Anger and Anarchy on Wall Street

"the deadliest terror attack on American soil until the Oklahoma City bombing 75 years later"

Here I thought it was the Bath School disaster in 1927, which killed 45 people including the bomber. If I count right, one was killed in the first bombing of the day, 38 in the second, and 5 in the third.

The Wikipedia page for the Wall Street bombing even notes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_Street_bombing#cite_note-1) "It was surpassed in fatalities by the Bath School bombings in Michigan seven years later."

I suppose the Smithsonian is considering a single bomb explosion, rather than three within a short span of time done by the same person?

I read the Facebook page for the Wall Street people today. They're pretty much blaming the establishment for everything under the sun, and a few things above it.

It's a group that has no focus, no direction, and no point. Those are the worst kind.

Ted, I think the protesters want justice. The people got robbed by the banks and there's been no justice. The only policy solutions people are talking about now is paying less to retirees and teachers.

Ted gets his news from Facebook. Do I really need to refute any of his points? I think not.

The question is, Abby, do you really feel the need to refute anyone's point? Obviously you felt the need to criticize and belittle. Maybe you should examine your needs, and see if they are ruling you, or if you rule them.

I don't "get my news" from facebook, but it's surprising how many people do just that. in fact, it's kinda scary.

I support occupy wall street. I think that the movement lacks a specific direction, you're right. But that's what I'd want. I hardly ever have a conversation with someone and find that we're entirely on the same page, movements that whittle down general beliefs into one or two demands seem like they are coercing their participants. Policymaking demands that kind of simplification, rallying doesn't. I think there is a general direction. Students are sick of debt, the middle class is stunned that programs they had enjoyed are being cut in part because of risky investment on wall street. Others seem to be sick of trying to "pull themselves by the bootstraps".

I saw a billboard that said "Bill Gates founded Microsoft during a recession" What does this mean? We're just not trying hard enough to be obscenely wealthy? I don't think the people who have been at wall street can be convinced that they just have to try harder.

ted, they released a statement outlining their issues and it was mostly focused on the problem with corporatism, totalitarianism and the error that is corporate personhood.

If you require a sound bite, they want Democracy Now.

Wow, way to try and belittle someone with an alternate point of view. Isn't that one of the things they're protesting against?

I saw the statement, and it's not the fact that it's bigger than my tiny attention span can manageto comprehend. I mean, so what if it's a Unabomber-sized manifesto? No, it's the fact that it's all-encompassing. Got a beef? It's probably in the wall-streeters' manifesto. And if it isn't, there's a footnote that reads "This doesn't include everything. These are just the first 150 main points."

And Dan, thanks for the intelligent response to my comment. It just strikes me that this is protesting just for the sake of protesting. I've seen it before and it's entirely unproductive.

At least they are trying to do something.

So were the 1920's bombers. For that matter, so was the Unabomber (to keep the comparison going). Is their effort going to yield anything productive? The USA isn't Egypt or Libya. Is "raising awareness" effective?