Shut up News Corp!

[PETRUS]

People are not asking for a handout. They are demanding opportunity.

When you deprive people of the means for self-improvement and advancement, it is dishonest and unethical blame them for their plight. Among other things, financial deregulation and the decisions and actions of the Federal Reserve and the US Treasury enrich a few, well connected people while negatively impacting the ability of everyone else to make a living. The relevant policies are varied, subtle, and complex, but anyone with a library card and an internet connection can uncover and understand the basic mechanisms. These policies create an upward flow of wealth long before the IRS gets involved or Uncle Sam even begins to think about redistribution. There's nothing illegal about this, and naturally so since it's the beneficiaries' foundations, think tanks, and lobbyists who are drafting the documents that eventually become law. The wishes of the people are largely ignored.

But... but... look at Zuckerberg! What about Larry Page? Smart, hardworking people still get ahead in this country! These are exciting stories, to be sure, but everyone knows anecdotal evidence is no evidence at all. Taken in context, they are merely points in a larger data set that supports the people's complaint: That a few people are wildly successful while the majority treads water or falls behind.

No doubt there were 18th century Rupert Murdochs describing Washington's army as a bunch of shiftless, confused, disorganized, and unfocused people who should just go home, get back to work (if you have a job, ha!) and put their faith in the Crown and the wisdom of their "betters."

Thanks to efforts of Occupy Wall Street, there is now an excellent opportunity to get involved, speak out, and have an impact.

[Drale]

1. I would love opportunity but

if the rich want to hand out some cash, I would not be opposed to that.

[PETRUS]

2. no dout!

I'd cash their check. And solemnly, too. Cashing checks - especially large numbers of them written for large sums - is Serious and Important work, as the mouthpieces of the 1% are constantly reminding us in tortured language.