Melbourne streets ‘Unoccupied’
POLICE have denied using excessive force on Occupy Melbourne protesters as wild scenes broke out in the city today.
The police were ordered to clear the streets and did so. Of course the scuffs occupying the streets are going to say the force was excessive. If they had gone when instructed to do so the police would not have been forced to ramp up tactics.
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I watched hoping to see some taser action, no such luck.
re the “Occupy” crowds, surely if they actually are the 99% as they claim, all they need do is stand for election, romp it in and get their policies up and running.
Perhaps these “scuffs” have a point.
Consider for a moment these facts about the US economy –
“61 per cent of Americans “always or usually” live paycheck to paycheck, which was up from 49 per cent in 2008 and 43 percent in 2007.
66 per cent of the income growth between 2001 and 2007 went to the top 1 per cent of Americans.
43 per cent of Americans have less than $10,000 saved for retirement.
24 per cent of American workers say that they have postponed their planned retirement age.
Only the top 5 per cent of US households earned enough to match the rise in housing costs since 1975.
In 1950, the ratio of the average executive’s paycheck to the average worker’s paycheck was about 30 to 1; since the year 2000, that ratio has exploded to between 300 and 500 to 1.
The bottom 50 per cent of income earners in the US now collectively own less than 1 per cent of the nation’s wealth.
More than 40 per cent of Americans who are actually employed are now working in service jobs, which are often low paying”.
(From The Business Insider Jul 15, 2010).
We’re a little better off here, but the trend is clear –
“Average net worth jumped 15 per cent to $2.2 million for the wealthiest households in the four years through June 30, 2010, compared with a 4 per cent gain to $31,829 for those at the other end and an 11 per cent increase to $427,168 for those in the middle, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said in a report released today”. (ABS Report – 14.09.11 published in SMH.)
These trends, if they continue, will destroy the middle class. That bodes ill for social coherence. It’s a good cause, but the OWS tactics are wrong. A carefully-coordinated cyber sabotage operation by a squad of bogus day-traders would be much more effective.
I thought the police action was pretty namby-pamby.
Should have warned them and then gone straight through them.
It is ridiculous the care our police give to law-breakers.
Once you reject the law, surely you also reject its protection?
Pretty light I thought.
I can understand Tea Party and Occupy in the US.Where people really have right to show grievance about government and governence issues.
The protest numbers tell the story and Miranda Devine explores the issue intelligently I think.
As for a move on orders hardly the anti globalisation riots of the first part of this decade.
Will Melbourne be occupied by Royalists paying homage to the Queen of England?
Is there a difference?
Peter…..the difference……much larger numbers bolstered by the Police presence and Police will not be actively engaged in reducing the numbers. And that’s how it should be…..lawful assembly as opposed to unlawful assembly.
Police action is of necessity at a level commensurate with overcoming resistance and nothing more…..specially where there are hundreds of ready camera users busting to get that money making happy snap.
Queen touring? Disappointing – I prefer Bon Jovi.
‘Occupy Brisbane” = 50 ferals.
Queen’s visit = 50,000 of the real 99%.