I can’t remember when the Tea Party constituents harassed citizens on the opposite side of the fence. They were loud and confrontational at Town Hall Meetings but not any more so than anyone there with a gripe. They never targeted anyone other than a legislator. Why bother with anyone else. Anyone else doesn’t change laws around here. Tea Partiers had seen a lot of legislative change that created larger and more expensive government.
Now comes the Occupy movement that is growing throughout the US and Europe. This is a take back your economy movement. To do this, they are not going to Washington DC to confront legislators or even the President. No, they are camped out in front of corporate America. What good does that do? Not much. They are occupying the wrong street. But emotion not just reason drives this mulch-faceted group. It runs the gamut from far left anarchists to fiddle of the road liberals.
But as in Cairo and elsewhere, the pushy, destructive forces on the far left want to forego civilized discussion and encounters. They want shock value so they pushed a couple of old ladies down cement steps at the DC Convention Center. They were in the Capitol for a tribute to Reagan dinner. The leftists targeted the dinner and pushed and shoved to the point that the old ladies were hurt and at least one had to go t o hospital. These women were not part of the 1% that anyone knows of. If they and all of the occupants of the hall, then we are talking 12% or more perhaps. Regardless, there is an element in this movement that is now out of control.
The radical element that has embedded itself in the occupy movement bears watching and we need to keep a perspective on just how big a part of the movement they represent. It will be critical in being able to assess the growth and direction of Occupy Wall Street.
roblorinov
November 8, 2011
I think the original intent was to create America’s Reichstag Fire but these morons can’t even find the matches to light LOL. All of the supporting groups behind it are mostly socialists and also includes the US Communist Party and the America Nazi Party. This “movement” is doomed to fail because it has no leaders. Successful movements always have leaders who inspire them and direct them as well as speak for them but not these people. So they are doomed and directionless! It’s nice to live in LALA land where no one is above anyone else and all are equal but that’s not the way the REAL world works. The group is slowly degenerating now. Rape of women and men is now out of control as well as drug use and drunkenness and theft. Personally I think this group has it backwards. THEY are the 1% as in LOSERS!
samhenry
November 8, 2011
My dear Lorinov – you dear world-weary soul – you have seen it all. You know enough to keep your matches and your powder dry. The more “active” among these people are the dregs of hummanity it seems. Not bright, not a clue just mindlessly angry. Love your comment.
James Crawford
November 8, 2011
When the Tea Party first began to form, there were some obvious anarchist and Nazi types present at the first rally I attended. I was not certain I wanted to be a part of it. Fortunately; some “non-leaders” helped shape the amorphous movement into a coherent interest group and expel the radicals. Quite the opposite is happening with the Occupy group.
As I watch them forwent violence, I wonder if they realize that any civil war would be between hoplites such as myself and hopliphobes. It would not last very long.
samhenry
November 8, 2011
Love your comment too, JC. Good to bring out the anarchists that populated this movement initially as well.
James Crawford
November 9, 2011
Not many people know what a “hoplite” is much less a “hopliphobe.”
Reminds me of an old cartoon in a magazine whose title I will not mention. It shows Emperor Nero sitting on his throne in the Colloseum. I bloody lion’s paw in mid strike is in the foreground. The score board behind the throne reads “Lions 109, Christians 0″
DarcsFalcon
November 9, 2011
I think the target has almost from the beginning been the TEA party. I think the left has been a bit flabbergasted by seeing a real grassroots movement and they’ve long been trying to figure out how to replicate it.
“Occupy” isn’t grassroots either, but I think it’s not nearly as big as the media likes to portray. All over I’m seeing reports how the gatherings in other cities are really small. It’ll probably die out come winter, especially in the more northern cities.
Other things I’m reading are that Obama intends to use it to establish martial law and thus cancel the 2012 elections. Time will show!
samhenry
November 11, 2011
This movement is a leaderless mixed bag. Who knows where it will end. Too many interests per square inch in the parks nights.