# 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:** 3
**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 16, 2011, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/41 "2011-10-16T01:19:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > “Get the government’s hands off my Medicare” is a coherent position? So they want to take over of Wall Street, figuratively speaking, in order to protect their Medicare? That’s what the protest is all about? I’m generally not into disparaging protests, even if I disagree with them, but if there is one protest which should be disparaged, it’s the Occupy Wall Street movement. As I said, I haven’t been keeping up to date with all the goings on and whatnot, so I might be out of the loop, but I seriously have yet to hear what they’re about beyond the usual “Wall Street is bad rhetoric!” and what they want to accomplish. The Tea Party, whether or not you agree with him, has a list of stated goals; when it comes to the Occupy Wall Street movement, I basically just see a bunch of angry and/or pissed off people protesting for the hell of it. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/42 "2011-10-16T01:23:19Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > So they want to take over of Wall Street, figuratively speaking, in order to protect their Medicare? That’s what the protest is all about? > > I’m generally not into disparaging protests, even if I disagree with them, but if there is one protest which should be disparaged, it’s the Occupy Wall Street movement. As I said, I haven’t been keeping up to date with all the goings on and whatnot, so I might be out of the loop, but I seriously have yet to hear what they’re about beyond the usual “Wall Street is bad rhetoric!” and what they want to accomplish. The Tea Party, whether or not you agree with him, has a list of stated goals; when it comes to the Occupy Wall Street movement, I basically just see a bunch of angry and/or pissed off people protesting for the hell of it. I posted this before, but it is just such a perfectly representative shot of the “OWS” movement, it is just begging to be posted again: [![](https://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/bigbadterr/b287c759bfcb4bfa811b6b7dbb6fe03d_7.jpg) ](https://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/bigbadterr/b287c759bfcb4bfa811b6b7dbb6fe03d_7.jpg) ---
**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 16, 2011, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/43 "2011-10-16T01:24:54Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > So they want to take over of Wall Street, figuratively speaking, in order to protect their Medicare? That’s what the protest is all about? “Get the government’s hands off my Medicare” [is a Tea Party position](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/get-your-goddamn-governme_b_252326.html). ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/44 "2011-10-16T01:25:37Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I posted this before, but it is just such a perfectly representative shot of the “OWS” movement, it is just begging to be posted again: > > [http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/bigbadterr/b287c759bfcb4bfa811b6b7dbb6fe03d\_7.jpg](http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f259/bigbadterr/b287c759bfcb4bfa811b6b7dbb6fe03d_7.jpg) How old are you? Because that’s pretty clearly meant to be funny. ---
**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, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/45 "2011-10-16T01:29:35Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > How old are you? Because that’s pretty clearly meant to be funny. What makes you think that? Look at the expression on the guy’s face. I like the one behind it: Private Ownership of Industry is Theft. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/46 "2011-10-16T01:34:39Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > What makes you think that? Look at the expression on the guy’s face. Since Lobohan is embarrassed by that slogan, he would prefer to think it was not serious. > [@](#): > > I like the one behind it: Private Ownership of Industry is Theft. LOL. As I said, new age idiots (the one in front) being tutored by old hippies (the one in the back). ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/47 "2011-10-16T02:07:18Z")
I hate to use a tiresome and well-worn cliché here but basically only time will tell. Anyway, these are the ways I think OWS could affect the 2012 election: \*\*Scenario #1: \*\ ***Best Case for OWS Supporters. Liberals, and Democrats; Worst Case for Republicans and Conservatives** - OWS eventually coalesces into advocacy of concrete socio-economic issues led by bank and financial reform. Blindsiding conventional wisdom, OWS supporters make an alliance with the anti-Wall Street contingent of the Tea Party and end up running a successful slate of reform candidates for Congress. Obama seizes on the OWS reforms and uses them to ride to a successful bid for re-election. \*\*Scenario #2: \*\ ***Anticlimax** - OWS movement fizzles out by the time winter hits and is mostly forgotten by the time of the 2012 election. Has no impact on election results. \*\*Scenario #3: \*\***Worst Case for OWS Supporters, Liberals, and Democrats; Best Case for Republicans and Conservatives (particularly those of a crypto-fascist bent who get orgasms thinking of it)** - OWS movement takes a violent turn when some participants turn to heavy-duty vandalism and rioting. The GOP blames Obama and the Democrats for either, at worst, encouraging the mayhem or, at best, being so ineffectual as to be unable to control their rebellious brethren on the left. In a replay of the “Law and Order” campaign of 1968, the Republicans coast to landslide victories in both the presidential and congressional races thanks to a fear-based platform that advocates cracking down on the filthy indolent left-wing scum running wild in the streets. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/48 "2011-10-16T02:17:41Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > What makes you think that? Look at the expression on the guy’s face. Because I’m really, really good at the internet: [http://twitter.com/#!/micfri](http://twitter.com/#!/micfri) > **[Micfri](https://www.youtube.com/micfri#p/a)** > > I try to make a short music video everyday, it doesn't always work out, watch my past successes and failures. 😃 ---
**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, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/49 "2011-10-16T04:21:19Z")
I see nothing in that twitter feed that indicates he’s not serious. It may have been intended as a humorous take on the whole protest, but he’s obviously in sympathy and the sign is not meant to be a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/50 "2011-10-16T04:36:49Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I see nothing in that twitter feed that indicates he’s not serious. It may have been intended as a humorous take on the whole protest, but he’s obviously in sympathy and the sign is not meant to be a joke. He’s for the protest. He’s not mocking it. He’s making a humorous sign that at the same time explains his position. He does shitty comedy video songs on Youtube. I appreciate that you don’t get it, but I assure you, the sign isn’t a reflection that he isn’t able to communicate as Terr seems to think. ---
**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, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/51 "2011-10-16T04:38:47Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > We can. But I don’t think we can come to a consensus on what constitutes a “government handout”. I don’t consider the government grabbing a little less money from you than it otherwise would a “handout”. You probably do. > > As for “bailouts” - no, they should not have occurred. How to prevent it? Easy - don’t re-elect the people that voted for them. So you would be for raising taxes on the wealthy. They are accumulating great wealth due to unfair tax cuts. Corporations that don’t pay taxes or get tax money back while making record profits would also be on your hit list, i am sure. Those are huge handouts. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/52 "2011-10-16T04:39:13Z")
Also, did I not track a random ginger across the face of the god-damn internet in less than ten minutes without so much as a, “wow, impressive”? Tough crowd. 😃 ---
**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, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/53 "2011-10-16T04:53:53Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > 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. Did you go in Detroit? ---
**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, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/54 "2011-10-16T04:55:42Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > “Massive”? Seriously? > > Tell me, how many people have to demonstrate for it to be “massive” in your universe? 300? 1000? [Occupy Wall Street Protests Spread To Europe, Asia | HuffPost The World Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/15/occupy-wall-street-protests-europe-asia_n_1012336.html) Massive ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/55 "2011-10-16T05:01:42Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > \*\*Scenario #3: \*\***Worst Case for OWS Supporters, Liberals, and Democrats; Best Case for Republicans and Conservatives (particularly those of a crypto-fascist bent who get orgasms thinking of it)** - OWS movement takes a violent turn when some participants turn to heavy-duty vandalism and rioting. The GOP blames Obama and the Democrats for either, at worst, encouraging the mayhem or, at best, being so ineffectual as to be unable to control their rebellious brethren on the left. _In a replay of the “Law and Order” campaign of 1968_, the Republicans coast to landslide victories in both the presidential and congressional races thanks to a fear-based platform that advocates cracking down on the filthy indolent left-wing scum running wild in the streets. [_Italics_ added for emphasis.] Clarification: I know the Republicans barely won the presidential race and made no gains in Congress in 1968. The “replay” only referred to the re-use of 1968 campaign tactics in 2012 and not to each election having the same outcome. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/56 "2011-10-16T05:59:43Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > So you would be for raising taxes on the wealthy. They are accumulating great wealth due to unfair tax cuts. Define “unfair”. And no, having less money taken from you by the government is never a “handout”. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/57 "2011-10-16T06:01:14Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > [Occupy Wall Street Protests Spread To Europe, Asia | HuffPost The World Post](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/15/occupy-wall-street-protests-europe-asia_n_1012336.html) Massive As I said, it’s pathetic that the most NYC “occupiers” manage to bring out is about 6K tonight at Times Square while Romans manage 100,000 without breaking a sweat. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2011, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/58 "2011-10-16T12:37:38Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > 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. > > [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. That’s a pretty expensive Ivy League school. So I wonder how many of those Columbia students will end up working at the very investment banks they are protesting once they finish playing revolutionary? It’s a little hard to guage the possible effect without a better understanding of what sort of political change they are advocating. Angry anti-establishmentism isn’t really a political policy. Investment banks and corporations aren’t going to go away. And they aren’t going to be socialized any time soon. The government can’t just legislate jobs, otherwise they would. And how much sense does it make punishing the corporations with high taxes then berating them for not providing more jobs? ---
**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, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/59 "2011-10-16T13:14:55Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Did you go in Detroit? Ft.Wayne IN. ---
**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, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/60 "2011-10-16T15:58:01Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > As I said, it’s pathetic that the most NYC “occupiers” manage to bring out is about 6K tonight at Times Square while Romans manage 100,000 without breaking a sweat. There were camps in 900 cities in America. There are large demonstrations across the world. It is huge and will have impact. You are desperately trying to define it away. You are failing. NYC had 20k. But i did not listen or watch Fox, so they may have said it was a lot less. What a surprise that would be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697.md?page=4)