Why I hold the Occupy movement in deep contempt

The message is clear, it’s been clear for months, but the deaf don’t acknowledge it. Is it because they can’t see it, or is it because they won’t? The Occupy crowd isn’t afraid of making change; they’re just hoping to do it peacefully. I haven’t met a protester yet, that isn’t prepared to take this to the next level if that’s what needs to be done.

Maybe it is you, the author of the OP, that is afraid to act, so afraid, in fact, that you’ve allowed yourself to become deaf and blind to the truth that this movement has never been about the rich; it has been about those in power who use their power to corrupt governments, send soldiers to die to appease their wealth, create mountains of fiat wealth to line their own pockets with self-gifted bonuses, then blame us, the “little guys” when their plans fall through, bailing themselves out on our blood and sweat.

If you can agree that this sort of behavior is okay, then you are truly lost, but if you see what we see, and if you feel as we feel, then step out from behind your computer screen and be more proactive. Even if you don’t agree with the messages you’re hearing coming out of OWS and other protests, then start a protest of your own, bearing your own message of change.

The point is; nothing will ever change as long as armchair pessimists are gumming up the works with their own selfish, agenda filled, rants. I believe everyone wants change, but many are too blinded by partisan fallacies to see that it doesn’t matter where their allegiances lie, we’re all being victimized here, and it doesn’t matter who you vote for; Obama, Romney, Cain, or Paul, they’ll never be able to change a goddamn thing until every ounce of corruption is squashed in both Washington and Wall Street, and this corruption won’t me moved by peaceful protests, it will take Force. These protests aren’t as much about getting Wall Street or DC to change, as they are about getting the everyman to wake from his slumber and see the world for what it really is. I’ll leave you with a quote:

“First they came for the Communists & I didn’t speak up, I wasn’t a Communist. Then they came for the Jews & I didn’t speak up, I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists & I didn’t speak, I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics & I didn’t speak up, I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.”

~Martin Niemöller.




~FugitiveSoul

I'm in full support of OWS, but they need to get more organized. A few people need to start representing the movement and state what it is they want -specifically-. Most of us know what they want.

1.) Some want all their loans forgiven.
2.) Some want the corporate criminals to be punished for what they have done.
3.) Some want to end the Federal Reserve, bring back/in free market capitalism and end the corruption in our Government.
4.) Some want to end Capitalism and have the Government take care of them through these difficult times.

Obviously there are many different groups in this movement protesting against different things, but doing so together. That's why if you walk from one person to another, you might hear a completely different and seemingly incoherent message from "OWS" as a whole. They ALL know what they want, it's just that many of them want different things!

Originally posted by newcovenant
And it is this totalitarianism they are fighting. What good would be giving up their cell phones? When it is not fair market capitalism or modern conveniences they are protesting. It is not business in general.

It is corruption and collusion with the government and Wall Street dictating government rulings and decisions that affect the people adversely and unfairly. It is the conflict of interest these people are protesting.

But this message isn't getting through except to a handful of people that want to see it. I think the poster was making the point that simply occupying a park isn't the answer. Boycotting products is something that will get attention. If OWS could select one company that they feel best represents the corruption that they are protesting, announce that they are going to boycott that product and then successfully do so, THAT would get corporate America's attention. If they could make a difference of even 5% in a product's sales over a quarter, that is something that would get corporate knees knocking. Companies would start to get very worried that they might be targeted next, and they might actually heed the protesters. But as long as their actions are limited to sitting in a park and carrying signs around, corporate America will just paint them as drug-crazed lunatic extremists and that line will be repeated by the MSM and it's what the majority of people will believe.I'd say less than 1% of the public get news from alternative sites, 99% believe everything they see on the evening news.

reply to post by Skippy1138


Great picture! I've seen that on ATS before. This video also highlights the hypocrisy being displayed. MrLizard will enjoy ranting about this one!

Deep contempt eh? Sounds like you have some issues of your own, starting with the problem of generalizing. There are plenty of people who are nothing like what you describe, but hey create whatever argument and examples you need in order to fit your contempt.

Originally posted by seabag
reply to post by Skippy1138

 

Great picture! I've seen that on ATS before. This video also highlights the hypocrisy being displayed. MrLizard will enjoy ranting about this one!

I think that video is completely missing the point. Most OWS protesters aren't protesting COMPANIES, they are protesting CORRUPTION! I don't give a rat's a$$ how much Microsoft, Apple or Johnson & Johnson are making in profits as long as they pay their taxes just like the rest of us, and as long as they aren't buying politicians to make laws in their favor and helping them create monopolies. It's not RICH people who are the problem, it's the THIEVES and CHEATS most of the population have a problem with. We would like to see these cheats and thieves punished just as anyone one of us would be punished for committing fraud. There may be good bankers and CEOs out there who do what they're supposed to following our laws, but we are protesting the criminals who have a hand in the collapse of our economy all in the name of making a profit. Why don't people get that???

It's strange that you've chosen itunes/apple as the poster-child for the corporate corruption?

I don't see the government bailing them out.. I don't see itunes encouraging reckless trading on wall street.

These young people protesting wall street are not enabling the corruption that is our corporate welfare system.

Boycotting everything created by Steve Jobs would not derail or change the corruption a single bit. It's kind of silly.

Originally posted by Skippy1138
reply to post by mr-lizard

 

This is why people are protesting.. when Walmart can kill the competition and force local independent shops to close down.. we have a problem.

You are essentially blaming fish for being surrounded by the ocean.

Originally posted by FugitiveSoul
Maybe it is you, the author of the OP, that is afraid to act, so afraid, in fact, that you’ve allowed yourself to become deaf and blind to the truth that this movement has never been about the rich

Yep. That's why I just spent my last $10,000 to take a permaculture design course, and move 1500km from where I was previously living; because I'm paralysed by fear.

I don't disagree for a moment that something needs to be done; what I disagree with is that *this* is the appropriate strategy. If you had anything other than V for Vendetta and various other reactionary material from WW2 running on a permanent loop inside your head, you might see that. An apparent inability to speak in anything other than quotes, really doesn't do a lot to support the idea that you're an autonomous thinker.

As someone else said, this is extremely indicative of the problem. We have people here who have exchanged one form of tyranny, and mind control, for another.