Those ‘Occupiers’: Searching Wall Street For a New Scapegoat
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EDITOR'S NOTE: This is another of a series in which Moore County’s Republican and Democratic party chairmen address various political issues.
During times of crisis and social upheaval, people have always looked for “scapegoats.”
The most famous of these incidents came after World War I, when a former corporal in the German army decided to blame all the country’s woes on a single religious group, which he then tried to exterminate.
To a lesser extent, this has occurred throughout human history. Whether it was Salem blaming its problems on witches or Romans blaming their problems on Christians, it has always been popular to blame problems on groups of people easily demonized rather than solve the problem itself.
To a large extent, that is the drama being played out on Wall Street in demonstrations and civil disobedience.
Demanding punishment for investors who put their money at risk in the free enterprise system is simplistic, but popular. It makes for good film clips and enticing sound bites. It may even result in votes for a beleaguered Democratic Party. But in reality, it is pure scapegoating in its “great” historical tradition.
There are many reasons why, since President Obama took office, America still finds itself in its most significant crisis since the Great Depression. The Federal Reserve is printing and the federal government is spending money that neither has nor expects to get anytime soon.
Europe is also printing euros to bail out Swiss, German and French banks faster than Lance Armstrong can bike to Paris on a double dose of steroids. Democrats in the United States Senate are even pushing a bill to force the higher valuation of the Chinese yuan.
In other words, both Europe and the United States are racing to devalue their currency into worthlessness more worthy of Zimbabwe. This devaluation of the dollar actually raises the cost of food and other necessities for the poor, creating an invisible inflationary tax on those least able to afford it.
If the truth were really known by the Wall Street protesters, they would join the tea party trying to occupy Pennsylvania Avenue and the United States Senate. But how do you tell a mob that they “scaped” the wrong goat?
Although it may be new to Americans, America’s crisis is not a new one for the world. Overspending governments hiring bunches of needless bureaucrats and borrowing money to pay for it is an old story in foreign affairs. Just as in Greece, it seems that everyone is dependent upon government in some way.
Many are convinced that American citizenship not only entitles one to the bounty of the American Dream but also entitles the recipient to have someone else pay for it. Today that payor for everyone’s dream is a Wall Street trader. Tomorrow it may be a Charlotte bank. The only requirement is that it is “someone else” who must be blamed, taxed and have his devalued property confiscated in the name of the state.
The “occupation” of Wall Street and similar social upheaval is not unexpected. These demonstrators are crying out for leadership to solve our financial crisis, and all they see is a president campaigning for re-election, blaming others for his inability to solve the problems he pledged to eliminate.
Driven by ideology and as America was bleeding job losses by the millions, he decided to direct America’s energy toward socialization of health care on borrowed money rather than the creation of jobs so that workers could pay for their own health care.
He concentrated on saving the jobs for government unions rather than creating jobs for the unemployed private sector workers, people who actually made something. He borrowed money to expand food stamps and chase phantom green energy when the real need was to reduce spending and provide enough tax cuts to spur private sector growth.
Employed workers do not need government. They can pay for both food and fuel without welfare.
What is happening on Wall Street is the equivalent of hoards of dissatisfied citizens simply opening their windows and yelling, “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.” They are looking for the leadership that our president cannot provide even to them, his most liberal former supporters.
Instead, they follow his scapegoating of unpopular bankers, investors and the so called “rich,” creating nothing more significant than street theater and solving nothing more significant than boredom on a slow news day.
We can actually learn something from those demonstrating in lower Manhattan. It is that not only conservatives but liberals too are frustrated by President Obama and his incompetence in the face of crisis.
Protesters should find no satisfaction in the creation of scapegoats or taxing the poor with the inflation of currency devaluation. Conservatives see no gain by creating false blame. Yet together, tea party conservatives and Wall Street protesters are telling the Obama administration that Americans will not easily give up their liberty to Washington incompetence and that they want “better” for America than Barack Hussein Obama.
From New York to Nome, and Palm Beach to Pearl Harbor, for many diverse reasons, people are simply mad as hell, and they will not elect him anymore.
Robert M. Levy is chairman of the Moore County Republican party. Contact him at Law52@prodigy.net.
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Comments
ProudYankee 1 year, 7 months ago
I was amazed at how quickly you turned a commentary on the public dis-satisfaction with corporate Americas takeover of the government, through lobbying and influence pedaling, into your usual anti Obama screed. These people are upset at the whole system, and the Republican sell-out to corporate interests is high on their list of grievances. Kudos to you for getting to the usual Tea Party Nazi comment in only the second paragraph.
native 1 year, 7 months ago
OK Republicans, put someone out there that we could possible vote for and we will. Please...so far no one is on the horizon..You need to dig a little deeper in your gene pool. I am registered Independent and am waiting for someone to come along that i might possible believe when they say something. Also someone who has a decent idea of how to get us out of this mess...So far I have not seen a viable candidate....
JeremyG 1 year, 7 months ago
The fact is the entire system has failed and that is why the Occupiers are out there. The government is owned by the likes of Goldman Sachs and those in the top 1%. Our vote is essentially deciding which corporations and/or special interest groups you like better. The game is rigged in favor of those top few hundred that hold the combined wealth of 150 million Americans. This in conjunction with coporate personhood (Citizens United) and seemingly endless war at the cost of our future are reasons why people are taking to the streets. It is these reasons I have taken part in Occupy Raleigh.
TreadLightly 1 year, 7 months ago
One has to notice that through many changes back and forth from Dem to Rep administrations the march of progressive agenda goes on. They are all in the same game.
The tea party rose to fill that void. Expect some rough edges here and there, but it beats more progressives.
JeremyG 1 year, 7 months ago
The tea party is funded by billionaires and from what I have seen has aligned itself often with corporate interests. They seem to be more of just an extension of the GOP. I am generally more progressive so I am not a Tea Party supporter.
Toda 1 year, 7 months ago
Again Bob Levy is trumpeting the voice of the wealthy. Michelle Bachmann is once again blaming the White House for any group who opposes corporate Americas influence over government. Here is a list of just a few of her contributors from opensecrets.org: Top 5 Contributors, 2009-2010, Campaign Cmte Contributor Total Indivs PACs Target Corp $19,950 $18,950 $1,000 Starkey Laboratories $18,400 $18,400 $0 Hubbard Broadcasting $16,400 $16,400 $0 Deloitte LLP $15,500 $9,500 $6,000 Honeywell International $15,050 $5,050 $10,000 ...view more data Top 5 Industries, 2009-2010, Campaign Cmte Industry Total Indivs PACs Retired $912,333 $912,333 $0 Republican/Conservative $437,374 $382,067 $55,307 Securities & Investment $141,714 $136,714 $5,000 Health Professionals $140,040 $127,540 $12,500 Real Estate $128,746 $117,746 $11,000
Facts speak louder than words. She's on the take as well as the rest of those elected to represent American Citizens. Here's your link: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00027493&cycle=2010
MikeNC 1 year, 7 months ago
And while your at it Toda....check out Barrack Obama's financial figures....Waaaay more than bachmann even dreams about getting. Until America changes campaign reform; this is what we will continue to get. I think campaign financial reform is more important than term limits. I have totals listed. You can click on the link provided to see some totals broke down....Mike
1989 - 2010 Total Receipts: $841,926,196 1989 - 2010 Total Spent: $789,036,224 Debts: $0 Last Report: Thursday, June 30, 2011
Top 5 Contributors, 2004 - 2010 Contributor Total University of California $1,678,492 Goldman Sachs $1,117,341 Harvard University $971,045 JPMorgan Chase & Co $885,824 Microsoft Corp $884,367
...view more data Top 5 Industries, 2004 - 2010 Industry Total Lawyers/Law Firms $50,995,982 Retired $49,667,734
Education $26,705,533 Securities & Investment $18,229,508 Misc Business $17,840,652
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00009638&cycle=Career
MikeNC 1 year, 7 months ago
JeremyG: And we're to assume George Soros and Warren Buffet are bag men who opened a bag one day filled with money and gave it to President Obama and the Democrat party, right?
JeremyG 1 year, 7 months ago
They are not affiliated with Occupy Wall Street.
MikeNC 1 year, 7 months ago
JeremyG: so the whole system has failed and you want to replace it with what?
JeremyG 1 year, 7 months ago
Replace it with a system where private money is completely out of politics. No special interest group, lobbying, or corporate donations allowed. I would like a system where you don't have to be rich to attain high office, and where you don't need a budget of a small nation to run for President. I would like a system that is not owned and operated by the wealthiest few.
Toda 1 year, 7 months ago
MikeNC 1 hour, 54 minutes ago
MikeNC 1 year, 7 months ago
Toda...You are correct. And when you say..."if they are in Washington, they are being fed from a golden spoon by special interest groups. The people have no control over politics or politicians any longer." .....That is exactly why the demonstration belongs in Washington; where the politicians are located. That might get their attention. Politicians are getting huge sums of campaign and slush money from wall street. There's plenty of other shenanigans going on in washington right now that is costing the tax payer plenty. Them protestors could do some serious multi tasking there....Mike
alladat1 1 year, 7 months ago
The Tea Party rose to fill the void left from the KKK.
concerned 1 year, 7 months ago
I guess that explains why so many of us support Herman Cain
FaithinUSA 1 year, 7 months ago
The two party system needs to go I see no difference between the two parties. They are both leading us down the same path to destruction as a society and as a country. It may be time for the American people to take OUR country back. IMJS
Courseaire 1 year, 7 months ago
Alladat1 - Your statement shows your bias and total lack of any intelligence.
alladat1 1 year, 7 months ago
This shows lack of intelligence: "We can actually learn something from those demonstrating in lower Manhattan. It is that not only conservatives but liberals too are frustrated by President Obama and his incompetence in the face of crisis." These people are not occupying Washington or the White House - are they - they are against corporate greed.
justmyopinion 1 year, 7 months ago
They don't have an agenda.
alladat1 1 year, 7 months ago
Also, if my bias is not being racist like the Tea Party - I'm guilty as charged. These protestors are not carrying signs that portray Obama as a Nazi.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 7 months ago
These protestors are not carrying signs that portray Obama as a Nazi.
Or a witch doctor with a bone through his nose.
MikeNC 1 year, 7 months ago
Yea alladart1....Them protestors are fine folks being encouraged by our President, Nancy Pelosi and many others as shown in this link. Notice that they say they are holding back many photos because of the graphic nature. You need to fact check the TEA and what they are all about....Mike http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2046586/Occupy-Wall-Street-Shocking-photos-protester-defecating-POLICE-CAR.html
dustyrhoades 1 year, 7 months ago
According to eye witnesses, when people ran to tell nearby police about the man defecating on the squad car they were ignored
Sure. The NYPD just ignored people reporting someone defecating on one of their cars. I call shenanigans.
Oh, and the second pic of garbage piling up in the street? I've been to Manhattan long before the protests (last time was in 2009) and I regularly saw garbage bags stacked higher than my head in piles that ran twenty feet down the sidewalk, all over the place, including a couple of blocks from Grand Central. That pic is CLEAN for New York.
RmeMP 1 year, 7 months ago
hey there, "non of dat"... you leftiers are going to have to come up with something new besides unfounded racism charges against the tea party - hard to be a racist when you are supporting herman cain!!!
btw - he is 100% black, unlike oblunder, who is only half black :)
fugitiveguy 1 year, 7 months ago
In my opinion those who try to besmirch conservatives or tea partiers as racist are mentally on par with those who have the "911 was an inside job stickers on their vehicles", those type of posts should not be dignified with a response.
MikeNC 1 year, 7 months ago
Don't forget, that we who are supporting Cain, are paying Cain off to run. If Soros isn't funding Obama, Jeremy needs to google moveon.org owned by Soros and see that the org was 70% for Obama with lots of campaign pledge sites. And Jeremy may of forgotten that many a wall street and bank company also contributed to Obama and don't forget that it was Obama who promised to stop the "special interests" who are still filing into the White House 24/7. Of course the left never carried signs portraying Bush as Hitler, now did they? And where is the proof of your insane, idiotic and childish remark,alladat1, that the Tea Party is a new KKK movement? It is people like you, with those bigoted comments that will one day throw this country into chaos. Which I do think about, when either Cain or Romney become president in 2013. Perhaps your goal is to see race riots and citites burning like they did in the 60s and 70s. To Native: President Obama is somehow better than the GOP candidates? What don't you like about Herman Cain? A non poilitician, who overcame bigotry and racism in the South, worked three jobs, put himself through college, scrubbed out toilets and clawed his way to the top, and was sought after by to top cooporations because he had knowledge and know how. The least you can do, is check him out on wikipedia for a quick background check. Diane
JeremyG 1 year, 7 months ago
First off actually using paragraphs might be useful when composing your opinions. Also if you actually read what I wrote you would see I said Occupy Wall St. is not affiliated with Soros or moveon.org as much as they may want to try and hijack. I also don't recall saying anywhere that I am supporting Obama in 2012. The truth is I am not. I was all for him 2008 but he let me down. He is bought and paid for just as much as anyone else. Finally If you don't think your lousy GOP field is also bought you are dreaming. As for Herman Cain part of his platform is tax cuts for the wealthy just like every other Republican and I can't get behind that.
teufelhunden 1 year, 7 months ago
All boils down to this:
Fundamentally change America + redistribution of wealth + anti-American (no matter what color)common thug mentors=Oh Hell No=the TEA Party movement
Toda 1 year, 7 months ago
Thanks Mike for the link...Wall Street is full of it the considerate America is just adding his little bit of ire to the pile the banks are making from our government. "Coming down hard: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) and NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly have promised a crackdown"
JER 1 year, 7 months ago
MikeNC (Diane): See you are back on the Cain bandwagon. Good for you. If you recall, you dropped your Cain support when the big cowboy announced his run. I believe you said at the time that you still liked Cain but you felt the guy with the swagger had a better chance. Glad to see you have returned to your original choice, although I do wonder if you would have switched to the big guy from New Jersey had he decided to walk (he obviously was not capable of a "run"). I will be delighted to see Cain be the Republican nominee so stick with him and get all your friends to do the same.
Roorke 1 year, 7 months ago
For a good laugh watch this from Brietbart News. These people are really letting leaders know who's in charge.
http://www.breitbart.tv/tea-partiers-invade-occupy-dc-mock-protesters/
teufelhunden 1 year, 7 months ago
They need to get their tails back to work. The irony of it all...
dustyrhoades 1 year, 7 months ago
Why Herman Cain is the perfect candidate for the wing of the GOP that takes pride in being ignorant:
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2011/10/09/339879/cain-uzbekistan-beki-beki-stan-stan/
The man disdains being informed and speaks in bumper sticker slogans. Of course the rubes love him.
Weedhopper 1 year, 7 months ago
Wealth is being redistributed - upwards. Until the late 70s, wages increased with productivity. That made sense since profits went up as a result. Since Reagan, wages have not nearly kept up and for the past thirty years, they have been declining to the point that just in the past ten years the median family income has dropped ten percent.
Income for the upper one percent has been skyrocketing. How is that fair, and how is that good for the American economy? Are we really to become just serfs, existing on the generosity of our betters?
justmyopinion 1 year, 7 months ago
Exactly teufelhunden- They should all get jobs and rename themselves "occupy a place at work." These people are a disgrace.
RmeMP 1 year, 7 months ago
@weedhopper:
So let me get this straight... You are mad that people who own a successful company are wealthy? The people who took chances on starting a company who only makes money when people like you and I purchase their goods or services? You don't think that is "fair" that they get to save/spend their money however they want to?
Then I tell you what... Stop buying stuff, go move to a local forest and provide for yourself for a while - that will show those evil people who made smart decisions with their money (unlike you and the rest the hippies who don't even understand what they're doing).
Ps - let me know how that works out fer ya :)
Weedhopper 1 year, 7 months ago
@RmeMP - So I guess I can put you in the "Americans should be grateful for jobs and happily work for minimum wage for people who are exploiting the fact that the rest of us paid to educate their workforce and pay army and police and firefighters who protect their facilities." Is that about right?
I assume you are either a company owner, guaranteed a low- or no-tax profit, or a lowly serf lucky to have a minimum-wage job.
RmeMP 1 year, 7 months ago
@weedhopper:
Actually no. I do not own a company; I am a military vet who went to school and got a degree after I got out of the military and I have a great job which I worked hard at to get several promotions over the years that I have worked there; o yea, I also save money and purchase things when I can afford to vs running up numerous credit card debts that I know I can't pay for.
Life really isn't that hard if you apply yourself.
Ps - I also don't get angry at rich people out of jealousy
Pss - I have been to third world countries and I have seen people with real reasons to demonstrate... Have you? It's not that bad here, be grateful instead of so full of anger and you'd be surprised at how awesome it is to live in such a great nation :)
fugitiveguy 1 year, 7 months ago
"The man disdains being informed and speaks in bumper sticker slogans. Of course the rubes love him."
LOL, this from the party of "hope and change" and "yes we can"
fugitiveguy 1 year, 7 months ago
"people who are exploiting the fact that the rest of us paid to educate their workforce and pay army and police and firefighters who protect their facilities." Is that about right?"
It would be interesting to see just how much or little taxes those who spout this nonsense pay. Under this type of logic one would think the worst thing that could happen to a town would be for a new factory to open which of course is nonsense.
fugitiveguy 1 year, 7 months ago
I feel bad for those who have smoked themselves stupid with marijuana as well as those who decided to take a pass on getting some education and just cannot figure out how they missed out on getting a good paying job. Its just not fair I tell you, its just not fair.
JimHeim 1 year, 7 months ago
RmeMP - Wow, you must be a really good worker. 80% of Americans (maybe 40-45 million) haven't had a productivity raise in thirty years, even though they've nearly doubled their profitability, and you're doing just great.
Kind of reminds me of the recently fired CEO of HP. After eleven months of incompetence, he was booted out with a $125 million send-off. He must have worked really hard, too.
Of course, not a penny of that severance package came from the board that gave it to him. It came from the stockholders (Or more likely, HP employees who won't be seeing a raise anytime soon. Because the simple fact is that entrepreneurs are famously risk-averse and mostly gamble other people's money.
How many times has Donald Trump had one of his companies go bankrupt? And he's still really, really rich. His investors may not be doing do well.
JimHeim 1 year, 7 months ago
It's not a matter of jealousy. The fact is that money that finds its way to the top 1% or so, stays there. It leaves our economy and we're left to make do without it. For those who think the middle-class is a waste of money and poor people are a lot more cost-effective, the current trickle-up system is just great.
fugitiveguy 1 year, 7 months ago
"After eleven months of incompetence, he was booted out with a $125 million send-off. He must have worked really hard, too."
Why does this bother you. Did HP get a government bailout? Was this taxpayer money? I fail to see how this is an issue. The Eagles are 1-4, Mike Vick got $100 million, should I be pizzed?
fugitiveguy 1 year, 7 months ago
"It leaves our economy and we're left to make do without it. "
Really, do they stuff it in their mattresses?
fugitiveguy 1 year, 7 months ago
"80% of Americans (maybe 40-45 million) haven't had a productivity raise in thirty years,"
I think this is false. Source please.
RmeMP 1 year, 7 months ago
"After eleven months of incompetence, he was booted out with a $125 million send-off. He must have worked really hard, too."
So this guy didn't make it as CEO - OK.... do you think he was given that opportunity straight out of high school, or do you think he had to work hard to get to that position?
"80% of Americans (maybe 40-45 million) haven't had a productivity raise in thirty years,"
I call shenanigans on this statement... please prove it...
"It leaves our economy and we're left to make do without it. "
Really?! So according to your knowledge (or lack thereof actually), rich people don't buy houses, cars, clothes, jewelry, REINVEST, or anything having to with this economy - is that what your saying?!
you think they make millions instantly - then poof they are gone huh? WOW.....
RmeMP 1 year, 7 months ago
... and by the way Jim - YES, I did work really hard for my promotions (still do) - guess what, hard work pays off :)
I know thats a tough concept to grasp for people who think life shold be given to them free of charge or sweat; but, to actually get ahead of life it requires being able to surge past your competition, surpass your co-workers with good work ethics, extra hours, dedication, etc...
JimHeim 1 year, 7 months ago
RmeMP, I assume you think fourteen million Americans just got lazy overnight and quit working. How else to explain five applicants for every job.
As for my numbers, try here: http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-in-america-chart-graph
honesty2 1 year, 7 months ago
dr- there are photos of the man defecating on the police car- just google it.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 7 months ago
there are photos of the man defecating on the police car
And we know this guy is a protester and not a generic NYC street crazy...how? Because Andrew Breitbart, a man who's been caught lying more than MikeNC, says so?
See, this might have had a little more credence if Breitbart hadn't made the mistake liars so often make: he added that one detail too many. In this case it's the stuff about how the NYPD did nothing about it.
Shenanigans are still called.
And I have to say, I'm loving all the right wing fear. You reek of desperation.