Occupy Wall Street!

[johnfoss]

Originally Posted by MrBoogiejuice

This often repeated criticism of the current occupy movement is really beginning to wear thin.

Often repeated because it's true. And since the movement doesn't have much in the way of a central message, it leads to people criticizing other things. How can you have a discussion about what the Occupiers want, when it's a sprinkling of various demands but doesn't seem to show solid requests for things that can be done to meet those demands? So critics disparage them for what they can latch onto.

Of course that just makes the critics look bad. If you disagree with someone, saying you don't like the way they smell is a weak argument.

My first comment was in response to why occupy the Brooklyn Bridge or block intersections? If "Occupy Wall Street" is the movement, I was offering an honest response of what I think is the reason why. If they aren't being allowed to "camp out" in certain areas, it's necessary to move. Or give up, which I hope they don't do until they manage to accomplish something. But currently the main message I get from the groups is that "We're the 99% and we're pissed off!"

Being pissed off is good. It's a start, but it doesn't do much by itself. The 99% is tired of being pooped on and ignored, so we're going to annoy you for a while. Got to see it from the financial industry's point of view. So far, nothing going on for them to even make a comment about. More is needed, though I also am not sure what.

I hope that a message will come out in terms of "the people" being listened to more, rather than whoever's got the biggest campaign contribution.

...austerity can only be pushed on people when there is a militarised police force and other forms of repression to silence opposition.

In the USA, I haven't heard of any budget measures that come anywhere near austerity. Not to say that what you speak of might still happen, but at the moment, our leaders can't even seem to balance budgets without financial razz-ma-tazz and lots of wishful thinking. At least that's what we currently have in CA.

Now you don't have to go so far to see the end-game of neo-liberal policies, you could just go to UC Davis and ask one of the kids there.

I just saw a great picture of that in the paper today. Was that an "occupy" group? In any case, I know it's not being looked upon favorably. They definitely messed up there. While playing into the hands of the protesters.

To ask for concrete demands from a movement that is so plural is to wilfully ignore the sheer breadth of discontent a body politic made up of lobbyists and corporate shills is bound to sow.

Any group of large size is going to have lobbyists and shills (and krazies) attached. Look at the Tea Party. That doesn't mean they can't develop clear messages. It doesn't' have to be just one.

When so many are screwed over by the current system it's going to take time for them to come together and hammer out what unites them and where their strengths lie, but to have a concrete set of demands is just a step away from being a mainstream political party or lobbying group. If the movement goes this way I feel it will lose its power.

Wait a minute. I was agreeing with you until you said that having a concrete set of demands makes them mainstream. Like mainstream is a bad thing. If they're the 99%, they should OWN mainstream. Their purpose should, perhaps, be to remind us of this very fact.

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by johnfoss

Wait a minute. I was agreeing with you until you said that having a concrete set of demands makes them mainstream. Like mainstream is a bad thing. If they're the 99%, they should OWN mainstream. Their purpose should, perhaps, be to remind us of this very fact.

What you are saying is so important: the 99% are marginalized!!

[BillyTheMountain]

Instead Of Extending Tax Cut For 160 Million Americans, House Commissioned Bust Of Winston Churchill
By Alex Seitz-Wald on Dec 20, 2011 at 10:20 am
While House Republicans couldn’t get their act together to approve an extension of the payroll tax holiday and unemployment benefits last night, they were able to do something far more frivolousness — commission a bust of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to be placed in the Capitol. The House “adjourned moments after” passing the bill, which directs:
That the Architect of the Capitol place an appropriate statue or bust of Sir Winston Churchill in the United States Capitol at a location directed by the House Fine Arts Board in consultation with the Speaker.
The resolution was seen as a rebuke to the White House, which returned a bust of Churchill to the British Embassy in 2009.
House Speaker John Bohener (R-OH) shocked Washington Sunday when he said his caucus would reject the Senate’s compromise on the payroll tax package, even though it passed with an overwhelming bipartisan majority of 89-10. The House planned to reject the Senate bill last night, but postponed the vote after it became clear that some Republicans were going to agree with the Senate. Now, a $1,000 tax break for 160 million Americans hangs in the balance.
The Churchill bill was approved via unanimous consent, meaning the House didn’t have to waste much time considering it, but it underscores the absurdity of Boehner’s gaming of the payroll tax holiday vote.

[BillyTheMountain]

Lots of action at OWS on New Years Eve. They took advantage of the fact that the entire police force was protecting the mobs at Times Square. There was action all night, but those who didn't get tired by 3 am got arrested.

[deadbeatpope]

I have a better idea - Abandon Wall Street!
They will lose their teeth when you stop feeding them.
Can't blame predators for being predators.

[BillyTheMountain]

i just saw the movie Margin Call, with Kevin Spacey.

Amazing! We know the story of events preceding the bank bail outs, but to see it portrayed is too much!

[harper]

Originally Posted by BillyTheMountain

i just saw the movie Margin Call, with Kevin Spacey.

I just saw the movie The Jacket with Adrien Brody and Keira Knightley. Have Kevin Spacey and Kevin Bacon ever been in the same movie?

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by harper

I just saw the movie The Jacket with Adrien Brody and Keira Knightley. Have Kevin Spacey and Kevin Bacon ever been in the same movie?

In The Jacket, a Gulf war veteran is wrongly sent to a mental institution for insane criminals, where he becomes the object of a Doctor's experiments, and his life is completely affected by them.

The reference is not only to the many veterans who were/are against these US invasions/occupations and joined OWS, but to wrongful control of the 99% at the hands of those pushing the agenda of the 1%.

Or it could just be another of Harper's many off-topic responses, which we tolerated better when he had a George Carlin pony tail.

[harper]

Originally Posted by BillyTheMountain

<<<<<<<<<<<some stuff Billy wrote>>>>>>>>>>

Or it could just be another of Harper's many off-topic responses, which we tolerated better when he had a George Carlin pony tail.

I had it made in the shade with my braid.

[BillyTheMountain]

Originally Posted by harper

I had it made in the shade with my braid.

Harper was talking about how it was private corporations who took jobs from the millions of people who became unemployed since Bush wrecked the economy, and how all the people lost their homes to private banks in the mortgage scandal.

Consequently, he said it makes lots more sense to go to Wall Street to complain about being unemployed and homeless, because that's where the private corporation and banks who created the problem live, rather than to the nation's capital.

[maestro8]

Originally Posted by BillyTheMountain

Bush wrecked the economy

Pray tell, where is this great big dial a president can turn to control the economy? Or is it a lever? I might be entirely wrong... it could be a stove into which Bush forgot to shovel some coal.

Since Bush wrecked the economy, how come Obama can't simply turn the dial the other way and fix things? Could it be...

...the economy's too complicated for one person to control?

Naah, that would wreck so many of your arguments.