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

[robinb]

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

As a proud American, I for one DO understand the protests, do DO understand the commonality in their voices and DO support the activity. God Bless this GREAT country and the opportunity it affords people through the constitution to protest and speak their minds . Including you and me.

 

[Halle]

congrats to you.. what degree did you earn? are you a doctor, attorney, pharmacist, university professor, ? or did you just get your BA or maybe Masters.. and I do not mean this in a mean way.. honestly.. because if you have earned anything higher, I truly want to know how you have done it working and getting those grades.. my DD earned her BA and graduated with a 3.87..and her DECISION is to hold off on getting her Masters right now due to funds.. she is currently living in Hawaii and we cannot afford the out of state tuition at the University of Hawaii, as she moved there from Florida.

Is it possible for her to move back to Florida for her to get in state tuition? That would be awesome if she could. Best of luck to her.

 

[Halle]

Someone earlier posted that it is impossible to go for an advanced degree without going into debt. While there may be an element of truth to that my own life experience shows that there is also some personal accountability for how deeply in debt you go.

My ex husband is a physician. He started med school in 1986 so things may have changed slightly. At the time we were gung-ho with the student loans and even got what everyone in school called a HEAL Mobile. That was a new car purchased using Higher Education Assistance Loans. We could have bought used cars but that wouldn't have been 'cool' and as medical student/spouse we were nothing if not cool.

My ex also felt he needed a fine wardrobe to be taken seriously on rounds despite the fact that he spent most of his time in hospital provided scrubs or with most of those nice clothes covered up by a lab coat.

We ended up divorcing and believed that money problems were a large part of our problems. He had over $200,000 in debt and I estimate that just over half of that was lifestyle choice debt. We could have lived more cheaply but chose to max out our loans.

I've paid off my share and I figure he has, too. It's too late for us to be 'forgiven' by the bank. However, I would be deeply ashamed to have loan forgiveness for what was our stupidity and personal greed. I'm sure many of these OWS students are making choices similar to ours to upgrade to the latest technology ASAP and have brand name clothes. Before they ask for forgiveness they ought to consider how worthy they are of it.[/QU[/I]

I applaud you for your honesty and strong moral convictions.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I'm wondering how the weather will effect the different "occupy" sites.

 

[maddhatir]

I'm wondering how the weather will effect the different "occupy" sites.

OWS is having snow and rain today- they are still there. They get their generators back on Monday. Occupy Philly is staying strong. I don't think anyone is going anywhere....unless the police are involved.

Denver is having a big problem tonight. With the police not the weather.

 

[J. Galt]

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.

This is true. When I went to law school (not that long ago), they didn't encourage you to work your first year, but many had a job by 2nd semester 1st year. For sure by that first summer and into the following two years, you would be working in some capacity. This is how you get a job... you get in with a firm while you are in school and hopefully they hire you when you graduate. At least that was how things worked when I was in school. You would be at a disadvantage in the job market if you graduated law school with no legal work experience while you were in school. Sure, some of the jobs were unpaid internships but most were paying gigs.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Wouldnt it have been smarter to leave the car in the states and spend the $6k to buy a clunker? I can not imagine spending that kind of $$ shipping a car when you have no job

She had just gotten the car here in Fl. She drove out to Cali from Fl, then decided to go from there... had she decided to not ship the car there, she would have had to ship it home.. and that would have ran her $2000 too.. so either way it was $2000 for it to go to Hawaii or back home to Fl and keep in our garage...
She has only spent $2000 in shipping as of "now".. but if she comes home to FL, it will run $4000, or if she goes to Cali it will run her $2000...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I stand corrected on the prices to ship.. they have gone down since she went there.. She just told me she did call to see what the prices were the other day, and they told her the rate now is $1100 to San Diego and $2600 to Orlando (that would be all transportation to Orlando). I am thinking the rates were higher when she went because of schools.. most people move before school starts and when school ends.. so therefore making the shipping rates increase at the time of year she went. I am also thinking maybe she will come home sooner than later if she is calling for prices.. unless she lands a super job that is...

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I'm wondering how the weather will effect the different "occupy" sites.

I saw some pictures where snow had gotten on them and they were still there...

 

[A Mickeyfan]

This is true. When I went to law school (not that long ago), they didn't encourage you to work your first year, but many had a job by 2nd semester 1st year. For sure by that first summer and into the following two years, you would be working in some capacity. This is how you get a job... you get in with a firm while you are in school and hopefully they hire you when you graduate. At least that was how things worked when I was in school. You would be at a disadvantage in the job market if you graduated law school with no legal work experience while you were in school. Sure, some of the jobs were unpaid internships but most were paying gigs.

i know when my DD looked into UF's law school, they told her they didn't really want their first year students working.. and that was just this past year she went up to tour the school.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Is it possible for her to move back to Florida for her to get in state tuition? That would be awesome if she could. Best of luck to her.

Thanks .....If she does it within the year.. she can.. thanks.. she is actually on the phone with us now.. and as usual, I am trying to talk her into coming home Her sister tells her everyday that she misses her.. and that the "dogs" miss her too.. all 6 of them That is what she is doing to her right now.. telling her what the dogs did today..

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

she has been there since the last week of Aug.. this is Nov..
I do agree with you on the high cost of living there, I warned her about going. She graduated in May. She went out to California for the summer and her serving job transferred her to their place there. She looked for work there from May to then end of Aug, she went onto Hawaii.. She is giving it till Jan/Feb she said.. it ran her $2000 to ship her car over there and she doesn't want to "run" home yet. It will cost her $4000 to ship it home
One of the places she applied to did call her today.. I am not thrilled. They called and offered her a position that was different than what she interviewed for.. The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company called her and offered her a position in one of their stores. She interviewed for an HR position They told her after the holidays they would put her into their management training program, and she would have room for advancement.... still not what she applied for.. She said she was going to consider it since that was all she was offered so far. She is keeping her serving job at PF Chang's with the hopes if anything opens up in their HR department, she can go there, beside the fact, the money she makes serving is going to help out since the pay won't be what she thought it was going to be at Ghirardelli's since she'll be in a store.
Personally, I think she is there because her boyfriend is there (I think I put this in my other post). He is a Navy Seal and is going to be deployed soon for Afghanistan. I don't think she would have gone there had he not been there. I think she would have stayed in California longer, gone to New York (where we have family & I think would have been her best bet) or come home here to FL. Where we are in Fl, there are no jobs.. but she could have gone to Miami, Tampa and Orlando..even Jacksonville.... Orlando.. would have been the best for me.. then I wouldn't have to pay for a hotel when I went up... but on a serious note.. I do agree, Hawaii is a very expensive place to live.. She isn't complaining about the cost of living though. She is working two jobs (both as a server) and getting by. Not what I like to see her doing, but she is working and not living or sponging off of anyone... and has no loans to repay..

and yes, I do remember you had to move.. you were down here.. weren't you on the East Coast of Fl?? Hey, I ended up down here in FL from NY 20 years ago this November because my DH was transferred down by his job.. but that was a real easy move for me to make.. I was more willing to go than he was

Well at least she has a plan. (I didn't notice a time line, so really didn't know how long she was there. 3 months isn't very long to throw in the towel.)

While it isn't Orlando--maybe you will have a place to stay on a Hawaiian vacation.

And yes--I was on the east coast over on the Space Coast. Still longing. And I hear you on no jobs. I began looking at my husband's former company (The one he left for the job that he eventually lost due to lost funding...) and they have openings. Unfortunately, nothing he can do. I casually mentioned learning new skills. Not that easy to do. At least he truly enjoys the work he is doing now and is doing very well.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

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.

here is an blurb directly from UF's site.. and my DD was also told this when she toured their campus...so as you can see, it is not totally doable with a full time job, as a matter of fact, it is not allowed period if you plan on going full time. I guess it all depends on where you are going and if you are attending school full time. While the example you gave, the student was not attending full time, but part time as they were working full time...You cannot attend law school "full time" at night..


http://www.law.ufl.edu/students/policies.shtml#employment

Student Employment
As a full-time law school, the College of Law adheres to American Bar Association policy requiring students to devote substantially all of their working hours to the study of law. Academic schedules and minimum load requirements are designed to reflect this policy. First-year students are prohibited from employment. Requests for exceptions to the prohibition on first-year employment should be sought through the Office of Student Affairs. No student may be employed more than 20 hours per week under any circumstances.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Well at least she has a plan. (I didn't notice a time line, so really didn't know how long she was there. 3 months isn't very long to throw in the towel.)

While it isn't Orlando--maybe you will have a place to stay on a Hawaiian vacation.

And yes--I was on the east coast over on the Space Coast. Still longing. And I hear you on no jobs. I began looking at my husband's former company (The one he left for the job that he eventually lost due to lost funding...) and they have openings. Unfortunately, nothing he can do. I casually mentioned learning new skills. Not that easy to do. At least he truly enjoys the work he is doing now and is doing very well.

I thought you were by the Space Center..

My DD graduated from FGCU May 1st. She drove out to San Diego the second week of May & stayed there until the first week of Aug. She flew home for her birthday (Aug 9th). Her BF flew here to meet her, they went on a cruise when Irene hit (and they were in the path). They came home, he flew out on Saturday the 20th, she flew to Hawaii on Monday the 22nd from here. She had her things packed and everything was shipped from San Diego to Hawaii already. She arrived before they did. It took weeks for her things to get there.. car included. She didn't give San Diego a chance, she flew out to Hawaii too fast. She did say she was going to stay in San Diego till Oct and if no work came her way, then she would go to Hawaii.
To be fair to her, she did have a job with some Political Company in San Diego which was why she went out there to begin with. I wasn't crazy about her doing it. It was Grassroots. She was working for Hooters (yes other posters.. Hooters and she made good money ) here and they transferred her out there. So she had Hooters and Grassroots. Once she got out to SanDiego, she found out that Grassroots wasn't what they made it out to be, so she ended up working at Hooters & a tanning salon. She wasn't finding another "real" job. She tried a few large companies, news stations and some law firms, but everyone seemed to want "experienced" and that she cannot get until she is hired . She has some experience as a para legal from her internship, but that isn't what they wanted.. and she has internship experience with TV news reporting/writing when she interned at FOX but again, that isn't years experience... Hooters here said they would take her back if she decided to come home.. which she hasn't (yet). She has not gone to the Hooters in Hawaii yet. She was thinking of going there just to get a feel for how they are. That is another company that she would love to get into HR with. She has a great relationship with the regional manager here in FL, who actually got her start as a "hooters girl" . She was the one who told my DD to never give up with them.. they also will consider paying for her to go back to college if she gets in with the right department too. Another reason my DD should have stayed here.. Like I said, I think she "flew" to Hawaii because of her BF... She had Hooters behind her and our local FOX news who would have probably gave her a shot once an opening came up. They told her she could use them as a reference any time she needs and they also did the video demo she would need if she was applying for reporting/anchoring jobs and gave it to her..
Regardless, she has not been jobless.. just not jobs she has gone to college for. She worked in San Diego and is working in Hawaii.. but as a server.. PF Chang's is giving her full medical package so that isn't too bad.. I guess It could be worse, she could be jobless and at the protesting sites.. I just have to look at it this way....When she worked at Bone Fish prior to Hooters.. she made $33K one year...and that was part time.. as a server.. so there is money in serving (she made what a starting teacher makes) but then the oil spill came in the Gulf and yes, it did indeed cause a drop in customers dining out for Fish... she ended up going to Hooters because of that!

 

[luvthemouse71]

None of us have to understand it or like it, we have the right in this country to protest. I think in this day and age, many of us are so cynical and complacent that we don't understand why people would do this.

I may not agree with everything they have to say, but if the Tea Party whack jobs can have their say, than these people are entitled to their say as well.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[superme80]

I may not agree with everything they have to say, but if the Tea Party whack jobs can have their say, than these people are entitled to their say as well.

Just my 2 cents.

So does this mean I get to call the OWS guys whack jobs as well???? I think we can do without the name calling.

 

[luvthemouse71]

So does this mean I get to call the OWS guys whack jobs as well???? I think we can do without the name calling.

Actually, you can call them what you like. Again, we are all entitled to an opinion in this country and that covers insults too.

 

[Planogirl]

What law have they violated?

In some municipalities it is illegal to just camp out wherever you wish.

Plus I was gratified to see that some OWS Dallas people disagreed with one thing some local protestors did. They marched to a Chase Bank and locked arms and refused to allow anyone into or out of the bank. I saw video of people struggling to open the doors but they couldn't. The police did arrest them because it is unlawful to block a business in this manner.

 

[Acklander]

In some municipalities it is illegal to just camp out wherever you wish.

Plus I was gratified to see that some OWS Dallas people disagreed with one thing some local protestors did. They marched to a Chase Bank and locked arms and refused to allow anyone into or out of the bank. I saw video of people struggling to open the doors but they couldn't. The police did arrest them because it is unlawful to block a business in this manner.

The camping thing is a gray area. A municipal may not allow camping, but the constitution allows protesting. The constitution doesn't say that you can only protest between certain hours. And a municipal can't over ride the constitution.

 

[OceanAnnie]

The camping thing is a gray area. A municipal may not allow camping, but the constitution allows protesting. The constitution doesn't say that you can only protest between certain hours. And a municipal can't over ride the constitution.

I don't know. The constitution doesn't spell out all of our laws. The laws have been enforced prior to this and they have carried penalties for years.

We don't get to choose what laws we abide by.

It's interesting the protesters have had these laws bent for them. The protesters could carry on during the day, go home, and return. It wouldn't be an infringement on their rights to do that.

 

[58cognac]

So does this mean I get to call the OWS guys whack jobs as well???? I think we can do without the name calling.

Absolutely. People don't want us to lump them into a group because we don't get it or we're complacent, or because we don't just concede "yeah, you're right, I'm wrong". But they can fall into that name calling that makes the discussion run straight down the drain. It's certainly anyone's right to insult another, but doesn't reflect well on them.