That was one of the more amusing things I spotted during yesterday’s trip to Zuccotti Park to observe Occupy Wall Street firsthand. And despite the obvious-perhaps intentional-misspelling of the word, I can’t help but agree with the sentiments expressed on that empty pizza box. There were other unusual sightings yesterday, including the unique juxtaposition of a female tourist that had entered the park to see what was happening holding a Century 21 bag, while being surrounded by those calling for the redistribution of wealth, including an adorable dog.
Interestingly enough, I also found this at the demonstration:
Among other seemingly non-political, yet useful, exhortations:
Although, the antagonism directed against the banking and corporate world was not far from sight:
There were those who put their knitting and crochet needles to use:
This inflatable monkey was wearing a t-shirt decrying American multinational financial services corporation Citigroup. Or, as its adversaries describe it, “Citicrooks.”
Another favorite target of the assembled’s wrath, as I alluded to in yesterday’s essay, was the Federal Reserve. In particular, the current chairman of the Fed, Ben Bernanke. I spotted this sign being held aloft by one of the activists:
This photo allows us to transition to the second half of our subject today. Namely, the small yet determined group of Ron Paul supporters who traveled to Zuccotti Park in order to find common ground with the political activists from Occupy Wall Street, as well as inform passersby of the presidential candidacy of the libertarian Texas congressman who decries the inflationary aspects of a central banking system. Like many of the people gathered in Zuccotti Park, the Ron Paul faction disliked the monetary policies pursued by the Federal Reserve. They made this distaste known by distributing Bernanke bucks, which reflect the decreased purchasing power of a U.S. dollar in decline.
This was just one of several ways of preaching the gospel of Congressman Paul, which took up the better part of the day for this group of Ron Paul advocates.
The champions of Paul ranged from those who are younger, to-in this elderly gentleman in the fedora’s case-significantly older:
He obviously knew which candidate he was voting for in the Republican presidential race.
Although, as could be expected, not everyone there was as enthusiastic about Ron Paul’s run for the presidency. As illustrated by this very heated exchange:
After being asked whether he was a socialist, the Paul critic replied indignantly, “I’m a Communist!” Well, that settles matters.
Can there be a political alliance between libertarians and anarcho-capitalists on the one hand, and those occupying Wall Street? Personally, I’m skeptical, but stranger things have occurred, and there did seem to be a common bond forged at least partially in their mutual antipathy towards corporatism, which I suppose is a start. Of course, some people were more concerned with the aesthetics of lower Manhattan than the political turmoil:
Only in New York…
So happy to see that Dr. Paul’s troops are helping to occupy WS. I see the two camps very much united and had been writing that Dr. Paul is the intellectual leader of this anti-fiat money, anti-Federal Reserve mass movement. Thanks for pointing out that we are legion!
Let me get this straight, Occupy Wall Street demonstrators are not merely of the left, but also Libertarian as well?
It’s a bit of a grab bag, ideologically speaking. I honestly can’t give you an accurate breakdown, because I haven’t returned since I put together this photo-essay.