engagedelectorate:

The Occupy Wall Street movement no longer occupies Wall Street, but the issue of class conflict has captured a growing share of the national consciousness. A new Pew Research Center survey of 2,048 adults finds that about two-thirds of the public (66%) believes there are “very strong” or “strong” conflicts between the rich and the poor—an increase of 19 percentage points since 2009.

Michael Shannon as the Tycoon

Featured in “Touch of Evil,” a photo and video tribute to iconic villains, in the New York Times’s Hollywood Issue, December 6, 2011. 

original photo: [x] 
NYTimes site video: [x] 
YouTube video: [x]

thehappysmokers:

riningear:

hipsterlibertarian:

I wrote this at the bottom of a question I was answering earlier, but it hasn’t gotten any responses, so I’ll give it its own post because I am legitimately curious:

Can someone explain why the camping is seen as necessary?  Why would it be a problem for people to just be there all day, every day, but not set up housekeeping?  I get that it’s probably partly a money thing, but surely there’s a strong enough network in place at this point that those who actually live in NYC/whatever city could offer their couches/floors/guest rooms (ha! — guest rooms in NYC apartments) for out-of-towners to crash.  It seems to me this would actually make more sense because it would eliminate much of the bad blood with local businesses.

So can someone more intimately involved in the movement than I weigh in by replying to this post or messaging me?  I’m not asking to make an argument for or against camping for protests, I just want to know the reasoning behind it.

I actually remember when the protests were originally being discussed in some chats during the summer, so I think I have a bit of a better idea than a lot of protesters, actually.

This was one of the points brought up; why sleep? A few people thought it was ridiculous. Still, the original intentions of OWS were, in fact, to capture the attention of people who actually worked on Wall Street and stay there as long as possible to get people talking.

The original people with the idea, most likely peaceful Anarchists (which seems like an oxymoron but it really isn’t), felt that this would be the most effective way to get the point across. Obviously, there are very few alternatives other than Anonymous’s regular DDoSing methods. They obviously did their research, because it is, in fact, legal to sleep on public property as a form of protest. And, well, it’s working to get attention, no? Isn’t that a protest needs to do? 

Right now, they’re in Zuccotti Park because they closed down Wall Street itself in anticipation of the protesters, as some press releases from the NYPD long before the protests revealed. However, had they opened Wall Street, it would probably be a much different protest than you see now. I took a visit there one morning, and they do their best to keep clean. They have trash bins everywhere, they have some cleaning supplies laying around, and everyone keeps within their tents for the most part. 

In terms of “dealing with bad blood,” it’s not like every business has issues. Some have learned to cope, others have helped, and yet others are whining. I’m sure that local eateries are swimming in money from the tourists’ money, with OWS on top of the 9/11 memorial down the street. There are some business complaining about the drums/music, but other issues can be solved by adding an extra 30 seconds of walking time and going around the park itself. 

Plus, there still isn’t much trust in our country, much less NYC, in terms of housing strangers, and even if people were willing to give housing, there wouldn’t be enough people to house all the protesters. At any given time, perhaps 50-200 people occupy the area, and the people there are always changing. I know personally that I wouldn’t want someone from [insert faraway state here] sleeping in my room for an undetermined amount of time. 

Symbolically, the Occupy movement’s camping tactic means different things to different people. Personally, I see it as a symbol that corruption affects us 24/7, and sleeping where it apparently stems from would be an “ironic” move, but it can be interpreted in any way you wish. 

Hope I answered your question. 

“You probably heard they had a midnight raid and the cops went down and cleaned out Zuccotti park… so if you’re keeping score, here it is: Protesters arrested, 70; Wall Street executives arrested: 0. The mayor said the reason protesters were thrown out of Zuccotti was because the conditions were hazardous, dangerous, and unsanitary and I’m saying, if that’s a reason to throw people out of the park, we’d ALL have to leave New York City.”

—David Letterman

Reblogging for the quote. 

hipsterlibertarian:

I wrote this at the bottom of a question I was answering earlier, but it hasn’t gotten any responses, so I’ll give it its own post because I am legitimately curious:

Can someone explain why the camping is seen as necessary?  Why would it be a problem for people to just be there all day, every day, but not set up housekeeping?  I get that it’s probably partly a money thing, but surely there’s a strong enough network in place at this point that those who actually live in NYC/whatever city could offer their couches/floors/guest rooms (ha! — guest rooms in NYC apartments) for out-of-towners to crash.  It seems to me this would actually make more sense because it would eliminate much of the bad blood with local businesses.

So can someone more intimately involved in the movement than I weigh in by replying to this post or messaging me?  I’m not asking to make an argument for or against camping for protests, I just want to know the reasoning behind it.

I actually remember when the protests were originally being discussed in some chats during the summer, so I think I have a bit of a better idea than a lot of protesters, actually.

This was one of the points brought up; why sleep? A few people thought it was ridiculous. Still, the original intentions of OWS were, in fact, to capture the attention of people who actually worked on Wall Street and stay there as long as possible to get people talking.

The original people with the idea, most likely peaceful Anarchists (which seems like an oxymoron but it really isn’t), felt that this would be the most effective way to get the point across. Obviously, there are very few alternatives other than Anonymous’s regular DDoSing methods. They obviously did their research, because it is, in fact, legal to sleep on public property as a form of protest. And, well, it’s working to get attention, no? Isn’t that a protest needs to do? 

Right now, they’re in Zuccotti Park because they closed down Wall Street itself in anticipation of the protesters, as some press releases from the NYPD long before the protests revealed. However, had they opened Wall Street, it would probably be a much different protest than you see now. I took a visit there one morning, and they do their best to keep clean. They have trash bins everywhere, they have some cleaning supplies laying around, and everyone keeps within their tents for the most part. 

In terms of “dealing with bad blood,” it’s not like every business has issues. Some have learned to cope, others have helped, and yet others are whining. I’m sure that local eateries are swimming in money from the tourists’ money, with OWS on top of the 9/11 memorial down the street. There are some business complaining about the drums/music, but other issues can be solved by adding an extra 30 seconds of walking time and going around the park itself. 

Plus, there still isn’t much trust in our country, much less NYC, in terms of housing strangers, and even if people were willing to give housing, there wouldn’t be enough people to house all the protesters. At any given time, perhaps 50-200 people occupy the area, and the people there are always changing. I know personally that I wouldn’t want someone from [insert faraway state here] sleeping in my room for an undetermined amount of time. 

Symbolically, the Occupy movement’s camping tactic means different things to different people. Personally, I see it as a symbol that corruption affects us 24/7, and sleeping where it apparently stems from would be an “ironic” move, but it can be interpreted in any way you wish. 

Hope I answered your question. 

cussandfight:

adriofthedead:

axelssonkatt:

Reminder that this asshole has TWO PULITZERS.

NNGHFFFF

FUCK OFF AND DIE

Lol. Hey guys, let’s go through everything that’s wrong with this: 

Tea Party Guy

• No, not all of them are employed. Otherwise there wouldn’t be so much whining. 
• There has, in fact, been some samples of violence at Tea Party protests. 
• “No rapes, murders, or suicides” …erm, not necessarily. Especially the “rape” part. (And I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t be standing there if he committed suicide, much less multiple.) I’m sure, though, that their precious First Amendment is protecting them from racism charges. 
• “Has a point.” Yeah, see, here’s the thing about the Tea Party. (And Ron Paul.) They’re right about the issues. But they’re wrong about how to fix them. We can’t solve a water leak by taking away pipes. 
• Loves America? Is that why they’re whining about it? 

Occupy Guy

• “Lives in his parent’s basement.” “Lives with mom.” Just these two are redundant. But, perhaps, that could be because he’s quite unfortunately “Unemployed,” as the artist so rudely points out. 
• “Blames America.” “Down with Capitalism.” Wow, this has “missing the point” written all over it. The Occupy movement blames not the capitalists, and not the government, but the people working in the framework rack up as much money as possible without giving a flying shit about the stability of the country. Basically, they hate corruption. Not specifically the government, and not specifically corporations. 
• “Rapes, murder & suicide.” Again, that’s a little broad of an assumption, don’t you think? (And really… suicides? How the fuck did this guy get a Pulitzer?)
• “Violence.” Broad assumptions everywhere. They’re actually really nice people. Of course, there are always exceptions, but that doesn’t mean everyone’s breaking bank windows… 
• “Wants more government.” True, but then it’s accompanied by “sense of entitlement,” which means that they want handouts. No, I’m actually pretty sure they’d really just love a stable economy, which should be what the government works for, right? 
• “Has a police car shaped toilet.” …what the actual fuck. Excuse me while I bash my head against a wall. 

Anyway, point is, the claims made here are quite extreme. While both sides have their downfalls, the glorification of the Tea Party not only pins this guy as either a complete conservative or complete libertarian (which are horrible extremes in my opinion), it also proves how uneducated about the movement he is. I’d respect him some more if this weren’t a summary of every Fox News cliche. 

wearethe99percentnews:

Occupy OWS  http://www.ustream.tv/theother 99 -protestors marching towards Zuccotti park now! Lawyers got a restraining order against NYPD! That grants release of all those arrested and that they must show cause for eviction. NYPD is trying to appeal.

Newsworthy events of the last few weeks make for an interesting study in contrast. On one front, Apple Computer has a market capitalization of about $350 billion, and people left notes and gifts of admiration for its recently deceased founder, Steve Jobs. On another front, many financial institutions are concerned about declining profits and laying off workers, and people (many of the Apple supporters, in fact) are marching on Wall Street in protest of the exploitative potential of capitalism. The fact of the matter is that there’s both a good and a bad way to do capitalism, and people, perhaps without even realizing it, understand and appreciate the difference.

Yesyesyes, this, this is what we’ve been trying to say all along. 

New York: Occupy Wall Street demonstration on the Brooklyn Bridge, October 1, 2011.

socialspew:

It’s funny because it’s true.

krougeau:

Department of Homeland Security agent wearing Guy Fawkes / Anonymous mask @ Occupy Wall Street protest

thoughts11220:

All these kids who are at these occupywallstreet rallies will become the same type of people who they are protesting against in 10years. In fact most of the laptops and devices they are using come from apple one of the most valuable companies in the world.

But it’s not like Apple is lobbying against tax cuts, hm? 

They’re protesting against the Goldman-Sachs and Lehman Bros. corporations, the ones that focus their aims on themselves and not the people they were built to serve. 

Anyone who says that it’s hypocritical because they’re using laptops from a major corporation is obviously not thinking enough to analyze the situation properly.