Occupy Wall Street

[babe]

thanks.

I'm not sure how I forgot the Nazis and Communists.

Perhaps because we all live in perfect harmony up here in Canada.

No, Canada is the occupied French colony where the tories fled during the Revolution that for the first time brought forth the American concept of a constitutional republic that balanced democratic ideals with actual human rights protected from the rampages of democratic mobs claiming absolute authority based on being the majority.

Canada never has been a free country, and the British Monarchs still legally have the right to limit the acts of your parliament or Prime Minister. When the Queen comes to town, you cheer.

But the United States got a lot of good from our British origin, including concepts and rights won by the stubborn people and some of the lower lights of nobility who brought us the Magna Carta and some good traditions in legal process, including the Blackstone concept that equated the right of property with the right to life. Within the British Empire we see the second-best traditions upholding human rights on this planet, because there has been a sort of balance between the oligarchs and the people over most of recent history.

All I could repectfully ask you to do is listen carefully to the rhetoric of the Occupy Wallstreet people. Sounds to me a lot like the Arab Spring revolts. We cheered for the Egyptians and Libyans taking to the streets because we figured that people ought to be free, but we will have second thoughts when the Egyptian Islamists repress the Christians, as they have done already, and then start just killing them. Right now it just looks like the military over there is still in absolute power. We also cheered some years ago when people in the Philippines took to the streets and the soldiers in the tanks decided they couldn't really just kill people to keep President Marcos in his palace. At least the filipinos still get to vote, and recently elected the son of Benigno Aquino, who was gunned down in broad daylight by Marcos thugs, as their President.

I look at the Tea Party now as being co-opted by old-guard RINO elitists, and also being manipulated by some big money folks, but I know most of them still want a constitutional republic for the United States as opposed to elitist oligarchy.

 

[GVC]

most of them still want a constitutional republic for the United States as opposed to elitist oligarchy.

Sounds eerily similar to what the Occupy Wall Streeters are demanding.

And I don't understand how cherry-picking failed revolts/revolutions strengthens your post/point. Obviously, some uprisings lead to the powers-that-be seizing more power, and some lead to democratic reform. That much seems obvious. I lived in Indonesia for some months not long after Suharto stepped down. That shift to a more democratic regime largely happened as a popular response to the Asian Crisis. Few Indonesians would like a return to the Suharto days (even if they're electing officials from his political party).

 

[GVC]

I think we can both agree that there is some breaking point where the elitist oligarchy has consolidated enough power to render the political process moot.

The Tea Partiers don't think the US is there yet.

The Occupiers do.

That, to me at least, is the key difference between the two groups.

And freedom isn't only a function of the written law. I feel much more free to express descent and act in accordance with my own conscience in Canada than I did in the United States. That the queen shows up every now and then at great expense, waving to all the sheep with a plastic smile, is of little consequence. It's sort of like the inauguration parades south of the border.

 

[babe]

I think we can both agree that there is some breaking point where the elitist oligarchy has consolidated enough power to render the political process moot.

The Tea Partiers don't think the US is there yet.

The Occupiers do.

That, to me at least, is the key difference between the two groups.

And freedom isn't only a function of the written law. I feel much more free to express descent and act in accordance with my own conscience in Canada than I did in the United States. That the queen shows up every now and then at great expense, waving to all the sheep with a plastic smile, is of little consequence. It's sort of like the inauguration parades south of the border.

I'm sure there are a lot of different sets of ideas in the crowd, and different expectations. It's those folks with the bullhorns that worry me the most.

As long as there are enough people with an understanding of the principles of American constitutional republic government to turn the bums outta office when they forget, we'll survive.

 

[GoJazz]

In my opinion, the differance between the Tea Party and #occupywallstreet is the tea party would like a return to free markets and capitalism while #occupywallstreet feels free markets and capitalism has failed and would like to usher in a socialist/communist form of government. I think what both parties can agree on is that the current system of corperate rule isn't working. They just disagree on the answer to the problem.

 

[Scat]

In my opinion, the differance between the Tea Party and #occupywallstreet is the tea party would like a return to free markets and capitalism while #occupywallstreet feels free markets and capitalism has failed and would like to usher in a socialist/communist form of government. I think what both parties can agree on is that the current system of corperate rule isn't working. They just disagree on the answer to the problem.

Rep given.

This is probably the best summary I have seen.

 

[Coloradojazzfan]

https://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/154845/lazy-hippies

 

[The Thriller]

In my opinion, the differance between the Tea Party and #occupywallstreet is the tea party would like a return to free markets and capitalism while #occupywallstreet feels free markets and capitalism has failed and would like to usher in a socialist/communist form of government. I think what both parties can agree on is that the current system of corperate rule isn't working. They just disagree on the answer to the problem.

Deregulation and the "free Market" is what has taken us to this place.

From lack of regulation to regulators sleeping at the wheel... Letting banks get too big to fail... No oversight on Wall Street... and then when they do, not wanting to face the horrible consequences (hence, the bailouts.) When their companies go belly-up, they pay off the top execs while screwing over everyone else..... Or they demand bailouts, receive them, and give their top execs their bonuses instead of using that money to save the jobs of everyday workers.

We need more regulation, not less. I support Occupy Wall Street. The lack of regulation, oversight, corruption, etc needs to be fixed.

A return to free markets is exactly what created this mess.

 

[The Thriller]

I don't think anyone has argued that they are in the wrong simply for exercising their rights. Your post is about as coherent and relative as the Occupiers'.

Are you kidding me? So many from the right have criticized these people. Telling them to get a job. And if they're not rich, to blame themselves.

The unregulated Capitalism, the corruption, bailouts, the buying off of our government, and the "corporations are people too" attitude needs to change.

If the Tea Party really wanted to show that it was non-partisan and pro-Joe Sixpack, they'd be all over this. They too should be occupying Wall Street, denouncing the criminal actions done there, the corporations who buy off our government, special interest groups, and the subsidies and bailouts.

Instead, they're too busy cheering the death of an uninsured person and flipping Cain's 999 over to 666, whatever the hell that's supposed to mean....

Tea Baggers, can't wait to see them disappear in the next few years.

 

[kwb]

Youtube, "Opie's eye occupy wall street." That about sums up the majority of these protestors.

 

[candrew]

If the Tea Party really wanted to show that it was non-partisan and pro-Joe Sixpack, they'd be all over this. They too should be occupying Wall Street, denouncing the criminal actions done there, the corporations who buy off our government, special interest groups, and the subsidies and bailouts.

If you followed The Tea-Baggers pre-Obama that's pretty much what you got.

The Tea Party was instrumental in getting the first stimulus bill shot down in Congress in September of 2008. They were quite clear about letting the banks fail.

Unfortunately, they've long been bought and sold since then. Now their only purpose is to be another group of useful idiots for the top 10% and a Obama is wrong about everything noise machine.

 

[The Pearl]

Deregulation and the "free Market" is what has taken us to this place.

From lack of regulation to regulators sleeping at the wheel... Letting banks get too big to fail... No oversight on Wall Street... and then when they do, not wanting to face the horrible consequences (hence, the bailouts.) When their companies go belly-up, they pay off the top execs while screwing over everyone else..... Or they demand bailouts, receive them, and give their top execs their bonuses instead of using that money to save the jobs of everyday workers.

We need more regulation, not less. I support Occupy Wall Street. The lack of regulation, oversight, corruption, etc needs to be fixed.

A return to free markets is exactly what created this mess.

OWS is asking for things that can't be fixed, only muted until they take shape in another form that nobody will be able to predict. Lack of regulation, too much regulation, regulators not doing their job, greed, corruption, etc. are not system problems, they are human problems. Regulation is never proactive, it is reactive and mostly closes the barn door after the horses are out. Regulation is not absolute in its success. Some regs work really well, others have unimagined consequences. Right now the next crisis is brewing under the surface. Nobody knows what it is or when it will surface. It might be 5 years from now, might be 10. You could wave a magic wand and have the world exactly how you want it and it would last about 24 hours. Not so long ago it was cool to own a bunch of tech stock and Alan Greenspan was God. Not so much now. Than it was completely normal to look around every corner for a terrorists and maybe buy a house or two. Not so cool anymore. It was always thought to be a good idea to borrow money for school and more money meant a better school. Not such a good idea it turns out. There was even a time when several very smart economists and academia types believed that our system had cured the business cycle and made recessions all but a thing of the past. Not so much.

This too shall pass.

 

[DutchJazzer]

I am just hoping we as a world go to the star trek world economic system

 

[The Thriller]

Youtube, "Opie's eye occupy wall street." That about sums up the majority of these protestors.

Yes.... Absolutely... A conservative video selecting a few clips to paint the protesters as idiots.

Just how many people did they interview that gave good answers and were excluded from this clip?

Anyone can cut and splice video to paint whatever picture they want.

It's ok, you're right, corporations are people, they aren't buying off the government, and trickle down economics works. While they're making record profits, they trickle down effect will come. We just need to give it more time....

In fact, why even tax the rich at all? Give them all the wealth and let trickle down economics do its thing.

 

[DutchJazzer]

also because of internet and social media Occupy is world wide. saw some of those bumms camping out yesterday. they did not look like regular joes thoug.
just looked like bumms. guess the regular joe's where hard at work

 

[kwb]

Yes.... Absolutely... A conservative video selecting a few clips to paint the protesters as idiots.

Just how many people did they interview that gave good answers and were excluded from this clip?

Anyone can cut and splice video to paint whatever picture they want.

It's ok, you're right, corporations are people, they aren't buying off the government, and trickle down economics works. While they're making record profits, they trickle down effect will come. We just need to give it more time....

In fact, why even tax the rich at all? Give them all the wealth and let trickle down economics do its thing.

Seen other videos and all the people there look pretty stupid to me. Kind of like your avatar.

 

[The Thriller]

Seen other videos and all the people there look pretty stupid to me. Kind of like your avatar.

Well jeez, if a few conservative videos say that the protesters are stupid then it must be true! Of course, we all know that one could never find anything similar if they googled tea party protests. I'm sure liberals never ever ever have made or will ever make a video showing a bias. Cutting and splicing videos to paint tea party people are stupid.

So you win! You're obviously 100 % right. Damn those lazy *** protesters! If they want to be rich, they have only themselves to blame! Now give me another bonus! I need another few million!

 

[kwb]

Well jeez, if a few conservative videos say that the protesters are stupid then it must be true! Of course, we all know that one could never find anything similar if they googled tea party protests. I'm sure liberals never ever ever have made or will ever make a video showing a bias. Cutting and splicing videos to paint tea party people are stupid.

So you win! You're obviously 100 % right. Damn those lazy *** protesters! If they want to be rich, they have only themselves to blame! Now give me another bonus! I need another few million!

I appreciate you finally putting your pride aside and agreeing with me. Thanks.

 

[Coloradojazzfan]

Why weren't these people out there 2 years ago... like the Tea Party was... why is it they suddenly woke up? I know weed makes you slow, but this is ridiculous.

Also, what's their point... what are they building towards? It's like, okay we get it, you don't like corporations, now it's time to nominate a representative that will regulate corporations... we are in a REPRESENTATIVE Democracy... not a "direct Democracy" we don't operate through (very small minority) 'mob rule'.

But that seems to be what they want... they saw what happened in a whack-a-doodle mid-east country like Egypt (Tharir Square) and think that if they just sit somewhere long enough, they will get what they want... that's not how it works here. At least the Tea Party already nominated and got REPRESENTATIVES elected, WTF are these people doing? They haven't even formulated a cohesive message. Not to mention they're about 2 years late to he party.

 

[GVC]

...

****ing disciples of Taleb...