‘Occupy Wall Street’ not as ‘fringe’ as some like to believe
“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.”
Federal Hall National Memorial was built at the site where Congress held its first session, at the foot of Wall Street in New York City.
The First Amendment, part of the Bill of Rights, was ratified by Congress meeting at Federal Hall in New York City on Sept. 25, 1789. Today, a motley, disorganized group of American citizens is exercising its First Amendment rights to peaceably assemble and to petition their government, literally within steps of where Congress met to acknowledge those rights.
The movement’s goals are at best uncertain, and to the extent they can be determined, in some ways extreme and unrealistic. And as has been demonstrated convincingly with other large political gatherings, it is certainly possible to wade into the crowd to find people whose antics and beliefs can be used to discredit the larger effort.
The protesters are at least pretty clear about what they don’t like: They don’t like the fact that Wall Street and the financial sector benefited enormously from taxpayer-funded bailouts, while insisting that ordinary Americans neither need nor deserve such assistance.
As the protesters like to chant, “The big banks got bailed, but the middle class got left behind.” Rasmussen reports, 79 percent of Americans say they agree with that sentiment. Only 10 percent disagree.
As Rasmussen assesses its poll findings, “The bailouts of the financial industry still leave a sour taste in the mouths of most Americans, who feel as strongly as ever that the government was looking out for bankers rather than taxpayers and that crimes on Wall Street remain unpunished.”
Earlier this year, Gallup conducted what has become an annual polling of Americans on their attitudes toward major corporations. Not surprisingly, given the role that Wall Street greed and arrogance played in creating this economic crisis, the public isn’t all that happy with them.
In fact, two-thirds of Americans say they are dissatisfied with the size and influence of corporations in national life.
But take another look at the charts above and below. This sense of dissatisfaction and distrust began to grow long before the crisis of 2008. Those events merely helped to crystallize sentiments that in fact had been building for years.
In other words, it’s easy to dismiss “Occupy Wall Street” as the work of the radical fringe, because in some ways it is. But what makes it bigger than that is the fact that the misgivings and distrust it is expressing are felt much more broadly, not just in campus coffee houses but in small-town diners, and not just in liberal chat rooms but in Tea Party meetings as well.
You don’t have to agree with the solutions they propose in order to recognize that the problems they dramatize and publicize have merit. Tens of millions of American citizens understand that .
– Jay Bookman
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658 comments Add your comment
Peadawg
October 6th, 2011
1:34 pm
First!
Armed Liberal
October 6th, 2011
1:35 pm
Charles Pierce has a nice write-up of this as well…
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/occupy-wall-street-demands-6506089
Comments devolve into name calling in 5, 4, 3, 2…
Joe the Plutocrat
October 6th, 2011
1:36 pm
as I said yesterday; will be interesting to see if this ends up like Woodstock or Altamont. the First Amendment and the entire Bill of Rights is a pacifier. it’s a chew toy the oligarchs and plutocrats toss the unwashed masses (or cite) when they want something in return (our money, our vote, our lives).
Daedalus
October 6th, 2011
1:36 pm
Those aren’t “real americans” occupying Wall Street.
I know because I heard it on Fox News.
Peadawg
October 6th, 2011
1:37 pm
“As the protesters like to chant, “The big banks got bailed, but the middle class got left behind.” Rasmussen reports, 79 percent of Americans say they agree with that sentiment. Only 10 percent disagree.”
You can count me in that 79%.
ty webb
October 6th, 2011
1:38 pm
These “occupiers” are the greatest americans ever.
I know because I heard it on MSNBC.
Kamchak
October 6th, 2011
1:39 pm
Cue the “shower” comments in 3…2…1….
Joe Mama
October 6th, 2011
1:40 pm
T. Webb — “I know because I heard it on MSNBC.”
Cite?
jewcowboy
October 6th, 2011
1:41 pm
A little justice would be nice as well. As far as I know (which might be wrong) only 1 person has been tried in connection with the Great Recession’s banking meltdown.
My question is…why did this take so long to come about?
Normal
October 6th, 2011
1:41 pm
Gotta love it…American men and women out there exercising their right of assembly and shooting a one finger salute to Wall Street. Gawd, I love my country!
Armed Liberal
October 6th, 2011
1:42 pm
This protest movement has been downplayed, derided, and dismissed by all of the MSM to date.
CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX, newspapers, and the rest are all part of the 1%.
We are the 99%.
Normal
October 6th, 2011
1:43 pm
Being highly poetic, I would have said “Banks get bailed, Middle Class get nailed”.
TaxPayer
October 6th, 2011
1:43 pm
Given these poll results, I suspect we’ll now be hearing that the Republicans are all of a sudden in favor of the Wall Street bailouts. They wouldn’t want to be seen as in any way supportive of those protesters especially if there happens to be some liberals and union folks and democrats and students and jobless and medicare recipients, etc., associating with them. Probably not a single person recognized as a “job creator” by the Republicans in the whole crowd so what good could they possibly be!
Aquagirl
October 6th, 2011
1:44 pm
You can count me in that 79%.
Peadawg aligns with the hippie protesters. It’s like cats and dogs living together!
Granny Godzilla
October 6th, 2011
1:44 pm
All this…and no open check book from Dick Armey.
This IS what democracy looks like.
ty webb
October 6th, 2011
1:44 pm
Ah yes, Joe Mama, first selective sanctimony, now selective “cite ?”’s….
Granny Godzilla
October 6th, 2011
1:44 pm
Peadawg
I could just kiss you!
Union
October 6th, 2011
1:44 pm
dont forget the union bailouts.. the pension bailouts.. the list goes on and on.. i guess one thing that pres obama has done well is to create the bogey man.. when the bogey man is actually the one behind the curtain running the show..
Joe the Plutocrat
October 6th, 2011
1:45 pm
Joe Mama, I think Ty was being facetious. I think the more interesting story is the 6 in 10 post 9/11 vets (Afghanistan & Iraq) who give a thumbs down to both wars, and believe the government needs to address domestic issues in the USA before addressing the domestic issues of sovreign nations. anyone (beside the neo-con/talking points crowd) think there might actually be some common DNA in the “occupy Wall Street” crowd and the “end the occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq” crowd? what say ye? this is a no spin zone!
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 6th, 2011
1:45 pm
Jon Stewart did a great job of presenting the “Fox” side, including a nice Hannity quote.
Stonethrower
October 6th, 2011
1:46 pm
I wonder if Dilbert is the same in every newspaper. Good take on the 1% of the innovators vs the 99% of the rest of us.
mm
October 6th, 2011
1:46 pm
Yeah, the Tea Party protestors are patriots, and the Wall St. protestors are unemployed thugs. So says Fox News.
The Tea Party wants their country back. They just don’t realize who they need to take it back from. News flash. It’s not the government.
Gordon
October 6th, 2011
1:46 pm
Read their manifesto and tell me they aren’t extreme.
One thing on it is to forgive all debt. All mortgages wiped out. All student loans wiped out. Nobody owes anybody anything. Not extreme?
No, it isn’t extreme to be upset about the way things are going, and we all have our ideas on how to fix it. But this group is extreme, and they are certainly not representative of the 99%.
Peadawg
October 6th, 2011
1:47 pm
“Peadawg
I could just kiss you!”
Alright cougar. Down girl.
Union
October 6th, 2011
1:48 pm
gordon?? extreme?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36×8rTb3jI
Granny Godzilla
October 6th, 2011
1:48 pm
Peadawg
RRRRR….RRRRR…
getalife
October 6th, 2011
1:49 pm
The rest of the American people will be heard.
These protests are not tiny tea parties.
They are the majority of the American people’s tea party.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
October 6th, 2011
1:49 pm
http://www.occupytogether.org — Hmmm…. that’s strange. I don’t see a corporate sponsor providing busses, suggesting sending in tea bags, etc.
It is ironic however that Fox and the Tea Party see this as a “threat” when they actually share some commonality with the same portion of the Tea Party ideals and true populism.
jewcowboy
October 6th, 2011
1:49 pm
Maybe all these protests (Wall Street and the Orange Pekoe Brigade) are being secretly organized by Micheal’s hobby shop to sell more glitter and poster board.
Gordon
October 6th, 2011
1:49 pm
Union?? Extreme?? http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2011/oct/3/picket-occupy-wall-street-protesters-post-manifest/
ty webb
October 6th, 2011
1:50 pm
and what’s wrong with calling them “fringe”? I’d take being called “fringe” over being called “racist” anytime.
WOODSTOCK MIKE
October 6th, 2011
1:50 pm
““As the protesters like to chant, “The big banks got bailed, but the middle class got left behind.” Rasmussen reports, 79 percent of Americans say they agree with that sentiment. Only 10 percent disagree.”
You can count me in that 79%.”
So this guy thinks that either banks should have been allowed to fail (the dumbest idea in history) or that the middle class should be handed money. Yeah that makes real sense…
Mick
October 6th, 2011
1:50 pm
Yes, if I was up there I would check it out and lend my voice. I’m not really an activist but even if a jehovah witness comes knocking, I will offer them a cool drink and some thoughtful conversation…
Guy Incognito
October 6th, 2011
1:52 pm
Everybody knows that if you want socail justice………you need a great Drum Circle
Yea, that’ll do it
WOODSTOCK MIKE
October 6th, 2011
1:52 pm
Joe Mama -
Here’s something for you on the super majority, if you actually deny that I understand you better now…
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/feb/05/democrats-lose-supermajority-brown-sworn/
Joe Mama
October 6th, 2011
1:52 pm
T. Webb — “Ah yes, Joe Mama, first selective sanctimony, now selective “cite ?”’s….”
Ah, yes, Mr. Webb, first selective whining, now cowardly complaints.
Nothing stopping YOU from asking Daedalus for a cite. Grow up and act like a man.
Mick
October 6th, 2011
1:53 pm
woodstock
Brown will be toast this next election..
getalife
October 6th, 2011
1:54 pm
I thought we missed the opportunity for real change after the collapse but he we are.
I thought the American people should stop whining about corruption if they would not do anything about it but here we are.
I love it when the American people prove me wrong.
Union
October 6th, 2011
1:54 pm
“CONGRESS PASS THE BUFFETT RULE ON FAIR TAXATION SO THE RICH AND CORPORATIONS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE & CLOSE CORPORATE TAX LOOP HOLES AND ENACT A PROHIBITION ON HIDING FUNDS OFF SHORE. No more GE paying zero or negative taxes. Pass the Buffet Rule on fair taxation so the rich pay their fair share. (If we have a really had a good negotiating position and have the place surrounded, we could actually dial up taxes on millionaires, billionaires and corporations even higher…back to what they once were in the 50’s and 60’s.”
good old class warfare.. i like it.. while we are at it.. i say anyone 10% over weight are on their on with health insurance.. anyone that has ever taken any illegal substance be taken off as well as their children.. that would save a bunch right there!
Guy Incognito
October 6th, 2011
1:54 pm
“and no open check book from Dick Armey.”
Nope, just The Tides Foundation, Soros etc……..
Armed Liberal
October 6th, 2011
1:54 pm
Local flavor should you be so inclined:
http://occupyatlanta.org/
Brad Steel
October 6th, 2011
1:54 pm
*Nobody owes anybody anything. Not extreme?
ha ha. of course not. that’s not extreme. nobody owes anything is only for Goldman and AIG types’ it’s not for the little people. don’t be silly.
* http://www.thenation.com/article/153929/aig-bailout-scandal
Peadawg
October 6th, 2011
1:55 pm
“So this guy thinks that either banks should have been allowed to fail (the dumbest idea in history) or that the middle class should be handed money. Yeah that makes real sense…”
I never agreed w/ the bailouts to begin with, correct.
But hand outs to the middle class? You must not know me very well.
Joe Mama
October 6th, 2011
1:57 pm
Mike — “Here’s something for you on the super majority, if you actually deny that I understand you better now…”
Jay’s clarified this spcific point many times on this blog, Mike. Trying to raise it again isn’t going to change things.
Granny Godzilla
October 6th, 2011
1:57 pm
Guy Ingognito
Lies?
No RRRRR RRRR for you.
Mr. Silly Pants.
ty webb
October 6th, 2011
1:57 pm
Joe Mama,
Please, call me Ty, my dad is Mr. Webb.
jewcowboy
October 6th, 2011
1:58 pm
WOODSTOCK MIKE,
“Yeah that makes real sense”
How about making them take responsibility for the fiasco they created? Like maybe tossing the people who caused this mess out on their butts…instead of giving them million dollar bonuses?
Talking Head
October 6th, 2011
1:59 pm
I have nothing against peaceful protests, even if I don’t agree with protestor’s positions. I do feel however that they are protesting the wrong group.
“As the protesters like to chant, “The big banks got bailed, but the middle class got left behind.” Rasmussen reports, 79 percent of Americans say they agree with that sentiment. Only 10 percent disagree.”
I agree with this, but who bailed out the big banks and financial institutions? THE GOVERNMENT. Why are they not protesting our government? Why are they not protesting Frank Dodd, Barney Frank, or Dick Durbin?
From what I’ve seen, the majority of those protesting are younger people who have probably never had a ‘real job’ and have been misguided and manipulated by those with more sinister ideas. IMO
jewcowboy
October 6th, 2011
1:59 pm
Mick,
“I will offer them a cool drink and some thoughtful conversation…”
I offer them a close view of my door knocker…If I didn’t invite you to knock on my door, it means I don’t want you there.
JKL2
October 6th, 2011
1:59 pm
Joe- as I said yesterday; will be interesting to see if this ends up like Woodstock or Altamont
Since this is made up of left-wing hate mongers and now has union thugs added to the mix, I voting for the later.