"Occupy" Superthread

http://news.yahoo.com/u-banks-undermine-occupy-protestors-memo-213618820.html and they got it from Reuters.

Well, the judge also ruled that by occupying, they are not assembling. The idea is that as soon as they pitch a tent, they are claiming property rights, and thus it cannot be considered an "assembly". And to the fact that the banks considered undermining the Occupiers: So what? The protesters are doing the same things to the banks, using their image and rhetoric to try and promote (something...).

I think it's an indication that the banks feel OWS is a threat. Which is great news! It's encouraging stuff!

And as you indicate that you don't understand the message, here is a general interpretation from OccupyWallSt.org

Because OWS (a protest movement) is totally funding a smear campaign against Clark Lytle Geduldig & Cranford (a banking firm). If you can't see the disconnect here then I'm afraid you're lost in entirety.

The fact that The America Banking Association said "NO" to this shit when the public got word of it should tell you something.

I do that pretty much everyday. Not vary creative guys.

Yea, thats not going to catch on.

When Wal-Mart goes out of business.

I never knew that the 1% wrote the laws and run the country. I mean it's not like the people elect the representatives or anything.

The following lists the amount spent (many, many billions) on lobbying, not including campaign contributions (like Goldman Sachs was Obama's top donor, or how finance represents at least 50% of the UK's Conservative Party funding):

The top sectors and their total spending between 1998 and 2010 were:[29]

ClientAmount SpentPercentage of Total[30]
1 Finance, Insurance & Real Estate $4,274,060,331 14.53%
2 Health $4,222,427,808 14.53%
3 Misc Business $4,149,842,571 14.11%
4 Communications/Electronics $3,497,881,399 11.89%
5 Energy & Natural Resources $3,104,104,518 10.55%
6 Transportation $2,245,118,222 7.63%
7 Other $2,207,772,363 7.50%
8 Ideological/Single-Issue $1,477,294,241 5.02%
9 Agribusiness $1,280,824,983 4.12%
10 Defense $1,216,469,173 4.13%
11 Construction $480,363,108 1.63%
12 Labor $427,355,408 1.45%
13 Lawyers & Lobbyists themselves $336,170,306 1.14%

But the "1%" does have a disproportionally large influence on laws and you could limit this with legislation.

So? Besides representatives of the 1% I see labor, and other not 1% interests. Besides lobbying, don't forget the importance of social internists groups.

Erm Labour is number 12 of 13 and it makes up 1.45%. And what is a social internist group? I think it demonstrates the huge amounts of money being spent to lobby US government. Billions upon billions upon billions. If that sort of money is being spent you can bet on it being for a good reason. And the reason is that it works.

Be a real anarchist and lift shit. It's not going to catch on regardless.

Is Goldman Sachs voting? No. Everybody who is old enough and wants to vote votes. I admit that are average citizens are not the best at choosing leaders, but they choose the represenatives nonetheless.

They aren't arguing that the process is undemocratic, but rather that big business has far too much government influence. I don't disagree.

Well, there are a few types. Economic are most of the one's you listed, and they include business, labor, stuff like that. They probably have the most money. Social interest groups are ones concerned with social issues: NAACP, ACLU, PETA, environmental groups, religious groups, etc. They are some of the most vocal interest groups and do have a fair amount of sway, the NAACP and the good old Moral Majority. I think they go a little unnoticed, but they have just as much effect as those you've listed.

You just have to ignore the points we make...
It's not about votes it's about influence!!!

Voting is INFLUENCE! Nothing says, "Do what I say." like not getting elected.

But the 1%* does have a disproportionately large amount of influence. I know that the average voter also get influence, but compared to them it's nothing. When 1% of the population controls more than 40% of the wealth they will have a huge amount of influence. Please don't ignore the point that I'm making...
Then when that 1%** causes a financial meltdown of somewhat epic proportions the average citizen of the US has to bail them out in order to maintain a functioning economy. If anyone thinks that's a healthy solution then they're just evil.
The problem is that the US has a two party system. You don't let the minority have a say in government. You either have to vote Rep. or Dem., or lose all influence. That's like choosing between AIDS and Cancer... (Okay that may be a bit of exaggeration, and I apologize if anyone is offended by the comparison)

*I really don't know what to call them so I'll just go mainstream.
**Or at least the companies that they own.

PS: If you doubt my statements I will of course provide sources.