Thread: "Occupy" protesters garner increased support

October 8, 2011 11:34 AM PrintText

"Occupy" protesters garner increased support

(CBS News) In New York, the protest is called "Occupy Wall Street" - but around the nation, where the movement is picking up steam, it's being called "Occupy Together."

This week, CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller reported on "The Early Show on Saturday Morning," demonstrations were held in more than a dozen cities, from Los Angeles to Richmond, Va., to downtown Minneapolis, Minn.

In Minneapolis, one demonstrator told CBS News, "We're here because we want the big dudes to start paying."

More demonstrations are scheduled this weekend in cities like Indianapolis, Ind.

The website OccupyTogether.org, the unofficial hub for all of the events springing up across the country in solidarity with Occupy Wall St., claims there are online supporters in more than 900 cities.

This week, unions joined the protest, marching through New York's Financial District during rush hour Wednesday.

Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, told CBS News, "They are basically sending us a message that says, 'Don't create a society where one percent basically has all the wealth.'"

Approximately 5,000 people marched on Foley Square in New York Wednesday. By late evening, police and protesters clashed, and 23 people were arrested.

Anti-Wall Street protests, coast-to-coast

The downtown Manhattan encampment that started it all is attracting a steady stream of onlookers - and reinforcements, including Michelle Snyder, who stops by every day on her lunch hour.

When asked about what she sees as the purpose of the protests - which were not formed by a centralized leadership - Snyder told CBS News, "In the end, it's to stop the economy from going into such a downward spiral. Really we all just want our middle-class back."

Frustration over the gap between the wealthiest and the middle-class is one theme, Miller said. But there are as many messages as there are cardboard signs spread along the sidewalk. ,/P>

Those who came by Zuccotti Park in New York's Financial District, curious to figure out the point of the protest, seemed a bit confused.

Aaron Green, an investment manager, said, "Most of them are kind of hanging out, doesn't look like they're doing too much."

But, Miller reported, there's no sign the protesters in New York (or elsewhere) are packing up their signs any time soon.

One New York protester said, "There's no ending date, there's no designated date that it's ending, it's growing every day."

On "The Early Show on Saturday Morning," Michael Daly, special correspondent for Newsweek and The Daily Beast, said people protesting are not necessarily accomplish something - but rather, express something.

He said, "The one thing that runs through all of them is that a feeling that there is just a fundamental unfairness. From their point of view, the very people who almost wrecked the U.S. economy on Wall Street continue to get wealthy while working people are struggling to pay their bills. I mean, it comes down to that."

Though the protests are going strong now, Daly says the weather might be the determining factor as to when the "occupation" ends.

"It's not the the Arab Spring, it's the New York Fall," he said. "It's going to get cold. I think the friend for the policemen, in this case, may be the weather."

There is no curfew at New York's Zuccotti Park, which has enabled the protesters to camp out there. But the protesters are expected to march to Washington Square Park, which does have a curfew. Daly said that could put an end to today's protests.

"Early Show" co-anchor Russ Mitchell noted President Obama said he understood them and House Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor called them a "growing mob" on Friday. "What do these types of comments do to the protesters in terms of their resolve?" he aske dDaly.

"You know, the people are talking about them," he replied. "If nobody was talking about them, I think that would probably send them home. But if you have the President of the United States acknowledging you and if you had the Republicans calling you a mob, then you're really starting a conversation ... they ARE accomplishing something."

Mitchell said to Daly, "You're sympathetic to the protesters. You wrote this week they are being arrested and being handcuffed, but the people they are protesting have not been handcuffed."

Daly responded, "Sympathetic in the sense there is an unfairness. You can wreck the U.S. economy and you don't end up in handcuffs, but if you make a left-hand turn on the Brooklyn Bridge, you get collared. It's not a question of law enforcement, it's a question of the law.

"The law is very clear - if you go and block traffic, you're going to get arrested. The law is not so clear if you're a rating agency and you inflate ratings in order to get more business."

Daly says he's not surprised the movement has gotten this expansive.

"The least American thing is unfairness," he said. "I mean, the whole country got started with fairness. The original 'tea party' was all about fairness. The Constitution is a document about fairness, and if there is a wide feeling there is unfairness, then, you know, it shouldn't surprise anybody."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/10/ ... 7634.shtml

These left-wing anarchists oppose capitalism when they should really be opposing crony capitalism aka gangster capitalism, aka corrupt capitalism, aka global capitalism. I think we must preserve capitalism, but we must regulate it to keep it from getting out of control.

I also notice that these left-wing anarchists intentionally break the law and also create sanitation problems where they camp out, whereas Tea Party people obey the law and also pick up their trash.

Originally Posted by Achilles

These left-wing anarchists oppose capitalism when they should really be opposing crony capitalism aka gangster capitalism, aka corrupt capitalism, aka global capitalism. I think we must preserve capitalism, but we must regulate it to keep it from getting out of control.

I also notice that these left-wing anarchists intentionally break the law and also create sanitation problems where they camp out, whereas Tea Party people obey the law and also pick up their trash.

I guess it depends on which rally you attended i went to one tea party at Frankfort Kentucky and when it was over there where signs and pop cans trash all over capital grounds.I stayed back and 1 more and helped the grounds people pick it up wasnt real proud of tea party about that.

I was thinking of the really big Tea Party protest in Washington DC on September 12th, organized by Glenn Beck. I suppose there may be exceptions to the rule, but conservatives are generally more tidy and civil and polite than leftists and anarchists. This is also true of the ultra-nationalists that march in Europe. They are exceedingly tidy compared to the Marxists and anarchists.

Originally Posted by duckman

Originally Posted by Achilles

These left-wing anarchists oppose capitalism when they should really be opposing crony capitalism aka gangster capitalism, aka corrupt capitalism, aka global capitalism. I think we must preserve capitalism, but we must regulate it to keep it from getting out of control.

I also notice that these left-wing anarchists intentionally break the law and also create sanitation problems where they camp out, whereas Tea Party people obey the law and also pick up their trash.

I guess it depends on which rally you attended i went to one tea party at Frankfort Kentucky and when it was over there where signs and pop cans trash all over capital grounds.I stayed back and 1 more and helped the grounds people pick it up wasnt real proud of tea party about that.

PS OK, but because of diligent people like yourself who volunteered to clean up the place after the event, the grounds were ultimately left in a clean condition, WHEREAS leftists and anarchists do not clean up any mess left by their goons and hooligans.

The basic premise of their protests for fairness and equality , much like the Liberal ideology in general, establishes it's foundation upon a false assumption that the statement " All Men are Created equal " , means just that , Literally. Liberal Democrats and Socialists assume that equality economically and socially is a God given right, based upon an idea that all people should be equal in wealth and social standing in order to create a harmonious well ordered society, and simply just because " they are" , they are deserving and entitled. The basic truth is , all men are not created equal, and unless cloning can be perfected they never will be created equal. Obvious differences such as height, size and color exist , and these are inconsequential as to the argument of whether or not all people should have access to equal wealth or standing. Other differences such as intelligence , self determination, courage, and will to succeed are not present in all in equal quantity. This is apparent and painfully obvious from the overall appearance and the level of intelligence exhibited by these malcontents. The point they miss is not that the idea of all being created equal , entitles them to equally share. It entitles all equally to the opportunity to participate in the pursuit of wealth , social standing , possession of property and all other aspects of what would generally be considered measures of success within the society , even if intellectually challenged as these protesters seem to be.
There are such " Utopian" societies where this absolute equality does exist, and apparently they did not pay attention while being educated. One that comes immediately to mind , and still exists is North Korea. Everyone there is equal on all levels. All equally have no opportunity for social advancement , and all are equally impoverished and hungry. Cuba would probably be my second choice if I were to want a less pure form of absolute equality. I would suggest they buy a plane ticket , one way, as soon as they can. There are enough of us that will never trade our freedoms for false Gods or promises of a perfect society that will supply our every want and need in return for obedience and submission. I will fight to the death along with my fellow patriots and brothers in arms to resist all attempts to indoctrinate or enslave us to any other system or pay homage to any other rule , than that of the rule of law and of the Constitution of the United States of America. Protest all you want , for you are all fools and you know not what you ask for. The Patriotic and the Wise will protect you from your folly.

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