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Originally posted by relpobre000
I think this video pretty much sums up my disdain for the movement. It's all about the 'gimme gimme gimme' attitude that the youth of this country has these days. I think that sense of entitlement will eventually be our downfall...
Oh well..as long as these kids feel like they're standing up to 'The Man'...
Originally posted by relpobre000
I think this video pretty much sums up my disdain for the movement. It's all about the 'gimme gimme gimme' attitude that the youth of this country has these days. I think that sense of entitlement will eventually be our downfall...
Oh well..as long as these kids feel like they're standing up to 'The Man'...
Originally posted by CaDreamer
reply to post by 46ACE
people need to really stop looking at OWS as a single entity. think of it as 10,000 separate protests all at the same time. that is why it has refused to be co opted that is why it refuses to take endorsements.
to successfully infiltrate the movement would take 20's of thousands of agents because each person brings their own seperate issues to the protest. think of it as group therapy.
Originally posted by relpobre000
reply to post by TheWalkingFox
You've made a huge jump in your argument (from a logical standpoint). You've insinuated that if I don't support this kid's free University education that I am in full support of the corporate bail outs in America.
I'm not sure I understand how you came to this conclusion. You've highlighted another short coming of the movement: the 'if you don't agree with this point you kill kittens' tactic.
I support neither socialized university education nor did I support the bail outs these companies received from the United States Government. During the aftermath of the subprime mortgage crisis I wrote letters to my local, state, and federal representatives--as well as voted--which is more action than most people within this movement have taken.edit on 5-11-2011 by relpobre000 because: grammar
Originally posted by relpobre000
reply to post by EspyderMan
That's fair enough. The topic of the OP is: why isn't everyone behind this movement? I posted that video to make a point. I'm not supportive of the OWS because it is not a coherent or cohesive movement. There are so many different messages within the movement that it detracts from its effectiveness.
Originally posted by apacheman
What I find annoying is the usurpation of the phrase "hard-working" by conservatives who think liberals/socialists/communists/whatever they dislike don't, can't, or won't work hard.
In my lifetime I've met more conservatives who felt entitled by race, by position, or by wealth to take advantage of everything and everyone they could than I have ever met liberals who felt that way. Conservatives tend to hoard and resent sharing anything, while most liberals will share whatever they've got.
Originally posted by Southern Guardian
reply to post by TheWalkingFox
One member posted a picture of the OWSers with corporate products, well I don't recall the OWS being a movement overall against the existence of the private businesses, I mean who opposes this? Really? Even in communist China, private businesses exist. It's about your own perceptions and personal definitions in the end.
Why Occupy? Why Tea Party? Why Protest? Simple; The US economy is broken. Incomes are less than they were 35 years ago. Everything costs more. We've had 17% unemployment (traditional measure) for 2 years and we're about to lose many more jobs.. Our collective debt is 370% of our GDP (from all sources, from consumer to gov't). Our financial system has a) enabled the transfer of our manufacturing jobs to a mercantilism (managed trade) China and b) stolen the rest of our wealth (and is in the process of gambling what's left of it away). Finally, given the ongoing instability of our economic system, we don't have long before the entire thing fails and with it our collective future (rich or poor). The question really is: why aren't you protesting? why isn't everyone protesting?
This chart (below) shows why the Tea Party is different than the Occupy movement
There's no question that the Occupy groups have done a great job with constructing the outlines of resilient communities in the heart of many of our most dense urban areas.
People pitch in to do work. They are considerate despite the difficulty of the arrangement. Food gets served. The area gets cleaned. There is entertainment. There's innovation (equipment, tech, workarounds). There is education (lots of seminars being taught). There is open, participatory governance. All of this is great and this experience will definitely pay off over the next decade as the global economy deteriorates, panics, fails. It will make building resilient communities easier (there are lots of ways to build a resilient community, we're trying to document all of the ways how on MiiU).
However, is this experience building a tribal identity? An Occupy tribe? Something that can eventually (there's lots to do in the short to medium term) go beyond protest and build something new? One even strong enough to create new resilient economic and social networks that step into the breach as the current one fails?
Welcome to MiiU ("me:you")
The Resilient Community Wiki
A resilient community is a place that produces most of what it needs locally. It connects virtually for everything else. It's a vibrant local economy as well as a community that is immune to a) global depression, b) political instability, c) shortages, famines, etc., and d) most effects of natural disasters. In short, it's resilient.
MiiU is a collection of all the resources and places that make personal, family, and community resilience possible. Resilience isn't only about surviving global failures, it's about building a better life for you and everyone around you.
Originally posted by ThirdEyeofHorus
Part of the problem with OWS, especially as a kind of modern throwback to the 60's anti war movement, is the Leftist radical anarchist connection. While many sincere souls were caught up in the revolutionary movement of the anti war spirit about Viet Nam, there were communist agitators directly involved in stirring up anti war protests. This is a sad fact, that it did not start spontaneously, but with leftist agitators who wanted to undermine the effort to combat communism.
Personally, for me, by 1977, I had found the Theosophical Society and the School of Metaphysics. My path turned sincerely spiritual and metaphysical, but in an unconventional way. An individual I encountered had worked for the UN and knew of it's anti-American One World agenda. Since then, I have been fighting communism, socialism, and the NWO. By 1980's I was reading Antony Sutton. The communists may have changed their name, but the goal is still the same.
Originally posted by relpobre000
So what if there are a few communists in the fray? So what if there are people protesting that don't understand the first thing about economics or the downfalls of socialism?
But I, for one, cannot shrug my shoulders and take the good with the bad with regards to the OWS movement. Instead I have chosen to be a vocal opponent.
Pardon the ramble.
edit on 5-11-2011 by relpobre000 because: engrish
Originally posted by sonnny1
reply to post by muzzleflash
I dont think its propaganda per say,I see what Occupy is actually SAYING that represents that picture true to its word.
Tax those rich cats into oblivion......that IS what OWS is saying right? Eat the rich? Right? Ive heard it with my own EARS.
I think Im taxed enough! Thats a clearer message,representing the people who pay taxes,without pointing the finger at anyone but the government taxing me,or you.
Do you believe people should keep what they earn? I do.
You have to look at the responses and think,is this the overall rhetoric that's being said ?
I have seen it for my own eyes,and have to say yes, unfortunately. My principles and my convictions say I shouldn't support something I see so fundamentally flawed. That is probably why those on ATS,and the true 99% of America isn't buying into this "movement".