#OccupyWallstreet

[werepossum]

On paper. In reality, they are natural allies, because both are against cronyist government in bed with Wall Street oligarchs.

I don't really get a sense that the Tea Party people are particularly antithetical to "Wall Street oligarchs" as long as government stops wasting money. Or maybe even just as long as government stops spending so much money, wasted or not. The Occupiers want government to spend much, much more money and take much, much more power, which will require businesses to lobby government much, much more intensely in order to survive and prosper. Those two groups are never going to gee and haw.

My take... yeah, I know, it's worth less than $0.02....
I came from a VERY poor family; we were once literally homeless. As a child, my family lived beside train tracks for a while and begged for help from acquaintances

I decided at a young age that I wanted a different life for myself...
I worked from age 11 in various jobs to make sure I had decent clothes to wear to school and supplies available so that I could take notes and make decent grades.

In college, I worked 3 jobs at a time to pay my way through school. I graduated with good grades, not the best in the school, but good.

After leaving school, I got a good job that paid decently. I have worked at the same company for the past 12 years, busting my tail to make sure that NOBODY ever had a complaint about my performance on the job.

Now, I've moved up and lead a team of 11 talented people. I make a great salary and I am valued by those with which I work.

To me, this is exactly how it should be.... those who work hard get rewarded/compensated for their hard work.

It seems that the people "protesting" are fighting against this same work ethic.

I'll admit, I have a small-ish view of the world (my own life), but I think it's probably more well rounded than that of some others. But, it seems if these people would spend less time bitching about their situation(s) and more time doing what it takes to change their situation(s) they would be far better off.

Again, I'm just a simple guy, and I know this is worth far less than $0.02.

Thanks for reading

Excellent story, a great example of life decisions well made and how life should work. You find a job you'd like (or at least not hate) to do that is in demand where you want to be, work your ass off, and get richly rewarded so that you make the world a better place and in return get to live the American dream. I'd only add that sometimes shit happens - you think you've made all the right choices and then you get pancreatic cancer, or you work your ass off to make your way up the ladder and then the plant gets shut down and the work shipped off to China. I suspect you already know that and live your life conservatively just in case of calamity, but it's worth repeating for others.

 

[Phokus]

Citizens United does NOT allow corporations "to contribute unlimited amounts of money to campaigns". That's a false statement.




There is no "HIDING FUNDS OFFSHORE" allowed. That is already prohibited, and a high priority, in fact I believe the highest priority, of the IRS at this time.

But I'll give them credit for at least articulating some more-or-less cogent stuff. Much better than what I've generally seen so far.

Fern

Actually i think citizens united had a big impact on state laws banning corporate spending:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/23/us/politics/23states.html

As for the hiding offshore tax issue, that's a bit debatable how hard we're trying to close down those havens. I think the issue with UBS was that they had a big presence here in the states and there was a whistleblower, if we were really serious about offshore tax havens, we'd probably put more economic sanctions against countries like switzerland.

 

[dwell]

Again, I'm just a simple guy, and I know this is worth far less than $0.02.

Nah. I dig it. Sort of like the "I am the 99%" stories from the other side of the coin.

Similar story here. Moral: Don't complain about your situation, fix your situation.

 

[orbster556]

1.PASS HR 1489 REINSTATING GLASS-STEAGALL. – A depression era safeguard that separated the commercial lending and investment banking portions of banks. Its repeal in 1999 is considered the major cause of the global financial meltdown of 2008-2009.

Who considers it the major cause of the financial 'meltdown'? The guy for whom the bill is named doesn't: http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/03/30/us-financial-regulation-volcker-idUSTRE62T56420100330. If even Volcker is saying that prop trading wasn't central to the crisis, why are we still talking about this?

2. REPEAL BUSH TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY

5. PASS THE BUFFET RULE ON FAIR TAXATION, CLOSE CORPORATE TAX LOOPHOLES, PROHIBIT HIDING FUNDS OFFSHORE.

Leaving aside the issue of how this will negatively affect S-Corps, the Occupy people do realize that even under the Bush-era tax schedule, those earning 1m+ paid a higher average rate (23.3) than those both earning less than 50k (8.9) and those earning between 50-100k (8.9)?

I understand that facts can be unsettling but Buffet was clearly an anomaly (moreover, why doesn't he share his tax secrets with the rest of the country since he's become so outspoken). Although I don't mind have an honest discussion about policy, I find it baffiling that people persist in folly by continuing to claim that the average millionaire pays a lower rate than those not making as much.

If the Occupy folks are endorsing a flat tax or a complete overhaul of the tax code, Amen I say that. Unfortunately, I doubt this.

12. FORGIVE STUDENT DEBT – The same institutions that gave almost $2T in bailouts and then extended $16T of loans at little to no interest for banks can surely afford to forgive the $946B of student debt currently held. Not only does this favor the 99% over the 1%, it has the practical effect of more citizens spending money on actual goods, not paying down interest.

The problem here is that TARP funding wasn't free to the recipients; indeed, many smaller and community banks are still paying bank those loans they recieved. Thus, the idea that TARP and a debt-forgiveness program would be roughly equivilent is not even close to the truth.

 

[spidey07]

Occupy Chicago has their shit together:

http://occupychi.org/2011/10/07/our-proposed-demands/#more-879

1.PASS HR 1489 REINSTATING GLASS-STEAGALL. – A depression era safeguard that separated the commercial lending and investment banking portions of banks. Its repeal in 1999 is considered the major cause of the global financial meltdown of 2008-2009.

2. REPEAL BUSH TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY

3. FULLY INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE THE WALL STREET CRIMINALS who clearly broke the law and helped cause the 2008 financial crisis.

4.OVERTURN CITIZENS UNITED v. US. – A 2010 Supreme Court Decision which ruled that money is speech. Corporations, as legal persons, are now allowed to contribute unlimited amounts of money to campaigns in the exercise of free “speech.”

5. PASS THE BUFFET RULE ON FAIR TAXATION, CLOSE CORPORATE TAX LOOPHOLES, PROHIBIT HIDING FUNDS OFFSHORE.

6. GIVE THE SEC STRICTER REGULATORY POWER, STRENGTHEN THE CONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU, AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR OWNERS OF FORECLOSED MORTGAGES WHO WERE VICTIMS OF PREDATORY LENDING.

7.TAKE STEPS TO LIMIT THE INFLUENCE OF LOBBYISTS AND ELIMINATE THE PRACTICE OF LOBBYISTS WRITING LEGISLATION.

8. ELIMINATE RIGHT OF FORMER GOVERNMENT REGULATORS TO WORK FOR CORPORATIONS OR INDUSTRIES THEY ONCE REGULATED.

9. ELIMINATE CORPORATE PERSONHOOD.

10. INSIST THE FEC STAND UP FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN REGULATING PRIVATE USE OF PUBLIC AIRWAVES to help ensure that political candidates ARE GIVEN EQUAL TIME for free at reasonable intervals during campaign season.

11. REFORM CAMPAIGN FINANCE WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE FAIR ELECTIONS NOW ACT (S.750, H.R. 1404).

12. FORGIVE STUDENT DEBT – The same institutions that gave almost $2T in bailouts and then extended $16T of loans at little to no interest for banks can surely afford to forgive the $946B of student debt currently held. Not only does this favor the 99% over the 1%, it has the practical effect of more citizens spending money on actual goods, not paying down interest.

LOL! Full on commie bullshit. This is the left's and marxist's wet dream. No wonder the democrats are backing the commies. HUGE mistake on their part, they are exposing what and who they really are. Notice how just about every single point is MORE GOVERNMENT, MORE CONTROL.

 

[Phokus]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/10/glenn-beck-occupy-wall-street-kill-everybody_n_1004016.html

Glenn Beck with more hyperbole

 

[Svnla]

The cost of the occupy protest is $1.9 million (to pay police OT) and climbing - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44851474/ns/us_news-life/

The city is broke, the mayor ordered all departments to cut $2 billion for the next 18 months.

 

[dwell]

12. FORGIVE STUDENT DEBT – The same institutions that gave almost $2T in bailouts and then extended $16T of loans at little to no interest for banks can surely afford to forgive the $946B of student debt currently held. Not only does this favor the 99% over the 1%, it has the practical effect of more citizens spending money on actual goods, not paying down interest.

Ha. Bullshit on this. Can they forgive my mortgage while they're at it

 

[Patranus]

Occupy Chicago has their shit together:

http://occupychi.org/2011/10/07/our-proposed-demands/#more-879

1.PASS HR 1489 REINSTATING GLASS-STEAGALL. – A depression era safeguard that separated the commercial lending and investment banking portions of banks. Its repeal in 1999 is considered the major cause of the global financial meltdown of 2008-2009.

2. REPEAL BUSH TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY

3. FULLY INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE THE WALL STREET CRIMINALS who clearly broke the law and helped cause the 2008 financial crisis.

4.OVERTURN CITIZENS UNITED v. US. – A 2010 Supreme Court Decision which ruled that money is speech. Corporations, as legal persons, are now allowed to contribute unlimited amounts of money to campaigns in the exercise of free “speech.”

5. PASS THE BUFFET RULE ON FAIR TAXATION, CLOSE CORPORATE TAX LOOPHOLES, PROHIBIT HIDING FUNDS OFFSHORE.

6. GIVE THE SEC STRICTER REGULATORY POWER, STRENGTHEN THE CONSUMER PROTECTION BUREAU, AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR OWNERS OF FORECLOSED MORTGAGES WHO WERE VICTIMS OF PREDATORY LENDING.

7.TAKE STEPS TO LIMIT THE INFLUENCE OF LOBBYISTS AND ELIMINATE THE PRACTICE OF LOBBYISTS WRITING LEGISLATION.

8. ELIMINATE RIGHT OF FORMER GOVERNMENT REGULATORS TO WORK FOR CORPORATIONS OR INDUSTRIES THEY ONCE REGULATED.

9. ELIMINATE CORPORATE PERSONHOOD.

10. INSIST THE FEC STAND UP FOR THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN REGULATING PRIVATE USE OF PUBLIC AIRWAVES to help ensure that political candidates ARE GIVEN EQUAL TIME for free at reasonable intervals during campaign season.

11. REFORM CAMPAIGN FINANCE WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE FAIR ELECTIONS NOW ACT (S.750, H.R. 1404).

12. FORGIVE STUDENT DEBT – The same institutions that gave almost $2T in bailouts and then extended $16T of loans at little to no interest for banks can surely afford to forgive the $946B of student debt currently held. Not only does this favor the 99% over the 1%, it has the practical effect of more citizens spending money on actual goods, not paying down interest.

LOL - Where to start.
1 - LOL
2 - LOL
3 - Ok, but they are all in the Obama administration
4 - They don't understand the court decision
5 - As long as its similar to 999. And many corporations don't "hide" money off shore. The money is there because it wasn't made in the United States and those countries have lower taxes. Why should they pay US taxes on money made in Iraq or Japan?
6 - LOL
7 - Stop voting people into office like N.Pelosi and the problem will solve itself. The voters need to take responsibility for their actions as well.
8 - Yes, lets eliminate "rights" - Laughable
9 - Then eliminate regulation and taxes
10 - Its not the FCC's job to "stand up" for any group be it certain citizens or corporations.
11 - Might want to ask Obama about this. I remember someone wanted to publicly financed election but I can't quite put my finder on it.
12 - The most laughable of them all

 

[Patranus]

The cost of the occupy protest is $1.9 million (to pay police OT) and climbing - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44851474/ns/us_news-life/

The city is broke, the mayor ordered all departments to cut $2 billion for the next 18 months.

No sympathy for the city.
They should have cracked down on these ass clowns day 1.
Instead they felt content with them breaking the law so now they get to live with the consequences.

 

[sactoking]

8. ELIMINATE RIGHT OF FORMER GOVERNMENT REGULATORS TO WORK FOR CORPORATIONS OR INDUSTRIES THEY ONCE REGULATED.

That won't fix anything and is just another attempt to stifle freedom and liberty.

 

[Phokus]

LOL - Where to start.
1 - LOL
2 - LOL
3 - Ok, but they are all in the Obama administration
4 - They don't understand the court decision
5 - As long as its similar to 999. And many corporations don't "hide" money off shore. The money is there because it wasn't made in the United States and those countries have lower taxes. Why should they pay US taxes on money made in Iraq or Japan?
6 - LOL
7 - Stop voting people into office like N.Pelosi and the problem will solve itself. The voters need to take responsibility for their actions as well.
8 - Yes, lets eliminate "rights" - Laughable
9 - Then eliminate regulation and taxes
10 - Its not the FCC's job to "stand up" for any group be it certain citizens or corporations.
11 - Might want to ask Obama about this. I remember someone wanted to publicly financed election but I can't quite put my finder on it.
12 - The most laughable of them all

That won't fix anything and is just another attempt to stifle freedom and liberty.

Ignoring the fact that most of Patranus' answers were empty and nonsensical, the biggest problem we have with enforcement is the fact that the SEC is doing the equivalent of the chief of police going to work for drug dealers after they're done with their stints in public office. Certain agency heads (like the SEC) obviously need to pay more, but to ignore this problem is why this country is fucked.

 

[Patranus]

Ignoring the fact that most of Patranus' answers were empty and nonsensical, the biggest problem we have with enforcement is the fact that the SEC is doing the equivalent of the chief of police going to work for drug dealers after they're done with their stints in public office. Certain agency heads (like the SEC) obviously need to pay more, but to ignore this problem is why this country is fucked.

Then stop voting for ass clowns (like Obama) who put the crooks in charge of the SEC.

 

[Phokus]

Then stop voting for ass clowns (like Obama) who put the crooks in charge of the SEC.

Oh give me a break, you want everyone to vote Republican. As if that's the answer to our payers.

 

[Generator]

Where are the fucking Teabaggers?! Why aren't these lousy sons of bitches out on the same streets? It doesn't matter what kind of liberal you will be shoulder to shoulder with. Your government has been hijacked and you are getting ROBBED every fucking day. I guess the Teabaggers blew their wad on spitting on a few black politicians. That was their great achievement! Pathetic...

 

[Nebor]

12. FORGIVE STUDENT DEBT – The same institutions that gave almost $2T in bailouts and then extended $16T of loans at little to no interest for banks can surely afford to forgive the $946B of student debt currently held. Not only does this favor the 99% over the 1%, it has the practical effect of more citizens spending money on actual goods, not paying down interest.

I like how they saved that one for last. Why don't they throw their credit card debt on there too? Don't forget about car payments! Those predatory Toyota Prius salesmen shouldn't get away with it!

 

[Phokus]

I like how they saved that one for last. Why don't they throw their credit card debt on there too? Don't forget about car payments! Those predatory Toyota Prius salesmen shouldn't get away with it!

Well, you can discharge most debt via bankruptcy, but student debt is much much harder to discharge, thanks to the current regulations.

 

[sactoking]

Ignoring the fact that most of Patranus' answers were empty and nonsensical, the biggest problem we have with enforcement is the fact that the SEC is doing the equivalent of the chief of police going to work for drug dealers after they're done with their stints in public office. Certain agency heads (like the SEC) obviously need to pay more, but to ignore this problem is why this country is fucked.

Why would the head of the SEC going to work for Bank of America be bad? It's no different than the head of BofA going to work for Citi. Many states have enacted employment legislation that such non-compete arrangements are against the public interest and therefore void or practically unenforceable.

Now, if the argument is that regulators give preference to certain companies they are regulating because they have employment lined up for afterward, that is actually a wholly separate topic. In that case the regulator is failing to perform his duties.

That's not what was proposed. What was proposed is that the Federal government should tortiously interfere with an ex-employee's ability to seek employment, a practice that is inherently against the public interest.

 

[spidey07]

Yep, chicago's got it's act together alright. I'm sure Obama is so proud of such community organizing.

http://biggovernment.com/jpollak/20...gn=Feed%3A+BigGovernment+(Big+Government)

Big Government has learned that anarchist groups, led by Lisa Fithian and working with Democrats and unions on the ground in Chicago, intend forcibly to disrupt the Mortgage Bankers’ Association meeting at the Hyatt Regency Chicago and other locations this afternoon.

Violence is possible, as local police and security officers seem unprepared for a confrontation with thousands of activists converging on the Hyatt from multiple other staged demonstrations in Chicago.

 

[Phokus]

Why would the head of the SEC going to work for Bank of America be bad? It's no different than the head of BofA going to work for Citi. Many states have enacted employment legislation that such non-compete arrangements are against the public interest and therefore void or practically unenforceable.

Now, if the argument is that regulators give preference to certain companies they are regulating because they have employment lined up for afterward, that is actually a wholly separate topic. In that case the regulator is failing to perform his duties.

That's not what was proposed. What was proposed is that the Federal government should tortiously interfere with an ex-employee's ability to seek employment, a practice that is inherently against the public interest.

What do you suggest then?

I mean, personally, maybe raising the incomes for those key positions would do the trick, but just allowing them to go to work for the same companies they are supposed to be regulating is NOT working.

I don't think the SEC giving special preferences to only certain companies is the problem here, but the fact that they ignore the problems in the entire industry.

 

[Generator]

Why would the head of the SEC going to work for Bank of America be bad? It's no different than the head of BofA going to work for Citi.

You are a child! Go back to your sippy cup plebe.

 

[Hacp]

Where are the fucking Teabaggers?! Why aren't these lousy sons of bitches out on the same streets? It doesn't matter what kind of liberal you will be shoulder to shoulder with. Your government has been hijacked and you are getting ROBBED every fucking day. I guess the Teabaggers blew their wad on spitting on a few black politicians. That was their great achievement! Pathetic...

Once the list of demands came out, the OccupyWallStreet movement lost all teaparty support. Occupy wall street wants more gvmt, the tea party wants less.

 

[Patranus]

Yep, chicago's got it's act together alright. I'm sure Obama is so proud of such community organizing.

http://biggovernment.com/jpollak/20...campaign=Feed:+BigGovernment+(Big+Government)

Let them get violent.
Obama, the Democrats, and the "progressives" have made their bed with these communists/anarchists.

(Again, not sure why communists and anarchists are working together as they are polar opposites but whatever)
(Also, how many people were arrested and/or pepper sprayed at 912?)

 

[Phokus]

Yep, chicago's got it's act together alright. I'm sure Obama is so proud of such community organizing.

http://biggovernment.com/jpollak/20...campaign=Feed:+BigGovernment+(Big+Government)

Anyone who reads Andrew Breitbart's websites with a grain of salt is an idiot.

Oh hi spidey.

 

[spidey07]

Let them get violent.
Obama, the Democrats, and the "progressives" have made their bed with these communists/anarchists.

(Again, not sure why communists and anarchists are working together as they are polar opposites but whatever)
(Also, how many people were arrested and/or pepper sprayed at 912?)

Remember how I kept telling you the war between the haves and have nots was coming? Prep people, prep.