Occupy Wall Street

[ericadawn16]

Now, I know that it can be confusing to understand what the protests are all about and the media isn't helping. They either paint them as a bunch of stoner college kids or Democrats pissed at Obama or whiny brats. This doesn't make up the whole picture. It also doesn't establish WHY they are protesting or what they want to achieve or that it's a group so varied that it includes grandmothers and veterans from every war from Iraq to WW2..

This link has their PRINCIPLES OF SOLIDARITY-
http://nycga.cc/2011/09/24/principles-of-solidarity-working-draft/

They also have a Tumblr since Tumblrs are pretty:
http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/

You might notice how most of the Tumblr photos are not from protestors outside but those who can't make the actual demonstrations yet still believe that something is wrong in this country.

Occupy Wall Street is NOT a political party. In fact, while this banner was not approved by organizers, it was passed around and cheered as the general feeling of the group.
Dear MoveOn FUCK OFF

In 1964, federal taxation as a share of the economy stood at 17.5 percent, while unemployment was at 5.2 percent. That year, income taxes were slashed, lowering the tax rate in 1965 to 17 percent of the economy. Unemployment dropped as well, to 4.5 percent.

But then tax levels rose sharply, to 19.7 percent of the economy in 1969, while unemployment fell steadily, to 3.5 percent.

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan again slashed taxes. Taxation fell from 19.6 percent of the economy that year to 17.4 percent in 1983. The unemployment rate, however, rose over that period, from 7.6 percent to 9.6 percent. By 1989, taxation had drifted upward again, to 18.3 percent of the economy, but unemployment had fallen to 5.3 percent.
Washington Post March 15, 2004

Comments

[surreal-44.livejournal.com]

Ah, honey.

1. Their statement is the vaguest thing I've ever heard. What are they hoping to accomplish by sitting there? What is the end goal? They don't sound like they respect anyone's beliefs or rights except their own.

It's patting themselves on the back for like...doing not much of anything. Which is all well and good, but makes me not want to support them.

2. I see that there are a lot of people struggling. I feel for them. I really do. I also know people like my sister, who have worked at minimum paying jobs and saved, saved, saved, saved and gone without in order to plan for their futures. Before PTSD took over my life, I paid for everything upfront. No debt. I planned and saved. Right now things are tough, but do you really believe that it's all Wall Street's fault?

These people are obviously creative; they could start a business. There are grants that help. George Soros certainly has enough money to lend someone something to start up a business.

Why isn't he creating jobs? Why isn't Hollywood? Why isn't Obama? I thought his bill was supposed to create tons of jobs.

3. I appreciate the sentiment that some in the OWS would like to tell moveon to fuck off. Free thinkers are what's needed -- note how quickly the tea party got taken over by zealous Christians. Now that's the main voice heard, and that was never the original intent of the movement.

Those of us who were there at the inception wanted to press for less government (PLEASE NOTE THIS DOES NOT MEAN A RETURN TO SLAVERY, OK? SO PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT), and more ability for small businesses to start.

When we spoke earlier, I suggested that the OWS people could start up a business yes? Why can't they? It costs money? Why? Regulation. Taxes. Red tape. You reduce (NOT ELIMINATE) those issues, more businesses can be created or can expand. More new businesses mean more new jobs. More expansion means more jobs. This is ultimately the goal of the tea party. Not to dismantle government, but to make things easier: Fix the tax codes so it's easier (some people want to get rid of it...I dun think so), flat tax rates so businesses know what to expect, among many other things.

Now all you hear is how tea partiers want to block gay marriage. -facepalm- So not the point of what we were created to be. OWS is headed for that same disaster.

4. The Washington Post article fails to mention GDP, which rose steadily at that time of lower tax rates, which enabled businesses and people to still prosper despite the increase of public debt and the rise of taxes.

It's not as simple as "Tax rates go up, more people get highered". If the GDP is down, and you raise taxes, jobs will be shed at a higher and faster rate.

5. Like I said, I get the concerns. I don't like the idea that the OWS movement believes that they speak for the 99% when they don't. There are still lots of people who don't make millions but who manage to be successful.

I am not the 99%....but I still love you anway, Erica! :-D

[flamingo-bandit.livejournal.com]

Thank you. This was very informative.