Clester, you tell us we need to think for ourselves and that you are so tired of people cutting down the protesters, but you must have ignored much of what I wrote.
As I said, I am quite sympathetic to people that are having trouble due to these tough economic times. I lost my home to foreclosure just 3 weeks ago! It was not a strategic default, and the causes that led up to it are many and complex. These protesters do not understand the issues and they certainly do not represent me or have my back. What do I have left, financially? I am quite fortunate to still be employed and I may possibly retire one day, only because of my TSP. That's why I am here.
I get the sense that the protesters don't even know what a corporation is. Do they know that it was corporations that made their shoes, clothes, laptops, phones, tents, backpacks, books, cigarettes, etc? Do they understand that corporations exist to make a profit for their shareholders? Do they understand that if they think a corporation makes too much money that they are free to buy from the competition? Do they want all corporations to become non-profit? If you support that then you must be here only to track the G Fund.
Its true that the business world has plenty of bad apples. I always hope that the bad apples will be caught and punished according to the law. Wasn't it President Obama just the other day that said many of the causes of the current economic problems were caused by "immoral and wreckless" actions, but that they weren't illegal in most cases? In most cases business people are just like the rest of us...trying to do their best within the framework of the law. This is a nation of laws and due process, and I support that. I also support making positive changes the same way.
The problem I have is that the protesters more resemble an angry emotional mob throwing a tantrum rather than people who understand the problems and are ready to effect positive change. If they understood what caused these problems then they would be camped out in front of the White House, the Federal Reserve, the capital building, and every office of each senator and congressman and woman. Neither party seems willing or able to fix these problems. When I think of all of the politicians over the last 20 years that really had different "out of the box" ideas and they seemed to genuinely want to help solve problems I can think of Paul Wellstone and Ron Paul and not many others. Wrong or right, these two were/are in it for the people and felt their ideas would help. These protesters should be finding more such candidates and running them in a "grass roots" effort.
In my case I saw many details that were seriously F'd up, such as a short sale that was "all but done" just two days prior to my foreclosure. The house is now in Fannie Mae's possession and not on the market. It is on a long list of "shadow inventory" houses. Why? Because of many laws and actions from politicians that made this outcome the best for the multiple banks and third party contractors that handled my situation. These laws and acts were passed with the intention of helping homeowners or helping the economy recover. I saw this coming for a long time because I understand the law of unintended consequences is the dominant one in DC. They are naive, clueless, party-serving idealists in most cases.
I will say it again...If I was out on the streets protesting against the actions or even existense of wealthy wall st/corporate fat cats and I realized that I was being backed and pushed by one of the very same for the sole reason of antagonizing his political and business rivals I would feel like the biggest fool this side of Pluto. But I doubt most will realize that.