#OccupyWallSt vs. The Tea Party

We’ve been avoiding the #OccupyWallSt, more specifically the #OccupyPhilly, discussion on Brain Office and Gashouse Live mainly because I didn’t know enough about it to comment. I’m not exactly sure what they are protesting and I’m not sure about the overall goal of the protest.

So I looked into it a little more and realized that I wasn’t alone. The signs the protestors are waving range from hating Fox News, to anger over student loans to the hatred of suits. One stop shopping for protesting; ironically the Wal-Mart of protests. It seems to me that while they are very organized when it comes to location, they seem to lack leadership and direction.

When people protested the Vietnam War, it was clear that when the war was over the protesting would stop. With #Occupyfillintheblank I don’t see an end result. No more businesses? No more upper class? It’s just not going to happen.

Tea Party Protest, Washington D.C. September 1...

Image via Wikipedia

So now I hear a lot of the left wingers comparing the protesting groups to the Democratic equivalent of the Tea Party. Remember, the Tea Party did start out as protests as well. However, there are still a few clear differences. The Tea Party set out from the beginning to be politically based, and so far it doesn’t appear to be the case with #Occupy.

These #Occupy protests have not spawned any political leaders (yet). The Tea Party was first shrugged off when reports of racism spread through the movement. Then you have jokers like Michelle Bachmann, Glen Beck (be careful #Occupy, Michael Moore is your equivalent!) and Sarah Palin becoming the frontrunners of the Tea Party and no one can honestly take the Party seriously anymore, at least not rationally thinking Americans.

#Occupy could fall victim to the same mentality. Although I rarely see the protestors themselves refer to political parties, they would be very wise to keep this away from the Democrats‘ agenda. To associate with a political party would completely undermine what little direction they’ve assembled.

Protestors should not be angry at Wall St, or big business. That’s like being angry at a gun for firing bullets. Big business is supposed to make as much money as possible – that’s America. However, they are not supposed to be able to bend the rules that govern our nation whenever it’s convenient for their bottom-line.

Image via Wikipedia

The reason things are in such terrible shape (economy, unemployment, student loans,

housing, you pick) is because of corruption in our own government. Corrupt politicians and lobbyists allowed these major corporations to take advantage of situations in such a manner. Democrats and Republicans are the problem, not Wall St. The greedy men and women in Washington are pulling the strings that are crumbling our country.

So yes this could be the Democratic equivalent of the Tea Party if these guys do not get their shit together and figure out their demands. #OccupyPoliticalParties, #OccupyGovernement, #OccupyPoliticalCorruption and you might have a chance at moving forward. Do not rest until the paychecks of our political leaders (and retirement benefits) become reasonable. Do not rest until lobbyists are under control. Do not rest until the government looks out for the American people rather than their own political careers.

Normally we don’t discuss politics on our show, but if you’d like to discuss this more, please tune in to Brain Office, weekdays 5pm – 7pm eastern on www.gashouseradio.com