Occupy Wall Street

[bluefrog]

didn't they want their student loans paid off?

I think that was Chile

 

[Ed O]

What does that have to do with anything?

I should be paid less because my tv is bigger and costs more?

It means that I am not sure you ARE being paid less. You can buy things now that you couldn't buy previously. That increases your buying power, and diffuses the effects of inflation on other aspects of life.

Check out this link, which has prices of electronics from the 1970's. It's amazing how--even in nominal dollars--many things aren't much more expensive now.

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/70selectrical.html

A 25" TV was selling for $599 in 1976. You can buy 26" TVs (that are lighter, higher resolution, etc.) for less than half that (example). In real dollars, $599 is over $2300 dollars today, so the TV is about a tenth of the cost.

Ed O.

 

[Ed O]

You guys are falling for it, hook, line, and sinker. This isn't a Republican/Democrat thing, this is a corruption thing.

It's not a corruption thing. It's a question of the role of government: the Occupiers want government to be bigger and more involved in protecting us.

Ed O.

 

[Ed O]

I love it the bitching, complaining and general bitterness of these people. The best part is everyone makes a point to mention they don't whine and then they write:

The point is that everyone has problems. Not everyone tries to disrupt the lives of others to get them solved.

These people have COMPLETELY missed the point. Where is this idea coming from that the protesters are all lazy, hippies who don't pay taxes? It's an anti-corruption movement.

They're paying taxes while they're sitting in a park... how? How are they feeding themselves?

Do they have a trust fund? Are they on food stamps?

Or are they taking paid vacation time? Or burning through savings?

Where do you get the sense that it's an anti-corruption movement? Or that the people protesting are people with jobs who pay taxes?

Ed O.

 

[bluefrog]

They're paying taxes while they're sitting in a park... how?

You're funny. I think it might be possible that they paid taxes in the spring and then went to the park after that (I'm going to look into it further).

How are they feeding themselves?

They receive food donations from supporters.

Or are they taking paid vacation time? Or burning through savings?

Some of them, yes.

Where do you get the sense that it's an anti-corruption movement?

Because, Ed, I bothered to actually go to their website and look at what they want: a presidential commission to separate money from politics. http://occupywallst.org/

Or that the people protesting are people with jobs who pay taxes?

Ed O.

The union is there and I assume they pay taxes. What kind of proof are you looking for?

BTW, this is really awesome. It's just like how the Tea Party was painted with a broad stroke.

 

[Ed O]

Because, Ed, I bothered to actually go to their website and look at what they want: a presidential commission to separate money from politics. http://occupywallst.org/

"Separate money from politics" means nothing. We pay taxes (money) because of laws (passed by politicians). We receive benefits (money) based on laws (politics).

There HAVE to be rules, and the people protesting simply don't like the rules. That's their right, of course, but their rules would be far, far worse, IMO, and their approach is a joke to me.

The union is there and I assume they pay taxes. What kind of proof are you looking for?

I'm answering your question of how people can get the idea that people who are occupying Wall Street don't pay taxes. Of course they have paid taxes at SOME point (anyone who's ever bought anything or had a job has done that) but lounging about in public parks doesn't pay (m)any bills. Or taxes.

BTW, this is really awesome. It's just like how the Tea Party was painted with a broad stroke.

"Separate money from politics" isn't a broad stroke?

Ed O.

 

[Denny Crane]

I like the idea of separation of economy and state.

As long as you don't have that, there cannot be separation of money and politics. Otherwise, many companies will see some benefit govt. can provide and will provide the quid for the pro quo. And they should, and there's nothing you can do about it as long as the state has so much influence on their well being.

 

[bluefrog]

"Separate money from politics" isn't a broad stroke?

Ed O.

"inequality" is a broad stoke, too.

 

[Denny Crane]

You know why the rich get richer? They have interest and inflation working on their side. The Fed creates inflation. Inflation not only kills peoples' buying power, it kills peoples' retiring power.

 

[PapaG]

How does one separate money from politics, yet have more governmental control over the same money?

I'm going to guess that most of the protesters have no idea what they're actually protesting. In this thread alone, I've seen at least four different reasons.

 

[Natebishop3]

"Just do it" is pretty fucking broad too. It's a tag line. It's about marketing.

The whole point is to remove lobbying and corporate donations to politicians. There is waaaaaay too much corruption between Washington DC and major corporations like Haliburton, Monsanto, etc. How can someone be a top executive at Monsanto, get appointed to the FDA, make some rulings in favor of Monsanto and then go right back to work as an executive for the same fucking company? Tell me that's not corrupt...

This corruption isn't good for the economy. It isn't promoting capitalism, it's stunting it. Monsanto is killing the small market, mom and pop farming industry because they want everyone to use their GMO seeds. If you don't use em, they will come after you and kill you with frivolous lawsuits. How is that shit working for the people? Seriously, go watch Food Inc and tell me that you don't agree with removing corporate influence from Washington DC. Our politicians are serving their corporate masters, not the people who elected them.

You guys are getting caught up in the left/right hatred and this isn't about that. This isn't about bigger or smaller government. This is about taking our damn country back.

 

[Natebishop3]

How does one separate money from politics, yet have more governmental control over the same money?

I'm going to guess that most of the protesters have no idea what they're actually protesting. In this thread alone, I've seen at least four different reasons.

It's because Occupy isn't an organized party or anything. It's a bunch of people who are pissed off. There isn't a clear message because there isn't anyone specifically controlling the message. People are mad. That's the message. I'm sure there's four different reasons because that's four different points of view, but what it boils down to is that people are mad and they want change. I'm glad people are finally getting fed up.

 

[Natebishop3]

You separate money from politics by eliminating campaign donations from corporations. Honestly, I've always hated the idea that someone can basically buy the allegiance of a politician by donating millions to their campaign. Donations should be so minimal that the donator becomes inconsequential. That's how I would separate money from politics.

 

[PapaG]

You separate money from politics by eliminating campaign donations from corporations. Honestly, I've always hated the idea that someone can basically buy the allegiance of a politician by donating millions to their campaign. Donations should be so minimal that the donator becomes inconsequential. That's how I would separate money from politics.

Unions have always been able to contribute and weren't exempt, though, even before the USSC ruling. Now the unions are involved in protesting something that they've been doing for decades?

As I said, it makes no sense.

 

[Natebishop3]

Unions have always been able to contribute and weren't exempt, though, even before the USSC ruling. Now the unions are involved in protesting something that they've been doing for decades?

As I said, it makes no sense.

I don't think unions should be able to contribute either. Protesting is one thing, but I don't think an organization should be able to contribute money. I think campaign donations should come from citizens and citizens only. How much and how often is something that could be debated, but I don't think a union or a business should be able to buy the allegiance of a politician with campaign funds. It's bullshit. And if you don't support the union or the business, they give their money to the other guy and get you out of office. That's not serving the best interest of the people.

 

[maxiep]

It's symbolic. It's like protesting in front of the White House, even if the President is actually off at Camp David.

It's not symbolic, it's moronic.

 

[HailBlazers]

It is what it is.

I don't think unions should be able to contribute either. I don't think an organization should be able to contribute money. I think campaign donations should come from citizens and citizens only. How much and how often is something that could be debated, but I don't think a union or a business should be able to buy the allegiance of a politician with campaign funds.

Bingo. This. Repped. You can judge people all you want about how they go about denouncing that ^^^ but the bottom line is if your not doing anything about it yourself you have no right to criticize those who do

Unions have always been able to contribute and weren't exempt, though, even before the USSC ruling. Now the unions are involved in protesting something that they've been doing for decades?

As I said, it makes no sense.

The unions are doing what they do best, trying to align themselves with the people, and pretend to represent the peoples best interest, no different than the corporations/government.

 

[Natebishop3]

It's not symbolic, it's moronic.

So where would you protest corporate corruption?

 

[maxiep]

So where would you protest corporate corruption?

How about Midtown? You know, where corporate headquarters actually are.

 

[Natebishop3]

How about Midtown? You know, where corporate headquarters actually are.

Why not protest at one concentrated place that gets the same message across? Coming from someone who so vehemently defends the Tea Party, I'm surprised you don't understand where these people are coming from.

 

[ABM]

[video=youtube;aD3rvVlwoB0]

 

[ABM]

http://map.15october.net/

 

[PapaG]

At least the anti-war protesters had a purpose. Typically, the point of a protest is to have a clear message. This "Occupy" movement still doesn't make any sense to me. Now I see there is an "Occupy Manzanita" march today. What the fuck?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

At least the anti-war protesters had a purpose. Typically, the point of a protest is to have a clear message. This "Occupy" movement still doesn't make any sense to me. Now I see there is an "Occupy Manzanita" march today. What the fuck?

I plan on holding a "Occupy Mrs HCP" rally later today.

 

[PapaG]

I plan on holding a "Occupy Mrs HCP" rally later today.

I'm going to "Occupy Buffalo Wild Wings" tonight.

 

[huevonkiller]

A large part of the wall street protest is Classical Liberalism, not just socialist nonsense.

I don't want to see Banks get bailed out, bankruptcy provides a useful service in this country and prevents moral hazards from forming.

 

[huevonkiller]

So where would you protest corporate corruption?

Go to Washington DC brah, they have all the power to force corporations to do their bidding.

I like the idea of separation of economy and state.

As long as you don't have that, there cannot be separation of money and politics. Otherwise, many companies will see some benefit govt. can provide and will provide the quid for the pro quo. And they should, and there's nothing you can do about it as long as the state has so much influence on their well being.

I'm cool with that.

 

[PapaG]

This is fucking creepy. Now drink your Kool-Aid. It's also cool how all of the white folk don't let John Lewis, a true civil rights leader, speak. Racists!!!

[video=youtube;3QZlp3eGMNI]

 

[barfo]

This is fucking creepy. Now drink your Kool-Aid. It's also cool how all of the white folk don't let John Lewis, a true civil rights leader, speak. Racists!!!

[video=youtube;3QZlp3eGMNI]

You watched 10 minutes of that?

You need a hobby.

I mean a different hobby.

barfo

 

[PapaG]