Reporter Secretly Films Wall Street Secret Society.

[Nebor]

I don't see why I'd be upset by this. When I developed a basic understanding of our economic and banking systems many years ago, that would have been the time to be upset. This is like the NSA spying on Americans, we already knew it was going on, no one is surprised, and no one is going to do anything about it.

 

[1prophet]

Probably some of the most important comments about the event and how conservative = bad, liberal = good is a feel good fallacy constantly propagated on these forums by certain members.

bpuharic 3 hours ago
What's interesting, as a liberal, is the strong presence of liberals in the group. Disgusting.

magicmouse 3 hours ago@bpuharic exactly! so many New York liberals, Jewish democrats, and most certainly non-Republicans displaying their support for what this group stands for. i can't reconcile that...

 

[trenchfoot]

Probably some of the most important comments about the event and how conservative = bad, liberal = good is a feel good fallacy constantly propagated on these forums by certain members.

Personally, I make no distinction between uber rich conservatives and liberals as a class of society, other than where they put their campaign $$$ to influence the vote. I would favor the "liberal" ones over the conservatives only from the point of view that the "liberal" ones represent my economic interests more than the "conservative" ones in the sense that the "liberal" ones will (assumedly) donate more heavily to the Dems rather than the Repubs.

However, as a class of society unto themselves, they all represent what is really wrong about our system of government when it allows them, as a distinct and very small minority, a louder and more influential voice than the vast majority of folks who are from the middle class and the poor.

In effect, the very rich are the de facto leaders of our plutocratic form of government in the sense that our politicians are beholden to them more than the voters who put them in office.

 

[sandorski]

meh, sounded very much like a Presidential Roast. I only listened to the opening speech though.

It looks bad though. People are expecting some kind of remorse for 2008 and not once has Wallstreet done anything close to it. In fact, of those that made it through(most), they have been carrying on as if nothing happened at all.

That is the really offensive part of the issue.

 

[1prophet]

Personally, I make no distinction between uber rich conservatives and liberals as a class of society, other than where they put their campaign $$$ to influence the vote. I would favor the "liberal" ones over the conservatives only from the point of view that the "liberal" ones represent my economic interests more than the "conservative" ones in the sense that the "liberal" ones will (assumedly) donate more heavily to the Dems rather than the Repubs.

However, as a class of society unto themselves, they all represent what is really wrong about our system of government when it allows them, as a distinct and very small minority, a louder and more influential voice than the vast majority of folks who are from the middle class and the poor.

In effect, the very rich are the de facto leaders of our plutocratic form of government in the sense that our politicians are beholden to them more than the voters who put them in office.

So they throw you a bone just like the republicans do to their own and now all is well and good that you got yours.

video below
The 2 brothers that own the sugar cane industry in this country one donates to republicans , one to democrats covering their bases.

Also if one of the top 1 percent gets out of line by developing a conscious they get put back in place by the other rich, like the authors father who is now like a whipped dog after his brief activism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmlX3fLQrEc

How about doing what is good for the country first regardless of party.

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.

 

[LTC8K6]

You'd get the same sort of video at a Congressional retreat...

 

[MagickMan]

So what am I supposed to be angry about?

I'm wondering too, they mocked themselves more than anyone else. It's a Wall Street roast and an excuse to get together and drink too much.

 

[Exterous]

In fact, of those that made it through(most), they have been carrying on as if nothing happened at all.

Why shouldn't they? Its not like anyone bothered to hold them accountable or punish them for anything they did despite the evidence. They made millions and all the government - Republicans and Democrats - did was sentence one scapegoat. "Don't risk other people's money or else we'll let you keep your ill gotten gains and punish that one lacky over there in the corner" Yeah - I'm shocked that wasn't effective

 

[trenchfoot]

So they throw you a bone just like the republicans do to their own and now all is well and good that you got yours.

video below
The 2 brothers that own the sugar cane industry in this country one donates to republicans , one to democrats covering their bases.

Also if one of the top 1 percent gets out of line by developing a conscious they get put back in place by the other rich, like the authors father who is now like a whipped dog after his brief activism.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmlX3fLQrEc

How about doing what is good for the country first regardless of party.

Heh, well, if you want to call pursuing a political ideology that defines a party "throwing me a bone", then what can I say?

As you well know, the whole premise of the ideological struggle between the Repub and Dem parties is aligned more or less along the lines of the Repubs representing the desires of the rich and the Dems representing the wishes of the middle class and the poor. Repubs push for corporate welfare in the form of favorable tax cuts and well disguised and hidden loopholes, backroom sweetheart deals and wars for profit while the Dems push for social and economic issues that benefit the middle class and the poor. Each party "throwing bones" to their constituents in exchange for votes.

In effect, your definition of "throwing bones" is not unique to me, you or any other individual that wishes to influence their lives with their votes, don'cha think?

And yes, I totally agree with you that doing what's good for the country first is the way to go. However, each and every one of us have our own ideas of what constitutes "what's good for our country". Significantly so are those individuals who believe that satisfying their rapacious media driven need for "all the comforts of life" is way more important than sacrificing even a tiny bit of that effort for the good of the country.

IMO, "What's in it for me" will usually take precedence over "What's in it for us" in our guaranteed right of the "pursuit of happiness". The major problem that occurs from this "pursuit" is when people find they have to take things away from others to accomplish this "pursuit of happiness" to the point of wanton and reckless abandon.

 

[theeedude]

The main problem for the 1% is that they don't feel respected anymore. People no longer assume they earned their wealth, and many assume that they stole it either from taxpayers or from their workers' productivity. They got plenty of food, money, and sex, so they are sufficiently up Maslow's hierarchy of needs where incremental dollar is not making any difference in their lives, but the loss of respect is causing them loss of happiness. And they are angry about it. More money is supposed to make them happy, but instead they are being disrespected for it. These people are used to being worshiped as "job creators" and titans of industry, and now that most of them are exposed as being nothing more than overpaid rent collectors, they are mad as hell. So they come out and say a lot of stupid things, and make stupid jokes to make themselves feel better. It's not going to work.

 

[Matt1970]

People dead in Benghazi - Faux Outrage
People dead because of fast & furious - Faux Outrage
NSA spying - Faux Outrage
IRS targeting Conservatives - Faux Outrage
Obama's lies about keeping your Doctor/Health Insurance - Faux Outrage
Bunch of rich snobs laughing it up -

 

[MagickMan]

The main problem for the 1% is that they don't feel respected anymore. People no longer assume they earned their wealth, and many assume that they stole it either from taxpayers or from their workers' productivity. They got plenty of food, money, and sex, so they are sufficiently up Maslow's hierarchy of needs where incremental dollar is not making any difference in their lives, but the loss of respect is causing them loss of happiness. And they are angry about it. More money is supposed to make them happy, but instead they are being disrespected for it. These people are used to being worshiped as "job creators" and titans of industry, and now that most of them are exposed as being nothing more than overpaid rent collectors, they are mad as hell. So they come out and say a lot of stupid things, and make stupid jokes to make themselves feel better. It's not going to work.

I feel that way? Fucking hell, I didn't even know.

The only time I'm "disrespected" or whatever for being wealthy, is online, and they're just punk kids. It doesn't happen in "real life".

 

[jackstar7]

Their greatest asset is your apathy.