N8's posts in the random picture thread get the axe and all the sudden Hello Kitty is back? Coincidence? 
Occupy Wall Street?
- Thread starter JohnE
- Start date
Atlanta's airport is bad, but my two *most* hated ones are La Guardia's Terminal A and O'Hare. La Guardia is the worst, as any food/drink with the exception of one overcrowded bar is outside of security, and O'Hare is a close second for the 80% delay/cancellation that I've experienced there.
Why can't everything be like the Jetblue terminal in JFK? Free wifi, good food/drinks (including sushi), friendly staff.......
Why can't everything be like the Jetblue terminal in JFK? Free wifi, good food/drinks (including sushi), friendly staff.......
nails is not the word i would use. engaging? yes. about 50% of that video was garbage. his income tax arguments (and the protestors) were about as useful as talking points. that said, he is employing 150 people. good for him - he is doing his share, and he did quiet that protestor down. my argument to that would be, could he take a pay cut, still live at or near his current level, and employ other people? probably.
good video tho. nice to see a suit acknowledging and therefore respecting OWS. ya know, unlike you.
Peter Schiff is speaking a foreign language to these people COMMON SENSE it’s hilarious to watch.
It's starting. Vetereans are starting to get vocally and publically pissed. The Scott Olsen shooting at OWS Oakland might be a tipping point. Look at the commentary on Reddit via the link in the article. There are a lot of very angry vets on there.
Marines Storm Reddit After Occupy Oakland Shooting of Scott Olsen
http://occupymarines.org/
http://occupynavy.org/
*edit* Reading through Reddit is kinda scary. Some of the comments are making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. There are some very angry Marines on there.
Marines Storm Reddit After Occupy Oakland Shooting of Scott Olsen
Marines Storm Reddit After Occupy Oakland Shooting of Scott Olsen - FishbowlLA
http://occupymarines.org/
http://occupynavy.org/
*edit* Reading through Reddit is kinda scary. Some of the comments are making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. There are some very angry Marines on there.
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Can't remember whether I posted this here, or in another thread. Either way....
We have a large number of combat-trained, out of work ex-soldiers right now. That's never a good start, and then something like this happens? Ugh.
We have a large number of combat-trained, out of work ex-soldiers right now. That's never a good start, and then something like this happens? Ugh.
2012 is right around the corner...
2nd post was dia
f hartsfield in teh mouth
What your really saying is your companies founder paid for access to the federal government saying I can make money making this. Let me make it for the military and I will donate $$ to your re-election campigan from the profits.
How much yearly income must one make to squeak into the top 1%?
One would think that the line would be drawn pretty solidly given so much #occupywallstreet coverage, but the published numbers in the media are all over the place. I've personally seen figures ranging from $110k to over $2M/year. Today, even, the NYTimes published an article where the line was drawn at $700k. The most reliable sources that I've found, those that reference the IRS data directly, put the figure at $343k for the 2009 tax year.
Where the line in the sand is drawn is not trivial. It defines whether 1%ers are largely working men and women who have done well for themselves in a profession (ie, whose fortunes are theoretically achievable by all) or those who have been elevated to such heights by luck, inheritance, and conniving that their financial position is almost impossible to achieve.
As an anonymous investment manager puts it, "an after-tax income of $175k to $250k … doesn't really buy freedom from financial worry or access to the true corridors of power and money. That doesn't become frequent until we reach the top 0.1%." (NB: The top 0.1% cutoff is at a cool $1.4M per year.)
"Those in the 99th to 99.5th percentile lack access to power… the majority of those in this group actually earned their money from professions and smaller businesses… I speak daily with these relative winners in the economic hierarchy and many express frustration."
"Most of those in the bottom half of the top 1% lack power and global flexibility and are essentially well-compensated workhorses for the top 0.5%, just like the bottom 99%. In my view, the American dream of striking it rich is merely a well-marketed fantasy that keeps the bottom 99.5% hoping for better and prevents social and political instability. The odds of getting into that top 0.5% are very slim and the door is kept firmly shut by those within it."
Alternate tag: #firstworldproblems
One would think that the line would be drawn pretty solidly given so much #occupywallstreet coverage, but the published numbers in the media are all over the place. I've personally seen figures ranging from $110k to over $2M/year. Today, even, the NYTimes published an article where the line was drawn at $700k. The most reliable sources that I've found, those that reference the IRS data directly, put the figure at $343k for the 2009 tax year.
Where the line in the sand is drawn is not trivial. It defines whether 1%ers are largely working men and women who have done well for themselves in a profession (ie, whose fortunes are theoretically achievable by all) or those who have been elevated to such heights by luck, inheritance, and conniving that their financial position is almost impossible to achieve.
As an anonymous investment manager puts it, "an after-tax income of $175k to $250k … doesn't really buy freedom from financial worry or access to the true corridors of power and money. That doesn't become frequent until we reach the top 0.1%." (NB: The top 0.1% cutoff is at a cool $1.4M per year.)
"Those in the 99th to 99.5th percentile lack access to power… the majority of those in this group actually earned their money from professions and smaller businesses… I speak daily with these relative winners in the economic hierarchy and many express frustration."
"Most of those in the bottom half of the top 1% lack power and global flexibility and are essentially well-compensated workhorses for the top 0.5%, just like the bottom 99%. In my view, the American dream of striking it rich is merely a well-marketed fantasy that keeps the bottom 99.5% hoping for better and prevents social and political instability. The odds of getting into that top 0.5% are very slim and the door is kept firmly shut by those within it."
Alternate tag: #firstworldproblems
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so the world is a pyramid scheme. Sorry pharaoh
Seems like 99% of the 99% are misinformed. The real cancer of global economics is fractional reserve banking. Its absurd that people allow banks to lend out fake money based on our deposits, at a rate of 10/1 and sometimes as high as 20/1, and then charge us until our grave for the use of it.
However, its nice to see people waking up from their slumber. Its our labor for their leisure and its finally being recognized.
However, its nice to see people waking up from their slumber. Its our labor for their leisure and its finally being recognized.
When did I say your line of work offended me? You didn't even address my comment.
But that's typical right wing arguments. Respond to a point that is totally relevant, and TRUE, and turn it into nonsense
I got into this debate with my grandfather yesterday. He is a devout 80 y/o Cain supporter, which made for a fun conversation. When he started ranting about Obama being a communist, I took a page from Dante's playbook and asked him to define communism. When he started ranting about him being a socialist, I asked the same question; same with fascism.
He added more ranting about how the OWS people needed to be taxed, because they are part of the "50%" who don't pay any taxes. We had an extended debate about raising taxes on the upper 1%, which he also decried as the wrong solution and that taxing the rest of the populace was right. When I called him on how much he lived on monthly, he was a bit taken a-back by when I pointed out that Cain's 9-9-9 would actually increase his tax rate.
The debate extended into the need to cut all government spending, because that would solve the problem. When we got into the simple mathematics behind what needed to be done, he finally acknowledged that taxes needed to be raised to solve the problems we are in.
He did refuse to acknowledge that the last 60 years of spending about our income levels created the debt. He blamed the politicians who spent above the means of the country, but did not have a retort when I called him on whether any of the candidates he had voted for in the last 60 years had been elected. He would only blame the current politicians who were "spending too much money".
When I asked him about whether short-term distaste, which would be better over the long-term, or holding steadfast to a belief, no matter what the end results, was best for the future and his spawn. He also did not respond or stay on topic.
I have had this same debate with multiple individuals over the age of 60, all of whom refuse to acknowledge that their decisions over the last 60 years had anything to do with the current situation. Everyone is willing to blame the person below them, but never admit that their actions contributed to the problems we current face.
He added more ranting about how the OWS people needed to be taxed, because they are part of the "50%" who don't pay any taxes. We had an extended debate about raising taxes on the upper 1%, which he also decried as the wrong solution and that taxing the rest of the populace was right. When I called him on how much he lived on monthly, he was a bit taken a-back by when I pointed out that Cain's 9-9-9 would actually increase his tax rate.
The debate extended into the need to cut all government spending, because that would solve the problem. When we got into the simple mathematics behind what needed to be done, he finally acknowledged that taxes needed to be raised to solve the problems we are in.
He did refuse to acknowledge that the last 60 years of spending about our income levels created the debt. He blamed the politicians who spent above the means of the country, but did not have a retort when I called him on whether any of the candidates he had voted for in the last 60 years had been elected. He would only blame the current politicians who were "spending too much money".
When I asked him about whether short-term distaste, which would be better over the long-term, or holding steadfast to a belief, no matter what the end results, was best for the future and his spawn. He also did not respond or stay on topic.
I have had this same debate with multiple individuals over the age of 60, all of whom refuse to acknowledge that their decisions over the last 60 years had anything to do with the current situation. Everyone is willing to blame the person below them, but never admit that their actions contributed to the problems we current face.
I'm not a supporter of the 999 plan, though not staunchly opposed. I'm also not a supporter of flat tax structures, as they tend to be unjustly burdensome on the lower income people. Thirdly, I live in Los Angeles and pay a bundle in sales tax. However, I like the sales tax aspect of the 999 plan. I appreciate the simplicity of the mechanism. I know far to many folks who don't pay taxes on time, and some who opt not to file for years. The sales tax removes the "oop, I forgot" factor.
Big issue with sales tax though, it's entirely regressive, ESPECIALLY if we move to taxing food and medicine. The poor as a percentage of income spend MUCH more on consumer goods than the wealth, most of the super wealthy in this countries' income goes to investment to make more money (that will be in turn reinvested and never actually spend and enjoyed) where as your shmuck making 10$ an hour is going to be dropping 500$ a month on food, 100$ or so on utilities, MAYBE a couple hundred in the bank, and the rest (under the 666 plan) would then fall into taxable income (now spending)
Thanks Sheu.
My comment above was about appreciating the closing of the "forgot" loophole used by some folks.
It is also a dandy way to make folks getting paid cash "under the table" put some ducats back in the system.
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my point of view offends you
yet my point of view is influenced by what i did (military), and who i support, i.e., my end user (disabled vets)
short of trolling, why would i use right wing arguments when apolitical ones are readily available?
c'mon, leave the old man alone -- you're not going to change his mind & just cause avoidable strife just before the holidays.
but i can appreciate the temptation...
what's the concern here? that taxes are being avoided? if so, what concern is it of yours or mine?
if the concern is that the money is being put back into their company, how is that not the very definition of job creation? can you think of a typical way to reinvest capital that does NOT result in creating jobs, and therefore wealth among us all?
i don't have an mba, so bite sized morsels, plz
btw, #occupydc is going hilariously well, esp given the freezing rain we had here. stank ass hippies in pershing park are bunched together like african refugees (w/o the rampant fistulas & starvation, of course), w/ their "please help -- we need blah, blah, blah" signage
'merica, fcuk yeah
'merica, fcuk yeah
Still baffled by the fact everyone seems so amazed that a generation of hippies and their offspring drove this country into the economic toilet, only to ask for help from the popularly elected officials who created the some of the issues causing the current state of affairs.
So you are against their right to protect? They are protesting in hard conditions and that speaks bad about them in your opinion? I love people who are against protests against their own political views. Ever though about forming a military regime?
Try going back further the progressive movement started in the United States with Theodore Roosevelts Square Deal program in 1904 and since then its been one after another program from the New Deal to the Fair Deal to LBJs Great Society that has gotten us where we are now.
in their own words, "this is not a protest; this is an occupation"
get off my lawn, hippee
My local OWS folks are tinkering with the idea of building a yurt to make it through the winter!
A permanent occupation? - Times Union
A permanent occupation? - Times Union
These people have balls, esp as they're essentially camped out across from Gov. Cuomo, who wants the temporary millionaire's tax to expire in 2012. Cuomo, though his aides, have asked the City to shut it down. The Albany and NY police thought otherwise and have won out thus far. I wonder what the addition of a yurt would bring to this equation!
It's still a gathering and it's their right to gather and no matter what you call it - protest. Taking that right from them is downright fascist if you really want to be using silly terms like hippies.
Though I love how all you right wingers have no understanding of the terms they use. Hell for someone running a company you sure are uneducated. Most of the protesting people want no wealth redistribution or socialism (belive me I live in a post socialist country) they just want more centrism instead of right wing corpocracy that you suggest.
btw.
It still mostly happens on public property so it's not your lawn
btw2. i come from a hard working family but I was bumming a lot for a long time. The magical thinking that going to work would change my world view is wrong. Right now if all goes right I will be doing a full time 9-5 job plus 2-3 extra high load freelancing jobs. Slept 4h/day last week. Still on the "hippie" side.
I've stopped debating with my family members because they never back anything up, never provide facts, and it degenerates into a full scale argument where they try to make me feel like an "elitist" just because I show up with these pesky little "facts", "figures" and "links". They'll spend hours (days) being upset over something that they could disprove in 30sec on Snopes.com. They listen to Fox News, which I've found *pretends* to have an argument between two of the guests, but in reality they both feel the same way. So they'll have two "opposing" viewpoints on say Obama's jobs bill, and yet both of them lean right and both of them bash the hell out of whatever it is the Democrats are pushing. It makes their listeners feel that there really is *no* opposing argument for any of it, and when they're confronted with reasons opposing their view point, they're shocked and don't know what to do.
I've decided that it's not worth my time since they live either in a solidly Democratic state (NY) or a semi-solidly Democratic state (CT/MA).
It's still better than my unkle voting against his views because he felt cheated his main candidate didn't cover some small promice she made long time ago. He feels lied to and does it do spite her. Did try to convince him once how stupid it was but as you say - it's futile.
i believe we need to re-think who the real tea baggers are: Madison parks official Laura Bauer said a neighboring hotel's staff voiced concerns about having to recently escort hotel employees to and from bus stops late at night due to inappropriate behavior, allegedly including public masturbation, from street protesters.
if, however, they are unlawful occupiers, then that's a different conversation. especially since zuccotti park is privately owned, yet publicly accessible, space. (that specificity may be useful in revising your accusation of me -- "Hell for someone running a company you sure are uneducated." -- esp given i do not run a company, but am a lowly defense contractor)
would i have the "right" to gather on the interstate? it is publicly paid for & accessible land, after all. same w/ playgrounds on public schools. please give a modicum of thought before you grant carte blanche to those who would use public space at the expense of the gen'l public
is that so much to ask?
i await your arrival to the dark side
this point is still being hashed out: if it's a peaceful assembly, then obviously, yes, they are operating fully within their rights.
if, however, they are unlawful occupiers, then that's a different conversation. especially since zuccotti park is privately owned, yet publicly accessible, space. (that specificity may be useful in revising your accusation of me -- "Hell for someone running a company you sure are uneducated." -- esp given i do not run a company, but am a lowly defense contractor)
would i have the "right" to gather on the interstate? it is publicly paid for & accessible land, after all. same w/ playgrounds on public schools. please give a modicum of thought before you grant carte blanche to those who would use public space at the expense of the gen'l public
i just want the free market to prevail w/o gov't intervention & pre-picking winners/losers
is that so much to ask?
unless you make hemp footbags, bootleg alex grey prints, or henna palm tats, that shouldn't last too much longer
i await your arrival to the dark side
Wow, 400 (mostly right-wing) comments on a sleep college newspaper story? Did it get posted on Drudge? There's also an alarming amount of lumping OWS protesters with homeless people who are there for a hot meal.
Yeah, and when you find a Republican that's *actually* in favor of the free market and not picking winners and losers themselves, let me know... Or this one. Or this one.$tinkle said:
The quickest way to get rid of these occupy folks is to ignore them.
Personally it?s no sweat off my back if they want to camp out trying to make some statement however they are their own worst enemies as clearly illustrated here.
In the meantime enjoy The Flying Burrito Brothers with the late Gram Parsons.
Personally it?s no sweat off my back if they want to camp out trying to make some statement however they are their own worst enemies as clearly illustrated here.
In the meantime enjoy The Flying Burrito Brothers with the late Gram Parsons.
don't know, as i don't have penis envy
so if they're not homeless, are their moms selling the couches & finally finishing the basement? b/c that would rule
perfect is the enemy of good
So.... which right-wing website did you find it on?
Are you seriously deluded enough to not see the Republican's manipulation of the market for the gain of the highest 0.001%?$tinkle said:
Here are some more instances of Republicans picking winners and losers:
Cotton subsidies
Oil Subsidies
Farm subsidies
No bid contracts
etc.
You define all of that as "good"?
google:
occupy madison inappropriate behavior - Google Search
who's got penis envy now?
unless & until you offer a better sol'n, i'll stick w/ freedom to make my own decisions, for my good or my detriment.
srsly, why do you hate freedom?
What, are you Christine O'Donnell now?
When masturbation is outlawed, only outlaws will masturbate.
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Yet another reason to make noise and occupy things....the ESM explained.