# 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:** 5
**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 17, 2011, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/81 "2011-10-17T02:26:43Z")
OK, what proportion of them have to be, then? And does the same proportion apply to Tea Party events? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/82 "2011-10-17T02:54:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, what proportion of them have to be, then? And does the same proportion apply to Tea Party events? ? I didn’t say the event was “moonbat central” (although it does look like it). I said Manhattan was. So is San Francisco. Also the central of Austin. You really are disputing that? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/83 "2011-10-17T03:14:11Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Well there you go. That means they all are like that. So you must win something or other. He obviously was a spokesman for the movement. By the way, if you were wondering what that guy’s deal is - he is a trust fund baby Columbia doctoral student specializing in “intertemporal choice with respect to environmental decisions”. ---
**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 17, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/84 "2011-10-17T04:27:57Z")
> [@](#): > > ? I didn’t say the event was “moonbat central” (although it does look like it). What you said was “Yep. Moonbat central.”. And you said it in response to a video of the event. What conclusions were we supposed to draw? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/85 "2011-10-17T04:31:35Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What you said was “Yep. Moonbat central.”. And you said it in response to a video of the event. What conclusions were we supposed to draw? Post #65. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/86 "2011-10-17T04:43:07Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > At the Occupy event that I attended, out of a crowd of between 4-500 people (pretty good in this very conservative city, I thought) there were maybe a handful of “moonbats”. The vast majority were thoughtful, articulate people with jobs and families. Many brought the whole family. One woman had a sign that I think most there would identify with, _“Pissed Off Working Stiff.”_ The ones in Zuccotti park smell funny. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/87 "2011-10-17T04:46:06Z")
Why would moonbats go to the occupation? Do you have some inside knowledge of what "moonbats "do? Were these moonbats picketing the ground zero mosque? Or are they only moonbats when they back a cause that pisses off the rich and powerful? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/88 "2011-10-17T05:00:45Z")
> [@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) I can assure you that you REALLY don’t want to get into which group has the folks with the dumbest signs. I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures of signs at the Tea Party rallies. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/89 "2011-10-17T05:01:56Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I can assure you that you REALLY don’t want to get into which group has the folks with the dumbest signs. I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures of signs at the Tea Party rallies. Did I say that sign was dumb? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/90 "2011-10-17T11:05:05Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > The ones in Zuccotti park smell funny. **Everything** in NYC smells funny. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/91 "2011-10-17T16:44:37Z")
I think the occupations are going to have a big impact on the elections. i have been waiting a long time for Obama to prosecute some bankers and rating agency execs. Now, he can see how much backing a move like that would have. He was afraid of the money men , but now he may fear the voters more. Wall Street occupation shows how fed up people are by those who act against the interests of the country, the American people and the environment to make more and more money. The banks are not supposed to be casinos. Obama should come out for a new Glass/Steagal act. We should go back to revoking charters of corporations that cause damage to the environment and hurt the overall economy. They should have to answer for not considering the public good in their actions. ---
**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 17, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/92 "2011-10-17T17:17:58Z")
There is the minor issue of actually finding a law that was broken. I know that doesn’t fit into the whole “end corporate greed” ethos, but we do have this peculiar tradition of being a nation of laws. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/93 "2011-10-17T17:33:23Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > There is the minor issue of actually finding a law that was broken. I know that doesn’t fit into the whole “end corporate greed” ethos, but we do have this peculiar tradition of being a nation of laws. John, you’re being silly. There has been a sufficient accumulation of deliberately vaguely worded laws that you can indict anyone you want. Just look at RICOH statutes and various financial laws. They are broadly open to interpretation. “There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt.” — Ayn Rand ---
**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 17, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/94 "2011-10-17T17:35:39Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > John, you’re being silly. There has been a sufficient accumulation of deliberately vaguely worded laws that you can indict anyone you want. Just look at RICOH statutes and various financial laws. They are broadly open to interpretation. > > “There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt.” — Ayn Rand I don’t think you’re taking into account that Ayn Rand was a silly bitch who didn’t know what she was talking about. ---
**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 17, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/95 "2011-10-17T17:38:23Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > John, you’re being silly. There has been a sufficient accumulation of deliberately vaguely worded laws that you can indict anyone you want. Just look at RICOH statutes and various financial laws. They are broadly open to interpretation. I think you’re kidding, but in case you’re not: Oh, goody. Battle of the lawyers. If Obama decided to go that route, there ain’t going to be any convictions before the next election, if there are every any. It might be possible to go after some of the rating agencies, but I’m not really sure about that. As for the bankers, I don’t believe anything they did (as a whole) is illegal. Better to go after the few folks in the 1% who get to claim what is essentially their salary as a dividend. Not retroactively, of course, but going forward. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/96 "2011-10-17T17:53:39Z")
> [@Blalron](#): > > My interpretation of the cite was that they actually got payed a billion dollars. > > Even setting that Bank of America issue aside, there are plenty of examples of welfare for the rich. Like ethanol subsidies, cane sugar subsidies (and tariffs) which, as far as I can tell, largely benefit millionaires and not ordinary people. Can you explain this? Ethanol subsidies go to people who use their land to grow crops for fuel instead of food. All in the effort to ween us off oil, like Brazil has done a good job of doing. Are the sugar cain subsidies tied to this? It seems that benefits everyone. How does it benefit “millionaires”? ---
**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 17, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/97 "2011-10-17T17:54:31Z")
Even if the bankers didn’t technically break any laws yet, we can certainly pass new laws to prevent them from trashing the economy for their own personal gain again. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/98 "2011-10-17T17:54:46Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Yep. Moonbat central. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSo-MEiMbac](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSo-MEiMbac) That’s some funny shit. ---
**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 17, 2011, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/99 "2011-10-17T17:55:50Z")
**magellan01** , how does increasing our consumption of oil help wean us off of it? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697/100 "2011-10-17T18:00:06Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > **magellan01** , how does increasing our consumption of oil help wean us off of it? Not sure I understand your question. You do know that not all fuel is petroleum based, right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-occupy-wall-street-on-the-2012-elections/599697.md?page=6)