Posted on 10/15/2011 4:28:56 PM PDT by Clive
Government money must not be squandered. That's the one point on which we agree with the Occupy movements sweeping North America. And from that point on we diverge.
The Canadian occupation begins Saturday. Organizers in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary and Halifax are promising thousands will take up the banner in support of their cause. But what exactly will those banners say? We already know from the Manhattan version how muddy their message is.
If it was strictly a message of fiscal prudence, we'd say everyone should jump on board. We don't like bailouts. We don't like, for example, the province of Ontario losing hundreds of millions to prop up automakers. If you're going to make risky business decisions or bet on low-grade debt like U.S. financial institutions did, don't go crying to Daddy if the foreseeable hits the fan.
The taxpayer isn't your parents' wallet. But is that really what the Occupy Wall Street protesters are arguing? We don't think so.
We hope the Canadian gatherings will be sensible discussions about financial regulations within a free market. But in truth we know it will be a pile-on for every wacky view in town.
Video clips of the original Zuccotti Park occupation in Manhattan highlight the protesters' 9/11 conspiracy theories, their desire for free stuff and their resentment for anyone who has worked hard and earned success. If they were serious about financial reform, they'd engage via the channels of democracy available to all of us. Instead they're putting on a circus.
In Canada it's a safe bet to figure that unions like CUPE and agitators like OCAP are going to steal the show for their own niche interests. An organizer of Occupy Ottawa said one focus would be Aboriginal land claims. Hmm. Can anyone say 'lack of focus'?
Unfortunately, these events too closely resemble the Greek riots -- at which people with really low taxes and really high entitlements were angry at their inability to understand and abide by basic math.
We agree that financial institutions, just like governments, need to follow the same rules that hardworking families do: Live within your means and take responsibility for your choices.
We're just skeptical that anyone at these protests is interested in doing the same.
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The White House is crafting one as I type.
At the first sign of real cold the protesters go home, then the real leaders, AKA democrats and rinos, unions and communist get to work on the internet stirring up the pot so that when they return in the spring the riots can begin. Then comes the racial riots, then with mid fall comes the suspension of elections and martial law.
Who are the big winners if elections are canceled? Why who else but the democrat and the rinos.
The point of the “Occupy Movement” was never and is not now “focus,” it is DISTRACTION. The “powers that be” (Soros, Obama, Van Jones, Stern, Trumpka, Hoffa, and others in “high places” amongst the DC Gov’t, Social & Media Elite)have funded and directed these moron drones and useful idiots down on Wall Street and hundreds of other places with one hand, while planning, plotting and preparing for all sorts of nefarious deeds in the name of “saving our country” economically, and from the danger of “radicals” and “insurrectionists” (Tea Partiers, Patriots, etc.) in the near future. WATCH THE OTHER HAND.... It’s coming.
These things wouldn’t even be newsworthy without the mainstream media’s superimposition of a narrative on them.
lol!!
The Occupy Wall Streeters don’t seem to understand that the Tea Partiers were the first to demand an end to the Obama bailouts. They are late to the game.
I spent an hour sightseeing at the Occupy Ottawa event this afternoon, and as the article says, there’s no real focus, just like the OWS protest. In addition to the usual “I am the 99%” slogans and various other handmade eat-the-rich signs, I saw 9/11 Truthers, a smattering of Palestinian keffiyehs, a handful of union supporters (including a Mohawk flag flown by the Canadian Union of Public Employees), and someone calling for the return of Glass-Steagall. (Yes, in Canada.)
It’s like any other leftie protest: all the other lefties want to glom on and ride the principal cause’s coattails. Except that there is no principal cause. Now it’s a global protest against nothing.
Bump. You nailed it big time!
A bunch of dead beats doing it for the $600 a week! One of Obama’s jobs!
Tea PArtiers don’t support bank bailout either, but we’re willing to vote out every single congressman that voted for it. Somehow those who are OWS support every DEM congressman and Obama who voted for the bailout. Until they’re willing to hold their own accountable, they’re hypocrites
Will OWS vote out pelso/reid/obama who voted for the bank bailouts? Tea Partiers are all for it. :)
Suspend elections? Because of a couple of dozen protesters? Your scenario mighg make for an interesting novel nut you’ll have to come up with something nationwide- not just isolated in a few pockets of the most liberal cities.
I enjoyed your on hand report on the City of Ottawa. Quite a bit of diversity there.
Sault Ste Marie, Ontario had a little band of "occupiers" on the grounds of the local Court House. Roving reporters on the Sudbury T/V network covered it. A few persons made statements. Seemed well clad and well fed. Views such as, "people cannot pay bills and do not have jobs". I have been there many years ago and would not wish unemployment on anyone.
There does not seem to be any system, save that of a draconian dictatorship with an immediate answer. The system we have does indeed have a lot going for it, but it certainly is not perfect.
The full force of gale type winds and rain hit today. They say they will stick it out. 8 degrees cel. and all. Last week just like summer. Now we face oncoming old man winter. Well, I put out a Halloween battery driven effigy in my front window. I then got myself a Crown Royal, petted my dog and counted my blessings. (laughs).
Time will tell, we will know by this time next year.
Regardless of my atrocious spelling, I’ll be here. And I’ll be voting.
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