'Occupy' types

[SmootSmack]

I guess the main thing for me is a) I don't fully understand what they are protesting and b) it seems like a lot of it is about some people having more success, however you define that (money, power, etc) than others.

But the way I see it, I'm as responsible as anyone else for not being part of the 1%. Do I wish made more money, had more pull in society, etc? Sure, but it's not like opportunities weren't afforded me. As I'm sure is the case for many protesting. I'm doing well, but I could have done better. I could have studied harder, done a better job along my career, whatever. My point is it seems, at least to me (and I've said this before), that a lot of this protesting is just to say "look at us, we're protesting" and that too few people involved are willing to take any responsibility of their own for where they are.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by saden1

Oh god, that was brutal!

Did you see this one?

[saden1]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Except that everyone, not just the protestors have a right to use public property. What if you live or work there? What if your livelihood requires others to be able to reach you there? What if your health or safety requires routine access to the area either b/c you live there or you need something from the area? As usual, it's just not as simple as you try to make it.



Undoubtedly, cops cover up cops actions. At the same time, I would suggest that police are also being subject to sanctions more often than at any time in history. In the era of internet, facebook and youtube, it is much more difficult for officers to escape scrutiny as they have in the past. Are there still abuses? Undoubtedly. Is there more accountability than there was even 30 years ago? I believe that also to be true.

And just so we're clear, rather than demonstrating a will to cover things up, I would suggest that the Rodney King affair demonstrates just how far the government will go to pursue justice when it comes to police abuse. The cops in the Rodney King beating were criminally charged and found not guilty by a jury who viewed the entire video not just the portions released to the public. They were subsequently recharged with civil rights violations and found guilty. Bottom line is, the State went to great lengths to secure significant sanctions of those cops.

But I digress ...

Give me a fcking break...the real bottom line is they were caught giving an Oscar worthy beat-down and managed to avoided getting their salad tossed in prison. It's no secrete that in America 10 white jurors let alone one is one too many to criminally convict white police officers "doing their job."

But hey, everyone deserves a fair trial and not guilty means not guilty. If lady Karma got to O.J. I am confident she will get at them too..

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

But the way I see it, I'm as responsible as anyone else for not being part of the 1%. Do I wish made more money, had more pull in society, etc? Sure, but it's not like opportunities weren't afforded me. As I'm sure is the case for many protesting. I'm doing well, but I could have done better. I could have studied harder, done a better job along my career, whatever. My point is it seems, at least to me (and I've said this before), that a lot of this protesting is just to say "look at us, we're protesting" and that too few people involved are willing to take any responsibility of their own for where they are.

That's a false illusion they want you to think Smoot. Truth is, you are born into a select group of people or you get lucky. I'll guarantee you there are people out there that have put in more effort, time, schooling than some of these high paid CEOs of corporations, but they'll never see the type of compensation.

It's almost the same way here in the state. You'd think the hard workers would get promoted, or those with education. Nope. It's a good ole boy network, and if you can shoot the shit, tell a good fishing story, then you are in there like swim wear.

Reminds me of this conference call we were on with my boss and our director. There was a new position opening up, and they were talking loosely about candidates for that job. My boss mentions one guy who would have been a 100% match for the position. He was liked, smart as hell, hard worker and knew what the hell he was doing. My boss then goes on to state...."Nah, they'd never give a guy like that the job, he's too valuable where he is".

In fact, the guy that got hired was a former employee here (that people hated), and was the worst candidate for the job and had the worst interview. Why'd he get it? Because the CIO and the guy under him were buddies with him and that's all that mattered.

This happens in corporations as well. Ivy league connections. Wealth connections. Sorry, but you can be middle class and work your ass off and never see the type of success like they will simply because of the circle you were born in. That doesn't mean we shouldn't work hard or strive to be better people, it just means that doing those doesn't equate to success on that level.

[saden1]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Did you see this one?

LOL...good god, these people are so stupid. That question was way too simple and could have been answered sensibly.

He just wants his tuition paid for, I want to own the Redskins. Come on Snyder, donate the Skins to me already!

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I guess the main thing for me is a) I don't fully understand what they are protesting and b) it seems like a lot of it is about some people having more success, however you define that (money, power, etc) than others.

Not even getting where you come up with that conclusion. Are you going of Fox news reports? Random youtube clips?

[over the mountain]

OVERDRAFT FEES BY BANK OF AMERICA

1 example of corporate greed effecting my hard earned livelyhood and am sure im not the only bank of america customer.

Ive had a BofA checking account for about 7 years now. As a student then a low wage working person I sometimes would go over my limit. Sometimes i would check my account after a weekend and I would be -300 plus when i figured i only really spent $50 or so more than my balance. This happened sometimes 2-3 times a month when I was real real broke.

More than a few times i went into BofA and vented that it wasnt right that they would charge me 35 dollars for a 6 dolar, sometimes 3 dollar purchase. they told me i should be aware of my balance and to use internet banking to keep a close watch and also recomend having overdraft protection. i really was pissed on more than a few occassions with them.

i got something in the mail about 6 months ago saying there is a class action lawsuit against BofA. when someone like me would be close to their balance, BofA would run the bigger charges first to make me go over quicker, that way they could charge me as many 35 overdraft fees as possible on the smaller purchases.

example of charges for a weekend (when bars/restaurants hold their weekend charges)

I have $115 balance.

I have pending charges in order of purchase date/time of:
$4.50
$9
$12
$23
$2.50
$7.50
$87
$56

BofA would run the $87 and $56 dollar charges first even though they were the last charges made, that way i overdraft quicker. then they would run the $4, $9, $7.50 charges etc so they get $35 a piece.

you wanna know the real kick in the nuts? to exempt out of the class action so you can sue BofA personally they directed you to a website. you had to opt out by some date in october. when i tried to go to the website in september to exempt myself the website wasnt up and running yet.

so now im going to get a check for a less than $10 even though BofA has done this scam on me for years and gotten close to a thousand dollar off me (no exagerration). to make my nuts hurt even worse, these sleeze ball attorneys are going to get 40% of the certified class action settlement before any of us millions of effected BofA victims get our pennies.

a third kick in the nuts. BofA bought my freakin home mortgage the second i bought a house. those bastards.

Details on Filing Claims for BofA Overdraft Settlement Arrive-

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

That's a false illusion they want you to think Smoot. Truth is, you are born into a select group of people or you get lucky. I'll guarantee you there are people out there that have put in more effort, time, schooling than some of these high paid CEOs of corporations, but they'll never see the type of compensation.

It's almost the same way here in the state. You'd think the hard workers would get promoted, or those with education. Nope. It's a good ole boy network, and if you can shoot the shit, tell a good fishing story, then you are in there like swim wear.

Reminds me of this conference call we were on with my boss and our director. There was a new position opening up, and they were talking loosely about candidates for that job. My boss mentions one guy who would have been a 100% match for the position. He was liked, smart as hell, hard worker and knew what the hell he was doing. My boss then goes on to state...."Nah, they'd never give a guy like that the job, he's too valuable where he is".

In fact, the guy that got hired was a former employee here (that people hated), and was the worst candidate for the job and had the worst interview. Why'd he get it? Because the CIO and the guy under him were buddies with him and that's all that mattered.

This happens in corporations as well. Ivy league connections. Wealth connections. Sorry, but you can be middle class and work your ass off and never see the type of success like they will simply because of the circle you were born in. That doesn't mean we shouldn't work hard or strive to be better people, it just means that doing those doesn't equate to success on that level.

Thats how I landed my job. They must have kept the swim wear.

[Alvin Walton]

[QUOTE=NC_Skins;853032]Not even getting where you come up with that conclusion. Are you going of Fox news reports? Random youtube clips? [Quote]


Its on every channel and every news website and its being repeated over and over and over that that these people dont have a point and most appear to just want a hand out.
Even my hugely liberal treehugging sister in law asked me what they want.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

That doesn't mean I can't see and understand people's plight in regards to these institutions. If I see something not right, I say something. I don't say something only because it affects me. Try caring for your fellow human mankind even if his plight doesn't affect you. You never know, one day you may need his help in your struggle. Then again, you are probably the kind of person who think you'll never need help. I guess it's easier to sit back, stereotype the individuals and mock their view points and protesting.

And there is the crux of it ... you accuse others of judging you and yet you blatantly judge others.

I, too, see and understand the people's plight as do many others who have posted in this thread. We also see that the OWS movement, like yourself, is failing to provide and/or detail a road map for change. Just like crowd control is not just a matter of "blocking off a couple streets", the institutional problems of the market and financial system are not things that can be fixed by simply hacking away at them. Stop assuming we don't sympathize with some of the goals of the OWS just b/c we assert they haven't done anything but complain about them.

To me, you seem to assume that people, who aren't ready to throw people in jail b/c things "seem like fraud" to you, are ignoring the problem. That's simply not true. B/c I don't agree with your characterizations doesn't mean I don't see a problem or that I am unsympathetic to some of their goals. To me, the anger that permeates your posts is almost tangible, is incredibly judgmental of those who don't agree wholeheartedly with your take on things, and makes it difficult to actually discuss the nuts and bolts of solutions to the problems identified by the OWS and others. My perception is that any demand for specifics as a precursor to judging the OWS's relevance is met with fury on your part.

All I have ever asserted is that the OWS has many and varied goals some of which I sympathize with and that the movement, in its current form, is not an effective a grassroots movement because it has identified not concrete plan to effect change.

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by Alvin Walton

Its on every channel and every news website and its being repeated over and over and over that that these people dont have a point and most appear to just want a hand out.
Even my hugely liberal treehugging sister in law asked me what they want.

I can understand the "what do they want?" portion, the "they just want a hand out" crap is a bit lame and probably exaggerated to the fullest. That's what they want you to believe.

Again, corporate media ran by corporate America.


Try here: BBC News - US & Canada

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by Alvin Walton

This protester cant get a job because there is too much homeland security and stuff.
You know...
You know...
You know...
I think she is Emmit Smiths sister.

Haftin' To Be Uproared - Occupy Atlanta - YouTube

That was, you know, pretty good. And from SS's:

The camera man at the end: "well from my perspective youve written stuff on a sign like a Christmas list and youre holding it in the air"

Protester: "yeah, why not"

To echo SS, we have all made choices that reflect what we want in life and what were willing to do to get it. Would i like to be a billionaire CEO and have multiple vacation homes. Sure. But i personally have not done the things required to get to that point, nor am willing to put in the effort and time or take the chance to one day get there, its just not all that important to me.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

I can understand the "what do they want?" portion, the "they just want a hand out" crap is a bit lame and probably exaggerated to the fullest. That's what they want you to believe.

Again, corporate media ran by corporate America.

Now why would anyone think you hate corporations?

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

I can understand the "what do they want?" portion, the "they just want a hand out" crap is a bit lame and probably exaggerated to the fullest. That's what they want you to believe.

Again, corporate media ran by corporate America.

Not like that chopped up video you posted that blocked out the cops telling those protesters about them getting ready to hit them with tear gas over and over again for 5 minutes.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by saden1

Give me a fcking break...the real bottom line is they were caught giving an Oscar worthy beat-down and managed to avoided getting their salad tossed in prison. It's no secrete that in America 10 white jurors let alone one is one too many to criminally convict white police officers "doing their job."

But hey, everyone deserves a fair trial and not guilty means not guilty. If lady Karma got to O.J. I am confident she will get at them too..

Okay, fine. I am not in any way shape or form defend the cops in the R. King matter. My only point is that, while still benefitting from internal protections, police are subject to higher levels of scrutiny and are subject to sanction than at any time in the past.