Hellobee Boards Topic: What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?

Hellobee Boards Topic: What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 04:06:18 +0000 mrsjazz on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street/page/2#post-25422 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:37:13 +0000 mrsjazz 25422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @yoursilverlining: I want to give your post a virtual standing ovation. Agree 100% ecogirl on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street/page/2#post-25410 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:29:09 +0000 ecogirl 25410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mekarual The problem is that they can't find jobs to support their families on. I'm not talking about the trust fund babies out there having a good time. I'm talking about the real people affected. You say that there time would be better spent working and contributing to society but that is glib because many have been looking for work for years and not big paying jobs that they aren't qualified for but just work that would give them benefits for their family and enough money to get foreclosed on. The people affected want to work and would love to contribute. The problem is that we spent a fortune in tax payer dollars to bail out the bad decisions and absolute dismal failure of the banks and lending institutions and financial holding companies and yet they were allowed to keep their million dollar bonuses and not have to cut back or take responsibility financially at all. So the people that shouldered the bill for their reckless spending are now losing their homes and their jobs and their health benefits and they are angry. At least I think thats the gist. mekarual on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street/page/2#post-25329 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:43:05 +0000 mekarual 25329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrsbells: My problem with that is that even after trying to research and figure out the goals of OWS, I still don't really know what they are trying to accomplish. It seems to just be a very disorganized movement, and I don't think they will ever see any changes until they can define and organize. Until then, they just look like entitled whiners who would be better off using their time to work and contribute to society. Mrsbells on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street/page/2#post-25304 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:30:28 +0000 Mrsbells 25304@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Reading through some of the posts here is clear that many of the posters dont even understand what the occupy wall street movement is about. I think it makes good sense to educate yourself about an issue but making statements about it. Thats my opinion. Mrs.KMM on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-25292 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:23:22 +0000 Mrs.KMM 25292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm very much against the occupy protests. Honestly, the protesters come off as very entitled, IMO. I saw the following quote from one of them that really pissed me off: "We all just spent almost $100K each to get advanced degrees but no one told us there wouldn't be jobs waiting for us when we got done. The system is seriously flawed." Hello?!? Just because you spent a bunch of money on a college degree doesn't mean anyone owes you anything. It doesn't take an genius to know that jobs aren't just sitting there waiting for every college grad. You get somewhere through time and hard work. No one is going to hand anybody anything in life. Maysprout on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-25172 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:25:59 +0000 Maysprout 25172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm not sure that I'd participate but I think it's good to get people talking. I think our system is messed up. So much of what started the financial crises is people making big bucks off of stock games. I don't think most people with a conscious could do those kinds of things, they're either ignorant of their actions effecting others or too callous to care that they're playing games with people's homes and earnings. Corporations that make billions have their employees living in poverty because they have the gall to try to raise children on their measly salaries. I keep seeing the argument well get a better job, sorry but someone has to take the garbage heaps away, someone is going to work at Walmart (unless it goes out of business please). That's why I try not to shop at big corporate places, if you're raking in billions on the backs of people struggling then you're a bad person. MamaMoose on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-25159 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:54:59 +0000 MamaMoose 25159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Andrea: I'm with you 100% on this. I live in TN now but I used to work on Wall Street and my apartment was actually on Wall Street too. These people would have been causing me all sorts of headaches if I was still living there. I promise you... I wasn't making anywhere near millions of dollars. Did I make a lot of money? Yes. But I certainly wasn't in the wealthiest 1% of the nation. And neither were any of the people I interacted with at work every day. We were just regular people, going to our jobs, and working really hard. So the focus on blaming wall street really hits home. I agree they should go sit on capitol hill. (Although if I'm being really honest I think they should just go away : P ) Adira on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-25135 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:07:46 +0000 Adira 25135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Andrea: Agreed! Andrea on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-25134 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:06:48 +0000 Andrea 25134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Adira: So really they should "occupy" Capitol Hill and the White House, too! :-) Adira on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-25130 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:58:46 +0000 Adira 25130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Andrea: Very true. The problem is two-sided: the fact that it's allowed and the fact that people do it. Andrea on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-25127 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:55:11 +0000 Andrea 25127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Adira: Right, my point exactly, though. Because they are "allowed" to do it....they do it. Adira on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-25125 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:48:52 +0000 Adira 25125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Andrea: To answer your question of why Wall Street, I'm going to quote a blogger I enjoy: "Why Wall Street? Because these are the "moral hazard" people - the people who were allowed to keep their million-dollar homes and million -dollar jobs as a direct benefit of running up the government deficit. And who now refuse to pay any taxes that would go to relieving or paying off that debt." Source: <a href="http://atheistethicist.blogspot.com/2011/11/tea-party-and-occupy-wall-street.html" rel="nofollow">http://atheistethicist.blogspot.com/2011/11/tea-party-and-occupy-wall-street.html</a> tejbee on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24754 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:51:14 +0000 tejbee 24754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Like @Rubies, I am also a bit ignorant of exactly what it is all about and I don't feel a need to be deeply involved since I personally am living comfortably. In the little bubble-world that I live in, the mantra "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is my personal sentiment. However, I understand that mine is a very singular situation and many others are struggling. I hope for the best outcome, whatever that may be, as a result of the "occupy" protests, but I am not one to become involved personally. Andrea on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24751 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:44:21 +0000 Andrea 24751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I won't pretend to be fully educated on this topic either but from what I know - I am not supportive of this movement because a lot of it comes off as WHINING. Sure there are great points in there but when you go about it in a crazy way - stinking up a park with your feces and banging on drums - sorry, I'm going to think you are stupid and don't know what you're talking about. And about people missing the point, well yeah, people are going to miss the point if you put "Wall Street" in your movement's title. That just makes people think that you are complaining that people are rich and you're not. If the real problem are things like the unemployment rate and our system of taxation - shouldn't you be banging about on Capital Hill instead? ecogirl on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24740 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:21:08 +0000 ecogirl 24740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Adira it was helpful to me! You bring up some very valid points. I'm going to have to check out that link. Adira on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24733 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:13:04 +0000 Adira 24733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Navy_Mommy: I'm going to try to address some of your points: "You can't get a job where you live? Move." This is not always an option. What if I don't have a job but my husband does? Should he quit his job and move so that I can find a job? At what point would that be worth it? The unemployment rate doesn't just mean single people - it's people in families too. It's possible the family is still scraping by with one person working, but the other person is still unemployed and can't find a job in their area. "Can't find a job in your field? Try something else." I agree completely. My father, an IT specialist, now works retail because he couldn't find his job in his field. But it still took him over a year to find a job. People weren't hiring for IT positions, and other positions told him he was "too qualified" and didn't want to hire someone with his background because they knew the position would be "beneath him" and he would eventually want to leave. It's not always as easy as looking elsewhere to get a job. "Something I think a lot of people around my age have an issue with (I'm 23, I graduated college in 2010) is they don't want a job that is "below" them. But don't bitch about not having a job but only apply for jobs that are "good enough" for you." I agree completely. I wish there were ways to get statistics on this information. Unfortunately, we can't just assume that people who are unemployed aren't looking at jobs that they see as "below" them. We simply can't know, so we can't lump everyone in this category, although I'm sure there are people that fall into it. "And if none of that works, there's always the military." I'm not an expert, but the military isn't always an option, right? Isn't there a certain level of fitness or ability to be eligible? What if someone is disabled? I don't know all that is necessary to qualify for the military, but I suspect it is not as simple as applying. They don't take everyone (I had a friend go to bootcamp, but was injured and received a medical discharge, so that's no longer an option for him). And, like @mrbee said, unemployment is only one of the examples of what people are upset about. Hope my response was helpful to you. Navy_Mommy on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24715 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:43:29 +0000 Navy_Mommy 24715@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrbee: Yeah, I was too lazy to look at them all, in all honesty. The fact that it was titled "most obviously" relating to the movement is why I took the time to respond THAT much to it. mrbee on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24707 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:34:30 +0000 mrbee 24707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Navy_Mommy: That link from adira is not just that one chart about jobs. It's actually a 41 page slideshow... venice4504 on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24660 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:37:35 +0000 venice4504 24660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Honestly I think it's a huge waste of time. These people either don't have jobs/took a leave from their jobs/etc and at least in Seattle they are more of a nuisance than anything. I don't think they even have a point. Navy_Mommy on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24655 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:29:29 +0000 Navy_Mommy 24655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ As for the Occupy movement as a whole, I don't agree with it. I'm a strong believer in capitalism. Being selfish helps our economy as a whole grow; worry about your situation, not the situation of those who are doing better than you. Wanting more for yourself and your family in turn driving YOU to work harder is what will help this economy recuperate. Instead of focusing on the fact that you're part of the "99%" of the country that's "poor" use that energy to work harder and better your own life. ecogirl on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24653 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:24:57 +0000 ecogirl 24653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm on the fence. My husband and I are strong supporters of the Patriotic Millionaires movement. We don't think tax breaks for the wealthy are the way to go right now because it puts too much hardship on the middle class and working poor that could really use the tax breaks. I just know that something has to give or we're in a lot of trouble in this country. Navy_Mommy on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24649 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:19:28 +0000 Navy_Mommy 24649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Adira: As much as I understand/agree that the unemployment rate in this country is at an all time high, people have options they just don't want to take. You can't get a job where you live? Move. There are plenty of areas in the middle of the country which actually have booming economies. Can't find a job in your field? Try something else. There is actually a pretty high demand for truckers in the US (for one example). Something I think a lot of people around my age have an issue with (I'm 23, I graduated college in 2010) is they don't want a job that is "below" them. But don't bitch about not having a job but only apply for jobs that are "good enough" for you. And if none of that works, there's always the military. My husband is an Enlisted Naval Aviation Mechanic. He does not have any form of "higher education." Hell, he never even graduated high school (he got his GED) and we're doing just fine. We're not rolling in the dough, but we live comfortably. My STRONG belief is that if the Occupy protesters put as much effort into getting a job and working at that job as they are in this "movement" the majority would have jobs and be excelling at them. Spending your days protesting is NOT going to help the unemployment rate. And that's just my two cents regarding the chart you linked to. Adira on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24639 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:10:55 +0000 Adira 24639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @yoursilverlining: Thank you for your post. I think you said more clearly what I was trying to convey and couldn't. I agree with what you said 100%. Navy_Mommy on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24637 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:08:33 +0000 Navy_Mommy 24637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrsjyw: Love that! yoursilverlining on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24635 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:06:20 +0000 yoursilverlining 24635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ It’s frustrating because so many people completely miss the point of the OWS movement, and think it’s all about people who personally want the rich to give them money, or want more money for working less – it’s not about saying “you’re rich, I’m not, and that’s unfair”, or “I mismanaged my finances, and that’s unfair and I want someone rich to blame”. It’s not about what amount of money people have (necessarily) it’s about the system of taxation and representation in this country. It’s about the political power of lobbyists. It’s about income inequality. It’s about the cost of higher education, and how that has skyrocketed against the relative income increases while college becomes more and more of a necessity and requirement for stable income over a lifetime. It’s about what’s happened, and happening to the “middle class”, which was originally built on things like the union wages/benefits and manufacturing jobs - which just don’t exist anymore. It’s about the unemployment rates and why people can’t “just get a job”, or get 1 job that provides economic stability for a family, as was more widely possible in the past. About income inequality – which has really diverged since the 1970’s - According to a 2011 CBO report real household income in the U.S. grew by 62% between 1979 and 2007. However, after-tax income of households in the top 1% of earners grew by 275%, while income growth for the bottom fifth of earners was 18%. Getting into the 1% isn’t something anyone can just do – the average Joe can’t just American Dream bootstrap him/herself there, no matter how hard they work. Looking at tax structures for the top 1% from the 1950’s, 1970’s and today is pretty amazing. As an aside, because its always brought up; everyone I know involved in the OWS movement has a job, except for the college students, who are traditional ft students still attending classes, and none are trust fund babies; although like any large group of people, I’m sure there are some trust fund babies in the bunch. ;-) Adira on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24634 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:03:38 +0000 Adira 24634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Thehistoryofus: haha, that's why I'm all for salary caps for professional sports. Generally, income in the US is taxed by brackets. The less you make, the less you are taxed. The more you make, the more you are taxed. And it's not even your whole income, it's just the income above the bracket. So for simplicity sake, say anything under $50,000 was taxed at 20% and anything you make over that would be taxed at 30%. The issue is when someone making $35,000 is taxed at 20% and someone making $1,000,000 is taxed at only at 18%, because a lot of their money is made from other money, and not from working a job, "income." By saying "possibly even more so since they can afford it," what I meant was that they be taxed at a higher amount for their bracket (the 30%). And not just a flat tax of say 20% across the board (or 9% like Cain suggests). Sorry for the confusion. Adira on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24632 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:59:51 +0000 Adira 24632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrsjyw: Ahh, I see what you are saying, and I do agree that the message is confused and definitely not everyone agrees with it. I got the impression from that picture that the women didn't agree with the Occupy movement at all and her reason why made me feel like she didn't understand it. I think her saying being part of the 99% a choice undermines the message... you either are part of the 1% uber wealthy or you're not. It's not really a choice, in my opinion. T.H.O.U. on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24631 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:59:31 +0000 T.H.O.U. 24631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Adira: "possibly even more so since they can afford it" Its statements like this that I really do not agree with. Its like saying the Yankees should start each inning with one out because they can afford better players. mrsjyw on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24628 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:56:42 +0000 mrsjyw 24628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Adira: I think pretty much that girl's response is to say that a lot of people involved in the occupy movement have misinterpreted or are confused on the goals of the movement. It's not to say that I don't agree about what you said in your response, but this entire movement has turned into a confused pile of mess with many people who are part of it vocally blaming Wall Street and the government for their own financial mistakes. Adira on "What do you think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/spinoff-what-do-you-think-of-occupy-wall-street#post-24626 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:54:45 +0000 Adira 24626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ These charts will help you understand what the Wall Street protesters are really angry about: <a href="http://is.gd/PM4awe" rel="nofollow">http://is.gd/PM4awe</a>