Ms. Thorn claims the Occupy Wall Street movement “has been promoted by the Main Street (sic) Media as a grassroots protest by some kids victimized by college debt who are mad at the rich and corporations.” As usual, if reality intrudes on her right-wing echo chamber, Ms. Thorn puts her hands over her ears and shouts “la-la-la, I can’t hear you.” In spite of the portrayal by some in the media, the protest is much more widely based than the writer and others of her ilk would like you to believe. Many employed Americans and those looking for work are legitimately upset that one percent of the population controls 40% of the wealth in our country. With all due respect, it’s not because they work harder. It’s because they use their wealth and power to buy and sell corrupt politicians of both parties.
The writer’s list of “supporters” of the Occupy movement is ludicrous. Her sources (if there are any) remain anonymous. One could counter that the Tea Party movement is supported by the Aryan Nation, XE Services (formerly Blackwater), Karl Rove, Grover Norquist, the Heritage Foundation, the Koch brothers, Goldman-Sachs, Rush Limbaugh and Dick Cheney. This would not, however, be an effective argument as it would probably be misconstrued as a compliment.
Ms. Thorn continues, “The group’s Web site reports its link to the violent uprisings in Europe and the Middle East.” Is she referring to the “Arab Spring” where revolutions overthrew dictators who had brutalized their people (Tunisia, Egypt, Libya) for decades? When is fighting for freedom and justice a bad thing? Is it, perhaps, when it upsets your own applecart? When a rigged game gives the poor and middle class rotten apples, the result is not likely to be apple pie.