Not that I think you would educate yourself or anything, but just in case... http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=6441046&postcount=17
Absolutely. He is a proud one who gives a good name to the group. Probably the greatest senator we have now.
I was in NYC a month ago and witnessed the "Occupy" movement first hand. If they are what you are pinning your hopes on you're doomed. They've completely wasted an opportunity for making waves in Washington by not having clear set goals and bickering amongst themselves. America in general has lost patience with them, now all they are doing is wasting time and tax payer dollars.
I'm not sure you know what you are speaking about. Poll after poll shows Americans identify more with OWS than the tea party. They may not agree with their tactics, but most definitely what they are expressing. Americans see what is happening in this country, banks getting bailed out while people are losing their homes; wages stagnating while CEOs walk away with million dollar bonuses. Corporations buying politicians and elections. There is sea change happening in this country. Better make sure you're on the right side.
Polls? Gallup has show their support decreasing. Most Americans are indifferent because they have no idea what they hell they stand for, as the Occupy doesn't even know. I personally have talked to hundreds of people regarding the occupy movement (in Texas and NYC), with having maybe 5 people supporting them or their tactics. Notice I didn't say they were against them. I have no problem with them utilizing the write to protest, what I have a problem with is their lack of clear goals or solutions. They are 3 months in for Pete's sake. Look, I know the government needs change but they are going about it the wrong way. Like the tea party or hate them, but within 12 months of their movement they had Scott Brown in elected office, and they shook up the norm during the process. Meanwhile, the Occupy movement has failed to even rally behind one candidate or ideal other than "capitalism is bad." The April primaries are fast approaching and it looks like the occupy group won't even have one candidate to rally behind. So I guess 2014 is what they're aiming for? You can camp in a park all you want and hold up witty signs, but the only way to change Washington is to disrupt the norm, and to do that you must be able to get candidates on the ballot.
income inequality News results: About 4,470 results (0.20 seconds) It is ironic that you mention Scott Brown as well---when the "intellectual foundation for Occupy Wall Street" is gunning for his seat.
Do you truly believe that Democrats with a seat on the line are going to embrace a movement with less that 25% support across the board? You put a lot more faith in politicians than I do. When push comes to shove the Democrats currently holding seats will simply ignore the Occupy Movement if they think supporting them will cost them votes. That is the problem, the two party system is what is busted, you can't change the Democratic party from within by voting in the same jackasses who have been there. In my opinion, the Occupy Movement should have their sites set on Democrats who claim to be for the people but are Washington as usual... just as the Tea Party was to Republicans. I hate to break it to you, but number of Google search results does not correlate to actual votes. Again, 3 months in and if you go and talk to 100 different occupy members, you'll receive 100 different answers for priorities. The average American has no idea what they are protesting for and couldn't care less, and that is the fault of the movement, not the press or the people. While I disagree with much of what the Occupy Movement stands for, I want anyone who can disrupt Washington as usual to do so. However, how they've handled themselves so far has frankly pissed me off as I see it as a missed opportunity of gathering support from average Joes. The longer they protest without clear progress, the more indignant Americans will become with them.
I hate to break it to you, but if I had done the same search a few months ago, I would have gotten near nothing. I believe that if you talk to different Occupy members, you'll receive one overarching answer---income inequality, and addressing that, is the top priority. The President is talking about it, and making it a priority of his. The Congressional Budget Office is running detailed empirical studies about it. It has become THE topic of discussion among pundits and economists---from Mankiw in Harvard's EC 10 class devoting a lecture to it, to countless realms of articles in the Economist/Wall Street Journal/New York Times; and it will be a clear and definitive theme in the 2012 elections. If this isn't clear progress, then what is?
How about having support for the movement actually increase? Gallop polls show that more than 53% of Americans are indifference about the movement, a slight increase over the previous month (51%). The masses are there to be convinced of what they are standing for is worthwhile, they've had 3 months so far and they have done nothing to improve their support. Getting politicians involved in discussions does nothing for the movement, as they are a root of the cause. You think that having Obama in the corner is going to help them? Have you not been watching his support dwindle for the past 18 months? Does this movement actually want to tie their success to what seems like a sinking ship? You need the people, and that is clearly where the Occupy Movement has flat out failed. Like I said, the 2012 primaries are the first week in April... we'll know by then just how serious the Occupy Movement will be. My guess, based upon the previous 3 months, that they won't be that much further along then than they are now. I personally witnessed in Occupy New York a "vote of the people" that took 45 minutes just to decide who should speak to a reporter. After 45 minutes of bickering, they never came to a conclusion. Take their national agenda and blow those issues up 10-fold. Had I not seen it for myself, I would not have believed it. It really is as ridiculous as many of the YouTube videos show it to be. Their system of deciding of what to do is flawed. They want to be a leaderless movement, but politics just doesn't work that way.
When Senator Elizabeth Warren steps out to office, having defeated the incumbent Scott Brown, will that be "clear progress"?.
No, I truly believe that Occupy ______'s candidates (that is to say, the candidates that receive votes from those who participate in the various Occupy movements) are going to be whoever the Democrats put out there. It isn't like they are voting for Republicans.
Franchise, that statement tells me a whole lot about you. I can see why you support Obama's hope and change.
MC, I don't think you really understand. I could care less what the archbishop said. I know what Jesus said, I have read the BOOK of all BOOKS.
Good, I hope it says something about me, and the kind of principles and morality I would like to see government have.
You know there are other counties who already have the type of government you want. Instead of screwing up our country you could check into moving.
There are some that are closer to what I want in some regards, but the great thing about America is that we are free to try and change this nation in ways that we believe uphold the Constitution and spirit of our founding fathers. This nation still has the greatest founding document and ideas on earth. I support that wholeheartedly.
Franchise, while I think you are terribly misguided on the founding fathers intentions I agree with the bolded part wholeheartedly. We can find common ground. LOL.
