Am I the only one who doesn't get the "Occupy Wallstreet" movements

[maddhatir]

And they're painting OWS As the bad guys for wanting change and accountability. How can ANYONE justify these practices???

Well- let's thank OWS so far for:

Other banks are now changing their minds about charging higher fees. Um, they just came to this "decision". They did not like the backlash BoA got form it's customers. They are afraid of Nov 5th. But- too little too late. It is ON.

The NY Attorney General told BoA to shove their settlement we are having an investigation and suing MERS, the electronic mortgage registry used by the banking industry.

This would not have happened if it were not for OWS. People would still be asleep or dragging their feet.

Occupy Philly baby!

 

[hambirg]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA- MEN! Say it.
I cannot wrap my head around the fact that people will turn on each other but they probably do not have the facts about the people who caused it.

Like I said before- no one knows what people are going through that cannot pay their debts or why they lost their homes. So just remember- it could be you some day.

So- do you all know what BoA just did? Is this fair?
http://problembanklist.com/fdic-to-cover-losses-on-trillion-bank-of-america-derivative-bets-0419/

Lovely! And people are complaining about college students.

 

[58cognac]

Well- let's thank OWS so far for:

Other banks are now changing their minds about charging higher fees. Um, they just came to this "decision". They did not like the backlash BoA got form it's customers. They are afraid of Nov 5th. But- too little too late. It is ON.

The NY Attorney General told BoA to shove their settlement we are having an investigation and suing MERS, the electronic mortgage registry used by the banking industry.

This would not have happened if it were not for OWS. People would still be asleep or dragging their feet.

Occupy Philly baby!

Are we certain that Molly Katchpole is an OWS member? My understanding is that she is a regular college student who wasn't having any part of paying that fee and collected ~ 300,000 signatures of those who agreed. Just want verification of where the credit should be given since having the facts of how it came to pass is important.

 

[Acklander]

Are we certain that Molly Katchpole is an OWS member? My understanding is that she is a regular college student who wasn't having any part of paying that fee and collected ~ 300,000 signatures of those who agreed. Just want verification of where the credit should be given since having the facts of how it came to pass is important.

My understanding is that she has graduated, works in dc on progressive causes, and blogs about how the working and middle class are screwed over. But maybe that's a different Molly Katchpole.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't give much credit to OWS for the banks softening their stance on fees. I would imagine that it was their customers protesting that made the banks reconsider and since the OWS is just a tiny group overall I doubt that a lot of them are their customers. People did protest changes long before OWS existed.

That aside, plenty of people are well aware of the problems in this country. No one needed a bunch of people camping in parks to know about these. I don't believe that most people really feel that the OWS people have much to do with anything but look at them as harmless and possibly leading to more someday. Right now, they are interesting but not particularly relevant. In my opinion of course.

My opinion could change on November 5th. I really just expect more of the same.

 

[Acklander]

I don't give much credit to OWS for the banks softening their stance on fees. I would imagine that it was their customers protesting that made the banks reconsider and since the OWS is just a tiny group overall I doubt that a lot of them are their customers. People did protest changes long before OWS existed.

That aside, plenty of people are well aware of the problems in this country. No one needed a bunch of people camping in parks to know about these. I don't believe that most people really feel that the OWS people have much to do with anything but look at them as harmless and possibly leading to more someday. Right now, they are interesting but not particularly relevant. In my opinion of course.

My opinion could change on November 5th. I really just expect more of the same.

They've brought a lot of conversation out into the open. They are making a lot of people start asking questions. Before OWS all the politicians would talk about is the debt ceiling. Since then, they've been asked some very hard questions, and people are demanding hard answers, not just fluff. Considering they started with a few hundred people who couldn't get 2 minutes of news time with the main stream media and 6 weeks later they have a lot of people talking. What they've done is amazing. People are angry, and this is a way for their voice to be heard.

 

[58cognac]

My understanding is that she has graduated, works in dc on progressive causes, and blogs about how the working and middle class are screwed over. But maybe that's a different Molly Katchpole.

I was just wondering whether she is part of the OWS in the cause against BOA. Not knowing her personally, I wasn't privy to her exact graduation date. In her story weeks ago she presented as a college student/customer of BOA with a valid cause. Whether she's a progressive activist wasn't relevant to my question of her affiliation with OWS. Anyone can see what her affiliations are on change.org or LinkedIn.

From her LinkedIn profile:

"Molly Katchpole's Summary

Newly graduated gal looking to ruffle some feathers, change minds, and have great conversations with fellow professionals in labor and progressive politics advocacy.

Specialties
Persuasive writing and speaking, social media, leadership, research - labor and progressive politics, art and architectural history.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Have you tried going on say to Law school, or Medical school.. that isn't just a Masters.. and you really cannot "work" while doing that..

My sister is a lawyer now. She worked full-time as an engineer during the day and her company paid for her to go to law school at night. All of her classmates were also employed full-time. She did just fine and graduated in the same 3 years as the day students who had no jobs. Med. school is another story I'm sure, but law school is totally doable with a full time job.

 

[superme80]

I completely disagree with the poster who said that if you are against Occupy Wall Street you are ok with the practices that are going on. I am not ok with OWS. I am also not ok with the bailouts or the banking practices. Do I feel we need to get these conversations out in the open? Yes. Do I feel as citizens we need to do something about this? Yes I do. I do not have answers. But I am not ok with those who are just protesting basically for the sake of protesting. Do they have every right to? Yes they do. Can I roll my eyes, educated myself, and vote with my dollar and at the poll? Sure can! Reform does need to happen. I do not think that it all needs to come through the government.

 

[Acklander]

I completely disagree with the poster who said that if you are against Occupy Wall Street you are ok with the practices that are going on. I am not ok with OWS. I am also not ok with the bailouts or the banking practices. Do I feel we need to get these conversations out in the open? Yes. Do I feel as citizens we need to do something about this? Yes I do. I do not have answers. But I am not ok with those who are just protesting basically for the sake of protesting. Do they have every right to? Yes they do. Can I roll my eyes, educated myself, and vote with my dollar and at the poll? Sure can! Reform does need to happen. I do not think that it all needs to come through the government.

Who do you think is protesting just for the sake of protesting? And not because they have issues with how our government is being run?

 

[58cognac]

Who do you think is protesting just for the sake of protesting? And not because they have issues with how our government is being run?

....because there isn't a single person who chose activism as a career

 

[eliza61]

I don't give much credit to OWS for the banks softening their stance on fees. I would imagine that it was their customers protesting that made the banks reconsider and since the OWS is just a tiny group overall I doubt that a lot of them are their customers. People did protest changes long before OWS existed.

That aside, plenty of people are well aware of the problems in this country. No one needed a bunch of people camping in parks to know about these. I don't believe that most people really feel that the OWS people have much to do with anything but look at them as harmless and possibly leading to more someday. Right now, they are interesting but not particularly relevant. In my opinion of course.

My opinion could change on November 5th. I really just expect more of the same.

Unfortunatley there is a little truth to that and that's whats caused a lot of the problems. As Americans we tend to have the attitude "As long as it doesn't effect me, then it's not an issue".

Like, I said I find this protest very interesting because it's so similar to my experiences as a civil rights protestor. For the longest time, congress did not make any moves on the injustices because it was the "negro" problem. For the majority of this country as long as it did not effect them, not a darn thing happen to change the inequalities. It wasn't until both blacks and whites started marching, having sit ins, having boycotts did any thing happen and as usual the first reaction was violence. The same exact thing we see today.

There is very few changes that have happen in this country that was NOT caused by protests and violent confrontation.

Many people know about the problems in this country but pretty much many people have known for decades. Heck, Jimmy Carter spoke about the burgeoning gap between the rich and the poor. How long ago was that?

 

[Arielle22]

How about going down and asking them why they are there??? Or just drive by and read the signs that explain why they are there? Most the signs I see complain about the big banks being bailed out, citizens united, big oil receiving tax subsidies instead of paying taxes on their profits, themunfairness of fair trade agreements, using tax money for infer structure instead of wars in other countries, things along that line. Most seem to have a valid point, and these are things that people are concerned about so our politicians should be addressing these issues.

I walk by the Boston site at least twice a day. Last week on a walk I took a different route to read their signs. I saw a sign that 911 was a fraud and a domestic violence sign. There were a couple of people holding signs about big banks but that was it. Of course it was revealed (by someone else yelling) that the two people holding signs were being paid to do so. The only people I see are ones who play drums. the rest are in their tents. So how exactly it that helping anything?

The Boston group is camped across from the Fed. They took over an area that local workers would sit on while eating lunch and where independently owned food trucks would sell their wares. They have destroyed the grass in the area and have inconvenienced all the workers who have to walk through the media and police to get to the train station.

They have walked on Bank of America in my building so it has to go into a lockdown and have armed guards present.

What I see is it is ok for them to violate the law and inconvenience the population they proclaim to represent. I have spoken with coworkers and others on the train. I have yet to meet one person yet who agrees with them.

 

[eliza61]

IThe Boston group is camped across from the Fed. They took over an area that local workers would sit on while eating lunch and where independently owned food trucks would sell their wares. They have destroyed the grass in the area and have inconvenienced all the workers who have to walk through the media and police to get to the train station.

They have walked on Bank of America in my building so it has to go into a lockdown and have armed guards present.

What I see is it is ok for them to violate the law and inconvenience the population they proclaim to represent. I have spoken with coworkers and others on the train. I have yet to meet one person yet who agrees with them.

LOL There are a few people. I'm not a big believer in polls because they can be manipulated depending on how the question is asked but you guys are trying to make them out as some crazy, lazy welfare sucking deginerates that everyone hates. Sorry, their (for the most part) citizens who have a legitimate gripe.
Truthfully most people don't know much about them or pay a lot of attention.
I think most folks are surprised they lasted this long, I remember a bunch of folks on the cb who swore they would be gone the first time it rained.

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1302.xml?ReleaseID=1662

October 17, 2011 - New Yorkers Back Wall St. Protesters 3 - 1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Stay As Long As You Want, Even Republicans Say

By a 67 - 23 percent margin, New York City voters agree with the views of the Wall Street protesters and say 87 - 10 percent that it is "okay that they are protesting," according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.


Agreeing with the protesters views are Democrats 81 - 11 percent and independent voters 58 - 30 percent, while Republicans disagree 58 - 35 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Even Republicans, however, agree 73 - 23 percent with the protesters right to be there.


New York City voters say 72 - 24 percent, including 52 - 41 percent among Republicans, that if the protesters obey the law, they can stay as long as they wish.


A total of 72 percent of voters say they understand the protesters' views "very well" or "fairly well," with 17 percent who say "not too well" and 10 percent who say "not well at all."


Voters split 46 - 45 percent in their approval of the way police are handling the Wall Street protest, but approve 61 - 33 percent of how the police are doing their job overall.


"It's a free country. Let them keep on protesting as long as they obey the law, New Yorkers say overwhelmingly," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Critics complain that no one can figure out what the protesters are protesting. But seven out of 10 New Yorkers say they understand and most agree with the anti-Wall Street views of the protesters.


"For a while, the critics focused on the cops' use of pepper spray at the protests. Voters are divided on how police are handling the protesters, but they say almost 2-to-1 that police are doing a good job overall."


Asked who is to blame for the current state of the nation's economy;
•37 percent of New York City voters blame the administration of former President George W. Bush;
•21 percent blame Wall Street and financial institutions;
•18 percent blame Congress;
•11 percent blame President Barack Obama.

I'm not for or against (yet) but I admire anyone who stands up for what they believe in and makes an effort to change america.

for too long we have the "as long as Its not my problem, I'm not getting involved" attitude.

 

[Arielle22]

LOL There are a few people. I'm not a big believer in polls because they can be manipulated depending on how the question is asked but you guys are trying to make them out as some crazy, lazy welfare sucking deginerates that everyone hates. Sorry, their (for the most part) citizens who have a legitimate gripe.

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1302.xml?ReleaseID=1662

October 17, 2011 - New Yorkers Back Wall St. Protesters 3 - 1, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Stay As Long As You Want, Even Republicans Say

By a 67 - 23 percent margin, New York City voters agree with the views of the Wall Street protesters and say 87 - 10 percent that it is "okay that they are protesting," according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Agreeing with the protesters views are Democrats 81 - 11 percent and independent voters 58 - 30 percent, while Republicans disagree 58 - 35 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds. Even Republicans, however, agree 73 - 23 percent with the protesters right to be there.


New York City voters say 72 - 24 percent, including 52 - 41 percent among Republicans, that if the protesters obey the law, they can stay as long as they wish.


A total of 72 percent of voters say they understand the protesters' views "very well" or "fairly well," with 17 percent who say "not too well" and 10 percent who say "not well at all."


Voters split 46 - 45 percent in their approval of the way police are handling the Wall Street protest, but approve 61 - 33 percent of how the police are doing their job overall.


"It's a free country. Let them keep on protesting as long as they obey the law, New Yorkers say overwhelmingly," said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute. "Critics complain that no one can figure out what the protesters are protesting. But seven out of 10 New Yorkers say they understand and most agree with the anti-Wall Street views of the protesters.


"For a while, the critics focused on the cops' use of pepper spray at the protests. Voters are divided on how police are handling the protesters, but they say almost 2-to-1 that police are doing a good job overall."


Asked who is to blame for the current state of the nation's economy;
•37 percent of New York City voters blame the administration of former President George W. Bush;
•21 percent blame Wall Street and financial institutions;
•18 percent blame Congress;
•11 percent blame President Barack Obama.

I'm not for or against (yet) but I admire anyone who stands up for what they believe in and makes an effort to change america.

for too long we have the "as long as Its not my problem, I'm not getting involved" attitude.

It is easy to approve of the protestors when you (general you) are not inconvenienced every day by them. Perhaps the people who approve should allow the protestors to live on their property. After all, if the cause attracts attention then it shouldn't matter where they are.

 

[58cognac]

Arielle22
I think you are talking about the perspective that gets forgotten. i.e. those small business people(carts) who are losing money while OWS is camping out. Or if the OWS stays long enough, will those people go out of business? Time will tell. How unnerving to be involved in lock downs while at work. People trying to go to work shouldn't have to deal with that. I think the most effective way to make change is to talk with our money and our vote. It's certainly not a quick fix, it's going to be extremely hard in the coming months. Protests are a useful tool to make your voice heard. Occupation without organization(because they are adamant that they have no leaders) will turn into an ineffective mess. I have gone to the OWS website and it is a challenge to find any cohesive message.

 

[Acklander]

It is easy to approve of the protestors when you (general you) are not inconvenienced every day by them. Perhaps the people who approve should allow the protestors to live on their property. After all, if the cause attracts attention then it shouldn't matter where they are.

Sorry you find constitutional rights an inconvenience.

 

[Acklander]

What I see is it is ok for them to violate the law and inconvenience the population they proclaim to represent. I have spoken with coworkers and others on the train. I have yet to meet one person yet who agrees with them.

What law have they violated?

 

[dzneelvr]

As a proud American, I for one do NOT understand the protests, do NOT understand any commonality in their voices and do NOT support the activity. That doesn't make me a radical, a liberal, a conservative, or any label people want to assign to me. Get a job, get the economy moving, and vote during each and every election FGS! Stop playing victim and stop blaming others. What are YOU doing to make a positive impact on today and tomorrow? God Bless this GREAT country and the opportunity it affords you

 

[Acklander]

As a proud American, I for one do NOT understand the protests, do NOT understand any commonality in their voices and do NOT support the activity. That doesn't make me a radical, a liberal, a conservative, or any label people want to assign to me. Get a job, get the economy moving, and vote during each and every election FGS! Stop playing victim and stop blaming others. What are YOU doing to make a positive impact on today and tomorrow? God Bless this GREAT country and the opportunity it affords you

I'm a proud American as well. I was born here, I served in the military here, I've voted in every election sine I turned 18, and have been paying taxes since 1976.
I am pissed and I want my voice to be heard, not just the voice of those who have bought our politicians. That right, is one of the very reasons why this is such a great country.