But they have a common rallying call which is firmly set against the entanglement of State and Corporate entities.
I fear that in some people's zeal to politicize this into a nice category for dismissal, they don't actually look at what's being called for. Rather they want to belittle the protest and try to portray it as impotent and lacking common cause. However, anyone who is actually going to look at the data clearly comes across the common theme of OWS; that being the gross entanglement of State and Corporation has led to a stiffing of economic mobility and unfair practices in which corporations most entangled with the State are given preferential treatment.
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OWS is impotent and lacking in a common cause or direction or any understanding of what their slogans mean. While it may well be true that some of them share your conspiracy theories about collusion between the government and large companies being responsible for the financial crisis and recession, your contention that many of them share you belief or concern that this has diminished competition or that they long for the myth of free market capitalism is no more than wishful thinking of your part.
No matter how many times you invoke the mantra of corporate capitalism, it is still no more than a meaningless slogan. If you put down your propaganda pamphlets for a moment and think about what you are saying, you'll see it is really the size of the business enterprises you are complaining about, not whether they are publicly held corporations or privately owned and that to preserve competition you would have to prevent the formation of monopolies which would require government regulation. What data is available, and it is scant and scattered, suggests that the most widely held preferences among OWS are socialism or some variant of a social welfare state and not any form of capitalism.
This seems nothing more than propaganda aimed at decreasing thought about the problem and to easily categorize something as dismissible.
Since that's what you do with all criticisms of OWS or any of your own ideas, it makes sense that it is all you'd be able to understand from some one else's posts.
Do you dispute that there are international organizations behind the scenes...calling the shots? If so, perhaps you should read these links:
Adbusters Culturejammer Headquarters | Journal of the mental environment
Adbusters Calls For Occupy Wall Street To Demand G20 Impose 'Robin Hood' Tax
#OCCUPYWALLSTREET | Adbusters Culturejammer Headquarters
David Graeber, the Anti-Leader of Occupy Wall Street - Businessweek
They don't seem to realize most Americans don't work for government, most Americans clock much more than 40 hours a week, and most Americans aren't unionized. That's what reading too much Atlas Shrugged and being out of touch will create.
This seems nothing more than propaganda aimed at decreasing thought about the problem and to easily categorize something as dismissible.
Occupy Philadelphia protesting in peace | Philadelphia Inquirer | 10/28/2011As relatively well-behaved as the protesters have been, as the movement moves into its fourth week, it has been criticized for its cost to the city, lack of philosophical focus, and for creating an eyesore.
Police patrol the plaza day and night. Most are officers from Center City precincts assigned during their regular hours, but so far, overtime has cost the city about $500,000.
Amid the 200 tents pitched around City Hall are signs advocating a flurry of causes: "Corporate Owned Media = Corporate Lies," "Capitalism is failing, socialism is the alternative," "Stop Foreclosures," "No Fracking," and "Ron Paul for President."
The activists are planning a "march to end the silence" on Saturday to coincide with a visit to the city by former President Bill Clinton. The march will start at 12:30 at City Hall and head to Temple University. Participants will cover their mouths with bandannas printed with the names of corporations that organizers say exert too much influence on politicians.
To ask what the movement's main issues are is "a loaded question," says Chris Goldstein, a volunteer for Occupy's public-relations working group. A general assembly meets daily to reach consensus on all aspects of the demonstration. "The direction is being defined. No one wants to presuppose what that will be, but it's mainly the issue of bringing awareness about corporate greed and economic inequality."
I am shocked to discover that a government protecting a peoples rights can actually cost money!!!!! :roll:
Who ever would have thunk it?????
There is no right to squat on city property. More accurately, the city governments are subsidizing illegal actions from people who seem to have no regard for the welfare of the city's residents.
Have you ever seen what city governments truly subsidize? My city is rife with no-bid, 100%+ cost-overrun projects that the city council routinely approves without any hearing, discussion, or comment. (Google baltimore monumental paving) The people protesting the REAL government subsidies of corporate welfare and a gravy train of income for their CEOs have the story straight. It shouldn't be a shock that the defense of liberty and justice has a cost, as they are not the natural order of things.
This is a case where the phrase "Freedom isn't free" applies. Freedom costs... sometimes it costs money.
So you think if the city is forced to cut money for education, public health centers, close libraries and fire houses that is a victory?
Have you ever seen what city governments truly subsidize? My city is rife with no-bid, 100%+ cost-overrun projects that the city council routinely approves without any hearing, discussion, or comment. (Google baltimore monumental paving) The people protesting the REAL government subsidies of corporate welfare and a gravy train of income for their CEOs have the story straight. It shouldn't be a shock that the defense of liberty and justice has a cost, as they are not the natural order of things.
This is a case where the phrase "Freedom isn't free" applies. Freedom costs... sometimes it costs money.
Then why aren't they protesting government corruption in Baltimore rather than in Philly?
The fact that these people have no coherent message allows everyone with any sort of beef to get on board, and make expensive asses of themselves.
Occupy Philadelphia costs city $400,000 in police surveillance - Philly.com
Links to the costs to other cities
At a cost of $400,000 a week, the cost to the city's residents could quickly run into millions of dollars at a time when the city has already been forced to cut back on some services because of declining revenues. Should these protesters and those in other cities be required to cover the costs to the city, so that its residents, often those most vulnerable and dependent on city services, do not have to face further cutbacks because of Occupy Philadelphia?
That's the city's problem. Maybe if they don't want to dish out so much money, they should campaign for economic change instead of towing the status quo.
What part of "right to freedom of assembly" do you not understand? There is no price tag attached to that. People can gather peacefully wherever they want. Screw the permit system. "Protest zones" are becoming common in most major North American cities. It's the government's way of neutering them of effectiveness.
Activism is activism, not "activism in a certain part of the city where no one will see it", and certainly not "this activism is costing the city money, so we should charge them a fee."
Total BS.
There is no right to squat on city property. More accurately, the city governments are subsidizing illegal actions from people who seem to have no regard for the welfare of the city's residents.
These protests are not about liberty or justice; they are about money. The only consistent themes are corporate greed, the pursuit of profits by large companies, and inequality of wealth. Whether you agree with them or think these are just mindless slogans, the fact is these people have expressed no interest in liberty or justice or anyone else's welfare; they are protesting the fact that some other people have more money than they do.
We're occupied here too