They're not laughing anymore

I actually read the entire excerpt  from an Antoinette on the Occupy Wall Street movement (as presented by Digby).  I only made it through the first two paragraphs of Nolan Finley's take on the same subject.  Oddly (for me, anyway) it wasn't anger or disgust that made me stop reading--it was complete and utter boredom.  The pieces aren't really that dissimilar--and both share several traits.  For one, you can feel the apprehension:  the tea party only appeals to the few; Occupy Wall Street has the potential to appeal to the masses.  How do the Antoinettes fight strength in numbers (my guess--strength in cash money)?

Second, both pieces have a feel of just being mailed in, i.e., a fucking yawnfest.  There is nothing in either piece that hasn't been heard before, nothing that isn't anything more than the rantings of some old fart white guy, who thinks he'd be a millionaire if only the government hadn't taken all their money in taxes (never mind that, like most of us, they just weren't talented or smart or lucky enough).

But mostly what they share in common is complete and utter desperation.  Both pieces have the look of a fighter sapped of his energy, throwing weak ass punch after weak ass punch even though he knows he's beaten in some farfetched fantasy that one will land in the sweet spot.  Good fucking luck with that--much like the tea party has lost faith in the ability of government to ease our woes, a solid majority of Americans have lost faith in corporate America to cure what ails us--and by nearly 20% support the aims of Occupy Wall Street over the aims of the Antoinettes.

It's far too early to declare any sort of victory, but it is fun to watch the Antoinettes stagger around and try to explain that, all evidence to the contrary, they are right to a large number of Americans who are working harder (if they're working at all) and having less to show for it (if they have anything left at all).

And to stare mute at a real populist movement.

Peace,
emaycee