 (66) from Portland, ME 13 years ago

Occupy is doing something even at this early stage of development. More and more protests are happening - that is action by this group of 99%'ers who actually want many systems to CHANGE. Its a diverse group of individuals that can NOT be labeled as owned by any flippin party. We stand united for the cause of shutting down the corruption and the filth that our lovely OLD capitalistic behavior has DE-EVOLVED into since its inception back in the day - the DAYS OF OUR FOREFATHERS - who built our constitution NOT with Greed and Power as the driving foreseen picture BUT rather wrote it to declare every man and woman equal with the right to conduct business FAIRLY and EQUALLY. WE HAVE GONE WAY OFF COURSE HERE brother. YOU need to read as a few peopel say below. Understand what this revolution is all about before you start to call names and label incorrectly.

Call names correctly and point out the truth of the matter concerning this Tea-Totaling adventure. They are ultra-conservatives who don't like change. They could have and should have already made waves and made some noteworthy changes because some of these people are already in positions of power - but what has any one of these UC's done to chagne our systems to improve life for EVERYONE! NOTHING...

There is a revolution here with the OWS and was not started by any one of notoriety ... all plain folks trying to make it in very BROKEN systems -

  1. Government is broken - Politicians are bought - legislation in place now f'd up beyond belief because it favors big business and rich folks. CHANGE - already identified by the OWS on just what we want to see change here
  2. FINANCE Industry systems - BROKEN - Again OWS already put a sound list of what needs to change here together - and action is at hand. OWS is standing up for what is right- stand down Wall Street Banks and Financial Moguls... stand down, listen and change all the nasty ways you have allowed to creep into our Capitalistic system...

What are the TPees doing? NOTHING...

[-] 1 points by sassafrass (197) 13 years ago

Even this drips with TP rhetoric. So, again, keep those bullshit detectors on, folks!

[-] 1 points by changeinmotion2 (66) from Portland, ME 13 years ago

nonesense. you provide nothing but lame repetitive jargon here. there are changes taking place. i am not attempting to do anything but rant right along with every one else on here. what is taking place though can be read about in much more detail public info for anyone who really wants to dig in and become intelligent when they talk about what OWS stands for.

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[-] 2 points by changeinmotion2 (66) from Portland, ME 13 years ago

AN OWS WIN.... Hold on I'll keep posting them....

Yesterday on Tuesday, November 8, Ohio voters overwhelmingly Repealed Senate Bill 5. The bill, just passed by the Ohio legislature in March, removed the ability of public employees to engage in one of the most fundamental rights known to working people — collective bargaining. Occupy Cincinnati was active in this struggle. From Occupy Cincinnati:

"Ohio voters sent Governor John Kasich a clear message about restricting public union rights and denying their right to strike. SB5, the bill he initiated last spring, was struck down by a 60% to 39% margin. We, the people have spoken. This movement is not going away."

Jackie DiSalvo, a member of Occupy Wall Street's Labor working group said:

"Occupy Cincinnati was among the thousands of people fighting for the referendum. Proposition 2 was supported by Americans for Prosperity, heavily funded by right wing billionaire, David Koch, and Senate Bill 5 was designed by ALEC, the Koch funded American Legislative Exchange Council, which brings together legislators with the 1%. At the same time, we have been motivated by struggles like the fights to defend labor rights in Ohio."

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[-] 1 points by HarryCrew07 (433) 13 years ago

Mike, I have heard many pros and cons of unions. It appears you would be on the cons side. I'd love to hear more about your qualms with unions.

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[-] 1 points by HarryCrew07 (433) 13 years ago

Personally, I have a hard time deciding what I believe about unions. I see the pros and the cons. People can take advantage of them, without them though, people are easily taken advantage of. Seems like another case of the missing integrity

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[-] 1 points by changeinmotion2 (66) from Portland, ME 13 years ago

I am not for unions but they are a fact of life and my stance is that if they are actively seeking change and for what they are and who they are, they will fight for the correct kind of change at this time. In the end, will unions last ... i doubt it... but for now they are here and a strong adversary for the OWS to share a platform with on targeted messages.

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[-] 1 points by HarryCrew07 (433) 13 years ago

I do worry about our public education system however. In Indiana collective bargaining rights for teachers are gone. Next year, 1/3 of teacher salary is going to be based on how well students perform on the ISTEP (standardized text). Unfortunately, for a district that has more poverty than not, its hard for students to feel motivation, and teachers combat these problems everyday. Knowing that salary will be based on the success of students is going to turn a lot of people away from working in failing schools, which is really where the most help is needed. The result of the loss of bargaining rights in Indiana will mean a lowering of the standards for teachers in poorer areas.

[-] 1 points by Saikron (24) from Charleston, SC 13 years ago

Then the conservative comes along and says "public schools are awful we should just eliminate their funding," and the 99% get shit on again. Later when joblessness and homelessness are on the rise the conservative might say "why don't you just get a job instead of standing around protesting that we eliminated public school?"

[-] 1 points by changeinmotion2 (66) from Portland, ME 13 years ago

oh and lookie here -Exactly to my point above, a title of an article, http://www.salon.com/2011/11/09/the_moral_crisis_of_modern_capitalism/singleton/ by John Paul Rollert. EXACTLY why this revolution movement that OWS has come to be!

Good article - you should read ...

The moral crisis of modern capitalism Even conservative idol William F. Buckley took issue with "executive plunder." Can fairness be restored? In a column written just a few years before his death, Buckley condemned what he called the “institutional embarrassments” of capitalism, CEOs whose enormous compensation packages defy the gravitational pull of poor stock performance. Buckley was no egalitarian, and he drew a contrast between the “executive plunder” reaped by certain CEOs and the allowances that may be made for the likes of a Thomas Edison. Were such a person alive today, he said, “it would be unwise to cavil at any arrangement whatever made by a company seeking his services exclusively.”

[-] 1 points by changeinmotion2 (66) from Portland, ME 13 years ago

Ralph Nader commentary and endorsement and hmmm, a decent understanding of what this movement is doing and that is NOW is beginning to have legs to stand on.

http://www.btlonline.org/2011/seg/111118af-btl-nader.html BETWEEN THE LINES: We just saw on Nov. 5th a transfer of about 650,000 accounts from the big banks to smaller community banks and credit unions. In your opinion, are the elite powers that be in the U.S., threatened by the Occupy Wall Street movement and how seriously do they take the threat presented by this movement to the economic and political status quo?

RALPH NADER: Well, I think some of them made fun of the movement at the beginning, and others, I think, felt they had some grievance. You had some surprising statements of approval by some Republicans. But, I think now, Scott, they're beginning to sweat a bit. I think, when they see movements away from big banks to community banks, that's language these big bankers understand. And if it wasn't for the fact that so many people have these bank accounts also have electronic payment connections - where their electric and telephone and other bills are paid electronically – it would be much easier to move. So, it takes awhile for them to disconnect, and that's why it's so impressive that 650,000 people in less than two months, have moved away from these banks to credit unions. And if that starts going, and more people vote with their consumer feet, they won't be laughing any more. These business bosses will start to buy more underarm deodorant.

[-] 1 points by HarryCrew07 (433) 13 years ago

haha, so funny. Thats how I've felt about it too. Consumer Sovereignty is supposedly the way democracy works in the business world. Each person has a "vote" for what products they wish to buy. Boycotts send one message. The removal of money from big market to local market says something different.

[-] 6 points by onemoe (78) 13 years ago

Dude do you work for FOX news are something. You could find some pretty bad pics of the tea party also if you had looked. Like the way the Nazi party came out for some of their rallies. But what I really want to know is if you do work for FOX, have you seen Gretchens panties? The sad truth is that both parties are using fringe groups to make the other look bad. There is always some element in any party that is bad or not aligned totally with the group we could dwell on those smaller percentages are we can actually look at the bigger picture.

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[-] 1 points by onemoe (78) 13 years ago

CNN coverage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHB2D_ST8ZI

The Nazi's seem to have trouble with finding people to play with. They turn up uninvited in the strangest places. OWS has the same draw for these nut cases as any other movement would. Another one where a jew (who was a halocost survivor) was derided for speaking out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF_tL8m9e-c one more 911 first responder tells his story http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3GMmLxx_bo

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[-] 1 points by onemoe (78) 13 years ago

Show me where they were invited. Show me one official statement from the OWS movement that supports racism. You still have not done that. If you hate this movement so much why are you not out doing something useful then. "you really should have thought about it before you started off with the bullshit charges." What bullshit charges I never said they were not there just that they were not invited just like they were not invited to the Tea Party rally in Phoenix but they were there. Why are you so intent on being divisive and hateful?

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[-] 4 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

MikeYD uses activistcash website as the argument for the support of the tides foundation, when the last money recieved according to that website was in 2003, In addition the activistcash website is owned and operated by a lobbying group that supports tobacco, alchol, pesticides, and my personal favorite trans fats. This person despite evidence to the contrary, still believes his views. To any reasonable minded person, I implore you to ignore him.

Also, the websites he ADDED to this post after the fact are debunked in one of the posts further down. Most are biased resources, while I believe one was a misrepresentation.

[-] 1 points by MikeYD (7) from Alameda, CA 13 years ago

Donations from and to charitable organizations are a matter of public record bright spark. Here is The examiner reporting the same thing:

http://www.examiner.com/nonpartisan-in-los-angeles/occupy-wall-street-the-class-war-the-nationalist-solution

Here is Rueters reporting the same thing:

http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE79C3WS20111013

[-] 4 points by mserfas (652) from Ashland, PA 13 years ago

The difference is that Occupy is confused, whereas the Tea Party is deluded. Confusion is not a bad thing - show me a Ph.D. and I'll show you someone who spent years scratching his head over his coursework and research. But the Tea Party's delusion, its not very secret leadership by the Republicans, makes it vulnerable to weasel-worded plans to "reduce taxes" on the rich, which are inevitably followed with the unadvertised plan to increase taxes on the poor (formerly middle) class.

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[-] 3 points by NortonSound (176) 13 years ago

Yes, the Tea Party never has to go to the bathroom, Hey, that explains a lot.

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[-] 3 points by frankchurch1 (839) from Jersey City, NJ 13 years ago

One million dead Iraqis and you are talking about one infiltrator from the right wing masterbating?

[-] -1 points by MikeYD (7) from Alameda, CA 13 years ago

Of course! Its those damn infiltrators that are masturbating, and lighting shit on fire, and breaking shit, and using drugs, and shutting down businessess and crapping in the street and hurling their own feces. Damn them! How do we get rid of them!

The whole dead Iraqi thing, I don't get though. Seriously, who gives a fuck if a million muslims massacred each other. They've been doing that since Old Mo taught them it was the right thing to do.

[-] 3 points by JadedGem (895) 13 years ago

The tea party wants to remove all the laws constraining the 1%. They want a free market where everything can be sold with zero regulations. Since the 1% control and monopolizes everything needed to sustain life, well think on it. You could buy yourself an abortion, if someone offered it. You could get yourself some pills, no ATF, no FDA, your kids could buy crack in every convenience store. The Tea Party has been hijacked. No more is it innocent bible thumpers out to save souls and fetuses they wouldn't babysit even if you paid them. The masses would still pay heavy taxes as the 1% would want to keep control of the military to keep control of the worlds resources. The Tea Party is made up largely of a lot of honest to God good people with good intentions. Its really sad they have been mislead the way that they have. I don't believe they are all grasping little people with dreams of exploiting others so they can launch themselves to billionaire status and benefit from any legislation they help pass. They are just proof that if you tell a big enough lie long enough even sane, reasonable people will believe it. Germany loved Hitler, doesn't mean it was right. It just means a lot of people can be controlled and manipulated and used. This is what happens when corporations control the news and people are bombarded with misinformation and outright lies. Its very sad. I'm still annoyed by the ones who seem to in it for greed's sake and know enough to know the Tea Party intends to eat its young.

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[-] 2 points by GreedKills (1119) 13 years ago

OWS does not have big custom painted busses to bus people to occupy ;)

[-] 2 points by chuck1al (1074) from Flomaton, AL 13 years ago

Well the difference is the Tea Party is a re-branding of the religious right and the Republican party is their tool. They support the dismantling of our government institutions and are subverting the Constitution all the while they wrap themselves in the flag and put out false information, like this is a christian nation and the founding fathers where all christian and wrote the Constitution using the bible. They support the agenda of the 1% they are the 1%.

[-] -2 points by MikeYD (7) from Alameda, CA 13 years ago

You don't like Christians much, do you. Those tea party folk must be pretty damn clever to have this secret "Christian Agenda" you are talking about, while publicly making demands for a smaller constitutionally limited federal government that abides by the constitution. Its Genius really.

I suppose another possibility is that they actually have the agenda they publicly declare they have, which has nothing to do with church and state, but you just despise the group because there are Christians involved. Its a bit like hating a group because it has gays, or blacks, or jews, its just that your shtick is Christians.

Its cool man. You couldn't join the Tea Party anyway because they don't permit fucking bigots like yourself.

[-] 1 points by chuck1al (1074) from Flomaton, AL 13 years ago

Their agenda is not hidden, your just blind. I've listed a part of the Religious Rights agenda it was not hard to find. Read this book....AMERICAN GRACE WINS BEST POLITICAL SCIENCE BOOK OF 2010-2011.

this book is conclusive evidence its the Religious Right posing as the Tea Party.............The Religious Right Agenda.................... It is strongest in the South, where it comprises the core of the Republican Party. Besides conservative positions on domestic issues such as opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage,The Home School Legal Defense Association was cofounded in 1983 by Michael Farris, who would later establish Patrick Henry College, and Michael Smith. This organization attempts to challenge laws that serve as obstacles to allowing parents to homeschool their children and to organize the disparate group of homeschooling families into a cohesive bloc. The number of homeschooling families has increased in the last twenty years, and around 80 percent of these families identify themselves as evangelicals.......................The Christian Right has worked to modify the public school curriculum in a number of ways. It has made inroads by having its followers win school board elections. Research suggests that these candidates run solely to propagate their religious or moral beliefs as school policy............The Christian Right strongly advocates for a system of educational choice, using a system of school vouchers. Vouchers would be government funded and could be redeemed for "a specified maximum sum per child per years if spent on approved educational services". This method would allow parents to determine which school their child attends while relieving the economic burden associated with private schools. The concept is popular among constituents of church-related schools, including those affiliated with Roman Catholicism...... The tax payer pays for Religious schools........The Christian Right has promoted the teaching of creationism and intelligent design as opposed to the teaching of evolution. The Christian Right has not supported the teaching of evolution in the past, but it does not have the ability to stop it being taught in public schools................On the issue of sexual education in public schools, a spectrum of views exist within the Christian Right. Some advocate removing sexual education from public schools, others support teaching abstinence until marriage, and still others advocate encouraging complete modesty and chastity......................The Christian right sees homeschooling and private schooling as a viable alternative to secular education........................The Christian Right sees the government's proper role in society as cultivating virtue, not to interfere with the natural operations of the marketplace or the workplace. It promotes conservative or literal interpretations of the Bible as the basis for moral values, and enforcing such values by legislation............Therefore, it opposes federal funding of science. They feel science often contradicts the Bible, especially fields that they feel violate the right to life. It also opposes what it views as judicial activism by federal judges as well as decisions perceived as liberal in cases important to the Christian Right. It opposes full civil rights for gay and lesbian Americans especially rights related to marriage. It has opposed equal recognition and freedom of religious expression.................The Christian Right believes that separation of church and state is not explicit in the American Constitution, believing instead that such separation is a creation of what it claims are activist judges in the judicial system though both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison make very similar writings taking a positive position on church/state separation. In the United States, the Christian Right often supports their claims by asserting that the country was "founded by Christians as a Christian Nation" though this claim ignores the fact that many statements present in the Constitution are not based on Christianity, but rather on the Enlightenment and Enlightenment philosophers..........Christian Right leaders have argued that while the First Amendment states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion", it does not prohibit the display of religion in the public sphere. Leaders therefore believe that civil servants should be allowed to display the Ten Commandments. This interpretation has been repeatedly rejected by the courts, which have found that such displays violate the Establishment Clause................ Because it does not believe in the separation of church and state, the Christian Right supports the presence of religious institutions within government. It also supports the presence and activities of religion in the public sphere. It supports the reduction of restrictions on government funding for religious charities and schools. However, some politically conservative churches refuse government funding because of their restrictions regarding acceptance of homosexuality and other issues..........

[-] -1 points by MikeYD (7) from Alameda, CA 13 years ago

Blah blah blah blah. I read it in a book, it must be true. I'm guessing you believe in peter pan as well?

Listen you ignorant, dumb shit, trailer park bigot. I could give the flying fuck about Jesus Christ, Mohammad, Muslims, Christians, Homosexuals, Blacks, Whites, Chinese, or People from mars. If a black/latino/white/martian mix wants to make pornographic films of Mohammad soddomizing Jesus, that is perfectly fine in my book, and in the book of practically every Tea Party person I know (There is even a Christian in that particular wood pile, and I know he wouldn't give a fuck either).

What I do care about is my government giving money it doesn't have on overpriced Union labor, Corporate hand outs, and the bottom 1% of society (like yourself) that do nothing, know nothing, add no value, but feel entitled to everything. The fact you are a scumbag bigot only adds to my angst on that particular front, so take your hair brained conspiracy theories and prejudices and shove them up your ass. Nobody cares. You are part of the problem, not part of the solution.

[-] 1 points by chuck1al (1074) from Flomaton, AL 13 years ago

Obviously the truth hurt a great deal to elicit such a out poring of hate. I believe you are an example of just how dangerous the Tea Party is to the American way of life. You are most likely an example of the average Tea Party Member and as such every American should be forewarned of the dangerous un- american agenda of the Tea Party. Thank you for helping me expose the Tea Party for what it is, a bigoted, racist organization masquerading as Patriots. Bent on subverting the Constitution.

[-] 0 points by MikeYD (7) from Alameda, CA 13 years ago

Don't feel so special. I pour the same contempt at white supremacists , Islamists, homophobes, la raza, misogynists, or any other group of bigots and neophytes. Good try on your attempt to project your bigotry and hate onto the Tea Party. Its pretty standard actually. Liberals quite frequently find themselves in a state of confusion about where the line of human decency is, long after they've crossed over it.

I suppose I should pity your ignorance rather than despise your bigotry, but you strike me as a guy who should know better. After all, you've proven you can read. The problem with pity is, it doesn't change the behavior. Before too long, this kind of mind set left unchecked starts making lists of subversives and publishing books (like the one you read) meant to stir up religious hatred and bigotry. The only choice left is to condemn your hate and ignorance in the strongest of possible terms. One can only hope a little bit of it sank in. Time for you to look in the mirror.

[-] 1 points by chuck1al (1074) from Flomaton, AL 13 years ago

The only bigotry I'm seeing is coming from the Tea Party. Your use of Bad words and sentences shows your lack of education. And IQ and political thought are linked. Science Daily published a study that showed Liberals have an higher IQ than Conservatives Also that personality traits are predictors of liberal and conservative thought. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100224132655.htm .........Researchers at UofT have shown that the psychological concern for compassion and equality is associated with a liberal mindset, while the concern for order and respect of social norms is associated with a conservative mindset..................."Conservatives tend to be higher in a personality trait called orderliness and lower in openness. This means that they're more concerned about a sense of order and tradition, expressing a deep psychological motive to preserve the current social structure.................."Our data shows that liberalism is more often associated with the underlying motives for compassion, empathy and equality," says Hirsh.........http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100609111312.htm

[-] 0 points by MikeYD (7) from Alameda, CA 13 years ago

I know the only bigotry you see is from other people. Its what allows you to carry on as you do. Take your most recent post, for instance, where you claim to have both higher IQ and more compassion based on your political ideology alone. One doesn't have to be a genius to understand how the idea of "compassion" does not reconcile in the slightest with the bigotry against Christians you have expressed through several posts.

You strike me as the kind of guy who reads a book like The Bell Curve and immediately starts using anomalies found in scoring data to call black people inherently stupid. For people like you, reading is a way of confirming your bigotry and prejudice. The hypocrisy of having you spew your bile on a public forum and then preach holier than though would be comedic if it weren't so despicable.

[-] 1 points by chuck1al (1074) from Flomaton, AL 13 years ago

I take it you didn't follow my links or read my message for you offer only your opinion of me and your erroneous conclusions of my supposed bigotry. Will you respond with facts not opinion, or is it you are unable to defend your position so you attack your tormentor who is supplying facts and links to those facts. Not assumptions base on your prejudices.

[-] 0 points by MikeYD (7) from Alameda, CA 13 years ago

Obviously you didn't understand my post. Try reading it slowly.

[-] 1 points by chuck1al (1074) from Flomaton, AL 13 years ago

Well I tried, again no facts. I consider you a troll and will end our discussion as of now.

[-] -1 points by MikeYD (7) from Alameda, CA 13 years ago

You are impervious to facts. Blind bigotry works that way, and yes, we are done. Piss off bigot.

[-] 2 points by ThatOneguy (10) 13 years ago

This is disturbing. We look like animals.

[-] 2 points by HarryCrew07 (433) 13 years ago

Hehe, Aren't we animals?

[-] 2 points by fourscore (2) 13 years ago

You people are losers. You cry and whine and complain about the big corporations that make this country function and give you jobs. You sit around and text on your iphones while wearing Nike shoes while complaining about those same companies. You are all nothing but a bunch of little tittie babies just like the hippies of the 1960's. You want everything but you don't want to work for it. Get a life. There are always going to be rich people and poor people in this world. We all function according to our ability to provide something positive to society. ie the guy that picks up your garbage is not going to be able to handle a top executive job. Also, the type of economy you are wishing for is Marxist and Socialist in nature. If you don't like it here, get the hell out and go to Russia or China, those programs are already in place there. That is if you have enough backbone to quit sucking on the hind tit of welfare.

[-] 2 points by fourscore (2) 13 years ago

You people are losers. You cry and whine and complain about the big corporations that make this country function and give you jobs. You sit around and text on your iphones while wearing Nike shoes while complaining about those same companies. You are all nothing but a bunch of little tittie babies just like the hippies of the 1960's. You want everything but you don't want to work for it. Get a life. There are always going to be rich people and poor people in this world. We all function according to our ability to provide something positive to society. ie the guy that picks up your garbage is not going to be able to handle a top executive job. Also, the type of economy you are wishing for is Marxist and Socialist in nature. If you don't like it here, get the hell out and go to Russia or China, those programs are already in place there. That is if you have enough backbone to quit sucking on the hind tit of welfare.

[-] 1 points by HarryCrew07 (433) 13 years ago

Its sad to see people lump everyone into one category like this.

[-] 0 points by flip (7101) 13 years ago

any idea how long there has been a division of rich and poor - in terms of years - and who is paying you to annoy people on this site - you can't do it for fun - go to russia - now where have i heard that before? you must be a cranky old man!

[-] 2 points by onemoe (78) 13 years ago

After reading so much here I wonder if the issue with no cooperation in DC is just a by product of an America that no longer gets along. Instead of tearing up each other the Tea party and the OWS should get together and use all this human labor to make real changes that we all want. Surely after everyone being so pissed at the congress's inability to work together we (as a people) surely can get together and give them guidance. Has our country become a place where we just bitch on the bullet points and never move toward any real compromise or solutions? If it gotten there then we may as well start practicing our Chinese.

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[-] 2 points by Febs (824) from Plymouth Meeting, PA 13 years ago

Mostly age and social outlook.

[-] 2 points by Frizzle (520) 13 years ago

The difference is smaller than you might thing. Both started because they were unhappy with how things work right now. The biggest difference is that the Tea party has been hijacked by a political party.

[-] 1 points by MIKEYD (2) 13 years ago

And OWS hasn't?

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[-] 1 points by nuclearradio (227) 13 years ago

Pix or it didn't happen.

Tea Party Filth, Racism, Bullying, and incapability of fielding an argument: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S38VioxnBaI

[-] 1 points by Frizzle (520) 13 years ago

Instead of telling what they are, maybe you should listen more.

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[-] 1 points by Frizzle (520) 13 years ago

"What a wonderful excuse for a point to make."

Thank you, i'm glad you agree. Shame you didn't seem to understand i again. Because even though you said you would put it in the list, you didn't. I guess that exactly proves my point.

Learn to listen

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 13 years ago

WTO Protests: Seattle (1/3)

November 30th, 1999 Protest activity surrounding the WTO Ministerial Conference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JUZOGkw6tQ&feature=related

[-] 0 points by MikeYD (7) from Alameda, CA 13 years ago

OWS related? I think so, but I have no proof.

[-] 1 points by CancelCurrency (128) 13 years ago

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. July 4, 1776.

[-] 1 points by invient (360) 13 years ago

Anyone who is interested in the complete debunking of all of MikeYD claims please follow this linked comment and its conversation

http://occupywallst.org/forum/whats-the-difference-between-the-tea-party-and-occ/#comment-327161

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[-] 1 points by duranta (52) from New Orleans, LA 13 years ago

Doin your best to shit on the movement, right Mike YD? Must be a tool of the 1%.

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[-] 1 points by nomdeguerre (1775) from Brooklyn, NY 13 years ago

No, no, no. Those weren't protesters, they were undercover cops. Standard COINTELPRO psyops.

[-] 1 points by Saikron (24) from Charleston, SC 13 years ago

Easy, the tea party and OWS both think his country is going down the shitter, but the tea party thinks it's because of taxes and the minorities. OWS thinks it's because the government is controlled by rich people and their lobbyists - something that many tea partiers agree with. However, cutting taxes and eliminating regulations will only empower the rich folks and their lobbyists - a connection that Fox news will never make for the tea party.

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[-] 1 points by Saikron (24) from Charleston, SC 13 years ago

I know I used a lot of really big words in my post so I'll paste what you need to know again: "cutting taxes and eliminating regulations will only empower the rich folks and their lobbyists." This goes towards corrupting our politicians. The government has all of the power it needs to represent the 99%; they just get paid more by the 1%.

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[-] 1 points by Saikron (24) from Charleston, SC 13 years ago

Who does the tea party think are corrupting the government? Anybody but the 1%?

[-] 1 points by sassafrass (197) 13 years ago

They don't care, because the corruption isn't the real problem to them. They're fine with corruption. They just don't like the government. or, at least not one that isn't serving their agenda.

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[-] 1 points by Saikron (24) from Charleston, SC 13 years ago

Exactly, and OWS understands the problem we have with big business (owned and operated by the 1%) buying our government. If the unions were trying to take power away from the middle class majority I'd be pissed at them too. Tea partiers have had their attention pulled away from the other guilty party (the 1% and their lobbyists) and focused on a segment of the guilty party (democrats). The people in tea party were eating Dick Cheney's halliburton dog shit and grinning all the time, but as soon as Obama comes in they are foaming at the mouth about more stupid bullshit off Fox news (ACORN), when Obama has actually sold the middle class out to pharma for example right under their noses.

[-] 1 points by uslynx81 (203) 13 years ago

LOL, I like the tea party and OWS, that being said, I have seen some tea party folks doing some stupid crap as well. You can't point to a few people and say this is OWS. We need to stop fighting and start talking but we have 2 conflicting ideals that we will not bend on. Free Market and Social/Government Intervention. The government spends way to much right now and we can't keep spending and printing money exp when it goes straight to wall street. This stops jobs because all of the money going to the banks go into the stock market and not to small business or our neighbors. Banks today are more a brokerage firm then a bank. Government created this not the market. Education is so expensive today because of Government intervention. Same goes for medical care and housing. Another side affect of Government intervention is that quality goes down.

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[-] 0 points by gr57 (457) 13 years ago

The Tea Party doesn't have "ratical elements" that commit acts of civil unrest

[-] 0 points by velveeta (230) 13 years ago

I'll go with OWS

[-] 1 points by MiKEYD (55) 13 years ago

Of course!

[-] 0 points by Spankysmojo (849) 13 years ago

Left and right. Dark and light. They are complementary and antagonistic forces that when joined will bring a firestorm. If possible.

[-] 0 points by MaxRommel (57) from Ridgefield Park, NJ 13 years ago

You're cold right now and they're not?

[-] -1 points by stevo (314) 13 years ago

basic difference... animals vs civilized people

[-] -1 points by MikeYD (7) from Alameda, CA 13 years ago

Pictures worth a thousand words, isn't it?

[-] -2 points by jayp74 (195) 13 years ago

OWS: Leave me a loan. Tea Party: Leave me alone.