If you pay attention to the Occupy Wall Street people they are specifically protesting against the "1%" that is keeping money out of their pockets. This isn't liberal or conservative media slants on the protests because it's what the people are protesting about. They want business and government to stop working the way it has for hundreds of years and start catering better to them. There is no other way to declare their intent other than "We think you're doing it wrong and we want more money, but we don't have better ideas of how to do it or even a vague idea.".
As for people being preyed upon by those in positions of governmental or business power for economic gains... Welcome to Capitalism which is the foundation of our country and many just like it throughout history. It's a wonderful fantasy to think that Mr. Corporation is looking out for you or that the local market you go to truly cares about your needs. The bottomline is the bottomline. A business is designed to exploit a need or want and you are their target. If you think otherwise, then you're just an easier mark. Business and Government worked beside each other and with each other to create these "opportunities" for people of lower income to get luxuries like their own home, cars, big ticket items, etc and it sucks that people fell for it and that people did it in the first place. Am I going to blame a man for trying to make money? No. Am I going to be upset with someone wanting nice things? No. However, when people spend more than they bring in and are stunned when they lose it all I have no sympathy. I don't care how well meaning your intent was.
Our parents, grandparents, etc (Not all obviously, but the ones who weren't fuckheads to their families or the ones who were taken from us too soon.) worked hard to gives us chances to grow. Whether it be by finances, education, or simply skills. Things haven't changed honestly in our country in the past 250+ years. If you want something you either get really fucking lucky or you work your ass off for it. I've grown up in a military familiy and I'm a minority (Native American). I've seen my great-grandfather working 2-3 jobs into his 70's, my grandfather worked 2-3 jobs into his 80's, and my father was full-time military and when off still worked when he got the chance. He's retired military now after serving 35 years in the US Army and at 64 he works 2 jobs. I don't remember my Mother, Grandmothers, or Great-Grandmothers not working full time until they got too sick to continue. I have Psoriatic Athritis severe enough that I could get Disability if I wanted it, but rather than take it I worked toward starting my own business 11 years ago. I even help my parents with a business that they run as well. Is it easy? No, but life was never promised to be.
These "rules" they are fighting against existed before our lifetimes and will always exist. Every system of Democracy, Communism, Socialism, etc which tried to even the playing field still wound up with class warfare. Pretending you can make it go away is some shit you see on Star Trek and not in reality. Trying to think that people with money aren't going to control or exploit the masses in a battlefield of supply and demand is simply naive.
The resolution of this debacle will be figureheads making false promises, people pissing and moaning about needs not being met, and sheeple going back home to see what tv show replaces Desperate Housewives next season.
You can have fun feeling bad for these people. I for one am done with this conversation.
It's not going to open anyones eyes or change either of our opinions. Later.