Occupy Detroit

[RaumVogel]

They have used the military and police force to prevent freedom of the press. "

Oh, come on, seriously? When?

I fully support higher taxes for the rich - much higher. I support a moratorium on foreclosures because banks and Fannie/Freddie have continued to foreclose with impunity without working with the homeowner while taking taxpayer money. We need campaign finance reform.

However I know the type that this movement has sadly turned into. Young kids who live off their parents dime, quite often. Their parents are "the man" they are "protesting." I realize this isn't everyone involved.

This could have been a legitimate movement, but it always seems like good activism is hijacked by the anarchist types and thus becomes...another 1%.

Does anybody remember this JohnKuhnPhoto guy? He was the rich kid from the suburbs who went around vandalizing stuff that didn't belong to him in the city.
http://www.painting-detroit.com/Pain...Gallery.html#2
I rest my case. Disgusting.

As corktownyuppie said, there are things we can be doing instead. I contemplated driving out to NYC, but we have a lot of weekend projects in my neighborhood that I've been working on.

Camping in Roosevelt Park with all your friends is more fun though. Or vandalizing vacant structures that don't belong to you.

You could have a Kite-in.....

[johnkuhnphoto]

just as a reminder. the meeting is at 7pm today [[monday). please come to voice your opinion. Thanks

[rid0617]

Even as a conservative I agree with the majority of their gripes. Best politicians money can buy. Corporations are so greedy now they outsource labor putting Americans out of work in favor of mega profits.

They are bailed out, become profitable again and all they do is pay bigger bonuses while sticking us with higher rates and additional fees. Totally against NAFTA. Could go on and on but you folks get the idea I'm making.

Kudos to the other Vietnam vet. Did time there myself and still paying the price thanks to Agent Orange. We were told we were supposed to go fight for our country even though Vietnam never invaded us. We were told we were fighting to stop the spread of communism because it was the enemy. Now you go to Walmart and other stores to look at clothing that says MADE IN VIETNAM. Guess that communism wasn't so bad when it was profitable. In the meantime the grace of God and 36 pills a day because I went there is what keeps me here posting.

[RaumVogel]

Good post, rid0617. I was a teenage when the Vietnam war ended, so most of my childhood, I wondered if I was going myself. After it was over I WAS SHOCKED by how fast our corporations and government wanted to start doing business with China. All I could think of was "Wow, our soldiers gave everything to "Stop the spread of Communism" and now we turn right around and send jobs over there.

Here's a little joke link on how people are feeling these days:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGIY5Vyj4YM

Ah, the memories..

[JasonMax]

So your solution is Socialism? A student loan is an obligation that a person DECIDES of free will and knows that that sum is to paid back. So if I owe you $1000 I can just forgive myself? or is it You just want a FREE ride. I did not get what I got handed to me, I worked hard paid my taxes, and debts. I live a good life.....paid for it, no free rides.

I gave this country 2 years of my life in Viet Nam, right or wrong I did it out of a commitment to the laws and constitution of the US, so people like you can protest. What have YOU DONE for your country?

I don't know when you thought we were a police state.....Do I like wars HELL no, I never heard of a good war. We are drawing down as we speak.....it can'thappen over night or our men would be in more danger.

You want to tax people who make over a million 75%....yea because its not you. Do I think they pay their fair share no, do I think they should be taxes at your ridiculous rate NO.

"it's called "the struggle" for a reason" WTF like you are so suppressed.....you don't know the meaning of suppressed.

Oh I have ideas of what needs to be done, my are a little more sane and achievable.

That was hard to read. Anyways, the expectation is that you finish school and get a decent job to pay off those loans. That is just not happening right now. I have a few personal friends that have GRADUATE degrees that can't find a job or are underemployed. Throw in the predatory lending practices of banks and the predatory private schools and you have a hell of a mess. You should care about that [[being a veteran) because they prey on returning soldiers heavily. DeVry, Baker,Walsh, and a host of others are guilty of this. They take government money, enroll the soldier with a student loan, and just stop offering any further help or assistance. They fail out and the school keeps the money.

Furthermore, I am protesting because I am tired of watching my fellow Americans get driven from their houses. This is insane. The banks refuse to work with them and just sell the land to landlords. Three houses on my block are EMPTY, bought by someone who never even checks on the property. ALL THREE of the houses used to be owned by nice young families who ended up in trouble one way or another. ALL THREE now live with their parents. THIS MAKES ME SICK. TEAR DOWN THE BANKS AND START OVER.

I'm not even getting into how I used to be comfortable and now getting my medicine breaks my entire family. I hate this how I have been called lazy on some message boards. My wife and I work our ass off just to get by. I never see my son because I work two jobs. Where the hell is my American dream?

/rage off

PS Vietnam is a beautiful country with extremely friendly people. I feel bad you had to see it the way you did.

[Searay215]

That was hard to read. Anyways, the expectation is that you finish school and get a decent job to pay off those loans. That is just not happening right now. I have a few personal friends that have GRADUATE degrees that can't find a job or are underemployed. Throw in the predatory lending practices of banks and the predatory private schools and you have a hell of a mess. You should care about that [[being a veteran) because they prey on returning soldiers heavily. DeVry, Baker,Walsh, and a host of others are guilty of this. They take government money, enroll the soldier with a student loan, and just stop offering any further help or assistance. They fail out and the school keeps the money.

Furthermore, I am protesting because I am tired of watching my fellow Americans get driven from their houses. This is insane. The banks refuse to work with them and just sell the land to landlords. Three houses on my block are EMPTY, bought by someone who never even checks on the property. ALL THREE of the houses used to be owned by nice young families who ended up in trouble one way or another. ALL THREE now live with their parents. THIS MAKES ME SICK. TEAR DOWN THE BANKS AND START OVER.

I'm not even getting into how I used to be comfortable and now getting my medicine breaks my entire family. I hate this how I have been called lazy on some message boards. My wife and I work our ass off just to get by. I never see my son because I work two jobs. Where the hell is my American dream?

/rage off

PS Vietnam is a beautiful country with extremely friendly people. I feel bad you had to see it the way you did.

You are right on many levels what I was responding to was that WAY out there posting.....there seems to be extreams in the Occupy movement, they need a leader and to focus in on one issue, I would think that would be jobs....Lets face it if there were more jobs, alot of these issues would eventually get solved as well. Don't know if you saw the interview with GE CEO who was appointed to a commission to find a way to make more jobs. He also said companies should be taxed at 20% with no deductions....this comming from the CEO of GE who paid no taxes last year.

GE, GM and Ford have all committed to bringing more jobs back to the US. Not the total answer but it is a biginning. A LOT more needs to happen. Banks need to be held accountable, corporations and the rich need to pay their fair share....I have said these things all alone.

Another way you can make money may be in your home as we speak.....there are ways. Last year I made well into the 5 figures on Ebay....part time sitting in my home. Find something you love and go do it. Believe its not rocket science......Print my own postage, get FREE boxes from the USPS, use my newspapers as stuffing......I could go on and on....hell maybe I should start another business...Teaching how to make money on Ebay.

[Lowell]

So what happened last night? How was the turnout?

[Danny]

We are the 99% Party. The 1% will have to contribute to save this nation from G.R.E.E.D. Corporation. Proletariats will march and thump at the rich. We proles made them rich and we can make them poor. We don't have to shop at their big box stores, or go the malls. We don't have to go to McDonalds or Burger King. We don't have to shop at Krogers or Meijers. We don't have to deposit our money into corporate owned banks from Bank of America to Comerica.

We don't have to vote neither Republican or Democrat. But stay independent or socialist. We can create mom and pop jobs instead of serving the corporations in order to recieve slave wages. We are the 99% Party [[under the phantom of Guy Fawkes). We will not leave Wall Street or other places until Kleptocrats and their Plutomononies break away from the U.S. Government for good. Uprise my conrads! The American Spring is here. Let's free America from the corporations for have invaded the middle and poor.

[kryptonite]

This is a similar time to the mid/late 1970's regarding college graduates and jobs.

I graduated 1978 and like most of my friends spent a few years waiting tables or working at whatever low-paying job you could find. The only college graduates getting jobs immediately after graduating were nursing students. The rest of us were part of a huge wave of graduates with zero job prospects.

It took 5-7 years for people in my social circle to find jobs, and like myself few found them in fields that they had majored in.

The industry of higher education in the US is not telling potential students that part of the story. While I agree that a college degree is excellent, it never guarantees a job sad to say.

I tend to vote Democratic, and my personal feeling is that Republicans in Congress do not want to pass a jobs bill before the next election. If such a bill were to pass and have any impact on the unemployment rate then that could assure President Obama would be re-elected.

Both parties fail Americans. They vote their party line or personal agenda or to pander to special interest, and few seem to vote in ways that benefit their constituents.

[Searay215]

We are the 99% Party. The 1% will have to contribute to save this nation from G.R.E.E.D. Corporation. Proletariats will march and thump at the rich. We proles made them rich and we can make them poor. We don't have to shop at their big box stores, or go the malls. We don't have to go to McDonalds or Burger King. We don't have to shop at Krogers or Meijers. We don't have to deposit our money into corporate owned banks from Bank of America to Comerica.

We don't have to vote neither Republican or Democrat. But stay independent or socialist. We can create mom and pop jobs instead of serving the corporations in order to recieve slave wages. We are the 99% Party [[under the phantom of Guy Fawkes). We will not leave Wall Street or other places until Kleptocrats and their Plutomononies break away from the U.S. Government for good. Uprise my conrads! The American Spring is here. Let's free America from the corporations for have invaded the middle and poor.

Damn, I want what ever Danny is smoking....holy crap!!! That is some good stuff!!! As he [[Danny) types on his Corporate made computer, chowing down on his corporate made food.

You don't have to go to those stores or buy any of those products or services.....But I bet you do!!!!!!! Hypocrite!!!!!

[Danny]

Damn, I want what ever Danny is smoking....holy crap!!! That is some good stuff!!! As he [[Danny) types on his Corporate made computer, chowing down on his corporate made food.

You don't have to go to those stores or buy any of those products or services.....But I bet you do!!!!!!! Hypocrite!!!!!

It's my desicision whether to shop or not at those corporate owned stores. I've stop eating McDonald's after their food is mostly made out of gluten and sugar 3 years ago. I stop shopping at Wal-Mart 5 years ago after it mistreat its workers. I stop shopping at department stores from Macy's to Sea'rs due their rediculous prices. I mostly shop and at stores, markets and restaurants that supports socialist cause. Do you part and don't feed the pigs.

[Searay215]

It's my desicision whether to shop or not at those corporate owned stores. I've stop eating McDonald's after their food is mostly made out of gluten and sugar 3 years ago. I stop shopping at Wal-Mart 5 years ago after it mistreat its workers. I stop shopping at department stores from Macy's to Sea'rs due their rediculous prices. I mostly shop and at stores, markets and restaurants that supports socialist cause. Do you part and don't feed the pigs.

Well tell me then where do you shop for clothes, food, cleaning products and eat....? I'll bet you don't tell me..... I will shop, eat and bank where ever I damn well want!!

[Danny]

This is a similar time to the mid/late 1970's regarding college graduates and jobs.

I graduated 1978 and like most of my friends spent a few years waiting tables or working at whatever low-paying job you could find. The only college graduates getting jobs immediately after graduating were nursing students. The rest of us were part of a huge wave of graduates with zero job prospects.

It took 5-7 years for people in my social circle to find jobs, and like myself few found them in fields that they had majored in.

The industry of higher education in the US is not telling potential students that part of the story. While I agree that a college degree is excellent, it never guarantees a job sad to say.

I tend to vote Democratic, and my personal feeling is that Republicans in Congress do not want to pass a jobs bill before the next election. If such a bill were to pass and have any impact on the unemployment rate then that could assure President Obama would be re-elected.

Both parties fail Americans. They vote their party line or personal agenda or to pander to special interest, and few seem to vote in ways that benefit their constituents.

That's right Kryptonite! 40% of students who graduated from any college will never guarantee a dream job. Most them will end up working at McDonald's or Burger King. When I graduated from Wayne State, I immediate started my own indpendent film business called "Rennaisance Pictures" I have three locations in Detroit, Farmington Hills and Livonia and I gave 3 client companies helping me and film crew out. So far I've produced 2 movies and more proposed film is coming soon next year. I recruited several college students who graduated with no decent film carreer. Now they are helping me making movies so one day they would be getting into better careers. My film company is NOT a corporation, its non-profit and its income is equally shared along the masses.

Getting into any decent job after college is very difficult if you don't get into any interships or sticking with tthe correct major or minor positions. My sister just landed immediately a 125,000 a year salary at Boeing. She is in charge is security [[ Including taking charge of Air Force One when President Obama gets on). My brother in law also works as en engineer at Boeing earning over 100,000 a year salary.

Sometimes these days, its seems that corporations will hire those who have the "right stuff" and skills or knowing someone in the business as in " capture theory!" Even if your get hire on a company or corporations, you're going to have to follow their rules because they want our money from the proletariats wallets in the pockets.

[Danny]

Well tell me then where do you shop for clothes, food, cleaning products and eat....? I'll bet you don't tell me..... I will shop, eat and bank where ever I damn well want!!

I get my stuff from the ghetto for their prices are dirt cheap. I go a mom and pop Arab owned dollar store to get my food and cleaning products. I only shop at Michigan owned stores like Meijer and Spartan Foods and Krogers. They are companies that serve our unions and give into our socialist demands or else we strike!

Whatever you shop if its a corporation that sucks your wallet dry its your decision.

[Searay215]

I get my stuff from the ghetto for their prices are dirt cheap. I go a mom and pop Arab owned dollar store to get my food and cleaning products. I only shop at Michigan owned stores like Meijer and Spartan Foods and Krogers. They are companies that serve our unions and give into our socialist demands or else we strike!


Whatever you shop if its a corporation that sucks your wallet dry its your decision.

So your still feeding Corporate GREED....Kroger [[National company) So they have a union so what? Same with Spartan foods.....Meijer isn't exactly giving food away either. Greed is what runs companies. Do you think those self service check outs are for your convience? No it was to eliminate cashiers....greed!!

Like is said befor your a hipocrite and smoking something awful strong. Capitalism is here to stay!! You want socialism go to Cuba....its not working out too good for them either.

[Danny]

So your still feeding Corporate GREED....Kroger [[National company) So they have a union so what? Same with Spartan foods.....Meijer isn't exactly giving food away either. Greed is what runs companies. Do you think those self service check outs are for your convience? No it was to eliminate cashiers....greed!!

Like is said befor your a hipocrite and smoking something awful strong. Capitalism is here to stay!! You want socialism go to Cuba....its not working out too good for them either.

National companies are not corporations [[ by any declaration) and my cause as a Socialist and to the 99% party is to end relationship between corps and government. We let the corps run their own businesses If they somehow interfere and corrupt the proletarian middle class American lifestyle. We will rebel and boycott their locations. Yes the 99% get their clothes food for corps, But only a bit. The 99% still get our resources from local mom and pop stores. Yes Capitalism is here to stay, but we, the 99% Party must end corporate greed and building plutomony and kleptocracy relationship in the U.S. government. You can go ahead the support the pigs. I will only support companies, corps who had compassion to give to the poor, provide their profits to education and reach deep down inside the big fat juicy wallets and pay high taxes to help the government end ot waive national and public debts.

[Searay215]

National companies are not corporations [[ by any declaration) and my cause as a Socialist and to the 99% party is to end relationship between corps and government. We let the corps run their own businesses If they somehow interfere and corrupt the proletarian middle class American lifestyle. We will rebel and boycott their locations. Yes the 99% get their clothes food for corps, But only a bit. The 99% still get our resources from local mom and pop stores. Yes Capitalism is here to stay, but we, the 99% Party must end corporate greed and building plutomony and kleptocracy relationship in the U.S. government. You can go ahead the support the pigs. I will only support companies, corps who had compassion to give to the poor, provide their profits to education and reach deep down inside the big fat juicy wallets and pay high taxes to help the government end ot waive national and public debts

My last post says it all.....just keep believing that crap. I will feed the pigs....just as you do and you will continue to deny it. Hipocrite!! Last post, I have a real life to get back to.....good luck with that.

[Lowell]

My little birdies are telling me that there were about 300 people at the planning session and that Grand Circus will be the occupation site. Also that there will be a gathering on Friday at the Spirit of Detroit at 4 and a march to Grand Circus Park at 6 and the occupation will commence.

[old guy]

Capitalism is here to stay!! You want socialism go to Cuba....its not working out too good for them either.

All things evolve. It's obvious that capitalism in its present form isn't working well for everyone. It's also obvious that socialism is flawed. Things change when they're no longer applicable to the healthy growth of a society.
You might not have noticed, but capitalism and socialism have been morphing into a system that might better serve all people over the last several decades.

I find it interesting how terrified people are that government might control business, but are totally indifferent concerning business controlling government.

[Downtown Lady]

Are you referring to this Friday, Lowell [[meaning they're beginning sooner than originally expected)? Or do you mean Friday, October 21? I think that was the start date mentioned earlier.

[epiphany]

Are you referring to this Friday, Lowell [[meaning they're beginning sooner than originally expected)? Or do you mean Friday, October 21? I think that was the start date mentioned earlier.

They have changed the date to THIS Friday because that's what they decided on at the meeting yesterday. They will still be meeting at MCS the Friday after as planned, but the main event has been moved up.

[Traxus]

They have changed the date to THIS Friday because that's what they decided on at the meeting yesterday. They will still be meeting at MCS the Friday after as planned, but the main event has been moved up.

Grand circus park is the location, consensus was reached last night to relocate. MCS, as most of us agree, is too far removed, both physically and logically from the intended message of the occupation.

[1953]

Interesting review on this movement in the NY Times today:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/op...mv&ref=general

[Downtown Lady]

Interesting review on this movement in the NY Times today:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/op...mv&ref=general

Do you mean "interesting" as in "dismissive"? Here is another opinion from the New York Times, that of Paul Krugman, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/07/op...tors.html?_r=1

[Bham1982]

Why aren't they planning to march in front of GM HQ?

Those greedy capitalists need to be shut down! They took a bailout, now where's ours?They're obviously stealing from us in the "99%"!

/sarcasm