Protests around the country?
 

They don't seem to be to organized, other than being pissed off what are they after?

I can understand a lot of the anger at wall street and the banks. What pisses me off about the banks is we bailed them out, they are sitting on piles of cash, and instead of lending it to get the economy going they rather sit on it and rack us their customers over the coals for BS fee's instead.

Should have let the SOB's go bankrupt.

I get a kick out of the Occupy Hartford group. As if there were anything in Hartford worth occupying. :o

Too many unemployed with nothing better to do !!!

Hear Mr. genius speaking :eek: It's my hope that it's a rebellion against the baby boomers: the most entitled generation we have ever seen.

They can have Hartford.:D

They are having one in New Haven this weekend, might have to go check it out with my buddy. Should I roll in the S600 or G500?:D

It is rebellion against people stupid enough to fall for the divide and conquer propaganda.

I sympathize with the protestors' right not to get pushed around by cops, and even agree with them on some points (student loans/cost of education/higher ed funding). The 1st Amendment is not to be trampled on!

But meanwhile I'm in CA and AZ this week looking at foreclosed properties to invest in. Glad they're out there demonstrating, not investing and being my competition :)

This is a rebellion against the corporate takeover of this country. The dollar has replaced the vote as the unit of political power. Corporations have rights of personhood but non of the responsibilities. The government no longer represents the interests of the voters - only the interests of big money. No, you don't have big money even if you think you do.

I thought that some of the banks were FORCED to take the money under govt laws? IIRC, that was why Wells Fargo bought over Wachovia. Either way, why do you think they should simply lend you money just for your betterment? You figure they owe you something? If so, you should have specified that in the contract that says "IF YOU TAKE THIS MONEY, YOU MUST.......". Sorry, if you didn't specify, that is your stupidity.

Yes we should have let them all go bankrupt. Let those that are fit to survive go on. Those that are not fit, too bad. Problem is we want it both ways. We don't want the pain of them going under and then rebuilding stronger but we insist on keeping them going at the way they are going. If you cannot survive, close. It is that simple. People didn't gripe when the banks were lending money freely and they were making money. Sorry, for better or for worse. Take both or none.

Please elaborate. Are yo still whining about the change in donation to parties and making wild statements are have they been granted different rights by the SCOTUS.

http://videos.videopress.com/7VhjjY5...d.original.jpg

As Howard Beale would say . . .

Oh that crazy leftist SCOTUS. It really grinds me gears.

They need to raise taxes all around. On high income earners and on the 40 so odd percent that doesn't pay federal taxes.

Those not paying federal taxes generally don't have the money to do so.

Reminder: All workers pay Social Security tax of 4.2% on income up to $106,800 (temporarily reduced from 6.2%) plus Medicare tax of 1.45% of earned income for a total of 5.65%. In addition the employer also pays 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare on the wages paid to employees. Just because you don't pay federal income tax doesn't mean you don't pay any federal taxes on your income.

Why? If they really need more money, show us some proper accounting without shuffling money all around and we can talk

I cannot reason a person out of something they were not reasoned into.

The Internet is not your friend, seek help elsewhere, it is a big world out there and you are a very small person.

Somebody FINALLY gets it. This is what the protests are about in a nutshell.

The country is a plutocracy.

Big money runs everything, the Supreme Copurt has sanctioned it by saying Bif corporate interests are "people" that can bribe congress with "political campaign contributions" to get whatever they want, and however they want it..

I wish somebody would give me money so I could be important, too!

Were really trying hard at Occupy Dallas to come up with some kind of focused message.

Come join us and help.

Were at pioneer park in front of the convention center.

Ask around for Rich, you should be able to find me in the media tent.

Bring a tent of your own and stay for a night, it is a really fun place to be.

I do not see any unity of purpose in the protests. Some are confused at best. I can agree with some of the issues---bailing out the wall street firms and banks was wrong, IMO. But a lot of the protesters seem clueless when asked what they want to see changed--they are angry at having to repay student loans. They are angry that some people earn a lot of money. But as to any real-world - PLAN of how to address their issues, they don't have any idea except "soak the rich".
Some of the protesters are college kids, or unemployed just looking for a good time.
Then throw into that mix the extreme America haters--the ones leading chants with bull horns and you have a great deal of "sound and fury....signifying nothing"
The coming rain and colder weather will show their mettle--whether they stick it out or go away.

Read some history books; it's always been this way. Nothing new here, move along...

I guess you just are whining without a point then. How expected. I did think it was a simple question of why YOU thought they got personhood from the SCOTUS but I guess that was a little much. But I can always google more rhetoric from the past.

Thing is, you bailed out a corporate entity and if you expect it to show gratitude, you are going to be mistaken. If you are going to look for gratitude, go adopt a dog from a shelter.

We bailed them out because we didn't want to go thru the pain of change. As much as I dislike the change, it has to be done. When you try to stop it, you only perpetuate the problem. Let it die. Sure there will be discomfort but that is the way it goes. You took the good years, now there are bad years till the new one comes along that is more resistant and stronger.

Then you expect it to be grateful and do something for you ON IT'S OWN ACCORD. Sorry, you were stupid then. You should have had something in writing.

AGREE. Capitalism is hard. You make bad decisions and your company goes away, and someone else steps up, acquires what had been your assets, and tries to run it better. Competition requires efficiency which leads to lower prices. Take the RISK away from risk/reward and you no longer have capitalism. Crony-capitalism and corporatism are not the same as capitalism. When the government gets involved in picking winners and losers we, the People get stuck with higher prices and the cost of the subsidy.

Maybe we need more bread and circuses? Heaven forbid that these protesters actually try to get a skill and be more competitive in the new world out there. Yes, you HAD a great thing going but the party is over. Sorry but you have to move on to something else. Sure, I thought this business plan was a great idea but over 5 years, it didn't produce like I hoped. Move on to the next business and forget the old.

I wouldnt label people in the crowds as unemployed ,employed but not happy would more correctly fit the bill.You can see alot of students at these rallies ,youthful people are standing up probably because it is their future their fighting for ,one without an endless cycle of debt .Has anyone here recently sent a kid off to College? If a young HS grads parents are struggling then their dreams of getting ahead in life with a degree are dashed soon after with the higher and higher cost of a degree.One face doesnt represent this problem.

We wondered when the public protests seen in Europe earlier were going to show up in the US. While the winter may take it's toll on occupiers, it could be interesting after the thaw.

Other than being pissed off and having time on their hands they really don't have a message.

I'd love to protest but I'm to busy working.:D

Where's a hurricane when you really need one? ;)

Call your history teacher and ask why you don't know what you are talking about. Read some economic history, political history is just cheerleading and chest thumping.

I know you want to make this personal but it is not about you and it is not about me.

Google anything you like, you still lose.

I am not seeking to make this personal, in spite of what you think. Yes, it is NOT about me. It is about your statement that the justification is about. You said it, defend it.

Is your statement posted out there or is it some other person's statement. You made the point that corporations are now people. Fair enough. Justify that opinion and not point it to some vague thing. It IS that simple.

Seriously, if you don't understand what this is about you aren't paying attention. An uninformed population is the death of freedom.

If you don't know the significance of the 14th amendment, you are lost here. Read about the banking wars and Andrew Jackson. Teapot Dome, the Denver newspaper and extorting $100K from the President. Go Away, read some history.

I am not here to spoonfeed the empty minded.

If you have time to post here all day, everyday you have time to do something for yourself. Get off your whoopy cushion and do it.

If you want to make a statement, justify what you are talking about. I am not sure how much simpler to make it. History is not telling about YOUR claims, is it? Nobody is talking about spoonfeeding. Vague statements about what exactly your point is certainly doesn't qualify as anything.

It must be a terrible burden for you to have to enter dialogue with such a collection of stupid, plodding turnip farmers. I know I feel damned lucky to have your witty innuendoes and oblique references to guide me. Unfortunately, I am stupider than you imagine: I need shyte spelled out in plain language before I can understand it.

Muh bad!

My feeling is most of them grew up pampered, and once thrust out into the real world feel they are being screwed over by the system. In reality these are the folks that will be doing the work that the kicked out illegal aliens are doing. Only I wouldn't let any of them anywhere near my lawn.

:D:D:D

I know it is fun to make fun of everything and not take anything seriously but these kids are fighting for their lives and their kids lives.

We run some volunteer programs and most of the volunteers are of this generation. You get all kinds from grad students to 24/7 video game addicts. Sorta like every other generation but with new stuff instead of stuff from the "good old days". You get super competent people who will run the world of the future and slackers who will be the couch potatoes of the future.

Once again, if you want to believe media propaganda about these people and criticize them for trying to fight for what they believe in you are fools.

The same way you pick out some of the protesters and point at them, same in this forum.

I'm sorry I left you out Bot, this is not about you either and I don't think you are stupid.

I have a lot of respect for turnip farmers. Just broke some new ground in the back yard and hauled in a load of "cotton gin compost". Hope it is not full of persistent chemicals and diseases. We are not getting good results from root crops. The tops grow and look healthy, roots don't develop.

Make sure the cotton gin waste is fully composted, it'll suck nitrogen out of the soil while it's finishing if not, and then there are always the residual defoliant chemicals. Have you considered a load of builder's sand to loosen the soil? I get two turnip crops a year. Getting ready to pull my second around the end of the month. Actually turnips and parsnips. Maybe we need a gardening sub forum too.

Actually, a gardening sub-forum is an interesting idea. We have some folks with some real knowledge of the subject here and most of us probably could profit from their advice. I'd like to put in a small garden myself mext season.

In addition to elchivito's advice re: the compost, over-fertilization can cause lush vegetation growth at the expense of the roots. Any run-off sources? Hard soils and overcrowding can impede root development as well. Make sure they have room to grow.

I would like to see a poll on who these protestors voted for in 08. Can't get a job my ass- just can't get a job doing something that apparently no one needs for the amount of money they think they're worth. Welcome to reality ya bunch of spoiled, soft hypocrites.

I have no issue with anyone protesting anything at any given moment. Get the permit, and go forth. My only issues with this specific protest are two matters:

-They have no clear, specific goals prioritized for media to latch on to, which makes them look like a bunch of whining hippies. I ain't calling them that, it's just what has been portrayed.

-The few that make true media headway seem to 'want' a job and gave up looking or couldn't get the job they 'deserve' or benefits they 'need', or tuition paid off because billionaires exploit the system or they gave me a loan knowing I wouldn't make it or whatever reason they may have.

My father came here from Cuba in 1956, right when it was hitting the fan. He came from a very well off family, and came to America with absolutely nothing. He got his education, and made his way through the world having his own business and making a very good living for himself and our family. He never asked for a penny of anyone to pay for anything; personal integrity and responsibility. He didn't take out a loan to pay for an unattractive degree in film critique or art restoration history. He also started out here peeling apples at a restaurant in Miami. No job is beneath you when you don't have experience; a degree doesn't make the man, the man makes the man.

I have very strong convictions due to my father's upbringing, and I blame nothing on Wall Street when they've been given the run around just as badly as our government says they've been getting. They're both at fault, but poor economic policy is killing our country, and spoiled brats who won't work part time or without benefits because they've been to college is ridiculous. See how fast job growth is when we have people willing to pick crops for lower wages. Americans of my generation unfortunately have this need to live beyond their means, and I'm sick of it. Sure, I own a Mercedes, but I do all the work on it myself, and pay for everything, be it the outrageous insurance, the abysmal gas mileage, etc. I pay my own phone bill ($98.94 a month, mind you), I buy my own clothes; the only thing I don't do directly is purchase food, but I contribute to my household every week I'm home. These kids just seem to want the perfect life out of the starting gate, and in today's economy being led around by the DEP and EPA regulations like a fish hooked nostril it just isn't possible.

I'm 20 and haven't even finished college. If I can do it, these people surely can. I say have em canning meat and living in a shanty; money is money and it beats sleeping in Central Park.

It is fun to make fun.

BUT - that's where the but comes in....

Fighting plutocracy / aristocracy is a worthwhile cause, but that requires a great deal of persistence - much more than the few weeks that these demonstrations are going to last. That persistence is better spent on long term personal improvement. Judging from all the China-made cell phones and data plans in use, I would say the protesters are themselves contributing to the very thing they are pushing back against.

Not sure if their actions will get any political momentum either since there is no unified message.

The protesters are not, IMO, a homogeneous group. There are idealists, and there are anarchists, socialists and probably a few other identifiable groups in there. Some know what they are doing; some are what the Soviets called, "useful idiots"--not implying they are stupid, but ignorant of the aims of whoever might be actually pulling the strings.

Is the euro bank debt deal of interest to anyone ?Will the US ever join a united banking system like this one?I believe the Global Bankers want it and this might have been their plan in the beginning.