Mr. Natural wrote:
There are hundreds of thousands of people involved in the Occupy movement, spread across 600 communities in this country alone. They have been purposely anarchic in their attitudes toward leadership and frustratingly nonspecific in their aims, so I don't know how you have managed to find a representative - even a representative-type - for this movement.
You seemed to find a "type"
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These people are us, mainstream Americans
I disagree that 31% of mainstream America is OK with the use of violence towards obtaining any of the goals of the occupy people.
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Here is a novel approach - let's talk about ideas instead of people.
Is it your contention that American style capitalism in the 21st century is the very pinnacle of economic systems, without flaw and beyond reproach? Or, is it possible that our modern interpretation of capitalism, as it is currently defined by those it serves best, could stand some improvement?
I would be the last person to say American style capitalism is without flaw, but I would assert it's the best the world has come up with thus far in regard to wealth generation and rapid increases in standards of living.
Is there a specific alternative or remedy being proposed by the OWS people, because to start these sorts of discussions about big ideas, you need an idea.
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We should be having a national discussion about how we want our economic system to work and whether or not we expect it to be a system designed to provide an opportunity for the greatest wealth for the smallest percentage of people or the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
People of good will can have an honest disagreement about that philosophy without having their Americanism questioned by guilt through association.
OK, get out there and spread the word that perhaps the Tea Party isn't entirely racist...like I said earlier, it works both ways. Such a politically charged group (because that's what this is about...politics) will always be judged by the lowest common denominator among them.
You're trying to paint this picture like the Occupy protesters have the a cohesive argument, alternative, platform or some sort of positive direction for this "discussion". I'd love to see that because they look like squatters intent on having police confrontations to me.
Not concerned citizens looking for a substantive conversation.