Occupy movement is a joke. No message, no leadership, not obeying common law or authority. Interfering with lawful business.

Time to go home.

When the OWS crowd first appeared, people took notice and they were given respect for trying to bring awareness to the issues we face as a society. However, their "cause" has been hijacked and they are now becoming nothing more than yesterday's news. Too bad they couldn't have organized better and continued with some coherent message.

Time for them to go away.

Brenda: If you were not already aware that rich people had money and poor people did not, then I have to question yourlevel of intelligence. They have not "brought to light" ANYTHING. There has been no "suppression of freedom of speech" The Occupy folks are nothing. They bring no new discussions. They bring no new ideas. All they are is a loud annoyance.

Also brought to light about insider trading, issues with the banks, and the suppression of freedom of speech. Not sure where you two have been

Ummm... not sure where you have been and reading. Insider trader has been out in the public for a long time(Martha Stewart, 2002). Banking issues as well(ethical policies with banking, 2003). And suppression of freedom of speech has been going on longer than me and you have been on this Earth. They, OWS, aren't bringing nothing to light; everything was already out in the open.

The only message I got from these clowns is that there is a percentage of the US population that doesn't like that you have to be responsible and that you have to work to support yourself. The other message is that these individuals are easily lead and influenced. They aren't very bright and will be more than willing to follow anyone that promises them something for nothing. The growing culture of entitlement and ignorance is on display for the whole nation to see.

It mostly all homeless vagrants down there anyway, trying to piggyback on something that draws attention.

Sort of like a free circus.

If you needed this to bring your attention to the wealth gap, or insider trading, then you're too far behind to ever matter anyway.

at first I was move and invigorated by what appeared to be a true grassroots movement in the OWS. Then some things started to become more clear. I did not see a true unified agenda, a list of goals, at this point-all I see now is a bunch of people who all went camping together. I guess this will be a new social media activity-

FLASH CAMP.

I am disappointed in all of this-I thought it was a true uprising of the people for the people.

But its just camping.

Raisa, your attitude is exactly what they are protesting. All people matter, including the homeless. Ask your pastor.

John,

you forgot:

Snow is cold.

Pepper spray stings the eyes.

Waste of time, money and energy that law enforcement could have spent somewhere else. There was nothing learned, there was no message and basically a few months from now this will have never happened.

President Obama has done an effective job demonizing the "rich" and the OWS has continuously tagged the nation's wealthiest as greedy, uncaring, and almost to blame for the fact that there are indeed 'poor' people in this country.

I would not be surprised if some Hollywood producer puts together a movie about the wealthy class being hunted down like wild dogs and eliminated in a bizarre quest to make this nation more "fair"...since that seems to be the buzzword of Mr. Obama and the sloppy OWS folks.

I can almost see and hear the audience bursting into applause during the movie, every time one of those evil "rich" people...who we constantly hear aren't doing their "fair share"...is dispatched.

The president has been doing this since the day after he wasted over a year on his health care reform mess. Once he got that out of the way, it became time for him to create the monster under the bed who simply wasn't doing enough to help the children up top, whining like good little 'occupiers' and holding their hands out for ever increasing amounts of "more".

I'd have some respect for OWS if they had an organized actual agenda and weren't just a mob harassing people.

So much for the First Amendment. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted...

Toasty,

So much for the First Amendment. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted...

You should step up and let them camp on your front lawn. Where's your support of the First Amendment?

The hyprocracy piled up so thick you need wings to fly above it. Jail em all. Camping on ground you DO NOT own.

That's right only certain people own PUBLIC property.

The only message I got from these clowns is that there is a percentage of the US population that doesn't like that you have to be responsible and that you have to work to support yourself.

Here is a message you missed.

There is a very large percentage of Americans that are lucky enough to have a job or two, but still can't support there self. Because of the high cost of energy, food, health care, and every thing else you need to survive.

The government should have no say in what public property can and can't be used for. Removing the protesters is a serious violation of Constitutional law. But that problem is not as great as the impending threat to our freedoms because the government will soon be able to declare OWS as terrorists and can use the military to throw them in detainment camps without charges/trial indefinitely. The government is already using force to undermine our right to protest and the media is condemning OWS so a significant amount of the public will not speak out if greater force is used against them.

"need to survive"

Does that include cable TV, Cell phones, etc... Survive and live comfortably are two different things AMD. Stop the hyperbole.

There's 7 billion people on the planet and to feel sad for everyone who has a lower standard of living than the guy or girl feeling sad would last a thousand lifetimes.

So one works one's butt off for 45 years and watches one level of government or another snatch away over 40% of every dollar one makes for his or her trouble. A person should be able to feel that the money scalped off one's labors is doing some good in the world. Yet the endless stories of waste, graft, and mis-use of those dollars and the lack of appreciation from the majority have become standard operating procedure...as is the constant harangue that one is never, ever doing enough to suit some people.

ren-755775 -- Do you read news, other than from right-wing outlets?

The Occupy Wall Street protesters were first ignored by the media and then maligned by certain outlets, but more recently a slew of reports and surveys have come out showing the movement may be on to something after all.

…Several new studies have offered further evidence that these two problems are getting worse and, perhaps more importantly, that a large portion of the population is concerned about these issues.

Growing income inequality. Few reports in recent memory packed quite as much of a bang in so few words as one from the Congressional Budget Office.

The report shows that between 1979 and 2007, the superrich -- people in the top 1% of wage earners -- saw their after-tax incomes nearly triple, while those in the bottom 20% saw their wages remain relatively flat during that nearly 30-year period. As if that weren't infuriating enough, the CBO's report showed that the top 20% of wage earners saw their share of the nation's overall income increase by 10 percentage points during that period, while the other 80% saw their share decline by 2 or 3 percentage points.

In just a few paragraphs, the CBO showed definitively that the rich are getting richer at the expense of everyone else.

Americans favor wealth redistribution. Given the increasing degree of income inequality, it should come as little surprise that most Americans would echo those protesters who argue the current distribution of wealth is unfair.

One recent survey from The New York Times found that two-thirds of Americans believe U.S. wealth distribution is unfair, with a whopping 86% of Democrats saying so and 67% of independents. Republicans were less likely to agree with this statement, but nearly half still feel the distribution is not fair.

That may not mean two-thirds of the country would be willing to march in the cold weather to change this fact, but it does seem to put the burden of proof on those who claim the status quo is just fine.

Even the wealthy want to pay more taxes. One might assume that those with the most to lose would be the ones to fight hardest against evening out the income disparities, but a survey from Spectrem Group suggests otherwise.

The survey found that the vast majority (68%) of people worth at least $1 million favor raising taxes on Americans who make more than $1 million. And 61% of those worth at least $5 million are in favor of doing so. In other words, even the wealthy are fine with raising taxes on the wealthy, and previous surveys have shown that most average Americans certainly are in favor of it. So that really just leaves legislators inside the Beltway as the real hurdle.

No one likes the government, and few trust it. Perhaps for this reason, there seems to be a growing disconnect between the American people and the federal government that reflects the same sense of distrust heard among the protesters.

Tell us what your problem is with the above.

Furthermore 70% believe Republicans support/protect the 1% and that GOP/TP policies are responsible for the growing disparity. The Occupy movement is not only global, consisting of members of all races, ages, and backgrounds, it is backed by religious leaders, political leaders, union leaders, and many non-profit organizations. Demonize all you want, OWS will help to bring attention to issues and get out the vote to throw the Teapublicans out.

Go Occupy!

Does that include cable TV, Cell phones, etc... Survive and live comfortably are two different things AMD. Stop the hyperbole.

Hyperbole indeed.

FYI. I'm using free wifi.

Why don't you come down here and work two minimum wage jobs and see what it is all about. My energy company thinks I should pay almost $500 a month this year to stay warm, I'm paying 200 and freezing my azz off. And lets not even talk about what medical care and prescriptions I can't afford.

And don't give me that hyperbole about better your self. There are not 150 million chief positions open in America. If there was you wouldn't have anyone to serve you your arty clogging Mcburger.

Are some of you really claiming that the people don't have a right to be angry, right now??? This isn't about killing the free market, it's about saving it. Capitalism is NOT, what we currently have...

Before the great depression we had numerous banking crises.

After the great depression we implemented Wall St. regulations and had a stable banking system for 50 years.

Wall St deregulation began under Regan, and every president since has been complascent and accepting of it.

Since Regan began this we've had some sort of banking crises every ten years or so...

• Late '80s = Savings & Loan
• Mid-Late '90s = .com Bubble & Hedge Funds
• Early '00s = Corporate fraud
• Now = Dervivatives & Sub Prime Mortgages.

We have the greatest income disparity since the great depression.

The mean salary for a middle aged man hasn't risen since 1973.

Since money is considered speech, politicians have been bought and paid for by the wealthiest corporations and their owners.

The endless "political, pundit, panic, conflictanator" otherwise known as the 24 hour news cycle, feeds us exactly what we need to keep this biased system in place. If we're all running around screaming about Muslims, Mexicans, gays, and fetuses, who has time to worry about Wall St?

Corporations have brought in record profits for the past couple years, yet unemployment continues to rise.

So I have some issues with some of the detractors here...

First, I'm sick of hearing you compare Wall St tycoons to people like Gates or Jobs. Them, Zuckerberg, Wasniak... Made their money through genius, innovation, and an expanding new market. Wall St made theirs by defrauding average Joe's into sub prime mortgages, than clumping those mortgages together, and pretty much betting on them to fail, while rating them "AAA" thus increasing the long shot odds and the money collected from the bets. Turns out they were a little too right on that count though, and when the dookie hit the fan, they took billions from all those poor schmucks who they tricked into the sub primes to begin with. Do you see the difference now?

Second, I'm sick of hearing from people (especially TPiers) that they're criminals or comitting crimes. The 1st amendment endows us with a right to protest in traditionally public places. Civil disobedience has long been recognized as an effectual mean of enacting change. Those kids who had milkshakes dumped on their heads were also "breaking the law", you know. Also, for the Tea Party members who have been disparaging these protesters, they're, at worst, comitting misdemeanors. The Tea Party that you're named after was a felony.

Third, this isn't class warfare, it's class cooperation. No one wants the Wall St folks to not be rich anymore, or to have to give up their money so we can have it. We want a fair playing field, so that we may also achieve the American Dream. The overwhelming majority of citizens do exactly what we're told to do, in order to have success. We stay out of trouble, go to school, vote, protect our nation, help our neighbors, yet the system is so stacked against us right now, that those things no longer matter. This is the difference between the naive and idealistic concept of the American Dream the detractors have, and the realistic American Dream the protestors have. If you really understand that dream, you understand that our market isn't free right now to accomplish it.

Fourth, there is a difference between social programs and socialism. Right now, the oligarchy we have is more of a threat to the free market, than implementing social programs would be. Neither pure capitalism or pure socialism works, because it endows one side with all the power, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

True Patriot,

Maybe we should be careful, all that logic and factual info may make his head explode.

AlMightyDollar,

FYI. I'm using free wifi.

LOL! You've shined a 10 million candlepower spotlight on exactly what's wrong with this country. FYI Al, there's no such thing as free wifi. Somebody paying for it son. As a great man once said; "There's no such thing as a free lunch."

That's right only certain people own PUBLIC property.

Lord, shoot me, take me now!

The government should have no say in what public property can and can't be used for.

Lord, tell me we arent all this ignorant!

Why don't you come down here and work two minimum wage jobs and see what it is all about.

Whose fault is it that all you can make is minimum wage. Did anybody force you to drop out of high shcool, get knocked up at 16? If you consider "want fries with that" to be a skill, do you deserve any more than minimum wage?

There are not 150 million chief positions open in America. If there was you wouldn't have anyone to serve you your arty clogging Mcburger.

I rest my case. We have been dumbed down to the point where there should be instructions (in comic book form) on how to wipe your ass in every public toilet in America.

FYI Al, there's no such thing as free wifi.

Your right. I live close enough to the library, that I can use the wifi from there. No it isn't free, my tax's along with the rest of the city's tax's pays for. And guess what. The public is free to use it when ever they like.

So there is no free lunch I help pay for it so does the rest of the city. Your right there but your complety wrong with this B.S.

Does that include cable TV, Cell phones, etc... Survive and live comfortably are two different things AMD. Stop the hyperbole.

Lord, shoot me, take me now!

There is your problem.

Whose fault is it that all you can make is minimum wage. Did anybody force you to drop out of high school, get knocked up at 16? If you consider "want fries with that" to be a skill, do you deserve any more than minimum wage?

So your position is every one gets a trophy? Is that how your school works? The fact is. There are not 150 million winner jobs out there. Or do you believe other wise?

The problem is that the poor can no longer scratch out a merger living. I'm sure you don't understand that because there are 150 million good paying jobs out there. Right?

I rest my case. We have been dumbed down to the point where there should be instructions (in comic book form) on how to wipe your ass in every public toilet in America.

I'm glad you rested it. Now maybe you have time to ask god to do some thing for that so called soul you have. If every working man and woman and child had Einstein level of intelligence, do you really believe that there are 150 million good paying jobs available to those people?

Every one is a winner the only reason there not winners is because there stupid and lazy. F'ing please.

AMD,

Why don't you come down here and work two minimum wage jobs and see what it is all about. My energy company thinks I should pay almost $500 a month this year to stay warm, I'm paying 200 and freezing my azz off. And lets not even talk about what medical care and prescriptions I can't afford.

And don't give me that hyperbole about better your self. There are not 150 million chief positions open in America. If there was you wouldn't have anyone to serve you your arty clogging Mcburger.

What makes you think I didn't work the minimum wage jobs? I worked three jobs in high school and saved up enough to go to college. Now I am successful and you want to blame me. Grow up, look in the mirror, and change your own life - I EMPOWER YOU to do so.

You have enough money to have access to a computer, interesting. How does that compare to a person in Matagascar or Sri Lanka or Bangladesh or.... Yes there is a difference between surviving and living comfortably. Obama may be right about American's being a little soft. I have proof right here with AMD.

Interesting how any time someone tried to say they agreed with the OWS, their post was collapsed by those that want to see them go away because it reminds them of how inhuman they are.

because it reminds them of how inhuman they are.

Hardly the case brenda1964, it likely just means they don't agree.

What am I thinking now?

If you said, "He is thinking about tonight's ceremony where he will present a college scholarship (paid for by Rational American) to a person without the means to otherwise attend college." Then I take my hat off to you, you are good!

that made no sense.

YES IT DID!

cashman your brain appears to be pickeled just a bit sit back take a breath

I'd like to see these fools try living in the woods for a week.

Cashman,

Protesting the corruption of American capitalism is the whole point of OWS.

When multinational banks and corporations pay for American elections to alter the way they are regulated it creates problems. Like that whole bringing the worlds economy to the brink of collapse over a mortgage pyramid scheme.

That is why we have protests now instead of 10 years ago.

Until we get outside money out of America's election system this problem will get worse.

Conservatives, Liberals and Moderates are getting screwed together!

Get corporate money out of our election system!

Then who would pay for the campaign ads, Dan? The poor?

Dan, can you please explain to me how giving a house to a family who has spent their life on the public dole is protesting capitalism and removing money from politics?

dan...

Does that include getting "corporate money" out of Mr. Obama's "election system" ???

Wally: We the American people would pay via the government like in New Zealand (one of the least corrupt nations)

Ph-3046605: OWS isn't about protesting capitalism (or it would have started years ago), it is about protesting corruption of our economic system that stems not from capitalism but from corporations paying American office holders for their reelections. They get what they pay for, which is an unfair tilting of regulations against their competitors, and American taxpayers (like us) subsidizing their industries.

Tony: It would be for all politicians moving forward.

All major politicians in the US currently need to have their campaigns paid for by corporations under this system. Many of these companies aren't even based in the US. That is why no matter how serious our financial problems are in America, they only get worse. Multinational banks (like HSBC) and multinational corporations (like British Petroleum) don't care about policies that help America, only policies that help their short term profits.

Sorry, Dan, I mean protesting the corruption in capitalism.

But, you didn't answer my question. Can you please explain to me how giving a house to a family who has spent their life on the public dole is protesting corruption in capitalism and removing money from politics?

PH:

Occupying a home that was foreclosed on as a result of predatory lending is obviously to protest the practice of predatory lending. (which was a major component of the mortgage pyramid scheme run by multinational banks.) (Notice this scheme didn't take place in Canada, because they didn't get rid of their regulations preventing the issuing of mortgages to those who couldn't afford them.)

I have no idea how many families that are occupying homes are on the dole, but it would still be inconvenient for the multinational banks that screwed America.

As for removing the non governmental money form the financing of US elections, that is the reason banks and corporations have been able to take over the agencies that were supposed to protect the American public and taxpayers form practices that almost led to the collapse of the worlds financial system. (via mortgage pyramid scheme and credit default swaps)

All Americans, Conservative, liberal and moderate are being screwed by the corruption brought about by the multinational corporate funding of our elections.

Dan, I understand the problems. Truly, I do. But the OWS movement is bunk and this is why:

You say:

Occupying a home that was foreclosed on as a result of predatory lending is obviously to protest the practice of predatory lending.

But the people who the OWS put in the home in NYC never had a mortgage (and they didn't deserve to have one). They were never victims of predatory lending. Their situation has NOTHING to do with what the OWS claims to be fighting for. This action only exemplified the same liberal bull that everyone is entitled to something, regardless of their contributions to society. These people weren't a hard working family that fell on hard times - they had been in homeless shelters since they were teens and had two children despite the fact they knew they couldn't afford them. OWS really shot themselves in the foot here.

Now, how much inconvenience do you really think you are causing a MNC when you steal their house? It's private property - they can have the family removed with one phone call.

And, where do you draw the line? If a home forecloses, and I buy it, do you still get to Occupy it if you want because it was a foreclosed home? What about a 1%-ers vacation home? Can you Occupy that when you are protesting tax cuts? I mean, they may have used that tax cut to purchase said home, so fair game?

Do you see the slippery slope the OWS is playing on when they decide to steal private property? DO you think that this is going to endear people to your cause? Really?

Instead of blindly defending these practices, why don't you admit that OWS has made some very poor choices that are diluting the cause, distracting from the message and providing the opposition with clear proof that this is a leaderless movement.

I'm so sick of OWS people coming on here and spouting off their ideology as an answer to the criticism they are facing. Guess what guys? It's been months! We understand the problems. We may even agree. But your methodology sucks and its costing you your movement.

The Multinational banks made huge profits inflating the mortgage bubble, and when it burst, they handed the American taxpayer the bill, and gave us millions of homeless people in exchange.

In America, if an individual doesn't know the risks involved with a contract they are signing, it is their responsibility.

If a multinational bank runs a pyramid scheme, it is the American taxpayers responsibility.

Yet, a hand full of protesters occupying some of the homes the banks defrauded from the American the public is the main concern?

The Multinational banks made huge profits inflating the mortgage bubble, and when it burst, they handed the American taxpayer the bill, and gave us millions of homeless people in exchange.

In my opinion, we should have never bailed the banks out. Of course, however, we would still be in a mess because the ramifications of not bailing them out would have also been severe.

In America, if an individual doesn't know the risks involved with a contract they are signing, it is their responsibility.

Absolutely. Student loans, home loans, etc. should not be forgiven and I don't feel bad for anyone who entered into a mortgage for a house they knew they couldn't afford, most likely with only 5-10% down and barely enough wages to make their lowest rate payments, let alone the adjustable rate increases. I also don't feel bad for anyone that refinanced to pay for things they really didn't need like 3 BMWs and a pool. Of course, health care bills are different. I do genuinely feel bad for those people.

If a multinational bank runs a pyramid scheme, it is the American taxpayers responsibility. Yet, a hand full of protesters occupying some of the homes the banks defrauded from the American the public is the main concern?

I'm not excusing the banks behavior, but two wrongs don't make a right. When you occupy a house, you are stealing for your cause. When you prevent people from going to work, you are stealing for your cause. When you take over a public park, you are stealing for your cause. You are protesting stealing with stealing and, in doing so, are no better than the banks.

When BofA decided to impose fees for debit card use, people got up and changed banks. And, guess what? That made a huge difference - it even made them change the policy. THAT is how to effect change. Squatting in a park, a house, a port or a highway is not the way.

dan...

Curious that they aren't having a housing crises in Canada, because the Canadian government didn't "get rid of the regulations preventing the issuing of mortgages to those who couldn't afford them".

Our politicians did vote out those very same regulations in this country...and that is why I blame politicians as the root cause of the mortgage crisis. I read a blurb in either "Newsweek" or "Time" last week that said Congressman Barney Frank could leave Washington DC with "his head held high"...yet he was the guy who was supposed to be running the oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which collapsed around his feet while he blubbered that such a collapse could not happen.

So before one blames the banks and corporations, how about pointing a finger at the people we elect to supposedly run things in this country, but who continuously prove they are not up to the task in any way, shape, or forms. The banks and corporations are only playing the game...it's government that makes the rules to play by.

Do you read news, other than from right-wing outlets?

The Occupy Wall Street protesters were first ignored by the media and then maligned by certain outlets, but more recently a slew of reports and surveys have come out showing the movement may be on to something after all.

…Several new studies have offered further evidence that these two problems are getting worse and, perhaps more importantly, that a large portion of the population is concerned about these issues.

Growing income inequality. Few reports in recent memory packed quite as much of a bang in so few words as one from the Congressional Budget Office.

The report shows that between 1979 and 2007, the superrich -- people in the top 1% of wage earners -- saw their after-tax incomes nearly triple, while those in the bottom 20% saw their wages remain relatively flat during that nearly 30-year period. As if that weren't infuriating enough, the CBO's report showed that the top 20% of wage earners saw their share of the nation's overall income increase by 10 percentage points during that period, while the other 80% saw their share decline by 2 or 3 percentage points.

In just a few paragraphs, the CBO showed definitively that the rich are getting richer at the expense of everyone else.

Americans favor wealth redistribution. Given the increasing degree of income inequality, it should come as little surprise that most Americans would echo those protesters who argue the current distribution of wealth is unfair.

One recent survey from The New York Times found that two-thirds of Americans believe U.S. wealth distribution is unfair, with a whopping 86% of Democrats saying so and 67% of independents. Republicans were less likely to agree with this statement, but nearly half still feel the distribution is not fair.

That may not mean two-thirds of the country would be willing to march in the cold weather to change this fact, but it does seem to put the burden of proof on those who claim the status quo is just fine.

Even the wealthy want to pay more taxes. One might assume that those with the most to lose would be the ones to fight hardest against evening out the income disparities, but a survey from Spectrem Group suggests otherwise.

The survey found that the vast majority (68%) of people worth at least $1 million favor raising taxes on Americans who make more than $1 million. And 61% of those worth at least $5 million are in favor of doing so. In other words, even the wealthy are fine with raising taxes on the wealthy, and previous surveys have shown that most average Americans certainly are in favor of it. So that really just leaves legislators inside the Beltway as the real hurdle.

No one likes the government, and few trust it. Perhaps for this reason, there seems to be a growing disconnect between the American people and the federal government that reflects the same sense of distrust heard among the protesters.

Tell us what your problem is with the above.

Furthermore 70% believe Republicans support/protect the 1% and that GOP/TP policies are responsible for the growing disparity. The Occupy movement is not only global, consisting of members of all races, ages, and backgrounds, it is backed by religious leaders, political leaders, union leaders, and many non-profit organizations. Demonize all you want, OWS will help to bring attention to issues and get out the vote to throw the Teapublicans out.

Dan -- Change your avatar -- It's an insult since you are only a pretender of patriotism.

tony, I think you make a great point.

I think there are a lot of good points out there, but I think the execution is piss poor. Take a problem and find a way to approach it in a meaningful way.

Another poster said once that instead of sitting in a park in NYC, maybe OWS should occupy a place in D.C. where they can block the actual politicians from leaving until a bipartisan spending deal is on the table. Feasible? I'm not sure. But at least it's in line with the message and getting at the problem where it lives. Instead of blocking laborers and truck drivers, why don't you block the lobbyists from going to work?

Just sayin'

Sorry Dan, I read your posts more closely and the back and forth...

John-2032532

I'd like to see these fools try living in the woods for a week.

I'd like to see Teabaggers demonstrate half the commitment.

Look into Barney Frank more closely, and you'll learn the Republicans (think Gingrich) were the ones blocking reform of Freddie and Fannie. And most certainly we should blame Wall Street and banks as well.

Banks used to offer interest on savings that made it worthwhile--at one time 15%. Because savings accounts are useless, people started day trading, and we all know Wall Street is rigged for the big boys. Then after Wall Street was considered too risky, people started investing in real estate. But we all know what happened -- the bundling of toxic mortgage securities that was the real root of the housing bust (not Freddie and Fannie, which were merely followers). Furthermore, the bust destroyed pensions and 401ks along with home equity.

As if all this isn't bad enough, Republicans not only want to return to even more tax cuts for the rich (with the highest rate at only 28%) and further deregulation of the finance industry, they want to privatize trust funds, most notably Social Security.

Social Security does not contribute to the deficits and is solvent for many years. It could be made sound overnight just by up-dating the cap on FICA with-holdings from $106,000 to $500,000 or even only $250,000. Not only are Republicans unwilling to own up to the IOU sitting in the trust fund box, but no, we can't ask the rich (AKA "job creators") to contribute a fair share to anything.

Hold on to Social Security folks, don't let Republicans hand that over to Wall Street too. It's the only thing the people have left that is guaranteed and not subjected to greed.

Tony,

Both Republicans and Democrats voted to change the rules to allow the multinational banks to create their mortgage pyramid schemes because the banks paid for their elections.

That is the problem and will continue to be the problem until we stop having the multinational corporations and banks pay for American elections.

PH,

It's true that two wrongs don't make a right.

Americans have been holding all sorts of permit permitted protests over the decades.

Which ones do you remember?

Which ones changed the way America does business?

America can change the party in power as much as we like, and we still have the same outcome when it comes to the investment the American government makes in America.

Too little investment, usually too late these last few decades.

I do believe in voting, because there are important social issues that need to be addressed.

When it comes to how our government spends its money, only the corporations and banks have a say due to their picking up the tab of our Democratic and Republican candidates. (often in the same race, so no matter who wins, they win)

The B of A debit card story is heart warming.

It's great that Americans made them hide their fees better.

If someone is willing to risk arrest, even if they are poor, I support them in this endeavor.

I can't be perfect, but it is better than the status quo.

So, you think you can effect change without work stoppage? Gotta get worse before it will get better. Doing nothing like you suggest Art is the really stupid coarse. You have to get people riled up before they will take action and I think that's exactly what they are doing.

No Brenda, you do not have to "get people riled up" or "cause work stoppage" to effect change. If your ideas are good enough, then change will occur. The tea partiers did not cause any social disruptions. They didn't destroy public parks. However, they still managed to cause one of the most dramatic shifts in the history of congressional elections.

The concepts you just exspoused is how you get an ignorant populance to engage in violent revolution. Is this what you desire?

Yeah tell that to the civil rights movement. If it wasn't for their activism we'd still have minorities sitting at the back of the bus and drinking from separate water fountains. Tell that to the protesters in the March on Selma. Activism does bring about change.

The concepts you just exspoused is how you get an ignorant populance to engage in violent revolution. Is this what you desire?

This will be the end result if nothing is done soon Adam. They are trying to wake up the populace as fast as possible without violence, which is commendable. This is no easy task and takes lots of theater as anyone knows who has been part of a major protest. So what if they affect a local business. I don't see you complaining about new fee's, regulations and tax hikes and on and on that kill business all over the countries or what about the banking industry that we citizens saved and yet get no loans or loans designed to strangle you. Ahhh such one sided arguments. We have a Government that is bought and sold at auction from private interest yet all of you above still argue who they want in next election to magically "fix" all the problems when they are the problem. One of OWS many and while I agree diluted messages is to remove money from politics. Without that first and MASSIVE change there is no hope for this country.

At least these people can admit this country is heading in a horrible place and took it into their own hands.

At least they are trying to do something. Not like you stay home, sit on your but, and complain about everything, do nothings. Have you recovered any of your life savings? I thought not. Has your investment banker told you to 'stay the course' and kept that money for him self? I thought so.

sorry it happends its time to move on

@ Brenda:

First, I did not suggest "doing nothing." In fact, I made no suggestions at all. I did make an observation and a comment.

Second, I believe the word you wanted was "course", not "coarse". It's English, don't be afraid to use it.

@kelnozz: I am not "staying at home, sitting on my butt , complaining about everything". I am at work. My life savings are doing quite well, thank you. I have a brain, therefore do not need an investment banker to tell me what to do with my money. In fact, I've done so well this year that I will be purchasing a second vacation home either this fall or next spring.

Art

Love that picture of Mr. Allman. Congratulations on your vacation home, Ill bet you didnt get the money for it by squating in a park somewhere.

No Brenda, you do not have to "get people riled up" or "cause work stoppage" to effect change. If your ideas are good enough, then change will occur.

That's right no one rocked the boat to get America formed. No one rocked the boat for equal rights. They all had great ideas and poof things changed.

I am at work.

Why are you wasting valuable work time on here? Isn't there some minimum wage employee you should be brow beating.

to funnyalmighty

Adam-1897760 No Brenda, you do not have to "get people riled up" or "cause work stoppage" to effect change. If your ideas are good enough, then change will occur

Guess you don't remember Rose Parks and what she did to effect change. Just by doing what the OWS people did, she was able to cause such a ruckus that laws where changed for the better. Read and you may be unlighted about what can happen if you stand against injustice.

Art-1430023 @ Brenda: First, I did not suggest "doing nothing." In fact, I made no suggestions at all. I did make an observation and a comment. Second, I believe the word you wanted was "course", not "coarse". It's English, don't be afraid to use it.

First as you would like to put it, English is what you read otherwise you would not have understood my statement to make a complaint about the spelling of "one" word.

Second, coarse is an English word even though I used it in the wrong context.

Third, you knew the intent of what I wrote, but chose to try to belittle someone who made a spelling error on "One" word to make your case seem better. If you enjoy being a spell checker, then you came to the right place, you can spend your whole day pointing out peoples spelling errors.

Be that as it may, it is obvious that you do not think much of the OWS protesters. Can't wait for the Republicans to remove some of your benefits (even though you work) and give that money to the rich too. You may be a middle class right now, but if the Republicans have their way, you will be in the lower class. You guys really like to shoot yourselves in the foot don't you?