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Ear to the Ground

Frequently Asked Questions About the Wall Street Protests

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Posted on Oct 3, 2011
_PaulS_ (CC-BY)

Protesters march in Manhattan’s financial district Sept. 26.

Who’s in charge? What are the protesters’ demands? How big is the movement? How can I get involved? Answers to these and other basic questions about the ongoing occupation of Wall Street are offered by The Nation magazine’s Nathan Schneider.

Peter Rothberg, also with The Nation, gives a succinct list of practical and direct ways to support the protest, beginning with: “Get to Liberty Plaza to join those that Occupy Wall St. if you can.” Other suggestions include ways to donate money and supplies and spread the word.  —ARK

The Nation:

Some news reports have been painting the protesters as unfocused, or worse, as hopelessly confused and uninformed. Is there any truth to that?

Sure. In a world as complex as ours, we’re all uninformed about most things, even if we know about a few. I remember a police officer remarking of the protesters on the first or second day, “They think they know everything!” That’s how young people generally are. But in this case, noticing the over-concentration of wealth around Wall Street and its outsized influence in politics does not require a detailed grasp of what a hedge fund does or the current selling price of Apple stock. One thing that distinguishes these protesters is precisely their hope that a better world is possible. I might add that, for many Americans, such nonviolent direct action is the only chance of having a political voice, and it deserves to be taken seriously by those of us in the press.

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By gerard, October 4, 2011 at 9:53 am Link to this comment

Actuallly, the most difficult, yet the most essential directive is the one about “Occupy Your Own Head.”

Americans haven’t been doing that for years.  They have gone where they have been led—into wars upon wars, exploitation after exploitation, destruction hee, destruction there—all at the behest of propaganda paid for by government and business and issued out of the mouths of major media.

Occupy Your Own Head means:  Ask questions, study, research, listen to alternatives, respect differences, be fair, beware of laziness, think outside the box, follow the money, don’t be afraid, don’t fly off the handle—all that and more. It’s brand new territory to most Americans who have been self-satisfied and impulsive for far too long.

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By gerard, October 4, 2011 at 9:53 am Link to this comment

Actuallly, the most difficult, yet the most essential directive is the one about “Occupy Your Own Head.”

Americans haven’t been doing that for years.  They have gone where they have been led—into wars upon wars, exploitation after exploitation, destruction hee, destruction there—all at the behest of propaganda paid for by government and business and issued out of the mouths of major media.

Occupy Your Own Head means:  Ask questions, study, research, listen to alternatives, respect differences, be fair, beware of laziness, think outside the box, follow the money, don’t be afraid, don’t fly off the handle—all that and more. It’s brand new territory to most Americans who have been self-satisfied and impulsive for far too long.

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John R.'s avatar

By John R., October 4, 2011 at 7:41 am Link to this comment

@ Robespierre115

Agreed.

Winter will soon be here, and these temperatures are looking grim.

We need all the help and publicity we can get.

Most of all, encouragement, from our mentors here on truthdig.

Thank you gentlemen.

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Samson's avatar

By Samson, October 4, 2011 at 7:36 am Link to this comment

First hint.  When all the comments appear telling you
that this can’t work .... go out and make it work. 
Don’t listen to those who tell you constantly that
any attempt for change can not succeed.

This is all across the country.  Another thing
TruthDig doesn’t seem to want you to know. 
#occupytogether Find a city near you.  You are much
better off joining an occupation than you are reading
silly, ineffective liberals on the internet.

Amazing how TD and the Nation manage to repeat all
the smears against the protest by the bankers
friends.  Then again, both told you to go vote for
Wall Street’s Obama last time.  You figure it out.

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By Philo T Bedoh, October 3, 2011 at 3:26 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

When FOX News actually interviewed someone @ Occupy Wall Street, they had to go back and MAKE IT ALL UP: From The Gothamist http://gothamist.com/2011/10/03/video_fox_news_meets_intelligent_wa.php

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By Spartacus, October 3, 2011 at 2:32 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

@Robespierre115
I doubt this will spread out into working class zones
since working class’ condition in U.S. is abject
slavery. They have 30 years mortgage and 2 kids and
happy to have a petty job. Such thing might be possible if Unions throw their support behind this
movement.

Moreover, working class in U.S. is unconscious of
itself and totally bought into sophistic arguments as
to how U.S. is a classless society.

I fear the same thing that this will turn into Ron
Paul mania.

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Robespierre115's avatar

By Robespierre115, October 3, 2011 at 1:49 pm Link to this comment

If it branches out into the rural, working class zones, this could spark a real prairie fire. Let’s hope it retains its edge and doesn’t turn into some “Vote For Ron Paul” loon fest.

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cpb's avatar

By cpb, October 3, 2011 at 12:25 pm Link to this comment

“I might add that, for many Americans, such nonviolent
direct action is the only chance of having a political
voice, and it deserves to be taken seriously by those of
us in the press.”

Damn straight!

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