JM These idiots should stop complaining, occupy a desk, or start their own business. There will not be a redistribution of wealth....these people are not even 1% of the 99% they claim to represent.
Saturday [11-19-11] at 4:35pm
JPY Awesome!
Saturday at 4:36pm
JPY and well put...but don't even get me started on this...I don't know who told these people the american dream was a right and not a privelege.
Saturday at 4:38pm
JL the "American Dream" is for those who WORK for it
Saturday at 4:39pm
JPY It was not handed to our ancestors...
Saturday at 4:39pm
Lawrence Everett Forbes I dig what you're saying; I'm totally for free enterprise and sole proprietorship. I'm also for protesting the imbalance being created by growing corporate influence--to the point that it squeezes workers and small businesses out of the picture.
And while I can't say I'm fully behind the methods/madness, I definitely support their freedom of speech--even if/when I find it annoying.
Saturday at 4:51pm
JP Ok, JL, you have a point... But how do you speak to the GREED (crazy bonuses, salaries, luxury corporate conferences, etc.) , even after the bailouts with OUR money, with ABSOLUTELY no accountability to the taxpayers. There isn't any accountability because corporate special interest is "in bed" with the fed. So, I agree, individuals need to be accountable with their own ingenuity, but where is the accountability for the corporation?????
Saturday at 5:21pm
JG Wow, this is the angriest non-Jets post I have ever seen you make!
Saturday at 5:45pm
SM There are better ways to say one disagrees with bailouts, then taking a dump in the street........lol
Saturday at 5:52pm
JP Regardless of how one demonstrates their dissatisfaction, it is a valid concern.... JL?????
Saturday at 5:54pm
KGA If you have a problem with the bailouts look at where they came from. If you have a problem with wall street turn to the policy makers. Wall street didn't hand themselves the bailouts and they didn't create the policies that allowed everything to get so out of control.
Saturday at 6:07pm
JP Agreed KGA, nevertheless... If I take out a loan, I have to and I do pay it back.
Saturday at 6:12pm
JP ... Even if it is in installments over 5 years.
Saturday at 6:13pm
JP My issue has more to do with government loopholes and tax breaks more so than with the corporations themselves. JL, what do you just post and run???? It's Saturday, give free enterprise a break....lol
Saturday at 6:18pm
JP Tax breaks should only be allowed if entrepreneurs planned on hiring American workers.
Saturday at 6:22pm
KGA Absolutely, there is always going to be greed and ppl doing the wrong and selfish thing, but it doesn't give reason for a free for all. I chose to work hard in school and in my career in order earn what I have. I am grateful that I can responsibly take out a loan and pay it back. If I have a problem with something I say it without being disrespectful or disruptive and if I want change I go to the voting booth. My feeling is that I am more like the real 99%.
Saturday at 6:23pm
JP This, in turn, will keep people off of your Wall Street.
Saturday at 6:24pm
KJW I agree with you that one should work hard and not expect an automatic handout, particularly regarding luxuries. What I do think should be noted is that several of the rational protestors are decrying tax loopholes, absolute tax evasion, offshoring, cronyism, layoffs, undeserved bonuses, lying to the people and other abuses. Those are worth protesting. Expecting something for nothing is wrong, and I hope that those who think that way are in the minority among the protestors.
Saturday at 6:24pm
SM There are plenty of things to protest about, some of them are right, some of them are wrong, some make sense, some of them are temper tantrums (not speaking specifically of the OWS, just in general), but, there is a difference between protesting, and rioting, and a difference between making your voice heard, and taking a crap in the middle of the sidewalk. If any group, tea party, OWS, KKK, NAACP, whomever, wants to make their case first and foremost, they need to act like adults, or their "message" will get the same amount of respect that they show.
Saturday at 6:33pm
JP KJW, I would also argue that it doesn't matter who you vote for because the bi-partisan political system lends itself to corruption and gridlock. The system is awesome if you have a majority of Congress and President from the same political party, but you see that the situation being what it is now, it wouldn't matter which Democrat was President. Politicians are just out to screw eachother over rather than solve the real problems that generate this unrest.
Saturday at 6:34pm
CA Work for what you get. Plain and simple. That being said, I want the multi million dollar bonuses given to execs of the bailed out companies to be taxed 99%.
Saturday at 6:45pm
JP .... And that is the way we get our money back!
Saturday at 6:47pm
Lawrence Everett Forbes This is a great thread. I believe in working hard; I was raised in the era where achievement/character was prized over (today's seeming emphasis on) acquisition/wealth. This is why it's unfortunate that the extremists have derailed the message/impact of the protest's original aims.
It's equally unfortunate that this two-party vacillation of voting for mommy to spite daddy (and vice-versa) does so little for political progress. I'm not ready to sing "Kumbaya" or anything, but something has definitely got to give.
Saturday at 8:09pm
PS Well said JP. I agree. Protesters are disorganized and their message has no merit. However, what is true is that our country has been hijacked by special interest groups, corporate lobbist, and foreign nations.
Yesterday at 7:40am
PS I forgot to mention uncompetitive union monopoly.
Yesterday at 7:42am
CAU Brothers and fb friends its good to see this type of honest/open dialogue, politicians should take note.
Yesterday at 11:24am
SM Today, lets take this moment, to root for some of the 1% folks to beat the other 1% folks..............Go Giants !!!......lol
Yesterday at 11:39am
JP I would be very interested to see how many of the people who commented or liked this status were from upper middle class or upper class backgrounds. I would argue that many people, including myself, were provided many advantages that are out of reach for many (college paid for without the pressure of working simultaneously to meet tuition or housing expenses). I would say that people like this have a different perspective and are a bit out of touch with the struggles of middle class blue collar America. It is the working families making between $50,000 and $100,000 that are suffering the most in this country. It is this socio-economic class that is hit hardest with unemployment and similar economic hardships. Have any of you ever had your electricity turned off? I know I haven't, but I teach students in PA public schools that have. Empathy is lacking. We tend to isolate in our own little worlds without being able to relate to other perspectives, mostly due to social conditioning by our upbringings. I am generalizing, of course, but it is definitely worth mentioning in this sort of forum.
Yesterday at 11:40am
JPY As long as we are generalizing...hard to empathize when these same said people think that cable, internet, plasma tvs and cell phones with internet and unlimited texting are a need. Generalizing, of course.
Yesterday at 11:47am
SM If we're just generalizing, it should be pointed out.......those people smell........lol
Yesterday at 11:49am
JP Our ENTIRE society is obsessed with materialism. Rich, Middle, and Poor... It's disgusting... During the games today count how many retail commercials centered around Christmas are aired... Your point is valid, sis... Tough to argue... Most will put Christmas on credit just to keep up with the Jones'.
Yesterday at 12:00pm
JP ... And these are "tough" times? Ask the Greatest Generation about tough times and sacrifice.... We have no sense.
Yesterday at 12:04pm
JPY RIGHT! The American dream was not handed to past generations...somehow entitlement has gotten completely out of hand.
Yesterday at 1:40pm
CAU @JP my parents come to NY in the late 60's, legally..both of them worked hard, barely spoke English, never own a car..(still dont) saved & bought a home in queens, put my sis and I thru college..they wanted and achieved the American dream..they taught me to work hard, save & respect people..that being said, i agree with u on most points. I caught some breaks here and there myself..some i earned and some b/c i knew people..I just feel "America should help Americans first" the ones who really need it..temporally until they get on their feet. no-long term handouts.
Yesterday at 1:53pm
SM @CAU, What you wrote, could very easily be the story of Sonnys family (except he had no sister......and he may have become a narcissist....lol). They came here, they didn't have much, they didn't ask for anything, and they achieved the American dream (they even got the perfect son, lol). Nothing was handed to them, they had to work for every single thing, and they passed on the attitude that nothing is entitled, its a lesson that sadly, seems to be forgotten today.
Yesterday at 2:12pm
JL wow...I had a busy weekend and did not know what i started here...to summarize: 1 - I will 100% agree that many problems stem from us having a 2 party system. These idiots fight with each other and constantly try to get elected by proving the other wrong or making the other look bad, rather than manning up and doing what is right - nuff said there.....2 - I do have an issue with the corporations controilling government with their lobbying, etc - making it easier for them and tougher for the individual. (Golden rule applies: "Those with the gold, make the rules") 3 - The one point I usually try to drive home (JP) is that the individual has control over their own destiny. Look at Carlos and Sonny's parents - both came to this country with nothing, and were successful because THEY CHOSE TO BE. Bottom line is that SUCCESS IS A CHOICE! Therefore, I have little sympathy for complainers. So to summarize: Two party system=Bad....Corporate political influence=Bad....and INDIVIDUALS, regardless of all the above, control their own fate...if they choose to.
7 hours ago
JP think about the NURTURE factor here. JL , what do you say to the lower class being socially conditioned from birth to accept welfare and entitlement as a way of life. (ex: 11 HALF brothers and sisters, Mom is a prostitute, Dad is in jail, kid is being sexually abused by one of Mom's regular Johns on a regular basis... ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT THIS KID CAN RISE ABOVE THIS MESS?) I say their fate is determined to jails, institutions, death, or the NBA or NFL.
7 hours ago
JL They should be taken from their parents. The
2 hours ago
JP Almost NEVER happens because abuse is impossible to prove without physical evidence. I have personal experience in these instances where Children and Youth investigates allegations. I deal with impoverished welfare recipients on a daily basis. It is by far the most frustrating aspect of my job. These kids live among roaches and animal waste. It is THIS PERSPECTIVE that has shaped much of my politics.
about an hour ago
JP So, to some up, it is my PERSONAL experience that not everyone has access to the American dream, hence, they have absolutely no control of their own fate. It is for this reason that I become INFURIATED when I see people who have been handed the tools, like you, me, and many of your friends, and they waste away in laziness and apathy... In short, I definitely see your point, but by generalizing the way you do, I don't think you have seen what I have seen.
about an hour ago
JP sum up
about an hour ago
Lawrence Everett Forbes I think you all make good points. Humans don't come into the world on equal footing, and that point of entry definitely affects the way they/we interact with the world. Some enter with privilege and squander it; some have nothing and find ways to overcome it; others make the best of what they've been given; and the rest muddle through.
Sad as it is, not everyone is going to thrive. It's the way of the world and the story of man. In an ideal world, kids would be removed from toxic homes, psychologically healed, and sent out into the world to become productive members of society. As adults, we know the world is far from ideal.
I've lived a few sides of this discussion through my dad--who came here from the West Indies and moved from working to middle class. He also worked for the Child Protective Services arm of NYC's Department of Social Services.
The Christian root on which this nation was built was designed to make room/allowances for those needing help. (Hence the government-sponsored social programs.) At some point, though, one does have to be held accountable for one's actions. It seems to me that the core of this discussion is about where to draw that line, our respective stances informed by the world/s we observe.
I didn't intend for this to become a blog post, so I'll shut the hell up...now.about a minute ago
JP Very eloquent, well said.
30 minutes ago
, Kyle Muntz (Coping Mechanisms)
