Bank On It: They're Scared

[WilliamPitt]

Many thanks to arcane1 for providing the "Protest Safety Handbook."



October 3, 2011, Day 17 of Occupy Wall Street saw zombie bankers chasing money. (Photo: David Shankbone)

Bank On It: They're Scared
By William Rivers Pitt
t r u t h o u t | Op-Ed

Sunday 09 October 2011

Far be it from me to accuse Gandhi of missing a note, but in the case of the 'Occupy Wall Street' protests, the Mahatma's famous quote appears to be lacking a few essential words. "First they ignore you," he said, "then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win."

That's not quite correct.

Certainly, the OWS protests began with a great whistling silence from the "mainstream" news media. It is only because of the resources available to the average person in this marvelous technological age we live in that word of the protest ever reached beyond its original location.

Thanks to cell phones, video cameras, digital recorders, and of course, the internet - all wielded by patriot citizens - reports, images and video of the protest began to dribble out via Twitter, Facebook and a variety of blogs and alternative news media sites like Truthout. But from the "mainstream" news, there was nothing, and nothing, and nothing.

Eventually, however, the OWS protest broke through the "mainstream" news blackout, thanks in no small part to commentators like Lawrence O'Donnell, Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann. Once the "mainstream" news outlets finally deigned to lower themselves to report on the rabble down on Wall Street, their tone and tenor fairly oozed contempt. The New York Times, bastion of the status quo, published an article describing each and every participant of the OWS protest as a moonbeam-riding fuzzbrain, someone reeking of patchouli who couldn't string a coherent thought together if their life depended on it...which was followed up immediately by a barrage of reports defending cops who hosed down defenseless women penned in behind nylon barriers with pepper spray, because those cops were doing exactly, precisely the right thing. Or something.

This, as usual, from the same "mainstream" news media that didn't have any problem with the gun-toting "patriots" of the Tea Party and their catastrophically-spelled signs. Well, then again, the Tea Party has corporate sponsorship, while the OWS protesters are doing this on their own. It pays - literally - to have friends in high places.

Similar disdain was heaped upon the OWS protest from every corner of the "mainstream" news realm, most especially from Fox News and the long reach of conservative talk radio. These protesters are bums, hippies, losers, anarchists, idiots, communists and fools, a drumbeat which has continued to this very day.

So.

First they ignore you: check.

Then they ridicule you: check.

According to Gandhi, the next step comes when they fight you, but here is the spot where his marvelous wisdom could use a bit of enhancement.

First they ignore you, then they ridicule you...

Then they get scared.

And they are scared, now. You can smell it. The criticism being leveled at the OWS movement has gotten far harsher in the last several days. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney recently deployed the old chestnut about "class warfare" to describe the protest. Rep. Eric Cantor doubled down on Romney's rhetoric with some of his own: "If you read the newspapers today, I for one am increasingly concerned about the growing mobs occupying Wall Street and the other cities across the country. Believe it or not, some in this town have actually condoned the pitting of Americans against Americans."

That's pretty rich right there, don't you think? Fellows like Cantor have made turning American against American their bread and butter for the last ten years..."You're with us or against us"...but I digress.

Fact: OWS has bloomed in more than a dozen major cities all across the country. It stopped being a protest a while ago. It's a movement now.

And they're scared.

Know how I know? I know because a friend in San Francisco took the time to transcribe a document he was given by the major bank he works for. The document, titled "Protest Safety Handbook," explains what a bank employee should do when confronted with the horror and terror of an OWS protest.

I am leaving the name of the bank out of this to protect my friend. Some tidbits:

The movement in New York has begun to publish a four page news paper titled "The Occupied Wall Street Journal." The current edition of the published document loosely outlines the group's manifesto and intentions. The group has indicated that they have been inspired by the results from similar groups involved in the "Arab Spring" in the Middle East. The group's publication cites an intention to first to protest and then to march, escalating to civil disobedience when necessary.

These types of groups are reaching out to the disengaged and disenfranchised population of the United States for members, often encouraging the unemployed and homeless to join the movement. Often these marches and protests are unplanned and result from instant notification on "Social Networks" that produce "Flash Protest Mobs" in a matter of minutes. While this group has not yet resorted to violence the possibility exists that they can.

Safety Tips:

- Avoid poorly lit areas and isolated locations that may make you vulnerable to an attack.

- Keep the cars doors locked while driving in the area of a mob or protest march.

- Project an image of confidence and strength. Walk with a purpose and avoid hesitation, keep your head up, shoulders back and make eye contact with people you pass.

- Avoid confrontation and unnecessary contact with protesters.

- Avoid walking or driving alone. There is safety in numbers.

- Carry purses close to the body.

- Wallets and cash are best kept in a front pocket.

- Avoid wearing Bank ID or logo items outside the bank if possible.

- Keep your cell phone charged and close at hand.

- Have emergency contact information pre-programmed into your phone.

- Have your keys out and ready before you need them.

- If you feel that you're in danger or if you observe suspicious or illegal activities, call the police or dial 911.

- If confronted or attacked, try to remain calm and cooperate by following the attacker's instructions.

- Do not attempt to reason or argue with the protesters.

- Cooperate and do not risk your personal safety.

- Be a good witness and try to remember as many details of what occurred as you can.

(Emphasis added)

Makes it sound like you're walking through a war zone, right? Not a peaceful protest, but some actively dangerous Thunderdome where instant and horrible death might reach out at any time to cut you down.

The financial powers-that-be are desperate to paint this peaceful, meaningful movement as some kind of civilization-annihilating upheaval, populated by rogues, pickpockets, mobs and murderers. They need the OWS protest to be seen this way by the general public, so they can discredit it and destroy it. Fear-mongering is an old, old tactic, and they are deploying it once again.

Note well: the bank that distributed this hyper-paranoid ball of gibberish is an entire continent away from the nexus of the OWS movement in New York City.

I guess San Francisco's OWS chapter has been making some noise. Same with Boston, and DC, and a dozen other cities.

First they ignore you.

Then they ridicule you.

Then they get scared.

Then they fight you.

Then you win.

I don't think the Mahatma would mind this small edition to his statement. It fits.

And it's true. They are scared.

You can smell it.

http://www.truth-out.org/bank-it-theyre-scared/1318020817

[underpants]

1. Agree and rec'd. The blurred line by the MSM on how this happened is focused by OWS

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2079673

[nxylas]

2. K&R

One small correction: I think you meant to say "addition" not "edition" near the end there. Other than that, I can't disagree with a thing you said.

[Flubadubya]

53. Just a little FYI...

First, I believe you are responding to the OP rather than to underpants. :)

I also think Will has "chosen his words well". It's a rare occasion to ever find fault with his linguistic exercises.

Although it can't be argued the word "addition" in the place of "edition" would yield a proper expression, it would certainly change the nuance of meaning the author wished to express. It appears he has used edition as oppsed to addition to indicate that he is not so much "adding to", but rather that he is "editing" the Mahatma's pronouncement. He certainly has added to it, but at the same time he has essentially edited it.

I may be wrong, but I strongly suspect Will has utilized "le bon mot juste".

[nxylas]

54. Yes, I was replying to the OP

Sorry, I clicked the wrong reply link. But I believe Will meant to say "addition", as it is not usual to talk of an "edition to" a statement. Not that it really matters. Even the best writers make the odd mistake.

[Kablooie]

3. I think the scared part comes from the imminent collapse of the world economy.

They are scared that the protests will stop the temporary measures that allow them to keep their obscene wealth.

A huge change to our ways of life is coming and no one can stop it, only delay.

[flamingdem]

15. Good point. They aren't "scared" just planning to keep what they got

when the meltdown hits the hardest.

[blm]

38. exactly....that's why they want a privatized military/law enforcement ASAP.

JP Morgan's 4.6 million dollar 'donation' to NY Police Foundation recently was a down payment.

[mod mom]

4. Scared enough to send in provocateurs:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2084473

[WilliamPitt]

6. I fucking knew it!

I almost posted a suspicion that this sounded fishy on Facebook before deciding I would sound paranoid. Not paranoid enough, it seems.

[mod mom]

20. well, Will, why not write a piece on this so it's gets better noticed.

Perhaps the police should be informed of this agent as well.

[WilliamPitt]

22. Reading my mind.

[tama]

27. Hilarious! nt

[Frustratedlady]

5. Poor things! Their comfort zone is threatened. We know the feeling.

Another great article!!!

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. Oh yeah. They're scared. What surprises me ... they haven't taken over the Internet(s) yet. The

People's News source. If they had control of the Internet(s), the OWS message would have never gotten out as fast as it has. When's that coming? :scared: They must hate the Internet!

K&R!

[anamandujano]

9. Huge corps like ATT are raking in a long ton of $$$--even a

week or two would destroy the cash flow, the ad revenue, work load--they'd have to temporarily lay off people who might just join the movement, it goes on.

If my connection goes down for even a day, I'll be on the phone asking questions. If the phones are overloaded, I just won't pay the bill when it arrives (always) on time.

[DearAbby]

49. Shut down the internet

One more reason to take it to the streets. They don't know what to do, shit or go blind. It's crumbling down. They are collectively pissing their pants.

Lesson we are learning. We had the power all along, like Dorothy and her red ruby slippers. We just didnt believe it..we have the numbers.


Solidarity

[H2O Man]

8. Recommended.

A part of human nature involves attempting to destroy what one fears -- and in this context, "fear" is far more important than "hate" and/or "despise." In Gandhi's attempts to liberate the nation of India, he confronted English powers who tended to either like him, at some level, or at least find his tactics non-intimidating.

Ho Chi Minh made the comment that had Gandhi been born in Vietnam, no one would have ever heard of him, because he would have been dead at that exact moment he began his nonviolent resistence. When one considers the history of the Buddhist protests in that country, it appears that Ho was correct. That does not imply that Gandhian tactics are any less "correct" in one context or another; simply that one must be aware of the range of opposition tactics.

We will continue to see "fear" of the protests being used to seed hatred, and soon violence, in our nation.

[TBF]

10. Capital knows exactly what they are doing -

and it's no mistake that the first M$M stories about these protests were in the financial papers.

Right now they aren't sure what to do about it (except Chase who promptly sent a big check to the NYPD), but I expect them to try to come down harder as this progresses.

We're going to have to stay strong and stick together, whether we are communists, socialists, democrats, or moderates. Our strength is in our numbers. We can do this!

[socialist_n_TN]

11. Not scared enough in my mind

They haven't addressed that long list of grievences that the GANYC put out, even with propaganda pieces.

The only time they'll REALLY get scared is when the working class starts taking an active role by "occupying" workplaces and interfering with capitalist profit. So far even in NYC the nexus of these protests, Wall Street has NOT been occupied.

Then the next step is strikes. Lots of them, wildcat, called eventually resulting in a general strike. A militant one where even if you WANT to scab, you're prevented from doing so because IT'S ALL SHUT DOWN.

Then they'll get scared. That's the lesson of history.

[dixiegrrrrl]

37. You are correct,

but I think people are not yet ready for the idea of general strike.

[socialist_n_TN]

50. Yep I agree. But as V.I. Lenin once said

paraphrasing, sometimes years go by with nothing much happening, and sometimes years go by in months.

I think we might be in a phase where years go by in months. We'll see.

[butterfly77]

12. I wonder what Fox..

has as it's "protest safety handbook"...

[Zambero]

13. Safety tips

I noticed some of these "tips" might also apply to anyone on foot within shouting distance of a Bank of America branch:

- Carry purses close to the body.
- Wallets and cash are best kept in a front pocket.

BofA's latest fleecing tactic is to impose a $60 per year debit card fee on account holders. There are other banks doing this and more will certainly follow. This policy change is being enacted not merely for its direct revenue infusion, but as a means to coerce their customers into using their bank credit cards with even more exhorbitant fees and interest rates. Not too shabby! This will add up to billions for BofA. Ching-Ching! Safety tip propaganda notwithstanding, the real threat resides inside the institution / building, and not with the victims of its policies.

[cui bono]

76. While I disagree with the fee, I also disagree with your reasoning as to why they did it.

Credit cards only charge interest if you keep a balance. I use them all the time but pay them off each month so they don't get anything from me. And mine don't charge me an annual fee. I do believe, however, that they make a percentage of each transaction at the expense of the merchant who accepts the card. I could be wrong on that point though.

[ThomThom]

81. on credit cards they get a percentage of the sale so it is big bucks

they also hope you will miss a payment and then they can really charge you up the ass

[Zambero]

88. You and I may pay off the credit card balance each month

Since banks are in the business of making a profit, they are more than willing to capitilize on the fact that many if not most of their customers make a partial payment and carry their balances over month to month with added interest. So yes, on a larger scale they are scoring a big double whammy here.

[starroute]

14. But is anybody really preparing for the "fight you" stage?

Information moves fast these days, and we've been through the ignoring and the ridiculing in just a few weeks. But the fighting can go on for a long time.

The 1% were caught off balance by OWS and haven't been able to respond effectively so far. Also, the entire elaborate apparatus that they have developed since the 1970s -- all the right-wing think-tanks and public policy groups -- is designed to put pressure on government and politicians and not to deal with popular protest. Even the tactics of marginalization that make it possible to ignore massive one-day marches and rallies are not as effective against small but sustained occupations.

But you can be quite sure they're regrouping and working out a strategy, and that we can expect to see the pressure begin by the end of the month. The most obvious tool they can use is to get cities to shut down the encampments -- declare them public health hazards or whatever and sweep them out. And that is not a battle that I think the protesters can or should try to win.

As anybody who's ever played Risk knows, trying to hold territory when you're being attacked from all sides is a losing strategy. It's far more effective to spread out and be in so many places at once that nobody can take you down. In other words, a kind of Anonymous "We are legion. Expect us." strategy.

The occupiers are the vanguard, but they can't do it alone -- and it would be foolish to let the energy that they've generated be diverted into a fight that can't be won. That energy needs to be released into the larger system. Instead of a few thousand occupiers-in-fact, we need a few hundred thousand occupiers-in-spirit. And the marvelous unity of purpose that has been created through the human microphone has to be sustained over a much broader and more diverse community.

But what would it mean to be an occupier-in-spirit? The best model I can think of is the gay assertion, "We're here, we're queer, get used to it." The people who have showed up for the occupations have been here all along, but they haven't been visible because they've tried to blend in to the background and not call attention to themselves. That's what has to end.

People need to identify themselves as OWS-ers. They have to appear in public not as Democrats or liberals or any of the usual labels but as representatives of the principles of OWS. They have to insist that those principles be given top priority in every political debate and they have to reframe ongoing local issues as examples of those principles. They might even dog the Republican primaries this winter and target both the voters and the reporters to inject the OWS principles into the process.

They have to be *everywhere* and be insistent enough and at times rowdy enough to make themselves unignorable.

And if that happens, even if the physical occupations are dispersed or whittled down by winter weather, the movement will have seeded itself throughout the country. And at that point, it will no longer be vulnerable to any simple tactics of police repression.

[FirstLight]

16. +1000!

this should be an OP in itself, we should all start reinforcing ourselves as 99%ers and OWSers...

I am not afraid of them, they should be afraid of us!

[Beam Me Up]

19. Yes. This needs to be discussed as an OP. n/t

[marions ghost]

51. right

the era of hiding out and pretending it's all gonna get better somehow...has got to be over. OWS is a powerful dog whistle and I hope many more who have been silently dispairing are getting the message.

Safety in numbers.

[defendandprotect]

17. Nice post ---

however, I think they are always scared --

they understand better than we do how much they need control over population --

how much they need to have government working for them -- how much protection

they always require. How much filth and dirt they have to keep hidden everyday.

How much violence they have used to get where they are. How many crimes they've

committed and how desperately they need to keep their cover up's going!

And their Goebbels' style press is an essential part of it.


They have a large tool box for solving their problems -- Violence is #1 --

[lonestarnot]

18. :) This was wrapped up in my fortune cookie yesterday!

[WillyT]

21. Thank You !!! - K & R !!!

:hi:

:kick:

[Fire Walk With Me]

23. Stranger Danger! Man, I want a copy of that protest handbook; it sound suitable for framing.

[arcane1]

24. Ask and you shall receive:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2074541

[Fire Walk With Me]

26. Heh, thanks :)

[pa28]

25. The genius of OWS is what some people call it's greatest flaw.

It scares the hell out of them when ordinary Americans, with jobs and families are willing to turn out in opposition, silently turn out in some cases to the organized system of stripping their future away.

Like you said, it's getting easier to see that irritating smugness from the punditry getting gradually replaced by something else. I've gotten used to seeing a certain look in people who are having financial trouble, or afraid of losing their job and I've been calling it "that hunted look". I'm starting to see traces of the same thing on the other side.

[Mosaic]

47. Spot on

I've noticed that look on the old teevee too. It's a bit of schadenfreude for sure.

[monicamonix32]

28. I'd think they'd have to be. They know how much they'ved screwed the 99% over.

And that millions are simmering with anger at them. I bet they're kind of surprised that it's taken this long.

[Fire Walk With Me]

31. Welcome to DU!

:toast::hi:

[AntiFascist]

29. At the point when "they fight you"....

they may try to turn this into a homeland security issue. Then, it should become more than obvious that they want to see "government for the people and by the people" become a thing of the past.

[Major Hogwash]

30. Change is coming, and this time it is coming from the people who have been affected by the banks.

Not from the congressmen who have been bought off by the banks or their lobbyists.

[kestrel91316]

32. Terra, terra, terra!!!! Dollars to donuts they wind up calling US the "terraists"

before this is all over.

But we must, and WILL, stand stalwart.

We are the rabble. We are The People. We are the 99%.

[DeSwiss]

33. K&R n/t

[blm]

34. They've been EXPECTING protest for some time, too, Will. Memory hole: Oct2005 memo from Citibank...

http://canadianclimateaction.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/citigroup-oct-16-2005-plutonomy-report-part-1.pdf
>>>>
SUMMARY
➤ The World is dividing into two blocs - the Plutonomy and the rest. The U.S.,
UK, and Canada are the key Plutonomies - economies powered by the wealthy.
Continental Europe (ex-Italy) and Japan are in the egalitarian bloc.
➤ Equity risk premium embedded in “global imbalances” are unwarranted. In
plutonomies the rich absorb a disproportionate chunk of the economy and have
a massive impact on reported aggregate numbers like savings rates, current
account deficits, consumption levels, etc. This imbalance in inequality
expresses itself in the standard scary “ global imbalances”. We worry less.
➤ There is no “average consumer” in a Plutonomy. Consensus analyses focusing
on the “average” consumer are flawed from the start. The Plutonomy Stock
Basket outperformed MSCI AC World by 6.8% per year since 1985. Does
even better if equities beat housing.
>>>>

Must read entire internal memo.

[WilliamPitt]

35. Holy shit.

I never saw this.

Thank you.

[stevedeshazer]

36. Egads! That is frightening.

Thanks. I think.

[blm]

39. Posted it in its own thread.

So more eyeballs can see it.

[stevedeshazer]

45. Good. Glad you did. n/t

[AntiFascist]

40. Sounds like it came straight out of something by Ayn Rand...

"The earth is being held up by the muscular arms of its entrepreneur-plutocrats, like it, or not."

[blm]

41. Well, Ayn Rand is THEIR goddess. They only USE Bible and Jesus to fake out the masses, ala Bush.

.

[socialist_n_TN]

52. Isn't this the same memo that called some citizens

"Useless eaters"?

[Raksha]

80. Thank you for posting this, as callous and terrifying as it is.

[blm]

84. I hear there's a second part to this and that the analysis was distributed to the wealthiest clients

as well as the firm of investors.

[Zorra]

42. Scared like a school of sharks in a sea of dolphins. nt

[Dystopian]

43. KandR. Awesome!

Excellent piece.
Also, thanks to arcane1 for inspiration.



peace~

[tooeyeten]

44. In some cities

The police have acted like there would be all out revolution, even prepared with more police than protesters, you bet the GOP has been behind creating this fear.

[The Wizard]

46. Our hack media will give more coverage to

five jackoffs wearing three cornered hats and making violent illusions toward the President. OWS has really exposed the hack media for what it is, a mouthpiece for Republican/corporate dogma.

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. Yes, yes they are

[Hissyspit]

55. The Ghandi attribution:

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Mohandas_Karamchand_Gandhi

Disputed

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.

Describing the stages of a winning strategy of nonviolent activism. A close variant of the quotation first appears in a 1914 US trade union address by Nicholas Klein:

And, my friends, in this story you have a history of this entire movement. First they ignore you. Then they ridicule you. And then they attack you and want to burn you. And then they build monuments to you. And that, is what is going to happen to the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America.

General Executive Board Report and Proceedings, Biennial Convention, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America (1914)

Of course, Klein may have gotten it from Ghandi, and conceivably it could predate both of them.

[MichiganVote]

56. They should be but they don't recognize who they are.

[proud patriot]

57. well said

[moondust]

58. delete

[callous taoboy]

59. Maybe some day I'll be able to have a beer with Will- Until then and ever more, thanks!

[Doctor_J]

60. I don't see any fear, sorry.

And I don't think they have much to fear, honestly. Nothing's been seriously disrupted yet, and probably won't be. While the protests are vast and encouraging, they Wrong Wing is systematically stripping the right to vote from left-leaning demographics. And no one is doing anything about it. The next government (sworn in Jan 2012) will be even more right wing that the current one, and there isn't anything to be done about it.

I hope I am wrong and will be attending a protest next weekend, but I am pretty sure it's useless.

[Mosaic]

64. Obama's looking into it

The cheating the thugs are trying with their usual unamerican, democracy hating, dirty tricks. There must be law enforcement and Obama is looking into it. No longer can they do this, EVER!

[WilliamPitt]

66. Your concern is noted.

[Doctor_J]

67. As is your snarky dismissal

First they ignore you...

[WilliamPitt]

68. Oh shit.

I meant to offer that reply to someone else. You have my most sincere apology.

Mis-click. :(

[kath]

61. You left out the line in that handbook that creeped me out the most:

"At no time should a *redacted* Bank Employee attempt to engage or confront a protest group or stop a march. Instead, *redacted* Bank Employees encountering any such activity should immediately contact the Police."

So the mere presence of a protest group or march is now a criminal act warranting the notification of the police??!?
Jeebus H. Christ.

[arcane1]

75. Well of course they should call the police! These are "anti-bank" people!

It should say "call the police whilst simultaneously running for your lives!!!!"

[Kurovski]

62. K&R. (nt)

[laureloak]

63. How to destroy a social movement.......

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/235842-How-COINTELPRO-really-works-and-destroys-social-movements-Open-letter-from-former-Tea-Partier-to-Occupy-Wall-Street-protesters

[Doctor_J]

65. that guy's nuts

We were anarchists and ultra-libertarians, but above all we were peaceful. So, the media tried painting us as racists. But when that didn't work they tried to goad us into violence. When that failed, they killed our movement with money and false kindness from the theocratic arm of the Republican party. That killed our popular support.

Huh? They're the ones who brought guns to town halls and presidential appearances. They're the ones who stomped women at Rand Paul events. They're the ones who brought signs about "lyin' Africans". Another right wing "liberal media's fault" fantasy.

Jeebus, it's scary what's posted at Democractic Undreground.

[Tom Ripley]

69. "War means fighting and fighting means killing" NB Forrest

That is what they truly fear.
Good.

[WilliamPitt]

70. Quoting the creator of the KKK is a bold move.

[Tom Ripley]

71. Sometimes even a blind pig can find an acorn

[WilliamPitt]

72. Or not.

Just sayin'.

[Tom Ripley]

73. Will, tell me of a successful revolution (not an evolution of the status quo) that

was not sanguine.
Those banksters are psychopaths
and psychopaths only fear one thing.

[Tom Ripley]

78. And your history of quoting of southern slaveowner Thomas Jefferson?

Is that reflexive?
Or merely a job requirement?

[donheld]

74. change the song. "Bank on the run, Bank on the run"

[Enthusiast]

77. They aren't scared enough to suit me. nt

[kimsarah]

79. Those are great tips

for protesters to keep handy, to keep them safe from the Fox News types, the Breitbarts, the Erin what's-her-faces, the scary banksters and cops who swing batons and pepper spray canisters.
It is a mob world out there, and peaceful demonstrators shouldn't need to be fear subjected to the threat of physical harm from the banking establishment. Travel together. Keep your wallets and purses close to your vest.
It works both ways.

[Javaman]

82. I'm located right next door to the protests here in Austin...

a moron I work with made some off hand comments regarding the protests.

He's one of the "repuke" types who lives his life in fear. He was all proud about just having acquired his first pistol. He would do all he could to some how bring it up in a conversation:

Me: I wish we would get some rain.

Him: yeah, it would be a nice change

Me: My garden is just about dead.

Him: Dead? that reminds me of my new gun license! want to see my gun?

Me:??

Anyway, I digress.

He makes the usual fox news comments about the protesters not knowing what they want. I then go on to school him and then inform him that his part of the 99% and by not supporting the protesters he is going against his own best interests.

but then he pulls out this one from his ass...

Him: there are all sorts of police out there.

Me: pretty typical. can't have a good protest without the police going from zero to a 1000

Him: but there might be terrorists!

Me: are you fucking kidding me? What are they going to do? blow up town lake?

It seems that this tool brings up the concept of "terrorists" at ever freaking turn anytime there is any sort of protests on a par with how often he brings up his new pistol.

This is the guys world:

People against dog grooming = Terrorists!

Clowns demand better make up = Terrorists!

Tattooists want organic inks = Terrorists!

And now, here is a truly legitimate protest, that is basically all inclusive (unless you are the 1%) and this moron is still able to find a way to fear it.

fox news and the 8 year reign of a high functioning moron* has done so much damage to a whole section of this nations population ability to think.

[liberal N proud]

83. Their utopia is not what it once was.

[GoCubsGo]

85. Yep, and I see they're sending in the disruptors here, too.

There seem to be more of them than usual here today...

[Chimichurri]

86. This

"reports, images and video of the protest began to dribble out via Twitter, Facebook and a variety of blogs and alternative news media sites like Truthout. But from the "mainstream" news, there was nothing, and nothing, and nothing."

is why traditional media is dying - they only have themselves to blame. People are understanding that the news has been canceled and are seeking out the web for the truth. Just watch Erin Burnette's new CNN show and that spells out just how stupid the high paid TV executives think we are.


But yes, this movement has them shaking in there boots, as it should. Here's a big demand I have, since that's the talking point of the elite, REINSTATE GLASS/STEAGALL

[customerserviceguy]

87. There's a difference

between "them" being scared, and "them" using fear to motivate ordinary people against the protests. It's always a good idea to start with your own employees when spreading a fear campaign. They'll be glad to tell their friends and family around the country who are worried about a person they know works in the vicinity of the protest, and those people will use email, etc. to spread the fear.

I saw it happen in the Vietnam era, and every time there was an anti-WTO 'event' scheduled in a city where I worked. The banksters who use the armored limos and the helicopter port on the roof are not scared one little bit of the OWS group, they've paid the police plenty for protection. But that doesn't mean that they're unable to use the politics of fear to marginalize the protest.

Republicons have been masters at selling fear for as long as I can remember.

[Matariki]

89. I want to know what happens between "They fight you" and "Then you win"

Optimism is great, but that's not a guarantee.

[Dont call me Shirley]

90. Mitt Romney, Eric Cantor ARE the Mob.

These mobsters always accuse others of what they themselves are guilty.