All right, which newspaper posed this question about the Occupy protests today:
Is this an occupation or an infestation?
Has to be the New York Post, right? Nope–they wouldn’t include a question mark.
That’s the Washington Post, which went on to report that “recent news updates from Occupy protests read like a crime blotter.”
And that Post‘s Eli Saslow and Colum Lynch explain that they’re not the only ones who feel this way:
In the wake of so much controversy, the Occupy movement–which began as a populist uprising to represent all but the wealthiest 1 percent–has begun to lose some of its mainstream support. A Washington Post poll early this month showed that only 18percent of responders “strongly supported” the Occupy Wall Street movement.
If you want to show a decline in support for the movement–or anything else–then you’d have to show that this number was down from a previous poll. But the Post doesn’t appear to have ever asked a question before about whether people “strongly support” Occupy Wall Street. The Post‘s poll actually finds that 44 percent of Americanssupport Occupy Wall Street (when you combine those who “strongly support” with “somewhat support” the movement). One poll (not conducted by the Post) showed 36 percent support a few weeks ago–which was an increase from an earlier survey. And an AP poll conducted about a month ago registered 37 support.
Of course, news coverage that talks about the movement as a criminal “infestation” might change some minds.
The “nuisance factor”, and rise in crime in the effected areas has caused New Yorkers as well as other cities to loose patients with the great pee party revolt.Don’t need a poll to tell you which way the wind blows.Just talk to people.Those most effected- are happy it is moving on.Those in easy chairs who are spouting platitudes far from the smell of urine are more likely to think positive thoughts of the great grass roots uprising against people in America not ending up with equal results.
…patience(sorry force of habit)
Michael, you and your small thoughts are just not that important, even if you spoke for a majority, which of course, you dont. If i were you, id learn to get over my guilt and fear based reaction to this movement, becasue it will only continue to grow. Remeber how people like you tried to wish it and smack talk away 2 months ago? remember how it was a “bunch of bored white stoned middle class college kids?” Remember when “the only thing we can say for sure about it is that we wont be talking about it in 2 weeks?” And here we ate talking about Michael. The irony huh?!
I quite like being referred to as an “Infestation”!
And michael e needs to learn some syntax, grammar and punctuation!
Is this actually a media confirmation of the fact? Is the right button finally being pushed? The correct subject matter finally being addressed? Has the relationship between government and business evolved from capitalist to fascist? Are all the abuses and frustrations pointing to a same cause?
The CEO walked off with the stockholders dividends, and, the government is Mike Bloomberg?
And weirdly enough , you get a large number of people with no “rest” facilities as you septics would have it. They’ll have got to perform there ablutions somewhere, shcmuck!
Oh yes septic = yank, cockney rhyming slang. Septic Tank = Yank!
As a supporter of this movement of the 99%, I believe the MSM is asking questions which are old school from Woodstock days…I would counter with: Infestation? Isn’t our nation’s Capitol suffering from a infestation? Doesn’t it smell REALLY bad?
Democracy isn’t sanitary.
Michael e: Take your hateful opinions elsewhere, every single blog you are on you do nothing but shout out your hateful, inaccurate, negative, ignorant, slander and lible, using defamation on everyone you speak of!! No one cares what you think, in fact I would recommend every person on this blog or any others start reporting you not only to the owner of this blog, but to the authorities! You are extreme and eccentric in your thoughts and words and I happen to support both OWS and President Obama and don’t appreciate listening to your BS about them! If you don’t have an intelligent thought or word, keep it to yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey FAIR…Have you “lobbied” to be represented on TV on the news, opinion shows? Or at least ask to be acknowledged as expert in accuracy/reporting? Assert Yerselves! You deserve more recognition! And props!
@michael e:
While you appear most ignorant and uninformed, I for one do not wish to censor you.
Unfortunately, the corporatist government and mass media *do* want to censor free thought and opinions. It needs to end.
I totally agree with Hoekelman and Raven Morris! There is a lot of anti OWS talk out there.
Our handlers have figured out the motive! Free camping and pissing behind a tree! Now does everyone see why they prefer corporations as people? Wonder where the original revolutionaries of this country toileted? Priorities, proirites…
It’s pretty clear that the Big News Media would like to influence people rather than report what is happening. If I want my news with a question mark by it, I’ll go ask my 5 year old what she thinks about the country’s economic inequalites.
As ironic as the pee discussion is, Amnesty International has announced that it was just ( and in a worldwide sense,) TOILET DAY, as many in the world have no toilets at all. Thankfully, many small businesses and apartment dwellers in NYC did share their bathrooms to help the OWS protesters.
There are many homeless who face this problem everyday, and I wonder how Mayor Bloomberg could not be cognizant of that? This was a major issue long before OWS. I would like to remind the mayor that lack of housing, medical care and food also creates a “public health issue.” OWS does addresss these issue too.
In fact re: pee, shoppers are now finding , that in many shopping areas, unless one buys something, that toilet access is reserved only for paying customers. In fact, due to the homeless problem I experienced this in a major bookstore chain. I like to linger and browse in bookstores, but this particular chain decided to combat the homeless issue by closing the bathrooms for everyone. The upshot? I don’t “go” to that store anymore, in more ways than one!
“Infestation.” is an interesting word. I think that many immediately think of rats, fleas, lice…however,
I suppose that an “infestation of lobbyists” wouldn’t be an altogether improper use of the word either!
Finally, to michael e. **** OWS is not leaving; it’s here to stay and grow. I’m a day tripper OWS volunteer, and while I don’t go everyday, I do believe that participating helps. Thursday, I went in support of my local fire station, whose building is no longer earthquake safe. Living in earthquake country, I need to make sure that funds are there for the fire people too. I don’t want to have to rush to my local station to dig them out of crumbling bricks after a quake.
To the WaPo jornalist: I do believe in the Common Good and in working to make a better communnity, nation and world. I also try to be tolerant of other peoples’ ideas and free speech too. Maybe you should sit down and listen to some Aretha music. “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” is a very good place to start!
People, go to FireDogLake and donate some dough for winter garments for the Occupiers. They haven’t gotten the memo from Troll Leader O’Reilly that their movement is “dead,” so they will need help as they continue to “infest” dozens of northern cities this fall and winter. Our own troll, a buck private in Commander Hannity’s 3rd Gated Community division (he got busted down from corporal due to his dreadful syntax and grammar) will not rest until his superiors’ great thoughts are on the lips of every Bagger and sycophant in our Great Land.
You guys really need an OWS cheer.Something like “hell no we wont go…we like to pee on our own”Ok that was a weak(and mean) effort.How about instead of vindictive hatred for those(me)who see this all as a loss for jobs and commerce, that you clearly ARTICULATE what it is that OWS should be working to accomplish.Not philosophically but practicably.Lets start there
michael e,
What is it with pee for you? Do you live in NYC? Have you been hanging out at Zuccotti Park? If so, you would know that the Park does not/ never has smelled like pee – evey subway station in the city smells worse by far, as do many of the streets – not only from the homeless (thanks, Bloomberg), but from all the dogs who pee everywhere.
It’s a city, Michael! We smell pee here – everywhere. Like in the musical Urinetown, only the monied have indiscriminate access to toilets.
And frankly, I’d rather live here than anywhere else on in these 50 states.
The Washington Post ‘purely sucks’as one granddaughter was heard to say.
urine is sterile you know. peeing on stuff actually makes it cleaner. ok, it’s distasteful, maybe kinda smelly. Where’s the #2 going? that’s where the safety issue is.
I’m sad OWS started right after i got a job. other wise I’d be out there peeing.
Roz I read that line over and over again about the “we smell pee here” bit.Then the last line about not wanting to live anywhere else.Im an avid outdoorsmen.I love ALASKA.Colorado.Idaho.California(napa valley) and lands i have visited the world over.Very different from woody allen who once famously said “I can’t sleep if I DON’T HEAR A POLICE SIRON EVERY MINUTE”.I love New york for so many things.But personally i see living there as not conducive to a happy ,healthy life.At least not for me.I have been to the protests a number of time and see it as filth strewn.We agree to disagree.
I will be deer hunting in Pennsylvania in Potter county on monday.You may be visiting a museum in new York.Enjoy