*** UPDATE *** A Gallup poll showed most people weren’t paying attention to the Wall Street protests. But a new poll conducted for the National Journal finds that 59 percent of Americans agree or mostly agree with the protesters…
A new survey shows that Americans overwhelmingly support the self-styled Occupy Wall Street protests that not only have disrupted life in Lower Manhattan but also in Washington and cities and towns across the U.S. and in other nations. Some 59 percent of adults either completely agree or mostly agree with the protesters, while 31 percent mostly disagree or completely disagree; 10 percent of those surveyed didn’t know or refused to answer.
What’s more, many people are paying attention to the rallies. Almost two-thirds of respondents–65 percent–said they’ve heard “a lot” or “some” about the rallies, while 35 percent have said they’ve heard or seen “not too much” or “nothing at all” about the demonstrations.
The results appear in the latest edition of the United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll.
And, more to our point…
Remarkably, nearly one-third of Republicans—31 percent—completely or mostly agree with their aims. The sour economy has sparked some class resentments in unexpected places, it seems.
Methodology…
The United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll is conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International, which surveyed 1,007 adults by landline and cell phone on Oct. 13-16. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points.
[ *** End Of Update *** ]
* This is from a newspaper op-ed in opposition to extending Sears’ tax breaks to keep it from moving its headquarters and 6,000 jobs to another state…
When government officials hand money to large employers while raising taxes on others, we do not have representative government. We have corporate statist government. And when government officials promise a future river of tax revenues to benefit everyone, and then keep tax revenues flowing to one politically connected corporation, we have corporate statist government that has lied to us.
So, who do you think wrote that piece? No fair peeking. Was it one of those Occupy Wall Street lefties? Nope. It was Steve Stanek from the Heartland Institute, which is about as far right as one can get and still receive grant funding.
* Both sides forcefully deny it, but two angry populist streams are definitely overlapping on a major issue. But, as is often the case in America, they’re all talking past each other and accentuating their ideological and partisan differences. Fox Chicago actually tried to force a convergence last night…
FOX Chicago News asked South Sider Catherina Wojtowicz, a founder of the Chicago Tea Patriots, to visit tonight’s Occupy demonstration and let us listen to her talk to the other side.
Among them were unemployed college graduate 20-somethings and an older, self-described “unemployed, Marxian-trained economist.”
The most fascinating exchange, by far, though, involved Larry Roberts, a middle-aged union electrician. He just walked up to us, not directly part of the protest, but very sympathetic to it.
“God bless ‘em. They’re sticking up for the working man and the people less fortunate. God bless ‘em,” said Roberts.
Wojtowicz said she thinks the “Occupy” protesters want to crush Wall Street, and can’t understand what their plan is after that. She does agree with some of their rhetoric, though.
* Scott Stantis’ latest cartoon is relevant here…
* And speaking of corporate aid…
Mr. Emanuel — asked what his top priority is for the Illinois Legislature’s fall veto session — answered that it’s helping CME Group and CBOE Holdings Inc. cut their state income-tax load. The session begins next week.
The firms now are treated “not exactly in a fair way, at least in their view,” he said, and as a result are threatening to move some operations out of town. The big trading firms have made Chicago “a worldwide leader” in the derivatives and options business, he said. “It’s important to us as a city and a state to maintain that leadership.”
Mr. Emanuel served on the board of a predecessor firm to CME several years ago.
Discuss.
* Related…
* New era close at McCormick Place as tentative union pact reached
* Cook County OKs union deal, but storm clouds loom over next one
* Survey: Many Occupy Wall Street protesters are unhappy Democrats who want more influence
* Gallup: Most Americans Uncertain About “Occupy Wall Street” Goals: Given Americans’ apparent lack of knowledge about the Occupy Wall Street movement, it is not surprising to find a minority of Americans describing themselves as supporters (26%) or opponents (19%) of the movement. A majority, 52%, say they are neither supporters nor opponents, with another 4% not having an opinion. Those closely following the news about the movement are more likely to describe themselves as supporters (38%) than opponents (24%). The percentage of supporters increases to 52% among those following the news “very closely.”
* ILGOP Chair: ‘Occupy Chicago’ Protesters should be in front of Mike Madigan’s Office
* Kirk: Occupy Chicago feels like ‘undisciplined, unfocused, unintellectual anger’
* Emanuel says he consulted on Occupy Chicago arrests
* How Occupy Wall Street Is Like the Internet
* Decades Old Calvin and Hobbes Strip Succinctly Explains Occupy Wall Street Movement
- Reality Check - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 7:49 am:
On the basis of self interest, about 99 percent of Tea Partiers should be in the Occupy movement. Both are concerned with the concentration of huge wealth and power in the hands of a few, the declining fortunes of working people, and the sense of powerlessness to do anything about it.
One difference is that behind the curtain, the Tea Party is funded by rich corporate interests trying to misdirect public anger away from their own misdeeds.
The 99 percent movement, if sustained, will end the Tea Party charade. Already in national polls, some 65-70 percent of Americans support the Occupiers while views of the Tea Party are in the toilet.
- bored now - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 7:53 am:
we’ve been having a lot of fun, of course, at mark kirk’s (one of the least intelligent members of congress, or, what people call an empty suit) ironic use of “unintellectual.” it’s not simply that the party he represents is anti-intellectual (america is anti-intellectual, and has been that way for ages) or that this is simply another way of kirk trying to divide americans into people who think like him (the “real” americans) and people who think (unamerican, if you follow kirk’s line of thought). it’s that he’s remarkably clueless, and impressed by his own cluelessness. we’re never going to be able to expect much from kirk. he’s an idiot. but at least he’s impressed by himself and eager to share whatever bizarre thought crosses his mind. these comments fit his pattern. just another reason for people to laugh at illinois. we elect idiots, but at least they are entertaining idiots…
- bored now - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 7:58 am:
Reality Check: there are really significant differences between the tea party and occupy peeps. numerous surveys into tea party participants found that they were disengaged or even alienated from politics and government in the years before 2009. iow, the tea party brought new people into the politics of the conservative movement. so far, we are not seeing the same thing with the occupy people. from what i’ve read (and people i know), occupy is largely people who have been involved in politics already (and recently). the implication of this is significant (and obvious): the tea party moved republicans further to the right; occupy, by the very nature of their historical involvement with democrats, moves nothing but the media coverage…
- Holdingontomywallet - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 8:44 am:
@Bored now– Where have you “read” that the occupy peeps are “involved” in politics (recently) and that the tea party peeps are “disengaged”? I am curious.
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 9:04 am:
Great minds think alike Rich!
This is EXACTLY what I have been thinking ever since the Occupy movement started.
All either side really wants is a level economic and political playing field for everyone. They may not agree on how that field should be laid out, or what the rules of the game ought to be, but they agree that the game as it’s being played now is stacked heavily in favor of big business and/or big government.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 9:09 am:
==Great minds think alike Rich!=
Truly great minds think for themselves.
- Judgment Day - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 9:14 am:
Sooner (hopefully) or later, there’s going to be a pol out there who “gets it”. It’s not D vrs. R, it’s Main Street vrs. Wall Street.
Now is the “Occupy” movement pretty much unfocused - probably. But that doesn’t mean they’re wrong. That’s something that both political parties better take to heart, and neither party has done that yet.
And for those anti tea party folks who seem to be grabbing for each opportunity to attack them, well I might point out that just 2 weeks ago one of the bigger tea party groups can out full force backing Sen. Ron Wyden in his fight against Senator Leahy’s Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act. Strange bedfellows, indeed.
Both Mark Kirk and Dick Durbin are likely to get the chance to decide which side they are on. And up to know, it looks to me like that both have been on the side of Wall Street and the Banksters.
(Hint: Pay attention to BoA just shifting Merrill Lynch derivatives from its Merrill Lynch unit to their banking subsidiary which holds their insured deposits).
It’s another bailout in disguise. See link at http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2011/10/bank-of-america-deathwatch-moves-risky-derivatives-from-holding-company-to-taxpayer-backstopped-depositors.html#comments).
All the players are likely going to get another opportunity to make a choice. The Democrats, Republicans, Tea Party, Occupy - all of us. We’ll see if “No More Bailouts” really applies.
- dupage dan - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 9:16 am:
By passing laws that increase business taxes in this state, the stage has been set for these special waivers being considered for some of the bigger players. It is the passing of those laws that begins the process. Lots of rhetoric is used to demonize the “big corporations” for being rich and not paying their fair share. The tax increase is passed and once it goes into effect we begin to see the larger corporations, the ones with more influence/visibility, begin to put pressure on the pols to reduce the tax burden or face the loss of the revenue altogether once the corporation moves to another locale. We may even see elected officials appear in the media touting the special program that “saves Illinois jobs” and everyone goes away happy, right?
Except the whole thing is a charade and the real engine(s) of the economy, the small businesses, are left with the higher taxes since they don’t have the influence needed to secure the waiver.
Add to the mix the regulations that are frequently easier to be managed by large corporations w/legions of attorneys on retainer and you have created a major barrier to business start ups.
Ignore that, however. We stuck it to those fat cats, didn’t we?
- Dooley Dudright - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 9:23 am:
Which of the following is a Mark Kirk quote?
A. “Pusillanimous pussyfooters”.
B. “Nattering nabobs of negativism”.
C. “Hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history”.
D. “Undisciplined, unfocused, unintellectual anger”.
E. “Effete corps of impudent snobs”.
Answer: D. (Almost fits right in with the others, no? — all of which are attributed to………Spiro Agnew. Now THAT’S a role model for ya!)
(Actually — Kirk’s bluster about Occupy Chicago doesn’t quite rise to the level of Agnew’s blather. That’s because Agnew is said to have had help from those roguish, rascally, rapier, Republican wits, Bill Safire and Pat Buchanan.)
- vise77 - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 9:26 am:
This is one of the many reasons that I, a fierce moderate, find it easy to dismiss ideologues on both left and right: They fail to grasp how much they agree on, they have no talent or will to work together, and they never learned a basic fact of power, that those on the top love it when those who might oppose them instead fight amongst themselves. You know, the whole divide and conquer thing. One of history’s very few lessons.
Much better to argue trivial matters like partisan purity, right? I mean, that will certainly save the Republic.
- dave - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 9:28 am:
**the tea party brought new people into the politics of the conservative movement.**
Yea… I heard that all those middle-aged suburban white men weren’t engaged in Republican/conservative politics before Obama got elected.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 9:40 am:
–”It feels like undisciplined, unfocused, unintellectual anger,” Kirk told reporters at an unrelated news conference Monday.–
More lectures, please, from our highly imaginative, pretend warrior senator. Such focus and intellectualism in that guy.
How’s this for focus? Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Chicago call for the reinstatement of the Glaston-Steagall Act. You know, the one that keeps the Goldmans of the world from working the old pump and dump act — driving up the value security by putting your customers money in it, then selling your own shares at the max limit.
Unlike the Tea Partiers, at least the Occupy Wall Street crew figured out who the scoundrel are in this depression (yes depression). It’s not the unions, it’s not the corporations, it the financiers, those who bring nothing to the table but avarice.
- Plutocrat03 - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 9:44 am:
While dissatisfaction with the status quo may be at the root of the rise of the Tea Partiers and OWCs, the solutions seem diametrically opposed. The Tea Partiers want the government out of their lives, but the OWC folks seem to want more involvement.
Not a lot of overlap from where I sit.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 9:55 am:
Glass-Steagall, excuse me.
- bored now - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 10:01 am:
Holdingontomywallet: presumably you saw the link that rich posted above (Many Occupy Wall Street protesters are unhappy Democrats who want more influence): http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/culture/2011/10/3790409/survey-many-occupy-wall-street-protesters-are-unhappy-democrats-who-
there has been a lot of research into the previous political activism of tea party participants, probably too numerous to mention. some of the ones i have on my computer are Nick Carey’s, Ed Stoddard’s and David Morgan’s report on reuters (Thu Mar 18, 2010 11:13am EDT) and the Vanessa Williamson, Theda Skocpol, and John Coggin paper (The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism).
dave: we may have different ideas about “engagement.” but, working from research:
from the March 24, 2010 Quinnipiac University National Poll:
Looking at voters who consider themselves part of the Tea Party movement:
74 percent are Republicans or independent voters leaning Republican;
16 percent are Democrats or independent voters leaning Democratic;
5 percent are solidly independent;
45 percent are men;
55 percent are women;
88 percent are white;
77 percent voted for Sen. John McCain in 2008;
15 percent voted for President Barack Obama.
i realize that reality doesn’t always mirror perception…
- just sayin' - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 10:02 am:
I’ve always wondered if tea partiers cash their checks for social security, farm subsidies, medicare, veteran benefits, etc. etc., before or after they come back from railing about others getting too much government.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 10:08 am:
They do have some common ground - namely the joint concerns about the Federal Reserve.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 10:13 am:
Mr. Kirk seems to be losing his “command” of the English language as also evidenced by: “…myself and others ready to GoBig.” Unless, of course, that’s the royal “we” at work again (i.e., looking in the mirror as he tweets and hence, the need for a reflexive pronoun).
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 10:21 am:
On a personal note, I owe an apology to Mr. Hughes for once saying that HE’d be so “starstruck” during the first year of his term that it’d be difficult to get things done if he went to DC (and Kirk, OTOH was already used to that type of BS and wouldn’t get distracted by it). I obviously overestimated Mr. Kirk.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 10:26 am:
And bored now is right about “entertaining”. Any bets on whether Kirk will soon be photographed stalking the Hollywood crowd for money, and if so, when?
- Judgment Day - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 10:27 am:
Word:
If you are going to bring back Glass-Steagall (not at all a bad idea, btw), you are going to have to do a wholesale repeal of Dodd-Frank. There are just way too many conflicts, overlaps, and contradictions between the two.
Secondly, it is the unions, it’s certainly the big corporations, it’s absolutely the financiers, but a massive amount of the problem is our outlandishly intrusive federal government that is running berzerk. They are all in this together.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 10:48 am:
=Sooner (hopefully) or later, there’s going to be a pol out there who “gets it”. It’s not D vrs. R, it’s Main Street vrs. Wall Street.=
Hoping not to sound like an alarmist, I think both sides are fighting for the survival of our Country, our values, and our culture. They’ll figure it out and join together soon, but I don’t think it will be under any of the current “leaders” so “pol” might not be the right word.
- walkinfool - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 10:54 am:
@dupage dan: Though we disagree often, your take on the business environment, especially for small businesses, is right on.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 11:10 am:
The first step toward recovery is admitting you have a problem. Both the Tea Party and the Occupy groups understand intuitively that we have a problem. That’s a good thing.
- Carl Nyberg - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 11:22 am:
I’ve written an open letter to Sen. Mark Kirk asking him to debate a representative of Occupy Chicago. It would be three to nine forums held at venues to be negotiated.
These debates would cover the following questions.
* Is the U.S. economy healthy? What are the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats?
* What policies caused the weaknesses in the U.S. economy?
* Does concentrating wealth warp political decisions? Is this a problem? For whom? Have government policies contributed to concentrating wealth?
* How serious a problem is corporate misconduct? * What can be done to reduce corporate misconduct?
* What role does the financial sector play in the U.S. economy? What role should the financial sector play?
* What caused the financial crisis of the late 2000s? How could it have been prevented? In hindsight, how should the government have responded?
* What are the impediments to economic recovery? How should recovery be defined? What government policies should be implemented to facilitate recovery?
It seems like improving the level of knowledge of the electorate should be a good thing, no matter your personal politics.
I believe Kirk can do something valuable for the national debate on the economy.
I hope he makes himself available.
- Wumpus - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 11:22 am:
Tea Party-Leave me alone
OWS - Leave me a loan.
I agree with anti-bailout aspects of both groups. Tea Partiers were mostly civil and law abiding, with a few stupid/silly signs. OWS are largely disrespectful lil snots (at least the vocal ones) who poop on police cars, leave messes and get arrested and need to stay off my lawn. TP-Koch, OWS-Soros
Both have some very valid arguments. It is hard to decipher what the OWS messages are. TP did (stupidly) go after republicans. OWS won’t even mention Obama’s name unless they are praising him. Which has more integrity?
Reality Check needs a reality check.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 11:29 am:
–Mr. Emanuel — asked what his top priority is for the Illinois Legislature’s fall veto session — answered that it’s helping CME Group and CBOE Holdings Inc. cut their state income-tax load. The session begins next week.–
Is that right? That’s the biggest item on the agenda in Springfield for the 2.8 million citizens of Chicago? That is the most important issue in their lives? Who knew?
I have some questions:
–Duffy has said that he has a “fiduciary responsibility” to shareholders to find the location with the best deal. What’s stopping him, if, as he contends, CME can do its business electronically from anywhere? Why not move to Monte Carlo, or some other tax-free haven? Why stay in Illinois, or the United States, at all? What’s keeping him in Illinois with its bad old mailing address? Could it be that you can’t run that business without a large concentration of highly educated, specialized employees?
–It’s true that 80% of CMEs trading is done electronically and 20% is open-outcry on the floor. But much of the electronic trading is done just off the floor in cubes with computers. If you know that business, it’s all about information and proximity to information. Only losers trade in their boxers in mom’s basement. Everyone else is downtown and wired, looking for an edge. Does CME really expect those traders to follow them, somewhere? They might as well trade in Frankfurt or London.
– CME says it may move, but will keep the trading floors in Chicago, as well as its brand new, 428,000 square foot co-location in Aurora. They have to leave a lot of folks here to support the floors and the co-location. What, exactly, are they threatening to move? How many jobs, how many people?
–According to David Roeders column below, CME had a profit margin of 37% last year. God bless them, that’s real money. Its stock is trading at $261 a share. They’re the world’s largest derivative market. Business in Chicago is damn good. Where you going again, Mr. Duffy? Mayberry? Mt. Pilot?
Mayor Emanuel, a handout for CME is the top priority on your agenda in Springfield? How much did you make on the CME board? How much do you tap from the industry for your campaign funds or other causes? That’s the top priority? Dude, your mask just fell off; you revealed way too much with that statement.
Keep in mind, Duffy brought up the idea of moving, because of those bad old taxes, in the midst of a shareholders meeting where he was getting pounded for the high number of board members and their inflated compensation. He just tried to change the subject. The idea had never been brought up before.
It’s a bluff. It’s a shakedown. It’s a crying shame that this passes for civic leadership in this great city. Enough is enough. Let’s see your cards, Mr. Duffy. What do you got?
Boys and girls on LaSalle Street, bang those drums loud!
http://www.suntimes.com/business/8217748-420/cme-group-vs-gov-pat-quinn-now-its-about-saving-face.html
- Huh? - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 11:40 am:
I don’t understand why it was necessary to bring a tea party person to an occupy event. Since the tea party has been successful and occupy is more of a social movement that wants a voice, they have more to learn. Right now occupy is in danger of becoming a tool of the left, with the status quo and without a real voice. Unless they start challenging their party (the Democrats) in primaries, they are in big trouble.
There is a common purpose, stop government from bailouts. But where the tea party wants all bailouts to end, occupy sees that there are good bailouts and bad bailouts. occupy likes bailouts for college students, unions. They want more regulation of corporations, to ensure none of their bailout money will need to be used for that evil purpose, and only for good (i.e. union corporate interests).
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 11:43 am:
Wordslinger, as usual you’ve nailed the issue. Well done.
CME pays the most in taxes of any Illinois corporation. If CME gets a break, that only means another Illinois corporation will be the top tax payer in Illinois, and they’ll be next in line seeking a break.
Some company has to be number one, and right now it’s CME. Maybe it always will be too, but it is a fact that there will always be a corporation in Illinois that pays more tax than any other corporation. There is no end to this.
The good news is that CME is doing very, very well. I think they should be proud of the fact that they are the number one taxpayer in Illinois. It is evidence of their success and it gives them a leadership position, if they choose to take it.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 11:56 am:
=occupy likes bailouts for college students, unions. They want more regulation of corporations, to ensure none of their bailout money will need to be used for that evil purpose….=
Not agreeing or disagreeing, but I don’t find it unusual that kids who are in debt up to their ears because of student loans–and who are unemployed, or are employed and are watching Corporate “America” continue their RIFs here just to off-shore (resulting in not only job losses but driving down wages here) are a bit upset. It’s probably a very healthy emotion to be upset by that.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 12:00 pm:
They might also believe that it’s the “intellectuals” in this Country, who have forced them into the predicament that they’re in. Rack up those loan to go to school because you’re competing with some guy overseas who’s willing to work for nothing AND doesn’t even go throught he same rigorous background check you do? Does the school that that “intellectual” went to even exist? Is he really who he says he is?
Can’t tell in most instances because we can’t ask and if we did, we can’t understand his response anyway.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 12:03 pm:
And just wait until the kids find out that some “American” corporations actually shifted their jobs overseas (read the papers) to help stop alcoholism, their women fleeing to other countries because they don’t want to marry “their” men, AND bombing in that country.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 12:06 pm:
Any pol who has children who are not benefitting from his office (emphasis added on the “benefit” part) should AT LEAST be able to understand how these kids and their parents feel.
- Cook County Commoner - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 12:06 pm:
I walk past the Jackson-LaSalle Occupiers each day as I go to work. If they hang in there, they may get it. So far it seems they understand the perverse effect of money from Wall Street on our republic. If they can reach the point of understanding that money flowing into government from unions, lawyers, agriculture, environmental groups, etc. is equally polluting and devastating, I’ll perk up and listen. And if they can rough out a workable constitutional amendment to take ALL money out of politics, except a politician’s statutory salary, and cut the campaign season in half, out comes my checkbook. Otherwise, the Occupiers and Tea Partyists can all go join the protesters in Athens.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 12:12 pm:
…, and cut the campaign season in half,…
And who is extending the campaign seasons? The public or Narcissus and his Echo fans?
- Colossus - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 12:13 pm:
CCC -
The statutory salaries should be set at minimum wage for 20 hrs per week, health insurance provided by the medical card and the retirement plan is Social Security.
Take away the perks that aren’t available to an ever increasing portion of the population and you’ll start to see some changes from the “part time” politicians.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 12:13 pm:
To wit: Kirk has a six-year term and he’s still campaigning and filling up his coffers…from where?
- Colossus - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 12:14 pm:
And is anyone else getting frustrated by an increasingly incomprehensible Anonymous?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 12:15 pm:
Ooh…hit a nerve, Colossus?
- Colossus - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 12:28 pm:
Not in the least. I just get tired of wading through murky pronouns and shadowy references while looking for posts that help further the conversation.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 12:31 pm:
Then ignore mine, Colossus. Simple solution. I certainly won’t be offended.
- Earnest - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 12:33 pm:
When I first started hearing about the Tea Party I had similar impressions to the Occupy Wall Street movement: quit running huge, irresponsible budget deficits, especially when spending tax dollars on unnecessary wars, quit subsidizing large corporations with our tax dollars, etc. I also thought it was a response to the policies of President Bush, not President Obama. The next time I looked at it it seemed to have been co-opted by the right of the Republican party quite effectively. Now I look and wonder if the OWS movement will be co-opted by the left rather than inject a new voice into the conversation. To answer the question: I see them having lots in common, though maybe that’s a quirk of my own filter on things.
- Quinn T. Sential - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 12:40 pm:
What about Abbott Labs now solitting itself into two separate companies? How will that effect Lake County?
What are the prospects that one; or the other company will leave Lake County, and Illinois, and perhaps go to Wisconsin where they have a substantive presence already ( and many of their employees already live), or perhaps some other state offering an EDA?
- Quinn T. Sential - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 12:44 pm:
The new spinoff will sell Abbott’s branded pharmaceuticals, including the blockbuster arthritis and immune-disorder drug Humira and the cholesterol drug Niaspan. The business, which has not yet been named, will be led by Abbott’s Richard Gonzalez who currently heads the company’s pharmaceutical business.
The new drug company would have annual revenue of about $18 billion, Abbott said, based on 2011 estimates.
The question that Lake County and Illinois elected officials will want to know is; where will the company be located?
Maybe they can offer them a sweetheart deal in Hoffman Estates.
- Left Leaner - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 1:13 pm:
“Both sides forcefully deny it…”
The problem starts with this statement.
- Plutocrat03 - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 1:50 pm:
Abbott and it’s new spinoff can locate anywhere. The bigger piece will likely stay in North Chicago, but the spinoff can go anywhere.
Let the bidding begin.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 2:38 pm:
=The sour economy has sparked some class resentments in unexpected places, it seems.=
Thirty-one percent, huh? I’m willing to bet that that number will rise as some of the wealthier Republicans begin to see what is happening to people in our country and those overseas are profiting off of our losses.
- Fed up - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 2:40 pm:
Abbott can locate anywhere so either Illinois shells out millions more in tax breaks or lose thousands of good jobs. Yet Abbott CEO is part of group running ads about pension reform. I agree union leaders shouldn’t get inflated pensions but the idea of stiffing the cops teachers and firemen being championed by CEOs making millions every year sickens me. This is class warfare and a race to the bottom. The CME and CBOT millionaires will have to hire private security if the police join the occupy Chicago movement after Rahm and the CEOs take away their pensions
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 2:41 pm:
Sorry. …and HOW those overseas are profiting off of our losses.
- Dooley Dudright - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 2:47 pm:
Another permutation on my 9:23 AM comment linking Mark Kirk and Spiro Agnew quotations:
Which of the following is a Mark Kirk quote?
A. “It’s wonderful to be here in the great state of Chicago.”
B. “I stand by all the misstatements that I’ve made.”
C. “I am not part of the problem. I am a Republican.”
D. “It feels like undisciplined, unfocused, unintellectual anger”.
E. “Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things.”
The answer remains “D”, of course. All other quotes are attributed to……….Dan Quayle.
‘Nuff said.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 3:03 pm:
=Abbott can locate anywhere so either Illinois shells out millions more in tax breaks or lose thousands of good jobs=
How many US jobs has Abbott “relocated” overseas? Let’s ask the other healthcare company and insurance company in Lake County the same thing. Let’s also ask that big insurance company across the street from Millenium Park the same question.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 3:08 pm:
After that, let’s start talking about the number of visas that have been granted because “we don’t have the right skills here in the ENTIRE United States of America of meet these corporations’ requirements. Jobs even outside of IT programming, such as project managers, technical writers (who actually speak English), business analysts, QA and QC testers. And let’s also ask the CEOs whether they relish the thought of more US homes being filled to the hilt with extended family and friends sleeping on mattresses on the floor in every room…
…and whether that’s their new vision for the US.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 3:20 pm:
=The CME and CBOT millionaires will have to hire private security if the police join the occupy Chicago movement after Rahm and the CEOs take away their pensions=
Hmmm…new business idea. Executive training here in the US for what it might be like for CEOs to live overseas in countries where US Citizens are obviously adored by the natives.
- Secret Square - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 3:55 pm:
“OWS are largely disrespectful lil snots (at least the vocal ones) who poop on police cars, leave messes and get arrested and need to stay off my lawn.”
I guess the operative phrase here is “at least the vocal ones” — the ones getting all the media attention in larger cities. I watched Occupy Springfield march through downtown on Saturday, and I didn’t see any police car pooping or attempting to get arrested. Just ordinary (and as far as I could tell, clean and well-mannered) folk walking on the sidewalk in orderly fashion, stopping for traffic lights, etc. They were about as threatening as a holiday parade.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 4:21 pm:
Just hoping the revolution will be televised in HD.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 4:26 pm:
Unless, of course Anon 4:21, it’s a bloodless coup. I could never picture US citizens believing they could win a “revolution” by simply running outside at lunchtime and tossing sticks and stones at people for a hour as they do in other countries. I think we’re a bit more sophisticated than that.
- Rod - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 4:58 pm:
My impression of the Occupy Chicago movement is at it’s core largely composed of either younger people 19-27 who are currently either unemployed or partially employed, or college students who are attending activities between classes. At the larger weekend events members of various unions are present as are older left wing activists many who go back to the Vietnam days.
The movement has at least one official web site http://occupychi.org/ and I would recommend people read it to understand a little about movement dynamics. Particularly interesting are what are called General Assembly minutes which are posted on the site. The social weight of individual protesters seems to be based largely on the ability of the individuals to be present repeatedly at General Assembly meetings and to have been arrested thereby showing commitment to the movement. And yes they have their own blog. They are looking for a new place to occupy other than the space next to the Board of Trade building, any suggestions. Banks people particularly dislike?
The protestors generally do not like lobbyists so a lot of us on the Capital Fax blog are out of luck hoping to influence this movement. But given some of the sad fund raising efforts discussed in their General Assembly minutes they could use some of our help with fund raising.
- Kasich Walker, Jr. - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 5:39 pm:
“Mayor Emanuel: — helping CME Group and CBOE Holdings Inc. cut their state income-tax load! ”
Sounds like a great campaign theme!
- JBilla - Wednesday, Oct 19, 11 @ 6:35 pm:
Love the cartoon. Glad to hear the vast majority finally waking up on the Lobbyist Race to the Tax Bottom.