NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Occupy Wall Street protesters might say they represent 99% of the nation, but there's a growing number of Americans who are making it clear they are not part of the dissident crowd.

They call themselves the 53%...as in the 53% of Americans who pay federal income taxes. And they are making their voices heard on Tumblr blogs, Twitter and Facebook pages devoted to stories of personal responsibility and work ethic.

The number originates in the estimate that roughly 47% of Americans don't pay federal income tax, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. The 53 percenters stress the fact that they are paying the taxes that support the government assistance the protesters say they want.

Kevin Eder was among the first to galvanize those who wanted to differentiate themselves from the thousands of people rallying across the nation to raise awareness of the growing economic gap between the rich and everyone else.

In early October, Eder created the Twitter hashtag #iamthe53, which has since been posted in hundreds of tweets as the backlash to Occupy Wall Street mounts.

"I would never identify myself with those occupying Wall Street," said Eder, 26, a business analyst in Washington D.C. "The frustration was born out of people claiming to speak for me who don't."

Many of those tweeting share the belief that the protesters need to stop complaining about the government and financial institutions and start looking for work. Ken Gardner, an attorney in Dallas, joined the conversation because he opposes government handouts.

"We don't want to be the 53% who carries the 47% on our shoulders," said Gardner, who thinks more people should pay federal income taxes.

Eder's hashtag helped inspire Erick Erickson, editor-in-chief of the conservative website RedState.com and a CNN contributor, to set up a Tumblr blog called "We are the 53%." It mimics Occupy Wall Street "We are the 99 percent" site.

The 53% site gives a voice to those who reject the contention that most Americans are victims of the system, said Josh Trevino, "quasi-official spokesman" for the blog.

"What the 99% is missing is the element of personal responsibility," said Trevino, who is also vice president at the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation. "The 53% want to bring that into the conversation."

More than a thousand people have sent in entries to the 53% site, which generally features their photo next to a piece of paper that outlines their views, as well as their struggles and work histories.

"I am responsible for my own destiny," writes one 34-year-old father of three. "I will succeed or fail because of me and me alone."

"I took jobs I didn't want. Why don't you?" says one poster to the protesters. "Suck it up and become part of the 53%."

As Frank Decker read through the posts, he felt he could relate. A public school teacher in Vancouver, Wash., Decker and his wife lived below the poverty line until they decided to go back to school to become educators. He sent in a post because he wanted to share his story.

"We didn't go through all that struggle while raising three kids to support people who don't feel they need to work or people who feel they are entitled to something they haven't earned," said Decker, 44.

At this point, neither Keder nor Trevino plan to shift their 53% efforts from the online world to the physical one. But they are both surprised at how popular the backlash has become.

"It's lasted far longer than we thought and it's become much bigger than we thought," Trevino said. "It's not over yet."

http://money.cnn.com/2011/10/26/news/economy/occupy_wall_street_backlash/?npt=NP1&hpt=hp_t2

My understanding is that their issue is with Wall Street and how our taxes are used to prop up big banks and big business - not with who PAYS the taxes.

I'm not necessarily on their side but there is a huge disparity in the "haves" and "have-nots" in our world today. And a big part of that chasm is that Wall Street knowingly stole from this country and not a single one of the players suffered any backlash - legal, financial or otherwise. In fact, the government even gave them the money to get back on track.

The "have-nots" aren't afraid to work ... They are afraid they'll never FIND work. Additionally, the "have-nots" don't mind paying taxes.

The problem is that "HAVES" do.

JMO ... You know I respect your opinions Peccy.

Hopefully, these things get us to have discussions like this one, in which we will find solutions as Americans. Unfortunately, the government would rather keep us divided along party lines so that we are motivated to vote.

I just hate the old 'they dont want to work',, or 'they arent responsible' arguments


what happened with wall street has little to do with whether other people were working or not,,,


how dare people want an equal opportunity to 'pursuit of happiness' when they dont even pay INCOME TAXES,, the nerve...<sarcasm>

meanwhile, companies and corporations still profit off of the labor of citizens while keeping them arguing with each other over who pays income taxes

and sales taxes increase

and wages decrease (increasing profits further)

and jobs are outsourced and automated

but we only have to look at those lazy folks who want something for 'nothing' (no income tax, but just as much contribution to the economy through working and consumerism) to understand what the real issue is and who we should really be pointing fingers at

Its the popular philosophy, but I just dont buy it

Exactly! Those who want to silence the message of the 99% are framing this in a misleading way. Most of the 99% aren't looking for a handout.

People who support the 53percent site, who think they are opposed to the 99%, have bought into a false characterization.

Not a problem CB! Just bringing a different angle to the table in the form of "copy and paste"

(no income tax, but just as much contribution to the economy through working and consumerism)

It is basic math.

If you are in debt you either cut spending or increase your revenue.

If you support people not paying income taxes then stop complaining about cuts in spending.

You can't have it both ways.

And as for your comment about those not paying income taxes making as much of a contribution as those of us that do is just absurd.

What the 99% is missing is the element of personal responsibility," said Trevino, who is also vice president at the conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation. "The 53% want to bring that into the conversation."



I like this. Those who would feed off my income need to realize that I am able to support myself and help my family, so really I cannot afford to help them

optional taxes?


I say let wall st rule

I don't either.

its no more absurd than the idea that the wealthy create the jobs and keep the economy going

each person who WORKS , is contributing SOMETHING significant,, its too bad we only see significance in the dollar signs though

right now, I am volunteering, I get no income so pay no taxes,, but dont you think the money I SAVE those employers by not having to pay me a wage, more than levels out whatever taxes they may be paying, when my contribution HELPS to keep them in business as much as the one who is getting a wage
(and paying an accompanying tax on that income),

and they are saving the expense of actually paying for me?

when you get enough people working for peanuts, you contribute to the potential for more profit, which supposedly helps fuel the income of those who are making so much money and creating so many jobs,,,

its a vicious circle

to suggest that not paying income tax should disqualify someone from having a say about the budget is close to (not equal but close) to the sentiment that slaves should have no rights because they are just slaves

not having an income or enough income to pay a tax, doesnt make one any less a citizen or have any less right to be concerned with how the budget is spent,,,,

I don't have an issue with people that don't make enough money to pay income taxes. My issue is with people that make enough money to pay income taxes, but are able to use deductions to pay nothing or actually get more money back than was withheld.

That goes for the people that have 6 kids as well as those that can hire lawyers to find every loophole in the tax code.

There is no national sales tax so those people are not contributing to society on the same level as those of us that just pay the taxes we owe.

Volunteering is fine, but that doesn't fund billions of dollars in federal programs.

Be honest about it.

This is interesting..IMO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Myqffx8Mdg4&feature=share

I heard that only 14% of the top 1% are people from the finance sector.
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/believe-not-wall-street-doesn-t-dominate-top-183915328.html

16% are from the medical profession. Why are they not "Occupying Hospitals"?

did the hospital industry get bailouts or nearly collapse the economy?...

my brother is a doctor, he helps people in emergency rooms EVERY DAY,, and he pays into the tax system,,,

Yes, interesting. The portions of that video that I agree with are exactly why I'm not a liberal.

Their issue is whatever Van Jones and ACORN tell's them it is that day.

Oh, acorn wishes they were relevant!


This protest is not quite like others we have seen, which is clear when you look at the role that social networking plays. Its driven by successful memes and personal connections. If any individual or group succeeds in in having more influence, its only because they spin their memes better.

When people were protesting Bush's invasion of iraq I got annoying emails from 2 organizations asking me to join in the marches. A small group of people were responsible for organizing a large group of protesters.

This is different.

In the last week I've gotten at least twenty separate personal messages from individuals inviting me to join occupy Oakland - via txt, email, FB messages, and such. None of those people are promoting Occupy as 'part of' any kind of 'group'. They are acting independently, and they represent somewhat diverse demographics. They are conservative and liberals and anarchists, they are christians and atheists, they are 20 year olds and 60 year olds, they are unemployed couch surfers and they are working professionals.

If anyone mentions a group like acorn or moveon, its only with scorn for how transparent they are in their desire to co-opt the occupy movement.

Yet a lot of people are protesting against the top 1%. Not just because of bailouts. My point is that the majority of 1% people have nothing to do with wall street. I am not in agreement that 1% people are bad. I am sure your brother is or one day will be a 1% earner and I am sure as a doctor he is a great man. I don't think he should be punished just because he is in the top %.

I dont think any group can be broadbrushed in absolute terms. I dont think the point of 99 percenters is to chastise the 1 percent, its to chastise the policies and practices that so successfully keep their wealth 'increasing' at such an exponentially lower rate than the 1 percent.

me neither

I've never heard a single person say that a person is bad just because they are in the 1%.

I have heard many say that they don't deserve the many mechanisms they have for lessening their tax burden.

There is a huge difference between thinking someone is bad, and thinking that our political and economic structures favor them a bit too much.