Using a word I don't like.
Today, Time, Inc. released the results of a poll conducted Oct. 9-10, 2011.
http://swampland.time.com/full-results-of-oct-9-10-2011-time-poll/
There were several interesting trends identified in it, like the fact that the folks surveyed were much more in favor of OccupyWallStreet than they were of the Tea Party.
There was one section that was depressing.
Question twelve had four parts, asked of the 787 respondents who were familiar with the Occupy Wall Street protests:
"Q12: Do you agree or disagree with that position?"
A. Wall Street and its lobbyists have too much influence in Washington
B. The gap between rich and poor in the United States has grown too large
C. Executives of financial institutions responsible for the financial meltdown in 2008 should be prosecuted
D. The rich should pay more taxes.
A. Agree 86%, Disagree 11%, No answer/don't know 4%
B. Agree 79%, Disagree 17%, No answer/don't know 3%
C. Agree 71%, Disagree 23%, No answer/don't know 6%
D. Agree 68%, Disagree 28%, No answer/don't know 4%
Great news, if you agree with the goals of Occupy Wall Street!
Then we get question 12A:
"In your view, will this protest movement have a positive impact on American politics today, a negative impact, or will it have little impact on American politics today?"
Positive impact: 30%
Negative impact: 9%
Little impact: 56%
No Answer/Don't know: 6%
So, a summary of this section could be: "We really think the goals are correct and the protestors are in the right. But we don't think that what they are doing will accomplish much."
Which brings us to the word I don't like much.
Sheeple.
Much to my surprise, the OED cites the word from 1945 in the March issue of "Musical Times", with occasional use since then. Not that it really matters.
When there are people supporting or doing things to effect something you think is right, and, at the same time, you do not think that what they are going to change things. then you have become part of the problem. You have stopped acting like a person, and started acting like cattle. Sheeple.
I still think it is an ugly word. It is a sad word to be able to use to describe people or their actions. It is damned frustrating to see it so apt.
But a huge majority of the folks surveyed agree that Wall Street has too much influence on our law makers. If this protest fails to reduce that influence, it will be because of the people who agree with the goal… but do nothing.
It doesn't take much. Go to the survey, print out those questions, write 'I agree with these!' (or otherwise), and mail it to your representative and senators. If you want to be really thorough, send it to your state representatives as well. Call them and let them know. Send email, though that doesn't get their attention as much as paper and a stamp does.
Talk about it. Let people know you think that this is a problem and that it needs to be addressed. Go to http://occupywallst.org/ and find out how to send them food. Write to the NYC mayor's office and tell them you support the protestors. If you can, convince the folks who own the park to turn on the electric outlets. Go spend some time there.
At a bare minimum, keep abreast of what is happening. One step up, post a rant on the internet…
http://swampland.time.com/full-results-of-oct-9-10-2011-time-poll/
There were several interesting trends identified in it, like the fact that the folks surveyed were much more in favor of OccupyWallStreet than they were of the Tea Party.
There was one section that was depressing.
Question twelve had four parts, asked of the 787 respondents who were familiar with the Occupy Wall Street protests:
"Q12: Do you agree or disagree with that position?"
A. Wall Street and its lobbyists have too much influence in Washington
B. The gap between rich and poor in the United States has grown too large
C. Executives of financial institutions responsible for the financial meltdown in 2008 should be prosecuted
D. The rich should pay more taxes.
A. Agree 86%, Disagree 11%, No answer/don't know 4%
B. Agree 79%, Disagree 17%, No answer/don't know 3%
C. Agree 71%, Disagree 23%, No answer/don't know 6%
D. Agree 68%, Disagree 28%, No answer/don't know 4%
Great news, if you agree with the goals of Occupy Wall Street!
Then we get question 12A:
"In your view, will this protest movement have a positive impact on American politics today, a negative impact, or will it have little impact on American politics today?"
Positive impact: 30%
Negative impact: 9%
Little impact: 56%
No Answer/Don't know: 6%
So, a summary of this section could be: "We really think the goals are correct and the protestors are in the right. But we don't think that what they are doing will accomplish much."
Which brings us to the word I don't like much.
Sheeple.
Much to my surprise, the OED cites the word from 1945 in the March issue of "Musical Times", with occasional use since then. Not that it really matters.
When there are people supporting or doing things to effect something you think is right, and, at the same time, you do not think that what they are going to change things. then you have become part of the problem. You have stopped acting like a person, and started acting like cattle. Sheeple.
I still think it is an ugly word. It is a sad word to be able to use to describe people or their actions. It is damned frustrating to see it so apt.
But a huge majority of the folks surveyed agree that Wall Street has too much influence on our law makers. If this protest fails to reduce that influence, it will be because of the people who agree with the goal… but do nothing.
It doesn't take much. Go to the survey, print out those questions, write 'I agree with these!' (or otherwise), and mail it to your representative and senators. If you want to be really thorough, send it to your state representatives as well. Call them and let them know. Send email, though that doesn't get their attention as much as paper and a stamp does.
Talk about it. Let people know you think that this is a problem and that it needs to be addressed. Go to http://occupywallst.org/ and find out how to send them food. Write to the NYC mayor's office and tell them you support the protestors. If you can, convince the folks who own the park to turn on the electric outlets. Go spend some time there.
At a bare minimum, keep abreast of what is happening. One step up, post a rant on the internet…