Occupy Wall Street protest in New-York

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the Occupy Wall Street protests occurring in New York, which began on September 17. Participants express various perspectives on the motivations behind the protests, the socio-economic conditions in the U.S., and the implications of the movement.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that the protests are a reaction to bank bailouts, the mortgage crisis, and broader social issues, including unemployment among recent graduates.
  • Others express skepticism about the coherence and effectiveness of the protests, suggesting that gathering a large group does not necessarily indicate a unified or meaningful cause.
  • A few participants argue that comparisons between the U.S. situation and protests in countries like Egypt, Spain, and Greece are misguided, claiming that the U.S. is better off overall.
  • Some express concern that the protests may not lead to any significant change, while others believe that they reflect a deeper discontent with the government and economic conditions.
  • There are discussions about the nature of poverty in the U.S., with some arguing that the situation is not as dire as portrayed by protesters, while others counter that many Americans are indeed struggling with poverty and lack of health coverage.
  • One participant likens blaming banks for poverty to blaming a gun for a shooting, suggesting that individual choices and behaviors are also to blame for economic hardships.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus; multiple competing views remain regarding the motivations for the protests, the validity of comparisons to other countries, and the overall socio-economic conditions in the U.S.

Contextual Notes

Some statements reflect personal opinions and anecdotal evidence rather than comprehensive analyses. The discussion includes varying interpretations of poverty and economic conditions, with references to statistics that may not be universally accepted.

  • #1,111
WhoWee said:
:confused:From your link: my bold

"Politicians often run for office saying they won't raise taxes, but then quickly turn their backs on the taxpayer. The idea of the Pledge is simple enough: Make them put their no-new-taxes rhetoric in writing. "
Follow the link a bit more and you will find the pledge. Here is the pledge for US representatives:
I, _______________, pledge to the taxpayers of the _____ district of the state of__________, and to the American people that I will:
ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses; and
TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.​

The pledge for senators is similar; at the state level the pledge is to oppose any and all efforts to increase taxes. Creating a new tax is not an out.
 
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  • #1,112
Char. Limit said:
This thread is no longer about Occupy Wall Street anymore, it's devolved into what every thread in P&WA devolves into: an argument about taxes.
This thread has been going nowhere for 40 pages.
 

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