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The 53%: We are NOT Occupy Wall Street

jamesrage

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I think it was idiotic for the wall street protesters to call themselves the 99% considering the fact there is a good sizable percentage that make over a 100,000 a year that the OWS would want to make pay more taxes.

The 53%: Occupy Wall Street backlash - Oct. 26, 2011

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Occupy Wall Street protesters might say they represent 99% of the nation, but there's a growing number of Americans who are making it clear they are not part of the dissident crowd.
They call themselves the 53%...as in the 53% of Americans who pay federal income taxes. And they are making their voices heard on Tumblr blogs, Twitter and Facebook pages devoted to stories of personal responsibility and work ethic.
The number originates in the estimate that roughly 47% of Americans don't pay federal income tax, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. The 53 percenters stress the fact that they are paying the taxes that support the government assistance the protesters say they want.
 
They sure and the hxxl don't represent me and I am no where near the 1% in income.
 
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yeah. when I compare whether or not these people have the drive and ability to accomplish goals v that of the OWS'ers.... I"m thinking.... the "99%" is going to lose this one.
 
I think it was idiotic for the wall street protesters to call themselves the 99% considering the fact there is a good sizable percentage that make over a 100,000 a year that the OWS would want to make pay more taxes.

The 53%: Occupy Wall Street backlash - Oct. 26, 2011

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Occupy Wall Street protesters might say they represent 99% of the nation, but there's a growing number of Americans who are making it clear they are not part of the dissident crowd.
They call themselves the 53%...as in the 53% of Americans who pay federal income taxes. And they are making their voices heard on Tumblr blogs, Twitter and Facebook pages devoted to stories of personal responsibility and work ethic.
The number originates in the estimate that roughly 47% of Americans don't pay federal income tax, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. The 53 percenters stress the fact that they are paying the taxes that support the government assistance the protesters say they want.

Actually, it is unclear as to whether or not the OWS want more people to pay taxes. Much of their gripe is their inability to get jobs, the need for student loan reform, and the need to address the foreclosure crisis.

Now I'm sure that there may be some who do want to raise taxes for those making over $100,000, but there may also be those who want to raise taxes for those making over $1,000,000 a year, the so called "Buffet Rule," that even some millionaires endorse.
 
Alright - I can align with the 53% and so can my husband.
 
Those pictures are nauseating. "Suck it up you whiners?" Seriously? Sorry to break it to you, but "I'm too manly to complain about my situation" is far from the best argument against OWS.

They should have pictures like that against health care reform with people saying "I desperately need a liver transplant, but I'm not going to get one because I'm not a whiner."
 
Those pictures are nauseating. "Suck it up you whiners?" Seriously? Sorry to break it to you, but "I'm too manly to complain about my situation" is far from the best argument against OWS.

actually it's an excellent argument that will appeal to the broad majority of Americans who are still used to the notion that one may have to actually work for something.


what's nauseating is this guy:

 
If he has a net worth of 20k 3 years after college having gone to a top 15 school and paid 14,000 in taxes someone needs to be on the street protesting for him!

well, he had to dig his way out of 35K in Student Debt - which he apparently did so through the unique mechanism of hard work.


however, those of us who are tea party sympathizers appreciate your concern and pledge to continue to push for lowering his taxes :)
 
I think it was idiotic for the wall street protesters to call themselves the 99% considering the fact there is a good sizable percentage that make over a 100,000 a year that the OWS would want to make pay more taxes.

The 53%: Occupy Wall Street backlash - Oct. 26, 2011

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Occupy Wall Street protesters might say they represent 99% of the nation, but there's a growing number of Americans who are making it clear they are not part of the dissident crowd.
They call themselves the 53%...as in the 53% of Americans who pay federal income taxes. And they are making their voices heard on Tumblr blogs, Twitter and Facebook pages devoted to stories of personal responsibility and work ethic.
The number originates in the estimate that roughly 47% of Americans don't pay federal income tax, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. The 53 percenters stress the fact that they are paying the taxes that support the government assistance the protesters say they want.
Sounds like a good reason to get rid of the Bush tax cuts and reduce that 47%.
 
actually it's an excellent argument that will appeal to the broad majority of Americans who are still used to the notion that one may have to actually work for something.

And yet, the issue for many OWSers isn't that they're unwilling to work hard - rather, it's that they can't get the jobs to pay them the salary they need to pay off their student loans and housing and health insurance and other relevant bills.
 
Those three young men holding up the cards with their stories are living proof that you can't get ahead in America. All three are sad stories. The men are just too naive to read their own signs and understand what they mean.

They're tough, but they seem to be nice guys, and we all know where the nice guys finish in this country.
 
Many people enjoy working and enjoy a challenge and take pride at achieving some level of independence despite the difficulties. Why should they side with the OWS whiners? All of these self-proclaimed independent people aren't saying they don't have complaints about the government, they just don't have the unrealistic expectations of the Wall Street mob. We need change but the answer is not insisting the Federal Government provide us a living. That will just make this current level of unemployment permanent.
 
We need change but the answer is not insisting the Federal Government provide us a living.

You seem to think that the OWS crowd is demanding more welfare benefits, which does not seem to be the case.

Rather, many of the OWSers are young college students who are studying so they can get a good job but are fearful, for a variety of reasons, that there won't be any that pays the salary level they need to pay off the loans they accrue.
 
Many people enjoy working and enjoy a challenge and take pride at achieving some level of independence despite the difficulties. Why should they side with the OWS whiners? All of these self-proclaimed independent people aren't saying they don't have complaints about the government, they just don't have the unrealistic expectations of the Wall Street mob. We need change but the answer is not insisting the Federal Government provide us a living. That will just make this current level of unemployment permanent.

Exactly.

the "99%" is seeming to identify with this notion that they 'haven't made it until they're millionaires' . . . well - my husband and I aren't millionaires but we've 'made it' - this is likely as 'top of the crop' as we're going to get.

We're not complaining - but the drive 'forward and up' is always there.

I was a high-school dropout who still hasn't made it through college and dedicated a good portion of my life towards being a stay-at-home/college mom but I spent over 5 years of my adult working life being management.

The people who didn't want to work - complained a lot - and quit often - and never got any further in that same amount of time.
 
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I'm on the younger side and I've seen so many people get in head over heels because of student loans and debt. The jobs just aren't there right now, and you have virtually no choice but to work full-time just to make your minimum payments and take care of insurance and the basics. Is there anything wrong with having to work in order to achieve success? Of course not, nor does anyone expect to achieve success without hard work.

What sucks is that CEO pay rises at exponential levels while middle and lower-paying jobs creep up slowly over time. When you see all the money going to the elitely wealthy, many of whom have controlling interests in the credit card companies calling you to bug you about writing them yet another check, you wonder why college keeps costing more and more when fewer and fewer people are able to afford it, especially with the lack of jobs we have these days.

I'm not in debt, thankfully, but I have paid thousands upon thousands of dollars to get a college degree that is currently of no use to me and that has NOTHING to do with how hard I did or didn't work. You can't work your way up from the mail room when you need a job that covers the bills. And on top of all that, I got a high paying job at a fine dining establishment and got laid off because people couldn't afford to eat there! It sucks.

I don't want hand-outs, and I think I do speak for the majority of people my age/with my experience who don't want hand-outs. We want people earning six figures a year to pay back into the system that allowed them to become six figure earners. We want credit card companies to stop getting preferential legislation from Washington. We want health insurance that doesn't decline our claims or cost an exorbitant amount of money because of the pork added on by insurance company overhead. Why are average people getting laid off when CEOs keep getting pay raises? I think that's what this is about. And last I checked, conservatives were applauding those of us who were getting more involved in democracy.
 
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Well what's silly is that people look at 'inequality of ceo pay' and then assume that if those 'ceo's only were paid less - I'd be paid more'

You know - run your own company and you can take whatever share of the profits you want. :shrug:
 
I think it was idiotic for the wall street protesters to call themselves the 99% considering the fact there is a good sizable percentage that make over a 100,000 a year that the OWS would want to make pay more taxes.

The 53%: Occupy Wall Street backlash - Oct. 26, 2011

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Occupy Wall Street protesters might say they represent 99% of the nation, but there's a growing number of Americans who are making it clear they are not part of the dissident crowd.
They call themselves the 53%...as in the 53% of Americans who pay federal income taxes. And they are making their voices heard on Tumblr blogs, Twitter and Facebook pages devoted to stories of personal responsibility and work ethic.
The number originates in the estimate that roughly 47% of Americans don't pay federal income tax, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. The 53 percenters stress the fact that they are paying the taxes that support the government assistance the protesters say they want.
Said this since day one. They dont represent the '99%' and they despise the homeless so they dont even represent the 47%. They represent that whiny college student that wants someone to pay his student loans. Cuz its not enough that someone already fronted him the money for school...at his request.
 
I'm on the younger side and I've seen so many people get in head over heels because of student loans and debt. The jobs just aren't there right now, and you have virtually no choice but to work full-time just to make your minimum payments and take care of insurance and the basics. Is there anything wrong with having to work in order to achieve success? Of course not, nor does anyone expect to achieve success without hard work.

What sucks is that CEO pay rises at exponential levels while middle and lower-paying jobs creep up slowly over time. When you see all the money going to the elitely wealthy, many of whom have controlling interests in the credit card companies calling you to bug you about writing them yet another check, you wonder why college keeps costing more and more when fewer and fewer people are able to afford it, especially with the lack of jobs we have these days.

I'm not in debt, thankfully, but I have paid thousands upon thousands of dollars to get a college degree that is currently of no use to me and that has NOTHING to do with how hard I did or didn't work. You can't work your way up from the mail room when you need a job that covers the bills. And on top of all that, I got a high paying job at a fine dining establishment and got laid off because people couldn't afford to eat there! It sucks.

I don't want hand-outs, and I think I do speak for the majority of people my age/with my experience who don't want hand-outs. We want people earning six figures a year to pay back into the system that allowed them to become six figure earners. We want credit card companies to stop getting preferential legislation from Washington. We want health insurance that doesn't decline our claims or cost an exorbitant amount of money because of the pork added on by insurance company overhead. Why are average people getting laid off when CEOs keep getting pay raises? I think that's what this is about. And last I checked, conservatives were applauding those of us who were getting more involved in democracy.
I seem to recall that the unemployment rate for college grads is 5%. So...just more talking points nonsense? Cant find a job? What did they pursue a degree in? Because...there are only so many ITT Tech jobs, Culinary Chef jobs, massage therapy jobs, liberal arts jobs...poly/sci jobs...etc...
 
Those three young men holding up the cards with their stories are living proof that you can't get ahead in America. All three are sad stories. The men are just too naive to read their own signs and understand what they mean.

They're tough, but they seem to be nice guys, and we all know where the nice guys finish in this country.

Meanwhile, Yahoo just did a lead story on the fact that for the second straight year, there has been a greater than 5% increase in the number of millionaires in this country. (thats people from the 'middle class' geting ahead).

One thing is certain...you cant get ahead bitching whining and crying about everyone elses success and ignoring your own effort.
 
Those pictures are nauseating. "Suck it up you whiners?" Seriously? Sorry to break it to you, but "I'm too manly to complain about my situation" is far from the best argument against OWS.

They should have pictures like that against health care reform with people saying "I desperately need a liver transplant, but I'm not going to get one because I'm not a whiner."
Ah! So THATS what the OWS protesters are upset about? they cant get liver transplants? They arent a bunch of whiny spoiled little ****s that want someone else to pay off their student loans? Huh...guess we are missing that whole "Occupy Wall Street for liver transplants" group. Or is that liver transplant argument just another bull**** argument because the anti-banker/broker influence in politics argument sort of falls flat when you still support the democrats sucking down that cash?
 
actually it's an excellent argument that will appeal to the broad majority of Americans who are still used to the notion that one may have to actually work for something.


what's nauseating is this guy:

This guy IS the '99%' movement.
 
Actually, it is unclear as to whether or not the OWS want more people to pay taxes. Much of their gripe is their inability to get jobs, the need for student loan reform, and the need to address the foreclosure crisis.

Seems to me its about the have nots bitching and moaning about what the haves have. Thats why they want to tax the **** out of others.

Now I'm sure that there may be some who do want to raise taxes for those making over $100,000, but there may also be those who want to raise taxes for those making over $1,000,000 a year, the so called "Buffet Rule," that even some millionaires endorse.

You do realize that someone making over $379,150 a year pays 35% income tax rate? So the only reason Buffet pays less is because he intentionally worked the system, not because the government is refusing to tax him more.

Tax Brackets (Federal Income Tax Rates) 2000 through 2011
 
You seem to think that the OWS crowd is demanding more welfare benefits, which does not seem to be the case.

Rather, many of the OWSers are young college students who are studying so they can get a good job but are fearful, for a variety of reasons, that there won't be any that pays the salary level they need to pay off the loans they accrue.

Their demands include living wage gaurantee, pay off my student loans, forgive pretty much all debt, single payer healthcare, free college tuition. What do you call that exactly?
 
Their demands include living wage gaurantee, pay off my student loans, forgive pretty much all debt, single payer healthcare, free college tuition. What do you call that exactly?
Socialism? Low-rent greed? Typical of people used to sponging off others?
 
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