I am proud to see New Yorkers and people across the country standing up for their economic well-being. This is what democracy is all about. People in Libya died exercising their beliefs, aching for democracy. Why not do it here? And why not let it grow? I believe it can make a difference.

Students on several SUNY campuses walked out of class today in a show of support for the "Occupy Wall Street" protesters. Also today, several unions marched from Foley Square to Zuccotti Park to condemn the "business practices on Wall Street that adversely affect working-class Americans."

The coordinated endorsements from labor groups came on the same day Senate Democrats announced they are rewriting President Obama's jobs bill to include a new 5% tax on income above $1 million. The millionaire's tax may be brought to the floor next week, where it is expected to be blocked by Republicans. Would you support it?

Would you vote to implement a 5% tax on income over $1 million? What's your reaction to the growing list of unions endorsing the "Occupy Wall Street" movement? Do you think the ongoing protest is making a difference? If not, what needs to change so protesters get their message across?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

Student walk-out. Brilliant. That’ll show “The Powers to be” !

The fact(oid) that there seem to be 1000 protesters with 1021 diverging beefs reminds me somewhat of the situation in Libya today.

Or of the recent electoral success of the Pirate Party in Berlin, Germany. Motto : “A sufficient basic income for everyone.” (80M population x say $25K/y = $2 T/y) on top of the existing ample services & entitlements. Cool.

As my grandmother said : “You may want to want, but you may not get.” Sometimes hard for the young’ns to process.

EF
NY 10028

It is not changing anything, in addition to the 5% tax, the tax loopholes need to be removed and we need to show our dissatisfaction on election day by voting all these money hungry greedy self serving (lobby butt kissing) republicans out of congress. We need to remember this come election day, people seen to have very short memories come election day.

Vote the bums out!!

Belinda
forest hills

The economic problems facing the country won't be solved by engaging in class warfare by imposing an additional tax on millionaires. It'll be solved by significant changes in the tax code that severely restricts or eliminates the various loopholes that allow the majority of businesses and households to evade taxes every year, coupled with a lowering of tax rates across the board, so that everyone pays their fair share.

PT FROM INWOOD

I support the democrats efforts to tax income over $1 million, if this had been done during the Bush war years, our nation would not be in the financial crisis it is in today.

Felix
Bay Ridge

Yes, Tax Them ! Why not - everyone else who can't afford to be taxed is taxed for everything - are being taxed - why are the rich exempt - simply because they are rich ? Of course, at everyone else's expense. I would be richer too if I weren't paying taxes for everyone else.

Esmerelda, East Village, NYC

It seems as though all of the politicians still have not gotten the message. There are so many issues that we the middle class or poor have that they should realize that we can't possibly choose one. WHEN DOES ANYONE GO TO JAIL FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO ALL OF US. AN EXAMPLE: DO THEY REMEMBER THE 401K'S. HMMMMMMMMMMMM. I REALLY DON'T THINK THEY CAN GET OUT OF THIS. THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER AND REDEEM US ALL. I SAY SHAME ON THEM BUT THEY HAVE NO SHAME AT ALL. ALL OF THESE SHENANIGANS' HAVE BEEN GOING ON AS THOUGH THEY WERE JUST SECOND NATURE TO THEM. THEY ARE AND NEVER WERE INTERESTED IN OUR WELL BEING. THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE HELPING US THAT SEND THEM TO REPRESENT US AND LOOK OUT FOR OUR BEST INTEREST. MEANWHILE THEY ARE ALL IN IT FOR THEMSELVES.

maxxiee
mp

I whole wholeheartedly agree with this idea, it has to start somewhere. Yes, implement a millionaires tax ASAP. It may not be the most popular thing but it's NO WHERE NEAR what "rich" people used to have to pay! Maybe even add another percent for each additional increment of million at the "super rich" level.

Hoping that it'll happen but knowing that it never will,

Peace, Nick
Hell's K.

DIDN'T YOU JUST LOVE THE VICTOR HUGO CLASSIC, LES MISERABLES? DO WE REALIZE WE ARE ACTUALLY LIVING IT? YOU CAN HEAR THE VOICE OF ANGRY MEN IF YOU LISTEN CAREFULLY.

JOE, BAY TERRACE

the protesters are a bunch of jerks, but a 5% tax on personal income over 1,000,000 is fair. the business practices they are complaining about is why we have a high standard of living

tom
richmondtown

I absolutely support the millionaire's tax! NY should have instituted its own, as well.

Anni
Upper West Side

These latter day hippies should be protesting the government since it is the proximate cause of our economic crisis. Helped along, of course, by the so-called public sector unions. These protesters are the real examples of greed. They’re the ones advocating that Peter Everyone, who works and earns money, be robbed by Paul Government for their own unearned benefit. It’s just another indication how far down the road to pure fascism we have traveled. Fascism is the system of government under which property is ostensibly privately owned, but the use of which is regulated and dictated by the government.

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

I joined the many many thousands of people marching today for economic justice. It is growing more and more every day. It will make a difference if it keeps growing. All great movements (the Abolitionist Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, the toppling of the Soviet Union) start small. Join us!

David

What this bunch of socialistic jerks want to achieve? They are brainwashed by their communist professors. The rich will always find a way out of taxes. It’s stupid and naïve. It’s always the same story with all those revolutions – first they take from the rich, then from middle class and finally they oppress everybody. And at the finish line they wake up in Hitler’s Germany, Stalin’s Russia or Castro’s Cuba. By the way they destroy everything. Send them all to Cuba or even better to North Korea. Useful idiots for communists.

Richard from Glendale

Tax the RICH !!!! They make so much money that they treat poor people like nothing. LET THEM PAY MORE TAX !

Ruthann
Queens

I was at the Solidarity March today! It was incredible and I hope the message was heard loud and clear. Ultimately though, I think we need to see events like this happen more in states that don't already have Democratic leadership and support for these issues. They need to march in the Tea Party states to show their leadership that there is plenty of support there too! It will take courage on their part, but would be great if it happens!!!

Barri

Yes I would vote to increase taxes on the 1%. The entire nation should be marching in support of OCCUPY WALL STREET as well as the President's Jobs Bill, Americans need jobs. Why is media ignoring President Reagan's position on taxing the wealthy, which were identical/synonymous with president obama's?

Joyce
Springfield Gardens

"The Occupy Wall Street" movement taps into the widespread anger in America, where the working and middle class have been taken advantage of by the wealthy for years.

Mike
LES

The wall Street protest. I recommend that every listener watch the movie " Inside Job", by Charles Ferguson. it clearly explains the cause of the global economic crisis of 2008 and gives essential understanding of today's economic crisis. it is all about the deregulation of the banking system which began with Ronald Regan and continued under Clinton and Bush. The same team responsible for that deregulation is working for President Obama today. Banks need regulation. This film is extraordinary. It won several film awards for best documentary film. It is objective. "INSIDE JOB" , a must see.

Harriet

I'm from Florida and I'm proud of the protestors!

We are Many, They are Few!!! Go! 99!

Jeff

I don't think that a 5% tax on millionaires is enough. I sincerely hope that the protesters do not accept that as a concession good enough to stop. There has been unrest and embarrassment in America for years. It is about time that people stand up and demand real change. It seems like a lot of us were hoping for more sweeping change with the election of Barack Obama, but we elected him into a broken system and he is working within it.

Some major issues that need to change in our country are:

What I, personally, would like to protest:

Campaign Finance and Lobbying practices

Revolving door hiring policies between political office and 'regulatory' agencies

Tax Breaks for the wealthiest Americans and the widening gap between rich and poor

Legal extension of personal rights and privileges to corporations

Low quality of education and low priority of education relative to other first world nations

High cost of education

Insane cost of healthcare and difficulty acquiring alternative therapies and medicines

Lack of investment in American infrastructure

Overinvestment in petroleum acquisition and subsequent wars

Lack of control of military spending and transparency

Jobs being outsourced overseas

Joy from Bay Ridge

STOP privatizing profit and socializing loss!

Is that message clear enough to the ues caller who erroneously thinks these protester are misguided and don't have a clear aim?

Debbie, Kips Bay

these people are protesting for the sake of protesting. the general masses jumped on the bandwagon to voice their thoughts and frustrations. but the actual list of proposed demands is ridiculous. a bunch of stoned and idealistic college kids that mommy and daddy pay for. probably never worked a day in their life. just saying.

d2000inc

there was not a few thousand people there today ,there was at least 50 000! there is just no other way to change the system than this way. stand up people, protest til we win , and we will.

thanks,
i.

Republicans are holding us all hostage, telling us our country is broke and we have to cut programs that are lifelines to millions of Americans, they are letting the wealthiest among us – the corporations, millionaires, billionaires, and oil companies – off scot-free, without doing their fair share.

Best Regards,

Marlos From Astoria

In a city of millions only a few thousand protesters, that does not sound like a majority of anything. They are clueless radicals

john

People should fight against the govt not the corporations thats why the whole world is in crisis.

Tge feds helped the banks

Machiavelli, sunnyside new york

Yes. The protest will make a difference. It is already heightening awareness to an already existing problem of economic injustice. We are not in a recession. We are in a robbery, and the perpetrators are on Wall Street.

David

There is a misperception about corporate America and the “wealthy” as being the ills of our society. For example, a corporation pays one-half of its employee’s withholding taxes, which is one of the largest sources of revenue for our local, state and federal governments and source of funding for all kinds of social programs. In addition, a corporation pays quarterly employment taxes based on its payroll for each quarter, which further adds to the revenue pot. Further, when an employee receives a bonus, he or she is taxed at a flat 50% bonus rate by state and federal tax authorities, which is part of that source of withholding tax revenue. So, corporations and the “wealthy” are already paying their fair share and helping to drive the economy. People really need to focus not on corporate America and the “wealthy” as the problem right now, but rather on wasteful government spending, such as, on 2 wars and on countries that do not have America’s interests at heart.

Neil

We R Many! They R few!

Anonymous

To destroy companies and force them to outsource and merge companies so Wall street can take massive fees

Wall Street has become a Casino

McHale

Hello NY1,

Unfortunately the problem is simple, the solution however is always a challenge.
The problem is The U.S. spends more than it takes in. The solution
may be taking at what "necessities are", and how to pay for them,

Thank you,

Steve

YES, I vote to finally impose the 5% percent tax on incomes over a 1,000,000!! I just don't think that it will happen. You have a Congress that will NEVER LET THIS HAPPEN and New York State will NEVER do this unless forced. Governor Cuomo has been adamant about not imposing any kind of tax on Millionaires and Billionaires while the middle class are in dire straits in New York State as well as New York City. He should not be exempt from bearing responsibility for the disparity of income, joblessness, budget cuts, union cuts. He ran on a DEMOCRATIC TICKET! Democrats do not fight unions with threats of layoffs, elimination of raises nor do they try to end collective bargaining rights. Democrats wholly fight for all MIDDLE CLASS families and individuals!! HE SHOULD NOT BE LEFT OFF THE HOOK!

Lisa - Upper East Side

the issue is not taxing or targeting the wealth. the issue is that every decision that is made in this country is made with the top one percent on the top in mind. the politicians are slaves to the election system that is propped by the top rich even though money should not be in the part of the political process, period. the politicians should be public servants not corporate lapdogs.

selcuk, nyc upper west side

I agree to a 5% tax only of labor agrees to common sense changes that make NYC unlivable. The public has been paying for thousands of teachers who no principals want due to poor quality at the cost of tens of millions of dollars . The union leaders do not care about the students or the working teachers

John

I only make enough money to live in debt. My children are uneducated and are reduced to fodder for the merchandizing machine; their childhood is Made in China. I eat a mass produced dinner. My job is overseas.

I have no health insurance. I cannot afford a student loan. I have no pension plan. I pay into a Social Security that I will not see.

I pay taxes so corporations and the wealthy don't have to. My tax dollars provide golden parachutes to Wall Street executives. I subsidize oil companies. I pay to send my brothers and sisters overseas where they can be hit with to fight for oil. I pay for games in which I can pretend to be them.

I don't pay for public programs. I also don't pay for universal healthcare, or affordable tuition. I don't pay for the arts. I will never pay for effective social programs. I apparently don't pay politicians enough but corporate lobbyists take care of the rest.

I've traded my newspaper for a tabloid, my tabloid for a blog, my blog for a soundbite. I look to comedians for sound political analysis, and watch the news for a taste of dark comedy. I whine on twitter and Facebook.

I am an American who let his country be overtaken by ignorance, greed, and hypocrisy. So are you.

Best Regards,

Marlos

Well I certainly disagree because with out the rich we won't have a America, people who are protesting are the ones who are wrong, because our economy is bad at the moment we should all try to find out a way to fix this problem.. We shouldn't start yelling at one another, working as a team will give us back our stocks and our jobs

Raymond From NYC- Manhattan

really only 5%!?...it should be at least 7%....think of it this way...if the rich were taxed 10% on the first 1 million they still have 900k left over. If you cant survive on that then your spoiled rotten.

Robert

Protesters need to target the red states, especially those with a strong tea party influence. The majority of the electorate in those states continually vote against their own interests for politicians in the pockets of large, unregulated corporations. Let's throw out these so-called patriots.

Austin
Morningside Heights

i am so tired of the wealthy worried class to try to tell the weary working class that we really don't understand this problem.

this is not about taxing individual tax payers this is about demanding a revamping of the corporate income tax.

and stop the bogus threats that businesses will leave...

if people have no money there will be no business

the poor of the world are suffering and this movement will spread and gain support

Alison
jackson heights

What bothers me while I watch the footage of the protesters, is that you have no sense how large the crowd is. Since the police limit the marchers to a small section of Broadway, the crowd looks smaller than it really might be. The viewing public needs to see the reality of those thousands of protesters. Let those people go!

Susan

I absolutely would support the 5% tax. I also think the next step is to hit them where it hurts....

In the pocket. The people should begin to protest certain businesses. i.e, the MTA - stop using the it for a day, a couple of hours. And begin to alternate the "stop purchase" over weeks.

MTA, then McDonalds, then Nike and keep it going.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

robbin

I would vote yes but it starts with also voting out the politicians
who protect the 1% of the populations but the protest is a great
start.

Ray Middletown ny

It's so sad to see the police abuse their power when they should be on our side fighting for economic justice. They are puppets of the government system and they protect the rich instead of their own kind. Marching today was inspiring and sad. There is a war on poverty and we need to continue to fighting, globally!

Natalia

No, I don't support it. It might surprise you that many people earning $1 million actually "work" for a living. Please define working class; does that mean envious unskilled labor?

Michael

Just as the super rich and the GOP boosters have infiltrated the Tea Party, the Unions and the Democratic Party Bosses are now trying to do the same with the Wall Street Movement. I saw Vito Lopez down there - Vito "corrupt to the core" Lopez - really?

Sheldon
Crown Heights

This is just a break for the kids that live in there moms basement to go out and do something productive with their lives.

prinz

I am with the message about big money having too much influence, but I wish they'd take this protest to Charlotte and the front doors of these big banks, and to Washington and the people who are selling us out. "Wall Street" is not on Wall Street anymore. I'm a working stiff on Wall Street, I don't make a lot of money, less than these union workers...the protests are hurting people like me and the poor pushcart vendors.

CR in Bensonhurst

Look to the Federal Reserve. How where we able to bail out the banks? How is this country able to finance the entitlement system? How are we able to finance the wars? The Federal Reserve prints the money, and is the enabler in this economic mess!

Thanks,
Alberto

The wall street protest is fine However they to do something just standing outside will not get the job done. Wall street protesters need to find away to effect the day to day activity of wall street so that they will take note.

Joe Bayside

I am glad that a new movement is beginning. We needed one badly. I have been working with the homeless, physically disabled for many years and the Government has failed to help us help them. The last two years have been terrible and homelessness is on the rise. The people need help. We need tax reform. We need housing. We need jobs. The country is unrecognizable.

Angel

People need to remember that our elected officials are as much to blame for the economic inequality and problems our country is facing just much as the banks. They were invited into the pockets of banks and big business, they weren't just placed there. This is a good start. Let's keep the conversation going.

We need to make it clear that Democracy isn't for sale.

Charles from BROOKLYN!

Obama promised changes years ago he needs to make them now or get out of office he needs to start being the leader he said he was ganna be and take control of not stop making promises

yarielgl

If the politicians & protesters really think that the multi-millionaires that live in this country will sit with there arms crossed while they get taxed,they are sorely mistaken. They will flee the U.S. in droves to countries little or no taxes,then who will be the ones that will bare the burden of the taxes imposed? Won't it be the same ones that are in the streets now asking for said Tax hikes?

Patrick

Its silly to think that ANY TAX on the wealthy will not be redirected back to the middle class in the form of higher prices for goods and services.

Hank

We have seen the Tea-Party monopolize the conversation in the US by it's co-op'ed message of the Koch Brothers. It is, now, good to see a movement by the 99% of Americans who are supporting Progressive issues!

Jones

First of all, any tax on the rich is not a "new" tax, it's RESTORING taxes on the wealthy that were CUT by Bush. Bush helped get this country into the hole it's in right now by favoring wealthy individuals, corporations that are making huge profits and the financial industry. The Democrats are trying to RESTORE some balance, but they supported the big bailout, and now banks are holding on to their money and won't approve loans and mortgages for the middle class. That's what the protestors are trying to say and I completely support them. I hope that this movement continues to spread, and that people vote in their own financial interests. But until there is campaign finance reform, things won't change much. All politicians are beholden to special interests because of the money needed to run for office.

meryl from manhattan

Yes. I would vote to implement a 5% tax on 1 million and above. We have tainted the American philosophy of 'capitalism' and replaced it with greed and survival of the fittest. No longer are we worried about the working, class, the poor, marginalized; It's about living the life; the life of work(supplied by the mass, the privileged boss around so that the Hamptons, Great Neck, Bonn, Brazil, Madrid, become the havens of the rich. This protest has to make a difference. Too long have New Yorkers, indeed the people of our planet have been asleep while a select few have been reaping the riches we take for granted. Rather than share, they propose to share among themselves; after all, family and loved ones first right? It boils down to this; the privileged-or so they think and the masses. So much for the American dream.

Lee
From Astoria

Their message is getting across. That is why more and more people are joining the protest. The fact that there is no one message is what is attracting so many people. What every one has in common is their opposition to the current economic conditions. Perhaps the message is simply this: NO MORE.

Lizabeth
Upper Westside

As a city express bus driver and TWU member in good standing, I am disgusted to see my union president at this rally. The other day he complained about the NYPD commandeering buses to transport those who were arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge. Those buses are for our customers he said. Now today he's among the misguided ones blocking traffic. I could not reach my customers this evening because of this foolishness. They could not get the bus. Poor p/r for transit workers.

Rich
Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

I think it’s precious that the “poor” college students get to try for their very own piece of Tahrir Square right here in Manhattan. As for the professional rabble rousers I’m sure they appreciate all the free press they’ve been getting. It almost makes them seems legitimate.

The fact is that the so called poor here in the United States living at the DHHS defined poverty level of $10,890 a year place in the top 13.12% of the world’s population and that’s before the public assistance like food stamps they get. As for them being oppressed? Puh-leeze!

DVL
Manhattan

I agree with Joe from Bay Terrace! There are way too may unemployed and disaffected Americans! Calling protesters names, as some have done on the The Call blog serves no constructive purpose.

Bill
Manhattan

I am a UFT member who marched in support of Occupy Wall Street today. It is time we, the 99%, take back this country from the criminal/corporate class and the politicians they buy and put into office to serve their needs and whims. This political system no longer works. Corporate lobbyists write the laws in this country, corporate politicians vote on them and sign them into law, corporate journalists who work for corporate media (like NY1 reporters/TimeWarner employees) report the "news" their corporate owners want them to report. Next on the list is getting rid of the corporate lobbyists, the corporate pols and the corporate media.

Richard

I applaud the protesters and strongly encourage the movement to continue and to grow. Get buses out to Washington DC and continue fighting the good fight.

Irma

Your initial ignoring of the Occupy Wall Street movement was a disgrace, if not a crime, and needs investigation and a public statement about what really happened at NY1. What were you afraid of? Loosing the corporate sponsorship of Sleepies - the Mattress Professionals?

DBosn

I for one am glad that we didn't cap SJ's wealth or divide up his fortune evenly among everyone or natonalize Apple.

Tax the rich? It won't make a difference. What if we taxed 100% of Wall Sreet profits? Probably most of the protesters would agree that's a little extreme. But suppose we did. Well, Wall Street profits in 2010 were about 28,000,000,000. Let's say we divide that up evenly among every citizen. No, forget that. Let's say we divide it up among the bottom 50% of our roughly 300,000,000 people (bottom 50% based on income, since the protestors seem to measure people and happiness only by money). You know how much that is? $186 each. Not enough to pay off anyone's student loans or medical bills.

Greg W
Park Slope

Your coverage of Wednesday's protest activities is biased, and inadequate. I was there. There was a gigantic crowd of peaceful people, of every age, and every walk of life. This was not a union march! Unions were only a small part of that crowd. And the people who clashed with the police were a miniscule part of that crowd. By leading with the police clash, you make it seem as if it was a wholly unruly mob.

By in large this crowd, of about 30 - 50,000 people, was American voters who were just plain fed up with politics and politicians; with laws that overly protect the wealthy and disregard the working classes and poor people. We are sick to death of hearing about CEOs who FAIL at there job and receive millions in return for ruining companies and jobs. We are sick to death of hearing about greedy banks, that receive bailout money, and then turn around and impose stiffer and stiffer penalties, and premiums, on people.

This was a huge turnout of people who are frustrated and disgruntled with corporate and political greed. Where is your report on how big that crowd was? Where is the report on the makeup of that crowd? Where is your report on how peaceful and friendly that crowd was? Where is your report on unnecessary police brutality?

You are supposed to be THE New York station - your report was sorely inadequate.

Daniel

Can of corn question: I would vote yes.

But perhaps on a more base level, and especially in the dire straits we face, this nation has enough resources such that no one should have to go to bed sick or hungry, and should have a bed to lay their head. But because so many have lost or are losing their jobs, and their homes, even these basic needs are in jeopardy for many of us.

The disparity between those who have so very much and those who have so very little is a gross representation of American-style capitalism. Should people strive to be rich? Absolutely, but we can have only so many millionaires. Those without such an opportunity need to be protected from greed and graft, to be able to earn a fair wage, and to feel some sense of security.

Adam
Park Slope

All thinking people support the protestors. Change needs to happen. Changes in taxation, changes in how elections are financed, changes in breaks for corporations who move jobs out of the U.S. No tax breaks for corporations whose products are not made in the USA. Tariffs for U.S.corporations producing in other countries. Giving corporations incentives is okay, just give them an incentive that works for the country not just for the rich. Why wouldn't they move jobs where there isn't that annoying minimum wage to deal with and where environmental laws won't hamper them. Make it worth their while to stay here.

You know when i read this crap about unemployment being the fault of the unemployed and I hear about people clapping and cheering at the possible death of an uninsured person or booing a gay soldier in Iraq I start to think it isn't just Wall Street we need to occupy. We need to occupy a moral high ground. Our nation's moral compass has lost the ability to find true north. We need a national conscience. We need to take back our humanity.

Cynthia

Thank you NY1 for presenting the wall street in a positive light. Earlier, Erin Burnett of CNN seemed utterly confused as to what people were protesting about in her new segment Seriously?!

It is baffling to learn that someone in her position, and at CNN at that, is questioning the credibility and the purpose of the protest. The rest of the main stream media continues to lose credibility and portray themselves as nothing other than propaganda machines.

In regards to the protest, I'm so proud of the many people who are standing up to corporate greed on wall street in new york, as well as in many other parts of the country.

Keep it up!

Wahid
Flushing