The more I watch the Occupy Wall Street malcontents, the more I’m convinced this is nothing more than a contrived movement orchestrated by committed leftists.

Most of the protesters are complaining that ‘bankers’ and CEO’s of evil corporations excessive compensation are hurting the average citizen. Many college graduate protesters are complaining that they have run up extravagant student loans and wan’t them forgiven (as if they were forced into taking out those loans).

According to their demands at the outset, student loans debt forgiveness is a top concern for the protesters.

But the funny thing is, while they are directing all their ‘anger’ at big business (and unconvincingly at crony capitalism) they are missing one of the biggest target’s for protest. It combines the crazy cost of college and the crony capitalism they claim to despise.

Overpaid college administration at PUBLIC Universities.

Coleman, who was the highest paid president of a United States public university when she took her post as president in 2002, has slipped in the rankings for the second consecutive year. Last year, Coleman ranked as the fifth highest-paid public university president and in 2007 she was the fourth highest-paid executive among public universities.

For the last fiscal year, Coleman’s total compensation package from the University came out at $783,850. The compensation package includes $553,500 in base salary, $100,000 retention bonus, $75,000 in deferred compensation, $24,500 in retirement pay and $30,850 in supplemental retirement pay.

In addition to her compensation, Coleman has an expense account for business-related operations and travel. She is also provided with a car and is given full use of the historical president’s house at 815 South University Avenue.

Coleman’s salary is determined by the University’s Board of Regents who vote on the matter after an annual review process led by the Personnel, Compensation and Governance Committee of the Board of Regents.

In the 2009 fiscal year, Coleman received a 4-percent raise, increasing her base salary by about $21,000.

I mean, if you want to complain that college is too expensive, don’t blame Wall Street.

This strikes me as a bad idea on all fronts. Via Freakonomics:

Turns out the solutions have only gotten more creative in the last few years. The newest innovation are “homeless meters,” repurposed parking meters — painted a different color and set back from the street — that people can deposit coins into rather than give spare change to panhandlers. Cities then donate the collected money to nonprofit groups, which in turn use the funds to buy things like bus tickets. Advocates say this cuts down on the abuse of funds, and ensures that donations are put to the best use.

Ensures donations are being put to best use… How? If you want to help the homeless, give money directly to the Salvation Army, a local Church outreach program, directly to a Soup Kitchen in your neighborhood or directly to any charity that is in line with your values. Giving money to a highly political (and less efficient than a reputable charity) city government who is going to donate the money to a ‘non profit’ group is a crapshoot at best.

Some homeless advocates who have a better grasp of the economic realities of having city governments involved in charity work point out a flaw in this system:

PJ Charles, executive director of another group that feeds the homeless called Straight Street Orlando, said the program may cost more than it brings in.

PJ Charles sums up the entire effort perfectly.

“It’s just another effort to seem like they’re making an effort,” he said.

Well said PJ.

Obama didn’t stray too far from his standard profile for member of his Cabinet.

Highly credentialed? Check.

• Graduated from Grove City High School (1977) co-valedictorian
• Bachelor’s degree, James Madison College – Michigan State University (1981) in legal and political theory
• Master’s degree with first class honours, University of Oxford (1983) in economics
• Juris Doctorate degree with honors, University of Chicago Law School (1986)

I’m sure Obama gave bonus points for University of Chicago Law School.

Partisan hack? Check.

Cordray said yesterday that he will not follow the lead of the other attorneys general, all but one of whom are Republicans.

“It would require tearing up decades of precedent, which would require activist judges, which the proponents of this would not be in favor of,” Cordray said. “I do not think it would be an advisable expenditure of taxpayer dollars on the part of the taxpayers of Ohio.”

He said the legal arguments by McCollum and others are dubious. For example, the other attorneys general contend that the federal government can’t compel people to buy health insurance or anything else, but Congress required people to buy guns and accessories in 1792, Cordray said.

Cordray formally responded yesterday to a request to sue from eight Republican members of Congress from Ohio and the majority Republican caucus of the state Senate. In letters to both groups, Cordray said he’s focusing on issues such as preventing home foreclosures and protecting consumers from unscrupulous business practices.

I’m sure supporting ObamaCare over the wishes of his constituents didn’t hurt Cordray’s chances either.

Long time supporter of the cradle to grave concept of the nanny state? Check.

Richard Cordray Answers Questions

Candidate for United States Senate (2000 election)

Questions & Answers

1. Should the United States pay all its dues to the United Nations as was originally agreed upon in its charter?

Yes, If we want to exercise leadership in the world, as we should, we should begin by carrying out our own international obligations. We should build upon that basic responsibility by setting a positive example for other nations in terms of critical issues such as nuclear proliferation; for that reason, I strongly oppose the recent vote in the Senate not to ratify the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty. This vote means turning our back on decades of work to make the world safer and promote the peaceful solution of international disputes

2. What specific measures, if any, would you support to reform health care?

Fist, I support the Patient’s Bill of Rights, which the Senate Republican have blocked. The legislation would grant patients the right to appeal a denial of treatment, more access to specialist, and coverage of emergency room treatment. It also would hold HMO’s accountable by providing legal recourse when they deny treatment recommended by the doctor. Second, I favor expanding health care coverage by ensuring that all children have access to quality health care, get the immunizations they need and receive primary pediatric care. Third, I would use any surpluses to protect Medicare and cover prescription drugs for senior citizens.

3. What measures, if any, would you support to reform our campaign finance system?

I strongly support the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform legislation, both in its current form (banning soft money) and in its previous, stronger form (including broader and more comprehensive reforms). I also would support and work toward public financing of congressional campaigns, to level the playing field between incumbents and challengers. Finally, I support measures ( both at the federal and state level) to provide a fairer, nonpolitical apportionment of legislative districts to encourage competition that benefits the voters by giving them more of a choice.

Standard lib boilerplate answers.

And finally, lot of people on the left are making a big deal out of the fact that Richard Cordray is an excellent Jeopardy! player. And I’m sure Obama couldn’t wait to use this joke in the press conference announcing Cordray’s nomination.

I guess we are supposed to laugh at the thought of ANOTHER layer of federal regulation of our economy and ANOTHER expansion of our bloated government.