Occupy Calgary/Do Not Merge

[flylock shox]

When you amass 99% of the wealth in 2% of the population, it is only a matter of time before there is a revolution.

These Occupy movements are essentially disorganized mobs of disgruntled people, which makes them politically ineffective. But they're a symptom of a larger problem, and if that problem continues, the symptom will worsen, and the mob, instead of being disorganized, will rally around the one thing that unites it: rage.

And when that happens, there's only one possible outcome.

The corporate elites will fold, and they'll bring back O'Ryan's sour cream and onion chips.

And it's about bloody time.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Muta

How does paying executives more money make sure they don't fail again? High executive salaries were directly contributing to the causes for the 2008 economic collapse. Throwing more money at this problem won`t solve it; complete banking regulation and reform will. Doubt that`ll ever happen though, considering how hard these financial institutions lobby government bodies and leader to prevent that from happening.

Yeah, it was a poorly written joke on my part.

I don't really "get" what the protests are going to do, but I can understand the frustration. I'm a corporate stooge myself, but if I fail utterly and spectacularly like these banks have, I know I'll get fired.

I could be wrong, but it doesn't seem like the failures behind this whole mess were "fired".

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Yeah, it was a poorly written joke on my part.

I thought it was fairly well written and knowing your history, it was pretty easy to discern it was tongue and cheek.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

When you amass 99% of the wealth in 2% of the population, it is only a matter of time before there is a revolution.

These Occupy movements are essentially disorganized mobs of disgruntled people, which makes them politically ineffective. But they're a symptom of a larger problem, and if that problem continues, the symptom will worsen, and the mob, instead of being disorganized, will rally around the one thing that unites it: rage.

And when that happens, there's only one possible outcome.

The corporate elites will fold, and they'll bring back O'Ryan's sour cream and onion chips.

And it's about bloody time.

Make that an official demand and I'm down there with a gas mask tomorrow morning

[Igottago]

The area that I can really relate to the protestors is anger about the fact that there was no accountability for the financial crisis by those that actually caused it. The big businesses who are the first to whine about government intervention and constantly wave their free market pom poms were also the first to ask for a bailout when their ships were sinking. If that's not hypocrisy, I don't know what is. Its ridiculous, and the American population is generally too apathetic to care -- except for these "smelly hippies" who actually have the courage to turn off The Jersey Shore and become vocal about it.

I also think the definition and spirit of capitalism has been eroded into something that should probably be called opportunism. The market should be a place where you produce a product or provide a service that people need, in exchange for money. That makes sense to me. By all means make money doing that. But it seems so much of it, especially the financial sector, is now based on investments that people can't really understand and are more about screwing people out of money in order to make money for the banks -- instead of actually providing people something that tangibly benefits their lives. Is that legitimate business or is that just taking people for a ride? I'm no expert on how markets work, but I think people have a legitimate beef on some issues.

[Bigtime]

So how long are these people occupying Olympic Plaza going to last before they get the boot?

[Hevishot]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

So how long are these people occupying Olympic Plaza going to last before they get the boot?

Probably until mommy and daddy cut off their allowances and want their coleman tent back..

[Hockeyguy15]

Was flipping between the morning shows today and saw some 'protester' on the Global channel, wow did he ever sound like a piece of work. I know it was 6:15 am but you guys really need to think about who you let speak on the news. He made your cause sound like you are a bunch of crazy people who forgot to take your meds.

How long do you plan to camp out here? "Until our demands are met"

They even asked him what their demands were and he couldn't even tell. He then went off on some rant about how he was in charge of security and that if people wanted to help they can come drop off bottles to help the people camping out. What a gem.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Hockeyguy15

Was flipping between the morning shows today and saw some 'protester' on the Global channel, wow did he ever sound like a piece of work. I know it was 6:15 am but you guys really need to think about who you let speak on the news. He made your cause sound like you are a bunch of crazy people who forgot to take your meds.

How long do you plan to camp out here? "Until our demands are met"

They even asked him what their demands were and he couldn't even tell. He then went off on some rant about how he was in charge of security and that if people wanted to help they can come drop off bottles to help the people camping out. What a gem.

That's the problem with anarchy. . . . . it's hard to find someone to organize it.

Twenty-five people showed up to protest outside the Toronto Stock Exchange this morning.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...rticle2203177/

Cowperson

[killer_carlson]

I suspect his "demands" will be met when he "demands" the police don't charge him when he and his friends get kicked out of Olympic Plaza today.

He can go away with his head held high, demands being met and all, and downtown can go on being the economic engine driving the country.

Win win for everyone.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

When you amass 99% of the wealth in 2% of the population, it is only a matter of time before there is a revolution.

Nothing in this sentence is true.

99% of the wealth isn't owned by the richest two percent of the population in Canada, the US or anywhere else.

Also, income equality is better in Canada than many repressive/underdeveloped countries which have not undergone a revolution, demonstrating that income inequality in and of itself is not a sufficient precursor for revolution.

Example: In Lesotho, 60% of the national income is earned by the richest 20% of the population, whereas in Canada only 39% of the national income is earned by the wealthiest 20% of the population. And Lesotho has not had a revolution.

Sources:
http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_libra...co_cou_426.pdf
http://earthtrends.wri.org/pdf_libra...co_cou_124.pdf

At least in Canada there is a meritocracy towards those in the top 20%, where the child of immigrants who cleaned the hospital floors ends up as a surgeon in that same hospital. (Good friend of mine from high school).

[Cowperson]

I'm liking the new "I'm Getting Arrested" App for Android. It's a shortcut on the phone to let your family, friends and attorney know you're being carted off to jail.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nati...p-is-born.html

Cowperson

[Robbob]

The herald had an articel where a professor talked about the whole 1% and 99% thing. As it has been said Canada isn't as out of wack as the states and he mentioned that in Canada the 1% starts at around $180,000.

One of the people in the plaza also mentioned that the current system doesn't factor in compassion but I would probably guess that corporations and the "1%" donate a significant amount. You just have to look at the united way campaigns and other events that go to help people.

The more I read about the arguments the less I understand what they are trying to accomplish.

[Bigtime]

So the city allows them to camp out on St. Patrick's Island in good faith I would say (when stuff like this has not been allowed in the past), and now they decide to set up shop in Olympic Plaza.

You give them an inch and they'll take a yard.

Boot 'em out.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

So the city allows them to camp out on St. Patrick's Island in good faith I would say (when stuff like this has not been allowed in the past), and now they decide to set up shop in Olympic Plaza.

You give them an inch and they'll take a yard.

Boot 'em out.

Same situation in NYC, the city backs down and lets them stay in Zuccotti and they respond by blocking streets all over downtown and then causing chaos in Times Sq. I'm starting to hope some of these kids get their skulls cracked by billy clubs, and I'm one of the bigger NYPD critics you'll find.

[woob]

Edit - Moved to other thread.

[Regular_John]

Originally Posted by Robbob

The herald had an articel where a professor talked about the whole 1% and 99% thing. As it has been said Canada isn't as out of wack as the states and he mentioned that in Canada the 1% starts at around $180,000.

One of the people in the plaza also mentioned that the current system doesn't factor in compassion but I would probably guess that corporations and the "1%" donate a significant amount. You just have to look at the united way campaigns and other events that go to help people.

The more I read about the arguments the less I understand what they are trying to accomplish.

At this point I think it's just about getting attention. They all want to climb on their little soapbox and have their 15 minutes without actually doing the work towards real change.

It's pretty easy to stand on a soapbox and point out things that are unfair and wrong in the world, and apparently pointing out the issues is enough for this group.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Amusingly, The Seventh Annual Zombie March in Calgary yesterday also drew hundreds. http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/10/15...nvade-the-core They describe themselves as having no goal or cause.

I saw them on Global. No goal or cause? - they want human brains!

[Bill Bumface]

I walked by Olympic Plaza yesterday.

Typical Sunday, 10 dirty, crazy people sleeping in the park. Only this time they had tents!

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

I walked by Olympic Plaza yesterday.

Typical Sunday, 10 dirty, crazy people sleeping in the park. Only this time they had tents!

And sadly my cousin is one of them.

Even sadder still is that the fact that his family is proably one of that 1% he believes actually exists, is the reason he can just hang out at Olympic Plaza all day/week/whaterver.