So has anyone heard about this protest on Wall Street?

[MrMoustaffa]

Apparently, theres a big press blackout about a huge demonstration going on at Wallstreet in New York City. I've been trying to figure out whats going on, but I'm having a hard time finding info on it. Living out in the backwoods of Kentucky probably isnt helping matters much. So far I've found this small article on MSN, and a picture thats getting shared around on facebook that supposedly shows the protest from a bird's eye view with thousands of people crowding the streets. I'll try and edit more links in as I find them.

MSN Link, interviewing protestors. http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/06/8184537-who-is-occupying-wall-street-not-just-your-average-joe

Trying to get the Facebook picture up, but having trouble at the moment. I'll try linking to the actual facebook photo, but i dont know how well that will work http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150470524419815&set=a.367652879814.203867.518234814&type=3&theater

Anyways, I know the Escapist has a huge international community who's really into following the news and all that, have any of you guys heard about this? I'm kind of shocked that I'm just now hearing about it, especially if its as big as it is and has supposedly going on for a couple of weeks now. I know there have been similar protests going on in other countries as well, but I'm not really sure if they're related to this one or not.

EDIT: Looks like I just hadnt kept up with the news very well, since everybody else seems to already know about this. Sorry about that guys

EDIT MARK II (now with more flavor!): Someone posted this link to the movements website if you're interested http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/

 

[imnot]

I have been hearing abouyt it too, I dont understand either :C

 

[Avatar Roku]

It's incited a smaller protest here in Boston, and I've seen that. I have no idea what they stand for besides the vague "corporations = bad".

 

[MrMoustaffa]

It's incited a smaller protest here in Boston, and I've seen that. I have no idea what they stand for besides the vague "corporations = bad".

Yeah thats the general gist I've been hearing as well. Everybody seems to have different motives/reasons. Be it student loan debts, government corruption, big bussiness interfering with daily life, and I even saw one that claims it has to do with the robber barons who own housing projects in New York (that last one seems kinda iffy though)

 

[evilneko]

You're seriously having trouble finding information about it? Hell even Fox Noise is covering it now. You posted this just to get people to link you some news articles you could've found yourself didn't you.

Oh, and there are also a few threads in R&P about it too.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=occupy+wall+street

 

[MrMoustaffa]

You're seriously having trouble finding information about it? Hell even Fox Noise is covering it now. You posted this just to get people to link you some news articles you could've found yourself didn't you.

Oh, and there are also a few threads in R&P about it too.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=occupy+wall+street

No, i posted it because I had just started looking. I'm starting to find more info now, but at the time, I was having a hard time finding anything at all. Normally, the escapist would have a few threads about this up by now, which is part of what confused me in the beginning. A lot of people I knew hadnt even heard of it either, so I figured I would ask here and figure out if I was just the odd man out, or if it really wasn't being covered much.

Looks like I was just late to the party. But I was not trying to use it just to find links because I'm lazy. I've been looking for more info since I posted the thread, not sitting around hoping that everyone else would find me answers.

 

[Happy Sock Puppet]

Like them on Facebook. Or hit up occupywallst.org or occupytogether.org

This is what a real grassroots movement looks like.

 

[CM156_v1legacy]

I've heard of them. It's like the tea party, but for the other side.

I haven't really heard much in the way of actal demands, so I don't know what they want. Nor do I really care.

 

[Erana]

I'm kind of shocked that I'm just now hearing about it, especially if its as big as it is and has supposedly going on for a couple of weeks now.

Well, there has kinda been a media blackout on the whole issue. I mean, media coverage has been cutting zeros out of the numbers of people, claiming hundreds by the time the protesters were in the thousands.

Honestly, its simply because Wall Street owns the news. And the police's financial security relies on Wall Street, too.

So yeah, pretty terrifying stuff when you think about it.

 

[TheTygre]

Start here. Then you'll understand.

http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/

 

[pffh]

What I can gather it's mostly people being angry that other people then them have money, that the banks "let" them borrow so much money that they can't pay it off now and as always the general idiots that gather at these things to riot/loot/be part of a mob.

EDIT: Oh and people complaining that their non-marketable education (graphic design, philosophy, sociology, arts etc) can't land them a job in this economy.

 

[AnarchistFish]

Here in the UK it's being reported as a growing protest against corporations (maybe government, not sure) and how they're damaging normal people by moving jobs abroad so there's none for them etc

TBH it's taken them long enough

 

[Erana]

Here in the UK it's being reported as a growing protest against corporations (maybe government, not sure) and how they're damaging normal people by moving jobs abroad so there's none for them etc

TBH it's taken them long enough

Its not people protesting outsourcing, its protesting one specific idea: that money in this country is concentrated in the hands of an obscenely wealthy few, while millions of Americans can hardly afford living expenses even when they have jobs and are being frugal with their income.

 

[DoctorFrankenStein]

Apparently, theres a big press blackout about a huge demonstration going on at Wallstreet in New York City. I've been trying to figure out whats going on, but I'm having a hard time finding info on it. Living out in the backwoods of Kentucky probably isnt helping matters much. So far I've found this small article on MSN, and a picture thats getting shared around on facebook that supposedly shows the protest from a bird's eye view with thousands of people crowding the streets. I'll try and edit more links in as I find them. quote]

Here's a good source for both news on this and in-depth articles about what they're upset about- www.truthout.com

Some of the basic things that are being protested on Wall Street.

-Massive income inequality in the US wherein 1% of the population controls more wealth them the other 90% put together.
-The granting of free speech rights to corporations, allowing them to legally buy influence in elections.
-The use of said influence to prevent the solving of nationwide debt problems by reinstating proper taxation on the richest 1%. [as opposed to cutting vital safety net programs in order to keep the Bush tax cuts and other loopholes in place.]
-The fact that the speculation game that crashed the economy in the first place has not been regulated or made illegal.
-The despoliation of the environment caused by corporations influencing the government to de-fund or remove regulations that protect the cleanliness of our air, green spaces and water.
-The lack of tariffs and regulations that prevent companies from outsourcing manufacturing jobs to countries with low wages and low or no environment regulations. Thus pitting Americans in a wage race to the bottom against foreign wage-slave labor.
-Tax loopholes that can prevent said companies from paying any taxes at all.

Some people are going now partly to stand in solidarity with the protestors because they are being flagrantly maced, unjustly arrested and abused by police officers for no good reason. Especially people with cameras.
Even our right as citizens to peacefully assemble is being taken away.

 

[Aetherlblade]

Well i think it has been pretty obvious to most of the world that America was going down hill steadily. I hear it often being called a 2nd/3th world country in a wide variety of things like health care, insurances, etc. I would never move to America i think, as beautiful as the country is, until that changes.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Indeed, the CBC said it started with two people or something. Kind of interesting but I don't think it can really accomplish that much. I'm really hoping they don't get riot policed out of there.

 

[artanis_neravar]

Apparently, theres a big press blackout about a huge demonstration going on at Wallstreet in New York City. I've been trying to figure out whats going on, but I'm having a hard time finding info on it. Living out in the backwoods of Kentucky probably isnt helping matters much. So far I've found this small article on MSN, and a picture thats getting shared around on facebook that supposedly shows the protest from a bird's eye view with thousands of people crowding the streets. I'll try and edit more links in as I find them.

MSN Link, interviewing protestors. http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/06/8184537-who-is-occupying-wall-street-not-just-your-average-joe

Trying to get the Facebook picture up, but having trouble at the moment. I'll try linking to the actual facebook photo, but i dont know how well that will work http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150470524419815&set=a.367652879814.203867.518234814&type=3&theater

Anyways, I know the Escapist has a huge international community who's really into following the news and all that, have any of you guys heard about this? I'm kind of shocked that I'm just now hearing about it, especially if its as big as it is and has supposedly going on for a couple of weeks now. I know there have been similar protests going on in other countries as well, but I'm not really sure if they're related to this one or not.

EDIT: Looks like I just hadnt kept up with the news very well, since everybody else seems to already know about this. Sorry about that guys

EDIT MARK II (now with more flavor!): Someone posted this link to the movements website if you're interested http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/

There are similar protests in Boston, Seattle, Chicago and LA I believe. It is people from the 99% of American's who aren't the upper class who are protesting that the 1% with money is running this country, and that while the rest of us are struggling with unemployment or other monetary issues they have had the best fiscal year in a while.

 

[artanis_neravar]

Indeed, the CBC said it started with two people or something. Kind of interesting but I don't think it can really accomplish that much. I'm really hoping they don't get riot policed out of there.

This many people with this real of an issue getting riot policed out, may cause a very big issue, like the riots in England, but worse...'cause we have guns.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Indeed, the CBC said it started with two people or something. Kind of interesting but I don't think it can really accomplish that much. I'm really hoping they don't get riot policed out of there.

This many people with this real of an issue getting riot policed out, may cause a very big issue, like the riots in England, but worse...'cause we have guns.

Makes me glad to be living in Canada. Even though if it all goes to hell down there our economy tanks by default. *sigh*

[sub][sub][sub]I f*cking hate politics messing with everyone.[/sub][/sub][/sub]

 

[Ordinaryundone]

Here in the UK it's being reported as a growing protest against corporations (maybe government, not sure) and how they're damaging normal people by moving jobs abroad so there's none for them etc

TBH it's taken them long enough

Its not people protesting outsourcing, its protesting one specific idea: that money in this country is concentrated in the hands of an obscenely wealthy few, while millions of Americans can hardly afford living expenses even when they have jobs and are being frugal with their income.

Don't forget the part where the wealthiest people in our country actually have a lower income tax than the brackets below them. Its ridiculous.

Seriously, I'm all for captialism. And most of the wealthy people in the country got their wealth (mostly) fair and square. Sure, a lot of them are dicks, but that comes with the territory. I don't support socialism, or the redistribution of wealth, or anything like that. However, I do believe that the people who make more should be asked to contribute more. Its a simple balance. For example, 10% of $10,000 and 10% of 1,000,0000. Why is that not fair? Sure, one is a higher number, but given the cost of living and the rising prices of just about everything the person making $10,000 is left hurting much more.