What does Occupy Wall Street protests, going on all over world, mean to you ?

[GreenNnice]

Okay, I officially have no idea where you are going with this thread. First it seemed you were advocating Christian action in OWS, now you are taking the view of it from a fusion of Marxist and Christian eschatology.

Liamson is right; the difference seems to be in our theology. Quite frankly, I do not understand the endgame in your thought process (unless of course you are speaking to some sort of odd dialectic).

Even if your assessment was dialectically true, that we should look upon OWS with hope because it signals a dismantling of the system that will bring about yet another worse system and the final intervention of Christ, fine that makes a degree of sense.

But asking Christians to even nominally support the movement, dream of appropriating it, or using slightly different means to achieve the same ends is ridiculous. It is like asking the following: "What if Christians took control of the Hippie protest in the 60's." "What if Christians took charge of National Socialist movements in Germany before Hitler?" "What if Pol Pot attended Mass every Wednesday evening?"

Christianity can mix with politics and political thought. It has to. But asking Christians to touch a completely different worldview is another story entirely. The eschatology of OWS is the eschatology of Marx, not the eschatology of the Bible.

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Ritt, OWS has no Christian thread that I can see running through it's themes and 'wants.'

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I think 'demands' is a strong word for what OWS wants to change, liams, my opinion, and, this is maybe getting to biblical but God is 'just,' and He, in the end, does give equality for all, both believers of His ways, will, and, deity, and, nonbelievers. There is going to inequality in Heaven, for what its worth, per scripture, and, a book by Prayer of Jabez bestseller author , Bruce Wilkinson , expains it quite well in , 'A Life God Rewards.'
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I could say more on all this, as, like pearldiva, deej, put a good ideology poem together and both ritter and liam speak passionately and purposefully about politics. But, you are right, my puroose, ultimately, of this thread is to be an agent for change , to see results, to see more people than I saw last night when I went to bed answer positively in the polls to becoming a help-in some way- to OWS, IF the Lord leads.


AND, I did , one more 'maybe, if the Lord leads,' and, I think there was even a FIRST 'yes, getting involved' so that is hopefuily the Lord leading-edge you because we need to pray for the movement to go ad God wills. PAIN happens in revolution, look NO further than the French's revolution.

By the way, the Lord does lead us, every one of us every day, led by Him. It is up to us to make the choice to follow, and, it will be a life of following God through graceful times (getting things GOOD we don't deserve), merciful things (not getting BAD things we deserve) and, most, importantly, Love from Him through it all.

 

[JamesofLinHood]

What does OWS mean to me? Well, considering that over 2,500 people who are part of the OWS protests have been arrested so far due to everything from refusing to listen to police officers and going to the bathroom on squad cars to violent confrontations and rape accusations, it means that it's something that I'd never want to be associated with.

Also, it goes against both my Christian and political views.

Besides, I've never, ever been a fan of the government demonizing the "rich" and raising taxes on them just because they think that they don't pay enough....even though the top 1% of income earners in this country pay a majority of the taxes as it is while the bottom 40% pay a whopping zero. The fact that people think that it's perfectly fine to label a category of people as evil for simply being hard-working enough to earn a certain amount of money and then punish them for it by forcing them to pay more taxes is just plain wrong to me.

For me, that's no better than any thug on the street that sees a guy who looks like he may have money and robs him "because he's an evil rich guy." It's just that when the government does it, it's legalized thuggery.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not against all taxes. In some cases, taxes are a necessary evil. But I am totally against taxing people based on the opinion that they don't pay enough (ie: Greed).

If some rich people want to pay more taxes (ie: Warren Buffett), then please, go ahead and send in MORE than the minimum amount. The government will not hesitate to spend the extra money that you send them. No one is stopping you but yourselves.

Lastly, just because some of us don't wanna stand by OWS, it doesn't mean that we don't want change. We do. We just don't want the same change that you do. That's all.

In the end, I'd much rather be part of the Tea Party, an organization that lines up much more with my Christian and political views. Also, they have zero arrests at their rallies for the nearly three years that they've been together as a movement. Now, that's a reputation that I can happily be associated with.

 

[KiwiCA]

20$ an hour minimum wage?!!
Heck, here in New Zealand we're struggling to make our govt give us $15 an hour.

Some things about OWS I agree with (Wall St being bailed out while its bosses give themselves a pay increase, I think thats morally wrong), BUT other things about it I don't like. Many people are going to join this tirade who are just anarchists and bums who love to blog but arent willing to get ANY job instead of mooching off their Mom.

 

[KiwiCA]

4. A corporation to the north of where I live is going to be building a facility to house 200 migrant farm workers because they can’t find people who are willing to do an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. Somehow we’ve become too proud to break a sweat or work at MickeyDs, but we want to complain about those who come from other countries who are willing to do so while we profit from their labors at Walmart. Low income? Yes. But are we really entitled to $50,000 weddings, two new cars, a $200,000 house, a free college education and all of the newest bells and whistles on the market when we are first starting out?

I totally agree with this. I read an interesting book a while back called "Where underpants come from" by Joe Bennet. Its about the author (who is an NZ journalist) buying a basic packet of underwear from The Warehouse (NZ equivalent of Walmart) and tracing where it came from, essentially China. He goes on to write at length about the differences in work ethic between Westerners and Chinese. In China the mainland rural community live in stark contrasts of VERY poor, meaning their farmers still using rudimentary tools from the stone age, and consider a dash of oil in their meal of rice extravagance, while on the coast in the huge cities, girls formerly from farming families leave and go work in a factory for 3$ an hour for 12 hours a day just to suport their farming families. While the young men go to university to learn science and engineering because ALL the best industry is in China. They wouldnt mind an office job but it doesnt bother them if they never do. Chinese get their hands and fingernails dirty and consider it worthwhile and satisfying work for the rest of their lives.

Westerners on the other hand have historically valued the work ladder system. We think it a normal thing for a teen to get a farm labour job or working at subway in their summer holidays but we know most would never dream of doing it long term. Adults certainly don't go for those kind of jobs. We dream of a future with comfort and being served in our retirement and that means climbing the corporate ladder with clean fingernails. When we want jobs we typically demand fun indoor jobs and awesome hours and Medicare. It never happens like that. Only a few get up there.

I totally believe in the right to dream about the future and what I want for my family, BUT there is a fine line between that and adding another drop to the ocean of culture of covetousness that the US is so famous for.

As a person who lives closer to China while observing the US, I think Americans are delusional to think theyre the richest and the strongest and the smartest. China is a sleeping giant that just keeps on growing and quite frankly as much as I don't like their communism I do very much admire them and their people.

 

[GreenNnice]

Occupy Wall Street Demands:

Expand education: cut class sizes and provide free university for all;
Expand healthcare and provide free healthcare for all (single payer system);
Build housing, guarantee decent housing for all;
Expand mass transit, provided for free;
Rebuild the infrastructure—bridges, flood control, roads;
Research and implement clean energy alternatives; and
Clean up the environment.
These jobs are to be open to all, regardless of documentation/immigration status or criminal record.


99%!? ...my hindquarters. These people do not represent me or anyone I know personally. I realize that 99% is referring to some tax bracket but, "the masses" are the policeman and the fireman and the small business owner/employee trying to protect their communities against these people.

This is Socialism. We can't even pay for Social Security and we already have the highest Corporate tax in the world (tied with Japan).

What ever happened to hard work, determination, and Family values. Small business is the largest portion of our economy. The corporations are not the problem, the Govt is. Bailouts for banks, Bailouts for Corporations and Bailouts for Countries all silly.

I'm with the Tea Party on this one. We need to allow the economy to breathe.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. Someone has to work so that these freebooters can go camping on the street, poo on police cars, get arrested and stir up general nonsense.

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Those are similar agenda of OWS that I said, but really what it boils down to is...

99%.

O.W.S. wants economic fairness and, 'course, the methodology is the list of reasons I entered in my opening thread comments, and, yours in 'red,' liam .

The 99% is the rest of us , not the ultra-wealthy 1%. And, so, the O.W.S. slogan, 'We are the 99%,' coined by renowned economist, Joseph Stiglitz, refers to a study of income accumulation in a given time period, where, from, 1998-2007, the top 1%'s income increased a whopping 275% while the bottom 20%'s income moved a modest (unfair?) 18%.
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Now, again, as a Christian protester in this movement, I think the 'poo on cars,' liam would not happen, one more reason, at some point, I think this movement will become different because I truly believe this movement will evolve in that way. So, yes, looking foolish, getting arrested is not best way to do things, but, perhaps , the arrests are unjustified, like Paul excercising his right to speak of Jesus and His ways churches in Corinth, and, others preached to and Paul thrown in jail.

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Anyway, this O.W.S. movement will become its most powerful as more and more classes, labor unions, join, including Christians. A obvious statement, but it is truly happening now too.

I am only stating my predictions, and, as I said, I am a capitalist and have been both poor in life and well off and I never would want to dream of having to just give up, liam, ritt, but because of banks, mortgage companies, and, alzó, believe it or not, the actual people who got a mortgage they knew they could not afford, we are largely in this state of middle and upper middle class getting richer and lower middle class and lower class suffering now at a great extent.

I personally feel, although God says we will not know the day or the hour, are approaching 'The End Times,' because the rich (not the 1% but ALL THREE classes well off I aforementioned) will never sacrifice
and THOSE kind of austerity measures will, at this point need to.happen. I believe in working for what we get, but sometimes in history FORGIVENESS must happen. As you can see now, I am not upset at the well-off classes, just pleading with them to FORGIVE the stupidity and dumbness of the TWO lowest classes.

Jesus does say that if we don't forgive those who owe us money that nor will Jesus forgive you.

The Lord leads

 

[Ritter]

-----
Joseph Stiglitz

Everyone in the German army has heard of Josepphhh Stiglitzzz.

 

[jackson561716]

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[TheGrungeDiva]

Liam, can you tell us where you got these "demands" you claim that OWS has? As I pointed out, OWS has not come up with a statement yet; they are waiting until they have a unified voice. As for the things YOU CLAIM they are demanding.....

Expand education:

Well, I don't see the problem with that. Education is important. Pretty much any problem facing us can be solved with education, don't you agree? I haven't heard this as a suggestion, let alone a demand, from OWS, but it is a good idea in general, that I think most people in general, and probably 99% of the population, could get behind.

cut class sizes

Well, yes. Around here, classes are 40-50 kids. That's not teaching, that's crowd control. Schools have become glorified baby sitting. Teachers can't be expected to teach in those conditions. And yet we cut their pay, cut the number of days they have to teach material, stuff more kids in their classes, limit the materials they have to teach with, and then blame them for not doing a good job, when they only get the kids maybe 5 hours out of the day. See above.

provide free university for all;

I think this is a nice idea, but I have not heard anyone suggest this from OWS. This used to be the basic policy in California, but that kinda went out about 10-20 years ago.

Expand healthcare

Well, yes. As population grows, healthcare must. It's a given. Not really a "demand" so much as a consequence / result. Again, not an OWS thing.

provide free healthcare for all (single payer system);

Well, some people have been talking about this for decades. Obama brought it up as part of his campaign 4 years ago. In case you've forgotten, that was long before OWS. Some people who are also involved in OWS may be echoing that same sentiment, but it is certainly not part of OWS. Again, just a good idea in general.

Build housing,

Okay, so now you're against the entire construction industry?

guarantee decent housing for all;

This would be a nice ideal, but I haven't heard anyone say it, let alone OWS folk.

Expand mass transit,

I hear this bandied about in city hall every few months. On local levels. Again, not peculiar to OWS.

provided for free;

And it is, in some cities. Not so much in others.

Rebuild the infrastructure—bridges, flood control, roads;

More of the same ... This is something that must happen, has always happened, and will continue to happen. Rome did this. Why can't we?

Research and implement clean energy alternatives; and
Clean up the environment.

So you're against construction AND against scientists. Nice.

These jobs are to be open to all, regardless of documentation/immigration status or criminal record.

I haven't heard that from anyone except for a few really stupid people. No one in OWS.

These people do not represent me or anyone I know personally.

They represent me.

I realize that 99% is referring to some tax bracket but, "the masses" are the policeman and the fireman and the small business owner/employee trying to protect their communities against these people.

Yes, the 99% represent the policemen and small business owners. That's why I find it so ironic that its the police who are causing the biggest problem against them.

Bailouts for banks, Bailouts for Corporations and Bailouts for Countries all silly.

That is exactly what OWS is all about. They feel that bailouts for corporations and bailouts for Wall Street (thus, "Occupy Wall Street") is ridiculous. That is the whole point of their movement.

I'm with the Tea Party on this one.

So you're telling us you're part of the 1%, part of the problem?

We need to allow the economy to breathe.

I would like that. Right now it's certainly suffocating.

There is no such thing as a free lunch.

The only ones who are asking for "free lunch" are corporations who think they should be treated like people when it comes to rights, but not when it comes to responsibilities. They want all the freedoms that individuals have, but they don't want to have to pay the same taxes as individuals. They want government hand-outs, but they don't want to have to give anything in exchange for them.

The individuals aren't asking for a free lunch, they're asking for the opportunity to work for their lunch, the chance to apply for a job so they can buy lunch. That's what OWS is all about.

 

[Liamson]

The Tea Party is not 1%. That is silly. I'm not against EVERYTHING those people are saying.


I got this list of Demands using the Ancient Chinese art of Tai-ping coupled with a black belt in Google-fu... "Waaaaaaa" *chop*



As for the American Education system, I agree its utterly reprehensible. Which is why I believe it should be privatized or at least the people should be given vouchers and choices. It needs a major overhaul in a big way.

Free University is preposterous but, that is what a lot of the signs are saying. "forgiveness of student debt and free Universities for everyone"

As for the expansion of Mass Transit thing. I'm not sure this is a OWS thing or not, they do seem very confused about what entirely they stand for (aside from throwing a heck of a party).

I'm not against environmental conservation and research for alternative means of energy. What I am against is Ethanol, and federal subsidies that promote a negative cycle of benefit to support "green energy" Or things like the Prius which pollutes just as much as 3 regular cars, just in its rare metal manufacturing process. If I was really an environut, I would drive an 80's Mercedes veggie-diesel. A. because its veggie and B because they built those cars like tanks. Its called an African Taxi because they are so prevailent among sub-saharan african countries, due to seemingly immortal reliability.

I'm not against infrastructure but there is a difference between planning and designing cost effective means of building repairing and managing infrastructure, than just writing a big check with lots of zeros and throwing it the states, calling it infrastructure spending. I call that pork and its reprehensible to me. We have starving and dying people from preventable things, accountability for money is of the highest importance to me. (I actually feel pretty guilty about most of what Nasa does)

If they truly were against Bailouts for Freddy and Fanny and the banking industry and the automotive industry, they would be Tea Party members. I believe we should have let GM and Chrystler go the way of the Capitalist Market. Instead what we have is subsidized, hot steamy, garbage, whether anyone wants to buy it or not.

And its not the Police causing the problems, its the people in the OWS doing the raping and the pillaging and the pooing on police cars.

 

[Jullianna]

What does OWS mean to me? Well, considering that over 2,500 people who are part of the OWS protests have been arrested so far due to everything from refusing to listen to police officers and going to the bathroom on squad cars to violent confrontations and rape accusations, it means that it's something that I'd never want to be associated with.

Also, it goes against both my Christian and political views.

Besides, I've never, ever been a fan of the government demonizing the "rich" and raising taxes on them just because they think that they don't pay enough....even though the top 1% of income earners in this country pay a majority of the taxes as it is while the bottom 40% pay a whopping zero. The fact that people think that it's perfectly fine to label a category of people as evil for simply being hard-working enough to earn a certain amount of money and then punish them for it by forcing them to pay more taxes is just plain wrong to me.

For me, that's no better than any thug on the street that sees a guy who looks like he may have money and robs him "because he's an evil rich guy." It's just that when the government does it, it's legalized thuggery.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not against all taxes. In some cases, taxes are a necessary evil. But I am totally against taxing people based on the opinion that they don't pay enough (ie: Greed).

If some rich people want to pay more taxes (ie: Warren Buffett), then please, go ahead and send in MORE than the minimum amount. The government will not hesitate to spend the extra money that you send them. No one is stopping you but yourselves.

Lastly, just because some of us don't wanna stand by OWS, it doesn't mean that we don't want change. We do. We just don't want the same change that you do. That's all.

In the end, I'd much rather be part of the Tea Party, an organization that lines up much more with my Christian and political views. Also, they have zero arrests at their rallies for the nearly three years that they've been together as a movement. Now, that's a reputation that I can happily be associated with.

Psssssst...not to derail the thread or anything, but CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT! Your lovely lady showed me her ring May God's richest blessings be yours!

And now we return to our regularly scheduled whatever-it-is-that-we-do-here.

 

[Jullianna]

The Tea Party is not 1%. That is silly. I'm not against EVERYTHING those people are saying.


I got this list of Demands using the Ancient Chinese art of Tai-ping coupled with a black belt in Google-fu... "Waaaaaaa" *chop*



As for the American Education system, I agree its utterly reprehensible. Which is why I believe it should be privatized or at least the people should be given vouchers and choices. It needs a major overhaul in a big way.

Free University is preposterous but, that is what a lot of the signs are saying. "forgiveness of student debt and free Universities for everyone"

As for the expansion of Mass Transit thing. I'm not sure this is a OWS thing or not, they do seem very confused about what entirely they stand for (aside from throwing a heck of a party).

I'm not against environmental conservation and research for alternative means of energy. What I am against is Ethanol, and federal subsidies that promote a negative cycle of benefit to support "green energy" Or things like the Prius which pollutes just as much as 3 regular cars, just in its rare metal manufacturing process. If I was really an environut, I would drive an 80's Mercedes veggie-diesel. A. because its veggie and B because they built those cars like tanks. Its called an African Taxi because they are so prevailent among sub-saharan african countries, due to seemingly immortal reliability.

I'm not against infrastructure but there is a difference between planning and designing cost effective means of building repairing and managing infrastructure, than just writing a big check with lots of zeros and throwing it the states, calling it infrastructure spending. I call that pork and its reprehensible to me. We have starving and dying people from preventable things, accountability for money is of the highest importance to me. (I actually feel pretty guilty about most of what Nasa does)

If they truly were against Bailouts for Freddy and Fanny and the banking industry and the automotive industry, they would be Tea Party members. I believe we should have let GM and Chrystler go the way of the Capitalist Market. Instead what we have is subsidized, hot steamy, garbage, whether anyone wants to buy it or not.

And its not the Police causing the problems, its the people in the OWS doing the raping and the pillaging and the pooing on police cars.

Now, Liamson, you know those mean ole cops are begging their superiors (who are absolutely thrilled about the massive overtime/equipment expenses, which will be paid for out of the tax dollars they hid away for a rainy day) on their knees in shifts to spend time away from their families/children/backlogged cases just so they can lob tear gas and shoot rubber bullets at their friends and neighbors, who are doing nothing more than sitting in a loving circle making smores and chanting Kumbaya.

 

[yaright]

"Give to Cesear what is Cesear's"

" As a christian single. do you plan on becoming a part of Occupy Wall Street movement?"

um.. No, not even a little bit.

even if the Lord leads? (Loaded) Why would Christ compel me to take part in a protest for wanting more money or benefits or salary in such an abstract place? Are we suppose to want or be envious of those who have more. Is the Kingdom of Heaven like an Occupy Wall Street Protest? I don't see the similarities at all. This has more in common with the first french revolution than the love of Christ.

If I truly believed that elected officials are the best representation of my voice, I would not protest. If I didn't believe that I probably would, but I certainly would not be on the side of people demanding more money for the sake of not having more money.

I agree with your stance. I've always considered it a curious thing that people would vote for a person of their choice, believing in their prayers that not only was this a good choice, but would also give support for the political choice.

I honestly believe that it isn't so much the person voted in as it is the matrix of the relationship between government and our society. It's a necessary thing to continue with the voicing of the 99%, even without the identity of a specific cause. There is a problem with the gathering of thousands of people. As the numbers of participants grow, there is a temptation in some to take it another step, and this could prove disastrous. That next step would prove that as a people, we are not able set a goal any better then the political machinery that cannot focus on any one thing for the betterment of our nation. The system has become so complicated that the very idea of simplifying anything is met with great resistance. I've seen this firs person; that if something is completed well under the financial cap in place, there is an immediate decision to find some way to spend that money down to the last penny; enlisting the idea that the next budget would include an increase. This doesn't even begin to cover the things Occupy Wall Street is bringing to the table. It is literally putting everyone on notice.

 

[Jullianna]

I totally agree with this. I read an interesting book a while back called "Where underpants come from" by Joe Bennet. Its about the author (who is an NZ journalist) buying a basic packet of underwear from The Warehouse (NZ equivalent of Walmart) and tracing where it came from, essentially China. He goes on to write at length about the differences in work ethic between Westerners and Chinese. In China the mainland rural community live in stark contrasts of VERY poor, meaning their farmers still using rudimentary tools from the stone age, and consider a dash of oil in their meal of rice extravagance, while on the coast in the huge cities, girls formerly from farming families leave and go work in a factory for 3$ an hour for 12 hours a day just to suport their farming families. While the young men go to university to learn science and engineering because ALL the best industry is in China. They wouldnt mind an office job but it doesnt bother them if they never do. Chinese get their hands and fingernails dirty and consider it worthwhile and satisfying work for the rest of their lives.

Westerners on the other hand have historically valued the work ladder system. We think it a normal thing for a teen to get a farm labour job or working at subway in their summer holidays but we know most would never dream of doing it long term. Adults certainly don't go for those kind of jobs. We dream of a future with comfort and being served in our retirement and that means climbing the corporate ladder with clean fingernails. When we want jobs we typically demand fun indoor jobs and awesome hours and Medicare. It never happens like that. Only a few get up there.

I totally believe in the right to dream about the future and what I want for my family, BUT there is a fine line between that and adding another drop to the ocean of culture of covetousness that the US is so famous for.

As a person who lives closer to China while observing the US, I think Americans are delusional to think theyre the richest and the strongest and the smartest. China is a sleeping giant that just keeps on growing and quite frankly as much as I don't like their communism I do very much admire them and their people.

Not to mention the money we owe the Chinese....the day will come when they will call in their marker.

You are absolutely right. A couple of generations ago, teenagers flocked in droves to detassel corn, pick watermelons, work Summer highway crews, etc. Suddenly there's shame in that and *gasp* no air conditioning! And oh how we hate those immigrants coming across the borders to escape being pressed into servitude to the drug lords so many in the US help support to steal all of those wonderful jobs, until the price of our underwear goes up.

 

[Ramon]

I agree with your stance. I've always considered it a curious thing that people would vote for a person of their choice, believing in their prayers that not only was this a good choice, but would also give support for the political choice.

I honestly believe that it isn't so much the person voted in as it is the matrix of the relationship between government and our society. It's a necessary thing to continue with the voicing of the 99%, even without the identity of a specific cause. There is a problem with the gathering of thousands of people. As the numbers of participants grow, there is a temptation in some to take it another step, and this could prove disastrous. That next step would prove that as a people, we are not able set a goal any better then the political machinery that cannot focus on any one thing for the betterment of our nation. The system has become so complicated that the very idea of simplifying anything is met with great resistance. I've seen this firs person; that if something is completed well under the financial cap in place, there is an immediate decision to find some way to spend that money down to the last penny; enlisting the idea that the next budget would include an increase. This doesn't even begin to cover the things Occupy Wall Street is bringing to the table. It is literally putting everyone on notice.

We should take that one step further.

The Lord has been revealing to me some things that are going on. And I just now remembered another event (one I didn't pay much attention to), how certain supposed Christian churches were trying to create that Chrislam mess.

Well, I see more than this. I see what will be a fulfilling of an old prophecy, I believe from Daniel, but I am not sure.

I would like to speak about that in PM with you.

As for this post, it is simply about worldly people, focusing on worldly things.

May Jesus bless you.

 

[Jullianna]

I'm wondering when how to care for the sick/elderly/orphans/homeless/hungry became "worldly things"...

MATTHEW 25

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

JAMES 1
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

MATTHEW 6
1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

 

[zeroturbulence]

Occupy Wall Street has shown me that this secular misguided generation is much worse off than I thought.

How about some cookies and milk instead..

 

[acesneverwin]

What can singles do to support this movement that is out there for the betterment of society. Or, is it betterment. More and more, the class distinction of rich and poor is changing. There are more millionaires than ever before, and, consequently, more poverty than ever before.

OWS wants things like :

Living conditions good for all.

Work opportunities fair for all.

Forgiveness of student, personal and, home mortgage debts /loans

Minimum wage of $20 an hour .

Healthcare for all
--------

Let's not focus on the politics, like what we think is best way for America to get jobless rate below 9%, etc., but let us focus as singles on what WE WOULD DO / CAN DO NOW to help this movement BECOME like God would want it to be .

Maybe it already is what God wants, as YOU are on the front lines now, you ARE a someone in one of the 250 USA cities protesting or, in Sydney, London, Paris, Rome, and other world cities.

Please, by all means, explain this '99%' movement.

In other words, let's set up our own Christian OWS .

Not going to get into this at all since I haven't really been keeping up on what this is all about but all I have to say is, they bump minimum wage up to $20 dollars and I better get my pay bumped up to at least $45. There is no way I'm working my kind of job when it pays just a tiny bit more than a kid pushing buttons and ringing up orders. I'd quit and go work at McDonald's. And that is the problem with that idea... Minimum wage goes up, so does everyone else, and everything inflates and minimum wage people are now no better off than they were before.

That's why I never understood these protests... That's like protesting world hunger... nice idea, but never gonna end. The only thing you can do is do your own part. You can make a difference in one persons life. If everyone helped one person, it'd make a lot more change than rallying on street corners protesting I'm not sure what... Own a business? Give someone a minimum wage job at 20 dollars... or let them live under your roof and increase their good living. Someone gets hurt and no health insurance? Pay it for them if you have the means... stuff like that. That's really the ONLY way you can fight this stuff. Do your part whatever you can and if everyone did that, then we're getting somewhere. Don't worry what others are doing, worry about what you're doing.

Life sucks and isn't fair. Pretty much been that way since Adam and Eve messed up... just gotta deal with it. Everyone else did. The poor and rich people from 200 years ago are all worth the same now... so there you go

 

[Jullianna]

^several excellent points up there^

I vote we give this guy a megaphone and send him down there

 

[Mikhaele]

End of world.

 

[Pheonix]

All I can say is that apparently these people have nothing better to do with their time when people such as myself are out of work and spending the time looking. These protests will accomplish absolutely nothing. When the ice and snow start to blow these people will go back home, and everything will have remained the same.

Our civilization has taken on far too much personal debt, far more than they can repay, and the consequence is now catching up to them. Its their own fault they owe more than they can repay. They wanted the toys, now they have to pay. There is a verse in the bible that says owe no man anything. and even if religion isn't your thing it is still a sound principle.

We have no one to blame but ourselves when we live far beyond our means, buy everything on credit and end up bankrupt and in debt. Repay your bills on time and in full. And if you can't reasonably repay a loan such as a credit card, don't buy the toy. and always have a cash reserve for emergencies.