City
Twitter reaction to Rob Ford's Occupy Toronto warning
Tick tock. Rob Ford appears to have started the clock on the Occupy Toronto movement, expressing his dissatisfaction with the protesters during a press scrum earlier today. "We've had a peaceful protest, but I think it's time we asked them to move on," he told reporters. "I'm here to represent the businesses and taxpayers in the city and I'm getting numerous calls. People have told me they've had enough. I think it's the right thing to do."
Look out. When Ford "gets calls," some form of action is not far away — for better or (mostly) worse. A briefing note distributed earlier this week signaled that the mayor's patience was wearing thin, but as of yet, there's no concrete plan to end the occupation. Ford did, however, indicate that he's looking to set up a meeting with police chief Bill Blair "as soon as possible."
Perhaps Blair, who's reputation is still recovering from last year's G20, will offer cautious advice, but it's anyone's guess at this point how this is going to turn out. So, naturally, we put the question out to Twitter: should Occupy Toronto stay or go? Here's what some of out followers and other folks had to say.
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Occupy Toronto is nothing more than a bunch of Homeless people and Hippies camping out on city property.
The idea behind Occupy Toronto is great, but the execution has been piss poor and embarrassing. Time to move on.
So it's the astroturfers in the BlogTO comment section that are unrepresentative. The public is firmly behind the Occupy movement.
"The 'Occupy' demonstrations are a rapidly growing fad with no common agenda or goal other than to go camping in the middle of a city park and whine about our problems that are easily solved with gainful employment."
I think that would be more truthful.
You should actually go down to a few meetings down there and find out what it's about before you start commenting. There's a reason less than 50 per cent vote, it's because we know the system doesn't work.
I've been to St James Park and I am completely opposed to everything that Rob Ford stands for, yet I didn't come away thinking like I'd seen some dramatically impressive experiment in grassroots democracy. It was a bunch of people, some well intentioned, some well educated, some mentally ill, some just on the general margins of society, all camping out and having a pretty good time. hey. more power to them -- seems like an enjoyable laugh for a lot of them.
and you are right, mack, that the public in general supports the 'goals' of the occupy movement, but that is very distinct from supporting the methods being used. and occupying public spaces, preventing them being used by others, for extended periods of time, does not seem to have the broad support of the public. and unless you can give me a very solid reason why the only way you can effect the change you are seeking is through occupying public spaces and preventing their use by others, i don't see you gaining the broad support of me or many others for your methods, rather than your goals.
Our corporations don't have nearly as much control over our democracy, as our government does not see corporations as people. Our well-regulated bankers did not take the same stupid risks that American bankers did, and ruined their economy (and went unpunished for doing so). And we did not start two costly wars while cutting taxes.
Occupy Wall Street has earned the general public's attention and respect because they are pushing forward bi-partisan, populist messages, that can lead to definitive changes. Changes such as the overturning of Citizens United supreme court ruling, the prosecution of bankers who broke the law, and the creation of a financial transaction tax. All of these issues are polling well, and the numbers have only gone up since the movement began.
Again, here in Toronto, other than a show of solidarity to our neighbours down south, the general citizens just doesn't think that OUR protests are really worth it.
It's time for this group to now be accommodating and clear out of the park and take down all of their structures. They should not have to be forced out. They should be planning their exit already.
To all those -go get a job!- people outhere, please never, ever, EVER complain when Harper uses your tax dollars for wars overseas or if an accident happens at the pipeline and it created a environemental disaster. Don't ever complain about jobs being shipped overseas when you call a customer service. Or when you loose your job to china.
Some people try to make changes happens and all you can do is call them drug addicts or misfits?
The homeless and drug addicts arent created by the 99%! You just want them to dissapear and not attack the real probllem. We should all just go back to watch reality tv and do what we are told.
Get a job, how 1970's.
Unemployment rate is trending down and remains well below historical levels, even in this crappy environment.
If you were to actually visit the protests you would discover that actually most of the people who are occupying or just hanging about supporting it DO have jobs. Personally, I spend as many of my days off from my part time job (I'm a college graduate, mind you) supporting the movement.
Just because some people have the ability to empathize does not mean they are all jobless, homeless, hippies.
Don't they work???
Do they leave during the day, and return at night??
By Rob Ford's logic, if enough Toronto citizens called him on the phone and asked him to resign, he would?
I hope their EI is on hold during this~!!!!!
GM Ford Chrysler all reinvented
Private sector the same
I say burn all the legalized mobsters at the stake
Or better yet gas them!
Stop sucking us dry!
What I don't understand is how you can make such a gross generalization?? How do you know that EVERYONE at the protest is in their tents ALL OF THE TIME??
People come and they go. Some support the movement from their homes, some are staying in the park, some are coming to the park during the day and going home at night, some go to work during the day and return to their tents at night. Do you need me to explain this further? A trip to the protest would clear things up for you.
A number of the protesters are students, seniors, contract workers, part time workers or have the flexibility in their work schedules (ie writers, freelance professions).
Theyre in the park to affect change. So that hard working people like you don't have to suffer through mountains of debt and other money issues. Giant auto corporations get bailed out by your money and pay their CEOs millions in bonuses.
You are being rude, a pisser and just plain lazy by saying "get a job!"
To be honest... I really do think that moving on is in the best interests of the protesters. Change gears and find a new way to bring your message.
Also, soon enough it won't just be the City the protestors will have to worry about. When the temperature drops further it would be extremely risky to continue in the park,
You're an idiot for thinking corporations don't have considerable control over the government. Take a look at Rogers, Bell and the CRTC.