RANT: IF YOU REALLY WANT TO "OCCUPY WALLSTREET"...

[th3w01fv2]

I keep hearing about plans to occupy wallstreet and seeing the "success" of the earlier stunts, I can assure you that it will mount up to a big ball of failure.

Reason: Wallstreet doesn't give a shit if protestors smash up the place. To them it's good business. That means they can charge extra for repairs, "risk factors" and other junk.

Also, we have seen that the police are more than willing to "forget" the bill of rights. And since it's illegal to defend yourself from an attacking officer (read "corporate footsoldier"), It's kinda pointless to put one's self in harm's way. Also, you could take up arms, and attack anyways, but if we look at countries in the middle east, while there is this romanticized idea about a "revolution", on the long run, the damage and loss of infrastructure will only harm the poor, not the rich and the elite.

But if you really want to occupy wallstreet, there is another way. In fact there are several ways.

1) If you have no credit card debt, destroy your credit card. Or only keep one for when they need one for identification (hotel reservations).

2) Just as Jello Biaffra said "don't hate the media, become the media" I say, "don't hate wallstreet, become wallstreet". If the masses of people pooled together and bought stocks AWAY from the rich, a balance would be struck. they would no longer be in control.

3) When your bank calls you to ask you if you want XYZ service added, tell them NO!!

4) Be more active in your community about what companies are doing. If a local company is doing some serious good. invest with THEM. Not some big corporation. Support your local market in any way you can. If you live in a large city, Support the little guy that's willing to listen to his customers. Not the cheapest or the most convenient.

5) If you need to buy consumer goods. Go to a local business first, a liquidation store second and only, and if you must, only buy from a big box store as a last resort.

6) Buying food? Try to see if you can't buy your goods directly from a local farmer rather than some corporate grocery store. Farmer's market should always be FIRST in the summer and big box stores LAST.

Any one what to add on this?

W01F

[Vagon]

Dude you need to mellow out. I don't mean to be harsh but I respect you enough to tell you when you've got it wrong. Here's why:

1. A credit card used right is a key part of gaining financial freedom. If you don't have one you're paying for other people's points in store mark-ups.
2. You forget that purchasing stocks needs to occur via a broker. Also your equity vs corporate equity is literally insignificant so your small holdings will mean little. That said even if you purchase a small amount of stock in the companies you have a problem with you will actually reap the benefits as a shareholder.
3. Fair enough, but this applies to anything being sold to you. Unless XYZ service is actually something you need/want and is at a competitive price.
4. Well this depends on whether you need that customer service and what cost you're willing to pay for it. It also depends on your definition of good. Is not cheap and convenient good?
5 & 6. are the same. Ultimately you should do what is in your own interest. If the farmers market offers a better product or a more competitive price, by all means go there. I like the flavour of small batch beers, so I pay more. I cant tell the difference between jasmine rice brands so I buy the white-labelled FMCG company brands.

Similarly if I can get the risk mitigation of a big financial services firm for my equity I'm going to take it. Why wouldn't I? The differentiation between transaction and savings account is equivalent to jasmine rice brands. Financial services firms and FMCG companies exist to provide returns to their shareholders, what is wrong with that? They do this by offering competitive products and services in as efficient way as possible.

Consider how many accountants would still be required if spreadsheet software was not invented. We're not about to go back because it means a lot of small accounting firms would benefit.