This cartoon reminds me that the protests against the greed embodied by Wall Street executives is all about the rampant unemployment on Main Street. Despite the nefarious motives of some I think that these protests are a cry for help from hurting people.
Even so I do not think that anyone really has a handle on why people are protesting. Even if the marches and sit-ins originated from left-wing factions they seem to have morphed into something different all together. Why do you think people are protesting?
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteI have been following the Wall Street Protest too and have become more and more uneasy with what I'm seeing. I think the original reasons for the protest were likely legitimate, but it's becoming more angry mob-like as time passes. In particular, anti-semetic insults are being hurled at passers-by. In fact, Google has become so alarmed by protesters using "Google Jew" as a slur, they posted a statement saying they have no connection with anyone involved and posted links to the American Anti-Defamation League. Now the protesters are complaining because they're being ousted (temporarily?)from their camp ground (on private property) because of deteriorating sanitary conditions.
What do I think? I think many of these young people are being manipulated into doing and saying things they woud have found abhorrant not long ago and without some sort of divine intervention, we are going to see riots in the streets of New York before too long. This situation reminds me of 1967 Detroit and even pre-WW2 Nazi Germany. Detroit was once considered the Paris of the Midwest...and not long ago a tv pundit compared a recent ariel view of the city to the war destruction in Baghdad, Iraq. Detroit has NEVER recovered from the '67 riots, Bob. The riots only opened wide the doors to even greater corruption, bigotry, and mistrust which still keeps the city in heavy chains. I don't wish that evil on New York or any other American city.
i found this link to be extremely helpful in clarifying my understanding of "why OCW?":
ReplyDeletehttp://www.businessinsider.com/what-wall-street-protesters-are-so-angry-about-2011-10?op=1
That is a a well documented article, Megan. Thanks!
ReplyDeletealso, when i said OCW, i meant OWS.
ReplyDeletegot my acronym a little confused there!
and you're welcome crownring.
Hello Bob, Do you remember me? I used to go to your home group many years ago. We moved to SW AR 16 years ago. I found you on Facebook but couldn't figure out how to do a friend request now that they've made everything "new and improved." Please "friend" me there if you want. I'm listed under Glenn Cindy Worthington. I also have a Fb page "You Spread The Word." I'd like to reconnect with you, old friend. Glenn
ReplyDeleteGreat article Megan. Here are a few excerpts from it that give a bit of understanding about the protests:
ReplyDelete++ The problem in a nutshell is this: Inequality in this country has hit a level that has been seen only once in the nation's history, and unemployment has reached a level that has been seen only once since the Great Depression. And, at the same time, corporate profits are at a record high.
++ It's a great time to make a boatload of money in America, because taxes on the nation's highest-earners are close to the lowest they've ever been.
++ CEO pay is now 350X the average worker's, up from 50X from 1960-1985.
My response to a FB friend:
ReplyDeleteInteresting how there are two protesting groups in America these days. The Tea Party protests the growth in power of the federal government. The Occupy Wall Street protests the growth in power of corporate America. I resonate with both groups because I think that the poor have suffered because of the misuse of power by governmental and corporate leaders over the last 25 years. And I am thankful that these protesting groups are trying to hold our governmental and corporate leaders' feet to the fire.
I am just wondering here.
ReplyDeleteCould the high profits of corporations and the lingering unemployment be related to the increase of liabilities that employers have because of Obama's new health insurance law?
IE corporations are holding onto their money instead of expanding because of the uncertainty and higher cost of hiring people.
I went over to the occupy KC near Liberty Memorial and asked what they were up to? They did not have much of an answer other than corporations were greedy and were not fair with their workers.
ReplyDeleteA mix of intellectuals, and hard core unemployed.
@Scott - I do thing that people, corporations included, are holding on to their money/assets a bit more these days due to the quagmire in DC which Obama and the congress are a part of. Hard to plan when our leaders are so contentious and we do not have a clue where they will go.
ReplyDeleteYour blog was one of the motivations for my reentry into the bloosphere. Good cartoon, btw!^_^
ReplyDelete*blogosphere* ^_^
ReplyDelete