Why Occupy Wall Street is Now More Popular Than the Tea Party
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-10-26/why-occupy-wall-street-now-more-popular-tea-party
A new Washington Post-Pew Research Center poll has revealed that more people support the Occupy Wall Street movement than the Tea Party. The spark for the movement came from “Adbusters” – an anti-consumerism magazine based in Vancouver. It proposed an "occupation" of Wall Street on September 17, 2011. The idea caught fire. Since the first protest, “occupy” movements have sprung up in across the country from Seattle to El Paso,Texas. The movement has been accused of being a “mob” and a front for special interests. But progressive politicians are increasingly trying to harness the movement’s support. Join us to discuss the appeal of the movement and its impact on American politics.
Guests
Jim Tankersley
reporter, National Journal
Ken Vogel
chief investigative reporter, POLITICO
Jonathan Smucker
volunteer, Occupy Wall Street
Michele Pendergast
volunteer, Occupy San Francisco
Joshua
volunteer, Occupy Chicago
Corryn Freeman
volunteer, Occupy DC/K Street
Comments
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RT;
I get a traffic ticket and then subsequently bribe the policeman to get the ticket thrown out of court. Later I am charged with committing a crime because I bribed the policeman. I am not the fall guy. I am a criminal. I committed a crime. The fact that the policeman is not punished or is punished lightly does not make me the "fall guy". It just makes me a criminal. The banks represent a criminal class and aren't just the "fall guys".
Capitalize-: to take advantage of. Little Jeff's parents and most US Citizens bought into capitalism and got really taken advantage of in the past 50 years. Capitalism is a structure of haves and have-nots, inequality is an inescapable attribute of the capitalist structure.
I am ashamed to say I did vote in the 2010 Congressional midterm elections and for local offices on the same ballot.
"Now you Tahir Square Egyptians, did you vote in the last election before you came out here to protest? How about that Syrian guy who just got shot through the head? Was he a voter? Palestinians better register and vote! (outcomes subject to CIA review) Imagine if 700 million adult Chinese got up a big head of steam to campaign and voted. What a bonanza for sky channel owners like Murdoch." (Pseudo-democracy is another engine of crony capitalism.)
As Jesse Jackson used to say, "The question is moot!"
(The very fact that we are in a frenzy about evil-doer government in service to Oligarchy negates the inquiry. Nobody is down there under the murky water to put the lost fish back on your hook. (Unless you rich)")
I have a suggestion, stop voting for liars, pop culture icons and opportunists. Vote for Ron Paul or just about any other Libertarian candidate.
Public labor unions came up again as something simpatico to Occupy, good grief nothing ever changes. Occupy is clearly pro big government and I expect nothing but the same from the movement.
I ran across an old book, I believe it was titled "To Mother", written by Barrie about his mother. I gave it to MY mother, and I believe she gave it back, but I'd have to look for it. My mother told me that he tried all his life to try to be the child that died and was never successful.
First, it is so interesting that the day after Pat Buchanan predicts Suicide (the title of his newest fear-based rant) for America, DR highlights the Occupy movement that manifestly defies and contradicts the divisive, exclusionary opinions that Pat cloaks in ever-more-numerous layers of code words. I dearly hope his views are self-fulfilling and are committing suicide.
Second, in contrast, look at the hope and challenge that Occupy presents! Despite midnight riot police, acting on the fears of entrenched power-wielders, they ARE showing unity through diversity and creating a new dialogue. Contrary to what the political commentators on DRShow closed with (probably because they are mouthpieces of politics!), Occupy does not need to organize better or get better funded to survive and change the conversation and begin to achieve political and economic change.
I would argue that Occupy itself need not even survive. We're talking about waves of movements, and the Tea Party represents one wave, and Occupy another. More like the Sorcerer's Apprentice than Peter Pan, the dialogue is ABOUT connecting people OUTSIDE of polls, the media and specific philosophical boxes from which they can be labeled, contained and attacked through ad hominem arguments.
I just sent a portion of this article to my 12 circle of friends in the same boat as me:
Will I Ever Work Again? by Faye Fiore, AARP Bulletin, October 1, 2011
“When the rumored pink slips finally landed at a midsize bank in Dallas, half the staff was wiped out. Alejandra Mendoza, one of the supervisors they let go, figured she'd find something soon enough.
How hard could it be to get back to work, she thought. She had 36 years of banking operations experience. Her professional reputation was unblemished.
Yet a year later, Mendoza, 57, is still jobless. Nearly 250 applications have yielded two interviews and no offers. She finds herself a statistic in a dispiriting trend: The unemployment crisis gripping the nation has fallen particularly hard on older workers….
‘It's always been harder for older workers to find jobs, but it's much more difficult now,’ says Sara Rix, senior strategic policy adviser at AARP.….”
____________________________
My friends and I are a group of fifty-somethings who were laid off and cannot get work and we too have excellent experience and skills. Until now, I NEVER had difficulty finding work (moved for my husband's career) and I have an excellent work ethic. I am in excellent physical condition and have volunteered for good causes all my life. But let me tell those of you out there who have a successful career or job: Don't you DARE assume that because we are still unemployed, it's because we have a blemish on our record, that we're too old, or that we lack intelligence, creativity or discipline. The big companies are not hiring and there is no support for small business start-up.
Continuing from my previous post:
The Charlotte Business Journal reported January 27, 2011 that:
"Pay for the top 10 executives at Carolinas HealthCare System climbed to more than $15.3 million in 2010, up 9 percent from almost $14 million in 2009. But total compensation at Novant Health Inc., parent of Charlotte-based Presbyterian Healthcare, fell slightly. The top 10 executives there earned $10.4 million in 2010, down from $11 million in 2009....
Carolinas HealthCare paid Chief Executive Michael Tarwater $3.7 million in 2010, up from $3.4 million a year earlier. His 2010 compensation includes a base salary of $986,172 and a bonus and incentives of nearly $2.1 million...."
Local non-profit leaders are earning salaries near or at a half-million dollars a year (Jim.Bradley@wsoc-tv).
The folks at the top are protecting their and their friends’ salaries and status, but they think nothing of forcing employees to risk their licenses (and the lives of those for whom they care) and do the jobs of 3 professionals. The enormous hospital corporations are running many ads for positions, but then NOT hiring.
In the few interviews to which I've been invited (after turning in hundreds of applications); the twenty-something interviewers talk to me as though I have Alzheimer's. I want to reach across the desk and knock them out of their chair (but instead smile and grit my teeth). As the man said in the Monty Python sketch, "I'm not dead yet!" In a phone interview, it was clear from the get-go that the interviewer wanted to know my age. I didn't give it to her on a silver platter. She kept coming at it from different angles not hiding at all what she was trying to do. Once she figured it out, the interview ended.
3rd and final part of my comment:
I was excited about the Tea Party when it first organized, but when it was hijacked by Far Right agendas, I walked away. I vote mostly Republican, but have voted Democrat and Independent. I was born and raised in the rural Midwest and would call myself fiscally conservative and more socially liberal. I am supporting this effort by showing up, participating and bringing food. Something must change and the greedy corporate participators have made it clear they aren't interested in doing anything other than protecting themselves and their pals. The politicians in place now are only pawns. We the people, as is the history of this once-great country -- must rise again and take our country back. We need to be courageous. Re-read/listen to the unabridged edition of Johnny Tremain!
Michael in Wichita, KS
I think that many Americans are missing the fact that this movement did not start in the USA, but in Spain as a protest against world financial systems. It then spread to the rest of Europe and the USA. Der Spiegal has been running an excellent series about this world-wide movement. I would to know if your commentators would address why they think it is such a world-wide movement against financial excess and disparity.
It's time for the Twain party. I have been reading his biography and this passage really hit home:
MUGWUMP
I was a mugwump. We, the mugwumps, a little company made up of the unenslaved of both parties, the very best men to be found in the two great parties--that was our idea of it--voted sixty thousand strong for Mr. Cleveland in New York and elected him. Our principles were high, and very definite. We were not a party; we had no candidates; we had no axes to grind. Our vote laid upon the man we cast it for no obligation of any kind. By our rule we could not ask for office; we could not accept office. When voting, it was our duty to vote for the best man, regardless of his party name. We had no other creed. Vote for the best man--that was creed enough.
- Mark Twain's Autobiography (North American Review, Dec. 21, 1906)
listen up people, and listen good.
there has been an uprising of people, from every major city in these United States, for no reason at all, but to express their frustration with the way their government has performed its obligation to its citizens.
this awakening of civil duties, to express concern, and make the government aware of a problem is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
we all saw the people of Libya stand up against the government that was ignoring them. we documented every single minute. we saw the people take to arms, when they came under fire in order to silence them. we were asked by NATO to help, and strike military targets as the people started to be killed off one by one, by their government. NATO aided these people in stopping the genocide. NATO aided these people by killing the leader.
and we all watched. happy to see such a wonderful thing happening in such a country.
NOW, it is happening here. YOU are watching, your fellow citizens, stand up and say:
WE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THEY WAY OUR GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING OUR TAX MONEY,
WE ARE NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH CORPORATIONS HAVING 1st AMENDMENT RIGHTS,
WE ARE NOT TOLERANT OF CORPORATION HAVING THE ABILITY TO "DONATE" UNLIMITED AMOUNTS OF MONEY, DIRECTLY TO CANDIDATES, AND PUBLICLY ELECTED OFFICIALS.
and now these people are under fire. literally. flash-bangs, toxic gas, and rubber bullets have been fired against your fellow citizens to silence them. and all YOU do is watch.
but it is ok. you can watch. not everyone was a part of the first American revolution. but when The Document was drafted, EVERYONE was happy to be rid of the "tax whatsoever" from England.
you will thank us later, when the people in the streets, not stuck behind their computers, change the way our government is run.
you will be happy, when your tax money, finally pays for things it was intended to pay for, and not to bailout a casino named Wall Street for gambling it all away.
(cont.)
(cont)
...you will agree with this movement, when a corporation with an agenda, cannot speak for its employees and makes claims against our government using 1st amendment liberties.
you will tolerate this movement, when its is known that candidates cannot be funded by corporations with ulterior motives for donating their money, and publicly elected officials, cannot be coerced to make decisions based on how much money they receive from corporations.
the most recent Internal Revenue Service report states that the top 1% of citizens in the United States make 960,000 dollars a year. If you do not make this much money, then you are the other 99%. if you are not happy with that, I'm sorry for you, but you are the 99% and you should be in the streets with us.
Instead of trolling around, and trying to destroy a movement that is our duty as a citizen to perform when government fails, try and open your eyes a bit, and realize that everyone does not lead the same life as you. there are people that are not as smart as you. there are people that have not been as fortunate as you. there are people that have been dealt a bad hand. there are people that have been duped, and fooled into putting their hard earned money into a system that promised a return. those people are still needed in this great society, they still have much to offer. we still need people who will work for minimum wage and perform the jobs that you will not do. these people are not going to just go away. we are surrounded by water on all sides, where are they going to go?
TO THE STREETS! to ensure that there is a job to be had at minimum wage. not outsourced to China or to a machine.
TO THE STREETS I SAY! Now is the time.
THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM DOES NOT LIE WITHIN THE MOVEMENT!
IT LIES WITHIN THE PUBLICLY ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT YOU VOTE FOR TO FIGURE IT OUT!
(cont)
(cont)
...
I stand as a witness to the people who are part of the Occupy Norfolk movement. they are local small business owners. they are active duty military members. they are full time college students. they are full time mothers and/or fathers. they are home owners. they are freezing cold right now because its 3:45 in the morning, and its 50 degrees out. and finally they are the ones that are going to change this nation.
Now either let us do what we need to do, or come out and join us. either way, this is happening whether you like it or not.
Felipe Andres Gallego Harder of Long Island, New York
@Grady Lee Howard
I used to think that having had to work my way through college as a commuter student was a bad deal. The business which you refer to as making me the entitled one was started with $300 of Father's money, $300 of my savings and $300 of my brother's. That's all there was.
Although we never starved, I remember not being fully satisfied at dinner either. Not having 7 cents for the ice cream truck when its bell went off in summer afternoons. Yeah, we were entitled.
This is what it takes to get a business started. Of course, you would probably prefer a $539 million loan from the Energy Department with all the upside in your pockets and all the downside on someone else.
Thanks a million. Thanks 539 million. A perfect example of today's fleabaggers.
" SajeelaRamseyPhD wrote:
I am an Applied Behavioral Scientist who has specialized in complex self-organizing social systems with an emphasis on orality and literacy across cultures. I am also one of many, many individuals who have been marching and protesting and occupying as often as I am able to. I can not begin to tell you how culturally important this movement is, in particular because of its' use of oral communication reinforcement and flat (and therefore truly democratic) organizing structures."
Well. Doctor Ramsey, I'm not an Applied Behavioral Scientist, but we may be seeing two different views of the same idea.
There is a very simple solution to our problems that involves breaking the hold the Media have on "orality and literacy across cultures".
Ted Kennedy was a Liberal keenly perceptive of the injustices and insanities of the Republican Party and, like both Roosevelts, able to thunder our shared outrage down from the Mountain. Yet, in spite of being an honest man, a Friend of the ordinary people and a splendid orator, he was consistently denied a platform in the Media.
Likewise, President Obama. When he did go to a Social Media outlet not controlled by the Kabal, just a few gentle rejoinders against the "Malefactors of Great Wealth", had the Rats running for their ratholes, squealing, "Class Warfare, Class Warfare"!!!
For all their bluster and threats and guns, they are running scared and if the American People will demand Media Parity we will win because we are the Many and they are the few and this is still a Democracy.
Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com
1) In a recession, it is wrong to stop spending. That just continues to contract the economy. The idea is to expand the enonomy. Anyone who has a job/financial stability and income, is not automatically an expert on government spending and economics. Home budgets and government spending are not related in any way.
2) Protesters don't want to take prescious money away from the haves.
3) They are, however, angry at the results of the mortgage/Wall St debacle; it erased jobs, retirement savings, and homes; read a few books about it and see where the corruption lay
4) The end result isn't unfortunate statistics; the result is more human, more personal: people who worked and saved their whole lives only to find it all gone and in need of silly thing things like food and a roof over their head.
5) There are two sides to all this; each is critical of the other. But I suggest that both sides are right about some things and wrong about others.
6) This is how wars are fought! And wars eventually end, but we need to bring both sides to the table NOW to start the end-of-war discussions. Stubbornness is not allowed, just an open mind and some love in your heart.
Some protesters are angry about their student loans. They're right- they're being gauged! And Guess who has a hand in the cost of today's education? If you guessed Golman Sachs you would be correct.
http://www.educationnews.org/higher-education/the-predatory-culture-behi...
It's all very simple:
1) Wealthy people are not evil; but they are sensitive and defensive, and think that protesters are angry at all of them
2) Protesters are only angry at those wealthy individuals who are preying on the average person trying, struggling to stay afloat or even get ahead
3) There are some rich and powerful who are totally taking advantage of us all; they are helped by K street and our wonderful bought-and-paid-for reps in Dc
4) Unfortunately, the many wealthy but good-intentioned people think they too are being attacked, but they are not.
5) Wake up, start trying to hear what the problems are before you react.
So many can't find work and find their lives are unravelling quickly- What did Perry said most recently when asked about the growing disparity? He said " I just don't care". At least he's honest. Stupid but honest
For the fake Monte and his Associates-
A Re-rerun of a recent comment-
mchaun wrote:
A rerun of a recent Comment-
"255.HIGHLIGHT (what's this?)
Forrest
Winston-Salem, NC
March 4th, 2011
12:39 pm
Bring on the cuts! Britain was not prepared for their public sector cuts because they've been dependent on their governments for so long. It will take some time, but I have a firm belief their economy will be benefited in the long term due to the necessary cuts made.
Here, we haven't been quite so dependent on government. Now is the time to make those cuts before we get to the point where all of our needs are met by government. Some people in this country do not understand that government was not created to see to your every need. Individual responsibility is still required...
Recommend Recommended by 34 Readers"
F__k you Schadenfreude scum bags. 30 Years of Reagan / Bush Government may have seen to your every need, but me and mine have seen nothing but hard work and mountains of debt at the Company Store.
30 or more Years for a TWO INCOME FAMILY to buy a lousy ticky tacky house 50 miles from our jobs. 5 Years to buy a car. 10 or more years to pay off college costs preparing for a job that will be taken by an H-1B Immigrant whose education was paid for by his Father gouging another $0.10 per Kilo of Rice from his starving Peasants. Then S/He will remit his/her wages to prepare a nice berth for when S/He goes back home to retire and live like a Rajah on Social Security.
A Reagan-Gingrich CPI-COLA that has been screwing Workers and Social Security Annuitants from 2 to 4 % per Year compounding since 1980.
Then the final indignity of being told we should have prepared better for our Retirement.
Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com
March 31, 2011 - 3:42 pm
@ grady lee,
Have figured it out. Having grown up in household with no father, you are angry.
Had society not financially encouraged women to have chidren out of wedlock, you would have had one.
So your background got you job as legislative aide but you couldn't make anything of it?
Sorry. Life is hard. I would have preferred entre to a DC job too. But still...
"haveaheart wrote:
While I support the beliefs, policies, and actions of the Occupy activists, I would like to put a question to them as a group:
How many of you voted in the mid-term elections?
There is no question that the enthusiastic and widespread participation of young voters was a significant factor in the election of Barack Obama. However, hundreds of thousands of these same voters neglected to participate in the 2010 congressional and state-office elections...
I'm glad that these people are finally standing up for something. But the constant refrain of "making our voices heard" is a bit disingenuous. Those voices could have been put to better -- and earlier -- use getting out the vote in 2010.
October 26, 2011 - 10:44 am"
Yeah, all this energy and outrage that is motivating these people and a large part of the Body Politik is inspiring. But I wait with bated breath for these people to start a Third Party or to boycott 2012. The Fascists have already trotted out Nader who is delighted to continue his revenge on the American People.
To those, like Grady, who constantly equate the two Parties- there will be a clear choice in 2012 and if it is ignored, the Republicans will finish the destruction they have been working on since before WWII was even ended.
Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com
The Tea Party Movement and the Occupy All Movement are similar only in that they're dissatisfied. The aims and solutions they believe in are the philosophical opposite on every issue. The roots; a) xenophobia vs inclusion, and b) the removal of all government--rooted in distrust of power vs increased government regulation--so as to prevent unrestrained corporate greed from killing the common man.
Xenophobia vs inclusion extends to foreign policy as well; tendencies; pro-war vs pro-diplomatic solutions; pro-torture to protect US interests, with no regard for humanity vs recognition of shared humanity, thus a regard for human rights.
A clue to the Tea Party's xenophobia was the constant murmur about Obama not being American.
So, aside from public assembly, there's nothing in common between the FOX News, Dick Armey, Koch-brothers-sponsored Tea Party Movement, and the genuine grass-roots movement happening around the whole world today.
Got a big kick out of that pathetic piece of Politico trash!!
He is practicing the Larry Sabado, University of Virginia School of Politics that when the Republicans have finally gained the power they feel they deserve, then make such a mess that even they can't realistically defend it anymore, they start with the "Both Parties are at fault", BS.
When the Media Polls for public support for Congress, they never ask for attitudes toward the Parties in Congress, but for the Congress at Large. And of course, who could approve of the Congress after seeing the dirty tricks, the obfuscation and stonewalling, the looney suggestions of the Republicans that have mired the Nation in a morass which will take years to fix.
There are real choices in 2012 and if we make the wrong one, the regret for most of us will last a long, long time.
Monte Haun mchaun@hotmail.com
Isn't it amazing how some people are able to post an informed, intelligent, Comment about a show before it even airs!
Oh, wait, they can't?
Never mind.
It is remarkable a discussion of student debt went forward without the inclusion of Tamara Draut, author of "Strapped: Why America's 20- and 30-Somethings Can't Get Ahead" published by Doubleday in 2006.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsR_IvN4yxQ
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=2519248n
Wolfburg wrote:
"We want jobs. We want the war to end. We want the big corrupt banks broken up or at least allowed to fail. We want limits on corporate power or at least the withdrawal of their excessive privilege."
Well Woffburg: Go out and get a job instead of complaining and wasting time.
Response to mburrier;
"They were not elected by the people. The people have no voice. They were elected by the corporations and elites who own the country. They elect with their money and influence in the media. The vast majority don't have a chance."
Yea Wolfburg:
Like the popular saying in the 60's, "The Devil made Me do it".
"kathleen wrote:
FOLKS SHOULD GO TO THE WEBSITE
GET MONEY OUT...SIGN AND SPREAD FAR AND WIDE"
Kathleen: The biggest problem that you have is that you have to much time on your hands. Why don't you get a paying job?
Monte, if that's what you really think this is about, I feel a little sorry for you. Why don't you try telling that to the Marines and Iraq vets that are showing up in numbers at OWS?
Doesn't matter if you like it or not. Doesn't matter if you think it's just "infantile" or not. This is going on with or without you, and it's not going away. You just watch.