Since September 17, 2011, hundreds and thousands of protestors have been demonstrating in the financial district of New York City. They have demonstrated for the most part, within the law, but at times have become unruly. When the protest first began, many thought the momentum would fade and the protestors would clear in a few days. That has not been the case. The movement has grown with more people from all over the country. The ideas have spread to cities across the United States and across the world. On October 15, the protests went global with groups demonstrating in Cairo, Egypt, London, England, Rome Italy, and a plethora of other cities throughout the world.
It has become apparent; the ideas of the group of people which began in New York are shared amongst people all over the world. They are outraged over the current economic conditions of their communities, states, nations, and world. They believe the fate of the world should not be driven by the elite few which steer economic and social policies that we are all paying for. They want answers to why the banks and other multi-national companies are being bailed out, especially at the expense of the thousands of people who have lost their homes and jobs. They want to be heard.
The consensus among bystanders is split. While many Americans may agree with the idea of limiting government bail outs and the influence of the elite 1% of the wealthiest people over public policy, not all agree with the ongoing protest or with the individuals participating. It seemed ironic when one protestor shared with reporters he had quit his job in Texas to come to New York and protest about unemployment?!?
Equally concerning is their lack of demands. You have to ask yourself “how does this end?” While the protestors can agree about the problem, they are not united on the solution. It seems many of the demonstrators are great with the idea of protesting, but seem to lack clarity when asked what they want.
Watch a video, talk to your parents, read and article and answer the following. What do you think about the protests? Who do think is responsible for the current financial crisis? How do you think it should end?
Matea( Bulldog)- I think that protests are good. People are not afraid to use their voices against peole that have more power than them. Those people are very brave and i am glad that their are people in this country and world that are not afraid to use their voices. Those people have a choice to just go with what is happening and hope nothing bad happens to them. Or they can use their voices and speak up for what they think is right. In the end those peole will feel proud of themselves. i personaly think that the people themselves are responsible for it. they should have used their money more wisely. If they didn't spend all their money then they would still be in a home. Or if they weren't listening to their boss or what ever they did, it was their fault. It could end if we made some more jobs available in the city. Or the people could move to a different place and start fresh like they did before. When they have a home and everything, they don't waste their money.
ReplyDeleteKordell- K-dog- I think the protests are insane. Because hundreds and thousands of protests in New York. I think the person that is responsible for the current finacail crisis is people in the united states those group of people. It should end by our economy being good and our jobs. People should hire more people to get jobs.
ReplyDeleteJackie- I think that the protests that are going on are just people who are upset and need someone to blame. Even though they me be upset they should remember that everyone else is suffering from this too. Although, I would have to agree with them in some ways, but I don't think that protesting about it is the right way to go. I'm not sure who to blame with the financial crisis to be honest. I think sometimes that it is everyone's fault. I think that the government spends to much money on repairing roads that are perfectly fine and I do think that there is much better stuff they could be spending it on. I am not sure how this should or will end. There is so much to make up for and I think it will take a long time to rebuild up all of the financial mistakes that everyone has made. I think that there isn't really a way to solve this but more like intricate steps to help overcome this. I don't know for sure what these steps are, but I know that it will take a lot of work a grit to work through this.
ReplyDeleteThe Star Trek Expert/Nissa- I think that these protests make sense, I mean, they really do. All the people are just really angry about the current economy and how people are losing jobs. I am all for these people being heard. They deserve answers! With the financial crisis, it's really confusing. I think that everyone has had a hand in the whole thing, since people were buying stuff they couldn't afford, then taking out a ton of loans. Then, the banks were giving out loans/money they didn't have, and the government had to bail THEM out. It's so confusing, chaotic, and stupid. The whole mess boils down to greed. If people weren't so greedy, we wouldn't be in this mess. I have no idea how we can make it end. It's like a huge knot no one can untie, or a night mare you can't wake up from. I wish i could snap my fingers and end this all, but i can't. It will take a ton of work and complicated steps to fix this mess, probably taking over a decade to overcome, since the only economic time worse than this was the Great Depression.
ReplyDeleterobert- i think all the protests should continue cause truly the banks have caused the bad economy by failing at supporting their customers who couldnt pay there debts. I think this should end in a way that leaves the people happy with their jobs.
ReplyDeleteNatalia- I think all the protests can be good and bad. The people protesting want to be heard for what they beleive is right. I think its bad because sometimes its hard to give more jobs to people or fix the economy. Its hard to say who exactly is responsible for the finacial crisis. I think the banks are responsible for some of this but everyone esle is too. Its hard to say who exactly is responsible for the finacial crisis. I think it should end with people being happy with what changed and we should try to change the economy and some other stuff.
ReplyDeleteGabi- i think that protests arent bad if you truley believe in what you are supporting or if you truely belevie that somwthing is wrong. but if people protest just because they are angry and want someone to blame then it is wrong. i dont there is just one person toblame for thr finicial crisis. i think at diferent times it is different people. it could be the banks, government laders, or us. anyone person or group of people can be responsible. this should end with us coming out with a better economy and more job oppotunites for others. it may take a while but we can get there.
ReplyDeleteCatie-I think that the protests are good. We are American citizens and we deserve to be heard. We shouldn't be afraid to protest against our government if they are making bad decisions with OUR money that WE earned. I think that the government is to blame. They should be handling the taxes wisely, but instead, they spent it all and look where that got us. In BIG debt. I think that in order to end it, we need to offer more jobs, start more businesses and become more productive. Our citizens also need to be able to get their basic needs so we should start charities for those who can't afford them.
ReplyDeleteAlice(In Wonderland!X-D -Well, I think that the protests are good and bad, cuz there are some people out there that actually have plausible reasons for being out there. But some people are probably out there just to shout for no good reason! I kinda admire the people in the protest( the ones with good reasons!)just be cause they have the guts to go out there and make themselves heard. I sure hope someone listens to them and makes a change, so they aren't out there just for kicks... Anyway I think the government is responsible. THEY are the ones we entrust our taxes. THEY are the ones who squandered it, and THEY should be the first ones to start to help fix what they got America into! Start business, make jobs, fix up the economy. Help the poor who might not have enough to help themselves.
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ReplyDeleteI thinnk the protests are good amd bad. They are good because they raise awerness about the financial crisis. They are bad because the protesters aren't giving solutions to the problems, so the protests arent very productive.
I don't think there is one person to blame. The cause of the financial crisis is greed. People got greedy and bought stuff that they can't afford like big houses and fancy cars. The buisnesses got greedy by gining people loans that they couldn't pay off.
We can fix the financial problem by teaching people to spend their money wisely.
Ryan
ReplyDeleteI think that the protest are a good thing because it helps the government get the citizens ideas to them. Its not the best way of doing that but it still keeps the government in check of what there are deciding.Who do i think is the person or people that caused this well i thinks its mostly everybody's fault.Everybody has a say in the government by protesting or sending a letter.To change this situation or make it a lot better We should still spend money because that helps it when money comes in but we need to spend it wisely
Vince-
ReplyDeleteI think that the protests are both good and bad. We Americans have the right to speak and I think that people should use that ability like they did in New York. But I do think that people should only protest about important things and not the unimportant things. I think that everyone is responsible for this crisis. The banks are responsible because they allow people to get big loans that cant really afford. And the people are responsible because they get greedy and they try to get big loans that they cant afford. I think that it should end by having everyone take responsibility in their financial maters.
Dillon\D-Dog-I think that protests can be a good thing but it can turn bad if it turns to violence. The financial break down was caused buy the bank giving loans to poeple that could not pay them back. So that ecoueged people to buy stuff that they could not efford. The two main ways that it will get fixed are over time and if our society attitude changes to one of hard working instead of one of being spoiled.
ReplyDeleteAmaia-I don't think that the protests are bad. I think some people are going overboard and I think that if they just state their oppinion in a calm but assertive tone, then it would be more productive to their cause. I think that rich cooperations and people are responsible because in a time financial instability, they still seek wealth so instead of taking it from eachother, they take it from the middle and low class Americans. I also think that it has to do with the fact that Obama bailed out large corporation from financial debt versus individual Americans. I think that in order to end this mess, that he should focus on the American people versus large corporations and that would make a huge difference in our economy.
ReplyDeleteStephanie- I think that the right to hold such a protest like this is good. Its good that we are allowed to express our thoughts and feelings but it doesnt need to get out of hand. As long as protests are peaceful than they are good. I think the finacial problems were caused by the banks, the government, and the people. The banks because they give loans to people who cant afford them. Its also the peoples faults because they took the loan that they couldnt afford. Its the governments fault because they started the problem by believing everyone should get a home and therefore forceing banks to loosen the qualification needed to purchase a home. I think it should end by everyone going home, the protestes have been going on long enogh and they need to stop.
ReplyDeleteBelle- YES protesting is totally great but it deppeneds on the subject you don't want people everywhere arguing about wether purple or red is a better color but when a lot of people have a strong opinion about something important than they should voice their opinion being able to speak your opinion is a very speical thing and in a lot of countries people cant do that..... And sometimes we take it for granted, I think it's a lot of people's faults, but I don't think we shuld look at it like that I think that we need to look at ourselves and see if we are being greedy or we need to look and see if you really do need help even if it hurts our pride, I think all these problems should end sooooon but i can't make the whole world be responsible for themselves, so I think if everyone took a look at themselves and saw what they could do there would never be problems....... it's pretty simple, if u have a lot give a little to the people who have little and the world won't have as many problems:)
ReplyDeleteNissa is wrong because I am the ultra star trek expert, Jacob- I think that the protests are a bad and good thing. Bad because some of the protests have been "unruly", but good because it forces our country to change in a way that the people want. This country is a Democratic Republic after all. I think that the people and banks of this country are responsible for the current financial crisis. The banks are loaning money to people who can't repay them. I think that people should stop using credit cards to live a fancy lifestyle.
ReplyDeletesushipirate,cody I think that these protests are exeptable because people are so mad because there are lossing their houses and their jobs and its the banks fault.i think that it should end by the bank just doing what the protesters want and give them jobs to work and support their family
ReplyDeleteDaniel Jeffrey Sabala-I think that protests are good and bad. Some protests are good because they actually make sense and the people that are protesting get to share what they believe is right to our country or state and bad because sometimes if the protest is about jobs it could be their fault because they are not willing to apply for a job. I think the banks are the reason why people are losing their jobs and houses. Also it is the economy that started this whole thing. I think this should end by taxing the millionaires and and billionaires.
ReplyDeleteSena Celine Stillman!!!!!! :D- I think protests can be good and bad. It can be good because we are not always letting the government and other people decided things for us. We are speaking out and saying what we think is right. It can be bad because sometimes many people think what the government is doing is good and those protesters are just going against us. I think everyone is responsible. The president is very included in this crisis. But everyone els is too. People get loans or have more taxes or don't pay there rent, everything gets all messed up. I think this will probably end badly. Everyone will end up with less money and there will be BIG financial issues.
ReplyDeleteTaylor- I think that the protesters DO have a good reason, but they're going a little overboard. I guess I would want to stay out until something was done about what I was protesting against. I just don't see how they can stay out that long. I think they deserve a prize or something for standing up for what they believe in. I think the government is to blame because we're supposed to trust them with taxes and if they can't handle it, we shouldn't give them as much. I still think we should pay taxes, they should just be lowered. The government should protect the poor more than the big companies. That way this type of protesting won't ever happen again.
ReplyDeleteNikolikolopolis.................
ReplyDeleteI think that protests are good and bad because....they are good because people get to let of a little steam and express their feelings. They are bad when they turn violent.the banks are to blame. But don't think it's only their fault.people will start to cool off after a while
Audrey Worrell -
ReplyDeleteProtest is bad because most are people who lost their jobs and employers are afraid to spend money to pay for jobs because there is so much fear. When they end, hopefully the bank will put money toward jobs.
Katie H.- I think the protests are good thing. It is true that this ismaking the rich richer and the poor poorer and I don't think it's right. Generally one person isn't responsible for this type of crisis but a group of people. I think they need to create more jobs and the banks shouldn't lend money to the rich who can't pay it off.
ReplyDeleteAaron- doubleaI think they are bad because during this protest the police had to spend millions of dollars to keep the protests under control. I think the banks are responsible for this crisis. I think it should stop by people sto spending money and stop firing and start hiring.
ReplyDeletepeter-I think protests are very good.They mean that people are getting involved in the money crunch.Even the 9 year old knows what we should do.Obama is resonible for the econimy deficite.He needs to get his act together and put americas money toawad healthcare. He needs to make more jobs in america and end the dept crisis.We need to elect the 9 year old as the president of the United States of America.He would do better than Obama.
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