Occupy Wall Street, what are your thoughts?

[twinimini]

I was just wondering what you folks think about the Occupy Wall Street movement? Good? Bad? Indifferent? Just curious.

[diamondheaded]

a million thoughts about it but most of them revolve around....

why is the media paying so much attention to this and trying to make it news worthy

in dallas they had a handful of these "occupants" (whom i would have presumed to just be homeless people) in a park and local news channels were there - doing what they do

creating news instead of reporting on news

we have gatherings bigger than these in our pool and trust me we talk about a lot more than these guys do

lol

[Jamie]

I know people are upset. I get that… but this just reminds me of the line “Rage at the Machine!”

What is trying to be accomplished?

First they rage at the greed Corporations and yell tear them down!. Then they demand good jobs… where are those to come from except the same Corporations they are yelling to tear down…

Then they want forgiveness of student loans, home mortgages, all debt… who is going to pay for all of that? If you forgive ALL debt, then the debt of the banks to you of your money stored there is gone so suddenly no one has any money to pay for anything. No one can buy things or pay taxes. All commerce comes to a halt.

And now OWS has raised over $300,000. WTF? Use that to pay off some student loans….

It’s a great place to go hang for the day and maybe get on TV. There are a dedicated few that will try and make a job out of this for themselves. In the end, there will be a lot of trash to be picked up.

People are trying to compare it to the Tea Party. I have a hard time with that. The Tea Party raged against the government that set the rules. OWS rages against the companies that work within those rules. The Tea Party asks that they be allowed to keep their money and take care of themselves. OWS says everyone owes them something and needs to pay their debts.

And I don’t understand this new wave of “How could you allow me to screw myself? I’m stupid so you need to conduct business that the most stupid people are protected from themselves!”

If you don’t understand what you are signing.. DON’T SIGN IT!

If you can’t balance a checkbook or make a budget then you should really, really reconsider signing up for a $500,000 mortgage!

Maybe instead of teaching our children basket weaving we should teach them basic math skills like balancing a checkbook, making a budget… Maybe that’s what OWS should spend that $300,000 on…

Just sayin’

Jamie

[twinimini]

The only logic I can see about the media getting all hyped up about the OWS folks is that there really isn't much else to report on right now. Besides this whole movement just goes to show how Obama is right and anyone who disagrees with him is wrong.

I love what one of my clients said about the Occupy Wall Street movement here in Buffalo. He said it just gives a 20 something the bragging rights that he or she once had sex in a tent in front of City Hall. I think that's about the sum of the movement.

[hathondo]

Kinda reminds me of my 2nd wifes company was sued (title Company) by a guy that didnt realize that he was borrowing money, (this was a closing) his arument was that he wasnt savy enough!....wtf

[diamondheaded]

Originally Posted by twinimini

The only logic I can see about the media getting all hyped up about the OWS folks is that there really isn't much else to report on right now. Besides this whole movement just goes to show how Obama is right and anyone who disagrees with him is wrong.

I love what one of my clients said about the Occupy Wall Street movement here in Buffalo. He said it just gives a 20 something the bragging rights that he or she once had sex in a tent in front of City Hall. I think that's about the sum of the movement.

agree as soon as a real news story hits and the cameras disappear for a day or two...........this thing will be forgotten about as quick as the swine flu was a couple of years back

lol

[Brewster]

Originally Posted by Jamie

And I don’t understand this new wave of “How could you allow me to screw myself? I’m stupid so you need to conduct business that the most stupid people are protected from themselves!”

If you don’t understand what you are signing.. DON’T SIGN IT!


Just sayin’

Jamie

And the Liberal jumps in....lol

Jamie! You have to be smart enough and have all the time in the world to read all the crap lawyers put in a 20 page legal document in order to buy a home? You have to say "OK" to that crap just join Facebook...lol. Who really reads it?

You need to have regulations. Drug companies have to give you medicine not poison. You shouldn't have to do your own spectroanalysis do determine the chemical content before you take it. You don't give blind people drivers licenses. There is a regulation regarding that...lol.

Financial institutions need to be held to a standard that doesn't allow them to conduct business in a manner that ultimately brings the country to it's knees. And then they, well the companies that insured them, are the ones that get bailed out at the tax payers expense, knowing that they were "too big to fail".

You have rules on the football field so you have a "fair game". That's the proper role of laws and regulations.

Yes, you have to be an idiot to buy a 500,000 house on a 12,000 income. And you have to be a low life, corrupt thief to give him a mortgage for it.

What should be illegal? Being stupid or being a smart thief?

Someone should put up some big screens at these gatherings and let them watch "Inside Job" over and over again till they know why they are there. If you haven't seen it...check it out.

Ok...gotta go hug a tree.....lol

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by Brewster

And the Liberal jumps in....lol

Jamie! You have to be smart enough and have all the time in the world to read all the crap lawyers put in a 20 page legal document in order to buy a home? You have to say "OK" to that crap just join Facebook...lol. Who really reads it?

You need to have regulations. Drug companies have to give you medicine not poison. You shouldn't have to do your own spectroanalysis do determine the chemical content before you take it. You don't give blind people drivers licenses. There is a regulation regarding that...lol.

Financial institutions need to be held to a standard that doesn't allow them to conduct business in a manner that ultimately brings the country to it's knees. And then they, well the companies that insured them, are the ones that get bailed out at the tax payers expense, knowing that they were "too big to fail".

You have rules on the football field so you have a "fair game". That's the proper role of laws and regulations.

Yes, you have to be an idiot to buy a 500,000 house on a 12,000 income. And you have to be a low life, corrupt thief to give him a mortgage for it.

What should be illegal? Being stupid or being a smart thief?

Someone should put up some big screens at these gatherings and let them watch "Inside Job" over and over again till they know why they are there. If you haven't seen it...check it out.

Ok...gotta go hug a tree.....lol

Wouldn’t have it any other way…..

When I said if you don’t know what you are signing don’t sign it, I didn’t mean the whole document… I meant having an understanding of how it works. People were saying that who can figure out how a 1 or 5 year ARM worked and no wonder they were surprised when they had a balloon payment due.

You must have forgotten that Barney Frank called in the banks and told them they HAD to find a way to be able to lend money to people that didn’t currently qualify for mortgages. So the banks did what the government told them to do.

When I bought my house I was told that I could qualify for $150,000 more than I was asking. I said that was nice but I could afford the payments. Now I could have taken the larger loan and a second job and been just fine. There was no way the lender could know if I was going to do that or not. So it was a personal choice on my part to take a loan for less than I qualified for because I can create a budget and figured out what I could afford and how I wanted to pay for it.

To now blame the banks for doing what they were told to do… that’s like blaming car manufactures every accident or dead caused by a driver of one of their cars.

When do I as a person have to step up and be responsible for my actions? We can always find someone else to blame. I guess that’s the way of the future right? I can do whatever I want and if it goes bad I can blame someone else and walk away or get free money from the government to fix the problem.

Oh.. and don’t forget to give that tree some tongue when you give it that hug.

Jamie

[Brewster]

Originally Posted by Jamie

Wouldn’t have it any other way…..

When I said if you don’t know what you are signing don’t sign it, I didn’t mean the whole document… I meant having an understanding of how it works. People were saying that who can figure out how a 1 or 5 year ARM worked and no wonder they were surprised when they had a balloon payment due.

You must have forgotten that Barney Frank called in the banks and told them they HAD to find a way to be able to lend money to people that didn’t currently qualify for mortgages. So the banks did what the government told them to do.

When I bought my house I was told that I could qualify for $150,000 more than I was asking. I said that was nice but I could afford the payments. Now I could have taken the larger loan and a second job and been just fine. There was no way the lender could know if I was going to do that or not. So it was a personal choice on my part to take a loan for less than I qualified for because I can create a budget and figured out what I could afford and how I wanted to pay for it.

To now blame the banks for doing what they were told to do… that’s like blaming car manufactures every accident or dead caused by a driver of one of their cars.

When do I as a person have to step up and be responsible for my actions? We can always find someone else to blame. I guess that’s the way of the future right? I can do whatever I want and if it goes bad I can blame someone else and walk away or get free money from the government to fix the problem.

Oh.. and don’t forget to give that tree some tongue when you give it that hug.

Jamie

LOL... OK but I'll have to look for a naughty pine

I hear you. It's crazy that people go so far over their heads. And I absolutely agree that people need to take responsibility for themselves again.

We actually have a legal system here that makes a bartender and/or server responsible, along with you, if you get drunk and drive home.

Some of the financial mess may be a "trust hangover" from a time when there were solid regulations in place. And banks didn't take on risky mortgages cause they were exposed to the risk and there wasn't a vehicle for them to bundle all those mortgages and sell them off to larger institutions, and so on and so on...

The big problem now, as i see it, is that those Wall Street institutions largely bankroll the Democrats and Republicans. When they get to the White House they are obligated. So how do you get regulations back in place?

It's irresponsible to get into a mortgage you can't handle. But you could say the same about the financial institutions. Just because they are told they can do it doesn't make it right. In my opinion, their actions were far worse.

Ultimately, I don't think any of us are that far off in our ideals. Except maybe for the part where you guys would throw poor old, sick, crippled Grandma out of her house and under the bus....lol

[Canadian Dos Equis fan]

Bruce we do treat our elderly right. Although I have informed my father he will be sent out on an ice floe once the time is right...

[Steve]

We are the 99% ?

I've met plenty of people from the US and I really don't think the 99% are:

- on minimum wage
- up to the eyeballs in debt
- suffering from a debilitating disease that prevents them working
- gay or transgender
- students forever
- unable to access healthcare

Perm any 4 from the 6 above and you have 99% of the "we are 99%".

Where the hell do they think they live with that attitude of entitlement? England?

WTF;

Interview with Self-Proclaimed Maoist in "Occupy Philly" Protests - YouTube

Interview with Self-Proclaimed Maoist in "Occupy Philly" Protests - YouTube

Occupy Wall Street Protester Wants College Paid For Because That's What He Wants - YouTube

Occupy Wall Street Protester Wants College Paid For Because That's What He Wants - YouTube

Wall Street Protester Has World's Greatest Meltdown - YouTube

Wall Street Protester Has World's Greatest Meltdown - YouTube

[Brewster]

LOL... that was great Steve

Yeah...the quality of representation is somewhat lacking...

Perhaps if they said "We are the bottom 1% of the 99%"


Keith, let me know when it's time. I'll chip in for a box of beer for his send off.

[twinimini]

Steve, that was perfect! All these people want is....well, everything. Just Gimme, Gimme, Gimme! That seems to be their mantra.

Let's see, I work 80 hour weeks, don't sleep at night because of concerns about the future of my business and my family and the families of those who work for me, but I should just give everything I own to those who won't work. It just doesn't cut it.

As for the banks and the housing crisis, Jamie has it exactly right. The government forced the banks to make those loans. Believe it or not, the government is still forcing banks to make those loans. I remember good old Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, and Andrew Cuomo telling us how wonderful it is that all Americans will be entitled to own their own home, regardless of their economic standings. Nice job guys! And their punishment for their mistake is what? Let's see, Frank is still in office, Dodd is drawing his huge Senate pension, and Cuomo is now governor of NY. Maybe it's time we protested. Oh, but wait. We can't protest. We have to work to pay for those who are protesting.

[Canadian Dos Equis fan]

Ok I think the last video was the best! "We don't know what we are protesting but we will do it loudly!" lol

[indycpl]

The best way to sum up your question is who here would approve of your daughter marrying one of the protesters?

My opinion is the people that are protesting have NO CLUE they are thoughtless, empty minded and lazy, entitlement demanding THUGS
The networks claim thousands but I have friends that live in NY and they say maybe 500 to 600 PPL not the thousand's that the news would have you believe.
Have you seen the private videos that the protesters have uploaded to YouTube, Real first class ppl.

[BillS]

My dispassionate reading of all the above comments concludes you are all correct in your statements, even though you think you are disagreeing....As far as the negative effects of the reckless banking practices of the last few years: I read in the WSJ (finally, since I'd been watching for it) last week American banks have 1.2 trillion in outstanding loans to European banks who have propped up Greece, Italy and the other EU irresponsible countries. I fear we face another default and big slide....And fairly soon...

[rawkus]

Personally, I think its awesome.

People are exercising their right to protest and speak up.

Im happy the movement is growing stronger everyday, and I truly hope something well thought through plans are included, so its not "just" a regular protest.

This is the beauty of democracy and Im very happy to see that they are allowed to continue. If one DONT like free speech and such, well, a one way ticket to North Korea, Iran etc. shouldn't cost that much

Ps. I giggle when Tea Party supporters/members(?) call these people "thugs" and want them punished for their actions. I do expect that these same people realize what the real Tea Party was, and that their little group of loudmouths are named after the same event. But Im sure its different when something benefits YOU, rather than "them", right?

[Craig G]

I'm from NJ, and c this on new networks everywhere, don't agreed with the way they go about it but some points can be made. How wall street wants to write their own rules, the banks got bail out and trying to repeat what they got in trouble 4 in the first place. I witness alot of shit in my 49 years on this earth. I live in a urban city in Jersey, and see how certain banks give really LOW interest on your savings, and the same bank in a suburban neighborhood give very good rates. So unless u been through some of this craziness people r mad about, u can only guess.

[indycpl]

Originally Posted by rawkus

Personally, I think its awesome.

People are exercising their right to protest and speak up.

Im happy the movement is growing stronger everyday, and I truly hope something well thought through plans are included, so its not "just" a regular protest.

This is the beauty of democracy and Im very happy to see that they are allowed to continue. If one DONT like free speech and such, well, a one way ticket to North Korea, Iran etc. shouldn't cost that much

Ps. I giggle when Tea Party supporters/members(?) call these people "thugs" and want them punished for their actions. I do expect that these same people realize what the real Tea Party was, and that their little group of loudmouths are named after the same event. But Im sure its different when something benefits YOU, rather than "them", right?

I am all for free speech and free choice, Our "Republic" (USA is not a Democracy) was founded on this. Our capitalistic system allows each of us to determine what company's we do business with.
I was not for any Bailouts for the auto or banking industry's, I do not believe that the government should be in the business of picking winners or losers in any form, I think the banks, auto or any company should be allowed to fail under the bankruptcy laws.
There is a very big difference between The Tea Party protesters and the OWS Protesters from my point of view. (I am not a member of either) The Tea party wants to get control of our runaway federal government spending and from what I have seen of the OWS is they want to ? be ? There is no Clear message from them other than just to disrupt traffic and SHi... on police cars. Now were is the message in that? Have you seen the videos posted by the OWS people ? What message does that send?
"We have accepted today the existence in perpetuity of a permanent underclass of scores of millions who cannot cope and must be carried by society -- fed, clothed, housed, tutored, medicated at taxpayer’s expense their entire lives. We have a dependent nation the size of Spain in our independent America. We have a new division in our country, those who pay a double or triple fare, and those who ride forever free.”

[rawkus]

indycpl: Thats why I added "hope some well thought through plans are included". Also, Im simply happy to see that people are allowed to voice their anger/mistrust etc., even confusion(hehe).

What I meant with the Tea Party was the original event v/s the name these people have taken, v/s the fact that they dont seem to want people to be allowed to voice their opinions.

My hopes are that this can spark something with a substance - just because it starts out "wild", doesnt mean it wont give birth to something good.

[twinimini]

Originally Posted by rawkus

indycpl: Thats why I added "hope some well thought through plans are included". Also, Im simply happy to see that people are allowed to voice their anger/mistrust etc., even confusion(hehe).

What I meant with the Tea Party was the original event v/s the name these people have taken, v/s the fact that they dont seem to want people to be allowed to voice their opinions.

My hopes are that this can spark something with a substance - just because it starts out "wild", doesnt mean it wont give birth to something good.

Rawkus, I note that you are in favor of the Occupy Wall Street Movement, so will you please tell us what it is they want and why you think this is such a good idea?

[rawkus]

twinimini: I already stated what I do like about the protests.

Im happy to see some sort of reaction, rather than bozos on FOX News, yelling their pants off in fetal position on the floor.

Im happy that people are allowed to speak up, Im happy that Democracy is allowed, Im happy that this sheds light on some serious stuff, such as a messed up world economy.

I dont think this whole thing has a clear "goal" yet, but, like I wrote, I hope this can spark something important.

The birth of something is seldom perfected at the very moment its born, but maybe, if given time and structure, it can grow into something very much needed.

If it takes a "bunch of hippies" to achieve this, then Im all for it, always.

The difference is that these people(regardless whom they are), are shedding light on a serious matter, whilst a lot of us sit an b*tch and whine behind laptops. We all have the choice to do something, to strongly show our discontent, to question authority.

[indycpl]

Should we collect a new Tax of $200.00 from all on this board and create a fund so that the moderator of this board can just pick a ppl off the street at the OWS site that has never been to Temptation, and supply them with round trip air, lodging at the resort along with cash that they can spend while there.

After all its not fair that we get to have a great vacation and enjoy some time off of work and others that don,t have the ability to fund a vacation because of being under educated or are on public assistance and can't enjoy what we have worked so hard ourselves to enjoy.

Its Just NOT FAIR that we can go and they cant? That would be A BALANCED Approach As Obama Would say from his teleprompter

[twinimini]

Originally Posted by indycpl

After all its not fair that we get to have a great vacation and enjoy some time off of work and others that don,t have the ability to fund a vacation because of being under educated or are on public assistance can enjoy what we have worked so hard ourselves to enjoy.

Indy, to have time off from work one must actually work. From what I'm seeing most of these folks don't or won't work. Here is Western NY State we are supposed to be one of the more downtrodden areas of the country in regards to unemployment and even poverty. Yet, every single one of my clients who is trying to hire new workers has the same complaint, they can't find anyone who will work. Amazing situation when we have rampant unemployment (according to the media and the government) and noone to put into existing jobs.

As to the goals and protests of the OWS movement, it seems to me their primary beefs are that others have more than they do and they think that greed is rampant. It's really kind of funny that this fringe of the left has a lot in common with the fringe on the right. Both seem to think that government is not working and that bailouts are a bad idea.

I am always amazed at someone who protests greed. Greed is a part of the human nature. Greed prompts Obama to campaign during times of crisis. Greed causes the Union Worker to want more. Greed causes the Communist to demand a perceived equality. I find it almost humorous that some of these folks think that Communist China is the ideal. Hmmm, a nation that is producing the largest numbers of new billionaires while the majority lives on an income about equal to what most of us pay for our cell phones and cable TV. Somehow I don't see that as an ideal. I see that as something a lot worse than what we have.

As to a redistribution of wealth, well, that has been going on for years and years. The top earning one percent of tax payers pay more in income taxes than the bottom 95% of taxpayers. The top 5% of earners pay 75% of all the income taxes in the US. Over half the households in the US pay NO income taxes. The way I see it, that amounts to a massive redistribution of wealth. I can tell you that this redistribution has been going on for years.

[indycpl]

twinimini

Very well stated you echo the same thoughts I do,
Lots of very Lazy, Entitlement Minded People that Have an excuse for why nothing is their fault and truly believe just because they are born here gives them the Entitlement to do nothing and live off everyone else's hard work and contribute nothing, but then demand more and protest Against the very people that are paying their way WTF ?
I have to write a check to the IRS every month that would very easy support 2 family's, and the protesters and our government want me to pay more.

[Brewster]

Originally Posted by indycpl

I have to write a check to the IRS every month that would very easy support 2 family's, and the protesters and our government want me to pay more.

That's not fair. Send me a check.

[twinimini]

Originally Posted by Brewster

That's not fair. Send me a check.

What? The Canadian Government doesn't send you one now? Gasp!!!! I thought all Canadians got checks from the government every week.

[Brewster]

Originally Posted by twinimini

What? The Canadian Government doesn't send you one now? Gasp!!!! I thought all Canadians got checks from the government every week.

Just the bottom 99%. We get income equalization checks from the top 1%..lol

[Canadian Dos Equis fan]

Originally Posted by Brewster

Just the bottom 99%. We get income equalization checks from the top 1%..lol

It's just a pain in the ass that they are only redeemable in Canadian Tire dollars and Tim Hortons gift cards...

[fastventura]

wow. boo hoo. i had no dedication in school, im lazy, not real intelligent so how bout those who are successful in life look after me???? wtf. this is exactly the problem with american and canadian society. everybody thinks its someone elses fault. how bout theses lazy unemployed bums take some responsibility for their own lives? makes me sick. im just a stupid mechanic.lol but i sure as hell dont blame my neighbor or my boss or anyone else for the fact that i didnt go to school for an extra 7 years to become a doctor or lawyer. man up and take responsibility fo yourselves!!