A Chance to Explore Our Democracy
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Call me “naive,” according to Geoff Cutler’s article (“Why the Occupy Folks Will Fail,” Nov. 20), but I intend to be there on Dec. 10, in the Southern Pines Downtown Park with Occupy Moore participants.
While I do not approve of certain Occupy Wall Street groups taking residency in their place of protest, I applaud their message that things have to change in our country in regard to social and economic inequality, corporate greed and corruption.
While Mr. Cutler seems to enjoy the “frivolity” of describing the demonstrators as young people who don’t wash or brush their teeth, I have heard from many people who have attended the sessions that the crowds have included our military, police, firemen, teachers and grandparents. Only cutting taxes and balancing the budget will not solve the major problems that are still with us.
The too-big-to-fail institutions are now bigger than ever, and the bank regulations that were to be put in place are being demonized by the same people who got us in the mess in the first place.
I am not against capitalism. I am just against people in charge who cause their companies to lose billions but still manage to walk away with money provided by U.S. tax-
payers.
Will showing up on Dec. 10 change all this? I’m not that naive, but we all have to start somewhere, and what better way to begin than to meet my neighbors and listen to what they have to say?
Thank you, Kevin Smith, for signing the permit application, and thank you, Moore organizers, for giving us a chance to explore our democracy.
By the way, I would classify myself as a retired business owner and a grandparent, too. I also brush my teeth and shower at least once a day.
Christine Lefevre
Pinehurst
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Comments
JER 1 year, 5 months ago
Good for you, Ms. Lefevre. I'm sure there will be many folks just like you in attendance. The Cutler crowd are very afraid of the Occupy movement and do their best to paint everyone involved as scum. They are the worst kind of hypocrites. Out of one side of their mouth comes their demands for a "return to the constitution". Out of the other side of their mouth comes demands to put an end to people expressing their views unless it's a view they like. I suppose when you belong to a party that has candidates that can't seem to be popular with their constituents for more than a week, you have to have something to occupy your attention. And Republicans have always been best at being against something rather than for something.
JER 1 year, 5 months ago
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The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
While I do not approve of certain Occupy Wall Street groups taking residency in their place of protest, I applaud their message that things have to change in our country in regard to social and economic inequality, corporate greed and corruption.
Do tell me. Where in the US Constitution does it guarentee you social and economic equality. I belive that the o wait ill just print the exact text thats better.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,[note 1] promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
hmm i dont see it there. Maybe in the Declaration?
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
Nope dont see it there either. As it states you ave the RIGHT to PURSUE not the right to be granted. Before opening your mouth know what you are speaking of.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
The framers may well have envisioned a two-class society with a few hundred supremely rich families and hundreds of millions of poor people, but they left the tools in the Constitution to keep that from happening or repair the damage if it did. Feel free to try stopping us.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
wdd101st, what Stewart did was illegal. Insider trading by congresspeople is not. There's a difference.
JER 1 year, 5 months ago
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The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
the framers of the constituion gave people upward mobility. They did not given them health care and a guarenteed check when we turn 65.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
Not a problem, AP. Congress took care of that for us.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
im a harlyman the oc movement has been the site of rapes murders robberies along with civil disobedience, racism, public displays of sexual intercorse public displays of bodily function along with amyraid of other things. How is vassdue out of order by pointing these things out?
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
Jim just because someone does something does not make it right.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
Occupy is active in every major city in the country. Please name one that doesn't have to cope with your list of burdens.
BTW - The NYPD has been sending drunks and homeless people into the Occupy area to cause trouble. Those dirty hippies have reacted by helping get counseling and other assistance to them.
Just the sort of thing you might expect from scumbags.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
AP - Just because you disagree with it doesn't make it wrong.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
this is very true jim. If what i dissagreed with was wrong then this country would be alot different then it is today for better or for worse. Also your above post is a poor one. Bring us facts jim not hearsay. Your smarter then that
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
AP - Oh, and your list was factual? Ha!
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
my list has been confirmed by police citations and arrests so yes i would say mine if factual. arrests and citations are public record here are a few of the more heinious ones
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/female-protester-raped-at-occupy-philadelphia-camp-suspect-in-custody/
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/282993/occupy-wall-street-blotter-nathaniel-botwinick
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/alleged-occupy-protester-caught-pooping-on-seattle-sidewalk/
there are just a few i can show you alot more
geoffcutler 1 year, 5 months ago
Good for you, Ms. Lefevre. I'm sure there will be many folks just like you in attendance. The Cutler crowd are very afraid of the Occupy movement and do their best to paint everyone involved as scum. They are the worst kind of hypocrites. JER
And you, JER, are an offender of the worst kind of hyperbole. Curb the anger and read the piece.
Ms. Lefevre, sorry if my levity offended you. I'm more than happy you'll have your day to demonstrate and "explore our Democracy." It's the movement's exploration of Marxism that concerns me. Ill gotten gains, greed, exploitation, insider trading, all those things are bad, and the SEC needs to do a better job. But when one starts talking about inequality of wealth, and redistributing that wealth, they are talking the age old struggle of proletariat versus bourgeoisie. We have seen the damage of how this struggle played out across Eastern Europe and parts of Asia, and it wasn't pretty. You'll forgive those of your critics who do not fully embrace this movement.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
AP, and you can show me proof that those arrested were a) guilty, and b) active in the Occupy movement. Alrighty then.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
denial is always the first step.
geoffcutler 1 year, 5 months ago
Not a problem, AP. Congress took care of that for us Jim Heim
Don't count your chickens, Jim. Congress did not take care of this on their own free will, and this isn't over by a long shot. You've got the next Republican president, and the Supreme Court who are going to have their say before this, the worst piece of legislation ever passed, is laid in stone.
fugitiveguy 1 year, 5 months ago
"I applaud their message that things have to change in our country in regard to social and economic inequality, corporate greed and corruption."
Don't forget the bloated, corrupt and ineffective federal government. This seems to be lost on the OWS groups.
JER 1 year, 5 months ago
wdd101st: Hate to be picky but the response you made 4 hours and 47 minutes ago is incorrect. I did not make the comments that you have singled me out as having made. Guess you were too busy to get it right but that's a common problem with many who post.
JER 1 year, 5 months ago
geoffcutler: Re your exchange with Jim Heim concerning his "congress took care of that" reply to your new favorite, AP: I believe AP was talking about Social Security and Medicare in his original comment to which Jim replied "Don't worry.....". Your comment to Jim that starts out: "Don't count your chickens, Jim..." seems to be talking about "Obamacare". Or maybe you really do think that if you had a Republican president, a Republican congress and the "right" Supreme Court they would do away with Social Security and Medicare. If that is what you really meant, please let us know because there are a great many "boomers" getting ready to collect on these programs that they paid into during their working careers. Please let us know before the 2012 elections, since it may effect how we vote.
geoffcutler 1 year, 5 months ago
He said, "They did not given them healthcare" (and) a guarenteed check etc.
MikeNC 1 year, 5 months ago
I would like to correct the statement made as to Republicans always against something. Republicans are for giving a person a hand up, rather than a hand out. Republicans are for trying to balance our Nation's budget. Most Republicans are for addressing our Social Security system that is on a collision course with disaster within the next twenty years. The list goes on, but Above all, Republicans are for free markets and free enterprise so that you and any other American who wishes to reach the peek of their desires to succeed, can do so, with limited government interference. (yes I agree with check and balance, but institutions such as the EPA have reached the pinnacle of stiffling job creation with NO check and balance put on their regulations and rules.)The problem I have with most of the Left is this: They demand social justice and a desire to see our country become more Socialistic.But they tend to loosely use the word Socialism, without regard to it's true definition. Socialism is where EVERYONE contributes. I see the Left in America, rather pick and choose, who will get social justice and who will then pay for it. Diane
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
Sorry MikeNC, Social Security does not have any serious problems. If nothing is done, SS costs will go from 6% of GDP to 7%. That is not a crisis. Health care costs will be going from 10% of GDP to 24% in the same period. That's a problem.
If you want to solidify Social Security's financing simply raise the ceiling on FICA. Easy. And fair. After all, life expectancy is increasing for upper-income people not those at the bottom.
Right-wingers have a habit of choking on the trivial and blowing right past the important. That's why they do so poorly at governing.
Courseaire 1 year, 5 months ago
Give the Left more money and they will either spend it or use it as collateral to increase the debt. This is the main reason the Wealthy and Republicans are against a higher marginal tax rate. If the higher rate was used to actually decrease the debt, they wouldn't be so opposed to it, unfortunately, with the money in the hands of the Left, it will just disappear with no change.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
Kuddos to MikeNC.
snookyone 1 year, 5 months ago
It’s as if our gridlocked congress has shown up in the comments section of The Pilot! Methinks some of you just like to make noise!
Thank you, Christine, for expressing the purpose of OCCUPY MOORE - to encourage neighbors and friends to "turn off the noise" and "explore our democracy".
snookyone 1 year, 5 months ago
VassDude: Fact Check Time! "During 2009, total benefits of $686 billion were paid out versus income (taxes and interest) of $807 billion, a $121 billion annual surplus. An estimated 156 million people paid into the program and 53 million received benefits, roughly 2.94 workers per beneficiary." - 2010 Social Security Trustees Report Summary Press Release - Wiki
skylinefirepest 1 year, 5 months ago
Hey, Honda dude...your posts are always some of the snottiest things to read! Why don't you lighten up and join the conversations with a little diplomacy and tact? I realize that you looooonie lefties always argue by name calling but give us a break for a minute, ok? And are you sure you're not the viper just under another name??
buddysmith 1 year, 5 months ago
i wish they would protest the 4 cents a gallon gas tax the state is about to dump on us soon. we are already the highest, per gallon, taxed in the southeast. 7 more years in this state and I will bid it goodbye and good luck to you all who want to stay here. maybe we should change the name from North Carolina to Little Jersey, or Eastern California, seeing the state wants to tax us into oblivion as those states do now!
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
VassDud - Did no one tell you that we Boomers prepaid our Social Security? Do you think that facts change just because you wish they would? The fact is that Social Security represents a trifle under 5% of GDP today and will rise to 6% where it will stay for the rest of the century. That's what the SS actuaries say. Go ahead, tell us how much smarter you are than a bunch of egghead PhD's.
The shortfall is so slight that a small rise in the FICA ceiling will fix it. Do you have facts to refute that?
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
Oh no! Not four cents a gallon! Don't they know we don't need paved roads anymore. Why keep fixing them. We love potholes.
buddysmith 1 year, 5 months ago
havent seen a pothole anywhere around here heim, people like you are exactly why we are imploding as a nation. tax and spend, tax and spend, tax and spend, tax and spend, and then blah, blah, blah, and we need more taxes for eduction, blah, blah, blah, and to spend more on social services, and blah blah blah, and more taxes to make our felons comfortable, blah, blah, blah, and 4 more cents per gallon tax on our already outrageous gas tax to build 4 lane roads through biscoe, and 4 lanes including eastbound 211. and we need more taxes to help pay for a million dollar guardrail that goes a total of 3.5 miles, and blah blah more taxes keep our elected officials more comfortable in raleigh, and dont forget more taxes for building more outerloops for I-40 in Raleigh, and blah blah and then blah!!!! you have to be a democrat and i dont even know you!!!
buddysmith 1 year, 5 months ago
heim, you know why they fired the democrat at the M&M factory? he kept throwing away the W's!!