To OWS: Its time to do it the San Francisco way and hit them where it

[RandySF]

I hit them where it hurts. Now they are doing the job they were supposed to be doing a long time ago. A few days ago, I posted (http://journals.democraticunderground.com/RandySF/375) my experience in dealing with the bullying problem at my son's elementary school during certain periods of the day. At first I played the game. I talked to the teacher first, but when my son told me that the problem was during lunch recess, I talked to the principal. When the situation escalated and I saw the principal took little or no new action to solve the issue, I still followed "protocol" by writing a second letter copied to the school district. But when it looked like everyone was still determined to drag their feet, I decided to take it one step further. I posted a review on Yelp and another site warner parents to think twice about selecting the school. I knew it could have resulted in lower enrollment, but I decided to go to the wall for my son and the other kids.

So I hit them where it hurts.

The end result was a meeting with the principal and PTC president and a brand new school-wide safety program in which they are now instructing the kids on what is and is not acceptable conduct during the day and instructing the staff what they should look out for. Whereas I once saw an entire bench of kids with ice packs on their heads, I see the occasional mid-yard collision (no school is accident=proof). You might ask why I did not just pull him out of the school. Why should I? It's a good school academically. The teachers are wonderful. It's in walking distance (we do not have a car). Why should they make me move when they should be the ones to move their asses and do what they were supposed to do in the first place?

Yesterday, Occupy SF did the same thing (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sf-occupy-20111117,0,5764736.story). They took over a Bank of America branch and shut it down to bring attention to the fact that one top executive sits on the UC Board and voted to raise tuition (probably to force more families to take out additional mortgages) and persuade her to stop doing so. The goal has not been realized, but it put the City, SFPD, the Financial District and the local media into a tizzy.

People were arrested, but they hit them where it hurts.

The first wave of occupations were important and brought attention to the 99%, but it's time to leave the parks, fill the schools, city halls, sidewalks and bank branches. Withdraw your money from BOA. Picket businesses that contribute to right wing Republicans. Remember how they wanted to ignore the AIDS epidemic until ACT UP got involved? I will probably be on our principal's shit list until Middle School, but she got the message that I know where to throw elbows. Occupy SF knows. Now it's time for the rest of the 99% to follow our lead.

[Laelth]

1. k&r for right action. n/t

-Laelth