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Occupy Wall Street: Is It Really The 99%?
By EconMatters
It looks like the initial public support and sympathy for Occupy Wall Street (OWS) is starting to wear thin. From CNBC:
"Occupy Wall Street may claim small-business owners as members of the 99 percent, but from Oakland, Calif., to New York, many local enterprises are asking the protesters to pack up.
....the problem with the movement is that it is not hurting the big banks, but rather, it is hurting the small-business owners that are fighting to survive in a recession, says small-business owner Carol Bloom Stevens."
About a month ago, we already opined in an article that
"While we do not believe the Occupy Wall Street movement is entirely constructive timing-wise with the already troubled U.S. economy, we do understand the elements behind the initiative."
We have pointed out some of the shady market practice going on on Wall Street. However, part of the reason for our "against-the-herd" view regarding the OWS is the observation of a lack of leadership and clear vision and goal(s) of the entire Occupy movement.
When an organized initiative is unable to articulate realistic goals, and solutions related to its cause, it is nothing more than a disorganized idealistic crowd leading to typically nothing constructive. Or worse yet, if the crowd is big enough as in the case of OWS, "mob mentality" would almost guarantee something destructive would take place.
OWS has now escalated into scary violent outbursts in several metro areas with some protesters reportedly carrying weapons such as AK-47, while others resorting to destroying public and private properties and vandalism. Regardless how frustrated the bankster situation (at least that was the original OWS cause) might be, there's hardly any excuse for that kind of bad behavior that could harm innocent bystanders, while not only disrupting day-to-day lives of business and private citizens, but also bringing about a "riot contagion." For example, if not for the OWS, it is doubtful the Penn State students would have resorted to rioting over a football coach who probably deserved to be fired in the first place based on reported accounts.
Another observation: As part of the 99% "worker bees", it is also very difficult for us to fathom how much free time these protesters seem to have to just camp out for days, weeks or even months without any concern in the world about family, work, and most importantly, the next paycheck. So either these people are
- Part of the 14 million unemployed, whose time probably would have been better utilized going back to school or sprucing up job skill and resume for the next gig, or
- Part of the 1% with riches able to subsidize idealism, or
- The term "Professional Protester" may not be that far off.
Some people equivalized OWS to the Arab Spring. America is far from perfect, but it is not Egypt or Libya where an outdated autocratic leader/government had ruled for decades either. The political and fiscal system in the United States most definitely needs an overhaul, and the entire congress probably needs to be replaced, but that's where voting and election comes in and what a democratic system is all about. Overall, USA is still one of the best countries in the free world despite its many problems. That is, name one country in the world that does not have similar or more serious problems....just take a look at Europe.
While the cause behind OWS resonates with many in the nation, OWS is not the path to a better America either. The longer it spread and goes on in a disruptive manner without a clear and definitive mission, and solution, the more likely other parts of the society will start turning against it. Time to regroup before falling flat on its face once the red carpet gets abruptly pulled out.
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Not defending this shill opinion peice but the author is correct that the protests impact local businesses that are located in the immediate area of the protest. No one going shopping there etc.
Wow!!!!
I never the definition of 'surrational' is 'pissing into the wind'.
Thanks for the new word om
I don't understand the negative marks, either.
Yes, we've got a huge shit show with government/banks so intertwined. Yes, they have us by the short hairs.
But, these people at OWS are pretty much delusional. "Ya, tear it all down, yeah, let's start an anarcho-commune, ya!" They're idiots, of the useful kind. This is one group being led, in the shadows, by some people that want to 'rule the world' by collapsing our economy and starting from scratch. While we are prepared for that eventuality, it's better for the what, 30-50 million people that would be rounded up and killed when they refused to join the farm if these idiots got their way, christ, they've got people out there saying to bring back guillotines. Please, fuck OWS.
The capitalist system is still the best system in the world. We just need to reign it in. But you don't do it by shitting (literally) on the good people.
And the article is precisely right, shut the fuck up, go away and come back when you have a solution. Maybe check with the Tea Party.
>> This is one group being led, in the shadows, by some people that want to 'rule the world' by collapsing our economy and starting from scratch.
Fuck you bitch, this is fight club.
This fight is being led, in the shadows, by the anonymous people behind zerohedge, bitchez!!!
So, "Zerohedge" is here to overthrow the US government and install some kind of anarcho-communistic existence? Just how will that work? What is 'Zerohedge' going to do when the current crop of scum 'Occupying' the country come to cut your head off because you were smart and got your guns and gold and took care of yourself? There are other people in the world that need your stuff, part with it or we'll kill you. That's what you want?
The Tea Party and some of the OWS people (the good ones) are calling for the same thing...get rid of the government/business crony party. The tea party did something about it, formed a voting coalition and tried to change who ran the shop. Albeit, a futile effort. OWS seems to want 'someone else' to take care of it? Like who? Obama? One thing is for sure, ACORN/NYCC/SEIU/TIDES are running this OWS. These are the people in the background and they want to collapse our system, I suggest if they succeed, there will be many millions who die when they don't conform and you 'mister speaker for Zerohedge" will be among them.
You realize Fight Club is a book, right? A book of fiction?
If it is real, you must be the one with 'bitch tits'.
I suggest you've got to stop hitting the bong so hard and get our of your mom's basement.
People seem to be incapable of seeing the similarities of socialism and crony capitalism when viewed from the sovereignty of the individual... the only real difference between the two is their approach, the former being obvious for all, the latter being much more subtle about slipping the noose around our necks. I really view it more as an evolution of socialism.
The days of overt control are pretty antiquated with our present knowledge of psychology, anthropology, sociology, biology and ability to develop control devises, e.g. media, drugs, etc. The cost of overt control is patently crippling... the subtle approach gets far more mileage out of a tank of gas...
The problem is not capitalism per se. The problem is this, IMHO: in any large organization, the head of it gets to be the head of it because s/he is obsessed with power and narcissism. The head then recruits lieutenants who faithfully carry out the orders to overcompensate themselves, reward friends and destroy the less friendly. The key is to eschew anything large: large government, large military, large companies, large unions. The damage any one smaller entity can do is a lot less than rogue large ones
Human nature is what it is. Take an OWS protester, give them Blankfein's job, and the next day you'll think s/he was it in all their lives. People don't change so the structure needs to be changed to keep things small. The US Constitution wanted small Federal government and states to drive the system. The power was usurped by said power mongering whores who want to control your lives and dole out cash to friends. Chop the federal government down to size, and watch the crony capitalism shrink to a manageable size because it is impossible to change 50 states policy, but easy to spend enough in just one area: the federal goverment
I wish OWS would focus on the abuse if power in the Washington-Company circuit and not in throwing eggs at Wall Street alone. The bailouts are a symptom, not a cause
Idiot, or Shill you decide.
Former 'corporate' worker bee for over 20 years, laid off in May 09, unemployed from any real job since. None available. Starting own business. Politics and finance are part-time hobbies.
I'm not a shill....I definitely believe we need to crack down on these fucks.
However, I do not believe OWS is the right 'direction'. I am for independence, liberty, the ability to make a living.
Further, I believe none of the solutions being fed to us right now. Has anyone noted WSJ, Fox, the guys 'on our side' are pushing Romney?
Anyway, a group of people calling for the overthrow of the US is not what I call a good thing.
I'm not sure why that is so bad.
As Rothbard said: anarchy and capitalism are the same thing. You can't have one without the other. The OWS folks are not anarchists. If they were they'd be working to build a better life for themselves rather than wasting their time complaining that the government should fix the problems which were created by and which are necessary to sustain that same government.
It's amazing that so many people are marking your reply with a negative. As if it is untrue.
EconMatters: Can't wait to read your "Any Criticism Of The Federal Reserve Is Based On “Misconceptions” atricle next.
The Bernake is just mis-understood! LOL!!!
He really is very sweet once you look past the fact he is robbing your childrens, childen!
He is a GREAT! on the inside.. the part YOU! and I will never see.. it is only on the outside he is PURE FUCKING EVIL!
EconMatters doens tunderstand China's Leveraged Renminbi at 1,200%.. so dont expect him to grasp #OWS let alone #ANON! LOL!!
I'm a small business owner. OWS is trampling over all businesses, not banks. I haven't met an OWS supporter yet that is appreciative that someone like me is working 70 hour weeks to keep them employed.
capitalistrock if you are not carefull your pimp gonna beat you for not working hard enough and not suckin enough cock round the corner. your a worthless pile of shite
You got that Brownshirt thing down real good.
"I haven't met an OWS supporter yet that is appreciative that someone like me is working 70 hour weeks to keep them employed."
Oh, poor baby. The reason you haven't met any 'appreciative' OWS supporter is because perhaps people, including your employees think you're a crappy boss and all around douche.
Good luck with your welfare mentality. You're not planning on reproducing, are you?
you're giving him too much credit... I'm not sure he produced in the first place... reproduction is quite presumptuous
So they got you guys running tag team? Things must be looking pretty bad on the interlinks, what with people not swallowing the kool-aid this time around.
Yeah, It's like a conspiracy. Cool.
It's ok to admit that it was clever...
It's raining hard and the roof leaks
shudda fixed the roof
the leaks are
not the problem
maybe there's a new house just ahead
payshence and peeeeece, brudda om/haole boy
With all due respect, I would contend that nobody starts a business in this country with the goal of keeping employees in jobs. The goal is to make a profit, is it not?
And to be perfectly honest, I am sick and tired of hearing all the bitching and moaning of business owners. You should be fighting with OWS to eliminate the cancer of crony capitalism that is the real source of unfair competition small business owners face.
Don't get me wrong: I really believe small businesses may be our salvation and a way to secure for ourselves the means of production on a much more local and distributed scale, rather than all the multinational corporations we have now, highly dependent upon cheap fossil fuels to ship goods around the world. But small business owners will have to make a decision whose side they are on, which I believe ultimately boils down to the fact that modern businesses are wholly undemocratic institutions that are stripping away our fundamental liberties one by one. What does it mean to live in a "democratic" country when the moment you go to work, you find yourself embedded in a completely totalitarian institution? Can you say cognitive dissonance?
Yes. I can say cognitive dissonance.
But it is so worth pointing out that the small business owner is working in a toxic environment not of his/her making. The corp/gov system has the "citizens" surrounded. Business owners must work with devaluing dollars, insane and changing tax instructions, competitors who have unfair advantage due to who they know or their ability to pay-off some politico.
Who would want to start a business with no demand base - because the banksters/goverment thieves wanted immediate revenue and pulled demand forward using credit advances to the point of mass destruction?
What business owner would want the HFT roller-coaster of commodity prices? Taxes are an important insanity to address, but those twists are the result of bribes paid and deals with benefits to congress critters. There is no end - literally - to the mess of corruption the business owner is now, or will be soon, dealing with.
What OWS has to do is take it to the sources of the problem: Wall Street, TBTF Banks and Washington - and their own State Reps are the same guys causing the problem for the rest of us: Congress.
OWS has to move on to more fertile fields. Otherwise it will be erradicated like vermin - because the PTB have the megaphone and the ability.
No doubt about it.
I completely agree with the description of the small business environment as toxic and not of their making. I am actually in the process of starting an independent firm, so I am becoming more familiar with the riduculous array of rules and regulations. And don't even mention taxes. I don't even want to think about the headaches to come.
But I think a better metaphor for the OWS movement is a very big multi-part wave, like a tsunami. Guns won't stop it.
If guns won't stop it, what of the report that protesters are brandishing ak-47s? It's so powerful that it needs conventional weapons that are laughably incapable against rudimentary military grade crowd control methods?
Are you bipolar?
not yet diagnosed
subclinical but functional; wow, I'm back to being impressed.
Perhaps a freindly chapter of OWS will set up shop (ha ha) on your doorstep. How might that effect your business plan?
I would welcome them because I am one of them. Besides, I think they would be into what I'm working on.
If you "would welcome them," then go ahead and do it. I'd love to see a link to a news or blog article about your experience. How long do you suppose I'll have to wait?
You made my point. Thanks. Now grow up. Making a profit in a capitalist system requires that you focus on creating value for others, including your employees. I realize that crime and corruption sucks, but I'm not awae of any small business owners that are engaged in all the big government big business crap that OWS rightly complains about.
I didn't think you made a point. You made a non sequitor because your 70 hour work weeks don't result in OWS employment, so your hostility about the lack of gratitude from OWS folks doesn't logically follow. Most of those camping out don't even have a job much less one due to your efforts. Given the massive structural inequality in this country, what did you expect would happen?
But I do think you made my point by saying that OWS rightly complains about the big government big business stuff. That's the real common ground that TPTB don't want to catch-on. If they lose folks like you, they're toast. Hence all the articles like the OP, aimed at people just like you.
TPTB love OWS. Just one more false dichotomy (99% vs 1%) to keep you distracted while the real power brokers play both sides of the game. First we'll see the government make the OWSers bleed in the streets then we'll see government power ramped up in order to protect "the little guy."
Can you guess who will be the winners in this game? Here's the spoiler: the little guy will get screwed again and the corporatists will make even more profit.
Government is the problem.
Yeah, but we're gonna like expand the powers of the government so that we can narrow the wealth gap by redistribution.... and then we're just gonna turn around and ensure that a fair system is implemented, giving up all that power, to ensure production is incentivized properly... nstuff...
Weird, in one comment the OWS are irresolute, leaderless and without focus, the next you know exactly what their dissolute hippy plan is
Y U NO B consistent?
Tell me the mechanism to make the 1% part of the 99%... I presume they're pushing for the "easy" way of redistribution... however, the only way they're going to get any marginal sentiment (and producers) to go along is with the "hard" way, i.e. simply advocating for a more level playing field. I'll add that the latter might not even be a possibility given the present wealth gap, presuming that is your goal.
I'll posit that whatever political power is gained to cast out the present perceived purveyors will not be easily relinquished. This is why it's important to know who's doing the pushing... this is the pinball game we like to call political activism... as if the cards weren't already dealt.
Epic. Very well said.
No, she didn't make your point. She makes point that crony capitalism is enemy of small business. It takes away profit from small business so you should support OWS. Was that your point? Now go back to status quo.
Thanks whstlblwr, that was exactly what I was trying to say.
Thanks for telling folks whom they should support. You for Emperor! You for God!
Unfortunately, the nanny state and liberalism are here to stay... at the root of it all is a person that simply isn't humble enough to admit that he doesn't have all the answers... but that will never stop the liberal.
ugh. What a load of bull.
So you do think you have all the answers?
No, just some practical ideas derived from currently functioning systems. I'll leave the 'grasping at moonbeams in the name of the Banksters' for the likes of you.
So professing self ownership is grasping at moonbeams in your opinion? If you want to be owned by politicians and thier cronies why do you claim to oppose them?
Except that you're not, you're just pretending to, knowing full well that the inevitability of your professed 'dream' is more of same shit we have today, if not worse.
You can't win, you know. This is easy for me, because I'm not lying or insincere like you are. Defending the indefensible is extremely difficult, as you must know.
What makes you believe that I am telling lies or being insincere? Please be specific.