Occupy Wall Street Gives NYSE A Flaming Middle Finger For Christmas

Also, tell me, how much do you get for your paid trolling gig?

Wow.  Pure, raw hatred and uncivilized douchebaggery is flourishing in the US.


I guess lots of you people are glad Occupy came along since you're not allowed to openly hate black people anymore.

0/10

Funny how they only started calling it "class warfare" when working people started fighting back. What was it before then?

RW, there was a time in America when the success of another was something to be desired, not ridiculed. Observing a rich man was often a catalyst for someone's own journey toward prosperity. Now everyone wants to destroy someone's productivity. It's not "fair" that someone worked their ass off to get ahead. Now it's suspicious and the Marxists are quick to claim the rich man took advantage of others in order to become wealthy. This is one of the biggest lies of Marxism. Marx claimed that only after men could create surplus, the idea of owning private property came into being. And from that came the idea of the "haves" and the "have nots." It was in the 1800's when such ideas started to crystallize. The problem with Marxism is when you remove the rewards of one's own labor, (and everyone gets the same results, whether they worked for it or not), then a different resentment sets in, which today can be seen in many working people's attitude toward welfare. Always ask the question: who benefits from stirring up class warfare? Not the proletariat, that's for damn sure.

You think that most wealthy people work their ass off to get ahead?  How quaint.

EDIT: Also, you have a college freshman's understanding of Marxism. Jus sayin.

EDIT EDIT: And furthermore, history is not univocal, and it's rhetorical hogwash to say that "there was a time in America" anything. History is polyvocal and defies your bullshit attempts to bend it to your ideological commitments.

Spoken like a true brainwashed pseudo-intellectual. You've done your leftist professors proud. Too bad you're ill-equipped to actually contribute anything useful to society.

ETA: By the way, since you claim a higher degree of knowledge, why don't you share with the rest of us where Marxism has succeeded? What has happened to countries that tried Fascism? Do you think living in a spartan dorm room with a dozen of other worker slaves with little time for what we call "a life" is really preferable to what we enjoy here in the United States of America? Do tell. I await in breathless anticipation.

Also, tell me, how much do you get for your paid trolling gig? Is it by the post? If so, they might want to check into quality control.

My pointing out your ignorance does not require me to remedy that ignorance.  Since I am not a Marxist, I don't feel any need to defend or explain Marxism, only to point out that you are, in fact, a stupid piece of shit.

And for what it's worth, you only know me as a fellow troll from teh internets, so you have absolutely no idea about my usefulness to society or lack thereof. Shocker! You're talking out of your ass.

If anyone is talking out of their ass, it's you. How on earth do you know that I only have a "freshman's understanding of Marxism" when you openly admit that you're not a Marxist? (And by deductive reasoning, are not an expert.) You are hysterical! And very much a loser.

"Meanwhile a majority of Americans support the message, more support their right to protest." Wrong. Although Americans for the most part recognize there are problems in our society, most do NOT agree with the approach of OWS, according to a Gallup Poll taken in November. (31% disprove of how the protests are being conducted. 21% approved, and 49% don't know what to think. http://bit.ly/t7UjeV) More and more Americans are waking up to the truth -- which is: OWS is a front for Marxism. If you don't believe that, then you've not read Karl Marx nor The Communist Manifesto. The goal of OWS is to dismantle Capitalism. Period. Think of what that would mean. Do you really want a government to control every aspect of your life? Many of us don't. Marx said that Communism could be summed up in a single sentence: abolition of private property. So no one would be allowed to own a home. Which explains why OWS thinks it can squat on private property without consequence. Many OWS protesters are obviously "useful idiots" for the Marxists, but it's no surprise. Marxism forever attempts to foment class warfare by causing the "regular worker" to feel cheated and thus revolt against the "bourgeois." Want a real picture of what this looks like? Ever see a Chinese workplace dorm? (Where iPads are made..) There you go.

gallop polls answer to fox news. and people wonder why no polls are the same. they are fake through and through!

the communist part is a lie actually they want a democratically owned economic system. not everything is so black and white you child!

First, the United States of America is a Republic. We are not a Democracy. We are ruled by laws, not by the mob. There's a difference. Secondly, OWS wants to move toward Social Democracy or Democratic Socialism. From Che Guevera: "Democracy cannot consist solely of elections that are nearly always fictitious and managed by rich landowners and professional politicians." Sound familiar? This is the same complaint of the protesters. They don't want corporations to get bailed-out (which I agree with) and they want corporate money out of political campaigns. So what's the alternative to Capitalism? Marxism. But they'll try to sugar-coat it so they can deceive the public. And as far as the Communist part being a lie.. seriously? You're woefully ignorant of what's going on. Here's a list of supporters and sympathizers to OWS. Communist Party of the USA, Revolutionary Communist Party, Socialist Party USA, Marxist Student Union... http://bit.ly/sk6het Yes, Steven. Sometimes life really is black and white. For those who have their eyes wide open: Stand up and speak out!

The days when you could squawk "Communist" or "Che Guevara" (lol) and have everyone shit their pants ended when we hit a 9% unemployment rate (which everyone knows is really at about 15%.) 

On Christmas, my father, a life-long Republican, wondered pensively what Cuba was like.  I told him they had a lot of urban gardens and fantastic beaches. Minds are opening.

When things go really, really bad (and they will), I think you will have a lot of people -- people who, btw, are also 100% Americans --'standing up and speaking out', except they'll be standing up and speaking out for collective ownership of the means of production, participative democracy, and an alternate way of structuring our financial system.

Is this the Cuba you're talking about? Where $6 is the equivalent of two weeks pay for the average Cuban and the bloggers have to sneak into a hotel to use the Internet? Where freedom of speech is only afforded to those the government approves such as government employees, academics, and researchers? http://nyti.ms/u9ccjd Hell, yeah. Screw the proletariat! Only Internet privileges for the bourgeoisie! Your allegiance to such a failed ideology is breathtaking.

I would also like to add that it seems that traditional Marxist-Leninists seem very thin on the ground indeed at OWS, giving the lie to your implication that it's all a big ol' CPUSA conspiracy.

Wonder how long it took one of the consensus committee town hall round-table meetings to agree to allocate resources to procure a few dozen middle-finger candles?

The candles were a Christmas gift from me to the OWS movement. I took it to one of the meetings , a decision was reached within 1 minute when the idea was introduced. It was a fascinating experience to see how efficiently things worked, once a consensus was reached.  Props to all the participants, organizers and documentarians. I am extremely grateful that people took my idea and artwork seriously.

So wait a second, I'm being spoken down to because I'd rather spend Christmas in a warm house with family I love and rarely get a chance to see instead of spending it outside in the cold with a group of quasi-homeless people protesting an empty building? Atiq Zabinski, eat a dick.

Not at all, you' re being intentionally disingenuous. The writer was just pointing out that the protest is real and has people willing to go out on a freezing night to get their message across. They are more effective at doing so than any of the presidential candidates including the incumbent.

Good thing they did it on a saturday on christmas eve. There was no one there to see them, or for them to disturb.

Sorry, I think I posted the same comment 3 times. New to this and don't know how to remove it.

I am very grateful that the protestors took my message through these candles , very seriously. In the freezing cold night, they appreciated my gift and took it to the street. In reality, the OWS movement is loosing steam. Yet I think these moments where people can get together to convey a message against a clearly corrupt and damaged system is crucial. I support them , in the spirit of the middle finger. The middle finger is a voice, it is what makes us react and think. It is what makes us human.

I am very grateful that the protestors took my message through these candles , very seriously. In the freezing cold night, they appreciated my gift and took it to the street. In reality, the OWS movement is loosing steam. Yet I think these moments where people can get together to convey a message against a clearly corrupt and damaged system is crucial. I support them , in the spirit of the middle finger. The middle finger is a voice, it is what makes us react and think. It is what makes us human.

I am very grateful that the protestors took my message through these candles , very seriously. In the freezing cold night, they appreciated my gift and took it to the street. In reality, the OWS movement is loosing steam. Yet I think these moments where people can get together to convey a message against a clearly corrupt and damaged system is crucial. I support them , in the spirit of the middle finger. The middle finger is a voice, it is what makes us react and think. It is what makes us human.

Its pretty clear and even more hilarious that the only ppl who either don't understand, or have a problem with ppl standing up and speaking out against corruption of the 1%, are ppl who are weak, gullible and have no problem having their life dictated by corrupt politics (sheep)--- OR, are ppl who are disillusioned (gothamist commenters) and like to think that they are part of the 1%, but are living paycheck to paycheck like many of the protestors.

How dare ppl resist the corruption of politics and exersise their rights to free speech! Why can't they just remain silent and obey like good little sheep.

It has nothing to do with these "protests" being completely ineffective and silly.

The banks have backed off some of the fees they were going to impose. The establishment is pissing away Millions in security fees.... sounds pretty efficient because of the number of core members there are and effect because you have misers spending money they say they don't have and the conversation has been changed, but you are too progammed to figure out how.

When the dollar goes through hyperinflation and we come face to face with an unprecedented economic depression many of the people you are talking about will come around but sadly that may be too late.  There are far too many people that are comfortable enough and are willfully ignorant.  The choice to me is pretty clear - stand up now and try to do something before it is too late regardless of your individual situation or let the shit hit the fan.

Yeah, that's it, sparky.

Yeah. That is it, sheepboy.

Why protest outside the Stock Exchange on Saturday night, Christmas Eve?  

Wouldn't it make more sense to protest at a time when the people you are protesting against might actually see you?  Like on a weekday during business hours?  

Just a suggestion.

wow, no one thought of that :|
any time protests try to get anywhere near the NYSE, police barricade it blocks away to protect the area

Amid all the noise, and the buying and selling, it can be difficult to remember why so many celebrate around the world this day called Chrismas. But you don’t need to be Christian, or even religious, to understand -and embrace- the idea that "Whatsoever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." But many of the 1%, in blind greed and endless schemes, have forgotten this. They have closed their eyes to what the word "society" should really mean, and what it can mean. But due to Occupy Wall Street, we are finally talking less about CUTS and more about BLEEDING. Instead of demanding m-o-r-e budget cuts -to be borne by the middle class and poor- we are FINALLY focusing on the shameful bleeding that the poor and middle class has endured, for all too long. Instead of talking about even m-o-r-e cuts in the taxes of millionaires....we are now talking about fairness and justice - about an economy and a political system that is increasingly run for the rich, and by the rich. Instead of talking about LESS government, we are talking about a government that WORKS FOR ALL OF US, not just a favored few. Thank you OWS, for reminding us that people -ordinary working people- really DO matter, and for helping open our eyes to what’s  going on in this country, and why. The attempt by OWS to occupy Duarte Square (the empty lot owned by Trinity Church) is much more than a plea for sanctuary. For like Zuccotti Park, it’s an attempt to carve out a protected space, a living conscience for the city, amid the repression. A refuge...in a city where control-freaks would sweep us under the rug, and out of the way. In a city where they would pen us in, and try to permit us to death. In a city that tells us  to “move on, move on”..... you don’t belong, you don’t count, you don’t have a right to be here...don’t assemble, don’t block the street, don’t trespass, don’t EXIST! They would deny us, deny our lives, deny our very futures. IF WE LET THEM. But OWS responds, both in word and in DEED: it says we’ve had ENOUGH - we BELONG, we STAND our ground, and we DO matter! This IS our land, and we want it BACK! The word OCCUPY...says it all! That’s why OWS has captured our imagination. That’s why a living breathing OCCUPIED public space is important for OWS. Like Lady Liberty’s never extinguished torch that burns in our harbor, OWS needs to have a concrete, persistent, in-your-face presence.. ..to continually remind us of what we’ve lost, of what we are, and what we can be; a protected place to affirm, illuminate, defy...and inspire. Trinity Church, with its oft-proclaimed ideals (and its huge land holdings), should look deep into its collective soul, do the right thing, and help OWS secure a sanctuary. Not merely a space of refuge, but an enclave of hope, of non-violent change, and compassion. And dare I say: a space of love -  love of country, love of your fellow man and woman, love for the poor and oppressed. Can thoughtful Christians argue with these simple Christian / these simple HUMAN values? For if Christ were physically with us today, as He was 2000 years ago, He would be among the FIRST to climb those fences, and occupy Trinity’s Duarte Square. Of this I am certain. Let us hope and pray and plea...that Trinity Church -and others- hear the call, and respond. For the old ways are not working. Find a quiet place somewhere, and consider this: Each of us has only one brief life....one chance....one roll of the dice....and many choices. The time has come to choose....to risk...and to act. If not now...then when? If not you, then....who? You DO have the power my friend....and the choice IS yours. Don’t let your hopes and dreams die: LIVE YOUR IDEALS!

I just read all the CAPITALIZED words because they were obviously the most important. - Speed Reading Champ

I wonder how many others don't read beyond the first sentence of this post.

Hahah! Yes indeed.

By the way, what is a "Theosophist" as Aria stated?

Haha I got to the second before I noticed excessive use of STRATEGIC caps in the rest of the post and bailed.

Well then you are exactly what is wrong with this country. Also you have just the sort of attention span this country wants you to have. Way to be exactly what they want you to be.

'Movie'
http://vimeo.com/33854206

Can they all just leave already

What would you have said to the people who revolted against England before we became the United States of America?  Would you have said, "Can they all just leave already"?  Many of those people were killed for our country's birth.  Do you think they died in vain?  These Occupiers are trying to save our country, hopefully they won't have to die for it.

Unfortunately, the United States is showing that it is somewhat less free and tolerant than we like to believe. In fact, as the movement continues to tweak the ruling class, see Bloomberg an"my private Army, The NYPD", it is only a matter of time before the troops are called out escalating the issues. As it is with this soft response rubber bullets fired in Oakland have caused horrendous injuries, one young veteran being shot in the head. So, yes protesters will die, this movement has the ruling class scared to death...there are thousands nation wide, no leaders to bribe and no strategic points to attack, they have cleared out the camps. Meanwhile a majority of Americans support the message, more support their right to protest. Just about all can see the difference between how authorities and the media are treating Occupy as opposed to the anti tax, anti safety net, second amendment gone toting Tea Parties. And the saddest thing is that they and the partiers are referring to OWS as violent. And almost as sad, the partiers have more in common with these kids than the Corporations that played them for stooges.

Can you?

No.

If by 'they', you mean the class enemies working at the NYSE, and by 'leave' you mean be held underwater in the Hudson until they turn blue, then yes, yes they can leave.

You're an idiot.  The people working at NYSE trade EQUITIES, something that has been done for thousands of years. Let's also not forget that NYSE has about 20% of the daily trade volume in the US, so it isn't nearly as big as it used to be.  Of course, I wouldn't expect you to actually know anything about the financial industry.

Pazzo, as there was little in the way of an economy3,000 years ago, there were exchanges, but the stock was cattle and goats which were traded for work, goods, crafts. There was no Money. 2,000 years ago copper, silver and gold coins existed, but people buried them in the back yard, markets did exist but on a cash only basis and the was little in the way of inflation. 1000 years ago was the dark ages it wasn't until the 14th century that modern banking system and stock trading begin in rudimentary form. Like so many propagandists, you just toss stuff out there. And the only ones able to play with equities until the 19th century... Nobles and Royalty.... the 1% of the 1%.

No, they can't.  The systematic abuse and impoverishment of so many people as a result of policies enacted by the %1 minority must be stopped.  Because both political parties are the bought and paid for servants of that %1, ordinary people must use civil disobedience to combat our class enemies.  The right to disobey the law and go outside the electoral system has a long and noble history and every one of the demonstrators in Zuccotti Park are entirely justified in exercising that right.  For the Occupiers to leave and back down now would be to capitulate to the unjust power of the greedy, over-entitled, spoiled brats who rule this country.

im sorry did you just say "the right to disobey the law" nobody has the right to break the law that would undermine the purpose of law and your whole mantra of the 1% (yes the % goes AFTER the number) must be stopped and they rule the world is a load of BS

Then go to Washington

Yes, yes they can. All that other crap you wrote is just childish rhetoric- you sound like a 12 year old who didn't get the power ranger toy they wanted. Would you like me to pick one up for you on my way home from WORK?

Sounds good as long as it is made in China

They can, but they don't want to and they don't have to, so tough shit.

Valerie's WORK is so important that it requires CAPITAL LETTERS. So you come home from WORK: does that mean it's outcalls only?

Seriously? A person with a feminine name and you imply her only work can be as a hooker? OWS is so open-minded. I want to sign up for that bandwagon of hatred. Mine is getting a little cramped.

At least you admit you're already hateful.

Valerio isn't a feminine name, FYI.

Valerio can do outcalls too.

You are willing to buy Eric a power ranger toy for just the cost of your own childish rhetoric?
How generous.