Texas Republicans Don’t Get Occupy Wall Street

"It's interesting for them to argue against capitalism and at the same time be walking down the street with a BlackBerry or an iPhone, which would not have happened had we not had capitalism to drive those innovations." That’s what Congressman Mike Conaway told the San Angelo Standard-Times, in yet another illustration of how members of the subsidiary of corporate America otherwise known as the Republican Party have no idea what the members of the 99% movement are protesting in lower Manhattan.

The Occupy Wall Street movement is not about protesting capitalism. This movement is about protesting capitalism for the poor and socialism for the rich. This movement is about protesting the corruption of our government by corporate and other special interest. The movement is about protesting our democracy being turned into a corporatocracy.

Conaway later in the article said that Occupy Wall Street hasn't as much effect on the national dialogue as the Tea Party. Really? Considering that for the last month the national conversation has been almost exclusively about the Occupy Wall Street protest, I think he might be somewhat out of touch with reality.

Congress Mac Thornberry told the Standard-Times that “most people who are frustrated at not getting a job are out there looking for a job, not living in a park." I suspect that Thornberry is ignoring the fact that there are 5 job seekers for every one job in America, and that millions are a part of the long term unemployed who have exhausted their unemployment benefits. When there is nothing left to do but take to the streets, what do you expect?