Occupy Wall Street protest

[Tara80]

Good video! That's the problem, the majority of the 'occupy movement' has no idea what they are actually protesting. This has been going on here in Seattle for some weeks now and I’ve mostly lost interest. All parties share blame; it wasn’t just Fannie Mae and friends that caused the housing market crash, it was all of these ‘occupy’ fellows who purchased houses that they couldn’t afford. Although, the lack of reins on these lenders certainly is an issue.

What does bug me about corporate giants though, is the lack of regulation (federal and state), not just control of lending but because they commonly stomp on the small business owner and often steal ideas; using them as their own creation (Amazon and Blizzard are both very good examples of this, although I am a blizzard supporter [hypocritical, I know]) and because money talks, in our corrupt political and judicial systems, generally the corporation monolith wins out.

It’s not the people who want something for nothing that I care about. It’s the small businesses and the hard workers with great ideas and concepts that get swallowed in the mire.
And if you start to look harder, you can see where the roots of the weed lead. Our government.

 

[12600]

I am very Surprised to how bias this subject is. I've served this country. I watched the politics of the Army go from something good to something that spirals in the toilet. I've watched first hand what our government does and how it does it. I was the puppet connected to the strings (yes i did it willingly but never in my life have i felt so freedom-less.) When i first went to Iraq for my 15 month deployment, I thought I am finally fighting the fight I wanted to fight since i watched the trade towers collapse during my Biology Class in High School. But after being there for months and months at a time kicking down doors and doors upon doors and finding no Resistance what so ever it starts to click. What on earth are we here for? Just to waste money from my perspective. The ROE was so strict, if you as much as shot a warning shot, JUST A WARNING SHOT. You had to state why you did it, why you felt it was necessary, what you did to de-escalate the situation before doing it and 5 Pages of paper work and to top it off you'd have to go see a shrink. You and your buddy basically had to be shot at before you could shoot back, and in one instance, it cost one of my buddy's life, and my Ex Platoon Sgt's life as well. We didn't need to be there, the fight had moved to Afghanistan. The money didn't need to be spent nor did the blood of my comrades.

Ron Paul once said in a political debate, that we were spending so many millions/billions on just A/C alone in Iraq a day. That's a lot for me to go over there and never pull trigger except for one occasion.

And as for rich companies and people scrounging to get by, I got one more thing to let your head linger on.

"Apple Now Has More Cash Than The U.S. Government"

Apple makes so much, they could sustain our country alone, but yet they do nothing about our economy's state. Yes, America is the Land of the free. But I can say from experience, it doesn't come free people. (And please don't turn this statement around on me, I am not here to argue, just give you different perspective.)

 

[12600]

In case people didn't know what ROE is and I meant to mention it in the Post.

ROE = Rules of Engagement.

 

[12600]

Also a link about when Apple started making more then the US Gov.

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-07-28/tech/30049957_1_cash-balance-apple-debt-ceiling

 

[Dreamsnake]

I just spent the last three years unemployed. I was ready to make a sign and sit outside the courthouse when one of my thousands of applications got a call back, an interview, and hired all within the same week. I completely understand the frustrations of these people looking for work, answers, and understanding as I was one of them. Corporations have too much power and they have established American feudalism.

 

[starsevol]

I just spent the last three years unemployed. I was ready to make a sign and sit outside the courthouse when one of my thousands of applications got a call back, an interview, and hired all within the same week. I completely understand the frustrations of these people looking for work, answers, and understanding as I was one of them. Corporations have too much power and they have established American feudalism.

If you really think that corperations make too much money, stop supporting them! Get rid of your car, your cell phone, your i pad, your computer, your television and go live in a tent off the grid.

You have a choice when it comes to corperations. You can buy their products, or not. You give them money and you get back some shiney thing that you want.

Not so with government! You have no choice when it comes to whether or not to give your money to government, and you have no say at all how that money is spent. With government, you get the same "product" for your money as people who pay far less, or don't pay at all.

Corperations do what they do, because the government allows them to.

I understand that people are angry. Hell, I am angry too. But before you go marching and waving signs, make sure you know who and what got you into whatever situation you are in......

 

[Nanci]

Why would it be Apple's responsibility to sustain the US?

 

[starsevol]

Why would it be Apple's responsibility to sustain the US?

because they are rich rich rich and have moreeeeeeeeee than me!!!!!

It isn't.....Apple's responsibility is to make our lives better by providing electronic gadgets that we covet.....

edit, admittedly I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer. But I "get it".
I see what is happening here. Why can't others?

 

[Nanci]

Well, I went to school and trained for a couple "fun" fields of work right after high school- landscape technology and horseshoeing. Those are fine and I had a great time growing cut roses and trimming hooves but after having a child it became apparent that if I wanted to be successful and able to support myself in a reasonable manner then I would need to go back to school and train in something that was marketable and paid a liveable wage. I went to college when my daughter was two. I don't understand the logic of people who either don't get any additional schooling at all, or get schooling in some obscure field that isn't marketable who then complain that they can't get a job. Well- you have to supply yourself with skills that match the jobs that are out there. Take healthcare for instance.

 

[JoannaD]

And what do people think about Goldman Sachs losing money this past quarter but putting aside millions (billions) to give year end bonuses? It would seem to me that if they are losing money then there should not be bonuses.

We have come to a point where we can not let these institutions die (or can we?) because our economy is dependent on their money games but they play them so that no one can win except them. I think that is where the regulation has to come in.

Here is another point of view:

​

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/...ar-wall-street-this-why-the-people-are-angry/


Dear Wall Street, this is why the people are angry

Tess Vigeland: Inequity is arguably the main rallying cry of the Occupy movement. And on that score, the primary bogeymen are the nation's bankers, brokers and traders -- the so-called "one-percenters" who control about a third of the country's wealth.
Commentator Josh Brown is one of those one-percenters. He's an investment adviser at Fusion Analytics in Manhattan. If you think you know what his take on all this is going to be, here's his open letter to the banks that don't seem to get why people are mad.
Josh Brown: In 2008, the American people were told that if they didn't bail out the banks, there way of life would never be the same. In no uncertain terms, our leaders told us anything short of saving these insolvent banks would result in a depression to the American public. We had to do it!
At our darkest hour we gave these banks every single thing they asked for. We allowed investment banks to borrow money at zero percent interest rate, directly from the Fed. We gave them taxpayer cash right onto their balance sheets. We allowed them to suspend account rules and pretend that the toxic sludge they were carrying was worth 100 cents on the dollar. Anything to stave off insolvency. We left thousands of executives in place at these firms. Nobody went to jail, not a single perp walk. I can't even think of a single example of someone being fired. People resigned with full benefits and pensions, as though it were a job well done.
The American taxpayer kicked in over a trillion dollars to help make all of this happen. But the banks didn't hold up their end of the bargain. The banks didn't seize this opportunity, this second chance to re-enter society as a constructive agent of commerce. Instead, they went back to business as usual. With $20 billion in bonuses paid during 2009. Another $20 billion in bonuses paid in 2010. And they did this with the profits they earned from zero percent interest rates that actually acted as a tax on the rest of the economy.
Instead of coming back and working with this economy to get back on its feet, they hired lobbyists by the dozen to fight tooth and nail against any efforts whatsoever to bring common sense regulation to the financial industry. Instead of coming back and working with the people, they hired an army of robosigners to process millions of foreclosures. In many cases, without even having the proper paperwork to evict the homeowners. Instead, the banks announced layoffs in the tens of thousands, so that executives at the top of the pile could maintain their outrageous levels of compensation.
We bailed out Wall Street to avoid Depression, but three years later, millions of Americans are in a living hell. This is why they're enraged, this why they're assembling, this is why they hate you. Why for the first time in 50 years, the people are coming out in the streets and they're saying, "Enough."
Vigeland: Josh Brown. He wrote a scathing blog post along these same lines earlier this week. You can also follow him on Twitter @reformedbroker. While you're at it -- follow me @radiotess.

​

 

[Rich Z]

Certainly the US government is going to consider itself as "too big to fail" as well, so it will be interesting to see what they foist on us in order to save themselves. Of course, WE little people will be painted as the bad guys. Selfish because we wish to keep as much of our hard earned money as we can instead of turning it over to the government to be squandered.

 

[ecreipeoj]

Amen!!! To all of the conservative points of view expressed in this thread.

The Tea Party and the Republican obstructionist have saved this Country from Obama, which is our 9-11 from within. Have you forgotten the attack on the Twin Towers? Do you know the purpose of that attack on American soil? Obama’s policies and the liberal Democrat House and Senate, almost completed their intentions to destroy our Economic System, which will destroy the USA far quicker than any military attack on our soil ever will. Un-employment was at 4.5%. It is now DOUBLE that, except GOVERNMENT JOBS, which are being subsidized by the "STIMULUS".

Bush was 10 times a better President than Obama, which is the worst in American History, without any doubt what-so-ever. The only thing Bush did wrong was to try work with two democratically controlled houses, by compromising. There is no compromising with completely opposite points of view, they need to be defeated!!! How many of you are brain numb robots that believe that the President of the USA writes the checks in this country? Obama would like to, but it is Unconstitutional. The democrats ran up our debt during Bush’s years, NOT Bush, even with two wars to defend us from Radical Islamist. Radical Islamist is a cancer on this Earth and need to be hunted down and eradicated like the cancer it is or it will destroy us all.

The last elections STOPPED Obama from destroying the USA in one term. If we give him another, he will complete is goal and finish what the attack on the Twin Towers started. Obama has increased our DEBT more than all other Presidents combined. There are far more MILLIONARES working in government than the PRIVATE SECTOR. He has caused racial tension in this country to get to a higher degree than any other President. He would not be President, except for his race. Race should not be an issue in this country any longer!! WE are all Americans, and RACE cannot be an issue any longer or it will destroy us, but some people in the country live by promoting racism. This includes Obama! He promotes racism and class warfare, which is how he makes his living, like many others you see on TV.

If you vote for Obama again in the next election, in my opinion, you are commenting TREASON! Bush was in the middle, and both sides put him down for it. Obama was elected and with two democratic houses, turn us to the left and headed us towards a CLIFF at Mach speed, with trillions of $$$ of debt. If we do not elect a conservative President, such as Herman Cain, and turn Obamas Tour Bus around, and go RIGHT (AKA conservatism) as fast as possible, we will all get to re-live our Grandparents memories of the depression!!! I am sure many of us have heard the stories.

Do you know what it takes to join the Tea Party? NOTHING, except read the Constitution, The Declaration of Independence and believe in a smaller government and a balanced budget. The Private Sector must balance its budge, why does the Government get a CREDIT CARD with no limit, that the tax payer is responcible for? The Government makes no money at all, NONE! They take it from the Private Sector by force and give it to themselves and those who vote to keep them in POWER. The rich in this country are Government workers that are being paid by taxes being collected from the Private Sector. We are at war, a Civil War, between the Government workers, and the Private sector which is paying for both ways of life. I have worked in both sectors, and there are exceptions of course, but most Government employees are guaranteed their salaries and benefits and do as little as possible to get by. They get to retire at 50-55 years old, with a fat salary and full benefits, while the private sector takes care of themselves, works their asses off for their American Dream, and it is being stolen from them by taxation by the Government. The signers of the Declaration of Independence committed TREASON when they signed this very precious document. Do you remember or have any idea what they were declaring their independence from? A government very similar to the current version of the Democratic Party.

Just look at our Hobby as an example. The value of our snakes has deflated by at least 75% since Obama took office. Many of us have lost our homes and our way of life, due to liberal ideals. There are some who need help to survive in this Country, but many just want a free ride and don’t have an American Dream. If we continue on this path Obama has taken us, the country will go bankrupt, and Government Workers FREE ride will be over, because all of the money will be worthless and they will be completely helpless! The Military is excluded from this opinion, and one of the few purposes of Government, to protect us from our enemies, both domestic and abroad. I thank GOD for our brave men and women who defend us from our enemies every day. Canadians are our friends and they benefit from a STRONG American Military, which they do not pay for.

Please educate yourself. Read the Constitution, and Declaration of Independence and I beg you to VOTE Republican in the next election or just stay home. Give conservative ideals one term, and you will see the difference between self-reliance (conservatism), and dependence (liberalism).

 

[Nova_C]

Canadians are our friends and they benefit from a STRONG American Military, which they do not pay for.

The fact that I'm one of the 'liberals' you blame for all your problems is pretty well known around here, so I'll ignore the rest of your post in the interest of avoiding a flame war.

However, I'll bit on the quoted bit. What benefits does Canada receive from the US military, exactly?

 

[Dreamsnake]

If you really think that corperations make too much money, stop supporting them! Get rid of your car, your cell phone, your i pad, your computer, your television and go live in a tent off the grid.

You have a choice when it comes to corperations. You can buy their products, or not. You give them money and you get back some shiney thing that you want.

Not so with government! You have no choice when it comes to whether or not to give your money to government, and you have no say at all how that money is spent. With government, you get the same "product" for your money as people who pay far less, or don't pay at all.

Corperations do what they do, because the government allows them to.

I understand that people are angry. Hell, I am angry too. But before you go marching and waving signs, make sure you know who and what got you into whatever situation you are in......

GWB, his cabinet, deregulation of Wall Street, war profiteering, the Koch brothers; I could go on, but I'll stop here.

 

[starsevol]

GWB, his cabinet, deregulation of Wall Street, war profiteering, the Koch brothers; I could go on, but I'll stop here.

Let's see....GWB and his cabinet have been gone for how long now?
2 high profile names are very very prominent in what helped to cause this mess, and guess what? They are not republicans!!!!

Chris Dodd and Barney Frank, to be exact.

 

[Shiari]

Just some food for thought.

 

[ZoologyGirl]

I don't blame conservatives and I don't blame liberals. I blame all politics in general. I am suspect of anyone who is quick to blame solely one party. I am suspect of anyone who believes their party (for lack of a better term) to be blameless.

 

[starsevol]

Just some food for thought.

I have read in my local newspaper, the Providence Journal, that the current administration has spent more money than every single administration in the history of this country COMBINED.

I do believe that much of it has been mandated, but not spent yet.

 

[Tara80]

Well said Heather. I'd say I'm more conservative but both sides have strong points and weak points. The terms 'Democrat' and 'Republican' have turned into nothing but a huge P*ssing contest; he who is the best orator wins. I see it as: he who can pull the wool over the majority's eyes wins.
Beth, I was going to say the exact same thing. It doesn't take much intelligence to see how much the current administration has put us in debt. Just because you can post a political cartoon does not make it factual or accurate.

 

[starsevol]

Well said Heather. I'd say I'm more conservative but both sides have strong points and weak points. The terms 'Democrat' and 'Republican' have turned into nothing but a huge P*ssing contest; he who is the best orator wins. I see it as: he who can pull the wool over the majority's eyes wins.
Beth, I was going to say the exact same thing. It doesn't take much intelligence to see how much the current administration has put us in debt. Just because you can post a political cartoon does not make it factual or accurate.

Thanks Tara, when I was young and stupid, I was a republican. I still mostly vote that way but I scrutanize and question everything and vote for whomever is closest to my beliefs. I am a libertarian now.