Does Anyone Take 'Occupy Wall Street' Seriously?

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Establishment guys like this ignorant fool are trying to discredit this movement. Its a good sign, they're getting scared. But don't buy into this nonsense

john of AR 5:42PM October 29, 2011

Soo..."phenomena" should be singular. "More over" should be "moreover." Peter, you are as uncareful in your writing as you are uncareful in the thoughts your writing (I presume) is intended to communicate. Priggish assumptions abound: that it is everyone's desire to be rich; that most Americans as they get older acquire families, a car, a home, investments; that the demonstrators (not only, by the way, on Wallstreet) are 'children of privilege' (a cowardly quotation--what is the attribution? If a quote, whom are you quoting?)...your glib assumptions and sloppy writing betray the lack of care that--yes, it is my own presumption--is really what protesters all across the country wish were different. Wow, what a concept, to care about more than our own, selfish, stupid, myopic lives, to care about MOST of our fellow citizenry, and not merely about some of them, the 1%, or in your glib framing of it (such compassion!), 10, 20 or 25% or even half of us...what, Peter, about the other half? Something definitely appealing about your simplistic worldview, but ennobling? Encouraging? American? Naw.

Derek Davidson of NC 8:53PM October 26, 2011

NO !
I wish them all the best of luck but they look and sound like a bunch of clowns. How can u really take the serious ?
OWS=PROTEST WALL STREET=FUNDING OBAMA CAMPAIN
/
Good luck but i feel ur wasting ur time.

NEUMAT of WI 4:56PM October 25, 2011

To the protestors: pick your butt up, go get a job even if it is at McDonald's, pay your student loans off yourself and quit your whining. Don't blame the rest of us for your self caused problems!

Sick and Tired of CA 4:02PM October 25, 2011

I'm pretty a good number of those protesters don't have jobs to go to in the morning...I think that's kinda the point, and you're missing it completely

Deryn of PA 6:12PM October 18, 2011

PETER ROFF should stick to writing on toilet walls. What he writes is crap and appears to lack even a basic understanding of his subject matter!!
What is the old saying, do not confuse me with
facts, my mind is made up!!

g. page of CA 9:16PM October 15, 2011

Mr. Rolf,
We protesters take ourselves seriously and that is enough. You take a risk in stating the question.
Sesame
PS. I admit I am richer than 99% of the world, this does not prevent me from protesting Wall St. behavior that has caused the lost of 30% of the wealth in the WORLD. The pie can get much bigger for everyone if government and Wall Street were NOT in charge.

Scott E. Shjefte of MN 9:15PM October 15, 2011

I just watched Charlie Rose on PBS. One of the organizers/leaders of this Wall Street Protest discussed the "Wall Street Protest" as a bi-partisan movement, as Wall Street Leaders' "shenanigans" have angered all political parties because of the financial damage done to citizens--not, necessarily, citizens of just one political party.
Why would Mr. Roff denigrate American citizens by suggesting that these very disappointed and angry citizens should not be taken seriously?
The Guardian, a United Kingdom Newspaper reflects on this protest, but does not suggest that American citizens are not taken seriously:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/19/wall-street-protesters-angry
Other citizen perspectives on this "Wall Street Protest" do not suggest that citizens should not be taken seriously, either:
http://firedoglake.com/2011/10/09/republicans-scramble-to-side-with-wall-street-over-main-street/
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=13&articleid=20111003_13_A6_CUTLIN461923
http://www.dailymarkets.com/economy/2010/10/26/be-angry-about-wall-streets-record-bonuses-its-profitability-isnt-as-harmless-as-it-seems/
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/07/overheard-on-cnn-com-we-are-responsible-citizens/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/11/2012-gop-candidates-occupy-wall-street_n_1005588.html
There were hundreds of discussions on the Internet about these protests, so this protest certainly LOOKS and SOUNDS serious to citizens who DO, in fact, have a right to protest. Should someone suggest that citizens should not be taken seriously, I would wonder about the patriotism of someone who DOES NOT take citizen protests seriously.

ann keenan of MI 2:15AM October 13, 2011

Christopher of MD
You are correct sir, rich are taking protesters serious.
Protesters got us out of Viet Nam and protesters will get rich people's money out of U.S.A.
EPA, still higher taxes, and meeting the demands of whatever $$$ redistribution the crowds want is a winning combination for these liberals ??? Be careful what you wish for, you may get it !!! Tell me, did the protesters in Greece REALLY WIN ??? I wonder how many companies has opened in Greece providing jobs in that atmosphere.
___
“Obama Jobs Plan Voted Down By Senate”
“The Senate voted 51 to 48 on a procedural motion to begin debate on the bill. Despite falling short of the required 60 votes, Senate Democratic leaders were at least able to save Obama face by securing a simple majority of Democratic support.”
“Two Democrats, Sens. Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Jon Tester (Mont.), sided with Republicans in opposing the motion. A handful of other Democrats who had concerns with the bill, including Sens. Jim Webb (Va.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.), voted to proceed to debate but with the understanding that they would have voted against the bill itself.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/11/obama-jobs-plan-senate-vote_n_1005900.html

Bill Hedges of MO 8:39PM October 12, 2011

The right continues to print absurd hit pieces against the Occupy movement. Obviously, this movement is being taken very seriously by the powers-that-be. The NYPD took it seriously when it pepper sprayed and beat up and mass-arrested hundreds of demonstrators over the past few weeks. The right wing echo chamber of Fox News/Limbaugh/etc., must take it seriously because they are doing everything they can do discredit it. The unions take it seriously because they have mobilized thousands of people to this cause. President Obama and Republican congressmen (like Eric "mobs in our cities" Cantor) must take it seriously because they are talking about it to the media. Bloomberg takes it seriously, considering he is a Wall Street billionaire, a class of people who I guarantee are taking this protest very seriously.
Marginalize the movement all you want, you right wing shill. You will find yourself on the wrong side of history.
"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." -Mahatma Gandhi

Christopher of MD 2:36PM October 12, 2011