You Had Your Chance: Quiet Down
For decades the left and the right have staked their claims and stood their ground.
They gave us hollow sound bites. They defined partisanship for us and basically bankrupted our country.
Behind closed doors they bed down with corporations and unions. They tell us they were listening and we keep electing them.
On TV they promise hope, change and ask God to Bless America but blessing is an action word and hot air does little to create an atmosphere for such grace.
The establishment is threatened by protestors frustrated by its inability to work together. You are nervous because you have not been responsible or responsive to the average American.
Is Occupy Wall Street the answer? I doubt it but rather than labeling it, writing it off or trying to ignore it, read between the lines.
People are tired of your lack of leadership. We don’t care which party wins we care that America wins.
The crazies will come out of the woodwork with end time scenarios. We will blame Occupy Wall Street and ignore how we got to this point in the first place.
You brought us here. You’ve had years to move us beyond this point and “We The People” are not without blame. We let you do this.
The media will use Occupation to push ratings during sweeps. The establishment will use the moment to distract blame.
The question is what will the rest of us do? I’m not saying we join the movement or buy into the message.
But as we complain and moan about the mess and messengers remember that at least they are doing something.
At least give them credit for trying.
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Well Said Rick! You’ve expressed what I have not been able to find a way to say. Thank you very much!
I care that America Wins! That our Country Wins! Let’s not keep giving it away. Let’s really work together to take control of our personal economies and then Vote with our Dollars.
The Occupation is worldwide.
I do not personally like the names “Occupation” and “Day of Rage” very much, however, these names are what the World is standing behind. We have the capacity for worldwide human solidarity, we have a plentiful supply of grievances held over from darker times, and North Africa has given us the spark to ignite the powder keg. This is not just an American event, it is a Human event.
This is also not going away any time soon. The Occupation is here for the long haul. And it is rapidly becoming everybody.
You need to remember Rick, that we have been indoctrinated with civil obedience since we were in grade school. They formed us into how we vote, who we believe, and how to think. These things take many years to shed off. I believe the Occupy people have done just that, and the awakening of America is happening. To me, it makes no difference if they cannot achieve what they started out to do, but EVERYONE is talking about it. And that my friend, is a start.
Doing Something… Yep… To Do or Not to Do… That is the question
Sir, if I may be so bold: what the Occupy Wall Street movement is doing right now is building consensus. Finding common ground. As an example: the Seattle group requires a four-fifths super-majority to pass anything (effectively – the process is not as clear as Robert’s Rules – it hasn’t been through 11 editions yet and is working under different circumstances).
If you have concerns with politicians bedding down with corporations and corporate bailouts with taxpayer money then you should consider working with your local Occupy folks. I don’t mean you need to camp out or roll in every day. What I’m trying to express is that if you have that much common ground with these people the nudge of a finger on the tiller, to mix a metaphor, can have large effect. If they adopt a resolution antithetical to your own views then just walk away.
Ignoring, for a moment, the question of affiliation and/or support of the Occupy movement I want to suggest that you find a chance to observe your group’s “General Assembly” in action. Seeing the “people’s microphone” in action and watching the process crawl along is an amazing thing – the so-called people’s mic is an elegant solution to the lack of amplification and a gathering of free citizens engaged in debate and deliberative assembly is a beautiful thing.
As the kids are saying these days, “This is what democracy looks like.”
Well Said Rick!
Nice post, Rick, they are being arrested now, in Portland and New York, Oakland and soon other places. This takes Sheriffs, State Troupers, people needed to book them in, Prosecutors, defense attornies, Judges, Court Reporters, NewsPeople, lots of people. Maybe enough eventually to help the unemployment situation? Theoretically we are governed by consent. I hope someone is listening. The police too are a part of the 99%. They can’t feel good about doing their jobs.
Michael Moore is now occupying in Oakland… I’m thinking he’s pretty much a wanna-be 99%. I know he sees a lot of money to be made in getting involved.