Occupy Wallstreet

[Touko]

Kirogata, there are a lot of things wrong with your post. But I would like to focus on one. You are correct in stating that we are not a democracy, and that we have never been one. The idea that we are one is a common misconception that people have. However, you indicate that we are still in a type of democracy. Not true. We are, and have always been, a democratic republic. If you actually look at the historical data, that was what we were created as. And we still, technically, fall into that category.

Personally, I think that if they can last through the winter the OWS will do some good. Already they have raised awareness in a lot of people, and they would have raised even more if the media hadn't been purposefully cut out at the beginning. Yes, their agenda is a bit murky, but their overall message is the same. Equality in the system. Something we really don't have right now. It is a fact that the middle class is disappearing, due to the huge gap that is emerging between the rich and the rest in this country. It is also a fact that most minimum wage jobs are incapable of supporting a family, and barely support a single person. It is a fact that a large chunk of this country has declining help as they are unable to pay for any sort of medical expenses, and that those forced to do so in an emergency often risk losing the ability to eat or pay bills. My brother is in that particular boat right now. And it is a fact that, precentage wise, the 1% pays less in taxes than your average U.S. citizen. The system is broken, it needs fixing. But to fix something you first have to acknowledge the problem. OWS is acknowledging the problem so that we as a country can take steps to fix it.

[Kirogata]

[Riestal]

I'm beginning to think that some of these protesters have absolutely no idea what they are there for. First of all, a report that I watched had a reporter walk up to one of the protesters and ask "Why are you here protesting today?" He stated, "I'm being treated unfairly, and so are all the people here!" "In what way, sir?" "These education costs are too high! The government should be paying for my education!"
First of all: Where do you think government money comes from? Second of all, you want the government to pay for your education? I want a car, should the government have to buy me that?

And for the people that are there REALLY protesting Wall Street, what are they doing? What good does protesting Wall Street actually do? The problem is not underhanded and greedy businessmen screwing people over as many would argue. In fact, the problem lies with the policymakers who allow such loopholes to be exploited by these businesses. It is a competitive system in American, and in order to keep your business alive through all of the business killing policies the Obama administration has put in place, they have to take whatever shortcuts they can, or else MORE layoffs would be imminent. I just honestly feel like they're picking a scapegoat and sticking with it, with little to no understanding for what they're really fighting for.

[Kirogata]

..Chess man makes me happy.

[Shade]

[Riestal]

Here hearkens my biggest problem with the American political system. The problem, as we have determined, lies with the policymakers who allow for these companies to run unhindered right past tax rules and regulations. So, the most obvious answer is to remove the flawed policymakers from office, correct?

Oh wait.

All but 8 of the 100 senators in this current administation, and about 88 of the 435 current House voting members are exactly the same people who were putting these policies in place in the Bush administration, and most of them have been around since before Clinton. We continually vote in the people who are brutally influenced by interest groups, too much so to provide any policy that actually gets anything done, just more or less either wins them votes or gives them a sense of superiority over the "enemy" party. The big problem is that there is absolutely no party discipline in America, the congressmen and women all just pander for votes without actually solving the countries problems. This is where the Bush Administration ultimately failed, and where the Obama administration will follow suit. The laws are broken, the entire system is broken, and protesting won't change it, votes will. That is the VERY foundation of a democracy.

Not that Americans are to blame, of course. We continually vote the flawed candidates in because they sweet talk us in the ads, tell us only the things we want to hear. And, hell, if it's too close to call in that regard, the winner winds up being the one with the most symmetrical face. SERIOUSLY. Psychological studies of voters have proven this to be fact. It's all about the incentive to vote. Because politicians aren't true to their word, because we know that politicians will say one thing and mean another, and there is no way to tell whether they are speaking the truth or not, we become alienated from the system of democracy. If you sit down and think about the electoral college system, and the last few congressional and senatorial elections, how much say do we really have? Basically, why should Americans have to care if it isn't going to change anything?

I know I went off on a total tangent there, but the point remains that in our system, a sit in protest like the Occupiers won't have any ultimate effect on the election. What has Obama done about the people on Wall Street, or tax loopholes? And what the hell do we really know about what a Republican president is going to do to solve it? We don't have a clue.

This legislature is going to be mostly reelected, as is our president, and it's a short ride to another 4 years of getting absolutely nothing solved. With parties bumping heads and fighting against each other, "compromising" in order to provide temporary solutions to major issues. The occupiers are not going to overthrow anything. It's gonna get cold, and then they're gonna leave. Plain and simple.

With love,
One Politically Cynical Son of a Bitch.

[Cocowoushi]

It's awesome when we as a country can't get anything done because when ever something comes to the table that might do some wide spread change, it gets voted out of the House because the representatives so skewed.

And I'd rather take Canada's socialist Free Health Care over having to pay $200+ every month for my own plan, because I am 26 and female. I've been working as a full-time temp in a state office for over 3 years now, but the state won't hire me because it doesn't want to pay the benefits and we are in the top 10 states of unemployment (10.5% in RI). Awesome. I would rather have free health care instead of no health care.

[Gameshark]

[Kai]