# Effect of Occupy Wall Street on the 2012 elections? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 15, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697 "2011-10-15T01:20:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/21 "2011-10-15T04:23:21Z")
That is such a stupid and wrong meme. There are lots of reasons to be anti Wall Street right now. There are many valid reasons . My favorite is the universally agreed upon problem of too big to fail. If they do the same damn thing again, we have to save them. That is why the banks need to be broken up. Since the 2007 debacle, the banks have gotten bigger. The occupiers know damn well why they are there. You do not people to go out in the streets without a serious intent. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/22 "2011-10-15T11:44:31Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > Very, very, very little. I don’t even think the Occupy Wall Street people know what it is they’re protesting. And liberals don’t think the tea party knows what it is protesting. What else is new. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/23 "2011-10-15T13:28:18Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > And liberals don’t think the tea party knows what it is protesting. What else is new. Sure to keep the government out of Medicare. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/24 "2011-10-15T13:43:50Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > “Columbia University students Zoe Ridolfi-Starr, left, and Quitze Valenzuela-Stookey” > > ROTFLMAO. You’re making fun of people’s _names_? Way to get taken seriously, particularly by ignoring the fact that Columbia is an Ivy League school. Yes, we have a penchant to protest[sup]\*[/sup], but the curriculum is steeped in analysis. It’s particularly telling that the primary criticisms vocalized tend to be unsupported _ad hominem_ attacks. Reflexive dismissals and marginalization of whatever undergirds the protest–without any semblance of consideration. [sup]\*[/sup]How many Columbia students does it take to change a light-bulb? 501; 1 to change the light-bulb, 250 to protest the light-bulb’s right to remain dark, and 250 to counter-protest. ---
**Author:** ![George\_Kaplin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@George\_Kaplin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/George_Kaplin)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/25 "2011-10-15T14:56:41Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Knock yourself out. > > [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...rotesters.html](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...rotesters.html) > > I see more photographers and police in the pictures than protesters. Certainly WAY less than “15,000”. Maybe a few hundred. > > As for “new age idiots” - yes. > > “Columbia University students Zoe Ridolfi-Starr, left, and Quitze Valenzuela-Stookey” > > ROTFLMAO. I’m sorry, are you mental? You _own link_ shows that there are clearly thousands of protestors in attendance. What’s the matter with you? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/26 "2011-10-15T15:07:22Z")
> [@George\_Kaplin](#): > > I’m sorry, are you mental? You _own link_ shows that there are clearly thousands of protestors in attendance. What’s the matter with you? I have seen what “thousand of protestors” looks like. Those pictures show maybe 500 people. At most. ---
**Author:** ![Kyomara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8edcca/32.png) [@Kyomara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyomara)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/27 "2011-10-15T15:17:43Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > And liberals don’t think the tea party knows what it is protesting. What else is new. Exactly. “The OWS people are a bunch of new-age lefties who just want a free handout” is the right’s version of “The Tea Party is just a bunch of racists who are terrified that there is a black man in the White House.” It’s a wantonly misinformed and deliberately marginalizing view of people who are expressing real grievances with the way the country is run. To answer the OP, I think that if OWS is able to maintain its momentum (which remains to be seen), it will have some effect on the elections next year. At the very least, it will mobilize more voters, which naturally will affect the elections. Despite characterizations by the movement’s detractors, personally I think that the protestors’ grievance is pretty clear: they are upset with the amount of say that banks and corporations have in how the country is run, and they feel that it is at the expense of working Americans. They feel that the banks and corporations have been coddled, and their needs favored over those of average working Americans. I think the fact that polls show a majority of Americans agree with the protests shows that there are enough people getting the message, and that ultimately the “get a load of the lazy hippies” crowd are in a minority (a very vocal minority, God bless 'em, but a minority nonetheless). But this will depend on the movement maintaining its current momentum. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/28 "2011-10-15T16:46:59Z")
> [@George\_Kaplin](#): > > I’m sorry, are you mental? You _own link_ shows that there are clearly thousands of protestors in attendance. Cool it. Personal comments like this don’t belong in this forum. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/29 "2011-10-15T19:06:51Z")
> [@](#): > > I have seen what “thousand of protestors” looks like. Those pictures show maybe 500 people. At most. Do you seriously expect pictures taken from ground level to show the entire protest? It is possible, you know, for some people to be outside the frame of a picture. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/30 "2011-10-15T21:06:28Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > Very, very, very little. I don’t even think the Occupy Wall Street people know what it is they’re protesting. This, basically. Even if the OW clowns decide whatever it is they are protesting, or want, or don’t want, or whatever, it will be left-wing stuff. The GOP nominee won’t pay any attention to it (probably rightly), and Obama can’t afford to adopt any of it and win the general election. What’s BHO gonna do - talk about banning donations from incorporated entities after he accepts a billion dollars from them? He learned his lesson back in the last campaign, when he said he was going to run his campaign on public funding and then back-tracked when he found out how much more he could collect from big organizations. Obama is about as left-wing as one can get and be President. If he actually moves in the direction of whatever left-wing fantasies the OWS decide they want, he will quickly have to move back to the center or watch his chance at another term go down the toilet. It would be great if he did, but I doubt he is that stupid. The big risk is if the OWS persuade other left-wingers not to vote or work for him. Obama has already slipped badly among independents - if his hard-core left constituency abandons him, he may be in for some hurt come a year from November. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/31 "2011-10-15T21:11:24Z")
deleted ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/32 "2011-10-15T21:13:05Z")
Look, we’re talking [worldwide](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_%22Occupy%22_protest_locations#cite_note-111) now. Within four weeks. Did the Tea Party inspire anything worldwide? How long did it take from the first few feeble rallies even for it to go nationwide? ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/33 "2011-10-15T22:27:12Z")
Less than four weeks. But it’s not unreasonable to say that OWS might affect the 2012 elections; the Tea Party had about as much head start on the 2010 elections and it seemed to me that they had a measurable effect. ---
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/34 "2011-10-15T22:42:13Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > And liberals don’t think the tea party knows what it is protesting. What else is new. Say what you will about the Tea Party, but they actually have stated goals. Admittedly, I haven’t been keeping up to date with the Occupy Wall Street people, but last I saw, they didn’t have any kind of coherent position. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/35 "2011-10-15T23:42:05Z")
“Get the government’s hands off my Medicare” is a coherent position? And **Shodan** , what you say could also apply to the Tea Party. I expect that if the Occupy movement has a significant effect, it’ll be in motivating greater turnout, same as the Tea Party did. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/36 "2011-10-15T23:55:27Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I am sure a big majority of people, if asked whether they want a free handout, will say yes. Does that mean free handouts should be given? Yes. And if a majority says capital gains taxes should be 70%, then capital gains taxes should be 70%. You should be very afraid. And quit poking the bear. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/37 "2011-10-15T23:58:17Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > Say what you will about the Tea Party, but they actually have stated goals. Admittedly, I haven’t been keeping up to date with the Occupy Wall Street people, but last I saw, they didn’t have any kind of coherent position. I attended my first Occupy rally today. The position I got was: _Large amounts of money from the top 1% has perverted our political system. They have rigged the system for thier own benefit. Let’s try to reign them in._ Not my place to speak for others but that’s pretty much it. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/38 "2011-10-16T00:17:00Z")
I went to my first one today too. The problems were myriad. There were people trying to get foreclosures halted, and then settlements like banks had promised to do. There were people complaining about the concentration of wealth. There were union reps getting involved. There was a Ron Paul guy who was there because he was unhappy with the direction the world is going in. He also wanted a yearly audit of the Federal Reserve Banks. Some were concerned with the unemployment problem when corporation profits are at an all time high. Some want the credit card interest rates at a more reasonable level and fees reduced. Some just do not like the hollowing out of the middle class. Others were unhappy with offshoring jobs and corporate tax breaks for moving companies away. Most were pissed because the bankers got away with destroying the economy and did not have to pay at all. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/39 "2011-10-16T00:26:53Z")
I see a great surge in support for Ralph Nader. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/40 "2011-10-16T00:34:33Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I went to my first one today too. The problems were myriad. There were people trying to get foreclosures halted, and then settlements like banks had promised to do. There were people complaining about the concentration of wealth. There were union reps getting involved. There was a Ron Paul guy who was there because he was unhappy with the direction the world is going in. He also wanted a yearly audit of the Federal Reserve Banks. Some were concerned with the unemployment problem when corporation profits are at an all time high. Some want the credit card interest rates at a more reasonable level and fees reduced. Some just do not like the hollowing out of the middle class. Others were unhappy with offshoring jobs and corporate tax breaks for moving companies away. > Most were pissed because the bankers got away with destroying the economy and did not have to pay at all. Every issue you listed was addressed at the rally I went to. The thing that ties it all together is that the 99% are getting hosed by the top 1%. We even had a Ron Paul guy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697.md?page=3)