Comments for ‘Occupy’ movement pops up in Lafayette at http://www.theind.com , comment 1 to 33 out of 20 comments http://www.theind.com Sat, 25 May 2013 19:44:56 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-25055 by PIrogue "Here's how to turn a prosperous country into a third world oligarchy: --------------- There are a couple of places like that, Cuba is one. No unions and one big corporation named Fidel & Raoul, Inc. Of course, Cuba is starting to lighten up, mostly because those 1959 Chevy's are hard to find parts for. Then there is Haiti. If you think about it, even the French could have done a better job. - Always Ragin Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:09:51 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-25045 All the namecallers here are doubtless cheerleaders for Reaganomics. But after 30 years of economnic decline under that failed philosophy the Occupy movement thinks it is well past time to re-evaluate. Here's how to turn a prosperous country into a third world oligarchy: Kill unions. Radically lower the taxes of the 1 percent so you will be unable to rebuild schools and a crumbling infrastructure. Make it easy to outsource jobs to places that have no worker safety or worker welfare provisions. (Puts everyone in competition with people who must work for pennies to stay alive.) Remove financial regulations that would prevent speculative bubbles that result in market crashes like the ones in '87 and '07. (Of course followed by massive corporate welfare to bail them out.) Pit state against state and county against county in competition for jobs so they compete for "company friendly" laws and taxes at the expense of the workers. Remove bank and credit card regulations that allow financial corporations to lure people into debt indenturement. Empower corporations that see employees as disposable units to be used and discarded. Use money that could be used for education to maintain a massive defense establishment that is bigger than all the rest of the world combined. (Apologists for Reagan claim he destroyed the Soviet Union by making them spend huge amounts on defense. But the adventure has backfired because now we are the ones spending ourselves into poverty with a huge defense structure.) Encourage corporate welfare. Enact policies that benefit entrenched wealth at the expense of entrepreneural innovation (entrenched wealth abhors economic progress and change. Laws that protect Paris Hilton's wealth do nothing to advance economic progress). All these policies are the reason for our plight. 30 years of Reaganomics and 30 years of economic decline for all but the 1 percent. Why are so many so blind they fail to see the direct connection. And we Louisianians should ask ourselves why as a very conservative, "Right to Work" state we are among the poorest states in the nation in spite of being blessed with vast natural resources. - PIrogue Sun, 27 Nov 2011 11:19:37 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-25043 RE: OWS I heard Micheal Moore is already writing the screenplay and plans to pocket another million bucks from the usual group of morons. - Cracklin Patin Sun, 27 Nov 2011 09:01:55 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-25013 I commend everyone that took time to attend this and esp to the parents of that boy for teaching him to get involved and stand up for what he believes in! Does not matter what these sheep have to say about you. Thanks for having the guts to stand up when so many don't! - Moe Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:43:31 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24945 Shut the F up. And wake the F up. http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/this-is-how-protesters-are-dealt-with-in-america-pepper-spray-to-the-face-rubber-bullets-at-point-blank-range-and-brutally-dragging-women-by-their-hair - Not Surprised Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:16:31 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24934 I am the 10 year old's grandmother, and I am extremely proud of him. He is an intelligent and articulate young man who thinks for himself and is not afraid to say what he thinks. - Mimi Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:43:54 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24932 Another reason many in the Banana Republic aren't protesting? Corporate Welfare recipients don't bite the hand that feeds them. Oil Production workers and Corporate farming is the MOST subsidized industries on the planet and many workers around here are corporate welfare recipients so it makes sense they'd not stand tall in the face of the tyranny they get their paychecks from. - PatrioticCitizen Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:04:24 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24931 Public Citizen notes that two former Senate majority leaders, Trent Lott and Bob Dole, and two former House majority leaders, Richard A. Gephardt and Dick Armey, are currently lobbying on behalf of Wall Street interests. China has bought the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington DC, including Bob Dole. Once a powerful Senate leader and Republican nominee for president, Bob Dole over the last decade has remade himself into one of Washington's most influential lobbyists at Alston + Bird. (Dole changed law firms and brought his Chinese business to Alston & Bird where he now brings in $25,000 per month to “set up meetings with U.S. lawmakers” according to the Media General News Service.) Dole, as a former powerful U.S. Senator, has long been friendly with the exiled Chinese regime and has encouraged the “strategic ambiguity” that defines Taiwan’s international status. Last year the District of Columbia U.S. Court of Appeals described the people of Taiwan as ”stateless” and living in a U.S. imposed “political purgatory” that adversely effects the daily life of 23 million islanders. Thanks RW voters for being such spineless sheople who vote for idiots like this then whine about Obama's Birth Certificate. I wonder if he asked the Navy Seals to check Bin Laden's Birth Certificate? This ain't about right vs. left, Baby Boob Tubers. Try not to get all your data from the IDIOT BOX and then spew their talking points like some brainless drone, thanks. Some of us aren't as stupid as many of you and play the partisan GAME they want you to play. The 99% are targeting tyranny, wall street robber barons and lobbyists. You're either a lobbyist cheerleader or a Patriot. Pick a side, sheople. So, an ex politician, now lobbyist is paid 25k per week for this? Really? Seriously? It is merely my opinion, I can't speak for the 99%... but from my perspective any ex politician who goes on to make this much money for betraying his own country should be tarred and feathered and dropped off on the levee nekkid so the skeeters can chew his arse. - PatrioticCitizen Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:02:23 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24920 Thank you to these brave protestors for everything they're doing to make a difference and effect change in this country's corrupt economic and political system! Zachary, Phoolan, Elaine, and especially Jackson, your comments are great and don't stop! Name calling only reflects poverty of thought. More people are joining the Occupy movement every day, especially in light of the obscene police brutality being used to try to suppress freedom of speech and freedom of assembly by dissenting citizens. - Janice Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:20:55 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24907 Bravo to A 10 year old's opinion! You are so much more eloquent that the previous (I am assuming) grown up comments. Way to go in defending yourself!! - Mari Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:47:45 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24906 The smartest things large corporations have done on their own behalf are: Buy government officials. Make sure the common folks tear each other's throats out. It's in Big Money's best interests to have liberals, libertarians, and conservatives spend their powerful energies fighting each other. That way we won't turn our collective faces toward the dirty actions which got us in the position we're in now. I am not a liberal, or a conservative, or anything but an American. Through open dialog across parties, and mutual tolerance and respect, we may have a real chance to change the things we see as "not working." When we call names, attack one another, and disrespect each other, we remove compassion from our hearts. We make others non-human. Why would anyone want to do that to another? - Phoolan Devi Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:15:59 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24904 Bravo to the Ind for covering this story. If we are truly a democracy, then we need to listen to every single person, regardless of their age, financial situation, gender, race, size. Listening is not about agreeing; it's just allowing the other person to have their say, being open to other possibilities. And just as a clarification, capitalism and democracry are two separate concepts. Capitalism is a monetary system and philosophy on which we operate. Democracy has to do with our individual and collective rights. There is enough room on this planet for all of us and our ideas. - Elaine Clément Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:41:48 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24903 @Anita - I am sad to see that you find this movement "mindless". Whether you agree with the protesters or not, you must see that the conversation that has started in this country is anything but mindless. If you prefer to keep your head in the sand and not see this country move forward, than you might as well turn back to QVC. - ConcernedCitizen Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:28:11 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24902 I am the boy in the article, and I'm actually 10 years old, not 12. Thank you to the folks who said stupid ugly things. It shows your true character, and allows me to not take you seriously. When you really think you're hiding what goes on in the world from us, you really aren't. If you all had your way, I wouldn't even be allowed to speak much less be in the paper! written by Zachary Barker: What does a 12 (10) year old know about economics and the compensation rates relative to accountability/responsibility? We know a lot more than you think. We hear things because the news is everywhere! Do you really think that you can hide something that is 24/7 on every cable network? Really? written by Lola M Webb: I would like to know why your publication felt it necessary to interview a 12 (10) year old for your paper? What does a 12 (10) year old know other than what is spoken in the home? They felt necessary because I actually CAME. I came to an Occupy protest. Because a 10 year old actually cares about what's going on in the world. written by Dudley E. LaBauve, III: Some of these poor folks may need to occupy the salad bar. Really? You go straight to their appearance instead of looking at what these "poor folks" are doing for our country. written by Rupert Murdoch: Why in the hell is this even news? It's news because a tiny town like Lafayette, Louisiana occupied. We as a town, know what is happening, and we support it. About half of the cars that passed by the protest had the same response: They slowed down, and turned their heads at us, then when we were out of eyesight, they sped up again. Just read this comment and think. - A 10 year old's opinion... Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:25:43 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24892 If you drop out of High School or dont apply yourself, you will probably earn minimum wages. If you go to college and apply yourself, you might become a CEO and be wealthy one day. There are exceptions in both cases, and everything in between. Just know that no-one owes you anything. - Greg Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:22:44 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24879 Well said, LookSomeThings. I applaud your reference to plutocracy, which is what we have going on here. Corporatocracy might be a better modern descriptive. No, we don't have capitalism, we have crony capitalism. And that clearly doesn't work, at least not for most people. Nor for a long-term, sustainable, peaceful future. - Resident Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:00:36 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24877 LookSomeThings and ragin_cajun "But I'm sorry—the capitalism everyone wistfully speaks of is gone. ". That is true, too. -------------------- Actually, it never fully developed. There are just too many Luddites and not enough time. Nonetheless, the battle for liberty is never lost or finished. - James Melancon Sun, 20 Nov 2011 11:22:04 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24860 LookSomeThings-- "Capitalism clearly works.". Undeniably true. "I don't think anyone is arguing that.". Many here argue that right here on a regular basis. They want something else instead, and can't really discuss what that something is. "But I'm sorry—the capitalism everyone wistfully speaks of is gone. ". That is true, too. - ragin_cajun Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:32:00 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24856 “It’s not fair that someone on minimum wage makes $16,000 a year" ------------------- Fair is an ambiguous term. There also some who are not worth $16,000 a year. - James Melancon Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:57:00 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/9391-occupy-movement-pops-up-in-lafayette#comment-24855 Thank goodness. I was afraid the insanity was isolated to major pockets of idiocy. Now we know our local kooks have joined the parade. I hope AOC is covering this; we need something more mindless than QVC. BTW, OWS T-shirts will be available on QVC. Get your credit cards out, operators are standing by....only $9.95 plus shipping and handling. - Anita Bath Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:33:23 +0100