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Miranda Leitsinger/msnbc.com
Protesters surge onto the steps of the Supreme Court late Tuesday as part of their "Occupy Congress" day of action in the nation's capital.
Protesters stormed onto the steps of the Supreme Court to decry corporate personhood, left handwritten messages on cards on a White House fence for the president and met with their lawmakers -- wrapping up a day of action primarily focused on American's disillusion with the legislative branch.
On the West Lawn in front of Congress on Tuesday, they held group talks on national protest planning and networking among Occupy outfits, a general assembly, and the Occupy Wall Street Think Tank led a discussion on the question, "What does democracy look like?"
The numbers were lower than the expected thousands, but more people streamed in toward day's end, when a march -- accompanied by chanting of slogans and the beating of drums and shaking of tambourines -- left from the Capitol for the high court and the White House, spinning through the D.C. streets with police clearing the way for what appeared to be between 1,000 and 2,000 demonstrators.
One of the disappointing aspects was the limited presence of congressional representatives, said Mario Lozada, a 25-year-old immigration lawyer from Philadelphia.
"We came here really for that dialogue ... to speak with our representatives, to make our presence known," he said. "We all have that same sentiment that our elected officials are not representing us" and that it was a corrupt system with corporate money "drowning out our voices."
The rain and timing on a work day may have affected turnout, but they were still pleased with the numbers, he added.
Christopher Seerden, 30, who traveled by train from Santa Cruz and wore a tent in solidarity with Occupy Melbourne, said he was there to let the government know that they were done with corporate greed.
"My family lost their dream home due to the banks screwing them over. So I'm here helping my family in solidarity," he said, as protesters chanted, "Whose streets, our streets." "I wish there were a million people here but this'll work ... I think it's still a good message to bring out on the first day of Congress in session."
PhotoBlog, December 6: Demonstrators from 46 states 'Take Back the Capitol'
The protesters then surged onto the court steps, filling them, waving flags and signs, chanting, "'the people united will never be defeated," and "money is not speech" in reference to the landmark Supreme Court decision affirming corporate personhood and money as speech, known as Citizens United, and which marks its second anniversary on Saturday.
As they cascaded down Constitution Avenue, protesters cheered as they passed by a building bearing large text of the first amendment, with some stopping to read it out loud. Reflecting on her time in D.C., Kelsey James, an 18-year-old protester from Reno, said it had been an intense experience.
"I've been moved deeply by seeing everybody unite and I thought that coming to our nation's capital to speak was very important," said James, noting that she had a positive experience with a Florida lawmaker she met Tuesday who had encouraged her to participate in the political process.
Near the end of the route was the White House, where protesters crafted messages for Obama on multi-colored heart-shaped cards and attached them to the fence with string. Other protesters formed a circle and meditated, while yet others chanted, "N-D-A-A, we say no way," referring to the controversial legislation that allows for the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens accused of being terrorists.
Preparing for the six-hour bus trip back to Greensboro, N.C., 65-year-old Cynthia Maddox, an accountant for small business who handles income taxes, said the day had given her hope.
"It's just that there's this whole generation that's come up and taken things into their own hands," she said, as protesters chanted, "We want progress, Occupy Congress."
Read previous posts on the protest:
Occupy protesters bring their discontent to Congress
Occupy Congress: Could it be politics as unusual?
Leave a Comment:
What? They didn't get the "Hope and Change" they voted for? I'm shocked.
@David Noah. Good one because the use of division by the powered and privileged has not already left us with a decaying country. These people are actually taking action to defend our nation and you make a statement like that. Do you see the irony in your statement in relation to your avatar?
Really Hauser. Where was your support of the Tea Party when they were protesting the government and its abuses for the last three years?
Now all of a sudden the "Occupiers" have realized how screwed up our government is and there here to save the day?
Maybe the difference is the Tea Party has never had any "Illusions" that the government was here to help and save the day, that big government could solve all our problems, so they were never "Disillusioned" to begin with.
If anything, maybe people will finally wake up and realize all the fluffy campaign speeches and promises to Change Washington, Change the way Washington works, change the Status Quo, etc.. isn't worth the words being displayed on the teleprompter.
If you know anything about Yin Yang then you know that it is about knowing both sides not just one and that each side contains the seed of the other, and that the sides are constantly in motion to maintain balance.
Balance must be maintained.Without balance there's chaos.
The main reason that the gap between the haves and have-nots is growing is because the trend towards entitlement itself is expanding faster than ever. Fewer people are willing to do anything to control their destinies, hence fewer people gather up the spoils of success.
The lemmings, quite justifiably, are left with a progressively decreasing slice of the pie.
These occupy losers are the cause of all the ills about which they now complain. Perhaps mass suicide would be the most pragmatic solution.
The spoils of success? You, of course, are a man-god, capable of doing every aspect of your business right? Your success is completely your own and doesn't rely on countless other people who may or may not work directly for you? I can, of course, understand this attitude if you're one of the greedy little pricks up on Wall Street contributing nothing to greater society while enjoying a majority of the benefits. Otherwise, I'd sure hate to work for you and pity the fools who have to put up with your arrogance. Don't worry, the crash is coming. I bet you think you're immune to it.
Hmmmmm,
How about union personhood?
How about the Executive Branch? How about the Judicial Branch?
Democracy looks exactly like what the useful idiots of this faux movement are trying to portray.
WE ARE NOT A DEMOCRACY!
We are a Federal Constitutional Republic. The Framer’s embraced this form of government over a Democracy because they saw the “excesses of Democracy” in other nations. They knew a Republic protects the Rights of the ultimate minority, the individual. A Democracy is “Tyranny-by-Majority.
The unwashed masses in the OWS have exposed what a “Democracy” looks like when they discouraged sexual assault victims from contacting Police. They were denying them the Right to report the crime and receive protection and justice. This is how a Democracy fails. THIS is what Democracy looks like.
Psssst, even the Constitution hating Liberals don’t want anything to do with your pseudo-movement anymore.
This mob movement has spent its capital and is fizzling out. A few rag-tag vagrants coming out and throwing smoke bombs around will never ingratiate the real Americans.
Typical in America: blame the victims, blame the raped woman but don't blame the perpetrators
I am glad that they have marched on the White House to protest finally? But they are called the {99%} but barely 1000 gathered for a march on Washington? Actually to try to compare this to the Tea Party movement is a joke and wishful thinking by the media and occupy supporters.
"During a press conference Thursday afternoon, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi praised those participating in the “Occupy Wall Street” protests. ”God bless them,” Pelosi said, “for their spontaneity. It’s independent … it’s young, it’s spontaneous, and it’s focused. And it’s going to be effective.”
“The message of the protesters is a message for the establishment everyplace,” said the House Democrats’ leader. “No longer will the recklessness of some on Wall Street cause massive joblessness on Main Street.”
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/god-bless-them-pelosi-praises-young-spontaneous-affective-wall-st-protests/
Here's the Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=j-jWr4cSzBI
I wonder if she invited them for a Luncheon yesterday ??
From the article:
Now let me get this right. We pay these people $175,000. a year to represent what WE want. They work a couple months, ignore our letters, vote according to which lobbyist pays them the most and then refuse to meet with us? Where were these representatives? This is our government at "work" for us...the lowly tax payers. Pitiful.....
Yo rico,
Make a freakin appointment to see your rep. How the ef is your representative supposed to know who the ef is outside acting like an idiot? Should they stand out in front of the crowd and try to guess who their constituency is? Give me an effing break. Not only are these "protesters" the epitome of the entitlement mentality run amok but they are retarded as well. I pity these idiots' parents. They must be embarrassed beyond belief.
JakeIam: if the pricks in Wall Street isn't contributing to society they wouldn't have made all their millions. Their services were needed that's why they make all their millions... don't blamed them for that. Blames those that sit around and expect money to fall to their laps.
Your family lost their home because they failed to pay back the loan they took out as promised. We wouldn't be in this mess if people who took loans paid them back!
selfmade13:
the greatest post of the day.
we've become a society of indolents.
no personal responsibility.
just a never ending stream of excuses for failing.
if at first you don't succeed... quit... the new American motto.
Most people lost their homes because they lost their jobs. As the wealthiest profited more than ever by outsourcing jobs, Americans will well paying jobs, that could afford a mortgage, lost them. Try go from making $75,000 or more to a year or 2 of unemployment, then a job making $40,000 a year. Factor in no health insurance because that, too, is unaffordable for most.
People who buy and invest years in a home suddenly decide not to make payments because they're too lazy to work. Look at the real estate bubble created by the bush administration.
The problem is that this country is totally motivated by money and greed. Keep the wars going, occupy countries for oil, send jobs to China for a few cents an hour, make health care unavailable to most people and you have a recipe for disaster.
Yet, there's so much money out there. The Repubs give perks to the wealthy who them send it back to them for campaign funding. More power to the Occupy movement.
Thank you Freedom! If I hear one more moron call this country a democracy, I'm going to start throwing things. We are not a democracy. We have never been a democracy. In fact, our founding fathers were terrified of democracy because a true democracy would lead to control by the masses and minority groups would have virtually no say in any policy decisions. A true democracy is actually a very terrible thing for freedom. You can go to a high school lunch room and see for yourself why this is true.
This is the reason why we are a democratic republic.
It's very hard to take these people seriously when they don't even understand the basic tenants of our political system.
Your TV is thinking for you.
poet...
Do you really think it's only the "Repubs" who "give perks to the wealthy who send it back to them for campaign funding" ??? Are you serious ??? Ever checked out where Mr. Obama got his dollars in 2008 ?
Is that the way your sympaticos in the "Occupy" mess think too ??? I've read on this website time after time that "Occupy" folks were non-partisan...that they were against the entire system, not supportive of any particular politician or political party.
I guess that might not be the case, based on your words. Maybe the truth will start showing up on the intentions of the "Occupy" sitcom.
Svenolafson
Seems to me if one to two thousand people were outside wanting to talk to me, their elected official, I would make an effort to appear. But that's just me....I don't have 40 years of jaded experience in lying, talking in circles and evasion.
When this movement started everyone was complaining that they shouldn't be marching on Wall Street but rather on Washington. What will be your issue with them now that they are in the "right place"? That they are lazy? Entitled? Communists? Anti-American? None of that is going to fly. America was built on dissent and opposition to the status quo whether you like it or not.
Things in this country are not good for the majority and will continue to get worse unless something is done. These protesters are trying to do that, they are trying to drive change for the better in America. Hopefully those of you who disagree will one day set your willful ignorance aside and realize that. The issues at the root of Occupy's anger are ones that likely affect you as well.
Obviously this an Unamerican activity, I think, maybe the U.S. House of Representative should have some sort of committee to weed out this sort of activity.
Echelon,
You've probably heard, somewhere in your distant past, about something that says there is a "right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Do you know where these phrases come from? Hint: it's called the First Amendment, Ech. In whole, the amendment reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
So, what is it about citizens exercising their First Amendment rights that you consider to be "[o]bviously. . . an Unamerican activity?" What do you think Congress should do to "weed out" this exercise of First Amendment rights?
Ech, just go back to your room and keep drawing with your crayons.
I think you missed the reference to the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Yes. All of the above. They are lazy and pathetic and ineffectual. A real show of force would be if they got jobs and lived their lives like the rest of us. I'd like to hang out in the middle of DC, drinking coffee and chatting up tourists all day long too, but I have to go to work.
Yep... they're all unemployed lazy layabouts. They're so lazy, they come from hundreds of miles away to protest. God damn bums... Why can't they just go to work, come home and watch Dancing with the Stars like the rest of us!
@Michael L. Marowitz
It was a joke, google HUAC and learn how well that worked out.
And indeed I will, so I too can pretend to be a Congressman.
@papag-3094648
To be fair, sarcasm always does fly over most people's heads over the internet.
You people are hilarious. You don't even get your own lame sarcasm.
I don't think they should be investigated for Unamerican activities but they should be investigated for lunacy.
We no longer have the ability to petition the government. We should bring this back. Before you knee jerk first learn what that means :).. At one point one could formally petititon the government against illegal government action and as such the government was required to respond!
My first issue with them is their lack of understanding of what should be done. My money paying for my message to be spread is indeed my speech. They complain that their JOBS are at risk when NOONE has a right to a job. The only right you have is to the opportunity. Now if they would protest like the Tea Party against the government taking our opportunities away by taxing too much and subsidizing unions that restrict individual opportunities and all the many other regulations and restrictions our government puts in place protecting us from ourselves then I will take them serious.
Right now it takes so much paperwork for an individual to start a business that it is prohibitive. Even our own government in their blinded attempt to “help” small business has now made it impossible for a small business to be a primary for a government contract.
What OWS needs to do is pull their money and either buy a cooperation of start one. Instead of quitting their jobs and spending their time shouting at Washington who are ardently ignoring them.
This REPUBLIC has set laws to protect our GOD given rights to pursue happiness. It does NOT protect any phantom right to HAVE happiness.
If you don't like your economic conditions then do what it takes to make more money. OWS just want someone else to take all the risk and provide a steady paycheck. Sorry there is no such thing as a steady paycheck.
My big issue with them now is that they have the gall to protest without showing any kind of appreciation or understanding for the basic tenants of our political system.
We are not, not have we ever been, a democracy. A pure democracy is a very terrible thing.
While I agree with some of the gripes that OWS has brought to the table - namely, corporate money in politics - it's terrifying to me that people will blindly follow those who clearly have no idea what they are talking about when it comes to our political foundation.
How do you expect OWS to affect change if they don't even know we are a republic? If they don't even know what a democracy looks like? Why do you think anyone is going to take them seriously if they can't demonstrate any kind of expertise about our system and how to change it? That's like complaining about a final exam being too hard when you didn't take the time to study.
You are governed on the basis of a need for checks and balances. When the executive, legislative, and judicial are all bought and paid for there is serious problem. At some point OWS will jettison all the polarizing issues and focus on the one thing most Americans can agree on: the need to remove money for the political system in order to restored government by the people, for the people, of the people.
Tell your headlie riter to lern how 2 spel DISILLUSIONMENT.
Please tell me this is a troll attempt. PLEASE.
Corporate America has held us hostage to long. This has nothing to do with give me this or give that or did they get what the voted for. It's about our politicians being bought and paid for to carry out the desire of big business. Speaking out and raising awareness is a good thing.
Tim, I agree with you 100% and good post.
My thoughts:
Corporate America is only doing what Congress and subsequently the American People allow them to do. Does that make it right? Certainly not to me, I am tired of seeing corporations treated like people, using their vast resources to buy votes in Congress, and then steer the direction of the nation. However, in all fairness, this same type of behavior is also exhibited by Unions as well. We also need to end corruption, greed, and the abuse in the nation's social welfare programs as well.
If we the people want change in this country, then it's up to us to steer our government that direction, and it all starts with Congress. I applaud the Occupy movement for their voice on the issues with Corporate America, but they also need to see the bigger picture too.
Corporate America is holding me hostage right now. They gave me a job and agreed to pay me. Effers!
So Sven,
You've been bought, whore that you are. Olaf wouldn't be proud of his son.
Lune
Lune...
Landing a job in business is now to be considered to mean that one has "been bought" ???
That's amazing !!!
No tony-268769,
Listen closely. Saying with pride that you're being held hostage means that you've been bought. What part of that original assertion did you miss? It's called Stockholm Syndrome, or something to that effect. It means that you've stopped thinking for yourself, you know, tony, kind of like you.
Lune
Kids. Just get a job. Jobs are out there. Stop expecting everything handed to you. 99% are tired of ur BS. Move on. You are the 1%.
Me and my printer bill for the hundreds of resumes, my worn out dress shoes, gas bills to go to far away interviews and the thousands of e-mail job rejections (whenever some companies HR is kind enough to send them) would like to have a long talk with you. I'll admit, there are jobs out there but , and the "just get a job crowd" keep forgetting, there are millions yes MILLIONS of other unemployed out there.
@echelon64, you have no clue. It has nothing to do with wanting things handed to you. I work 60+ hours a week. I own my business. I make six-figures. AND I WANT CHANGE.
I suggest you turn off the television and see what is really happening in this country.
My apologies..that was for John Moody, not echelon64.
Moody,
Aren't you getting tired of your baseless stereotypes and shallow observations of who is pressing for equitable change in this country?
Yeah, 65 year old accountant, Cynthia. I too wish those d*mn kids would get a job.
Did you even READ the story? Or are you just regurgitating what you've heard?
echelon64: I have been in that place of looking for a job only to find either the pay is too low of I miss the qualifications by a hair. In the end one must understand it is not a job you are after but an income. There are many ways to get an income and sending our resumes are one of the weakest. Try showing up at the place you want to work every day or at least once a week. After a month or so they will have noticed you are dedicated. I was also told and saw this work of showing up and working without pay until they give in and hire you.
My strongest suggestion is to start your own business. There are many ways of doing this that even someone without any money can do. Even something like Amway is easy and can make you some money.
The answer is to stop waiting for someone to GIVE you a job.
Lol.. Working for free. Sounds like your leaning towards communism.
I disagree, but not because of any willful ignorance, rather it is the issue or issues that prompt my disagreement with this protest movement. I see this kind of display almost every time I venture out. One brat throws a tantrum to get attention while the children who are behaving are ignored. A crowd chanting N-D-A-A deserves no respect. I am Joe Average (not a plumber) and fear of being held by our government as a suspected terrorist doesn't worry me in the least. What does worry me is our politicians avoiding a balanced budget, bailing out favored corporations, failing to act fairly on immigration issues and constantly attempting to raise the debt limit. Perhaps it is because I am a tax payer and not a brat demanding attention that my concern is drawn to these issues. I suspect these protesting brats don't work and are closer to engaging in terrorist activity than working and paying taxes. On second thought, maybe their behavior warrants worrying.
Balancing the budget by drastically cutting spending and introducing no new revenue will not work. COuntries already tried that in the Great Depression and things only got worse. Politicians need to put their personal aspirations aside and work together for the good of the nation. I believe that, in some form, is part of the protesters' platform.
My hope is that someone or some group will rise out of OWS, distance themselves from the extreme leftists, and focus on issues such as government accountability to those who elected it and diminishing the influence of corporations in the political system. Maybe then more Americans can join the fight and we'll see some change for the better.
Funny Lt, I'm pretty sure you just described many of the same issues these protesters care about. Next time read the article too, you might find out that many of these protesters have jobs, and that people only really started showing up in the late afternoon... after normal working hours. Good job buying into how the people in control want to paint this movement though. Bravo...
I smell fear.
Lt. better be fearing this loss of freedom. There have been many laws passed in the last couple of decades that have taken away many of our freedoms, and the rightists on the SCOTUS have furthered that cause.
Lt Tunes,
You disagree. That makes you a terrorist from the get-go. You disagree over issues, so that makes you doubly a terrorist. You dare speak out against the prevailing trends of your countrymen, so that makes you triply a terrorist. You have no fear of your government ("I am Joe Average (not a plumber) and fear of being held by our government as a suspected terrorist doesn't worry me in the least."), so you are a quadruple terrorist. Let me dispatch those who serve and protect to your home. You won't mind, will you?
Lune
For nearly 16 months, I have been calling on people to get involved in the Popular Amendment Movement and help petition for the passage of the Election/Campaign Finance Reform and Term Limits constitutional amendments. If you haven't gotten involved yet, why not? This is one way that you CAN be involved right in your own community. Newsvine won't let me post the link to the faircampaignreform(dot)us website anymore so here is the text for both amendments. Cut and paste them, print them out, circulate the petitions, and help form your own local grassroots organizations to get enough signatures to force your Secretary of State to call for the Constitutional Convention within your state. Email to all of your address book and encourage others to get involved in their communities. This is another way for citizens to get involved in keeping the power in their hands and not the hands of the corporations and the wealthy.
Petition for US Constitutional Amendment For Election Reform
We, the undersigned US citizens, duly registered voters in our respective states/territories, do hereby petition for our state to approve the following amendment to the United States Constitution by the method noted below.
Election Reform:
1. Abolish the Electoral College (Repeal Amendment 12)
2. ONE NATIONAL primary date to be held on the Tuesday eight (8) weeks prior to the General Election day for Congressional offices and for the President. Candidate petitions must be filed with the local/state elections boards 60 days prior to the Primary Election date. Federal election petitions shall be uniform in every state and shall include a “contract with the voters” that spells out clearly what that candidate stands for on all issues that they may have to address in elected office. They shall be held accountable in court for breach of that contract if elected and any/all terms are not met.
3. NO campaigning allowed for any elective federal office more than 60 days prior to the National Primary Date.
4. NO campaign contribution shall be donated to any candidate of more than $200 from an individual or $500 maximum from a family (spouses/children living in the same household.) No donations shall be made to a candidate more than sixty days prior to the primary date. No candidate shall contribute from their own funds more than 60% of the total donations from other private individuals.
5. NO campaign contribution from any PAC, corporation, union, non-profit organization, special interest group, etc. shall be allowed for any elected federal office.
6. NO third party campaigning (separate PAC ads, corporate ads, etc.) for/against any candidate shall be allowed at any time during or before the election season.
7. NO party conventions shall be held to select the presidential candidates. The selection must be done at the ballot box in the primary election.
8. The One Man/One Vote Supreme Court ruling shall be enforced by this Amendment, namely that NO federal candidate selection shall be by any means other than the ballot box on Primary/General Election Dates.
9. National Party Organizations shall NOT raise money for or donate to specific candidates of their party prior to the dates outlined above.
10. PAC’s shall NOT be granted tax-exempt status by the IRS, and any non-profit organization who uses their funding for political purposes shall lose their tax-exempt status.
11. All lobbyists shall be outlawed from influencing Congress at all times.
This amendment shall be approved ONLY by State Constitutional Conventions to be called within 90 days of this petition being submmitted to a state’s Secretary of State. A minimum of 25% of the registered voters in each state shall be required to further this petition to the respective Secretary of State.
Name Signature State Address
Petition for US Constitutional Amendment For Congressional Term Limits
We, the undersigned US citizens, duly registered voters in our respective states/territories, do hereby petition for our state to approve the following amendment to the United States Constitution by the method noted below.
Term Limits for Congress:
1. Representatives to Congress shall serve no more than two two-year terms in the House.
2. Senators shall be elected to no more than two six year terms in the Senate.
3. No elected official shall serve more than six terms in office in any combined elected offices (House/Senate/Presidency.)
This amendment shall be approved ONLY by State Constitutional Conventions to be called within 90 days of this petition being submmitted to a state’s Secretary of State. A minimum of 25% of the registered voters in each state shall be required to further this petition to the respective Secretary of State.
Name Signature State Address
With some modification (4 - two year congressional terms) the above two amendments are combined in the Clean Government Amendment. There is the additional restrictions, that monetary contributions can come from people that live or do business ONLY in the areas the candidate is to represent. ie districts - congress , states - senate , country - president.
It's yours.
Take it back.
You go OCCUPYER'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BRAD MILLER & COMPANY (Is the actual name of this corporation that sits in Congress)
These members of Congress are 100% criminal.
I know - they authorized the genocide of my family.
Attempted to delete most records of their existence, even going so far as to change street names of every place we lived, changed church names, changed the names of the healthcare facility where my mother nearly died. I would not speak this if I couldn't back it up with material evidence to show.
None of these in Congress are good people, but self-serving haters.
Since the beginning I've been saying the OWS crowd should take their show on the road to DC. Politicians who have ruled our country into oblivion and now they won't/can't/refuse to do anything constructive to get us out of the gawd-awful mess they've legislated us into. Starting with spending more than you take in. Self-serving dumbasses.
Funny how yesterdays article placed the number of losers at several hyndred. That is an overestimate. Todays article makes no mention of the numbers since it was just a handful. SEIU is going to have to pay these clowns a lot more money to get them to show up. I hope the rank and file are aware of this.
the liberal media knew this was all arranged by soros and the left wing groups
but they were in on it! they degraded the tea party but supported these losers!
The Tea Baggers are a bunch of sell outs!!!
yeah they sell out for america! freedom not freedumb! go get your orders today
from you liberal socialist president!
'mark' is a closet teabagger...he's trying to keep it a secret !
So are these guys going to be charged with assassination attempts too?
The looney left band of losers.
The tea baggers were the right band of losers.
'teabaggers' ....not a term that can by now be called anthing besides repetitive and boring. And surely not an item that has anything to do with the article written above.
When has nothing to add to a conversation...just revert back to 'teabagger', 'Bush', or 'repug' to add nuance to the topic, it appears.
hahahaha! this president can't get a break! him and pelosi and the rest of the
nut left wingers degraded the tea party as racist and terrorist and embraced
these bunch of loser dopeheaded lazy hippie spoiled brainwashed people saying
they are the movement of real americans now they turn on him!!!! you know
maybe they aren't as big of idiots as i thought! they see OBOMBO and the demos
as the lying big union corrupt wall street big business socialist they are!!!
Please remove yourself from the english speaking forums in the future. Thank you.
I too hate those 65 year old female accountant dope heads. D*mn hippies.
nosferatu-499026,
The situation is entirely disreputable, that damn old woman who thinks that she has a voice in this country. She ought to sit down and shut up, just shut up, the old crone. she should behave herself and not imagine that she lives in a country that allows old women to have any say-so in matters. The very idea. All the old women should just roll over and KEEP THEIR TRAPS SHUT so that GoodVsEvil can arrange all matters for us. That's the future I'm hoping for.
Lune
At least they're in the right city now.
The Dysfunctional Government and the National Strategy for Economic Growth in A Global Economy in the 21st Century
PERSPECTIVE:
Please realize that no economy in the world can be stable for a long time. They are all cyclical. Large scale cyclical economy in one country could spill over to others else where in on earth, a small planet of around 150+ countries/economies.
Nothing can stop a third world country from offering cheap labor and be competitive as a country [the concept ofcompetitive advantage of nations] in the global economy. The U.S. as a nation, in a global economic environment, must adjust to the reality and stay competitive. This would require vision and strategy at a national level.
THE CURRENT US ECONOMY
Some of the economic ruins were caused by foreign cyclical spill-overs. Other are in our own makings. Obviously, all levels of government and the private sectors must work together to get out of this "Great Economic Slump" that the U.S. is experiencing.
DYSFUNCTIONAL GOVERNMENT
I personally view that the executive branch has not been able to "lead" the "gridlock" legislature to guide the country from this "Great Economic Slump" into economic normalcy. I say it is the worse case in the U.S. history that the government is so "dysfunctional".
Everything else other than the economy and the society as a whole are spiraling down to an unacceptable level as a result.
NOW
The government is back to work after the new year recess.
Please come up with a national strategy for economic growth and coordinate other non-economic related strategies working together to put America back to the pre-recession good time or any other good times that America have had in the past.
Empower all the relevant government body, systems and the people to bring the country back once again.
Whatever the future holds, God bless America
OWS has a few credibility problems at this point. They should have marched on DC from Day 1; and the message coming from OWS amounts to "lots of people want lots of things". OWS lacks coherence and seems directionless. The American attention span is pretty short and OWS needed to have accomplished something, anything by now to keep momentum. As it is it's just a media freakshow for most people reading the news, not a force for change.
As an example, what's the plan in DC? Group discussions on "What does democracy look like?" How about nailing down some solid goals in advance next time. It's just impossible to take OWS seriously.
You have to remember that this is a movement in its infancy. The issues are vast and deep. There doesn't seem to be only one or two things to place on an agenda. Our government has been run this way for a long time and a cure will not come quickly.
Bottom line is the message is now out there and being heard. Not seriously? Serious enough to be in the news every day and those who deny there is a big problem are foolish and refuse to see that the agenda of wall street and our politicians has crippled our great nation
Tim - Did you ever see what happens to a sparkler when it gets wet, sorta fizzles out? That is what is happening with the OWS movement.
A movement in its infancy? It's been going on for months. The tea party did more in one month than this movement has in half a year.
I so agree with you. What is a discussion group on "what democracy looks like," going to do for a nation that's founded as a republic? Idiots, all of them. A pure democracy looks like a majority mob dictatorship that ignores the freedoms of minority groups. That's why we aren't a democracy.
But, of course, these dolts will sit around for a week pondering this very simple question, that has a very clear answer, because it's easier to do that then actually come up with a plan to affect change.
Joyce-4263422,
Did you ever see what happens to dynamite when it gets wet? You seem not to have a grasp of the concept of fizzling at all.
Lune
"A movement in its infancy? It's been going on for months."
How long did the anti-Vietnam movement take? What about Gandhi's civil disobedience? Try cracking a history book instead of wasting your time on this comment board.
Actually, I know quite a bit about history. These are different times and, thus, I choose to measure this movement based current precedents. The tea party was far more effective in a shorter period of time. Obviously, it can be done when the message is focused, the target is consistent, the audience is engaged and the protestors well behaved. I'm not a tea party supporter, but Ill give credit where credit is due. That was an movement that effected change.
Further, until the OWS movement can stop acting like a bunch of animals and actually focus on something productive, it would be laughable to compare it to Ghandi. The success of, and respect for, the Vietnam movement is debatable.
But, papag, Ill bite anyway since you are so smart. If this movement is in it's infancy, where do YOU see it going? In all seriousness, please explain how sitting in a drum circle contemplating the meaning of democracy is going to help our country (which is not a democracy)? Are they going to write a report on their findings when it's done?
In all seriousness, I think the OWS "think tank" should probably take a U.S. History course - or at least read The Federalist - if they want to be taken seriously by the majority of this country.
Regarding Vietnam, I mean debatable in terms of consistent public support and respect. I'm not arguing some of the successes the movement accomplished. That said, I believe the Vietnam movement was far more focused on an end goal than OWS and I don't see the two as being comparable. But, again, that's personal opinion.
I'd say it's very comparable to the Vietnam movement. In that movement's infancy it was disorganized protests and chaos. As it matured it was able to encompass millions of average Americans and Congress responded to the public sentiment by legislating the US out of the war.
As it matures I see this movement, or at least a faction within it, distancing itself from the extreme leftists looking for amnesty for illegals and similarly unpopular issues. They will focus on core issues such as government accountability to the people who elected it and diminishing corporate/lobbyist influences in the political system. Once they have a platform focused on those issues that are important to millions of Americans more and more people will join the movement. It will be a lot harder to justify pepper spraying law-abiding Americans. Then, much like in the early 1970s, the clowns in the Capitol will be forced to listen.
Well, I'm glad you found a movement you can believe in, then.
Personally, I'm not holding my breath. It's going to take a lot of changes for anyone to take OWS seriously at this point.
They sure picked the right place to protest, the Supreme Court is corrupt and now makes judgement with conflict of interests in mind.
I still don't know if OWS has a headquarter, a leadership group, a website or things of these sort in place before a few of the OWS people went face-to-face with Congress.
I couldn't find it in Google. So I suppose they are a bunch of disorganized americans with discontent about the current situation of the country as whole as we blog
One of the biggest parts of the problem is a warning and a prophecy by President Eisenhour. The following is an embed of a short video of part of his farewell address:
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Liberals are always angry. They know that nobody in their right mind would follow them unless they blatantly lie to other people's faces and tell people what they think they want to hear. This miniscule group would be even tinier if they actually told people exactly what they were trying to accomplish. It's the antithesis to the American way. Every problem this nation has ever faced can be traced to liberalism. Without the biased media on their side they probably wouldn't even exist.
Liberals, no one will follow unless they blatantly lie, you could be right, just like those weapons of mass destruction.
Well, Fishlore,
Let's examine your assertions. "All liberals are always angry." Okay, I added the "all" to "liberals", but that qualifier was implied in your statement. You do understand implications, right? Well, anyway, liberals are always angry, you said, so all I have to do is find one liberal who isn't angry, and there you go, your entire argument falls by the wayside. Any non-angry liberals out there? Step up right quickly. I need some, oh what the hell, non-angry liberals. Are those such a difficult commodity to come by?
And "they know that nobody". Well, good heavens, "they" are practically everybody and "nobody" are practically everybody too. So "they" and "nobody" are just about everyone and no one all at once. If I wanted to say no thing and nothing all at once, I can't imagine a better way not to say it. But you're the one making assertions here.
And in their right mind? Well for @!$%#s sake, don't they have their own minds after all? Their SEPARATE AND INDIVIDUAL minds? For crying out loud, nobody in their right mind would be in their right mind because the pronoun and the noun don't even match in number. I think that we learned that rule of grammar in, let me guess, fifth grade or so. Right? You remember that, old Miss Rountree and all that?
What utter poppycock. Liberals are always angry and Fishlore is perennially stupid, near as I can figure.
Lune
Proletariat protests lead to proletariat uprisings unless treated seriously. Mr. Hubris, Romney, whould know that in business the first signs of a problem are the jokes about a situation, then come the derogatory remarks then the anger then the walk outs. There are a multitude of serious issues prompting these protests, at some point in time the movement will become organized, at some point in time the wannabe and clueless will be left out, on thier own and a real movement will come about. The Tea Party is primarily older folks resistant to change, the Occupy folks are younger people frustrated at the lack of change. "When you are through changing, you're through". (Can't help but think that the "ugly rubble", those who look like and act like clueless druggies have been hired by the likes of Grover and his list of clowns to mislead and invoke the ire of spectators.) This would be fun to watch if it were not that is is truly a matter to be taken seriously before it becomes a matter to be taken seriously.
One of the biggest parts of the problem is a warning and a prophecy by President Eisenhour. The following is an embed of a short video of part of his farewell address:
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People lose their homes because they don't pay their mortgages. I'm sick of hearing the morons mouthing this BS, and blaming others for their own stupidity.
Many, if not most, lose their homes through no fault of their own. Loss of jobs, catastrophic health issues (which even insurance can't prevent), and a few, using housing as a commodity for investment. A lot of those folks got caught at the top holding the bag. You play the usual typical game of blaming to poor.
Most people on welfare are not lazy, though people want to believe they are. This is another exaggeration. I Florida, we've learned they are not doing drugs. Yet another fraudulent belief.
Most OWS people are not the "unwashed". The press does like to focus on the more extreme portions to sell papers and play on fears.
And yes, the tea party had it's troubles. I remember footage of one person stepping on the head of a counter demonstrator.
We have rednecks here in Florida who are welfare cheats and vote republican because they fear losing their guns. They could tell you nothing about economics, social restrictions, political strategy or any of it. The guys just feel tougher and have a macho image of themselves if they vote republican. In all honesty, I've learned that most of them don't vote. They feel uncomfortable that close to "official" business.
If liberal and conservatives would come out of their corners, maybe, just maybe something could be done.
My sister has been on some sort of government health care all her life. Military dependent first and then a husband who works for a government with insurance mostly paid for by the employer. She doesn't want anybody else to have health care so she doesn't have to wait in lines and sit with 'them'.
Near where I am, the rednecks have a bigger problem with unwed mothers than the other groups. Race is no respecter of stupidity. I really wish something could be done about that form of immorality as well as immorality in government and business. For all of us, and I do mean all, playing the system seems to be the norm now. I blame every one including the christian right which is not christian.
Those who lost their homes did so primarily because they purchased homes far more expensive than was pratical for their incomes and savings! Many real estate agents tried, hard to convince my wife and I just how easily we could afford houses, given all the different "creative financing" options available, that our incomes and bank statements disagreed with. We listened instead to our bank statements!