Is it okay to overlook crimes because we serve a greater need? Is that what you defend?
That is the Federal Government's responsibility, right?!
I remember going to war because somebody lied; losing our friends and family to preserve someone else's profit and control of oil, an ever-depleting natural resource.
So lets not miss the point here:
The federal government of the U.S.A. is a stronghold for money-hungry tyrants pushing their corporate agendas.
This is what OWS is about - getting the people of America's interests and agenda back on track.
The United States should serve itself, and then the world by taking lead in a positive and honorable direction.
The first step when dealing with a problem is acknowledging that the problem exists.
In our case, the problem is a corporately corrupted government mis-representing it's people and mis-using our money for elitist level benefits, effectively perpetuating crimes against humanity, society, the world, and our country itself.
I am not for some crazy healthcare scheme, free college, rape during protests, etc.
Nobody with half an ounce of intellect is, so please let us quit belittling one another on those grounds.
That is exactly the kind of ignorant distraction that got us in this mess in the first place.
We can all agree that rape is wrong, and obviously these acts are the exception perpetrated by OWS movement tag-a-longs.
OWS should be ashamed of this, and do everything in its power to eradicate these mis-guided individuals from their protests.
But I am for paying teachers, providing jobs, and keeping my fellow Americans healthy.
I am also for funding science and technology to make a future with 7 billion humans on Earth sustainable.
Did you know the bank bailout of 2008 would fund NASA for 50 years?
That simple statement can help people realize how much money the banks got.
Because NASA is pretty freaking expensive, you know, propelling rockets at 5 miles a second to reach orbit takes a lot of resources - but 50 years worth of NASA funding!?
That amount of money is unfathomable, and to think it went to the people who crippled our economy with bad banking practices and went on to get million dollar bonuses that year...
The government is out of line.
This is a big problem - one with difficult and unprecedented change and action required for positive solutions, solutions which will take time to develop and implement.
These are changes that nobody can easily describe or plan for - we have to be in it together in order to solve it together.
I do not trust that the current government has what it takes.
We have no modern form of honor to guide us.
Only corruption and greed.
The OWS protestors have failed to illuminate these issues at hand effectively.
Part of this trouble has come from the politically controlled media.
Much of the mainstream media reporting is biased, and done with intent to preserve the current political structure and reputation while focusing on OWS problems in an effort to discredit the movement.
Unfortunately, there is no one-liner headline solution to the problems America faces with its government, and no creditable OWS communication source to deliver this non-existent solution.
But the problem has been illuminated in a big way, this was step 1.
Now it is time to move on to the next steps on working together to solve the issues.
I wonder what will come of OWS?
Will they organize enough to get their positive messages heard, easily understood?
I am not on one side or the other.
Simply put, I want what everyone wants: Justice.
To know I am helping my country be the best in the world when I pay taxes.
To know that my hard work helps build and support the future in positive ways.
(not wars and bankers)
Simple solutions to the biggest issues our society face just don't exist - part of the OWS frustration is exactly this 'in-too-deep' issue - the way things work in our society are fundamentally flawed, making change next to impossible.
Half of the protesters are likely under-educated about the issues and jumping on the 'everything sucks' bandwagon.
Unfortunately for OWS, it attracts this kind of unorganized societal filth: rapists, whining kids who can't pay for their bad decisions on school loans, etc.
But that is not the reason this thing started.
OWS was formed to get the message out - we have a problem.
And it was formed poorly, without leadership, without planning.
That's why all walks of life are jumping on - everyone has something to be upset about.
That level ground formation is the inherit power (and weakness) - there is no talking-head leadership.
It is a collective of people who feel that they are not being governed fairly, for various reasons, some good, some ridiculous.
Half of the posts in this thread are naive or motivated by fear, twisted into spiteful retaliation at one another, focusing on hate rather than considering the main point:
The government of the United States no longer represents its people fairly.
Thats what this is about.
Lets fix it.
Here is a thought:
If we had invested the past decade's trillion dollars of war money into renewable fuel source research, I'll bet America would have the world in the palm of their hand.
We would then be leading towards an age of unlimited energy and peace as the deliverer of clean and renewable energy, driving a thriving green and positive economy.
With clean energy solutions, many conflicts the world over will dissolve, allowing focus on more important human motivations such as kindness, science, exploration, and aid.
Instead, we've perpetuated thick-headed barbaric killing over an oil driven existence that will last a hundred more years or so before there is none left.
Oil means everything to modern existence; it is toothbrushes, toothpaste, plastic bags, pesticides for crops, 8 gallons of oil in every tire.
As long as oil is everything, we will have a skewed political structure to preserve how our society works.
It works on OIL.
