The Occupy Wall Street protesters are a manifestation of years of liberal influence. They have grown up in a society where no one is allowed to “fail.”

Competitive sports have been replaced with games where no one is keeping score so no one is exposed to the “shame” of losing. Similarly, school grades have been inflated to the point where everyone gets A’s or “satisfactory” and routinely are promoted to the next level to avoid the stigma of “failing.”

The liberal influence is also prevalent in their attitudes toward the rich. They’ve been told they needn’t pay for benefits they get from federal government. Liberals rejoice in the fact poll after poll show those who don’t pay any income tax are perfectly willing to raise taxes on the “rich.” President Obama is basing his whole re-election strategy on pitting the so-called 99-percent-ers against the 1 percent. His success in using this approach for four more years would surely make us very much like Greece.

Bill Hirt, Bellevue