Thoughts, Rants, and Other Stuff

You had better set up and take note. These people marching and on social media sites are not only the future of America, its leaders and caretakers, but the present as well. If you wish to laugh at them, that is your right. But understand these people vote as well so do not underestimate them. These people will be the ones that choose whether or not to buy and use your services, or your companies services. These are the people of the USA, and there are a great deal more not at the park than are.

However, I’ve seen your remarks. I’ve heard and seen your snide comments so I thought I’d enlighten those that dare read this to elaborate on the shortcomings of your arguments against them, or just educate you if you are saying things in blind ignorance (that is if those that are ignorant care to read what is actually happening).

Let us start with the movement/protest before we get into point/counterpoint. It started as nothing more than a protest against the economically privileged bullying and gaining more privilege due to the fact they could buy it via the government and lawyers. This is not to say all government or lawyers are corrupt, or even all corporations or people in the top 1% are corrupt. Only that the system, as it stands now, allows for the rich to become richer, while sucking dry the poor through any means they can. A prime example of this is the bail-out money. Banks and lending institutions  who are “too big to fail” are tossed money which is used to pay debts and give out bonuses to CEO’s etc while the middle class still lose their homes. The corporations are fine now… but home owners are now homeless. This is seen as OK because 1.) Most of that money is suppose to be repaid and 2.) It allows them to keep lending out money to stimulate the economy. The problem with this is 1.) They will get this money through the downsizing of their companies and closing of branches because 2.) They won’t lend out anything because they know what a crunch America is in and want to hang on to what they have causing the same problem, not helping it. But I digress, so on to spefic misplaced and/or ignorant statements made.

1.) It’s funny because they are using devices made by corporations to speak out against them (e.g. Apple, Dell, Starbucks, etc)

True. However without cell phones and cameras and laptops I shudder to think of the injustices and brutality done to the protesters. What has been caught on film already is shocking enough. Imagine if they were not equipped with these. It would be like playing in the NFL with no safety gear. No one would believe any of the brutality stories that have surfaced. It is bad enough that no one will be punished for these actions, but bad press is bad press and it has already had an effect on the officers overseeing the march. I find it ironic instead that the use of all these devices might lead to the downfall of some of the companies that manufactured them. Think on that.

2.) Great. More useless hippies.

I’m sorry if you feel this way about your fellow man. No human is useless. Even the most drug addicted ignorant man is at least a prime example of what not to become and worth trying to save for the sole reason he is human. However, I find this statement to painting this group with a large brush. I have no doubt that some of those could be described or even self-described as hippies. However, I impress once again to remember, hippie or not, useless or not, these people vote just like everyone else. From the my understanding of what I’ve seen, there are teachers, college professors, military personal, software designers, fast food workers, students, clerks, secretaries, and freelance reporters in this group.

3.) They need to knock it off and go get a job.

Some are students with no job prospects. Some are people who have lost their jobs. Some are people who were working two or three jobs just to get by. While I once again do not doubt that some members of this group are lazy, no one can feasibly paint them all with such a large stroke without extreme ignorance to the numbers, and to the situation of this country’s current economy.

4.) They are a bunch of conspiracy theorist nut jobs.

I have news for people thinking conspiracy theorists are nut jobs. They are found all across America, in every state, in every county, in every city. They are found in every party voting for every person you want or don’t want elected. You don’t have to agree with them, but they are a force too. Once again painting with a large brush from a known few.

5.) Idiots shouldn’t have gone to school for [insert random thing person thinks is useless here]

Easy to say when the person making the claim went to school for [insert something that panned out here]. I’m also curious how many people that are using this defense got their first job because Daddy got them in. Or maybe Daddy played golf with someone that got them their first shot. Just curious. After all, in our corporate world it is never what you know, but who you know. If you play the game at all, you know that is true from Wall Street to the local deli on Main Street. But to be fair… these people are wrong as well. Once again the truth resist simplicity. Many marching have jobs (some are stuck on point nine though). Some are still students. Others have had to drop out of college because parents had to use the college money to save the house or they had to start working full time to save their own place and with no job prospects it would be fiscally irresponsible of them to take out more student loans. Some have lost their jobs and cannot find others that will pay the bills (once again see point nine).

6.) They are all communists.

No, not all. If some claim they are, they are probably as ignorant as people saying this as to what communism actually is, which goes to show education is needed on both sides of the fence.

7.) They are all socialists.

Maybe. Remember I told the story way up at the beginning of this article of how this thing started? Well here during the seventh inning stretch I guess I’ll continue the story. It began as a call to arms against the wealthy and privileged, but as it grew, the movement came together with not just outrage over corporate greed but at outrage from other things as well. The death penalty, the federal reserve, the endless wars, the 9/11 conspiracies, and so on and so forth. In true democratic form, each person was welcomed in for the uniqueness they brought and allowed to voice their concerns. Here is the thing. No one knew how to fix the problems. Do we just outlaw the death penalty? What about those on death row? Should the fed be audited? How about removed? Do we bring the troops home and screw Iraq and Afghanistan? Maybe just from Iraq then? Was there even a 9/11 conspiracy? Who is responsible for it?

It is easy to spot the problems. Finding the solutions is not so easy. But this is what occupy wall street is all about. They, and many others know the cancer is there. They see it. They see it on Wall Street. They see it in large corporations making obscene donations to campaigns and for lobbyists to carry favors they will call in later. It is right there, but they are not doctors. Yes they have ideas, some, i would even venture to say many, of them are undoubtedly poor ideas. But they see the cancer. They can point it out. And they can say they are sick from it. They need representatives who give a damn about them with the expertise to take it out. Does that make them socialist? Does wanting the ability to get a job, have healthcare, buy food, afford a home make them socialist? If it does, I think every one of them would agree they are.

8.) They are the liberal tea party.

Well they have yet to be hijacked by a political party, but we’ll see.

9.) They are all mad that their trust funds are used up and whiny because they think world owes them a living.

I seriously doubt even a small minority of these people have ever had a trust fund. However I could be wrong. The world owes no one a living. They just want the opportunity to make one. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (18 states have a higher minimum wage ranging from $7.31 to $8.67 but NY isn’t one of those). For those of you bad at math, that means if you could somehow work two jobs at minimum wage for a combined 80 hours a week at $7.25/hr you’d make around $1700 a month after taxes and fees. That’s right, your total gross (not net) income would be an amazing $30,160 for a year of working 80 hours a week every week. While that is good money where I live, it quickly goes away when you are looking at (once again where I live) $400 a month rent/house payment, $400+ a month babysitter, $200 a month utilities, $80+ a month gasoline, $40+ a month cell phone (cheaper than land line), $400 a month in food (cause you make too much for food stamps at this point so you make due with $100 a week), $60-$100 a month in TV/internet (because you need to put in applications online and look for jobs and it is cheaper to get TV and internet than it is just to get the internet), which leaves you a whopping $80 a month to save for birthdays, Christmas, car repairs, healthcare, girlfriend/wife, cleaning supplies, toiletries, entertainment, school trips/fees, clothes, kids/own college, etc. Just remember I said that was good money for this area I’m in. For people at that level, there is no chance to save, there is no chance to advance. Everyone at that level is stuck where they are till the end of days or luck happens their way. Think and tally before you condemn.

And finally…

10.) They stink

Yea, well… they are whiny, hypocritical, useless, nut job, conspiracy theorist, socialist, communists, trust fund depleted, liberal tea party hippies that need to get a job and stop thinking that the world owes them a living. What else would you expect?