Is OWS protesting WS instead of DC because they are advocating a violent solution rather than a political one?

Question

Is OWS protesting WS instead of DC because they are advocating a violent solution rather than a political one?

Answer 1

The so-called "recent poll" was a reporter asking some people some questions. Stopping supposedly random people on the street is not a poll, it's stopping random people on the street.



OWS is protesting Wall Street rather than the White House because it's not the policies of the current administration, as the right wing echo machine likes to say.



But on a sarcastic note, supporting that statement that the protest should be at the White House ironically:



Yeah, Wall Street has not cratered our economy in over two years!



I mean, at this point, *who* can even remember who took worthless subprime mortgages and knowingly bundled them as mortgage derivatives so they could be sold, rebundled and resold to pension funds and banks around the world until--because this entire scheme was a castle built of sand--it inevitably collapsed, annihilating $17 trillion in national economies and centuries-old financial institutions and the life savings of untold millions of Americans?



I mean, can you remember who did that?



OWS does.

Answer 2

There cannot be a political solution. DC is owned lock, stock, and barrel by the very rich and corporations against which OWS is protesting. As long as unlimited anonymous campaign contributions are "legal", the rich will just co-opt our political and electoral system with a flood of money.

Answer 3

I think you miss the point. There is no political solution when politicians are for sale to the highest bidder, and so are laws. By going to the highest bidder and saying this conduct is unacceptable, the OWS people are avoiding violence. I fervently hope it stays that way.



You can make all the false accusations you want and look at tiny segments of that crowd all you want, but if you support the people saying, "Let them eat cake," then it is on you when the violence arrives. If you haven't figured out that we are teetering on a tipping point, then I feel sorry for you.

Answer 4

I think that you nailed it.



My take is that the Tea Party is trying to take the "Crony" part out of Crony Capitalism which would leave us with Capitalism. In other words, the Tea Party is focused on ridding government of corruption.



The OWS is trying to take the "Capitalism" part out of Crony Capitalism leaving us with Cronyism. In other words, they turn a blind eye to the corrupt political cronyism.



These protesters are being used by the Democrat operatives.

Answer 5

They are also occupying DC. Just a week ago, several were arrested for doing so. Look it up.

Answer 6

No. They're protesting Wall St. instead of DC because they are utterly failing to admit the Obama Administration's culpability in what it is they're protesting.

Answer 7

They are just following Obama's suggestions.



“They Bring a Knife…We Bring a Gun” - Barack Obama

“Get in Their Faces!” - Barack Obama

“I don’t want to quell anger. I think people are right to be angry! I’m angry!” - Barack Obama

“Hit Back Twice As Hard” - Barack Obama

“We talk to these folks… so I know whose *** to kick.“ - Barack Obama

"Republican victory would mean “hand to hand combat” - Barack Obama

“It’s time to Fight for it.” - Barack Obama

“I’m itching for a fight.” - Barack Obama

“Punish your enemies.” - Barack Obama

Answer 8

Yes.

Answer 9

They probably just remember the "welcome" the Bonus Army Marchers got back in '32.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonus_Army

Answer 10

Who took that poll? The site you gave us simply had an article with a quote, but it did not point to any poll to verify that quote.



I am skeptical of this. I actually joined an OWS movement where I'm from and the FIRST THING they said at the meeting (which was very open-ended and participatory btw) is that this is NON-VIOLENT movement.



IN fact, they told everyone to carry their phones just in case there is violence against us (as has been the case before) so that we could record it in anticipation of a court hearing.







I have two problems with this poll (which, thank you for showing me it... it's been a rough morning you know?). One, is that it was taken with a sample size that is not anywhere near significant enough to make generalizations about the entire movement. Two, I actually have information from a separate poll conducted in several US cities that the majority of the OWS supporters (supporters, NOT protestors) are independents, while Democrats make up the next largest group). I'll try to dig that one up before the day ended, it was sent to me in an email (which I suppose is worth checking out as well seeing if that one can be statistically significant as well).



Keep in mind also, this is a very de-centralized movement that has no leader, and whose goals differ very much from region to region. There are broad goals they have in the US and Canada (mostly pertaining to federal legislation), but thus far there are no mentions whatsoever about any sort of violent methods that ought to be used (and when I say "ought to" I'm talking about from their perspective, not mine).



I for one, am completely against violence of any kind... but with a movement this broad I think it expected that some individuals may support violence. You will find that in any movement that is growing this large. Again.. I'm not saying I support that mentality, but I can almost guarantee you that this will not culminate into a violent uprising unless these people are attacked. IF it ever becomes a centralized goal of the movement to attain our objectives through violent methods... I for one will leave it immediatley. But, thus far I have not one single indication that this will resort to violence.





AND one last point. I think it is erroneous to assume that all OWS protestors are in cahoots with Obama's administration. AT the end of the day, he is a politician operating and embracing a political structure that is deeply influenced by lobbyist power and is inherently corrupt (which is a shame, but let's call a spade a spade... right and left we can agree that Washington is a pretty corrupt place). As a politician... even the president does not have power to turn back time or to fundamentally change the global economy.... I'm not American, but judging from a distance I was perosnally skeptical of Obama even before he got in.... he changes his positions all the time and it seems as though he is just like any other politician.... cheap words and false promises.

Answer 11

OWS is openly supported by the communist party.