Is it time for 'Occupy' protestors to pack up and go home?
Going against the Occupy protestors, who are taking the good fight against corporate greed global, is about as popular a stance as “Maybe Kim and Kris really did marry for love” or “Down with Movember.”
But, still, six weeks after the first demonstrators set up shop in New York, there’s a small faction of detractors in opposition of the protests, blasting the movement not for standing up for its right to speech but for its lack of definitive goals or specific demands.
Here, though, is a more modest reason that maybe it’s time for the Occupy protests to cease.
According to the Gothamist, one Wall Street restaurant near the demonstration has seen its business plummet so bad that more than 20 per cent of its employees have been laid-off.
Wall Street’s Milk Street Café is the victim here, slammed by the thousands occupying the streets and forcing much of New York’s foot traffic elsewhere.
*Bing: Is an Occupy protest happening in your city?
“I have no opinion about the protestors’ point of view,” restaurant owner Marc Epstein said recently. “These barriers are killing my business … (they’ve) created a siege down here on Wall Street that makes people not come here.
“My staff is collateral damage for other people’s battles.”
Epstein says when he opened in June, he hired 100 people and “thought that was something good.”
But now that New York cops have had to barricade much of the Wall Street area to cordon off demonstrators, Epstein says his business has become a dead zone. It has plummeted, he claims, by 30 per cent, and so far he’s had to lay off more than 20 of his original workers.
The official Occupy Wall Street reply was sympathetic but not totally: “The NYPD makes the decisions on the part of police barricades. This is not our choice and we would never want businesses to have to deal with inconveniences that may reduce their business traffic.”
Certainly, protestors must not want a local restaurant to fail, but surely they realize what their presence on Wall Street, no matter who it’s directed at, is doing to the culture and climate in the district.
Do you think it’s time for Occupy protestors to move on, or is a restaurant’s plight simply collateral damage en route to achieving the greater good?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: Clear & Focused | Nov 2, 2021 12:37:49 PM
Hahaha. Jason Buckland, you're funny!
Quote: "... surely they realize what their presence on Wall Street, ... is doing to the culture and climate in the district." Hahahaha
Ya, you're right. They should shut it all down for the restaurant owner. And then they should apologize to the pigs for forcing them to act like Gestapo with their barricades, kettling, and chemical weapons. Then they should amend their constitution to read: "... right to free assembly - for a limited, and specified amount of time, in a specific area - to be determined by businesses and the government in power". LOL
Jason, I take it that you are forced to write this drivel, because you are a lap-dog for the media. And no rational person would put their name to such garbage otherwise. I guess that makes you nothing more than a prostitute, with no morals, who would do anything for money. It even says so in your ridiculous bio: "Jason can often be seen spending cash that isn’t his...". You and your ilk have a disease of the mind. And I think it is terminal.
Let it be known that you are not fully human when you take money to stifle humanity. You are, in fact, subhuman. Good luck with your "job" in the Ministry of Propaganda.
Posted by: Elmo | Nov 2, 2021 12:46:30 PM
Speaking of terminal diseases of the mind..... nice to read another gem from the walking sociopath aka Dazed and Confused. Time to shut down your own Ministry of the Inane. You should be the poster child for mass sterilization.
Posted by: Clear & Focused | Nov 2, 2021 1:32:52 PM
@ Elmo
LOL!! I get a kick out of reading your responses. Why is it that none of your posts contain any ideas or substance?? It is the hallmark of someone who has suddenly stumbled onto the truth, yet cannot handle it, and is upset by it because it means that everything they thought they knew is wrong. And now you must either accept it and adapt, or put on another blindfold, and continue hollering foolishly about things you choose to be ignorant of. I am embarrassed for you. No wonder you have to work for the government... you are unable to make it on your own... and you need ideas to be presented to you.
So stay tuned... with the bs mill running full tilt here at everydaymoney, I will be sure to present you with some more. I can tell that is why you keep checking what I have to say.
Posted by: Brian | Nov 2, 2021 2:23:52 PM
Why not take the barricades down. I think that they have proven they are peaceful and I bet they could get consensus between the protestors and the owner pretty easily. Blame the protestors for the police reaction? Not.
Posted by: SP | Nov 2, 2021 2:58:45 PM
The Occupy protestors are the quiet whisper that comes before the deafening roar. Let us all just hope that a slightly impacted coffee shop is the worst of it. But really who are we kidding, we all know that isn't going to be the case. With luck we will get a better form of government but again, history shows this tends not to be the case. I am 'sure' that the governmental changes in Libya, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Syria are just extreme flukes and not indicative at all of what would happen if economically things in the US followed the Greek example for the next 5 years.
Posted by: Northern Ontario | Nov 2, 2021 6:36:31 PM
There needs to be a better way to protest. If so many people are so disenchanted (supposedly 99%), surely boycotting companies or products can work. However, I just don't think the majority are unhappy. If you are so upset at the Financial System, why not boycott the banks, the financial planners or don't invest any of your money into stocks or RRSPs. If the majority do this, there won't be enough work for them and they will need to change their ways to get customers back.
The same goes with Politicans. Simply don't vote. Imagine if only 10-15% showed up. What a message? Blogs had tried to boycott gas stations or even boycott the use of the 407 in Toronto to make a point. All great ways to protest even if it affects jobs but a clear message nonetheless. In my case, I have no issues with any of them. I don't boycott or protest because I choose to research all the facts and I make an informed decision. It's not a perfect science but it prevents a lot of disappointments. Normally, it is those that have less that tend to protest. They blame all others for the ills they have in life. If what you are doing is not working, talk to those who have a little more in life and ask them for advice. Change it for the better. Good Luck!
Posted by: Clear & Focused | Nov 2, 2021 7:36:22 PM
@ northern ontario
I quote you: "If you are so upset at the Financial System, why not boycott the banks... they will need to change their ways to get customers back."
***NEWS FLASH***
We bail out the banks now! That is the policy going forward - in case you've just gotten out of a coma!! It is called stealing from the taxpayer to bail out the to-big-to-fail! So where is the incentive to "change their ways". They have stolen the possibility of effective protest through any boycott! Take a moment to grasp the totality of what that means. Haha Or perhaps you are still asleep.
Nevertheless, chances are... your children will not sleep as soundly in the future system, because of your complacency in the current one.
I quote you: "The same goes with Politicans. Simply don't vote. Imagine if only 10-15% showed up."
What makes you so certain that we don't currently have less than 10-15% who vote. The whole system is so abhorrent that most recoil from disgust when encountered by it. So how do you know that the entire thing isn't being orchestrated by 5% of fools who are stupid enough to believe in it? What are you basing your "research" on? The news media? AHH-HAHAHAHA
I quote you: "I choose to research all the facts and I make an informed decision."
BAHAHAHAHA - No, wait.... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. You're too much!
I quote you: "If what you are doing is not working, talk to those who have a little more in life and ask them for advice."
LOL!!! This is priceless!!
I can only sympathize with them; however, I will ask on behalf of all the "disenchanted", as you say:
Please, oh Oracle-of-Ontario... grace everyone with your "advice", so that they may behold true wisdom and prosperity as you have come to wield so cunningly. I beg of you, do not let them stumble in the darkness any longer, for you have illumination to reveal. Speak of your wisdom, and we shall gather round.
Posted by: Canuckguy | Nov 2, 2021 7:42:07 PM
testing.
Posted by: Clear as Mud | Nov 2, 2021 9:58:24 PM
@ C&F. I've noticed that you seem to have all the answers. Besides simply negating what everybody says, why not provide sound advice without endless babble. Don't try to impress up with your bantering vocabulary. Stop being like a politician and give us something concrete without portraying all is bad and doomsday is fast approaching. I have an open door policy at work with my workers. Suggestions are reviewed and many times changes are made for the better. That's why I have a successful company with very little turnover.
So stop with the diarrhea of the mouth and give us all the wisdom we need to make things better. If not, stop wasting our time.
Posted by: Elmo | Nov 3, 2021 12:55:11 AM
@Dazed & Confused...
I quote you: Why is it that none of your posts contain any ideas or substance ?? Hahahaha... feel free to read Clear as Mud's response to you... obviously aimed at your own pomposity.
I quote you: You need ideas to be presented to you ?? LOL... read "your" last paragraph to northern ontario... virtually pagliarized from what I replied to you on another blog. Nice originality there Sparky
I quote you: Why is it that none of your posts contain any ideas or substance ?? ROFLMAO... Feel free to seek a professional analysis of your own verbiage... and at the same time, check out the definition.
I quote you: I can tell that is why you keep checking what I have to say. ... Ditto !! I also enjoy seeing many others equally laughing at your silliness. You're the Kim Kardashian of Everyday Money... NO style and certainly NO substance.
Posted by: Lawrence Price | Nov 3, 2021 4:09:35 AM
The real solution here is for the occupy Wall St. participants to implement the means to take care of their peers who are displaced by their actions. As for the business itself, from my admittedly ignorant point of view, it established itself to cater to and take advantage of those who are established in the seat of financial power. As such, I'm not sure how much loyalty "The 99%" owe to someone who has aligned themselves with what they view as the problem.
Posted by: Clear & Focused | Nov 3, 2021 6:59:07 AM
@ Elmo
Hahaha I quote you: "...virtually pagliarized from what I replied to you on another blog."
AHH-HAHAHAHAHAHA. What is that you are trying to say? What does "pagliarized" mean? Are you trying to spell plagiarized?
AHHH-AHAHAHAHAHA. Me... plagiarize you????!!! BAHHAHAHAHAHA
That is hilarious. You couldn't come up with something original if you bought it. Why don't you provide us with the quote that I supposedly "pagliarized" from you?? BAHH-HAHAHAHA. That is funny.
I quote you: "Feel free to seek a professional analysis of your own verbiage... and at the same time, check out the definition."
It seems that you have never taken English, and you throw words out there that are misplaced and odd. What the hell is this sentence supposed to mean?... Analysis of my own verbiage?? WTF?? Do you not know how to read or something?... And check out the definition... definition of what??? You never finished your sentence. Perhaps it is because your brain is unable to finish a thought and you just type whatever foolishness pops into your head.
And who is Kim Kardashian? - most likely one of your idols...
Like I said - no substance.
Posted by: Dana | Nov 3, 2021 12:51:51 PM
I think it would be near impossible for "the 99%" to boycott the banks. If you go the Occupy Wall Street website and read the stories of people in the fight for the protest, the main concern in their stories is that they are in serious debt, to the point that they cannot get ahead.....the banks own them. You can't just choose not to be a customer at a bank when you owe them $50,000.
And although the causes for these debts is attributed to consumer spending, most of the extreme debt is because of education and health care costs. Proper education and health care should be provided for every citizen without having to sacrifice other needs to get it. (Food or shelter)
Also, my understanding of why it is referred to as the 99% isn't because 99% of the country isn't living happily or comfortably. It's because 1% of the population earns more wealth than the bottom 99%. Even the rich don't hold a candle to what this top 1% is making. And the top 1% are the ones controlling government decisions. Many of the protestors don't want free money...they want a voice in their government. They just want a fighting chance.
Posted by: shoot them all | Nov 5, 2021 3:24:54 PM
end this crap now SHOOT THEM ALLL
Posted by: Robb | Nov 5, 2021 4:22:52 PM
@Clear and Focus... Clearly your post name is of a hidden agenda. First off These protesters are in direct conflict with the same people they are defending. Now you want to blame the police? Would you appreciate a lawless land? Chaotic society that uses intimdation as a means to control? It is your thoughts and opinions why we have such difficulties in persuing a proper and just society. We live in a community that all actions must be coherent to the people involved hence the restaurant owner. The owner can't come out and blame the protesters directly for his restaurant might be subjected to physical abuse. There are better ways to address situations and one is that the people have a ligitimate right to take a class action lawsuit against corporate greed even though the politicians do not want to pursue.
Posted by: ron | Nov 5, 2021 5:15:23 PM
What a bunch of whiners the occupy losers are. I bet when or if they mature and get a well paying job they won't ask for a reduction of wage to benefit the poor, NOT A CHANCE! History shows it.
Dana: if they can buy beer, dope, and holidays they can pay their debt not someone else paying for it, its called doing without and since when does everyone else owe them a living. Yes, everyone deserves food and shelter and the governments do help and who do they get the money from, none other than the ones who make the money and pay taxes whether personal or corporate.
Posted by: Vert | Nov 5, 2021 7:03:19 PM
Since no one is asking questions other than when will it end I will ask one. In regards to those who feel the protesters are a huddled mass of fiscal losers, who are entrenched in debt they cannot escape: Why should we believe that it is fine to bail corporations and banks out of debt, while accepting that families and individuals must be held accountable to their debts owed to banks/government?
Wouldnt it be amazing to create a continuous spendthrift mentality, where we are not responsible for our blatant corruption and exploitation of capitol? (/sarcasm)
Posted by: KV | Nov 5, 2021 7:21:22 PM
Get a job ya bums. Nobody that works feels the same way. Go hug a tree or get your welfare check all your doing is wasting everyones time. Oh sorry not yours cause you dont have a job,a house or a purpose. Just shoot yourself and get it over with LOSERS!
Posted by: KV | Nov 5, 2021 7:24:11 PM
Another great example is a junkie overdosing in his tent in vancouver and some loser with noserings representing the movement making stupid comments. Junkies,bums and Losers PERIOD.
Posted by: KV | Nov 5, 2021 7:27:54 PM
The best thing to do is send in the riot squad beat em and tear gas em done deal the real 99 percent want this form of justice. These bum losers represent the bottom feeding social misfits that gave up on sociey along time ago. The working class is NOT behind you trust me