Man in the Park: Peter Schiff of the 1% Tries to Politely School Occupy Wall Street Protestors on Socialism, Government, Taxes, & Free Market Principles (video)
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on October 28, 2011
Economist and financial investor Peter Schiff made an effort this week to educate some of the Occupy Wall Street liberal protestors in New York about the role government has had in destroying individual freedoms and creating the economic crisis, how socialism fails, and how capitalism and free market principles made America the success it was.
With a sign that read “I Am the 1%, Let’s Talk,” Schiff interviewed a number of OWS “Obamaville” protestors, many of whom had no clue that overreaching government policies, taxes, bailouts, waste, and regulations, especially those of Team Obama, have led us down this dangerous economic path to a cliff. Schiff wanted them to know that they should be protesting in front of the White House, not on Wall Street.
Good luck, Peter. It’s a lengthy video, but fascinating, fair, and well worth your time.
Schiff was civil, informed, and sympathetic to many of the grievances — much more civil and informed than were many with whom he talked.
Peter Schiff Speaks for 1 Percent at Occupy Wall Street
Big Government recaps Schiff’s man-on-the-street interviews at the Occupy Wall Street protest:
Schiff is no ordinary observer. As the principal of the financial firm Euro Pacific Capital, he’s a full-fledged and unapologetic member of “the 1 Percent.” As an outspoken radio show host (listen online here) and commentator, he not only predicted the housing crash and financial crisis, he railed bank and auto-sector bailouts as they were happening. Schiff believes that capitalism offers the only hope for young, frustrated people to have a vibrant and prosperous future (get information on his latest book, How an Economy Grows and Why it Crashes, here). So he went to Occupy Wall Street to engage and debate the protesters.
Touring the Occupy Wall Street scene in New York with a sign that read “I Am the 1%, Let’s Talk,” Schiff spent more than three hours on the scene, explaining the difference between cronyism and capitalism, bailouts and balance sheets, and more.
“The regulation we want is the market,” said Schiff. “That’s what works.”
Schiff predicted this economic mess years ago, which I’ve written about in previous posts. In 2009, he was childishly attacked during an interview with MSNBC Lawrence O’Donnell when he described the flaws of ObamaCare and how government-run health care would hurt the nation.
From Mediaite, One Per Center Peter Schiff Visits Occupy Wall Street, Produces 18 Minutes Of Civility:
Euro Pacific Capital head Peter Schiff paid a visit to Occupy Wall Street this week. I know: Groan, right? Another pundit type with a camera shows up, finds the biggest noobs down there, makes them look foolish, edits out the answers that he doesn’t like, puts it on YouTube, and conservatives post it on their Facebook walls and send to friends, laughing at the uninformed masses. But guess what? Schiff’s video was probably the most fair and insightful “guy takes a trip to Occupy Wall Street” video we’ve seen so far. It’s also a hefty 18 minutes long.
Yes, Schiff was trying to prove his own point, but he also gave the protesters a chance to be more than just dirty hippies shouting things. And some of them came across as smart and well-informed. The piece could have been “Jaywalking.” Instead, it was the closest we’ve seen to a civil discussion in front of a camera down there. Armed with a sign that read, “I am the 1%: Let’s Talk,” Schiff invited people to argue their points against him. Instead of disagreeing and then violently shutting them down with talking points before moving on to the next person, Schiff — at least, more often than not — somewhat agreed with parts of their argument, but then steered their anger in the right direction. He didn’t want banks bailed out. He thinks college is too expensive. He warned people about the housing bubble. He told a homeless veteran that he wasn’t in favor of the wars. Part of his point, however, was that people should be upset with the government and not with Wall Street.
About the author
I always enjoy Sean Hannity’s ‘man on the street’ interviews, especially when they ask them who is the president, they always get that one right.
After that it goes to hell in a handbasket.
Too many people are so clueless it is mind boggling.
A better series of questions might have been to attempt to determine the general knowledge of the rabble concerning the members of the present administration.
Oh well.
Hi Vicki !
Hugs to AFVET! Missed you, dear buddy!
Oh Vicki, we’re still out here, plowing through the BS the Obama administration throws before us.
It is becoming a target rich environment, no ?
I am becoming more and more disgusted with the arrogant attitude OB and Moochie has when talking to the American People.
They consider US a classroom full of brain dead individuals, devoid of any reasoning and for that matter, common sense.
How’s that Ivy league education workin’ out for you Obama ?
At any rate Vicki, it has been a pleasure speaking with you again, and I sincerely hope you and yours are doing fine.
Let Freedom Ring.
God Bless America.