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I’ll now take my turn to weigh in on the ever evolving Occupy Movement.

Let me start by saying that i think the whole thing is rediculous. I know you’re supposed to wait until after you’ve presented your argument to make your conclusion. Forgive my Roman reasoning.

I’ve been following the “movement” since it first began on Wall Street on September 15. I’ve heard people say that this is anything from stupidity to the seed bed of a new revolution in America. I myself have been wondering where this could lead.

As far as i can tell there’s no real organization other than facebook  and their website. There’s for sure no leadership, according to the website. Along with this lack of leadership and organization i’ve noticed that there are no delineated goals other than some vague ideals. I’ll add here that without leadership, this thing could quickly and easily turn violent.

The 99% (the people) are angry at the 1% (the rich elite) for their many injustices against humanity and specifically the bankers’ oppression against the people of the United States and the world. This sounds good, but it’s a very ambiguous statement.

And what are these injustices? It depends on who you ask. For some it’s the exploitation of children in third world countries. For others it’s the loss of jobs in the U.S.A. For others it’s the fact that banks have ravaged the economy by giving loans that they knew the people couldn’t pay back . For another it’s that the Federal Government bailed those banks out. For others it’s the wars that are being fought oversees. The list goes on and on and on.

Adbusters released a poster advertising the beginning of the Occupation. It had the date, time, and place on the bottom with a picture of a ballerina atop the bull on Wall Street. Above that were the words in red, “What is our one demand?” Ironically, no answer is given.

I’ll pause here to say that i am fully aware that the banking systems, politics/politicians, and giant corporations are corrupt. I do believe something should be done. I absolutely believe that most of the “wars” we engage in around the world, particularly in the Middle East, are unjust and motivated by money and oil rather then the spread of democracy. The banks knew what they were doing when they gave poor people loans then encouraged them to get higher loans. I’m not against protest. I’ve been itching to be a part of a march. I just want it to mean something.

The whole system is corrupt.
It needs to be changed.
Amen.

I am amazed at the hypocrisy that is rife within the movement. I made a comment on my facebook that those who were “occupying” should remember their disdain for capitalism while they buy things from Urban Outfitter, or a latte, or put on their Van’s. I was told that it would be useless to stop buying from “them,” the 1%, because that won’t change anything.

Incredulous! Throughout history people have boycotted companies in order to raise their voice, like the women during the English Abolition Movement. They quit using sugar in their tea, not because it would hurt their companies, but becuase it would give them a voice. It got louder until slavery was abolished in the British Empire. It’s interesting to note that if you Google “Occupy Wall Street” you’ll notice on the right hand column t-shirts for sale. Someone is making money on the Occupy Movement.

One person said that “sacrifices” would have to be made for change in response to the statement that some New York schools would have to shut down because of the money that Occupy is taking from the city. It seems that our children must make the sacrifice for our freedom, not our freedom for thiers. Is this the nobility my generation exhibits?

 We can be angry at the 1% and still buy thier products because it’s convenient.

Van’s aren’t worn for practicality, they’re worn for look. Clothes from Urban (or most anywhere we youngsters shop) definitely aren’t worn for quality but for appearance. We can rail against the CEO of these companies while we give them our money. Fascinating.

What about American ingenuity? What about the free-market we really do have? What about the 99% starting their own food, clothing, shoe, computer, whatever companies locally and buying locally? That would be far too difficult. Sacrifices must be made but not those kind. We’d rather the 1% simply stop doing what they’re doing.

Shut down the machine. This would lead to complete economic meltdown, which is already happening.

Are the Occupiers willing to make that kind of sacrifice? You wouldn’t be able to buy from the corporate monsters in order to start your new business because they’d be angry with you. Your town would have to start at the bottom and really struggle for years. But that could push the 1% into submission. Or would you rather stand in front of banks and wait for the 1% to make the change.

What if you were the one that changed?

I know it’s more complicated than that and it’s impossible to restart society in a day. But it is a real answer to the problem. As long as we keep giving them money, they’ll keep exploiting.

Did anyone stop to consider that the American citizen is in the top 10% richest category in the world? This includes the poor Americans, not just the 1%.

There’s one thing that truly puts me on edge. The Occupiers continually compare themselves to the people in Egypt at Tahir Square.

Get real. Aside from the fact that you’re protesting in a public place nothing is the same. We’re not ruled by a military dictator in a closed market society where free-speech is a dream instead of  reality. Our situation is nowhere near being the same.

My prediction is that in the next 5-10 years we truly might find ourselves in that situation if government continues to get bigger. Then we’ll have a reason to cry. Martial Law is right around the corner for this nation.

I know, we’re oppressed by the loan giving, (truthfully) big-bully banks. But has anyone stopped to consider that the banks don’t force anyone to get a loan? No one is holding people at gunpoint in the bank offices threating people’s lives if they don’t get a loan, or a higher one. The person getting the loan is just as aware as the bank that he is not able to pay.

Our society is run on debt. Most people can’t get the houses they want without help. How about living in a small house until you can save money for a bigger house? Or building? Or going without the ipods, ipads, computers, new cars, etc. for a while in order to save for a better house with things that are necessary?

Sacrifice? Yeah, but not that kind.

Now for my tangent:

I’m curious at how many of the Occupiers are “pro-choice.” Kill my baby if i want to because it’s my right but don’t take my job because that would leave me without food. That might kill me. Defend the helpless children out there somewhere but cut my baby into pieces and vacuum her out of the womb. Or poison her brain, just make sure the bank doesn’t come after me on the loan i obtained from them that I knew i couldn’t pay. Don’t kill innocent Iraqis, just kill the innocent boy inside the womb.

Sacrifices must be made, right?

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