What is your take on the Wall Street protests?

[kuhio98]

...
If you want to talk greed, how about Hollywood and the money the big movie moguls make for each lousy movie. Millions. Why not start protesting in front of the movie stars' houses...

And the hypocrisy of a couple of the movie stars who have shown up there to "support the movement"! They are cheered like they are one of the masses. Give me a break!

I'm soooooooooooo sick of these celebrities flying all over the world on private jets and then preaching to me about how we're killing the planet with fossil fuel! Of course, these are the same ones who put out exercise and health tips who keep their weight down by smoking.........

But, I digress. If anyone can explain to me what their goal is, I'm all ears. Maybe they just want to show their frustration with this whole mess. I can understand that. But, if this is another -- take money away from one guy because YOU think they have enough -- to give it to someone who didn't earn it, well, then I think that's GREED!

[wombat2u2004]

I believe the world is in a bit of trouble with this sort of thing, and something needs to be done. The gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" is widening every day. On one hand you have people who struggle to make ends meet and on the other you have people who make SO much money that they wouldn't be able to spend it in 10 lifetimes.
My take on the protesters, is that they want to do something about the ever widening gap.

[Randi]

I believe the world is in a bit of trouble with this sort of thing, and something needs to be done. The gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" is widening every day. On one hand you have people who struggle to make ends meet and on the other you have people who make SO much money that they wouldn't be able to spend it in 10 lifetimes.
My take on the protesters, is that they want to do something about the ever widening gap.

This is exactly what's happening and people have had enough!! The financial crisis is not the ordinary working class person's fault. A lot have been laid off over the past few years, and more will follow. Once you're past fifty, it's almost impossible to find a job.

Like SAS says, the banks are having a meltdown. They have been too greedy. Stockholders are losing their money - however, I don't have much sympathy with them, they have been trying to get money from doing absolutely nothing, except speculating. I certainly understand the protests!

In Denmark, politicians get a pension from the state and they get another pension as well. Some get more than $10.000 a month for sitting on their a§§es, which taxpayers pay.

An article from a newspaper:

The protests against the global financial sector is now moving towards Europe. In Denmark, people are ready to go to the streets to demonstrate against the big banks' greed and capitalism in general. A Danish movement that calls themselves Occupy Denmark, invites on Facebook people to demonstrate Saturday. 15 to 18 at City Hall Square in Copenhagen. This is done in solidarity with similar demonstrations around the world.

In London, more than 3,500 people volunteered for a similar demonstration on Saturday. Stream is ready to support the Unity List Finance and Industry spokesman Frank Aaen says he is ready to support and assist a Danish citizen movement who rebel against the financial sector. I would also like to help raise some of the problems, "says Frank river. "It is grotesque that while we have helped banks with billion warranties, and they simultaneously before allowed to borrow at low interest rates in the National Bank, then, thousands of Danes sacked and punished with higher interest rates," he says.

[momcat]

I've seen this on the news and I'm not completely sure of what's going on or why. I am angry and frustrated about what's happening to the middle class working families. Does this group have any answers? If I knew what point they're trying to make maybe it would be easier to understand their purpose.

Kuhio98, there was no reason for you to be the recipient of any verbal abuse. I'm so sorry you were subjected to that! You have always impressed me as being an intelligent and informed individual. I do read the papers and follow the news to keep up with what's going on in our crazy world. But if anyone has explained what this is about we both seem to have missed it.

[wombat2u2004]

This is exactly what's happening and people have had enough!! The financial crisis is not the ordinary working class person's fault. A lot have been laid off over the past few years, and more will follow. Once you're past fifty, it's almost impossible to find a job.

The middle class have always been the ones to pick up the tab, to pay the bills. As far as giant corporations and governments are concerned, the middle class is the bucket of money where they can reach in at any time and take what they want. The more thay take, the more middle class families slip down into the poorer class.
Any strong economy is built on a strong middle class. Corporate greed and bad government management is reducing the middle class at an alarming rate.
Yes, the world is in dior straights for sure.

[kitten645]

I agree with the protesters in their frustration. I think the new bank charges are an excellent example. My bank want's to charge me a fee for using my ATM if my balance is under $15,000 If I had that kind of cash lying around, I wouldn't mind the charges! Did you know that ATM cards were created to minimize the cost of processing paper checks? It would cost up to $1.55 per check to process. They've been saving all that money ever since! An ATM takes money directly from your account so the bank doesn't have to get lines of credit to cover your purchase. It's FREE!
Seems like that is what is happening all over. When some of the super rich are saying, yes, we should be taxed more, that is quite telling. It's shameful that the big companies don't foot an equal share of the bill. Worse yet is that our government (and not JUST the President) are more interested in their re-election than in the best interests of those they serve.
I support the protesters because at least they are voicing SOMETHING even if it's frustration and not answers. At least it isn't the old "sit down and shut up" that the middle class has been doing for years.

[lizbud]

It reminds me of the Tea Party protests in that they are airing their
grievences, but without wearing silly hats & toting guns. I've heard
no talk of "watering the tree of liberty" with anyone's blood either.

[momcat]

I saw a survey asking if people support the OWS group or the Tea Party:

OWS: 63%

Tea Party: 24%

[Puckstop31]

It reminds me of the Tea Party protests in that they are airing their
grievences, but without wearing silly hats & toting guns. I've heard
no talk of "watering the tree of liberty" with anyone's blood either.

c. 305 Tea Party Express events. 0 arrests

We are well into the 1,000's with this mob.

Did ya miss this little gem? http://pajamasmedia.com/tatler/2011/...eve-our-goals/

ETA: Awwwww. It looks like they took down the video of the communist shrieking on about how this needs to be like the French Revolution. What a surprise.