Because people took to the streets .....................!

[RB2D2]

Hartmann: Has #OWS "blown up" the Republican Santa Claus theory?

We the people CAN make a difference.

Thumbs Up

[deathb4disco]

Two points:

(1) It wasn't easy, but I made it through that video. The whole thing was laughable, but I actually agreed with one point the guy made: that "changing the narrative" is important. That's exactly what the OWS movement is all about. They want to take the focus off Obama's failed economic policies and put them on "Wall Street" and "corporate greed".

(2) "Taking it to the streets" only works in totalitarian states (because that's all they have.) In a democracy, you take it to the ballot box. That's what happened last November, and it's what's gonna happen next November -- with similar results.

[Lowellhturner]

Whether Obama`s policies are a complete failure or not, the fact is we BAILED Wall Street out. So out of gratitude, they can only raise rates and fees? At least a few are simply for themselves, by themselves and TO themselves, which I guess is perfectly legal. To what degree I can, I personally will not vote for ANY candidate who EVER "suggests" another "bailout". If I bankrupt myself, the FED IS NOT going to "bail me out". Same thing; run your "too big to be allowed to fail" back into arrears, well it`s "Syanara !!' But not to worry, they`ll jump from their penthouse windows with their "golden cargo parachutes' LOADED with their MULTI- MILLION $$$$$$ "performance bonuses' that they "earned"...as Wall Street collapses again. Same old story...

[fishingpox]

I don't understand the mind set where " we the people" think the government or I owe them anything. So, put your big girl panties on, get out there and find you a job, live within your means. Yes capitalism promotes greed, don't panic, they have their reward on earth; this system is far better than your socialist utopia.

[Crappie Reaper]

The occupiers are covering an array of items on their want list. I can see their point to a point. If one steps back and looks at them compared to the Tea Party, there are certain things both sides would like to change. However, the Tea Party blames the Government, spending, Lobbyists, entitlements, etc. The occupiers blame the Banks and Wall street. I see a combination of both, mainly with the deals that Corporations make with the Government and the Laws that are made that make things worse.

That said, I noticed in the video that the guy blamed everything on Republicans claiming they were filibustering everything the President is trying to do to "fix" things. He failed to mention the two years the Democrats had full control and just made things worse. The entire problem began under Bush and was brought to new heights with the Hope and Change guy. Mr Turner is correct in his feelings on the bailouts. They never should have happened. Every corporation and company that had a problem should have gone through the normal procedure. Bailing them out taught them nothing more than to revamp themselves in order to protect their capitol.

Most of the occupiers have no clue to what happened that changed things and openly blame "Corporate Greed" which of course there is no such thing. If you take the ridiculous items out of the occupiers agenda, there are things that make sense. Those things are closely related to what the Tea Party is complaining about. So, to a point, both have valid concerns. If both could agree and stop the hate, then their weapon of choice should be their Vote.

I do have a problem with those who are on the Government dole protesting though. They shouldn't even be allowed to vote in National Elections. Voting is NOT A RIGHT. Too many have become dependent on Government and that is why occupiers around the world are protesting. Their Governments are not capable of financially keeping up with their promises to their people, which is coming to the US soon.

Myself, I was laid off after 9/11 from a very good job building private Jets. With no one hiring at the time that would compensate me enough to be able to sustain my family and bills, I placed the house up for sale, moved back to an area I was familiar with and took what I could get work wise being self employed. I don't make a killing, no 401k, no insurance, nothing other than my own ability to drum up work and go take care of it.

No one owes me anything, the taxpayer is not responsible for my Children, health, home bills or mortgage, rent, car, phone, etc. No one is responsible for my life other than myself. I loathe people who live off the Government who are fully capable of working, then whine and complain about everything all the while with their hands stuck out. These people in my book are worthless.

[Don G]

The occupiers are covering an array of items on their want list. I can see their point to a point. If one steps back and looks at them compared to the Tea Party, there are certain things both sides would like to change. However, the Tea Party blames the Government, spending, Lobbyists, entitlements, etc. The occupiers blame the Banks and Wall street. I see a combination of both, mainly with the deals that Corporations make with the Government and the Laws that are made that make things worse.

That said, I noticed in the video that the guy blamed everything on Republicans claiming they were filibustering everything the President is trying to do to "fix" things. He failed to mention the two years the Democrats had full control and just made things worse. The entire problem began under Bush and was brought to new heights with the Hope and Change guy. Mr Turner is correct in his feelings on the bailouts. They never should have happened. Every corporation and company that had a problem should have gone through the normal procedure. Bailing them out taught them nothing more than to revamp themselves in order to protect their capitol.

Most of the occupiers have no clue to what happened that changed things and openly blame "Corporate Greed" which of course there is no such thing. If you take the ridiculous items out of the occupiers agenda, there are things that make sense. Those things are closely related to what the Tea Party is complaining about. So, to a point, both have valid concerns. If both could agree and stop the hate, then their weapon of choice should be their Vote.

I do have a problem with those who are on the Government dole protesting though. They shouldn't even be allowed to vote in National Elections. Voting is NOT A RIGHT. Too many have become dependent on Government and that is why occupiers around the world are protesting. Their Governments are not capable of financially keeping up with their promises to their people, which is coming to the US soon.

Myself, I was laid off after 9/11 from a very good job building private Jets. With no one hiring at the time that would compensate me enough to be able to sustain my family and bills, I placed the house up for sale, moved back to an area I was familiar with and took what I could get work wise being self employed. I don't make a killing, no 401k, no insurance, nothing other than my own ability to drum up work and go take care of it.

No one owes me anything, the taxpayer is not responsible for my Children, health, home bills or mortgage, rent, car, phone, etc. No one is responsible for my life other than myself. I loathe people who live off the Government who are fully capable of working, then whine and complain about everything all the while with their hands stuck out. These people in my book are worthless.

CR, this is a very good post..Kind of the way I see things....

[Billbob]

kind of the way i think too if you cant feed them dont breed them

[Dickieboy]

The whole premise of this video is misleading. Per the video the ‘Republican Santa Claus’ is tax cuts which it argues is the reason for the financial difficulties and the reason BHO has been having trouble getting anything passed in Congress. One cannot escape the fact that Federal revenues have declined in the last three years, from around 18% of GDP to around 15% a 3% decrease. But the more obvious issue is that federal spending has gone from around 18% of GDP in 2000 to around 24%, a 6% increase. THE ONLY period in the last 30 years that this was NOT the case was ’97-’00. Note that this includes administrations AND Congresses of BOTH parties. Even if we had not cut taxes and revenue stayed at 18% we would still have the deficits/debt as the SPENDING (as a %age of GDP) increased, again mostly over the last 30 years. This is not that hard to understand.

[RB2D2]

Replying to the one that replied to me ....

Thank you deathb4disco for watching the entire video that must have been hard for you. You're a good man. However it sounds like maybe we watched two different videos. LOL Like I said I don't ever expect all the members here to agree on much of anything. "In the eyes of the beholder" However, unless everyone on this board is super rich I really don't understand why they would support/defend policies and agendas that are geared to work against their best interests.

In a democracy you take it to the ballot box?? That's hasn't worked too well has it? When the White House is owned by the Corporations the ballot box has very little power. And we are not a Democracy we're a Republic. There IS a difference! We are guaranteed the right to assemble and protest. Thank you God!

Yeah, the Republicans want to focus on the debt but the real problem is JOBS! And the reason we are in the crapper right now IS due to corporate greed. People did the right thing, saved their money, build up IRAs and 401K for their retirement and then saw most of it disappear right before their eyes through no fault of their own. And you blame them for being mad as hell??

Doh

[deathb4disco]

Thank you deathb4disco for watching the entire video that must have been hard for you.

You have no idea. Fortunately, I watch Chris Matthews froth at the mouth about the Republicans every night, so I'm used to that sort of thing.

However, unless everyone on this board is super rich I really don't understand why they would support/defend policies and agendas that are geared to work against their best interests.

Such as?

I'm not rich (much less super rich), but I wouldn't vote for the Dems if you held a gun to my head and suspended my mother over a pit filled with pirahnas.

When the White House is owned by the Corporations the ballot box has very little power.

The Obama White House is owned by the unions. Former SEIU head Andy Stern practically had an office there. Trumpka (AFL-CIO) said he spoke to the White House every day.

And we are not a Democracy we're a Republic.

I know, but I didn't think it was necessary to actually type that.

Yeah, the Republicans want to focus on the debt but the real problem is JOBS!

Unemployment is still high because Obama's policies are a disaster. He promised his first stimulus (the one that "only" cost $787 billion) would keep unemployment to 8%. Oops. Then, he ignored the economy for a year and a half while he rammed through a health care bill that nobody wanted and we can't afford. Now, he wants to blow another $400 billion of other people's money. The only problem is he can't get all the Senate Dems to vote for it. Rofl Thank you Senators Tester, Lieberman and Nelson!

People did the right thing, saved their money, build up IRAs and 401K for their retirement and then saw most of it disappear right before their eyes through no fault of their own.

That's right. It was the fault of clueless politicians like Barney Frank and Christopher Dodd who can't get enough of the government meddling in the free market. They actually named the financial reform bill after those two clowns. Naming a financial reform bill after Dodd and Frank is like naming a hospital after Jack Kervorkian.