theMattSmith

littlemagnolia:

talktostrangers:

“…we choose to declare our war against the New York Stock Exchange. We can no longer stay silent as the population is being exploited and forced to make sacrifices in the name of profit.

We will show the world that we are true to our word. On Oct. 10, NYSE shall be erased from the Internet. On Oct. 10, expect a day that will never, ever be forgotten.

Vox Populi, Vox Anon.

The Voice of The People is The Voice of Anonymous.

We are Legion. We are the 99 percent.

We do not forgive. We do not forget.

Wall Street: Expect us.”

Okay.  I’ve officially had enough of this ignorant shit.  As a former stockbroker and financial advisor, let me offer my two cents.

Were this actually possible, which it’s not, considering the NYSE has operated long before the existence of the internet, it would actually not impact the so-called “1%” because they became that 1% by selling shares of their company to investors.  So who are these investors whose lives would be fucked up by destroying the stock exchange, were Anonymous able to do it?

They’re not all rich white men.  Just for example?  Your elderly grandparents whose pensions and IRA’s are invested in mutual funds, as well as the pensions of union laborers, firefighters, policemen, and teachers.  Also nonprofit organizations and schools who utilize investments as a way to sustain and build their financial resources and afford their employees with benefits.  These are the people whose livelihood and means to support themselves and their families would be irrevocably damaged by destroying the stock market—not to mention working parents who are attempting grow savings at a faster rate for their children’s college education or people who have set aside money in trust for dependent/elderly/special needs individuals who cannot fend for themselves or manage their own money.  Wow, what an excellent idea!  You really are a legion—of assholes.

Why are white kids occupying Wall Street instead of making active change by volunteering?  Because they came of age during the largest and most exorbitant economic “bubble” of homebuilding, credit, and technology the white middle class has seen since the post-war 1950’s, and have mistaken that degree of wealth and privelege with a normal standard of living.  That’s why their movement has turned away legitimate social justice advocates like John Lewis and welcomed Hollywood movie stars (ironically white and also exceedingly wealthy and priveleged) as its ambassadors to the press.  That’s why their demand is for a minimum wage of $20 for their lazy asses instead of an equal wage and rights to education and employability for minorities and women.  This is a movement of spoiled children who have grown up in an unprecedented era of white privelege and are having that upended by an inconvenient economic downturn.  They’re not demanding that the wealth be redistributed to all based on need—they’re demanding the wealth be handed over to them, which I believe is holding up a bank without a gun.  Instead of using the newfound experience of financial hardship to be inspired to volunteer, mentor and advocate for those whose lifelong experience has been to go without, they’ve parked their asses in the financial district and demanded a handout instead of real progress.  Go to law school.  Take an Econ 101 class.  Volunteer at a food pantry, shelter or nursing home.  Roll up your sleeves and ask, “What can I do?” instead of “Give me, give me, give me.” 

If you’re fortunate enough to have a pulpit that reaches major media outlets, why not use your voice to advocate for those who have no voice, to alert people to charities, resources and programs that can help the truly destitute move forward into better lives?  What a waste of your energy, ingenuity and youth to do anything else.