This guy has nailed it, with an amusing sign. He admitted more openly what a number of the more serious types have quietly conceded, albeit without the usual promise of “unity” at some point in the future: There really is no coherent message at all.
The mostly incoherent demands of the OWS protesters became a little clearer when unions joined their ranks. It seems they want the federal government to guarantee universal results for the working class - as yet to be defined - regardless of individual investment, which is similar to the philosophy behind union contracts. Providing more in recognition of individual achievement is rejected in favor of providing more for everyone in recognition of their existence.
The OWS protestors seem to be suggesting that the American people organize and enter into a contract of sorts with the federal government to provide them with guaranteed wages and benefits. Unfortunately, the details of this alleged working class revolution get murky after that. Who will negotiate the contract on behalf of the people? What if the people disagree about what they want their representatives to do? What if the govermment refuses to meet their demands? Will the American people go on strike?
Most important of all, what's the back-up plan to fulfill the monetary demands of the contract if wealthy taxpayers run out of wealth to tax or move it to more wealth-friendly environs? Organizing a protest - or a union - for thousands of like-minded people who want the same things isn't the same as organizing a nation of 300+ million individuals with diverse opinions, needs and wants.
I couldn't help but notice this guy's fashionable eyeglasses and perfect teeth. He's not exactly deprived, nothwithstanding his professed hatred of "stuff.'
With a small edit to the other people's signage these knuckleheads could be opposing CORPORATIST GREED. Now there's something worth protesting.
But addressing that would require restoring the limits of government power and allowing people to conduct more of their business in voluntary, competitive exchanges.
No, much too scary -- better to hide under a cardboard box and wait for nanny government to dole out baloney sandwiches. I hate baloney sandwiches.
Most of the OWS crowd seem to be students whose stupid leftist teachers let them get credit while play hookie here (not that they learn anything of value in the classroom anyway), along with some local hucksters who pretend to be participating while actually picking the protesters' pockets.
(Is ProtestWarriors out here, or are these people doing such a good job caricaturing themselves that it would be redundant?)
Then there seem to be some people who probably would be Tea Partiers, but for the typical New Yorker's pathetic need to feel superior to all other Americans. For these, being against the Tea Party is an essential fashion statement. Supporting Obama has always been a pure fashion statement for most New Yorkers, a way to convince themselves that they are not the hoi polloi that they really are.
This is why they must protest the housing and debt crises by blaming Wall Street, which in fact was not so much the cause but rather the first and perhaps greatest victim of the crisis, and which spent years frantically trying to forestall and mitigate its effects (the entire derivatives industry was a desperate attempt to dilute the risk caused by insane government regulatory mandates), instead of blaming the bloated federal bureaucracy that single-handedly and knowingly created the entire housing and debt crisis. To blame the actual culprit would expose their own self delusion, and collusion. And that would not be "cool".
I doubt the guy is a closet tea partier but I think he is probably smart enough to understand OWS is so much foolishness and decided to make a sign mocking his peers.
More intriguing is the guy on his left with the sign "Real Class Warfare: Tax Rates on Incomes over $25,000..."
No coherent message? Agreed.
But the really interesting part is watching the MSM try repeatedly to force a narrative or a specific message out of this cacophony.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe mostly incoherent demands of the OWS protesters became a little clearer when unions joined their ranks. It seems they want the federal government to guarantee universal results for the working class - as yet to be defined - regardless of individual investment, which is similar to the philosophy behind union contracts. Providing more in recognition of individual achievement is rejected in favor of providing more for everyone in recognition of their existence.
The OWS protestors seem to be suggesting that the American people organize and enter into a contract of sorts with the federal government to provide them with guaranteed wages and benefits. Unfortunately, the details of this alleged working class revolution get murky after that. Who will negotiate the contract on behalf of the people? What if the people disagree about what they want their representatives to do? What if the govermment refuses to meet their demands? Will the American people go on strike?
Most important of all, what's the back-up plan to fulfill the monetary demands of the contract if wealthy taxpayers run out of wealth to tax or move it to more wealth-friendly environs? Organizing a protest - or a union - for thousands of like-minded people who want the same things isn't the same as organizing a nation of 300+ million individuals with diverse opinions, needs and wants.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHey, I like this guy. About sums up the whole country, but he seems a little too laid back to be an effective hater.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI couldn't help but notice this guy's fashionable eyeglasses and perfect teeth. He's not exactly deprived, nothwithstanding his professed hatred of "stuff.'
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWith a small edit to the other people's signage these knuckleheads could be opposing CORPORATIST GREED. Now there's something worth protesting.
But addressing that would require restoring the limits of government power and allowing people to conduct more of their business in voluntary, competitive exchanges.
No, much too scary -- better to hide under a cardboard box and wait for nanny government to dole out baloney sandwiches. I hate baloney sandwiches.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseProtest All The Things!
I can't decide if this is hilarious or truly frightening.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhy is is that everytime I watch one of these videos, I think that Jeff Spicoli would fit right in?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAloha, Mr. Hand!
(Has Sean Penn shown up yet? Will he bring enough pizza for everyone?)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMost of the OWS crowd seem to be students whose stupid leftist teachers let them get credit while play hookie here (not that they learn anything of value in the classroom anyway), along with some local hucksters who pretend to be participating while actually picking the protesters' pockets.
(Is ProtestWarriors out here, or are these people doing such a good job caricaturing themselves that it would be redundant?)
Then there seem to be some people who probably would be Tea Partiers, but for the typical New Yorker's pathetic need to feel superior to all other Americans. For these, being against the Tea Party is an essential fashion statement. Supporting Obama has always been a pure fashion statement for most New Yorkers, a way to convince themselves that they are not the hoi polloi that they really are.
This is why they must protest the housing and debt crises by blaming Wall Street, which in fact was not so much the cause but rather the first and perhaps greatest victim of the crisis, and which spent years frantically trying to forestall and mitigate its effects (the entire derivatives industry was a desperate attempt to dilute the risk caused by insane government regulatory mandates), instead of blaming the bloated federal bureaucracy that single-handedly and knowingly created the entire housing and debt crisis. To blame the actual culprit would expose their own self delusion, and collusion. And that would not be "cool".
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI doubt the guy is a closet tea partier but I think he is probably smart enough to understand OWS is so much foolishness and decided to make a sign mocking his peers.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMore intriguing is the guy on his left with the sign "Real Class Warfare: Tax Rates on Incomes over $25,000..."