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Fire Walk With Me
Fire Walk With Me's Journal
Fire Walk With Me's Journal
December 14, 2011
From a Sept. 17th speech in Wisconsin, having great difficulty choosing only three paragraphs to post:
As a result of the greed, the recklessness, and the illegal behavior of the crooks on Wall Street who caused this recession, more than 16 percent of our people are unemployed: twenty-five million Americans. That percentage is even higher for minorities, for young people, for blue collar workers. Today, millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages. From Vermont to Wisconsin to California, there are workers who do have jobs but who are earning substantially less than they earned twenty years ago. Can you appreciate what it’s like for somebody to be struggling year after year after year and now at the age of fifty or sixty to be earning substantially less than they were twenty years ago? Do you know why the American people are angry? That’s why they’re angry.
You know why Wall Street and the anti-government crowd hate Social Security? They hate Social Security because it has succeeded in doing exactly what it was supposed to have done. It is a huge success story. Before Social Security, 50 percent of the seniors in this country lived in poverty. Today, it is only 10 percent.
Despair is not an option. I know you get angry, I know you get frustrated, I know you get disgusted. But we don’t have the right not to be involved.
Bernie Sanders: Despair is not an option!
http://www.progressive.org/senator_bernie_sanders.htmlFrom a Sept. 17th speech in Wisconsin, having great difficulty choosing only three paragraphs to post:
As a result of the greed, the recklessness, and the illegal behavior of the crooks on Wall Street who caused this recession, more than 16 percent of our people are unemployed: twenty-five million Americans. That percentage is even higher for minorities, for young people, for blue collar workers. Today, millions of Americans are working longer hours for lower wages. From Vermont to Wisconsin to California, there are workers who do have jobs but who are earning substantially less than they earned twenty years ago. Can you appreciate what it’s like for somebody to be struggling year after year after year and now at the age of fifty or sixty to be earning substantially less than they were twenty years ago? Do you know why the American people are angry? That’s why they’re angry.
You know why Wall Street and the anti-government crowd hate Social Security? They hate Social Security because it has succeeded in doing exactly what it was supposed to have done. It is a huge success story. Before Social Security, 50 percent of the seniors in this country lived in poverty. Today, it is only 10 percent.
Despair is not an option. I know you get angry, I know you get frustrated, I know you get disgusted. But we don’t have the right not to be involved.
December 14, 2011
More than 20 Occupy Boston protesters appeared in a Boston courtroom today to face trespassing and resisting arrest charges filed when police moved in early Saturday morning and evicted them from their Dewey Square encampment.
During the police action, which brought a peaceful end to the 72-day occupation of a slice of the Greenway by Occupy Boston, demonstrators linked their arms in an effort to slow their removal by police.
Suffolk County prosecutors dropped the resisting arrest charges for most of the protesters, provided they agreed to plead guilty to trespassing and be sentenced to one year of probation.
Occupy Boston protesters arraigned in court; most sentenced to one year of probation
http://www.boston.com/Boston/metrodesk/2011/12/occupy-boston-protesters-due-court-today/u1Sbt2nKFJMg5imG2KAqdN/index.html?p1=News_linksMore than 20 Occupy Boston protesters appeared in a Boston courtroom today to face trespassing and resisting arrest charges filed when police moved in early Saturday morning and evicted them from their Dewey Square encampment.
During the police action, which brought a peaceful end to the 72-day occupation of a slice of the Greenway by Occupy Boston, demonstrators linked their arms in an effort to slow their removal by police.
Suffolk County prosecutors dropped the resisting arrest charges for most of the protesters, provided they agreed to plead guilty to trespassing and be sentenced to one year of probation.
December 14, 2011
Truly. Those who argue that something cannot be done
should not get in the way of those doing it.
December 14, 2011
Courtesy of #Occupy Los Angeles on FB.
Goldman Sachs dropped five points on Dec. 12. The day of the port actions.
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/ta?s=GS+Basic+Tech.+Analysis&t=5dCourtesy of #Occupy Los Angeles on FB.
December 14, 2011
POSTED: December 13, 10:11 AM ET
I almost shed tears of pride this morning when I read this hilarious passage in the Daily News:
Earlier Monday, about 300 protesters in squid costumes surged outside the offices of Goldman Sachs investment bank shouting, "We fry calamari!" and "Everyone pays their tax – everyone but Goldman, Sachs!"
I wish someone had called me – I would have loved to have attended this "Let's Go Squidding" expedition. Folks, if you do this again, please let me know, and I promise to put some serious man-hours into designing a squid costume. As it is, I'd like to see in person some of the ones that turned out yesterday, especially that giant papier-mâché-looking thing I seem to see in the News photo. Whoever made that thing, if you're out there, please contact me.
Matt Taibbi: Occupy Wall Street: The 'Squidding' of Goldman, Sachs
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/occupy-wall-street-the-squidding-of-goldman-sachs-20111213#ixzz1gShlgdFrPOSTED: December 13, 10:11 AM ET
I almost shed tears of pride this morning when I read this hilarious passage in the Daily News:
Earlier Monday, about 300 protesters in squid costumes surged outside the offices of Goldman Sachs investment bank shouting, "We fry calamari!" and "Everyone pays their tax – everyone but Goldman, Sachs!"
I wish someone had called me – I would have loved to have attended this "Let's Go Squidding" expedition. Folks, if you do this again, please let me know, and I promise to put some serious man-hours into designing a squid costume. As it is, I'd like to see in person some of the ones that turned out yesterday, especially that giant papier-mâché-looking thing I seem to see in the News photo. Whoever made that thing, if you're out there, please contact me.
December 13, 2011
-------
Taking a stand, California Sheriffs unite to support the Constitution (Video):
December 13, 2011 Category: Occupy Police
This has been ongoing for over a month, and their support is growing locally in California, America is falling apart, corrupt politicians and federal agencies are undermining our nation! Now is the time to right the wrongs. – OcPo
http://www.occupypolice.org/2011/12/13/taking-a-stand-california-sheriffs-unite-stand-against-the-feds-in-support-of-the-constitution-ows-ocpo/
Occupy Police
http://www.occupypolice.org/-------
Taking a stand, California Sheriffs unite to support the Constitution (Video):
December 13, 2011 Category: Occupy Police
This has been ongoing for over a month, and their support is growing locally in California, America is falling apart, corrupt politicians and federal agencies are undermining our nation! Now is the time to right the wrongs. – OcPo
http://www.occupypolice.org/2011/12/13/taking-a-stand-california-sheriffs-unite-stand-against-the-feds-in-support-of-the-constitution-ows-ocpo/
December 13, 2011
Posted at 10:59 AM ET, 12/13/2011
The African American clergy and civil rights leaders will announce their decision to join the Occupy movement starting a sub-project called ‘Occupy the Dream’ on Wednesday.
As Occupy D.C. flourishes, more participants join the cause. Jamal Bryant and Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. will join the clergy in their efforts with the ‘Occupy the Dream’ project.
Bryant, known as the millenium minister, also worked for the NAACP and founded the Empowerment Temple Church in Baltimore. Chavis has a history working in the civil rights movement.
(thank you anoncircle)
Occupy D.C. expands to black churches
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/occupy-dc-expands-to-black-churches/2011/12/13/gIQAseJtrO_blog.htmlPosted at 10:59 AM ET, 12/13/2011
The African American clergy and civil rights leaders will announce their decision to join the Occupy movement starting a sub-project called ‘Occupy the Dream’ on Wednesday.
As Occupy D.C. flourishes, more participants join the cause. Jamal Bryant and Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. will join the clergy in their efforts with the ‘Occupy the Dream’ project.
Bryant, known as the millenium minister, also worked for the NAACP and founded the Empowerment Temple Church in Baltimore. Chavis has a history working in the civil rights movement.
(thank you anoncircle)
December 13, 2011
Listeners can vote by dialing on their phone's keypad.
Hundreds of people can listen and vote at the same time.
People's Skype can also help in special cases, like
communicating across police barriers or kettled areas.
(Thank you anoncircle)
A phone-powered, distributed voice and voting system for the #Occupy Movement
http://www.peoplesskype.org/Listeners can vote by dialing on their phone's keypad.
Hundreds of people can listen and vote at the same time.
People's Skype can also help in special cases, like
communicating across police barriers or kettled areas.
(Thank you anoncircle)
December 13, 2011
“Get out of my face. I have a gun, and I don’t need people up in my face like this.”
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2011 6:02 AM Pacific Standard Time
Busted for tweeting
Police escalation in New York as my brother and 17 other people are arrested for observing an occupation
A cop pulled me up by my shoulders and told me to step back. I said, “He’s my brother.” Several cops pushed me away as I asked, “What is he being arrested for? He was taking pictures.” A cop said, “He didn’t produce an official press pass, so that means he was resisting arrest.” I quite literally didn’t understand, so I said, “What?” At that point, the same cop said, “If you don’t step back immediately, you will be arrested too.”
I was pushed behind a line of police. I stood there, several inches from them, and heard myself saying, “Why are you doing this?”
A protester next to me was yelling at the cops, something about free speech or unnecessary force or any number of logical things to say at a time like this; I was too distracted to pay attention. But then, an officer said to him, “Get out of my face. I have a gun, and I don’t need people up in my face like this.”
http://www.salon.com/2011/12/13/busted_for_tweeting/
December 13, 2011
The end of the beginning, on moving forward: Three points regarding #Occupy
"...Los Angeles, though, was different. No tear gas here: our elected representatives wanted us to be comfortable. That was the idea, anyway. It was a bit frustrating for those of us who felt that if it meant anything at all, “occupying” would have to entail some degree of actual confrontation, would mean taking things the authorities would never freely give, would mean placing oneself openly at odds with a system bent on destroying or selling off everything we value about ourselves and one another. (“We are not protesting,” wrote Egyptian activists in an October 24 letter of solidarity to the American movement. “Who is there to protest to? What could we ask them for that they could grant?”) The local authorities made this difficult. They wanted so badly to be our friends! They provided port-a-potties and ponchos. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s smile was bright enough to light 1,000 General Assembly meetings, even if they dragged past midnight every night.
Let it be remembered that early in October, in the springtime of L.A.’s occupation, City Council President Eric Garcetti toured the encampment, telling the occupiers, 'This is your City Hall … Stay as long as you need.' (In recent days, he has made himself scarce.) Councilman Bill Rosendahl was out there hugging activists. The full council unanimously approved a resolution asserting that 'our economic system can only be called broken,' went on to lay out the gory and vicious details of that brokenness in more than a dozen paragraphs, and concluded by declaring that 'the City of Los Angeles hereby stands in SUPPORT for the continuation of the peaceful and vibrant exercise in First Amendment Rights carried out by ‘Occupy Los Angeles.’' Even Councilwoman Jan Perry, who has for a decade been working to shove the homeless off of downtown streets, signed on.
...
Second, even the most refined manners will not be rewarded. For all of Occupy L.A.’s efforts to remain in the good graces of the police and the City Council, the camp here suffered the same fate as less courteous occupations elsewhere in the country: tents slashed and destroyed, the park fenced off, the more courageous and stubborn activists dragged away, cuffed with zip ties and bused out of sight. It doesn’t matter how many hoops you jump through, how many permits you apply for, how many health and safety inspections you undergo: they don’t want you here. They don’t want to see you, don’t want to hear your voice. Nationwide, the message has been as consistent as it has been clear: there is no room for genuine political protest in the United States. The First Amendment makes for excellent PR, but should you be fool enough to take it seriously, you will eventually find yourself staring at your own reflection in the face shield of a riot cop. Whether you ask for permission or not."
"..there is no room for genuine political protest in the United States."
http://lareviewofbooks.org/post/14166612465/the-end-of-the-beginningThe end of the beginning, on moving forward: Three points regarding #Occupy
"...Los Angeles, though, was different. No tear gas here: our elected representatives wanted us to be comfortable. That was the idea, anyway. It was a bit frustrating for those of us who felt that if it meant anything at all, “occupying” would have to entail some degree of actual confrontation, would mean taking things the authorities would never freely give, would mean placing oneself openly at odds with a system bent on destroying or selling off everything we value about ourselves and one another. (“We are not protesting,” wrote Egyptian activists in an October 24 letter of solidarity to the American movement. “Who is there to protest to? What could we ask them for that they could grant?”) The local authorities made this difficult. They wanted so badly to be our friends! They provided port-a-potties and ponchos. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s smile was bright enough to light 1,000 General Assembly meetings, even if they dragged past midnight every night.
Let it be remembered that early in October, in the springtime of L.A.’s occupation, City Council President Eric Garcetti toured the encampment, telling the occupiers, 'This is your City Hall … Stay as long as you need.' (In recent days, he has made himself scarce.) Councilman Bill Rosendahl was out there hugging activists. The full council unanimously approved a resolution asserting that 'our economic system can only be called broken,' went on to lay out the gory and vicious details of that brokenness in more than a dozen paragraphs, and concluded by declaring that 'the City of Los Angeles hereby stands in SUPPORT for the continuation of the peaceful and vibrant exercise in First Amendment Rights carried out by ‘Occupy Los Angeles.’' Even Councilwoman Jan Perry, who has for a decade been working to shove the homeless off of downtown streets, signed on.
...
Second, even the most refined manners will not be rewarded. For all of Occupy L.A.’s efforts to remain in the good graces of the police and the City Council, the camp here suffered the same fate as less courteous occupations elsewhere in the country: tents slashed and destroyed, the park fenced off, the more courageous and stubborn activists dragged away, cuffed with zip ties and bused out of sight. It doesn’t matter how many hoops you jump through, how many permits you apply for, how many health and safety inspections you undergo: they don’t want you here. They don’t want to see you, don’t want to hear your voice. Nationwide, the message has been as consistent as it has been clear: there is no room for genuine political protest in the United States. The First Amendment makes for excellent PR, but should you be fool enough to take it seriously, you will eventually find yourself staring at your own reflection in the face shield of a riot cop. Whether you ask for permission or not."
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Gender: MaleCurrent location: Los Angeles
Member since: Sat Apr 9, 2005, 09:20 PM
Number of posts: 38,893
