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I'm as dissatisfied by the behavior of Wall Street as anyone else. Probably more. After the crash began in 2007, I spent a tremendous amount of time reading, listening to and watching absolutely everything I could get my hands on about what happened, and why it happened. I would say that at this point I understand the actual mechanics of the crash as anyone without a PhD in economics. I am as dissatisfied as anyone by the failure of the administration and congress to rein in the excesses of the investment banks, the hedge funds and the ratings agencies. I have been dying for a movement that could exert some leverage on our governing bodies to address these concerns.

I spent the afternoon down at Zucotti Park, reading the signs, and talking to people, and I have to say I have no better understanding of where this protest is going than I did before I went. I found absolutely no cohesive direction or voice that I could get behind. This protest has taken a very legitimate anger and turned it into something all to easy to be dismissed by conservatives. There is a real opportunity here and now, to actually DEMAND some accountability, and you are squandering it on misdirection and clowning around. Someone is running this. Someone is managing this website and updating it's information. Stop standing in the shadows and take some responsibility for what you've engendered and give it the direction and discipline it deserves.

18 Comments

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[-] 1 points by GypsyKing (8708) 13 years ago

Why don't you come down and stand here with us? How else are you going to influence it's direction. You want other people to do everything for you; you don't bother to participate and just complain! That lack of PERSONAL resposibility is what got us where we are today! You want change? Come join us and keep your suit on. THAT will help give this movement legitimacy!

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[-] 1 points by pu5erfish (9) 13 years ago

I don't wear a suit, and I did come stand down there. Besides which, I've worked the last 4 electoral cycles on the front lines of American democracy in Florida and Pennsylvania, so the charge that I don't participate and just complain doesn't really have a lot of merit. (What have you been doing the last 7 years BEFORE you went down to the park to try and change the course of the ship?)

I'm desperate for a movement that is really going to move the needle of our democracy against these forces of corruption that think they can buy it outright. And I hope that this movement will become something soon that can do that, and that I'll want to take an active part in. Right now it's not.

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[-] 1 points by hairlessOrphan (522) 13 years ago

I agree that Occupy needs to focus on Systemic reform, not Policy change. That means - as you say - campaign finance reform. Ending corporate personhood. Limiting lobbyists. Disclosing the personal finances of members of Congress.

These things vary in degree of achievability, but they are all focused on the one demand that all 99%'ers have in common: removing money as the most powerful voice in government and restoring that power to voters.

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[-] 1 points by pu5erfish (9) 13 years ago

Holler!

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[-] 1 points by pu5erfish (9) 13 years ago

This movement needs to point itself towards the most direct way to limit Wall Streets influence on our political process and policies: campaign finance reform. That is both a worthy and achievable goal. If everyone involved with this movement pulls in the same direction, that is a battle that can be won, and will have real and valuable results.

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[-] 1 points by geminitwiin (8) 13 years ago

I think that this movement ... If I can call it that, needs a leader that can show us towards attainable goals and we can worry about the complicated stuff to the real experts. We need a few chiefs for all these indians to follow.

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[-] 1 points by OccupyDC (153) 13 years ago

Of course someone is running everything.

All roads lead back to Organizing for America. In other words, Obama's reelection campaign.

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[-] 1 points by pu5erfish (9) 13 years ago

That's just ignorant. The administration has made no real effort to embrace this. Nor should they right now; not until it gets some cohesion and points itself in a direction towards some achievable goals.

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[-] 1 points by OccupyDC (153) 13 years ago

That is the whole point. The administration does not want anyone to know they have anything to do with any of this. They do not want their fingerprints directly seen on any of this.

But they and their allies are behind the whole thing.

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[-] 1 points by pu5erfish (9) 13 years ago

Really? Because at the moment it's making them look bad without even getting any positive press out of it So, what's your logic here? They drummed up an intentionally disorganized protest to make their own position look foolish? That would just be idiotic. You can't accuse them of being manipulative and mislead at the same time. Like I said, just ignorant.

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[-] 1 points by OccupyDC (153) 13 years ago

They didn't just drum up a disorganized protest. It has been organized from the very beginning.

The only people who think it is "disorganized" and "decentralized" are the actual participants. You have been intentionally kept in the dark. The super secrecy about everything is intentional. You are being used as rubes and "useful idiots". Anything that is very secret is not good. I thought that was something that some of you people were concerned about. Obviously it doesn't translate to your own "protest" and who is behind the whole thing.

Unfortunately there is never a shortage of useful idiots.

You are nothing but drones for the Obama and Democrat Party agenda. You are supplying the cover they need for their failure.

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[-] 1 points by pu5erfish (9) 13 years ago

Okay, these are just the ravings of a completely paranoid lunatic. You're not answering a logical argument with a logical argument. You're simply defaulting to hackneyed taking points. I'm done with you now.

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[-] 1 points by atki4564 (1259) from Lake Placid, FL 13 years ago

True, there is no cohesive direction or voice that everyone can get behind, and although I'm all in favor of taking down today's ineffective and inefficient Top 10% Management Group of Business & Government, there's only one way to do it – by fighting bankers as bankers ourselves. Consequently, I have posted a 1-page Summary of the Strategic Legal Policies, Organizational Operating Structures, and Tactical Investment Procedures necessary to do this at:

http://getsatisfaction.com/americanselect/topics/on_strategic_legal_policy_organizational_operational_structures_tactical_investment_procedures

Join

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/StrategicInternationalSystems/

if you want to support a Presidential Candidate Committee at AmericansElect.org in support of the above bank-focused platform.

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[-] 1 points by ConcernedEconomist (67) 13 years ago

I agree with you (see: http://occupywallst.org/forum/importance-of-solidarity/ ) but rest assured there is some direction being settled upon (see: http://occupywallst.org/forum/proposed-list-of-demands-please-help-editadd-so-th/ ).

It may not be known by all supporters yet or posted on the website but by the organic and voluntary interaction of thousands of individuals as aided by social media, a concrete, cohesive movement is taking shape. Keep in mind that the movement is still in its infancy and needs more time to grow but I have high hopes.

Here is one of the most well articulated statements I've found: http://occupywallst.org/forum/the-message-imo/

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[-] 0 points by gawdoftruth (3698) from Santa Barbara, CA 13 years ago

Heres the way to get focus;

http://occupywallst.org/forum/corporate-oligarchy/

http://occupywallst.org/forum/thetruth-socialismcapitalismcommunismmarxism/

http://occupywallst.org/forum/capitalism-versus-corporatism/

http://occupywallst.org/forum/no-war/

http://occupywallst.org/forum/help-me-understand/

http://occupywallst.org/forum/capitalism-a-love-story/

http://occupywallst.org/forum/sociology/

http://occupywallst.org/forum/energy-101-solution/