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Timothy A. Clary / AFP - Getty Images
Demonstrators with "Occupy Wall Street" sleep in Zuccotti Park on September 29, 2011 in New York. where demonstrators against the economic system have been gathering in New York City. The encampment in the financial district of New York City is now on Day 13. The demonstrators are protesting bank bailouts, foreclosures and high unemployment.
Timothy A. Clary / AFP - Getty Images
Demonstrators exercise in Zuccotti Park during with "Occupy Wall Street" occupy on Sept. 29, 2011 in New York.
Timothy A. Clary / AFP - Getty Images
Daily life at the "Occupy Wall Street" sit in Zuccotti Park in New York.
Timothy A. Clary / AFP - Getty Images
Demonstrators with "Occupy Wall Street" sleep Zuccotti Park on September 29, 2011 in New York. The encampment in the financial district of New York City is now on Day 13. The demonstrators are protesting bank bailouts, foreclosures and high unemployment.
Related:
Wall Street protesters target NY cops next
Msnbc.com's John Schoen visited the sit-in, which he characterized as a messy, mostly disorganized movement that lacks a clear message -- a lot like the rest of the current American political discourse these days.
Leave a Comment:
Go protesters! Give 'em hell!!
I assume you mean GO...HOME.
The best sign I've seen from this protest is in one of the above photos. It says: "Will work for a better society".
That is truly the kind of spirit we need. But in order to work for a better society, I think these young protesters need to set up a 'think tank' and work out some ways they can actually make changes. Protest does bring problems to the open and in some cases can cause change. However, without some kind of unity of statement and ideas to make changes for the better, I fear they will eventually just all go home.
There is power in protest. But there is always a need for your protest not only to be about something...it needs to show a way to make positive changes.
M. Forrest...To me, it seems the sign should have read: "WIlL SLeEP 4 a BEttEr sOCIeTy" And, yes, it is always a sign of intelligence to mix upper and lower case letters. And, throw in a couple of numerals for good measure. Ah, the mixed up texting generation.
This is at least finally getting the coverage it deserves. This is an important event in America and the establishment media has all but ignored it. Keep up the good fight and stay safe!
Good thing these pictures don't come with smell o vision. The combination of BO and patchouli is probably overwhelming on day 13.
when will the debtors revolt start?
The debtors revolt? You mean all the people that spent and spent and spent and borrrowed and borrowed what they didn't have and can't or won't repay? When will they stand up like pouting toddlers and refuse to pay their debts that they honestly agreed to?!? You're ridiculous. I had a ton of debt from school years ago. You think I *wanted* to pay it? No, but I did, because I took that money so I paid it back because that's what's right. Its called PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
Support the protesters and help them keep it up! They are speaking for all of us!
Um, no they are not.
Yes they are.
All of us means: "all of us except evil bankers, lawyers, politicians and Wall Street swindlers"
They don't speak for me. Never did and never will. I would like to thank the protesters, though. Thank them for their disgusting stench, their moronic hippie BS, their complete disregard for residents of the neighborhood, and their twisted sense of entitlement.
I am not part of the Wall St. problem, but I worked damn hard to get to where I am today and am now able to enjoy life thanks to my hard work. Nothing was ever given to me on a sliver platter - I worked my a** off. Perhaps you should try the same thing. Look out for me, I'll be flipping you the bird as I walk by all the idiots in the park.
RRD-801737- flip em twice will ya?
These people are protesting high unemployment? LOL Oh, my god. Just look at them. Who the hell is going to employ any of them? One guy looks like he's passed out on Qualudes while another guy does his impression of Stephen Stills playing a cheap Mexican guitar. Then we have the half-bald exercise queen who is obviously dressed for success. Next, we have Manny, Moe and Jack...or is it hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil before someone yells, "Simon says...Hands up"? Finally, we have some schmuck sleeping in a baggie so he can preserve the wonderful aroma of his ripe bare feet. By the looks of things, I think these folks could accurately be called the "trash bag and tarp generation".
To JessieL......"If we behave like those on the other side, then we are the other side. Instead of changing the world, all we'll achieve is a reflection of the one we want to destroy."- JEAN GENET
You must be as homogenized as they come lady.....
citizen...Yes, there are many, many people in prison who have taken your sage advice. Here is a special quote that was made just for you:
"Better to stay silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt" - Attributed to many
JessieL...I will no longer comment to you as you are clearly an arrogant sociopath who is unable to feel empathy with anyone who is out of a job, lost their retirement, lost their home, overwhelmed by health care cost and the the immoral cost of higher education. You are the one hurling insults on human beings who do more than blog...they are there....doing something they believe in, while you wistfully go through your pathetic thesaurus looking for cute antidotes to dehumanize and character assassinate. If I thought you had one ounce of intelligence, I would further continue this commentary, but you, in your first post, have already proven that there is no sense in continuing down your lurid path. As for prison, you arrogant suck, John The Baptist, Jesus and The Apostle Paul, 1st century protestors, also got locked up by the powers to be. So your point? Right. You have none. Get a life.
None of those kids have "lost their retirement, lost their home,"... I doubt any are "overwhelmed by health care cost" I bet a few of them have a higher liberal education paid for by their parents and haven't worked a day in their lives, maybe inside a starbucks. Some of the others in the picture like she said I'd bet you a penny to a $100 are using drugs. You think the majority of the people protesting out there are 47 year old cancer survivors who've lost their job and house and have a mountain of medical bills to pay? That's not who is in the picture and I bet there arent many of those out there sleeping in the park playing the guitar meditating holding up signs.
Your protest is taking place in the WRONG venue.
This protest needs to be in this nations Capitol.
To refresh your memory...who was it that gave Wall Street its biggest bailout in U.S. history?
lestweforget...Exactly! Wall Street doesn't tax anyone. These people don't like tax money going to Wall Street? Well, go protest the spendthrift federal government...government spending wonks bailed out Wall Street. Why the hell do these people think a lot of us want to restrict government spending?
Uh...you forget, Congress merely did what Wall Street demanded of them in 2008, as with any employee doing the job expected by its employer! Please name the last Treasury Secretary that was NOT from a Wall Street of Banking firm??? They are protesting at the Corporate Office of Congress, exactly where they need to be! Please folk, INFORM your self before spouting bs that only confirms your ignorance.
Citizen....
The LAWS that are passed are in the halls of Congress in Washington, NOT Wall Street.
Change can only happen if you change the LAW.
Making noise and coming across like Woodstock rejects is nothing more than laughable.
lestweforget- all laws have a genesis. They are forged by the industry specialist who then pass on their "recommendations" to their employers (those they finance in elections) in Congress. If you need an example, please go to the writers of the ObamaCare Law. You will find it was written,l proofed and submitted by the Medical Insurance Industry experts. If you really think Congress has the brains and technical ability to actually create legislation, then you are beyond education. Hell, they don't even bother reading what they are voting on, much less create it. The most they do is reconcile their understanding of law with the lawyers of their industrial sponsors so that the "legislation" will not get slowed by legal technicalities. Please grow up and get informed.....
There is no purpose in generically protesting disagreements with Government action and economic struggles. Protest rarely creates change without effective lobbying. If these "activists" want a better tomorrow, they should go home, shower, grab a cup of coffee and do the necessary ground work to organize an effective movement that sends voters in mass to Washington D.C. and States' Senators' offices with valuable insight and recommendations to create the change they desire. Clogging Wall Street and creating unnecessary costs to the city for law enforcement oversight and clean up efforts, all while holding 4 word card board signs and drumming on Congos, is a waste of tax payer dollars and devalues the true meaning of protest.
I agree with you about a job not being a right.
However, to say that there are a 'few bad apples on Wall Street' is the underwhelming statement that is just ridiculous; there is a large bunch of bad apples on Wall Street. I have worked for some of those companies and they preach good behavior but I see the ones who play games with their clients are the ones who get ahead and get rewarded. There is such a lack of oversight and enforcement (within the companies themselves) that the bad apples are who set the de facto industry standards and the company lets them teach others to follow in their footsteps while turning a blind eye.
Woodstock ended in 1969, liberals. Did you not get the memo?
And the spirit has been kept alive all these years by those who try to live harmoniously with others and this planet. Politicians, corrupt businessmen and power hungry lobbyists need not apply.
"A little rebellion now and then is a good thing and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical."- THOMAS JEFFERSON
These young Patriots are only doing their God-given Woodstock right!!! Go crawl back into your arrogant little hole Kent!
citizen....You're big on the quotes. Too bad you can't think for yourself. But, while we're on the quote jag, you forgot your favorite:
"From each according to his ability, to each according to his need." - Karl Marx.
Yes, we got it. And, we reject it. So, take your congas and go home. Don't forget your plastic trash bag. Next up, ladies and gentlemen, Sha Na Na!!
LOLOLOL! Wow! Nice! You quoted a socialist intellect of the late 19th, early 20th century? Really? You went there? LOLOLOL! To bad you can't see your own twisted logic, quoting one of histories great intellects against the monied aristocracy and plutocracy, the VERY things these protestors are against as well in our century! Thanks for making my point! LOLOLOL!!!!
Unemployment is an issue in this country and the lack of "Bail Outs" that these investors are providing to us in foreclosure matters is a joke. Investors on mortgages (Which so happens to be how this housing market got so messed up) are doing what is going to be a lesser lose for themselves. If you have equity and have been a responsible home owner....Don't count on getting help. The people that have been in their homes for over 20 years and still owe 400K.......Using their homes like ATM'S.They're the ones that are getting help. It's teaching me that doing the right and responsible thing is not the route to go these days. Shame on the investors!!!!
Colleen...Shame on investors for not backing losers? Uh, hey, go look up the goal of investment.
LOLOLOL! Wow! Nice! You quoted a socialist intellect of the late 19th, early 20th century? Really? You went there? LOLOLOL! To bad you can't see your own twisted logic, quoting one of histories great intellects against the monied aristocracy and plutocracy, the VERY things these protestors are against as well in our century! Thanks for making my point! LOLOLOL!!!!
Gogogo!
JessieL
If you read what I wrote in regards to home foreclosure I feel the losers are the ones that after 20 years in their home still owes hundreds of thousands against it. I have seen investors (You know...the ones that back these mortgages) kick a recent widow out of her home because she had 100K in equity. Why work with her to stay in here home when it is a lessor lose to foreclose rather then reduce her rate on her mortgage in order to stay in her home. You're obviously not a responsible homeowner who has experienced a reduction in income due to this economy who is not getting the help!
Colleen...No, to the contrary, I AM a responsible home owner that honors the contract I signed at the time of closing. When I agreed to take money from a lending institution so that I could purchase my house, it was understood by me that, should I at some point not make my payments, I would lose the house. Are you still waiting for the world to be fair to everyone? My seventeen year-old son was paralyzed in an auto accident that was not his fault. Is the world lining up to send him money so he can one day afford a house or car? No, and he doesn't expect anyone to come running to help. He's going to fight like hell to make his own way. Stop expecting "investors" to give their money to you or government to hold your hand, and accept the fact that life isn't fair.
Wow JessieL........I get it now.......you are very angry at life because of what happened to your son. I am very sorry. I hope someday, in all seriousness, you will find a way to stop taking your anger out on other people who are hurting as well. That is called projection. I hope for peace to fill you....
I just can't understand why everyone with money (corporations and others) are the evil ones. If there are no corporations, banks, hospitals, whatever....Who are the employers? GMC, GE, they all employee people. They risk their capital and employ people.
Certainly the OccupyWallStreet demonstrations have created a lot of buzz and enlisted a lot of leftish celebrities like Chomsky, Michael Moore, Cornell West, and others to support their cause, but I believe that the rather inchoate, generalized discontent expressed by the protestors needs to be given adequate theoretical clarification in order that the participants in this phenomenon might dedicate themselves to a longer-term program of reconstituting the Left. Michael Moore quite transparently wants a return to neo-Fordist Rooseveltian capitalism, Chomsky is a self-proclaimed "anarchist" who voted for John Kerry in 2004, and so on down the line. I therefore offer the following (Marxist) critique of the protests to this point.
Of course, I realize that it is not enough to relentlessly criticize from the sidelines, but it is essential that these protestors be engaged so that their understanding of global capitalism is deepened and their politics radicalized. This means more than waving a few placards with populist slogans and other such theatrics.
Regressive "Resistance" on Wall Street: Notes on the Occupation
The fellows on Wall Street (or at least their analysts) better sit up and pay attention to this. With the largesse that has been given to the senior membership of such organizations, the financial and business sector of American society is really beginning to look like pre-Magna Carta England. Except, it is not just the junior officers that are getting misrepresented...its the investors themselves that are suffering from a lack of power to tame such excesses.
This is a symptom that will worsen if WS continues to act like an independent country run by Robber Barons. No one can begrudge another some benefit for doing a good job, but the extremes that people with declining incomes have been exposed to are the type of stuff that whispers "Bastille".
Do us all a favor and reform your ways, or face even worse manifestations of dissatisfaction down the road..
Nuff said...Fair Warning...
BTW...I dont consider myself as a "leftist"...just a normal individual hoping for equilibrium....
If the protesters were serious, they would be storming the Harold Pratt House, 58 E. 68th St. at Park Avenue, New York, NY (Headquarters of the Council on Foreign Relations) and the New York Fed,33 Liberty Street New York, NY.
But they won't be led to confront the gods on Mount Olympus by their Judas goats and media shills. David Rockefeller, Pete Peterson and Henry Kissinger might be held up from lunch at 21.
For both supporters and opponents of the Occupy Wall Street protests who seek more incisive background in understanding what has been really going on behind-the-scenes with the Wall Street corporate and financial elites, check out the two items below:
"In a Relationship, and It's Complicated," by Anthony Gregory
"Wall Street, Banks, and American Foreign Policy," by Murray N. Rothbard
Both articles "name names," and are forthright, direct, and pull no punches.