Occupy MN protesters barred from sleeping in Government Plaza starting Monday

• I agree that the issue is "what's next?". Too many people are looking to "defeat" the protesters, as if that will solve the underlying problems. The banks are too powerful. They are a law unto themselves, without checks and balances. Our system works on rewarding risk-takers, but there is no longer any risk for the banks - just rewards. One Party thinks that the banks need to be even more powerful, even worshipped. And then a few crumbs will drop down to those faithful few. Another Party is now less sure of the wisdom of such an approach. It seems that the best course would be to push that particular Party towards action.

• If you honestly think these protests have moved the needle in any direction, you are living in a bubble.

• Also, the law enforcement officers who have been dealing with the protesters deserve a lot of praise, at least so far.  They were smart to back down on the sign issue last time, and I hope they show the same restraint in the inevitable conflict over these new rules.  Even if not having them in the plaza is a good thing, it isn't worth using violence to achieve.

• This is incredibly stupid.  It's getting cold.  They will go away on their own soon enough anyway.  And even if they don't, who cares?

• Before Occupy Wall Street the media was obsessed with the debt and other stupid issues.  Studies of media coverage indicates Occupy Wall Street has moved the conversation to the important issue of the day, jobs.  Protests are meant to be inconvenient and annoying, its the only way you can change the conversation.  

• Keep up the good work protestors, unit and be strong.

• They want their message to be heard.  Because we are talking now about it means they succeeded there.  But now what?  The banks have that cocky attitude that they are not going to change their ways.  Are people ditching their banks because of OccupyMN.  Yes, some are.  But it seems the ones doing so have less than a few grand in that bank.  I'm not for or against OccupyMN.  Just curious on what the next steps are.

• It could also mean that the 'occupiers' are stuck to the street and nobody expected it to go on this long and that adults are now going to have to make practical considerations. Nobody's status quo is anything. Sure you can exist there in a big pile in the plaza, but we all have to walk around you. If steps to walk around you are taken, don't get all excited about it. And I should say I'm a 27 year old male democrat who really wants to help the economic disparity in our country. Participating in the 'occupy' protests never struck me as a useful thing to do. I'm exactly the person who 'gets' what would be the message of this 'occupy' thing if it had one, and I don't sympathize with the actual protests at all. Imagine what someone who thinks AGAINST you has as a reaction.

• An inevitable step; but it just means our occupiers are starting to scare the status quo. If the government tries to silence you with phony and out-of-the-blue laws, you must be doing something right. Keep it up occupiers! Law does not equal justice, and you are all tax-paying citizens. Exercise your right to exist!

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