‘Occupy’ movement giving voice to legitimate fears
Instead of using police officers to oust protesters from Woodruff Park, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed has wisely decided to wait and see, hoping that the passage of time and the threat of sub-freezing temperatures will clear the park for him.
Maybe it will, but I’m doubtful. Critics of the Occupy movement claim that those involved are not representative of the American mainstream, and they’re right. People who camp for weeks on end as a form of political protest, and who risk or even force their own arrest by acts of civil disobedience, are by definition not mainstream. They are more extreme than the rest of us.
However, that doesn’t mean that they are divorced from mainstream thoughts or concerns. To the contrary, they’re a lot closer to tapping into what’s really happening in America than are the targets of their protests on Wall Street.
On a visit to the scene Tuesday afternoon, I saw a lot of signs quoting well-known outrageous radicals such as Sam Adams, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt. One woman with an audience of one was reading aloud from a piece of subversive literature, something about it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
Near the center of the encampment of some 70 tents, somebody had erected a section of unpainted wooden fence, with a sign asking “What’s your story?” The fence is full of authentic American stories scrawled on the wood with Magic Markers and Sharpies.
“I am 24 years old,” one person wrote. “I go to school and work full-time and get an average of four hours of sleep a night. I am hoping the degree I earn will help me pay off my $80,000 student loan. The outlook of this is dim. With every day that goes by more and more jobs in this country are lost. It seems most are going to other countries so corporations can make more money …. My mother’s house in Michigan was foreclosed on and she now lives with her mother in Tennessee. A 46-year old woman who has to live with her mom and has done nothing but work hard all her life.”
“All my life I’ve seen ‘immigrants’ being denied the right to receive scholarships to go to school and I’ve seen citizens being drowned in debt due to going to school,” another writes. “And once they finish, NO JOBS. So what’s the point anymore?”
“My son and granddaughter are unemployed,” someone else wrote, explaining that the bank stock that the family had owned was now worthless. “I am 70 and have no job or money. The banks *&#$ed everyone.”
As in other Occupy sites around the country, the vast majority of the participants are young people, and a recurring theme is anguish at the prospect of graduating from college with a heavy debt load and no jobs. The American Dream no longer seems realistic to many of them. In the Vietnam era, protests were dominated by young people who felt the threat of the draft most directly, and if that pattern is repeating itself, it’s for similar reasons. Among men ages 20-25, for example, the September unemployment rate was 15.8 percent, a number that badly underestimates the true scale of the problem, since many in that age group never had a chance to officially join the full-time workforce in the first place.
So yes, we can run off those protesters and take down that fence. But the problem is, it won’t make those stories go away. The people who are living those stories aren’t going away either. The sense of inequity in an economy in which millions are jobless and have lost their homes to foreclosure, while corporate profits are at record high, is not going to change unless the situation changes. Because for every story written on a wooden fence, there are several hundred thousand others in which the principal characters have so far suffered in silence.
The protesters are not the people we should turn to for answers or solutions, but that’s not their role. Their role is to give voice to a problem, and you have to believe that voice will get louder and louder.
– Jay Bookman
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607 comments Add your comment
Stevie Ray
October 19th, 2011
10:20 am
Jay,
The record reflects that Barney Frank certainly did not cause the problem but certainly kept it out of the public eyes and likely resulted in more pain that otherwise inflicted. He should have known, or obtained financial advise to find out, the FM and FMae were cooking the books to drive up the bonus’ potential of it’s C-suite.
Good God Man!
Adam
October 19th, 2011
10:21 am
JKL2: George Soros says,”What?” Moveon.org, nothing to see here.
Please prove that Soros is funding the Occupy movement. Thanks in advance.
USMC
October 19th, 2011
10:22 am
Barney Frank Accused of Fannie Mae Conflict of Interest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JevELCOFcmg
getalife
October 19th, 2011
10:22 am
Who is Pkill Gramm cons?
They are not about blame, they are about solutions.
You will never admit you are the 99% but you are.
Just enjoy the outcome of their movement that will help you and your kids.
Martin the Calvinist
October 19th, 2011
10:22 am
did anyone hear about Andrew Cuomo stating he wasn’t going to institute a millionaires tax no matter what the OWS people said. He went on to say that higher taxes haven’t improved the education systems.
I have a question for you liberal big gov’t types, I probably won’t be able to reply but I’m honestly asking the question? Other than raising taxes on the rich, what would you do to stimulate the economy? All I hear is raise taxes, that’ll fix the problem! I don’t see practical solutions coming from the left, though I admit I don’t hear any real thought out proposals from most Republicans.
USMC
October 19th, 2011
10:23 am
Barney Frank Caught Lying About Fannie Mae
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UZ9l_AxKjA&feature=related
TaxPayer
October 19th, 2011
10:23 am
Republicans are back to complaining about the debt but again offer nothing that actually pays it down. You know, tax revenues. But wait. They did offer up Ryan’s yellow brick roadmap that would raise more tax revenues once unemployment dropped to 2.8 percent and until then, they would just continue to increase the debt and deficit while throwing medicare recipients under the bus in order to fund another tax cut for the 1 percent. What a plan.
USinUK
October 19th, 2011
10:24 am
“Sit down and shut up, bend over and TAKE IT, hippies!”
I think there’s a problem with the order, there, Adam …
Ricky B / jm
October 19th, 2011
10:24 am
This NY times article says plenty. Jay, admit you’re wrong and stop digging. Dems were obstructionist and cost taxpayer $ trillion as a result.
http://Www.nytimes.com/2003/09/11/business/11LEND.HTML?pagewanted=all
Read to the end, the very end
It’s not long
Adam
October 19th, 2011
10:24 am
Peadawg: 1) Social Security is not mindless spending
2) The president doesn’t get a FREE PASS from me either, but I don’t hold him responsible for the entire economic collapse. There is substantial evidence that he had nothing to do with it, and has fought to pass measures that help mitigate or reverse the effect of it. So for me, he gets some CREDIT for trying to FIX things as opposed to making them worse, which is exactly what Republicans in Congress, the Supreme Court, and Wall Street have ALL done without regard for the consequences of there actions because there ARE no consequences for them, apparently.
Jay
October 19th, 2011
10:24 am
Even now, after democrats got stomped, Frank heads the HFSC.
He does? Huh.
Because Spenser Bachus, Republican from Alabama, thinks that HE”S the chairman of the HFSC. Do you want to break the news to him, jm? (and boy, that Frank fellow sure is devious, to snatch the chairmanship from Bachus without the GOP even noticing!)
Adam
October 19th, 2011
10:25 am
USinUK: I think there’s a problem with the order, there, Adam …
That was on purpose. The people who make arguments like that don’t have any logical consistency, as you can easily see
USMC
October 19th, 2011
10:26 am
“Occupy’ movement giving voice to legitimate fears”–JAY
Jay, you ?forgot? to highlight the contributions made to the “Occupy” movements across the country by the Socialist and Communist parties… Coincidence??? I think NOT!
Adam
October 19th, 2011
10:27 am
Brief respite. I will respond to my attackers after my last 10:25a post later
Peadawg
October 19th, 2011
10:27 am
“but I don’t hold him responsible for the entire economic collapse” – I never said I did either, sport.
“Republicans in Congress” – Nevermind the Democratic majority that was in place for 4 years.
Eddie
October 19th, 2011
10:28 am
The protesters are not the people we should turn to for answers or solutions, but that’s not their role. Their role is to give voice to a problem, and you have to believe that voice will get louder and louder.
NAGA
October 19th, 2011
10:28 am
libs totally in love with the “occupy” group but call Tea Party members terrorists, racists, etc. Good God what a bunch of losers!
A 24 year-old still in school with $80k in student loans???????
I graudated with a degree in engineering by that age after serving 4 years in the military with full scholarships & $0 in loans.
I recommend to the “Occupy” loser maybe you should pick a major where you will get a good job & leave the protesting to the rest of your loser buddies.
USMC
October 19th, 2011
10:29 am
Barney Frank’s boyfriend fannie mae executive…
Lawmaker Accused of Fannie Mae Conflict of Interest
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,432501,00.html
getalife
October 19th, 2011
10:29 am
pea,
8 years of w and it collapsed on his watch.
The blame game gets nothing accomplished but makes you feel better blaming the other side.
USMC
October 19th, 2011
10:31 am
Talk about CLUELESS!
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) – No Crisis at Fannie Mae
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sKpzmojjfU
Welcome to the occupation (Trotsky)
October 19th, 2011
10:32 am
Martin the Calvinist: “did anyone hear about Andrew Cuomo stating he wasn’t going to institute a millionaires tax no matter what the OWS people said. He went on to say that higher taxes haven’t improved the education systems.”
Yeah, so? Cuomo is a poster child of the neoliberal technocratic elite and is most definitely part of the problem. What of it?
Cuomo is no friend of the movement and is one of the technocratic elites I mentioned above who wants nothing more than to see this movement shut down and corralled off into the safe precincts of MoveOn or some such pseudo-Left organization.
Peadawg
October 19th, 2011
10:32 am
“ut makes you feel better blaming the other side.” – I never just blamed the “other side”, sport. Read the post before making stoopid comments please. Blame goes around to everyone involved the past 10 years (Bush’s administration for getting us into this mess and Obama’s administration for keeping us here). I’m just ready for some REAL change in 2012.
Jefferson
October 19th, 2011
10:32 am
Well its working, you see SS is giving raises…
Thomas
October 19th, 2011
10:32 am
I suppose it is better to protest than to start a business and create opportunities.
I wonder if Hosea Williams ever thought that instead of feeding folks on Thanksgiving he should protest Kroger.
times (and effort) – they are indeed changing.
Ricky B / jm
October 19th, 2011
10:33 am
Gingrich is right
Dodd and Frank should be in jail
Richard
October 19th, 2011
10:33 am
What are these kids going to college for? If you get a real, meaningful degree, you can find a job. Trust me. But if you are majoring in english, journalism, women and gender studies, history, basket weaving, etc… then you won’t find a job. Sorry. College isn’t for everyone, and I don’t feel sorry for you that you racked up $80k in debt because you wanted to have the “college” experience. Seriously, how do you even do that? State school tuition is less than 10k per year. WTF?
Jay
October 19th, 2011
10:33 am
jm, the story you cite says nothing about why Frank should be blamed for the failure of a GOP-dominated Congress under a GOP president.
Nothing.
TaxPayer
October 19th, 2011
10:33 am
Those Occupy crowds are not diminishing like the Republicans had hoped and predicted. They’re definitely tougher than the Koch crook funded tea party types.
NAGA
October 19th, 2011
10:34 am
The “Occupy” losers are boycotting the Wall Street money hungry crowd??? Man these losers’ illogical and misguided hatred toward the hand that feeds their champions like Pelosi, Frank, Reid is comical.
“Wall Street helped give a fundraising edge to Democratic committees and candidates. Employees in the securities and investment industry made $34.3 million in donations last year, about the same as in 2007, with 62 percent going to Democrats, the party’s largest share in a non-election year in the 20 years of data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group.”
SomeoneThatCares
October 19th, 2011
10:34 am
These are the real faces and stories of the 99%. Help show the country it’s not “flea baggers” as the right is claiming. We’re all in this together.
http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/
Stevie Ray
October 19th, 2011
10:35 am
AMVET: Appreciate your note. I don’t disagree however I’m not sure, and no one has posited, any solution to redistributing the 1% wealth to all these suffers from this concept that is spewed ad nausea. Thoughts?
ADAM, Thanks for the reply but to an extent, yes that’ exactly what I’m saying…how is it that this group of graduates whose timing (not any fault of their own) put them in the middle of such a poor employment environment. What exactly is your solution and where is the dough gonna come from?
TROSTKY: Thanks for the respose albeit rather dramatic. Until someone advises us that we are no longer a capitalist, democratic republic, I’m not sure what you are proposing. I agree the snake is a poor choice of metaphors and I deserve your ire for that….Point is the trend at Fed level since 1990’s is too heavily weighed for the banks et al with only a fraction of same weighed to protecting us. Perhaps you are suggesting our financial system is 100% controlled by FEDS? Have you never enjoyed monetary gains in your investments when the market is booming?
getalife
October 19th, 2011
10:35 am
jm,
Why two names?
Schizophrenic?
Which one am talking to?
Ricky B / jm
October 19th, 2011
10:36 am
Jay 10:24, see my typo correction shortly thereafter
Jeez-louise jay is loco on this issue
Care to refute the facts?
Welcome to the occupation (Trotsky)
October 19th, 2011
10:39 am
NAGA: ‘A 24 year-old still in school with $80k in student loans??????? / I graudated with a degree in engineering by that age after serving 4 years in the military with full scholarships & $0 in loans.”
Our friend NAGA here is obviously suffering from an acute case of selective historical understanding, compounded with an aggressive reactionary moralism, as we can see from use love for macho words like “losers”, etc.
What he’s obviously repressing — i.e. refusing to allow into his mind — is the fact that we now have a corrupt system in which it’s even possible to speak of someone coming out of school with 80k in loans. During much of the 20th C, when decent public educations were affordable and heavily state-funded, such a crushing debt would not have been necessary just to get an education. But in more recent times, with the burden increasingly dumped on the individual, this is common.
” I graudated with a degree in engineering by that age after serving 4 years in the military with full scholarships & $0 in loans”
How quaint. I wonder if he’s alluding to the America of the GI Bill, a socialist idea if ever there was one. Apparently it hasn’t occurred to NAGA that that America is long gone. Nowadays you go abroad to get blown up and come home to hear homely bromides about “sucking it up” and “personal responsibility”.
Ricky B / jm
October 19th, 2011
10:39 am
Jay 10:33 see this one then from a Columbia finance professor
I told you, I don’t have access to roll call and the hill archives online. If you want to go get it for me, I’ll do your research for you.
Online.wsj.com/article/SB122212948811465427.HTML
St Simons - we're on Island time
October 19th, 2011
10:39 am
Cons answer to everything-
have a heart attack w/no insurance? handle it yourself
lose a job? handle it yourself
lose your house? handle it yourself
unregulated supply side economics ruins economy? handle it yourself
be careful what you wish for, cons
kayaker 71
October 19th, 2011
10:40 am
Bookman,
Take a hard look at all of the data in the last few posts and then tell us all how innocent old Barney is in the housing mess. You chastised me last PM about not getting my facts straight….. Perhaps you should also take this heart. BTW, Barney’s old pal, Franklin Raines, who cooked the books at Fannie, scammed the system with a 190M dollar parachute. That SOB should be in jail.
NAGA
October 19th, 2011
10:40 am
Next on the agenda for the “Occupy” losers:
(1) Start boycotting in front of Grauman’s Theater in LA because of the extravagent pay that movie stars receive.
(2) Start boycotting all professional sports arena due to excessive pay of pro athletes.
(3) Start boycotting the uber liberal silicon valley crowd because of the high pay & shipping jobs overseas.
etc.
etc.
getalife
October 19th, 2011
10:40 am
It is all the unemployed American’s fault.
Waheema
October 19th, 2011
10:41 am
First Bookman tells us that hte Occupy protests are “not on the fringe” now they have all legitmate concerns. Eventually, Bookman has to deal with the radical, fringe agenda that many of the Occupy protestor advocate. Silly articles about personal pain or tragedy do not make for good policy.
Notice that Bookman and the AJC did not extend such amazing charity to the Tea Parties of a couple of years ago.
USMC
October 19th, 2011
10:42 am
Barney Frank & Chris Dodd Complicit With Failure Of Fanni Mae & Freddy Mac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVIAGWtCD10
JKL2
October 19th, 2011
10:42 am
getalife- You will never admit you are the 99% but you are
No. I will admit to being a .45% though. http://www.rangerup.com/the45.html
PS: Still looking for your billfold?
godless heathen
October 19th, 2011
10:42 am
Adam,
I have gone through periods in my life when I was unemployed. During those times, my full-time job was looking for a job. I certainly didn’t have time to go on any urban camping trips.
USinUK
October 19th, 2011
10:42 am
NAGA – do you hear a whooshing sound as the point goes sailing by you?
AmVet - Neo-cons, they're just bad people who enjoy the suffering of others.
October 19th, 2011
10:43 am
I personally find the gay bashers like USMC and the plumber to be as repulsive as racists.
Don’t blame Wall Street. Don’t blame the big banks.” ~Herman “Becky Stan” Cain.
And the self-destructive nutjobs in that GOP crowd cheered that serial liar and coward on.
Welcome to the lunatic fringe…
Claire
October 19th, 2011
10:43 am
Wayne Newton won the debate last nite.
getalife
October 19th, 2011
10:43 am
naga,
Are you kin to Lady Gaga?
Gator Joe
October 19th, 2011
10:44 am
Jay:
The Occupy Wall Street protesters are voicing legitimate fears and their anger is directed where much of it should be directed. The Republicans and the Right in general are dismissive and insulting of the protesters. While there won’t be guilotenes erected and hopefully no violence, except, perhaps, on the part of government, instead the peacful, political equivalent could be exercised, voting. That is, voting against the enablers [Republicans] of those who would continue to take advantage of the poor and the middle class and who are responsible for the current economic disaster. The Right, can be dismissive of the protestors and ignore them… just like the French aristocracy of 18th Century.
Ricky B / jm
October 19th, 2011
10:45 am
Jay can’t put 2+2 together
1. Fan Fred accounting scandal
2. Obvious oversight holes
3. Bush proposes reform
4. Frank lbbies heavily against it from minority and only needs a few R votes to stop it
5. Legislation dies
And he wants to blame Republicans or say Frank is blameless?
Absuuuuuuurd. Jay, seriously, stop. You look ridiculous.
getalife
October 19th, 2011
10:45 am
jk,
I got a good deal on a hundred AK-47’s and a pallet of ammo down in Mexico.
USMC
October 19th, 2011
10:47 am
“Notice that Bookman and the AJC did not extend such amazing charity to the Tea Parties of a couple of years ago.”–NAGA
Of course, Jay has been trained to “Intellectually” avoid the truth in order to promote “Social Justice” (whatever that means)
If the Taxed Enough Already party had displayed the same behavior(fornicating and defecating on the streets) of the “Occupy” crowd, Jay and the other Liberals would have JUMPED all over the Tea Party with their GOTCHA form of “journalism”
Ricky B / jm
October 19th, 2011
10:48 am
Well, another case of Jay being proven wrong.
Back to other duties.
NAGA
October 19th, 2011
10:48 am
Trotsky – screen name sums it up. Pal, you are clueless when it comes to the military & education.
The GI bill is still in effect & now is offered to members of the National Guard & Reserves & to their family members which was not available when I was in. Is military retirement pay also a socialistic program? Why don’t you join your “Occupy” losers downtown & start boycotting military retirement pay? I would like to see you go head-to-toe with a former Marine drill sgt.
Please share with us when you served in the military?
Also, the GI Bill was offered in an attempt to compensate for the low pay in the military.
Education is more expensive these days but they are many, many more options available today to help pay for it – Hope, Zell Miller scholarships, etc.
Ricky B / jm
October 19th, 2011
10:50 am
Usmc 10:47
That’s the job of a journalist. To “afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted”.
F. Sinkwich
October 19th, 2011
10:50 am
“I got a good deal on a hundred AK-47’s and a pallet of ammo down in Mexico.”
I guess Eric Holder is still selling. Who knew?
mm
October 19th, 2011
10:50 am
Bill Orvis White,
“I see that a lot of these deadbeats have their mommy and daddy’s Apple computers. If it weren’t for the gov’t getting off of Mr. Jobs’ back, then these losers wouldn’t have these computers. What a bunch of stupid kids. Here I am expanding the economy and here they are sitting around complaining. I say give them choices: go to prison, join the military or move to Cuba, Venezuela, Iran or North Korea. If not them be forceful and do what it takes to remove them from parks.
Amen,
Bill”
Take your redneck republican @ss back to your trailer and STFU.
NAGA
October 19th, 2011
10:51 am
UsinUK, nope. I only hear the whoosing sound when you attempt (lame attempt at best) to post an intellectual thought.
USinUK
October 19th, 2011
10:51 am
pssssst … don’t anyone tell jm that the house actually passed the bill in 2005
Thogwummpy
October 19th, 2011
10:51 am
Interestingly, Bookman would give no credit to the Tea Party for reflecting legitimate fears: Government GREED for power and authority, by trampling the Constitution. Gee, Jay…why the double standard? Oh that’s right…double standard is what Leftists are all about. That, and omission, distortion, and plain ignorance.
FYI, if this nation put these Occupy protesters in charge; not only would society collapse; but chaotic violence would be non-stop…and the economy would inevitably implode. However, malcontents perpetually seek to destroy, that’s what they’re all about.
Hey, I can’t be the only one that would dare Bookman to write a treatment of all the anti-Semetic expression amongst the Occupy goons—after all, he didn’t hold back his “tea bagger” hostility in screed he launched against the Tea Party!
USinUK
October 19th, 2011
10:52 am
naga – yes – you hear it because it goes sailing right over your head
thanks for confirming my point.
Welcome to the occupation (Trotsky)
October 19th, 2011
10:52 am
Stevie Ray: “Until someone advises us that we are no longer a capitalist, democratic republic, I’m not sure what you are proposing.”
What do you think OWS is doing?
“Perhaps you are suggesting our financial system is 100% controlled by FEDS?”
The FRS is just one structural feature of our financial system, albeit a key one. Just as important is the guiding policies of other institutions like the IMF, World Bank, et al. In the United States, it is more the co-implication of Wall Street and the Washington policy apparatus that one must look at for explanations. The dominant policy of the world economic system for the last 3 plus decades is the so-called “Washington Consensus”, and that cannot be attributed entirely to the Fed.
“Have you never enjoyed monetary gains in your investments when the market is booming?
One of the primary components of the “Washington Consensus” is the whole notion of private, i.e. consumer, investment, which has grown vastly during this period. The financial system in this country is tightly bound up with the notion of having the bulk of the population co-invested in the stock market, which has profound policy implications. This is not the case in other countries, such as Japan, Germany, and it’s no coincidence that we find different models of capitalism in those countries.
Joe Mama
October 19th, 2011
10:52 am
jm — “3. Bush proposes reform”
States — including Georgia — tried to reform the mortgage industry themselves, but were *blocked* by the Bush Administration. The “reform” proposed by the Bush Administration would have done nothing whatsoever to address the systemic problems that led to the collapse.
Lesson — just because someone says “reform,” that doesn’t mean that what they’re proposing will actually *fix* anything.
You’re long on slogans and short on facts, jm. Just give it a rest.
getalife
October 19th, 2011
10:52 am
“I guess Eric Holder is still selling. Who knew?”
No, he called himself El Diablo.
AmVet - Neo-cons, they're just bad people who enjoy the suffering of others.
October 19th, 2011
10:53 am
And what of poor, old Ron Paul?
One again, it can be argued that he is the only man on that stage with any integrity. And wisdom.
But he is obviously so conflicted, he has become little more than a doddering old fool.
You could see it last night.
He absolutely had his figurative hands around Herman’s throat for Cain saying the idiotic, reprehensible things about Wall Street being blameless.
Yep, the buffoon actually contends that Wall Street is BLAMELESS for the attempted corporate destruction of capitalism.
But he realized he was straying too far off the neo-con plantation and backed off. Completely.
Sad.
And what a wasted opportunity to make Herman squirm for his preposterous lies.
A non-Republican will make no such mistake…
JKL2
October 19th, 2011
10:54 am
getalife- I got a good deal on a hundred AK-47’s and a pallet of ammo down in Mexico.
Congrats! Will probably come in handy with your “peaceful” occupy utopia crowd.
Didn’t happen to pick any of those obama 50 cal’s did you? Heard they’re real popular down there.
getalife
October 19th, 2011
10:54 am
I watched some clips of that train wreck debate and thought they blogged here.
USMC
October 19th, 2011
10:54 am
Accuracy in Media – Chris Dodd’s Countrywide Bailout
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsoM1chZElk
Ricky B / jm
October 19th, 2011
10:55 am
Jay. Found some 2006 stuff related
http://Www.rollcall.com/issues/51_128/-13510-1.HTML
When is jay going to concede he’s wrong?
WOODSTOCK MIKE
October 19th, 2011
10:55 am
“My son and granddaughter are unemployed,” someone else wrote, explaining that the bank stock that the family had owned was now worthless. “I am 70 and have no job or money. The banks *&#$ed everyone.”
Here’s a clear example of how the media and the Obama administration have done a fantastic job of creating a society that blames everyone else for their failures. This person says they have worked their whole life, guess they never heard of a savings account. And if all your savings is tied up in 1 single bank stock that’s not anyone’s fault but your own. And then to say the banks screwed everyone because you never saved a dime, I’ll just say sometimes it makes people feel better to be able to blame others.
USinUK
October 19th, 2011
10:55 am
speaking of occupations … I follow “Overheard in the newsroom” on FB – this is their most recent post:
Wire editor: “I’m looking forward to occupying a bar stool.”
yay! now, there’s a movement we can all support.
kayaker 71
October 19th, 2011
10:55 am
mm, 10:40,
The truth hurts, don’t it?
Stevie Ray
October 19th, 2011
10:55 am
Trotsky,
When I day FED I’m not referring to the FRS….I’m referring to DC proper. So do you want DC to control 100% of the financial system? And please enlighted me on your grand solution as it will assist us in future debates..
USMC
October 19th, 2011
10:56 am
“That’s the job of a journalist. To “afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted”.–Ricky Bobby
Yeah, thanks Ricky Bobby!
getalife
October 19th, 2011
10:56 am
jk,
No 50 cals but still looking.
You can’t have enough guns in case those “hippies” come to take my stuff
Joe Mama
October 19th, 2011
10:56 am
USMC — “the Taxed Enough Already party”
I love pointing out how taxes are lower today than they were under Reagan.
http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2011/10/google-charts-what-your-taxes-pay-for/
Atlas Shrugging
October 19th, 2011
10:56 am
Local governments are broke, spent beyond their means, State governments are broke, spent beyond their means, Federal government is damn broke spent 14.5 trillion beyond it’s means, so the park folks can protest as long as they want it won’t change reality. This house of cards, just like the one built in Greece, is headed to the ground. Our only hope is to do away with loop holes and raise taxes on everyone while making drastic cuts in entitlements: which means there is no hope.
USinUK
October 19th, 2011
10:57 am
“Page not found on RollCall.com (404 error message)”
don’t really think that backs up your argument, jm
Ricky B / jm
October 19th, 2011
10:58 am
Joe mama 10:52 you saying it’s so doesn’t make it so
Give up dude
USMC
October 19th, 2011
10:58 am
“When is jay going to concede he’s wrong?_ Ricky Bobby
He prolly had one of those important meetings that popped up when you shut him down with factoids.
getalife
October 19th, 2011
11:00 am
jm is Ricky Bobby?
Now I get it.
I thought he was serious.
My bad.
The Leg Lamp is a “major award”….
October 19th, 2011
11:00 am
Ah yes, the noble and peaceful “Occupy” movement (which had been endorsed by Iran, Marxists, Communists, etc):
Protest mob enjoying gourmet, organic-only diet prepared by hotel chef…
Seattle Occupier Busted Exposing Himself to Children…
Kidnap, rape in Cleveland…
Police Worry Protests Will Disrupt World Series…
Thieves preying on fellow Wall Street protesters…
WOODSTOCK MIKE
October 19th, 2011
11:01 am
Funny how people blame banks for lending money to people who couldn’t pay it back and now blame banks for not lending to people that can’t pay it back?? Which way do you guys want it?
Ricky B / jm
October 19th, 2011
11:01 am
Usinuk
Weird
The address is correct
Might try copy paste
Obozonomics
October 19th, 2011
11:01 am
I wonder how many resumes these people have sent out in the last month?
Joe Mama
October 19th, 2011
11:01 am
jm — “Joe mama 10:52 you saying it’s so doesn’t make it so”
Same to you, Champ. You obviously haven’t noticed that you’ve been doing the same thing all morning. (laughing)
“Give up dude”
Said the person who repeatedly ignores facts and instead posts innuendo. Good job, pal. (laughing, pointing)
Aquagirl
October 19th, 2011
11:02 am
You chastised me last PM about not getting my facts straight…..
Uh huh. It’s Jay’s job to spend time correcting the current e-mail information that kayaker bought like the Brooklyn bridge. And if the forwarded e-mail from aunt Fanny’s hairdresser isn’t refuted, kayaker WINZ! There’s nothing like the shamelessly gullible.
Don’t you have a snipe to chase, kayaker? They flock on rainy days by the thousands, I’ll even forward you the e-mail with a great hunting location. It’ll save you from embarrassing yourself again today.
USinUK
October 19th, 2011
11:02 am
“Police Worry Protests Will Disrupt World Series… ”
ohNOES!!! not the World Series!!!
USinUK
October 19th, 2011
11:03 am
jm = 11:01 – nope – not working.
can you cut/paste the contents?
getalife
October 19th, 2011
11:03 am
Ricky Bobby: I will not shake your hand, but I will give you this
[kisses Jean Girard]
Jean Girard: You taste of America.
Ricky Bobby: Thank you.
Welcome to the occupation (Trotsky)
October 19th, 2011
11:03 am
NAGA: ” I would like to see you go head-to-toe with a former Marine drill sgt.”
Getting under your skin there a little bit?
Love that user name, by the way. Can’t help but see it as “NADA”. Lol.
The GI Bill is in principle socialistic, period. It is a program by which federal funds are provided to service members as a social investment in the future upward mobility through education of them and their families. It’s taxpayer-funded.
Military retirement, like all non-privatized pension schemes, have their roots in 19th C social struggles and are in their roots socailistic. Many of these programs go back to Bismarck’s Imperial Germany, hardly a Bolshevik state, a time when workers were offered advantages to absorb the social turbulence of those eras, a kind of “compromise” to stave off more widespread revolution and to save capitalism. Roosevelt’s New Deal was the same thing.
What else do you want to know?
Don't Forget
October 19th, 2011
11:04 am
Jm,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNqQx7sjoS8&feature=related
getalife
October 19th, 2011
11:04 am
Cal Naughton, Jr.: Shake and bake!
Ricky Bobby: What does that do? Does that blow your mind? That just happened!
Jean Girard: Is that a catchphrase or epilepsy?
Yep
October 19th, 2011
11:04 am
These disinfranchased voters are the same group that helped put out current administration in place. My guess is that they are not happy with that “hope and change” thing? Income redistribution will continue to drive money needed to drive our economy underground in addition to drying up corporate investment into creating jobs.
If they were not so “sold out” for punishing the acheivers, maybe they could join them in trying to improve our economy instead of holding out a hand to receive another distribution?
liberalefty
October 19th, 2011
11:04 am
CAINS just a typical STEPPIN FETCHIT that racists whites use for entertainment. he wont be nominated
mm
October 19th, 2011
11:04 am
kayaker,
“The truth hurts, don’t it?”
Is that why republicans refuse to tell the truth?
liberalefty
October 19th, 2011
11:05 am
when rightwingers protest, its ok, but when lefties protest, theyre criminals? typical rightwing bs
liberalefty
October 19th, 2011
11:06 am
after looking at the debate last night, OBAMA has nothing to worry about!
AmVet - Neo-cons, they're just bad people who enjoy the suffering of others.
October 19th, 2011
11:07 am
Don’t blame Wall Street.
Blame middle class Americans who played by the rules and got burned.
What a platform to run on…
The answer is there is too much power and too much wealth in too few hands and the few control our government and the few create the problems and the injustices for the many and have less and less interest in doing anything about it because they can get away with it. ~Ralph Nader, 1996
Word.
Halftrack
October 19th, 2011
11:07 am
These Occupiers are what Ann Coulter calls them – “Flea Baggers.” In other words they are parasites that want to live on a host animal. ( Lazy people that want to live off the Government) Jay don’t you wish Glenn Beck was back or someone like him leading these “flea baggers?” He led a whole lot of folks to D.C. and they left everything orderly & clean, and everyone knew what they wanted. This occupier group leaves things dirty and sometimes unsanitary and adrift to where they are going.
liberalefty
October 19th, 2011
11:08 am
the repubs looked and sounded like a bunch of angry whiney children ,lol