http://www.alternet.org/occupywallst/152782/10_craziest_things_said_about_occupy_wall_street_/
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Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his
own eyes. -- Proverbs 26.5
What an embarrassment of riches we found in compiling this list. So
far, Occupy Wall Street has outlasted, outmaneuvered and generally
flummoxed critics at every turn. The peaceful, patient protesters
march on, while those who support the status quo turn apoplectic. The
following selections are by no means comprehensive, but here, in no
particular order, are 10 of the craziest things we've heard so far
about the movement that has taken an abusive system by its lapels and
said: "Enough already!"
1. What, Me Worry?
The out-of-touch medal must go to Wall Street financiers whose tenuous
grasp of reality leads them to conclude that the protests have nothing
to do with them. You might think that the name of said protest would
serve as subtle hint. But apparently obtuseness is as plentiful as
arrogance on Wall Street. The smartest guys in the room have taken a
smoke break.
In a recent New York Times report, one Wall Street champion sums up
his view: "'I don't think we see ourselves as the target,' said Steve
Bartlett, president of the Financial Services Roundtable, which
represents the nation's biggest banks and insurers in Washington. 'I
think they're protesting about the economy. What's lost is that the
financial services sector has to be well capitalized and well financed
for the economy to recover.'"
What's lost, Mr. Bartlett, is your mind if you think that the protests
have nothing to do with you and your rapacious clients.
2. The Anti-Semitic Meme
David Brooks earns a slot here for promoting this nasty little meme,
having launched it on the op ed page of the New York Times, no less.
After dismissing the protests as "inconsequential," he observes that
"this uprising was sparked by the magazine Adbusters, previously best
known for the 2004 essay, 'Why Won't Anyone Say They Are Jewish?' --
an investigative report that identified some of the most influential
Jews in America and their nefarious grip on policy."
Hmm. The movement seems to be "consequential" enough to panic Brooks
into scaring up a seven-year-old magazine article in support of his
smear campaign. Accusations of anti-Semitism are a tired ploy of
conservatives who have severe allergic reactions to popular movements.
Perhaps if Brooks actually attended any of the gatherings and marches,
he might ask the Jewish OWS protesters how they feel about his charge.
They are plentiful in the 99 percent.
3. The Billionaire's Lament
It took the high-rolling mayor of New York, whose fortune has
levitated from sale of his "Bloomberg boxes" to Wall Street, to accuse
the protesters of picking the wrong target. Guess you gotta defend
your constituency! In a mind-bender of an interview with radio host
John Gambling, Mayor Bloomberg complains of unfeeling attacks on the
impoverished souls toiling in the financial district. "The protesters
are protesting against people who make $40,000 and $50,000 year and
are struggling to make ends meet."
Really? It should be pretty obvious that the protesters are not
pointing the finger at Wall Street receptionists. The median salary of
a stockbroker is $80,000 per year, and of course it only goes up from
there.
Memo to Mayor: Gargantuan Wall Street salaries helped tank the
economy. And even as regulators have tried to rein in bonuses,
banksters simply jack up base pay rates. At Goldman Sachs, the base
salary for managing directors has jumped to $500,000 from $300,000
since the crisis. If that's "struggling," we'd like to sign up for it.
4. The Communist Conspiracy Kooks
Deserving of a whole list all his own, the certifiable Glenn Beck
serves up the latest in a long history of right-wing attacks on
anything that ordinary people do to improve their lot. In the world
according to Beck, the protesters are card-carrying Communists who
wish to destroy the global economy.
^^^^^
CB: Actually , they are spontaneous communists headed toward world revolution
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