The Tea Partiers And The Occupiers

[_Brackite]

The Tea Party Movement and the Occupy Wall Street Movement:

What is the big difference between these two movements?
Is there a big difference between these two movements?

Discuss.

[_cinepro]

Apart from their specific politics, it seems to me that the Tea Partiers have benefited from an organization and focus that the Occupiers have lacked (and even rejected).

If you ask any Tea Partier what they stand for, they will probably express goals related to a limitation on governmental power and concerns over the national debt, the level of taxation, and government spending. And behind those goals, they have supported specific politicians and worked to get them elected so they could turn their philosophies into real legislation. They are a real force to be reckoned with for politicians that are seeking votes from conservative voters.

While the Occupiers express philosophical problems with "greed" and wealth distribution (among other things), as far as I can tell there has been no success in getting their dissatisfaction translated into any kind of practical action. In order to make changes, they need to use either political power or violence. So far, they have chosen neither. Perhaps next year we will see them attempt to use the former. Hopefully, they never get desperate enough to use the latter.

[_moksha]

Occupiers and Tea Partiers, eh?

One is a grass roots movement and other uses AstroTurf.

[_Nomomo]

Apart from their specific politics, it seems to me that the Tea Partiers have benefited from an organization and focus that the Occupiers have lacked (and even rejected).

If you ask any Tea Partier what they stand for, they will probably express goals related to a limitation on governmental power and concerns over the national debt, the level of taxation, and government spending. And behind those goals, they have supported specific politicians and worked to get them elected so they could turn their philosophies into real legislation. They are a real force to be reckoned with for politicians that are seeking votes from conservative voters.

While the Occupiers express philosophical problems with "greed" and wealth distribution (among other things), as far as I can tell there has been no success in getting their dissatisfaction translated into any kind of practical action. In order to make changes, they need to use either political power or violence. So far, they have chosen neither. Perhaps next year we will see them attempt to use the former. Hopefully, they never get desperate enough to use the latter.

You forgot to mention the Tea Partiers are dupes for the rich. That is the biggest difference.

[_Brackite]

Thanks for your thoughts cinepro and moksha.

Most of the Tea Partiers are not happy about the bank bailout bill (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008) that was Passed by the Democratic controlled Congress and signed into law by GOP President George W. Bush. A lot of the Wall Street Occupiers seem not that happy about the rich People of the banks getting bailed out back in 2008. Congresswoman Tea Party Caucus Member and now GOP Presidential Candidate Michele Bachmann voted against the bank bailout along with Liberal Congressman Dennis Kucinich back in 2008. Tea Party Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and Liberal Congressman Dennis Kucinich both recently voted against the debt deal back in August.

Is there really that big of a difference between the Tea Party Movement and the Occupy Wall Street Movement?


Obama: Occupy Wall Street ‘Not That Different’ From Tea Party Protests:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/20 ... -protests/



image

[_moksha]

I think I see your point Brackite. Both groups feel frustrated and both groups view the bailout as a boon to the wealthy and a bane to the average Joe.

Occupiers are willing to march on foot and the Partiers ask if they can ride their golf carts.

[_cinepro]

Is there really that big of a difference between the Tea Party Movement and the Occupy Wall Street Movement?

I don't know how "official" it is, but the "Tea Party Patriots" website presents the Tea Party "Core Values" as these:

Core Values

-Fiscal Responsibility
-Constitutionally Limited Government
-Free Markets

From what I can tell, they endeavor to elect politicians who support these values, with the goal of passing legislation that moves federal, state and local governments in this direction.

For comparison's sake, what are the core values of the Occupy movement? How are they proposing to make these core values a reality in society or government?

[_Buffalo]

The Tea Party Movement and the Occupy Wall Street Movement:

What is the big difference between these two movements?
Is there a big difference between these two movements?

Discuss.

Tea Party = old fat unemployed boomers
OWS = unemployed hipsters

[_cinepro]

Can anyone explain to me what the protest in Oakland yesterday had to do with any of the Occupy movement's goals? I understand it was in reaction to a man being injured by the Oakland police, but until that happened, I hadn't heard that "police brutality" was part of their grievances.

Policeman are unionized, middle-class members of the 99%. Why would the Occupy movement be fighting against them?

[_Brackite]

Can anyone explain to me what the protest in Oakland yesterday had to do with any of the Occupy movement's goals? I understand it was in reaction to a man being injured by the Oakland police, but until that happened, I hadn't heard that "police brutality" was part of their grievances.

Policeman are unionized, middle-class members of the 99%. Why would the Occupy movement be fighting against them?

I have been told here that the Occupy Oakland movement was just about Protesting the top 1%, but that doesn't seem to be the case in Oakland, CA.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - A day of demonstrations in Oakland that began as a significant step toward expanding the political and economic influence of the Occupy Wall Street movement, ended with police in riot gear arresting dozens of protesters who had marched through downtown to break into a vacant building, shattering windows, spraying graffiti and setting fires along the way.

"We go from having a peaceful movement to now just chaos," said protester Monique Agnew, 40.

The far-flung movement of protesters challenging the world's economic systems and distribution of wealth has gained momentum in recent weeks, capturing the world's attention by shutting down one of the nation's busiest shipping ports toward the end of a daylong "general strike" that prompted solidarity rallies across the U.S.

About 3,000 people converged on the Port of Oakland, the nation's fifth-busiest harbor, in a nearly five-hour protest Wednesday, swarming the area and blocking exits and streets with illegally parked vehicles and hastily-erected, chain-link fences.

Port officials said they were forced to cease maritime operations, citing concerns for workers' safety. They said in a statement they hope to resume operations Thursday "and that Port workers will be allowed to get to their jobs without incident. Continued missed shifts represent economic hardship for maritime workers, truckers, and their families, as well as lost jobs and lost tax revenue for our region."

...

Link: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20111103/D9QP7IC80.html



Have any of the Tea Party Protestors have been known to break into a building, shattered windows, sprayed graffiti, and set fires along the way???