Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Panic of the Plutocrats!!
Due 21 Oct 2011. Is it effective to occupy Wall Street? Does Krugman view this as an effective way to affect change? What is the reaction of the right? How do you view the reality of these demonstrations on the economic stability of our country?
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I found a quote/fact from the article very interesting. "My favorite, however, is Senator Rand Paul, who for some reason worries that the protesters will start seizing iPads, because they believe rich people don’t deserve to have them. " I don't really get this, maybe we can talk about this in class one day?
ReplyDeleteAnyways, many presidential candidates criticize the protestors on the Wall Street, accusing them of waging "class warfare" and calling them "anti-American". We the people have the rights to stand up for what we believe in and so far the protest is peaceful and does not turn into a riot.
Although not sure about if the protest would be an effective way to affect change, it certainly gives people(businesses/the ones who devastated our economy) pressure. I don't have enough knowledge to predict if it would actually help, but I think the Wall Street people/businesses would start to realize that the common people are watching them and they might start to do something that is good for people.
In my opinion, I don't think it is effective for these individuals to be occupying Wall Street. Wall Street will not change just because of the protesters. Although we have our 1st amendment right of freedom of speech, this demonstration will not change the choices banks and other businesses made that put us in this mess. Krugman views the protests as just in the fact that people should have their voices heard. He sees the big businesses on Wall Street as being "un-American". He sees the loopholes that Wall Street receives as a defeat against the taxpayers. Krugman believes that these protesters have the right to voice their opinions and concerns over the corruption on Wall Street. The right thinks that the protesters are "anti-American" and that these protests are "class warfare". The right opposes these protests, seeing them as causing more destruction than good. The reality is that these protests aren't going to change anything. Wall Street looks upon these people as just a nuisance, not as a threat. In my opinion, the economy will not just switch from bad to good from these protests. The real progress will take multiple years.
ReplyDeleteI view occupying Wall Street as effective. Americans are guaranteed freedom of speech rights and so are allowed to protest as they please. Additionally, I believe that it is better to make a drastic demonstration to Wall Street and the public in order to make their views and claims heard. Krugman views this as an effective was to ignite change because it involves exercising first amendment rights and clearly portrays the protesters opinions. Some view the protests as "anti-American" and that they are trying to wage class warfare. Some extreme views are that they are aligned with Lenin. The reality of the demonstration is that although it seems pointless it is actually the opposite. These protesters serve as a wake up call to Wall Street to indicate their flaws. Also, it allows the public to realize the problems that Wall Street has caused. Although occupying Wall Street may not solve the economic problems, it is definitely going to make the problems apparent to the public.
ReplyDeleteI think occupying Wall Street is effective because people have their own opinions. It's a way that people can get there opinions heard and try to change the problem, which may or may not be successful. Krugman believes that people are allowed to voice their opinions. The protest can either be successful or not. They can see it as a bother or they can agree. Though it may be successful, I don't think that it will solves problems. It will take time for them to actually come to a compromise.
ReplyDeleteI do not find protesting effective. Yes, people get their voice heard of wanting change, but in the big picture, the leaders of our country do not care. People will continue to buy merchandise and find employment in businesses. Krugman believes that the protestors are trying to be effective but in reality, there is so much that needs to be done and protesting does not fix everything. Through the loopholes and class welfare, Krugman finds this method American by "freedom of speech", but Wall Street does not care. I wish the blog had a "like" button so I could like Zoey's comment. I agree that the protestors are a complete nuissance but Wall Street will keep doing what they do best.
ReplyDeleteI believe that occupying Wall Street is effective because everyone is able to voice their opinions and get heard. I think it enables Wall Street to get a good look into what people really are thinking. Even though these protestors won't cause it to change over night, I feel that over time it could possibly do some good. Krugman thinks that people should be allowed to protest and that it could be effective.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it is ineffective to occupy wall street. The protesters are not going to have any impact simply by causing a scene, and will create a larger conflict instead of solving the problem. Krugman approves of occupying wall street, and even claims that it is their right, as stated in the first ammendment, to do so. I view these demonistrations as a signal that our economy impacts everyone, not just the stock brokers in wall street. However, I believe that they should voice their concerns in a more effective way other than protesting.
ReplyDeletePersonally I feel that the protest on wall street is effect because it will bring the problem that we face will wall street to the fore front. Even the fact that we are talking about it now shows that it is effective to some extent, because it has forced us to consider the effects of what is being done to us by "the rich" and may even stimulate some people to act on it. Krugman (smart guy) also believes that the protest is effective because it exercises the use of our first amendment right in order to make a change to a system that that is clearly flawed. If anything these protests may further the economic stability of our country by hopefully making a change to the way we allocate our resources.
ReplyDeleteOccupying Wall Street has already made an effect: it's raised awareness. And for anyone who thinks that becoming knowledgable over the schemes of the 1% won't help, they're incorrect. These people have the motivation to continue for a reason -- they are already making a difference in the way we view our society. Krugman views these demonstrations as harmless, but nevertheless effective because it has "elicited a remarkable hysterical reaction..." The right attacks these demonstrations with unrelated and most definitely exaggerated comparions to Trotsky and Lenin. They believe the protesters are to blame for the crumbling of our society. The reality is that the minute we diverged from the British to begin our own country, we knew that there would be a sort of spunk in each and every American. We defend what's ours, and that's exactly what those protestors are doing.
ReplyDeleteThis is Kasey Litchfield..My google account wont let me comment so I have to use my AOL account...
ReplyDeleteWhile occupying Wall Street exercises America's right to freedom of speech I dont believe that it has made a huge impact. They are causing a scene and raising the annoyance level of us rather than our awareness. Krugman thinks this could be an effective way of voicing opinions in a harmless manner. The right thinks that the protesters are "anti-American" and that these protests are "class warfare". I believe that this shows that people are more aware of what is happening in Wall Street but protesting is not the most effective way to do it.
If anything the occupy movement isn't doing enough. Too bad all money is kept electronically these days, or it'd be as simple as marching in and taking it by force. While the motivations for some protesters may be ill-founded, the fact of the matter is that SOMETHING must be done. This may not be the best approach, but it would be more outrageous for Americans to stand idle while these criminals are destroying our nation. Those who speak out against protesters should be castrated, thus removing their greedy, America-Hating, ignorant genes from the gene pool. The occupy movement an embodiment of the principles this country was founded on. What some of these investors on Wall Street are doing could arguably be called treason. I feel this movement needs to have some weight put behind it so it can gain some momentum.
ReplyDelete