Silverfuel wrote:Good stuff from Bill Maher:

Silverfuel wrote:
America’s rich aren’t giving you money, they’re taking your money. Between the years 1980 and 2005 80% of all new income generated in this country went to the richest
1%. Let me put that in terms that even you fat-ass teabaggers, I’m sorry, can understand.

Say 100 Americans get together and order a 100 slice pizza. The pizza arrives and the first guy takes 80 slices. And if someone suggests, why don’t you just take 79 slices, that’s socialism! I know, I know. I know, I know, it’s just a TV show. But it does reinforce the stupid idea people have that rich people would love us and share with us if only they got to walk a mile in our cheap plastic shoes.

Bill Maher, comedian and actor, was born on January 20, 1956 in New York City and has a net worth of $23 million.

I'm very sure Mr. Bill's walking around in "our" cheap plastic shoes.

Silverfuel wrote:But they’re the reason the shoe factory moved to China.

And they call me uninformed. The rich are the reason the cheap plastic shoe factory is in China? Really? Would it maybe have more to do with anything like price points, and the fact that the rich have nothing to do with the fact that the same plastic shoes here would cost 5 times as much to make? And that us cheap plastic shoe wearing stupid people are looking to save a few bucks at Walmart when shopping for plastic shoes? Oh, but Bill Maher, resident TV genius, wouldn't know about that would he? Or are you really dumb enough to think he shops at Walmart?

Silverfuel wrote:
We have this fantasy that our interests and the interests of the super rich are the same. Like somehow the rich will eventually get so full that they’ll explode. And the candy will rain down on the rest of us.

OUR interests??? US????? The rest of US with a net worth of $23 million? You're quoting a walking pile of certifiable crap.

Silverfuel wrote:Like there’s some kind of pinata of benevolence. But here’s the thing about a pinata. It doesn’t open on its own. You have to beat it with a stick.

This from the genius who brought us the idea that regulating religion would stop all the violence in the world.
How bout 'jackass' TV leftist moron?

Give me the stick, dumb fat ass, I'll start the rain by beating the Maher pinata.

Markji wrote:Here is one of their spokesman:

Grayson is not officially a spokesman of OWS. He was defending it to a apparently drunk P.J. O'Rourke on Bill Maher's show.

I think Maher would self-identify as "smart-ass". But I will concede the hypocrisy jrod points out with his populist pandering in that quote.

And he doesn't want to regulate religion, he would just ban it outright if he could, which he can't, so it won't happen. I'm an agnostic atheist and I think he can be a jerk about that stuff too. But being a jerk is kinda his shtick!

DrAlphaeus wrote:I think Maher would self-identify as "smart-ass". But I will concede the hypocrisy jrod points out with his populist pandering in that quote.

And he doesn't want to regulate religion, he would just ban it outright if he could, which he can't, so it won't happen. I'm an agnostic atheist and I think he can be a jerk about that stuff too. But being a jerk is kinda his shtick!

Remember when Bill Maher was actually funny and edgy? Me neither.

martin wrote:

Bippity10 wrote:I can't stand when really rich actors, mucisians and athletes like Bill Maher etc try to pretend that they are not part of the really rich. That they are one of us schleps fighting the power. All Maher does is play to his crowd, whip them in to a frenzy, get them on his side and then waltz on home to count his money. These guys care as much about us and our plight as the politicians do.

because you have been successful you can't empathize or understand or have a voice?

I guess I don't watch Maher, is he pretending to be poor or not part of the really rich?

Silverfuel wrote:

martin wrote:

Bippity10 wrote:I can't stand when really rich actors, mucisians and athletes like Bill Maher etc try to pretend that they are not part of the really rich. That they are one of us schleps fighting the power. All Maher does is play to his crowd, whip them in to a frenzy, get them on his side and then waltz on home to count his money. These guys care as much about us and our plight as the politicians do.

because you have been successful you can't empathize or understand or have a voice?

I guess I don't watch Maher, is he pretending to be poor or not part of the really rich?

No man, he doesn't act like he is poor at all. This is just a way to discredit what he is saying. If he was a poor person saying it, then people would say he is a socialist asking for a hand out.

No man, he doesn't act like he's poor, he TALKS LIKE HE'S ONE OF "US", like he's upset that he can't buy plastic shoes that are made in the US by hardworking people like himself, instead of the Chinese sweatshops that are run by RICH PEOPLE. Which he happens to be one of. Read Maher's quote above, you don't have to waste time watching his show.

And that f-ing Grayson clip is just more of the insipid, "I'm sick and tired and I'm not going to take it anymore" bs. If you're such an economic genius, rather than pandering to the crowd like your idiot Chairman Maher does, site some actual ideas about what to do about the terrible numbers of statistics you're quoting. Who remain statistics while you sit on TV acting as their spokesman.

Bang a bongo drum for real.

jrodmc wrote:

Silverfuel wrote:

martin wrote:

Bippity10 wrote:I can't stand when really rich actors, mucisians and athletes like Bill Maher etc try to pretend that they are not part of the really rich. That they are one of us schleps fighting the power. All Maher does is play to his crowd, whip them in to a frenzy, get them on his side and then waltz on home to count his money. These guys care as much about us and our plight as the politicians do.

because you have been successful you can't empathize or understand or have a voice?

I guess I don't watch Maher, is he pretending to be poor or not part of the really rich?

No man, he doesn't act like he is poor at all. This is just a way to discredit what he is saying. If he was a poor person saying it, then people would say he is a socialist asking for a hand out.

No man, he doesn't act like he's poor, he TALKS LIKE HE'S ONE OF "US", like he's upset that he can't buy plastic shoes that are made in the US by hardworking people like himself, instead of the Chinese sweatshops that are run by RICH PEOPLE. Which he happens to be one of. Read Maher's quote above, you don't have to waste time watching his show.

And that f-ing Grayson clip is just more of the insipid, "I'm sick and tired and I'm not going to take it anymore" bs. If you're such an economic genius, rather than pandering to the crowd like your idiot Chairman Maher does, site some actual ideas about what to do about the terrible numbers of statistics you're quoting. Who remain statistics while you sit on TV acting as their spokesman.

Bang a bongo drum for real.

it's a 2 minute clip in which Grayson was asked to articulate what the protests and complaints were about, and he did. Why make it more than it actually is?

martin wrote:

jrodmc wrote:

Silverfuel wrote:

martin wrote:

Bippity10 wrote:I can't stand when really rich actors, mucisians and athletes like Bill Maher etc try to pretend that they are not part of the really rich. That they are one of us schleps fighting the power. All Maher does is play to his crowd, whip them in to a frenzy, get them on his side and then waltz on home to count his money. These guys care as much about us and our plight as the politicians do.

because you have been successful you can't empathize or understand or have a voice?

I guess I don't watch Maher, is he pretending to be poor or not part of the really rich?

No man, he doesn't act like he is poor at all. This is just a way to discredit what he is saying. If he was a poor person saying it, then people would say he is a socialist asking for a hand out.

No man, he doesn't act like he's poor, he TALKS LIKE HE'S ONE OF "US", like he's upset that he can't buy plastic shoes that are made in the US by hardworking people like himself, instead of the Chinese sweatshops that are run by RICH PEOPLE. Which he happens to be one of. Read Maher's quote above, you don't have to waste time watching his show.

And that f-ing Grayson clip is just more of the insipid, "I'm sick and tired and I'm not going to take it anymore" bs. If you're such an economic genius, rather than pandering to the crowd like your idiot Chairman Maher does, site some actual ideas about what to do about the terrible numbers of statistics you're quoting. Who remain statistics while you sit on TV acting as their spokesman.

Bang a bongo drum for real.

it's a 2 minute clip in which Grayson was asked to articulate what the protests and complaints were about, and he did. Why make it more than it actually is?

I'm actually making it less than what it actually is. He sited statistics and said nothing about how to solve them. Nothing. Which was the point of the question. What is OWS trying to accomplish? Start a real movement to throw TV's out windows? Sit in circles chanting Kumbaya? Or sit on TV and whip your frenzied crowd into a standing O like a cheap game show host?

I was hoping it was more than what it was.

You ask for his solutions. Here is a proposal he put forth to Congress when he was a Congressman a year or so ago. Very simple, clear solution to help solve our budget deficit and even lower taxes.

martin wrote:

Bippity10 wrote:I can't stand when really rich actors, mucisians and athletes like Bill Maher etc try to pretend that they are not part of the really rich. That they are one of us schleps fighting the power. All Maher does is play to his crowd, whip them in to a frenzy, get them on his side and then waltz on home to count his money. These guys care as much about us and our plight as the politicians do.

because you have been successful you can't empathize or understand or have a voice?

I guess I don't watch Maher, is he pretending to be poor or not part of the really rich?

I don't get all the Maher hate - he doesn't pretend to be poor. He often talks about how the poor are fooled into voting for things that actually hurt them.

I guess a lot of people are turned off by his sense of humor, but in general he tells it like it is. Sometimes he gets a little too preachy about his own view but who on TV doesn't?

freeskier wrote:http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2011-10-04/article/38526?headline=Official-Statement-from-Occupy-Wall-Street

Official Statement from Occupy Wall Street

This statement was voted on and approved by the general assembly of protesters at Liberty Square: Declaration of the Occupation of New York City

As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. We write so that all people who feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world can know that we are your allies.

As one people, united, we acknowledge the reality: that the future of the human race requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power. We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known.

They have taken our houses through an illegal foreclosure process, despite not having the original mortgage.

True, but the foreclosure would happen regardless - if you aren't paying what difference does it make if they have the original mortgage?

They have taken bailouts from taxpayers with impunity, and continue to give Executives exorbitant bonuses.

True

They have perpetuated inequality and discrimination in the workplace based on age, the color of one's skin, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation.

I believe this also happens but is harder to prove, I guess you need the statistics to back this up

They have poisoned the food supply through negligence, and undermined the farming system through monopolization.

True, people would be shocked if they started educating themselves on how toxic our environment is because of these activities

They have profited off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless nonhuman animals, and actively hide these practices.

True

They have continuously sought to strip employees of the right to negotiate for better pay and safer working conditions.

True, not only are they laying us off, but they have stripped away pension in favor of the 401k that they don't match - next is healthcare - and this down turn has brought a new way to circumvent labor laws: the independent contractor

They have held students hostage with tens of thousands of dollars of debt on education, which is itself a human right.

The cost of private education in this country is a crime, increasing in cost outpacing inflation. The interest rates on student loans are criminal (Gov't approx 4.6% while private loans can be upwards of 10%)

They have consistently outsourced labor and used that outsourcing as leverage to cut workers' healthcare and pay.

True, but how do we remain competitive? The U.S. Government shares the blame in this for not creating an environment more conducive to business and manufacturing.

They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility.

I guess this is also true

They have spent millions of dollars on legal teams that look for ways to get them out of contracts in regards to health insurance.

Is this an issue with corporations or the healthcare insurance system in general? I dont blame all corporations for this, I blame the insurance companies and their policies and charges

They have sold our privacy as a commodity.

Eh, people sell their privacy for free to Google

They have used the military and police force to prevent freedom of the press.

Not sure on this, would need to see evidence. The press in general these days is pretty sad when you see the world news reporting on Kim Kardashian - its really all entertainment news but I agree we are being lied to constantly

They have deliberately declined to recall faulty products endangering lives in pursuit of profit.

I am more concerned about them hiding the fact that cell phones may cause cancer, immunizations may cause cancer and autism, and things like that

They determine economic policy, despite the catastrophic failures their policies have produced and continue to produce.

True

They have donated large sums of money to politicians supposed to be regulating them.

True

They continue to block alternate forms of energy to keep us dependent on oil.

True

They continue to block generic forms of medicine that could save people's lives in order to protect investments that have already turned a substantive profit.

True

They have purposely covered up oil spills, accidents, faulty bookkeeping, and inactive ingredients in pursuit of profit.

True

They purposefully keep people misinformed and fearful through their control of the media.

Similar to their point above, I think when you start adding things like this in - while they may have some truth to them - it brings a radical edge that will scare away the majority of people

They have accepted private contracts to murder prisoners even when presented with serious doubts about their guilt.

Not educated enough to have an opinion on this

They have perpetuated colonialism at home and abroad.

The U.S. Government started this after WWII, Eisenhower warned us about it. I blame the government more than I blame the corps but it seems like this group looks at both as the same entity - maybe they are right.

They have participated in the torture and murder of innocent civilians overseas.

Again, I am not educated enough on this to agree or disagree but it is radical

They continue to create weapons of mass destruction in order to receive government contracts.*

Blame the demand not the supply - I guess the lobby is the issue here, but our government has always had a hunger for weapons since WWII

To the people of the world,

We, the New York City General Assembly occupying Wall Street in Liberty Square, urge you to assert your power.

Exercise your right to peaceably assemble; occupy public space; create a process to address the problems we face, and generate solutions accessible to everyone.

To all communities that take action and form groups in the spirit of direct democracy, we offer support, documentation, and all of the resources at our disposal.

Join us and make your voices heard!

*These grievances are not all-inclusive.

Overall its an interesting perspective. It seems like they are putting a little something in there for everyone. Some of it I would want to see more proof on, and not every point is well articulated. There is some vagueness, but its a good start I guess.

The real question is: they made their declaration, now what are they going to do about it? What is the plan of action? Right now they are just assembling the troops basically but what is the battle plan?