I'm a One-Percenter...and I Support the OWS Movement.

Hi, my name is failedProphet, and I am a one-percenter. I cringe a little, typing that, knowing how pretentious it sounds, but numbers don't lie...it is what it is. I am, in point of fact, within the top one percent of all Americans in terms of both income and assets. (If its any consolation -- not that it would be -- I'm very close to the bottom of the one percent). Of course, I have no way of proving this to you, this being an anonymous message board, so you'll just have to take my word for it. Anyway, it shouldn't be that hard to believe. According to the ATS admins, there are 244,808 registered users here as of this writing, so it shouldn't be so hard to imagine that there is a nonzero number of one-percenters here.

I will try to explain why I support (with some reservations and caveats - see below) the OWS movement, as follows. Before dishing out the hateraide, I ask people to at least read this post. The main points are bolded, to assist the attention-span-impaired.

First off, I am not a trust-funder, a "limousine liberal," or a guilt-wracked self-hating rich guy. In fact, I'm a registered Republican and a supporter of Dr. Ron Paul. I grew up solidly middle-class suburban in the 1970s and 1980s. Dad was a local electrician and mom worked at the grocery store. Nor am I a "pointy-headed intellectual" - actually, I dropped out of the rather mediocre college I half-heartedly attended after less than a year.

I made the money I have first in the tech boom, and then later by investing in real estate and getting out at the right moment. I worked hard, to be sure, and I'd like to think I'm a fairly smart guy, but I ascribe a strong element of luck to my success. First, I had a good tech-related idea and managed to sell it to a bigger guy for more than it was worth, at the height of the dotcom boom when money was flowing like champagne. If I had tried to do so only a few years earlier or a few years later, I would have gotten less for it...if anything at all. Second, I took most of those proceeds and invested them in what turned out to be one of the frothiest real estate markets in America. Again, I benefitted from good timing; if I had gotten in and out in different years, my story would be very different.

Which brings me to my next major point: I believe that in the casino economy that America has become, luck plays as big a role as "hard work," if not more. Many one-percenters are lucky they were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, while others such as myself may have worked hard, but benefitted from luck based on timing or location. As I type this, I'm watching a landscaping guy tear up weeds across the street. I have no doubt this man works as hard or harder than I ever did...but he is not likely to earn a fraction of what I have. So for the anti-OWS who say those who are impoverished just need to "work harder," I would say the system is broken and distributes rewards unfairly. People are right to feel angry about this!

Next, let me state: I am not a communist, or a socialist. I staunchly support free market capitalism! But guess what...What we have today in America - especially in the financial system - is no longer capitalist! If you are looking for socialist boogiemen, look no farther than Wall Street, where the biggest welfare cases in history have been taking your and my tax money and awarding themselves record bonuses. If that isn't socialism, I don't know what is! Meanwhile real business is being offshored and outsourced at a blistering pace, depriving people of the rich medly of opporunuity that once defined the American business scene. I'm mad as hell about it...and you should be too! Pinstriped welfare cases are not what America should be all about!

A popular objection around these parts is the claim that the protestors are really communists in disguise. Well, I've been to protests in three cities, and I have not seen more than a handful of people advocating socialism or communism. I see lots of those types in random youtube clips, or on hysterical blogs or corporate-flunkie MSM news channels, but these people are a minority of what I have seen at the rallies themselves. Instead, I've seen housewives, vets, and working people, along with the much-maligned students and recent grads who seem to be everyones's favorite punching bags these days.

Respected, well-known conservative ATS member Misoir has a very good thread on just this topic. I encourage all naysayers to have a look. Don't take Fox News at face value.

Basically, I don't see people advocating for Communism...I see people concerned about a system that is manifestly broken. And this bothers me because I want to live in a society that works, where people can pursue prosperity and comfort in a fair environment. Your only choices shouldn't be "be born to a banker or be poor forever." A society where wealth is only available to the few becomes unstable...thus, ultimately, putting my own prosperity and well-being at risk!

I'm pleased and proud to see Americans waking up. Sure, its a little messy and the message is unfocused. And sure, my support for the movement is not unqualified...It could spiral out of control, be co-opted, or head down a dark road, like the French Revolution. These are my caveats. -- my support is seasoned with a healthy dose of skepticism. But until I see strong evidence of things headed in such a direction, I will welcome a movement to make things fairer for all Americans...no matter how much money they have.

OK, ATS. I've said my piece. Have at it. I'm going away from the computer for a while, but I will check back later.

Excellent post! I have been trying to articulate how I have been feeling about this whole protest situation...you just did it for me S & F!

you can hire the guy mowing the lawn across the street and pay him $10,000 a week to rake leaves and landscape your property.

isn't that called trickle down economics and what your republican friends harp on 24hrs a day. that if the rich keep more of their money they'll pass it down.

and before you say, well a landscaper isn't worth $10,000 a week. you can pay anyone you want, anything you want. there is no fixed income, except the artificial one created by 2 party's.

but i suspect greed will prevent you from doing that, even if you wanted to. just like greed and a stupid sense of self ego and importance makes warren buffet, the second richest man in america, pay his secretary a lousy $60,000 a year. and then he has the arrogance to go on cnn and say it isn't fair more people don't have a greater share of the wealth.

you're part of the problem, don't try to be the solution because greed and power will prevent you.

These protests are small and unorganized.

I could be wrong, but I see them going nowhere.

Congratulations on your success.

Be careful what you wish for...

You just might get it.

Kudos on a well said post.
S & F

As an aside, if you know anyone that knows anyone that knows anyone etc., interested in seeding or purchasing an an adapted alternative clean sustainable energy solution, feel free to send me a message.

It's nice to hear that more than just the large portion of us that are getting hit hard with this economy and quite upset about it are also on board, with reservations, or no.

I applaud you for everything you have said, it is a well thought out and fluid argument. The concept that you can be in a position but understand and empathize with those around you is respectable. Your point about luck is too true, I had a conversation with one of my fellow alum. He is now the CEO of a major company and my classmate, I asked him how this happened. His exact words, 'Luck, being in the right place at the right time'. Our training, education and skills sets are almost identical, and it was just shear luck that led him to his success.

Remember, the 99 vs 1 is not about straight numbers, it is about the fight against those that will step on the little guys to make a dollar even though it is those same people that make their businesses viable. We as a culture need to have more empathy for our fellow man and woman.

Most of us realize that business needs to make a profit, and I don't think anyone disputes that. We understand their need to show profit, yet it is their inability or refusal to accept that they have done it at great cost from both consumers and taxpayers.

Thank you again for your post, nice to hear another open minded point of view not biased by the party line....

reply to post by FailedProphet


In another thread someone pointed out that the real target of OWS is not literally the 1% but about the upper .5%, so you're not really part of the 1% they speak of. It's just a figure of speech to keep things simple.

thank you very much for that. i think it needed to be said. I do not blame the wealthy folks for this state of things. I also agree that it is pretty much a luck as well as education and hard work.

i get by on my income...just barely, i am not angry at the wealthy per Se i am angry at the SCOTUS corporate personhood is an abomination. and money does not = free speech. get the money out of politics.
I am angry at all of congress for passing laws, repealing others and ignoring others that created this mess. then threw money at it, MY money! without my permission!!!

Finally i am angry at wall street, you know how politicians are always saying that businesses are struggling because of regulation? well, that is entirely untrue. you would think that, if said corporations where over regulated then they wouldn't be able to get away with their shenanigans. instead, loophole after loophole then ta-da they pay no taxes or next to none.
I am taxed at the highest rate for my income bracket and i lose a significant amount of my income to taxes of one sort or another. I demand either my money back or the freaking government i am freaking paying for. thats all.

bravo brother, i am glad you have succeeded, luck or not, i am glad for your affluence.

i am proud to call you one of us.

if you are fair dinkum in what you have said......then i agree with you 100%. there are a lot of us out there that are just ordinary people. we are not really political, not students, its like we are caught in the middle. i am in my early 40's and it seems im in a dream between two worlds. people my age have seen both worlds. we are not baby boomers...so we missed out on the cheaper housing like our parents. we can remember when things were manufactured in our own countries instead of china. you could have a job...and even a second job to get ahead as our parents did. you only had to do this for a couple of years to get yourself set up when you were first married.

now.....in these times, your not as tech savy as what your teenage kids are, your worried sick about your own job, let alone what going to happen when your kids need jobs in the next few years. you have our government here in australia passing a carbon tax that will increase everything, because they say "lets be world leaders". you have the major companies and banks in our country making billions in profits - and their excuse is "we have shareholders to answer too". i just dont know what the answer is.

i think i am one of the majority out there doesnt have a say. im not a hippy professional protester, i just sit silently at home. god how i wish there was a protest that said ...... lets get back to looking after our own country. looking after ourselves..... no more carbon taxes, no more selling our land to china so it can bring in its own workers to run the mines, no more digging up our perfect agriculture land for coal seam gas, no more people just getting on a boat and coming here so they can get free medical and paid to sit here and do nothing (our government even buys them their smokes), no more lying politicians, NO MORE GREED.

reply to post by bellagirl


i am 44 and i am an American, and i feel exactly the same. welcome to middle age. One good thing we are Generation X. that really means nothing, just sounds cooler than the others. lol

reply to post by FailedProphet


Unfortunately for you, you are indirectly part of the problem..not personal..

the useless to society --bankers, accountants, politicians, investors, real estate agents, fund managers, etc, are like a HUGE PARASITE sucking the life blood (currency) and provide NO POSITIVE contribution to society...while people who teach, nurse, serve (military), are shafted..

it wasn't your fault, the system IS NOT BROKEN IT WAS DESIGNED THIS WAY.... But, you contributed.. If you really are sincere, send you time giving money to those in need.40% of what you have over say 100k...otherwise, sit and suck away on your ill gotten gains..

imagine if everyone played monopoly continually for generations without a reset, what would you have? a few with EVERYTHING, and most with jack squat.. who would play??

protest i support it too... cause when ppl look over it and say ohh you cant change anything there foling themselves.. you have to fight for whats right and the facts are all there..

hey failedprophet can I repost your your post?

I thankyou, for saying what you said and think it should go to a wider audience

I had observed the luck factor myself ,and think telling people that all this is their fault for not working hard enough utter B@##S&^!
clearly ,but coming from your perspective it means something that would be listened to

I think the OWS movement is one the worst defined movements in the history of America...

Really.... Occupy Wall Street... Does anyone anymore do any research, the reason we're in this mess is due to lenient regulations in banking during the Clinton Era, yet I've just seen him being honored in some BS Dinner for Celebs.

This is utter BS,

What you now have is the uninformed Masses Protesting wall street, for this Bailout. What you don't see is the reason we are and will continue to be in this recession.

2 Wars eating Trillions of Dollars, The trillions that were unaccounted for before 9/11, the stolen money transactions right before the towers were attacked. The Curruption that equals an inefficient government

your complaining about the banks getting a bailout? Who the hell gave it to them? Who authorized all this tax payer money being given away?

OWS Movement... just another indoctrinated group of college kids that havent done their homework.

If not we'd stop paying taxes to these gov't fat cats...

reply to post by FailedProphet


Blah Blah Blah , Your an Anarchist , Good Luck with That.........

Its good to read something honest on this site once in awhile.

S&F

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