Voices Question

The country can not wait until the 2012 elections to see improvement in the employment situation - the movement needs to affect how the politicians are voting NOW on proposals to reduce the debt by reasonable cuts to spending, eliminating the Bush tax cuts (some tax increases) and passing a jobs bill. Letters and emails need to be sent to the politicians to let them know they will not be reelected (their biggest concern) if they do not act to help our country.

It reminds me of the marches in the 1960's. Now they must target specific areas for change. Example: demand the end of all tax breaks and subsidy payments to companies that close plants in the U.S. to hire cheap labor oversees. Put Americans to work by removing illegals from the workforce and demanding proof of citizenship. I believe the movement will grow and real change is posssible.

The movement is a wake-up call to all the teachers who have felt unfairly burdened with the responsibility of fixing all the country's problems. We are politicians, good ones, and we need to stop getting attacked while we passively sit on the fence. Teachers CAN speak up and vote for those candidates who support us, our families and our students!

The Occupy movement is casting a needed national spotlight on the rapidly growing disparity of incomes between the 1% wealthy people and the 99%, which is the rest of us. Sadly we union members were silent when only nonunion workers were exploited. We finally woke up after we union members also became targets. THIS MUST BE CONSIDERED A WAKE UP CALL.

I fear the occupy Wall street movement won't make enough of a difference to get our polorized political system working. I would like to see the movement define its message better. We should prosecute the criminals who caused this problem but that isn't enough. This country is hurting. We need to focus on creating jobs, housing the homeless and raising taxes on those who can afford to pay them. The income disperity is obscene.

OWS appears to be our best hope to get the truth out. I support the movement and will continue to until our voices are heard---all the way to the 2012 election and beyond.

I see this movement as only the tip of the iceberg that discontent citizens are feeling with our government, both democratic and republican sides, who are owned by wall street. It represents the first attempt to stop the chicanery and throw big business out of the government. As usual, the majority of voters aren't paying attention and don't understand the underlying motivations of the group. Much of the media coverage has presented the participants as radicals or vagrants who have nothing better to do than hamper local businesses and trash the areas. Therefore, I fear the movement will have little or no affect.

I believe the Occupy Wall Street movement is opening the eyes of the average American to the injustice, both economic and social, which has been permeating every pore of our great country. This injustice has been growing steadily for the last 30-40 years. The sad part is it seems those in power are either trying to marginalize the movement, or are largely ignoring it at their own peril.

I believe that the class warfare mentality, is counter productive. Its always "us and them". Social and political issues being reduced to two camps is exactly the kind of distraction that benefits both major political parties. Independence is the key to creative compromise.There is a genuine unrest in the country and we should not fall victim to the finger pointing that defines political activism. The major issues are common to both political parties. Intrusive government. Cozy political relationships with corporations. Obscene amounts of OUR money being thrown at private industries. Too big to fail? A myth.

I think the Occupy Wall Street Movement will affect the 2012 Election because people are finally looking critically at the absurd amounts of money the 1 percent are making while the rest of the country is barely making ends meet. The movement isn't being and can't be ignored by the moderators of the Republican debates.Hopefully the movement and the upcoming Presidential debates will force the Republics into admitting that they are a party for the rich elite and not a party for the common working person.

The greatest outcome of the Occupy Movement is hope and a new understanding of the power of collectivism. Where before there was apathy, despair, and a feeling of "whatever..." Hope has produced individual acts of political activism. This activism will take voters to the polls, and remove the representatives of the 1% from office. Many who were stymied by the enormity of the problem, are now engaged in seeking solutions. Thank you Occupiers. Keep on Keeping on..

I think that if a candidate says they are listening to "the voice of the people", they would do well to listen to those voices coming from the Occup movement. This movement is now nation wide and concerns itself with working men and women and their needs and concerns and THAT is where this country is currently falling short.

I was glad to see people occupying Wall Street because it is our democratic right to have our voices heard when there is an economic inbalance in the lives of our citizens. There is an increasing disparity between the rich and poor, and the divide will continue to expand. This movement is just a small piece of the resistance that exists. I don't know if the movement will affect the election but hopefully more people are becoming aware of the increasing inequality.

It is with dismay (but no real surprise) that I read the submitted comments of my AFT brethren regarding the Tea Party movement as opposed to those of the Occupy Wall Street groupings. The OWS protestors are given a pass when it comes to the way in which they conducted themselves in virtually every locale in which they appeared. Conversely, the Tea Partiers conducted themselves with proper decorem. Perhaps the OWS crowd simply took a page out of the deplorable playbook used by the demonstrators at the Wisconsin StateHouse last year (remember the trash that they left behind for the taxpayer to foot the bill in the ensuing cleanup)?

No effect,if the USA is to succeed we need to restore the work ethic we had in WW2. We need to instill in our students being self reliant, not having "big brother" take care of everything. We need to be involved as a community in our children's upbringing. We need to return to basics,teach English, to read, to write, and understand basic math. History and Civics are being ignored. It is also okay to NOT go to college. There is pride in working with brain AND hands. Lets make America strong again.

Unfortunately, because of the radical actions and nature of the movement and the association of unions with it, Occupy Wall Street will cast unions in a bad light as well as any candidate that supports Occupy Wall Street. The movement has clearly demonstrated it is not the 99% but instead another 1% that wants to destroy everything that the 98% and the 1% of America has worked so hard to create.

I'm excited by the commitment and growth of the movement. It speaks to the heart of the problem. Corporate America and capital greed are the dictators of our country. Until we have campaign reform and term limits with no promise of a job in a big company in exchange for favorable legislation, the 1% will continue to rule the country. I agree the next step is to introduce legislation. Our only hope is for the 99% to rise up and say we've had enough! I hope the politicians are getting the message.

If the genesis of this movement was to protest the bailout of Wall Street firms and the banking industry, these people should be demonstrating outside the White House and the offices of those who authorized the bailout. The banking industry made horrible, financially unsound decisions based upon pressure from Congress and several administrations (Clinton, Bush AND Obama). Wall Street's unchecked greed was allowed to run wild by politicians who looked the other way. Let's put some people into office who understand sound financial management and will regulate the financial sector properly.

I pray with all my heart that this movement blasts the Republicans/Tea Partiers. This is a social activist movement - representing the majority of our country. Due to the greedy 1% & Congress, we now have over 46% living in poverty. Historically, when we elect presidents representative of the Democratic Party, we do much better as a nation. Rally together, sit not silent! When someone responds with a negative comment, such as, "I wish, but I don't think they will make much of an impact," counter with, 'Power rests with the people!' Nothing worthy of accomplishment comes easy. As educators we know this!

Spend the time, energy, and money to better ends than blocking streets and buildings. The image of tents and outhouses is not one that will cause much, if any, change in political, economic, or social thinking.

OWS will hurt the AFT and democrats in the 2012 elections. I'm an old school member from the early 70s UFT in NYC and I have seen how these apparently promising movements can backfire when emotions trump logic.e.g. We, the UFT, were fired up in 1975 and struck in violation of the Taylor Law. WE thought we would not suffer any consequences BUT we lost two weeks pay, had our salaries frozen for three years AND and the UFT lost dues checkoff privileges for 3 months as a penalty. In my opinion OWS is the wrong movement to support. Public opinion and support is already fading. Although retired I don't want my dues to support a losing cause.

I suspect less people will be making campaign contributions. And less people will vote.

As a result of the OWS movement, many people have woken up to the reality that 99% of our elected officials, Democrats and Republicans alike, only represent the top 1%. Obama's policies are a mere continuation of Bush's policies. He has managed to make teachers into villains with the help of Arnie Duncan. At the same time, the criminals that crashed our economy continue to live a life of luxury. Our system is broken. A vote for any candidate from either major party is a vote for continued corporate control of our nation.

The Democrats need to carefully use the message that is being drummed by the Occupy Movement as a wake-up call to end greed. We need fair wages. We need to all, and that includes the 1%, roll up our sleeves and makes some sacrifices to move our country to a better place. Obama inherited debt, wars, and corruption within Congress. That message needs to be brought home to roost. He can be elected to a second term if the message is clear for all to see -- in the end, truth always wins. Always.

I certainly hope so, it's due to the inept, do nothing pigs in Washington who are so corrupt and lost sight of why they are there. The American public at large are too well fed and too complacent but hopefully the protest will gain momentum leading to real change.