Exodus?

"No, it's not OK."

That's the bottom line for consumers who are fed up with Bank of America and Netflix.

And they're leaving or threatening to leave in droves. Five dollars per month may not seem like a lot of money, but ordinary people aren't going for it. It's not that most people can't afford it. They're happy to spend that and more on Starbucks coffee or manicures each week, but that $5.00 takes on new proportions when they know it's only going to go to fat cat bankers. Credit unions are doing well, thanks to Wall Street.

As for Netflix? People are beginning to resent being held hostage by profitable companies. Note to Netflix executives: there are alternatives. You can get videos for free from the library or for just $1.00 from the supermarket.

Speaking of financial hostage-taking, I hope that the Netflix/Qwikster debacle extends to cable television. We have the Optimum Triple Play. We knew that the introductory rate of $29 per month each for cable television, Internet access and telephone would only last one year. We accepted the price increase last year. But the recent hike made our monthly cost go up by 50 percent since we subscribed just over two years ago. Note to Cablevision: our collective income hasn't gone up anywhere near double digits in that same time period.

"No, it's not OK" is the unifying factor in the Occupy Name That Place demonstrations. I avoided commenting on OWS for more than a month because I was unsure where it was going. The movement seemed rather vague. I knew what the demonstrators were angry about, but I didn't think it would be effective unless they took it to Washington, D.C.. It turns out it a true grass roots movement, and that Washington won't be able to dismiss it so easily. The slow coverage by the news media was surprising. The New York Times sent an arts writer to cover it in the beginning. Even the violent actions by the police did not make journalists and editors realize that the Occupiers are not going away any time soon. They gave more credence to the demonstrators in the Middle East than they did to unemployed and underemployed Americans who are demanding things such as accountability from Wall Street and jobs for the middle class. What about civil rights, as guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution? Few people even bring that up, as if the First Amendment is suddenly an inconvenience. The Tea Party rally members could bring guns without getting grief, but peaceful, unarmed demonstrators who have the nerve to grouse about Wall Street and government are at the mercy of the police.Remember Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin? He had it in for all the public workers -- except for the police and fire departments, because wanted to insure his safety. Now that's rich!