tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10635442.post642444982811888068..comments2023-10-21T03:07:18.017-05:00Comments on Enclave: Nashville "non-profit" Entrepreneur Center receives millions in government subsidies, and then "counterprotests" Occupy Wall StreetS-townMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05948307051485318061noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10635442.post-68697894957868520302011-10-19T02:35:36.340-05:002011-10-19T02:35:36.340-05:00Nice article.
I think Occupy Nashville chose Legi...Nice article.<br /><br />I think Occupy Nashville chose Legislative Plaza because the law allows them to occupy indefinitely(a key feature of the Occupy movement), it's a designated public space for political protest, and the group is trying to be very inclusive and democratic in its process, showing by example how far afield what they do is from how our closed-door, money worshiping, backroom dealing government works now. So I think maybe you're missing the overarching point of the protest--to arrive at demands and solutions and apply political/social pressure via truly democratic processes over a longer period of time. Being a persistent symbol of inclusiveness at the steps of power is a big part of it, in my opinion. That's not to say they shouldn't include marches and events where the action happens--I think you make a great point to that effect. <br /><br />And to the person talking about personal bailouts: the finance sector systematically inflated bubbles that pumped up home prices and tuition to exorbitant levels, which they then sold to pensions, mutual funds, and municipalities with AAA ratings. Thus the prices are based on fraud, and supported by rigged bankruptcy laws and regulatory capture. But you want to blame the dying middle class for wanting the dream they had been promised their whole lives? Nice.<br /><br /> The money banks are extorting from the American people should go back to the people, and bailing out student debt and home mortgages--two groups definitely victimized by the debt machine--makes a lot more sense than pumping money back into the unregulated finance sector for further extortion. One is stimulative and just, the other is deleterious, except in the case of thwarting yet another manufactured crisis(it's happening in Europe and it will happen here again soon). Add in small businesses loans at low interest and you have a recipe for an actual recovery. <br /><br />Also, most people at Occupy are calling simply for rule of law, prosecution of fraud, end of corporate influence over politics, personhood, etc, none of which have anything to do with "personal bailouts". So your criticism is pure garbage and based on reductive criticism. At the multiple rallies I attended, I heard maybe two people mention student loan/home mortgage bailouts. You might try reading the website occupynashville.org where the official statements are there for you to read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10635442.post-14645501747557489412011-10-11T21:16:50.166-05:002011-10-11T21:16:50.166-05:00I still don't get it. I think their tweets wer...I still don't get it. I think their tweets were stupid and poorly thought out. But I am stunned by people saying they shouldn't criticize the govt while receiving government funds. That's just crazy. <br /><br />You all seem to be implying that, even if the government doesn't restrict their speech, that they should self-censor. <br /><br />Let me just suggest that if this were a left-leaning tweet, you wouldn't be howling quite so loudly. Mike, I think your final quote in the City Paper was actually spot-on -- I found it surprising that they engaged in this kind of fractious political debate that doesn't seem to have a lot to do with entrepreneurship. <br /><br />But the rest of this? I'm still surprised. I'd love for you all to explain what relationship, if any, government and business should have together.Laura Creekmorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10635442.post-71359327370451468362011-10-11T18:34:00.919-05:002011-10-11T18:34:00.919-05:00Thanks for posting this Mike. I disagree that the ...Thanks for posting this Mike. I disagree that the Entrepreneur Center is too 'small potatoes.' Any business owner should understand that they are subsidized by the resources of the federal, state, and local governments in one way or another (public education for an educated workforce, roads and ports to get your product from and to markets, R&D investments, etc etc). It is not okay for the EC to decry gov't initiatives in the very same year they obtain massive federal funding for their new space. Do I hope some new job creating ventures come out of the EC? Sure thing. However, they seem to incubate mostly tech ventures that would have the easiest time picking up and leaving Nashville as soon as the funding runs out. I hope some of the folks running that org can open their eyes and think about the long term way they are creating value for our community. Oh yea, and hire a new Tweeter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10635442.post-77013598981801792702011-10-11T10:26:44.919-05:002011-10-11T10:26:44.919-05:00The Entrepreneur Center is small potatoes, not was...The Entrepreneur Center is small potatoes, not wasting your time commenting on it unless you intend to hit everyone from right to left.<br /><br />People got killed in Arab Spring uprisings. People were shucking off tyrants and asking for democracy.<br /><br />In the U.S., we have able-bodied people complaining that they lived too lavish a lifestyle while in college, and it put them in crushing debt. <br /><br />These people oppose corporate bailouts, but want a personal bailout.<br /><br />They are inchoherent. That may change, but, right now they are unorganized and espousing ideas that work at cross-purposes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10635442.post-20383843436242878832011-10-11T09:31:30.647-05:002011-10-11T09:31:30.647-05:00If the Entrepreneur Center wants to be on the righ...If the Entrepreneur Center wants to be on the right side, they'd join in with the Occupy Wall Street people and demand that the banks start opening up lines of credit to entrepreneurs.<br /><br />I know of two local business people, on with a 25 year track record in the restaurant business and another manufacturer with a five year track and a proprietary construction product. They are both expanding their businesses (using savings and credit cards) because local banks are not willing to loan them money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10635442.post-50385572160411965082011-10-11T09:25:07.809-05:002011-10-11T09:25:07.809-05:00The location either underscores a poor understandi...The location either underscores a poor understanding of the Occupy protests or a fairly sophisticated understanding of Tennessee politics (as in not the guns and God window dressing but the real priorities). I'd like to think it's the latter, but it's probably more the former. Still, it is very close to downtown Nashville's "financial district."Charlesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10635442.post-69878160141805114142011-10-11T06:30:11.555-05:002011-10-11T06:30:11.555-05:00http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/pol...http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/april_2009/51_view_tea_parties_favorably_political_class_strongly_disagrees Not 27 percent. I think use of the tag line "Majority Approve is a bit disingenuous. 27% of 54 is not overwelming and 19% is not a huge gap. Do you actually realize what it would mean if these were to turn into Arab Spring type protests?tchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03311334350185904771noreply@blogger.com