At least the hippies had some clue.

I recently saw the 1960s musical “Hair” on its revival tour as it passed through Dallas. In the 1960s, unkempt, unemployed and often ill-behaved young people sitting around doing nothing save for drugs and sex were called hippies.

Today we are reminded of the hippies by the crowds showing up in cities across America – all spawn of the “Occupy Wall Street” movement.

Credit the hippies, at least, with having some clarity. At the root of the hippies’ discontent was the fact that they objected to the prospect of conscription for the purpose of fighting the Vietnam War.

Most of the Occupy Wall Street crowd can’t really tell you with any specificity what it is that’s bothering them. Well fed, nominally well-clothed and almost 100 percent possessed of smart phones, iPods and iPads, they stand in incoherent protest against the very economic system that made all of their comforts possible.

They see not a trace of irony in the fact that Western capitalism has succeeded so thoroughly that it is possible for vast numbers of people, Occupy Wall Streeters among them, to enjoy the comforts of economic success without the burden of producing even the tiniest lick of economic output.

Most of the hippies grew up, cut their hair and got jobs. You have to wonder if the occupy Wall Street Crowd, forty years of ever-increasing statist welfare coddling later, will ever feel compelled to do the same.

 

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Paul Gleiser

Paul L. Gleiser is president of ATW Media, LLC, licensee of radio stations KTBB 97.5 FM/AM600, 92.1 The TEAM FM in Tyler-Longview, Texas.

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8 Responses

  1. maxene kent says:

    all the current protesters want is more freebies and to take from the ones who worked and earned the money – too bad these same lazy folks who are begging for folks to send food and blankets are not so willing to look for and get a job but would rather “protest” to get something for nothing – and NOTHING is exactly what they are entitled to or jail or fines or some form of punishment (perhaps their benefits could be eliminated and they could be forced to pay back the benefits they have already received while protesting)

  2. maxene kent says:

    by the way, YOU TELL ME is the best thing i have seen in a long time where folks can actually express their opinions – keep up the good work
    lmk

  3. Roger Flat says:

    After they have off shored your radio job, you will be considered lazy too.

  4. Linda E. Montrose says:

    They not only do they not have a clue, the ones I heard trying to explain why they were protesting was all about taxes and not being able to make enough money. Doesn’t that sound more like this administrations fault than wall street??? Also, there have been plants who are being paid to protest. Not one, plant or otherwise, realize that obama got more campaign funds from Wall Street than anyone else! Wall Street helped to put obama in office and this administration has done nothing but paint Wall Street as the villan since the day he stepped into the Whitehouse! Just more of the Alinsky way and the ignorant fall for it hook line and sinker…exactly what this administration counts on. The best way to counter the ignorance shown at these protests is to be INFORMED. You Tell Me is a very good place to find the truth!!!

  5. Rick Armstrong says:

    The hippies of yesterday learned their lessons well…so well that they have used the system to the point of abuse and now are reliving their youth though the Wall Street protestors. But, as you pointed out, they failed to supply them with direction other than show up, be loud and don’t bathe. Many are PAID for being there through several Leftist organizations, so that takes away a certain amount of credibility. The old rabel rousers of old who set off bombs, killed and got away with it are quietly smiling and waiting for that mystery fuse to be lit so they can jump in and become saviors. Ayers and company are advising and, I am sure, directing the group(s) and when the “crisis” happens, stand ready to advise our prez on how to suspend the constitution and save the nation.

  6. Buddy Saunders says:

    Always enjoy You Tell Me Texas. You are completely on target–neither hippies nor these 999er could exist without the benefits of capitalism. You don’t find this breed in poor socialist countries.

  7. Rex Jones says:

    If they would quit rely on other people to employ them and maybe create a product or service themselves they can join the rest of us 1%.

  8. maxene says:

    just saying – some of the “plants” were holding placards that read
    “this is whitey’s fault” one day and the next day they were gone –

    one person threw a cigtarette at a female newscaster who was interviewing one of the protesters (who really had no idea why they were there) and the cigarette thrower was mad because he was told to move out of camera range –

    these are nothing but a bunch of THUGS paid for by obama and his friends (great free campaign publicity for obama)

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