Opinionline: Occupy Wall Street fails to create change

Joe Nocera, in The New York Times: "For all intents and purposes, the Occupy movement is dead. … But why? One reason … is that the Occupy protesters were purposely, even proudly, rudderless, eschewing leadership in favor of broad, and thus vague, consensus. … A second is that while they had plenty of grievances, aimed mainly at the 'oppressive' power of corporations, the Occupy protesters never got beyond their own slogans. But the main reason is that, ultimately, Occupy Wall Street simply would not engage with the larger world. Believing that both politicians and corporations were corrupt, it declined to dirty its hands by talking to anyone in power."

Stephanie Keith, AP

An Occupy Wall Street protester is arrested in New York on Saturday.

Stephanie Keith, AP

An Occupy Wall Street protester is arrested in New York on Saturday.

Rebecca Solnit, at The Nation: "Don't get bogged down in the tangible achievements. … The less tangible spirit of Occupy and the new associations it sparked are what matters. … Occupy was … a great meeting ground. People who live too much in the virtual world with its talent for segregation and isolation suddenly met each other face-to-face in public space. There, they found common ground in a passion for economic justice and real democracy, and a recognition of the widespread suffering capitalism has created."

John Hayward, at Human Events: "In 21st century America, liberal politics is all about stitching together a working coalition from rent-seekers and aggrieved interest groups, while keeping the middle class comfortably sedated. … The biggest flaw in Occupy Wall Street was always that it had nothing new to offer. The mainstream Democratic Party is already peddling its ideas, with much more attractive packaging."

New York Post, in an editorial: "(Occupy) certainly caused a ruckus … with their endless, meaningless drum-banging. It shut traffic, depressed commerce, killed jobs and clogged up the courts. … But when City Hall finally summoned the courage to delouse the park, the movement … swiftly fizzled. No doubt, it'll try to reconstitute itself as the presidential election comes to a close. But it'll just be theater. That's all Occupy Wall Street ever was."

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Senate Move to Reverse Mercury Rule Fails

A Senate resolution seeking to reverse federal regulations limiting emissions of mercury and other toxic substances from coal-burning power plants failed to win passage on Wednesday. The resolution, introduced by Senator James M. Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican, won support from 46 senators; 53 voted against it.

Associated PressSenator James M. Inhofe

The Environmental Protection Agency rules, issued late last year, have been criticized by some utilities, coal producers, Congressional Republicans and other foes as overly broad and potentially harmful to the economy. The Obama administration has defended the new regulations as critical to protecting public health.

Mr. Inhofe argued that the regulations amounted to a “war on coal” that would result in job losses and higher energy prices. Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has also opposed the rule on economic grounds.

But President Obama cited the rule limiting emissions from power plants as a signal achievement in his State of the Union address in January, and the White House warned this week that he would veto the resolution if it landed on his desk.

Opposition from the Senate’s Democratic majority ensured that it wouldn’t come to that: only five Democratic senators supported the resolution, including Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia.

West Virginia’s other senator, Jay Rockefeller, also a Democrat, voted against the measure, saying it “moves us backward, not forward.”

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Obama Jobs Bill Fails Senate Vote... Again (ContributorNetwork)

COMMENTARY | The U.S. Senate continued on Thursday the smack down of President Barack Obama's jobs bill for the second time this week. This time, a few Democrats broke ranks and joined in opposing the revised measure.

Republicans successfully defeated an attempt on Tuesday to spend $30 to prop up the jobs of - what Obama claims to be - 400,000 teachers. That's an insane amount of very targeted government spending just to protect such a small number of jobs in a time when vast industries are suffering the effects of a recessed economy.

Associated Press reported that Senate on Thursday took up a revised measure that would add an additional $5 billion to that plan for firefighters and police salaries. This didn't sit well with members either. If the previous bill wasn't going to work, adding more money that would have to be borrowed wasn't going to work either. But it shows how desperate Obama is for any kind of victory with this bill - however meager it may be.

The defections of senators Ben Nelson, D-Neb., Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut sunk that measure on a split 50-50 vote -- substantially short of the 60 votes needed to advance the measure. Clearly, Obama is struggling to hold on to his own party supporters as the jobs bill continues to morph into something acceptable to the Senate.

This aspect of the jobs bill just isn't going to pass - and rightfully so. The country doesn't need highly targeted stimulus plans. It needs a comprehensive, broad-based jobs bill that promotes hiring across many sectors. Given the immediate opposition to Obama's bill from the moment he announced it, it would make more sense for congressional leaders to advance portions of the bill that actually have bipartisan support. Instead, they waste their time and taxpayer's money by promoting dead-end issues.

The real solution to creating jobs rests with small business. A $2,000 tax credit for hiring new employees promotes job growth and is more easily introduced into the market. More importantly, it doesn't cost the Treasury any money up front. This is a solution that - if it were to fail - wouldn't increase the national debt at all. If it works -- all the better.

Congress needs to think outside the box and stop writing checks to solve every national problem. If they need help, ask the citizens of Louisa County, Virginia. They are doing just that to recover from the August earthquake.

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