Thread: Occupy Wallstreet Thoughts

I like Peter Schiff's take on it:

(the wall street stuff starts at 10 minute mark)

Originally Posted by Bozigian

CptnMidnite Videos... "Best Occupy Wall Street Rant!"

That guy is among the most well-spoken I have heard of any of the Occupy Wallstreet protesters, and perhaps because he doesn't exactly fit in the rest of the crowd. I actually saw his videos before you posted them here... he's the type of person that should be running for office.

But as I stated the first time I posted, the majority of the protesters are more like this guy (LOLOLOL)

For me the biggest reason why I think it is a waste of time is I do not think they are 1: blaming the right people and 2: not providing people with a realistic solution or process to facilitate change.

When they are asking Mr. Obama to tear down wallstreet they should realize that he is owned by wall street and big corps just like every other politician. In my opinion the problem does not lie on wallstreet but in the fiscally irresponsible and corrupt government that is incapable of balancing a budget. They should be protesting in DC and at state/local governments to balance the budget and eliminate the complexities plaguing small start ups so we can get on with rebuilding this country.

Example of a process:

One solution to reduce government spending I heard watching an interview with a business man (don't remember who) commented on how the government could have given some of its employees early retirement packages at the beginning of the crisis. In doing so they would have been able to hire on many of these kids protesting while decreasing labor costs as much as 30%.

Much like us Entrepreneurs if these protesters could focus on one thing at a time and work until it was reached then we could see some change.

I thought this was a spot on comment posted after a story pertaining the movement on Yahoo:

10's of thousands of people in cities across the world is not a revolution. It is a bunch of people living in free societies(for the most part) who are angry they aren't being handed more. We have a generation of kids who are spoiled, demanding, and impatient. Ever since grade school these kids were never challenged, never allowed to fail. We made sure every kid felt good and gave them participation trophy's even when they came in last place. We eliminated gym class games and picking teams because we didn't want to hurt the feelings of the kids picked last. When a kid gets hurt the parents sue, and the school removes what caused the injury whether it be a swing set or slide. Most kids aren't allowed to explore and learn. Parents are afraid to let their kids wander in the woods and get dirty. When a kid gets bad grades the parents don't punish the child, they scream at the teacher. We stopped teaching logic and critical thinking, and instead taught skills only needed to pass some stupid standardized tests. Instead of teaching kids to be productive members of society we teach them they are all special. Then when they get to the real world they realize they are not special. They are no better than anybody else. Since they were never challenged as kids, they lack the skills to survive in the cut throat business world. Now they are upset, and are screaming and yelling like an angry child who wants more candy.

Originally Posted by Bozigian

Good share Boz. I didn't watch all 3 of the videos, just a couple minutes of these 2, but I would tend to share the same views with this Chris guy. He puts his message out there better than anyone else I've heard from this movement. I wonder how many people at the movement agree with him on all of the issues he brought up though.

A lot of good discussion here with high quality content. I like. I wrote up a brief thought last week on the Occupy Wall Street crew. Imo, there are 2 types of people there, the 1% that actually know what they are talking about and the 99% that are just following what they hear or see. This is my opinion on the 99%--

"4 weeks have passed since this "Occupy Wall Street" shenanigans started. What productive things have these protesters accomplished with their lives? It's sad that you are punished for working your ass off in this country and rewarded for bitching that you don't have a job. Get up and do something! Be a productive member of society. Picketing and sulking that the system is weighing you down will not get you anywhere in life. If they hate capitalism so much, let's place them all into a system of communism. Let them wait for hours and days just to get a government controlled portion of meat and flour. What kind of hell would they raise then? Capitalism works like this- you either work your ass off and move up the food chain or you fall to the lower ranks when you don't want to work and get swallowed."

All im going to say on the matter is that it is interesting to see the difference between the american people and the european people. The first day occupy wall street went to europe, the people began to riot and destroy things but in america that doesnt happen.

These protests are motivation to me... not in the way that you might expect. I now want to be a member of the '1%'

These protests change nothing. I'm still hustling and working hard on my goals, so that I'll never be reduced to such depravity.

Originally Posted by 458

All im going to say on the matter is that it is interesting to see the difference between the american people and the european people. The first day occupy wall street went to europe, the people began to riot and destroy things but in america that doesnt happen.

Europeans aren't stupid.

Whoever controls the might or is willing to be destructive with force sets the rules. If you aren't willing, you are forced to abide by the rules of those who are.

The occupy wallstreet movements cause doesn't have enough spirit for people to go to those extremes because they hardly have a case aside from the fact they're pussies.

There is a book called "Might is Right". I recommend all of you read it.

Originally Posted by CarrieW

I have to say I disagree with many of the people posting in this thread! this is america ffs.

for 1 that gives them the right to protest anything they want to!

I may not agree with everything they think I do believe in the right to say whats on your mind.

I dont even know what else to say but wow.

Just because you want to dismiss them as brainwashed hippies doesnt mean that you are right and they are wrong.

I cant even go on for fear I will get banned.

I think it is funny that people that agree with OWS are the first to tout Americanism. That they have the right to protest whatever they want and scold the rest of us for making fun of them for being mindless hippies. Isn't that my right to disagree with them and or make fun of them? Hypocrites.

America= freedom, liberty, capitalism.

OWS= socialism, equality at the expense of liberty and freedom.

Originally Posted by bateati

Europeans aren't stupid.

Whoever controls the might or is willing to be destructive with force sets the rules. If you aren't willing, you are forced to abide by the rules of those who are.

The occupy wallstreet movements cause doesn't have enough spirit for people to go to those extremes because they hardly have a case aside from the fact they're pussies.

There is a book called "Might is Right". I recommend all of you read it.

Seems like all they did was shoot themselves in the foot IMHO. I think the real reason these riots did not happen in America is because the majority of people in our nation still believe and will fight to protect capitalism.

Originally Posted by 77startup

Seems like all they did was shoot themselves in the foot IMHO. I think the real reason these riots did not happen in America is because the majority of people in our nation still believe and will fight to protect capitalism.

The people in America aren't rioting because they think there is nobility and some sort of spiritual excellence in non-violent protests.
I feel the conscience of your average citizen in this country is completely out of touch with reality due to all the absolute trash being blasted to us through the media and extreme excesses of multiculturalism. Men are starting to act like women, and the women are starting acting like men. It's sad.

The whole "I am the 99%" seems a bit odd to me.

It's not like the 1% is an exclusive club. All you have to do is read The Millionaire Fastlane and implement it. If these people want to be wealthy, the only thing preventing them from getting there is themselves.

Of course, that being said, I don't think the government's perfect by any means. I think things DO need to change. But I don't think the 99% idea is hitting the nail on the head... anyone who's willing to work for it can enter the 1%.

Actually, what I don't like about the "we are the 99%" slogan is the involuntary inclusion aspect. I don't believe in a lot of their ideals, but I can't tell you how many times I've heard "but you're in the 99% and are one of us".

A lot like saying that because I'm white, I have to be apart of the Ku Klux Klan.

In some ways this is about the Law of Effection. People who create and make this world a better place should be compensated in a meaningful way than someone who contributes nothing. Unfairness occurs when someone gets compensated disproportionately to what they contribute to society.

Unfortunately, the media sensationalizes information and the result is that most people are misinformed. Politicians on both sides misrepresent information as well and divide this country by isolating and categorizing people and industries rather than uniting the country.

The U.S. is not about everyone being equal in terms of money and material assets, it's about everyone being equal in terms of having the opportunity to better themselves. That should be the goal.

Originally Posted by lleone

The U.S. is not about everyone being equal in terms of money and material assets, it's about everyone being equal in terms of having the opportunity to better themselves. That should be the goal.

Goal accomplished.

I think we fastlaners subscribe to a different kind of politics than others. Correct me if im wrong but:

We are very capitalistic, yet we don't subscribe to the break your back to make a dollar traditional conservative work ethic where you get good grades, get into a good college and try to get a "good" job; instead we make money work for us. We are more liberal when it comes to debt and leverage for our own gains, we do not believe that personal debt is evil. Yet we appreciate the value of hard work and smart financial decisions while on the fastlane, and do not expect the government to subsidize our lives and we do not appreciate redistributive government policy or burdening regulation. We believe in the ability to take control of our own lives and think that these people should do the same instead of sitting around waiting to be told what to do.

Originally Posted by Rickson9

I think that this kind of discontent stems from the widening gap between the haves and have nots. This needs to be addressed in a meaningful way or our society is doomed to experience the consequences of the past.

I don't believe that a solution is possible with our current societal structure. The posts on this thread, although a small sample size, demonstrate as much. Individuals on both sides of the "1% vs 99%" debate all want to have the 'right' opinion which implies that the environment isn't solution-oriented. History is destined to repeat itself ad infinitum. Let them eat cake, as it were.