In picking someone out from a crowd, one runs the risk of being accused of cherry-picking. So be it. Over the last week I have spoken to a significant number of people involved in the Occupy Wall Street protests, and I have got an idea of some of the themes running through the movement, even if I’m not too much closer to discovering what it would do about its grievances. The videos that I have uploaded have each reflected a certain aspect, they have not been intended to imply that the demonstration is made up of clones of those I chose. The Man In The East German Military Uniform was not included to suggest that all the protesters are borderline insane, but rather to demonstrate that there is a performance-art element to the thing that shouldn’t be overlooked. (And, judging by some of the singing I have heard, the people who rushed down with their acoustic guitars and “played all night” were not exactly at risk of missing a Carnegie Hall date by doing so.) The Amusing Man with the Amusing Sign was included because he had hit perfectly on the inchoate nature of the protests, and on the lack of any serious proposals. And the Vietnamese Immigrant made it up because he showed that there is a real cost to the protests, and one which transcends the police bill.
But nothing had prepared me for meeting this gentleman, who wants his college paid for because, well . . . that’s what he wants. He has perfectly articulated a sentiment I have heard repeatedly but was struggling to distill with anything like the clarity he achieved: That being that if there is something someone doesn’t like about their life, someone else somewhere should change it. And if they don’t, well then, the American Dream is dead:
This guy should move to Sweden where college educations and healthcare are free - kind of. Like all government-funded programs, free college educations and healthcare are paid for with tax revenue and the current average tax rates in Sweden are as follows:
Income Tax 58%
National Sales Tax 25%
VAT 25%
Municipal Tax 32%*
Corporate Tax 26%
* Municipal taxes are used to fund free college educations and healthcare, as well as the Swedish Church and funerals.
Do you think it would do any good to explain to this wide-eyed optimist that nothing in life is free - that someone has to pay - and that standard applies to the "free" college education he wants? While it will be free at the time he attends college, he will pay for it many times over after he becomes gainfully employed.
Charles, I try to look at it from a different angle: every society has some number (say around 20-30%) of people who are a heavy ballast on the moral character of the country as a whole, and I am trying to be polite here. Carriers of hate and envy. The societal uglies.
Comparing the qualities of those fools across societies gives you an interesting viewpoint and allows one to compare the cultures not in term of their best, but in terms of their worst.
Looking at our idiots here, one cannot fail to be proud of their "harmlessness" and relative niceness. I don't know how would you compare them to London uglies, whom we recently saw in action, but the bottom 30% in terms of character in Russia/USSR, for example, is a cesspool of hate and envy and a fatal drag on any hopes of society's maturation and liberation.
So, yes, I am proud of our fools, the least hateful and dangerous in the world! They reflect well on the rest of the country and its kindness and its morals.
Hudson, thanks for a Nordlinger-esque perspective. However, the Arab spring demonstrations started in such a way such that optimism was possible. Egypt quickly sank into the biggest threat to Israel we've seen in decades. The point is that most of the 30% in each of these nations is actually more like you describe, but are easily co-opted by the 3% who foment destructive behavior.. Anyone who would go along with those inane chants can be led into just about anything.
Well, yes, in my view, black sub-culture, or "inner cities" or whatever is a lot like the "soviet people" - both good and bad. I would agree that its bottom 30% are as hateful, full of envy and scary.
There was a Soviet era joke about an American,Englishman, French and a Soviet each granted a wish. American chose to become rich as Morgan, Englishman chose for England to win the World Cup, French to sleep with Brigitte Bordeaux, and a "soviet": to see his neighbor's house burned to the ground.
Sure, that video of the dude inciting another French Revolution is "scary" (scare quotes intended). But what kind of army could he raise? Most of the men in these Occupy marches have been feminized by women, neutered by schools and universities, and the closest they've ever gotten to a gun is through their X-Box. Hudson Wilde says they're "harmless", and in the sense that they're a bunch of emasculated wimps, I agree.
Agree there will always be a 20-30% that will revel in its adolescent sense of entitlement.
More telling to me is how the culture regards these angry freeloaders. For generations the political culture chose to pander to them. Wrong move. Big time.
I guess Charles doesn't want to talk about the economic ignorance on display at last night's debates and so chooses more selective interviewing of OWS protesters.
No diving allowed; the pool's not that deep.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo this is what we get when we decide that everyone with a pulse is college material.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis guy should move to Sweden where college educations and healthcare are free - kind of. Like all government-funded programs, free college educations and healthcare are paid for with tax revenue and the current average tax rates in Sweden are as follows:
Income Tax 58%
National Sales Tax 25%
VAT 25%
Municipal Tax 32%*
Corporate Tax 26%
* Municipal taxes are used to fund free college educations and healthcare, as well as the Swedish Church and funerals.
Do you think it would do any good to explain to this wide-eyed optimist that nothing in life is free - that someone has to pay - and that standard applies to the "free" college education he wants? While it will be free at the time he attends college, he will pay for it many times over after he becomes gainfully employed.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWow, someone made Lotion Man look well informed and insightful.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'd pay to see a debate between "Lotion Man" and "Give Me A Free College Education Just Because Man".
Ok, I lied. I wouldn't pay, but I'd watch if it were free and didn't require viewing a video captcha first... :)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI want the talent of John Fogerty. Why can't I write something as classic as "Proud Mary?"
Who will throw me a bone?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThrow a bone at you? That's VIOLENCE*!
(* - unless it is violence in the name of Progressivism. Then it's a Sacred Civil Right.)
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCharles, I try to look at it from a different angle: every society has some number (say around 20-30%) of people who are a heavy ballast on the moral character of the country as a whole, and I am trying to be polite here. Carriers of hate and envy. The societal uglies.
Comparing the qualities of those fools across societies gives you an interesting viewpoint and allows one to compare the cultures not in term of their best, but in terms of their worst.
Looking at our idiots here, one cannot fail to be proud of their "harmlessness" and relative niceness. I don't know how would you compare them to London uglies, whom we recently saw in action, but the bottom 30% in terms of character in Russia/USSR, for example, is a cesspool of hate and envy and a fatal drag on any hopes of society's maturation and liberation.
So, yes, I am proud of our fools, the least hateful and dangerous in the world! They reflect well on the rest of the country and its kindness and its morals.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHudson, thanks for a Nordlinger-esque perspective. However, the Arab spring demonstrations started in such a way such that optimism was possible. Egypt quickly sank into the biggest threat to Israel we've seen in decades. The point is that most of the 30% in each of these nations is actually more like you describe, but are easily co-opted by the 3% who foment destructive behavior.. Anyone who would go along with those inane chants can be led into just about anything.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWe're not all that different, and give it another year to become more clear.
Have you been paying attention to violent black flash mobs?
How about this OWS guy, linked today on Drudge, calling for violent revolution?
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Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWell, yes, in my view, black sub-culture, or "inner cities" or whatever is a lot like the "soviet people" - both good and bad. I would agree that its bottom 30% are as hateful, full of envy and scary.
There was a Soviet era joke about an American,Englishman, French and a Soviet each granted a wish. American chose to become rich as Morgan, Englishman chose for England to win the World Cup, French to sleep with Brigitte Bordeaux, and a "soviet": to see his neighbor's house burned to the ground.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusei may have to steal that joke that was great.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIf you do steal the joke, spell Bardot's last name correctly.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSure, that video of the dude inciting another French Revolution is "scary" (scare quotes intended). But what kind of army could he raise? Most of the men in these Occupy marches have been feminized by women, neutered by schools and universities, and the closest they've ever gotten to a gun is through their X-Box. Hudson Wilde says they're "harmless", and in the sense that they're a bunch of emasculated wimps, I agree.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAgree there will always be a 20-30% that will revel in its adolescent sense of entitlement.
More telling to me is how the culture regards these angry freeloaders. For generations the political culture chose to pander to them. Wrong move. Big time.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOMG.
The world is meant to revolve around him.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLook at his eyes perk up when Mr. Cooke mentions the prospect of someone else paying for a new car.
Why settle for someone else covering your debt from goods and services already consumed?
Dare to dream, pal!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI guess Charles doesn't want to talk about the economic ignorance on display at last night's debates and so chooses more selective interviewing of OWS protesters.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI guess the good doctor does not want to talk about the growing calls for violence coming from the OWS movement.
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Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseDisagreeing with a liberal is not evidence of ignorance.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse