This Whole "Occupy Wallstreet" thing seems like theater of the absurd.

while I agree with the reasons for protesting - income inequality, lack of jobs, overloaded debt, banker bail outs, etc, the protests themselves will not do much.

i have been in many many protests and the end is result is great coverage for indie media blogs and some cool videos on youtube and almost zero change.

why? because change comes from YOU, its comes from within. and government money folks dont give a # about protests!

Greece has been throwing molotov cocktails for how long now? and nada, no change, not going to happen.

You dont want to be ruled by the elites? than dont be. make the changes to your life so that you can disconnect from the machine. Unfortunately we cant disconnect 100% (at least most of us cant) but we can make significant changes.

We are responsible for our own happiness, the government doesnt care about that, they never have and never will. Let them play games with their created illusions of money and government dress up drama.

If all of these protesters built a sense of community in their neighbourhoods like they are at this protest, that would be significant change. Meet the folks on your street, talk with them, build with them, find out who can do what, whos growing veggies, who can fix stuff, what can you offer to be a helpful part of your community? Have a potluck and share ideas.

This creates real and lasting change, protests create chants and inventive signs that make for good media but not much else.

Originally posted by gentledissident

Originally posted by Honor93
BE the change you wish to see ... get your hands dirty ... help a neighbor ... quit whining and do something other than pretend to be a catalyst of change you can't even define.

I totally agree. It's going to take a lot work to build and maintain our self sufficient communes. We'll also have to maintain a network of support. When we break free from slavery and live life as it is and not as advertised, the masters should lose power. Our communal world would then be the new socialist government.

Originally posted by Honor93
socialism is no answer.

Oh, pardon me.

edit on 4-10-2011 by gentledissident because: (no reason given)

thanks for almost standing your ground.
problem here is ... the youth involved in this have no idea what socialism is or does or destroys.

creating community communes can and has been done in a free-market society ... and should be done again, agreed.
BUT, to evolve the concept into a socialistic political structure is ridiculous. besides, once socialism is established, communism is merely waiting in the wings ... has been since the beginning of time.
don't take my word for it ... check your history or the links provided over and over again.

Originally posted by Honor93
creating community communes can and has been done in a free-market society ... and should be done again, agreed.

You can't get rid of the free market. You can only suppress it. Why would you want to get rid of the free market? Only the necessaries should be socialized. That list is bigger than it used to be. Flavor can be said to be necessity, but taste is subjective.

reply to post by wrdwzrd

kudos to you for such a clear and concise observation ... wonder if anyone will "test" the theory.

If all of these protesters built a sense of community in their neighbourhoods like they are at this protest, that would be significant change. Meet the folks on your street, talk with them, build with them, find out who can do what, whos growing veggies, who can fix stuff, what can you offer to be a helpful part of your community? Have a potluck and share ideas.

the battle for resources will never die ... regardless of who is in charge.
try to remember though ... YOU are your greatest resource ... use it.

Originally posted by gentledissident

Originally posted by Honor93
creating community communes can and has been done in a free-market society ... and should be done again, agreed.

You can't get rid of the free market. You can only suppress it. Why would you want to get rid of the free market? Only the necessaries should be socialized. That list is bigger than it used to be. Flavor can be said to be necessity, but taste is subjective.

edit on 4-10-2011 by gentledissident because: (no reason given)

"I" don't want to eliminate the free-market, socialism does.
"I" don't believe necessities can be defined by any 'group', anywhere.
example: Americans believe air, water and shelter are necessities ... not a 'home' but a shelter. water shouldn't be rationed, poisoned or regulated, socialism does all of the above ... air should not be taken for granted yet the 'global socialists' want to charge you for each breath you take ... this socialist approach produces what exactly?

as for "necessities" being socialized, they already are ... what is the point here?
shelter is available under most trees in the land, water is free-flowing and can be obtained nearly everywhere, air ... well, that's still being debated but last i checked, the supply is still readily available.

other than attacking other peoples beliefs whats your point?
everythings ok as is? the government and wall street are your rainbows and unicorns? there is no national debt? there was no tarp/bailouts? no such thing as billions of dollars of corperate welfare/tax subsidies given to private corperations making huge profits? bonus checks for ceos of companies after they got public bailoit money?

i see americans mad at the status quo for too many reasons to list. you ask what are they protesting,i ask what arent they protesting?i see heroes defending/fighting for america and when they speak i hear anger and disastifaction when you speak i hear contentment and everythings ok.

reply to post by gncnew


Hows about that 4.6 million$$$$ donation to NYPD a la JP Morgan Chase? I'm sure that has nothing to do with police levels.

JP Morgan Chase Donates $4.6 Million To NYOD On Eve Of Protests

www.disinfo.com...

Just an fun update, and thread coming... here are the "Demands" of this ridiculous collection of bored malcontents:


OccupyWallStreet.org

No, seriously, they're demanding getting paid even if you don't work...

I think they should simplify it to one purpose, End The Fed

reply to post by geryon

only if that translates to "end the Federal Reserve" ... your blanket statement of 'end the fed' can be toooooo easily misinterpreted or is that the goal this time?

why am i splitting hairs here ?? cause EVERY socialist, globalist, marxist, communist and other ISTs along the way exclusively want to end the fed (all of it) ... meaning collapse the US, period.

reply to post by Drew99GT


You are very close and may be a step ahead.

But, this whole OWS movement, I question, possibly, may be is controlled from the White House. Why is it that if I type "occupy your " into Google I get this:

www.google.com...=en&sa=X&psj=1&ei=0TGLTt7VAurFsQL1n4DBBA&ved=0CCMQvwUoAQ&q=occupy+your&spell=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=4dc1abfd570e4 1a0&biw=1178&bih=775

or across yahoo:

answers.yahoo.com...

[Iove the response "I am already occupying my city"]

coincidence? with all the libtards showing up for an undeclared [read no official declaration] statement rally?

Or on the NET: they expected 2K protestors but ended up with 10k of protesters. WOW! (or who is behind this?)

All with cell phones and with none of the protests covered by the MSM. This was designed from the beginning to be viral on the net to reach people just like us.....those who live on the net.

I SAY BULL#!

It is just another form of control. [The MSM is not working.]

I will tell you what I would do if I would show up for a demonstration,

I WOULD SHOW UP WITH A PITCH-FORK , A TORCH, AND A ROPE!

THAT WOULD BE MY JUSTICE!

I would not need a cell phone to make my point. I would not need my friends to connect with me while I did justice! We are beyond our connectivity. We are ourselves.

Can we place bets on how long it takes Barack Hussein Obama to announce that he hears the cries of these protesters?

Orchestrated? (What was our president's highest paying job before he entered .gov)

To ATS: THINK!

Originally posted by wrdwzrd
while I agree with the reasons for protesting - income inequality, lack of jobs, overloaded debt, banker bail outs, etc, the protests themselves will not do much.

i have been in many many protests and the end is result is great coverage for indie media blogs and some cool videos on youtube and almost zero change.

No one understands it better than the protesters. They are not expecting any change because of the protests.

Greece has been throwing molotov cocktails for how long now? and nada, no change, not going to happen.

Exactly and that is why they are not rioting.

If all of these protesters built a sense of community in their neighbourhoods like they are at this protest, that would be significant change. Meet the folks on your street, talk with them, build with them, find out who can do what, whos growing veggies, who can fix stuff, what can you offer to be a helpful part of your community? Have a potluck and share ideas.

This creates real and lasting change, protests create chants and inventive signs that make for good media but not much else.

What do you think the objective of protests is? It is to meet people desperate for change and willing to declare oneself as such in public.

These people met online and in other places and agreed that a change is desperately needed. Next step is to find out how many are really desperate for change when not hiding behind a keyboard. That is what these protests are about, a social gathering under public glare. They are getting to know each other face-to-face and building trust, an opportunity they never had before on such a large scale. If they are convinced there are enough of them, the next step will be social action. What direction it takes will depend on how many there are in each place and what their preferences are.

reply to post by gncnew


That would be true if the media was even covering it!

Only thing i saw was on BBC.

THey do'nt march DC because it's so ghetto they'd probably all get shot.

Things happen. Personally it smells like communism.

reply to post by marg6043

I absolutely defend their right to protest even though I disagree. I even admire them for doing so, I just believe they are misguided and misinformed.

No one is saying things are peachy, we are many of us just pointing out they are targeting the WRONG enemy. There are also plenty of people that would rise to their cause if they were to target the true enemies of our Nation.

I was just seeing some demands in a post and I just had to shake my head. Now mind you I didn't spend 30 minutes to an hr to verify if they ARE the legitimate demands of this group, but if they REALLY think they deserve a *living wage* whether working or not, free healthcare and free education..... gimme gimme gimme and there is only one place for all the money to come from, STEAL it from The People who have worked and sacrificed their entire lives to get ahead...NO WAY Jose! The ends to NOT justify the means!!!!!

Sorry they lose EVERYONE but the extreme and radical far left with that outlook

People like myself remember THOSE guys from the 60's....they were the ones causing people to die and blowing things up....

I heard nothing about restoring the Constitution in the demands.....

I would fight for their right to protest but no way in hell I could put myself behind anyone thinking the demands are at all realistic for this country. I am no socialist, or communist, or fascist..... The demands on the list I saw lead to those kind of places.

We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known.

They have taken our houses through an illegal foreclosure process, despite not having the original mortgage.

They have taken bailouts from taxpayers with impunity, and continue to give Executives exorbitant bonuses.

They have perpetuated inequality and discrimination in the workplace based on age, the color of one’s skin, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation.

They have poisoned the food supply through negligence, and undermined the farming system through monopolization.

They have profited off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless nonhuman animals, and actively hide these practices.

They have continuously sought to strip employees of the right to negotiate for better pay and safer working conditions.

They have held students hostage with tens of thousands of dollars of debt on education, which is itself a human right.

They have consistently outsourced labor and used that outsourcing as leverage to cut workers’ healthcare and pay.

They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility.

They have spent millions of dollars on legal teams that look for ways to get them out of contracts in regards to health insurance.

They have sold our privacy as a commodity.

They have used the military and police force to prevent freedom of the press.

They have deliberately declined to recall faulty products endangering lives in pursuit of profit.

They determine economic policy, despite the catastrophic failures their policies have produced and continue to produce.

They have donated large sums of money to politicians supposed to be regulating them.

They continue to block alternate forms of energy to keep us dependent on oil.

They continue to block generic forms of medicine that could save people’s lives in order to protect investments that have already turned a substantive profit.

They have purposely covered up oil spills, accidents, faulty bookkeeping, and inactive ingredients in pursuit of profit.

They purposefully keep people misinformed and fearful through their control of the media.

They have accepted private contracts to murder prisoners even when presented with serious doubts about their guilt.

They have perpetuated colonialism at home and abroad.

They have participated in the torture and murder of innocent civilians overseas.

They continue to create weapons of mass destruction in order to receive government contracts.

source: director/actor Mark Ruffalo
www.tweetdeck.com...

Originally posted by AzureSky
I support them fully. I will be protesting.
I have a job, i make a decent wage, i pay my # on time for the most part..not so much lately but whatever.

But people who make more and have a comfortable life don't see anything wrong with it, im sure some do, im sure a lot do. But there are those ones that don't see anything wrong. brainwashed so to speak.

Economic Inequality is a very big deal, because it destroys the economy in the end.

Communism at its FINEST form, not extremist commumism, seems to be what they are after? or am I reading this whole thing wrong?

S

reply to post by shauny

Nearly as I can tell you are spot on, they are just using new buzzwords like *living wage* and *social equality* I saw a list of demands on a post in ATS earlier and all I could do was roll my eyes that THIS is what they are hoping the whole country will get behind their cause for.

Sad really, I fear our children and their children have a VERY rocky road ahead of them. Not just over the things my generation has been lax about but also hugely based on their own demands. Should they get them, it will bring about their own demise.

Originally posted by Honor93
reply to post by geryon

 

only if that translates to "end the Federal Reserve" ... your blanket statement of 'end the fed' can be toooooo easily misinterpreted or is that the goal this time?

why am i splitting hairs here ?? cause EVERY socialist, globalist, marxist, communist and other ISTs along the way exclusively want to end the fed (all of it) ... meaning collapse the US, period.

meaning federal reserve, was borrowing Ron Paul's slogan

too many demands, i think one focused demand at a time would be more powerful

Firing the heads at the SEC during the collapse would be a nice good faith gesture also