It has been nearly three weeks since demonstrators took to the streets of New York City demonstrating against Wall Street. That demonstration has now spread to cities across America.

Most of the demonstrators appear to be college age students who are concerned about their future prospects of employment. However, many middle aged workers who have recently been laid off have joined this demonstration.

Many of the demonstrators liken this movement to the Tea Party demonstrations. I don’t remember any arrests or acts of violence during the Tea Party protests.

On Sept. 24, nearly 100 protesters were arrested with many being pepper sprayed by police officials for unruly conduct. Police arrested 700 protesters and charged them with disorderly conduct, blocking city streets and attempting to march on the Brooklyn Bridge. Several were taken into custody. This immediately brought charges of police brutality.

Unlike the Tea Party whose demands were pretty straight forward, the Wall Street protesters don’t seem to have a well defined agenda or objective. It seems it is directed at Corporate America. Why this started at the New York Stock Exchange is anyone's guess. Some protester state that workers earning $40,000 - $50,000 are to blame. Others say that families making $250,000 to $1,000,000 are the sole blame. Mostly their theme seems to be “corporate greed.”

Banks and large corporations, while certainly not blameless, do not make the rules. The White House has frequently enacted financial rules and regulations without the blessings of the legislature or the judicial branch of government. Many have not in the best interests of the public. General Motors and General Electric immediately come to mind.
There seems to be an extreme left wing agenda concerning these protests. Michael Moore, a proclaimed anti-American said “It warms my heart to see these people at the Wall Street protests." George Soros, an avowed anti-capitalist, said he “sympathizes with those occupying Wall Street. (see moveon.org)

Many unions, including SEIU, UAW, AFL-CIO and numerous teacher unions, are endorsing these protests with several groups providing food and shelter to the protesters. Numerous Hollywood elite have expressed support for the protesters.

I have heard but am unable to confirm that some of the more left wing colleges and universities offer credits for students attending these protests. I do know that “Rules for Radicalism” and “Reveille for Radicals by Neo Marxist Saul D. Alinsky, are readily available in many university and college libraries. Alinsky’s radicalism was taught at the University of Chicago.

Regardless of how you perceive these protests, the increasing use of force and violence is not the American way. It is only a matter of time when something gets out of hand and the demonstrations get really ugly.

Remember Kent State in Iowa in 1970. Four students were killed and nine wounded by National Guard troops. That got ugly nationwide. Never forget, History repeats itself.