Occupy Wall Street, London and Evereywhere Else

McCain's position on the bailouts is highly foresightful and as quoted does indeed chime with the OWS movement. But even taking that into account anyone advocating a progressive tax system, public investment in education health and infrastructure, a reduction in corporate influence and a liberal stance on various social issues is going to struggle to find a reason to ever vote Republican aren't they?Because historically and currently the predominant Republican philosophy is that of ideological pro-corporate free-marketeering and the belief that government acts as a barrier to, rather than a facilitator of, an environment in which wealth is generated for all in society. Republicans essentially believe in an unrestrained entrepreneurial elite and some form of trickle down economics.I don’t see how that, no matter what any Republican candidate says on any specific issue, is ever going to resonate with the things the Occupy movement are advocating. I looked this guy up and in terms of the above he seems pretty typically Republican. He even opposed the civil rights act on the basis of it interfering with the free-market in labor. Then there are the various more crackpot stances he takes on isolationism and religion etc.

I guess it depends which banks we are talking about. "Too big to fail" is the phrase generally used here. One that needs radical and deepseated reform. That one of the Occupy movements demands. As I understand it the problem is one of complexity related to derivatives and the fact that no one really knows how much exposure one financial institution has to any given other.Very few banks were actually left to fail and we still ended up with a credit crunch and recession. What would have occurred if all banks that would have collapsed had just been left to do so? That is the question. Why don't you be "Joe the banker" and let me know what obstacles stand in your way. Starting capital would seem an obvious hurdle. Christ CS I of all people am not advocating bailing out banks for the sake of it or to save the asses of fuckwitted bankers!! I'm saying that if there really is a possibility of complete financial paralysis, extreme almost overnight economic contraction leading to depression and the complete collapse of the economic system as a whole - Then bailing out banks is a less worse option.If a given bank can definitely fail without causing even greater adverse consequences then - absolutely - let it go.

Given what you have heard - Are you now pro the Occupy movement?If not what is it that you disagree with?You are almost certainly one of the much fabled 99% so in what sense do you disagree with the Occupy aims?I am genuinely interested to hear from a conservatively inclined but not entirely lunatic person such as yourself...

Indeed you are. Whatever you think of the protestors you can't really fault them on grounds of exclusivity.

I agree. Here in the UK we have a conservative prime-minister declaring that boardroom pay is out of control and reflects a "market failure" that is the result of "crony capitalism" and which needs to be addressed.It's difficult to establish any direct link but I think that the occupy movement and other such protests have definitely brought these things to the fore and made politicians who would otherwise be championing market forces as the be-all-and-end-all take note of people's rising frustration and discontent.

It's good that even a conservative politician feels the need to accept the legitimate public feeling on this issue to at least the extent of making PR proclamations on the issue. I think the Occupy movement can claim some credit in getting the issue to that level of awareness. But I wouldn't get too carried away. Cameron's proclamations are no doubt somewhat superficial and band wagon inspired.David Cameron didn't go into politics to tackle the market failures in top pay. Indeed his party is significantly funded by these people and ideologically tied to a variety of policies that support the status quo. So we'll see what actually happens.