"Occupy "insert city name here" Protestors

[RMHoward]

I think its pretty clear that the majority of these protestors don't have a clue what they are protesting.  But by God, they are gonna protest something.  They seem to exemplify the exact sort of folks you would expect at one of these mindless, anti-gov, anti-capitalist, anti-wealth get togethers.  Perhaps many of them are disgruntled for one of the possible reasons:

1.  Perhaps an evil bank actually expected them to make mortgage payments for the house they are living in.  The nerve of them.
2.  Perhaps they are angry because unemployment benefits actually did run out finally.  Not fair.
3.  Perhaps the bill has come due for their student loans to cover the 10 years of college they just completed.  Evil Govt wanting to be repaid.
4.  Perhaps some rich looking person driving an expensive European sports car just passed them on the freeway.  This hurt their feelings.
5.  Perhaps their parents suggested they deserve to have so much in life given to them.  Or was that a reality tv show?  Anyway, it just hasnt worked out that way for them.  Someone is gonna hear from them, dammit!

Some of these ideas are pretty close.  Some of us have to speculate because if you ask them what they want........um, well, oh you know......them evil banks and rich people arent fair.

Counting down to Steph appearing with a copy n paste of how stupid this post is.  Dont let me down, Steph.

[hillary supporter]

Banks Brace for Fallout on Earnings
"The protesters who have gathered for weeks near Wall Street and the highly paid investors and analysts in the buildings that surround them don't agree on much.
But when it comes to the nation's biggest banks, they have a lot more in common than you would think. Both are deeply frustrated with financial institutions in general and have little faith in the message coming from bank executives."
...Besides leaving consumers infuriated, the debit card fees have also drawn the wrath of the White House, with President Obama warning last week that customers should not be “mistreated” in pursuit of profit, while Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. characterized moves to hit consumers with new charges “incredibly tone deaf.” Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, took the unusual step of denouncing Bank of America on the Senate floor, urging customers to “vote with your feet, get the heck out of that bank.”
...And in a kind of unusual convergence, protesters and bank analysts alike have had it with bank management.

For the protesters, financial institutions, among other things, symbolize growing economic inequality in the United States, with bank executives enjoying huge pay packages even as their companies benefit from government support. Investors distrust them because they have disappointed the Street in quarter after quarter, and seem unable to grow.
Heres the link to the article,
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/10/business/banks-brace-for-bad-news-as-earnings-season-arrives.html?_r=1&ref=economy
Looks like they know exactly what they are protesting.
Why dont you protest the protesters?  Go to Bank of America, Wells Fargo and proclaim your gratefulness for them providing you with the American Dream.

[RiversideLoki]

I don't even know where to begin with this drivel. But I'm going to give it a shot.

1.  Perhaps an evil bank actually expected them to make mortgage payments for the house they are living in.  The nerve of them.

Perhaps they're protesting the fact that 1 in every 570 households is in foreclosure (1 in 376 in Florida). And the fact that most of the foreclosures are being fast-tracked with no recourse for the home owner. Nearly 28% of homeowners are underwater due to junk mortgages due to predatory lending by the banking institutions.

2.  Perhaps they are angry because unemployment benefits actually did run out finally.  Not fair.

Perhaps they're angry because congress will not pass meaningful jobs legislation to create jobs. Perhaps they're angry because most companies hiring require you to have a job to gain employment. Perhaps they're angry that there are no jobs at all and the Republican lead house says "NO" to any legislation that may assist companies in hiring.

3.  Perhaps the bill has come due for their student loans to cover the 10 years of college they just completed.  Evil Govt wanting to be repaid.

See my response to point number 2. If our college graduates could find employment to pay off their loans, they may not be in hot water. Perhaps they are angry because they're faced with rising tuition costs in the face of a jobs market that will never pay them enough to pay off their loans.

4.  Perhaps some rich looking person driving an expensive European sports car just passed them on the freeway.  This hurt their feelings.

Perhaps their angry that the top 1% of the country control most of the wealth in the nation and refuse to pay their fair share of taxes.

5.  Perhaps their parents suggested they deserve to have so much in life given to them.  Or was that a reality tv show?  Anyway, it just hasnt worked out that way for them.  Someone is gonna hear from them, dammit!

Perhaps they haven't bought into the false logic that is "the American Dream" which says "if you work hard, you'll be rich some day, just like me!" because all it's getting them is deeper in debt with the 1%. Perhaps they have compassion for their fellow man (one of the great Christian ideals, believe it or not.)

I believe that we know exactly what they're protesting for. But the right wing's efforts to try and delegitimize and marginalize us will only embolden us to act.

Sorry we don't have teabags hanging from our hats or anything, bro.

[riverside planner]

+1 RiversideLoki.  My sentiments exactly.

[Doctor_K]

Me next!

I don't even know where to begin with this drivel. But I'm going to give it a shot.

1.  Perhaps an evil bank actually expected them to make mortgage payments for the house they are living in.  The nerve of them.

Perhaps they're protesting the fact that 1 in every 570 households is in foreclosure (1 in 376 in Florida). And the fact that most of the foreclosures are being fast-tracked with no recourse for the home owner. Nearly 28% of homeowners are underwater due to junk mortgages due to predatory lending by the banking institutions.

Predatory lending.  Like the lenders MADE the people sign on the dotted line.  Don't you think it would've behooved people to actually read what they were getting into?  Some common sense?  Like, "I don't make this kind of money in a year in order to make that kind of monthly payment."  I don't see how there were such big surprises.

2.  Perhaps they are angry because unemployment benefits actually did run out finally.  Not fair.

Perhaps they're angry because congress will not pass meaningful jobs legislation to create jobs. Perhaps they're angry because most companies hiring require you to have a job to gain employment. Perhaps they're angry that there are no jobs at all and the Republican lead house says "NO" to any legislation that may assist companies in hiring.

Where was the Democratic-led House before them?  What meaningful jobs bill did THEY pass?  They had the majority in the House AND Senate and still did nothing.

3.  Perhaps the bill has come due for their student loans to cover the 10 years of college they just completed.  Evil Govt wanting to be repaid.

See my response to point number 2. If our college graduates could find employment to pay off their loans, they may not be in hot water. Perhaps they are angry because they're faced with rising tuition costs in the face of a jobs market that will never pay them enough to pay off their loans.

Maybe we should look at WHY tuition costs are rising?  Other than the evil Corporatists, which I'm sure have *something* to do with it.

4.  Perhaps some rich looking person driving an expensive European sports car just passed them on the freeway.  This hurt their feelings.

Perhaps their angry that the top 1% of the country control most of the wealth in the nation and refuse to pay their fair share of taxes.

Perhaps this is one of those statements that has become the new 'bumper sticker' campaign slogan.  If I make $250K I end up in the 35% tax bracket.  If I make $40K I'm in the 28% tax bracket.  A higher percentage gets taxed the higher your income goes.  I fail to see the "fair share" aspect.  What's fair?  40%? 50%? 80%?

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/05/top-1-what-they-make-and-pay/

http://www.american.com/archive/2007/november-december-magazine-contents/guess-who-really-pays-the-taxes

5.  Perhaps their parents suggested they deserve to have so much in life given to them.  Or was that a reality tv show?  Anyway, it just hasnt worked out that way for them.  Someone is gonna hear from them, dammit!

Perhaps they haven't bought into the false logic that is "the American Dream" which says "if you work hard, you'll be rich some day, just like me!" because all it's getting them is deeper in debt with the 1%. Perhaps they have compassion for their fellow man (one of the great Christian ideals, believe it or not.)

Define rich.  I'm working my ass of at two jobs (I'm sure someone's going to call me selfish at some point because I have two), able to make my mortgage payment, car payment, CC payment.  I'm solidly in the 25% tax bracket.  I don't have a lot of money, but I have a rich life.  Get off the intangible "rich" and give me a number that you think is "rich". 

And then defend why you think it's wrong, evil or greedy.

I believe that we know exactly what they're protesting for. But the right wing's efforts to try and delegitimize and marginalize us will only embolden us to act.

Who?  Fox News?  They're barely a credible news source anyway.  This argument basically re-legitimizes them as such.  Oops.

[RiversideLoki]

[Doctor_K]

By the way, where is all the vitriol for the movie stars and producers, "other" corporate moguls (you'll notice no one has said a WORD about Oprah - probably the richest woman on the planet), and all the professional athletes and THEIR multi-millions? 

Santonio Holmes? The Manning brothers?  Tom Brady?  A-Rod?  Derek Jeter?  Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson?  Johnny Damon?  LaDanian Tomlinson?  Reggie Bush?  Pau Gasol?  Coach K? 

Hell, our very own MoJo?

How about Bob Costas?  Barbara Walters?  Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Cooper?  Lady Gaga and Britney Spears?  Cher and Celine?  How come we're not demanding that they pay their fair share as well?  They're evil and rich and, by definition, greedy, aren't they?

Why stop at Wall Street or Hemming Plaza?  You should be occupying Hollywood, every single movie theater and every major sports venue in the country as well.

Nope.  Don't see that happening.

Why? 

And while you're at it: boycott Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, McDonald's, Burger King, YUM! Brands, Google, and every other company listed on the Fortune 500.  They're just as guilty and just as corporate.

Where's the outrage there?

[JeffreyS]

Perhaps they see it as unjust that Bank of America was able to buy Countrywide and all of its mortgages in a fire sale.  Why weren't the mortgagees given first option on buying there homes at this discount rate?

Perhaps it is just too obvious that the government of this country has legislated the welfare of corporations over the welfare of it's citizens at large for a few decades now.  So it is just silly to ask why people are upset.

[Doctor_K]

Perhaps they see it as unjust that Bank of America was able to buy Countrywide and all of its mortgages in a fire sale.  Why weren't the mortgagees given first option on buying there homes at this discount rate?

Perhaps it is just too obvious that the government of this country has legislated the welfare of corporations over the welfare of it's citizens at large for a few decades now.  So it is just silly to ask why people are upset.

Jeffrey--

I don't disagree in principle, and that's a very good point.

My point is, I'm not asking why people are upset.  I'm asking why the "outrage" is so limited.  If the outrage is against "corporations," as the protestors ostensibly say it is, then why only a handful?  Why not all?

It's not meant to be a trick question, or a loaded/baited one.  I simply want to know who we're supposed to be mad at, why, and what the solutions are. 

Other than "kill the rich."

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/10/06/2011-10-06_albany_bigs_get_emails_warning_of_violence_if_tax_on_rich_expires.html

[buckethead]

There seems to be much confusion about the mortgage issue and the fallout from it. Yes... people bought houses which in hindsight were more than they could afford. The promise of ever increasing values. (Encouraged by news, mortgage brokers, financial advisers and politicians.)

It is the nature of a bubble: Mass Mania... Then the inevitable.

Mortgagees get foreclosed, home values plummet... people lose homes, investors lose money.... but wait! Some of these investors (and their agents) are "Too big to fail".

Let's bail out the investors with taxpayer money and guarantees in the form of TARP, Stimulus , and QE∞ . Meanwhile people with upside down mortgages languish in their losses, suffer lower earning power and become more enslaved by creditors (Who incidentally, were bailed out by their slaves tax dollars).

It is in fact, privatization of profits and socialization of losses, not to mention against any reasonable definition of equal protection under the law.

[Gators312]

We need to be Occupying the US Capitol Complex and the White House grounds.

Until BOTH parties stop taking the lobbyist funding we can not fix the problems we have with our economy.

Look at the money trail, it is obscene what power these lobbyists hold over our Government. 

The people we have elected continue to facilitate the money grab by Corporations and Unions that is strangling the middle class. 

Read up on the Solyndra issue.  I'm sure many here have.  It is just one example of our Govt wasting money that could have been put to better use.   It was a good company trying to facilitate green jobs, unfortunately after the influx of money from our Govt. they got money drunk, wastefully spending on executive salaries, and a cutting edge factory that was more extravagant than our Courthouse.  They tried to hire a lobbyist full time to get more money from the Govt., rather than use what they were given in a frugal manner, you know like growing a business with a solid business plan that accurately scouted the market and its competition.    The factory was liquidated at pennies on the dollar, some equipment never unwrapped. 

In less than 1 year  1,100 workers put out of work with little or no severance, this is the Federal Govt's idea of $500 million worth of green job creation?

The Republicans and Democrats have too much control over the money and they don't want to give it up.  If they keep everyone polarized and blaming the other side, they can continue to make their own pockets fatter.   

There is no common sense nor ethical mores in Washington.  Just one big money grab.  That is our biggest problem.

I don't see a simple solution to our complex problems.  Unfortunately I think it will take a major catastrophe or attack for the system to change. 

[Ralph W]

Our "government" is just tolerating the Occupier movement at this time, hoping to out wait the masses and then somehow further discourage  whoever steps forward to ringleader status. Gonna be a whole lot of lip service for the near future and a fade out worthy of Cecil B. DeMille.

I think most people know that an attempt to occupy the US Capital Complex or the White House grounds is totally left field. Those who try will simply disappear into a system they cannot hope to control.

[ChriswUfGator]

Our "government" is just tolerating the Occupier movement at this time, hoping to out wait the masses and then somehow further discourage  whoever steps forward to ringleader status. Gonna be a whole lot of lip service for the near future and a fade out worthy of Cecil B. DeMille.

I think most people know that an attempt to occupy the US Capital Complex or the White House grounds is totally left field. Those who try will simply disappear into a system they cannot hope to control.

Actually they've backed themselves into a nice little corner, with their stance on the middle east. We've been directly responsible for overthrowing a half-dozen regimes over there with our spin on how democracy is the it thing, I can't imagine they can turn around and use similar tactics against their own population without fear of international reprisal. The US is so weakened at this point, I wouldn't put China or Russia above levying sanctions against the US. Really, WTF could we possibly do about it? The government has no choice but to tolerate the protesters.

[Ralph W]

The movement is going to go away. As much as the rhetoric inflames I don't see there being a substantive ending. We just don't have the stamina or fervor for the long haul. The defendant will prevail due to attrition in the plaintiff ranks.

[hillary supporter]

Our "government" is just tolerating the Occupier movement at this time, hoping to out wait the masses and then somehow further discourage  whoever steps forward to ringleader status. Gonna be a whole lot of lip service for the near future and a fade out worthy of Cecil B. DeMille.

I think most people know that an attempt to occupy the US Capital Complex or the White House grounds is totally left field. Those who try will simply disappear into a system they cannot hope to control.

Actually they've backed themselves into a nice little corner, with their stance on the middle east. We've been directly responsible for overthrowing a half-dozen regimes over there with our spin on how democracy is the it thing, I can't imagine they can turn around and use similar tactics against their own population without fear of international reprisal. The US is so weakened at this point, I wouldn't put China or Russia above levying sanctions against the US. Really, WTF could we possibly do about it? The government has no choice but to tolerate the protesters.

With the statement of Obama, Veep Biden, and Sen Durban, i think the Democratic reps in Congress are (cautiously) tolerating, supporting the protesters.

Dr. K.  I understand dumb from the usual suspects, but I expect better from you.  Do you really think that these protests are about the actual existence of rich corporations?

Or do you actually get that this is about controlling public policy and fleecing you and your family----not for anything that does the public any good, but just for the thrill of stealing tax money for profit?

Stephen makes a good point with an example being G.E., who made billions in profits and paid a paltry tax bill. As written in todays Wall Street Journal , many republican( tea party) politicans and News Corp have made a regular target of GE chief Jeff Immelt. But only because Immelt heads the Presidents Council on Jobs. A huge majority of corporations pay federal taxes. This is one thing that these protests will accomplish. That its good for their interests to pay federal taxes, instead of seeking to avoid such (through their huge arsenal of tax lawyers.
Of all the above ideas on what the protests are to accomplish, I'm surprised no one has suggested a democratic landslide in next years election. With all the diversity ( my own term) it seems obvious that the one strong theme is democratic party philosophy.