"Can we say America is still a democracy what with the rich ruling nearly everything?"

For democracy, as a system, to work it requires an educated and participatory populace that can take responsibility for making the decisions that affect their lives. The United States of America is lauded as the birthplace and cradle of such democracy. Unfortunately, this is at least a misunderstanding and at worse an outright lie. 

For nearly 250 years men such as Adams, Jefferson, and Hamilton have been worshipped as heroes of democratic ideals. However, it is traditionally understated that the ideas that they propagated such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness would only be available to landowners. 18th century translation: the Constitution would guarantee inalienable rights only to old slave-holding white men. The ideas of freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were not guaranteed to every person. As a matter of fact they only granted these "god given" rights to white males. Privilege and oppression are not the ingredients of a democracy. Only equality serves as an acceptable base. 

But what about the rest of American history? Didn't past governments amend the Constitution to grant voting rights to women, people of color, and non-land holders? On the surface yes. But as the system became more complex so did the power dynamics. Without equality of opportunity granting voting rights is a moot point. Old white men still dominated the legislature and the government and thereby created the laws. 

And as if cultural oppression were not enough we have the money factor. After the Great Depression lawmakers passed an act called Glass-Steagall which kept investment banks separate from public depositors. The idea behind such legislation was to keep our democracy in tact and keep mafia-like banksters from controlling the direction of society. By limiting their gambling ability such laws kept a check and balance on corporate power. But corporate power rose from the grave of crippling legislation as any undead heartless monster would and lobbied a repeal of the law. 

Beginning with the advent of the puppet President Ronald Reagan- and possibly even back as far as Richard Nixon- big banks and corporate interests have been given the ear and will of the government. Reagan "unleashed the bull" and Clinton repealed Glass-Steagall. Between these two events big banks and economic power houses were given carte blanche permission to regulate and rule themselves. In essence, they were granted independence. Now we all know how these ludicrous and bone-headed policies have ruined the world economy and plunged us into a global recession but how do they relate to our supposed democracy? 

The old saying goes whoever has the gold makes the rules. In an age of mass media and instant connectivity influence is sheltered under the umbrella of profit. And since banks, corporations, and the rich have systematically dismantled the mechanisms in place to prevent the concentration of wealth, the top 1% of income earners in US own most of the wealth. Which means they control the means of government, economics, and education. After the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling- which allows corporations, organizations, and individuals to give unlimited campaign contributions anonymously- the power grab was complete. They have the gold; they make the rules. 

So can we continue to live in a democracy? What democracy? This country was founded upon privilege and oppression. The ivory tower of our ideals was built on the backs of slaves, the working, and the poor. We never had a democracy. However, that is not to say that we couldn't have one. Ideas such as equality, freedom, and liberty are not unobtainable abstractions. They are achievable goals. However, we cannot look to the past for a roadmap to a democratic future. The rich and the powerful have owned this country since its inception. We live in an aristocratic oligarchy masqueraded as a two-party system. But if we commit ourselves to the core values of human dignity for everyone, compassion, integrity, and justice then we can begin to chart a map to a truly democratic future. But wide is the road to folly. To obtain such goals we must all- in our communities and in our society- commit ourselves to the narrow path of equality and cast off the old ways of division, fear, and hatred. 

The United States of America never was a democracy. But if we rise up, throw off our yokes, and unite, then we can create the future we want to live in. Democracy has never given: it must be earned. 

#NATGAT: A Debrief

The sun beat down. It was hot. Sweat beaded off of our heads and bodies as physical proof of the hard work we were all putting in. We gave ourselves over to it. We didnʼt sleep. We didnʼt eat. We traded in our well-being for the good of the group. It worked. The National Gathering (NATGAT) was a time of peace, love, and democracy for everyone gathered in Philadelphia on the week of the 4th of July.

From Seattle to Quebec, Arizona to Kalamazoo, and New York to Madrid, Occupiers came together from the four corners of the country and farther to spend 5 days in the supposed “cradle of liberty”. We came together to discuss the future of our lives, our movement, and our world. These days were organized and divided up into what could be referred to as an Un-Conference model. Blocks of time were structured and purposefully left open for anyone or any group to bring their passion, experience, and ideas to the wider movement. Meet-ups and workshops were on display from subjects ranging from police repression to urban farming to money out of politics. As I meandered through the camp throughout the week I heard such sentiments as: “I never thought of that” or “I canʼt wait to take this back home.” Put simply: we created a space – a public space – for dialogue to happen. And it did. 

Complimenting this open model, the Education/Speakers sub-committee of the National Gathering Working Group (NGWG) reached out and invited renowned speakers such as Matt Taibbi, Madea Benjamin, Chris Hedges, and local Occupy hero Captain Ray Lewis to compliment speakers from around the movement such as Brandi Williams of Colorado, Amalia Montoya of (un)Occupy Albuquerque, and Dani Alvarez-Gavela of the 15M movement in Madrid. These heroines and heroes braved long distances and heat to come share their thoughts, dreams, and criticisms of the movement in a peaceful and open context. I think we all left a little more enlightened by their words and their passion.

Secondly, in a world where we are told to eat the dog that stands in the way of your dinner, people who come from varying and divergent tribes, cultures, and tongues sat down at the table of sister-and-brotherhood together. All of us broke bread together. The power and significance of this cannot be understated. It is a sign of an evolution of human consciousness to share in spite of our traditional, or taught, divisions. For five days, three meals a day were cooked and served by a humbly self-sacrificing food team dedicated to providing nutritious – and oftʼ times vegan – food for all. Given that our number one vision was “Clean Water, Food, and Air” it should not go unnoticed that we were indeed exhibiting the change we want to see in the world.

Not everything was learning, teaching, and eating. One of the hallmarks of our movement is our annex of the streets. When reality is virtual and the vast majority of people in America get their worldview inserted into their bloodstream through the IV of TV, it becomes necessary to remind them of the decaying organic matter of the real world around them. NATGAT would not let this moment pass un-marched. So we hit the streets. Several demonstrations were organized from large group marches for corporate and bank accountability – against such criminals as Wells Fargo, Verizon, Comcast, Fox News, Fannie Mae, and the US Mint – to smaller more targeted actions against UBS bank, the student debt crisis, jail solidarity, and the prison-industrial complex. Some of which were coordinated in solidarity with local community unions and organizations such as the Poor Peopleʼs Economic & Human Rights Campaign, ACT UP!, and local CWA union 132. While we did not bring out a drove of 35,000 like our sisters and brethren in New York, we did execute the majority of these actions responsibly and effectively with safety, legal, and logistical support: sometimes with numbers upward of 800+. The lessons we have learned over the past 10 months were put on display for the people of Philadelphia and the country. And they heard us loud and clear.

Speaking of the lessons learned, I think it would be prudent to speak to the organization and logistical support of the NGWG. In the interest of transparency to those reading this little essay, I want to be perfectly clear that I was a part of the NGWG and involved in most of the planning and execution of the Gathering so my opinion will be biased towards the group. However, that does not preclude my assessment from being honest, intimate and useful for future endeavors. Logistics planning for the NATGAT began around mid-April. It was whispered by many that planning and pulling off a national convergence of the Occupy movement could not be done in two-and-a-half months. Had we not had the benefit of a 15K grant from the Movement Resource Group1, they may have been right. Nevertheless, folks from all over the country – 50ish assemblies at that point – decided that they wanted to gather in Philadelphia, so the NGWG jumped on that desire and rode it all the way to July.

A full description of my involvement in this particular group deserves an essay all its own (forthcoming) but suffice it to say that people all over the country – and in Philly specifically – put their souls into making sure that we could create a safe space for all of the aforementioned events and activities to take place. We divided into sub-committees, worked autonomously in a trustworthy and accountable manner, and – with a good deal of stress I must admit – executed our plans. When safety issues came up: they were dealt with. When the aggression of the Federal Parks Service was inordinate and excessive: we re-grouped and were given refuge by the Quakers at the Friendʼs Meeting House at 4th and Arch. When we pushed ourselves to the breaking point, we overcame. Through sheer force of will and the support of a loving community we lifted each other up and empowered each other to create and implement solutions. Problems are only problems when no one has the will to create solutions together. When the NGWG encountered stumbling blocks we stopped, centered ourselves, reached out the hand of friendship for support, and leaped over them together.

Another lesson learned that is worth considering – is the response and cooperation of the Philadelphia police department (PPD). It is worth noting that Occupiers attended the NATGAT from cities that have suffered from true police repression. Folks from Oakland could probably still smell the tear gas that is forever burned into their nostrils, some New Yorkers are so used to being harassed that they expect it, and tears still stream from the eyes of those burned with pepper spray. NATGAT did not have to deal with any of it. Though we had to take an arrest at the hands of the Punchy Parkʼs Service , which admittedly was backed up by the PPD Strike Force, most of the Gathering was calm and agreeable. When I asked Captain Steve Glenn, the head of Philadelphiaʼs “Civil Affairs Unit – a unit dedicated to “protecting the rights of protestors” – to move a rank of Strike Force bike police away from our camp to keep the tension down he acquiesced. When “Cowboy” Moen – the lead Park Service Ranger and aggressor from the 2nd Bank Repression – threatened the safety of the Veteranʼs for Peace tent at Independence Mall, I asked Capt. Glenn to get “Cowboy” under the express supervision of his superior due to his erratic behavior. What was his response? He did it and “Cowboy” stood down.

Lastly, there was the incident on our July 4th nighttime march to Love Park. There were two shootings – unrelated to Occupyʼs march and activities – that happened in the middle of our route at 15th and 16th streets. The streets and Love Park were blocked off with PPD Strike Force, motorcycles, and horses. So here we had 700+ people marching directly into a crime scene with a line of armed officers directly in their wake. (Now keep in mind the Occupiers from Oakland, New York, and Chicago get really apprehensive about marching into a police line.) But the PPD did a responsible thing. They came and informed me of the situation – since I was a marshal on the march and said “[X happened] so we canʼt go to Love Park. Weʼll block off the streets so you can go wherever you want to go but we canʼt go to the park.” While this caused a great deal of confusion and anxiety (the former for the marchers and the latter for me) we centered ourselves, gathered our heads, and marched to Thomas Paine plaza – a municipal services building across the street from Love Park – and had a community assembly to decide what to do next. The march ended with the people of Philadelphia rallying around our message and our passion at the fountain of Logan Sq. Those same people then marched back to camp with in solidarity. Community, healthy skepticism, respect, and cooperation led to order out of chaos. We proved we could handle ourselves. I think the NYPD, OPD, CPD, Federal Parkʼs Service and countless other irrationally aggressive police forces could learn a lesson from our NATGAT.

Lastly, it is paramount to discuss the July 4th visioning process. The idea behind putting energy into creating a collective vision at the NATGAT was twofold: 1) to create a process in which every voice could be equally heard in an efficient and effective way while at the same time providing the space for common visions to be coalesced into themes that can be replicated anywhere and 2) to create a vision from all those who participated, providing an example of our version of the future to an anxious world grasping for hope. To that end the Visioning sub-committee spent hours, days, and weeks trying to troubleshoot the process so that a) it would work and b) it would provide an example that could be taken up as a mantle in the wider world.

Around 200+ people chose to rally around this idea. So after an introduction from some wonderful people which included a moment of silence for the Lenape people (the native occupiers of the Pennsylvania area), an exploration of what “Independence” and “freedom” mean to marginalized communities in the context of the 4th, and a history of the NATGAT, we dove headfirst into the waters of democracy. It took alot longer than we anticipated but thatʼs because it worked. It takes a good deal of time for people to express their hopes and dreams and then see, out of the context of argument and debate, where they have common ground with others. In a country that praises and lauds itself (and I have even used the language in this essay) as the “cradle of liberty,” we are critically ill in this regard. Folks engaged in the visioning process because they believe that democracy – real true direct participatory democracy – is not only possible but also the better way. Some may call it naïve or “pie in the sky” but to those people I ask you: what is your vision? And why have you not shared it with us? It is no coincidence that No. 5 on our list of visions was “a culture of direct democracy.” People want to engage each other. It is in our D.N.A.

It seems to me that people came to NATGAT because they want to work together on a national scale but we realized that the only way to achieve such goals is to have a strategy. The only way to develop a strategy is to develop goals. The only way to develop goals is to have a vision. In this movement we value community so we in keeping with our principles we value community vision. Through the NATGAT visioning process we now have a way to organically develop our visions so we can organically develop our goals and strategies. I encourage everyone: try it. See what democracy looks like.

 Finally, I think we should zoom out and take a view of the NATGAT from 10,000 feet. What was it? What did we accomplish? Where could we have improved? A lot of these questions will be answered in time by the attendees, the media, and you. But from my perspective the NATGAT was a tremendous success. We, in the NGWG, sought out to create a space where Occupiers from all over the country and the world could come and feel safe to discuss a better future and explore goals, strategies, and campaigns to achieve it. And, again, it cannot be understated that we broke bread together. People from a myriad of cultures and backgrounds were able to come under one roof (the sky is the roof) and explore working together. Our vision and our gathering is proof that we can... and we did.

Larry Swetman
Occupy Philly
National Gathering Working Group
InterOccupy

“The Occupy Movement and its relation to the 99%”

This is an open invitation to the 99% to stand in solidarity with the Occupy Movement.

Good people of the world,

The corporate financial government is not acting in the best interest of the people and it is time for a new system. In this new system the people participate in real democracy and make decisions together, not at the hands of the rich and powerful. However, the power structure will not collapse without a fight. Everyday people must wake up and realize the extent to which the elite of the world have rolled the dice with their livelihoods and left life or death decisions in the hands of those who would seek profit over the good of humanity. It is the mission and goal of the Occupy Movement, as I understand it, to bring balance to this toppling system. We wish to create a world where the fruits of the earth are given for the people’s good and not held in escrow to the highest bidder. We want a world where every man, woman, and child has access to a good and healthy life. People over profits – that’s what we believe. But we can only accomplish this goal with the help of all of the 99%.

Not everyone can come to a protest in the streets. The vast majority of the 99% are busy working ungodly hours trying to provide food, shelter, education and healthcare for their children. These folks do not have access to the Movement. They are busy with real life. But there is no reason why we cannot support each other. Be assured young mother the protester in the street fights for you. Now can we find a way to work together? I propose a broad spectrum of support from individuals to small business to even sympathetic corporations. Take a stand. Take a small little step. When you are treated unfairly stand us against your oppressor. Demand your dignity. We live in a country that is flouted for its commitment to free speech. Let your voice be heard wherever you are. Speak out against the unfairness that is vested upon you by your enemy. With every stand that is taken against unfairness and oppression we are all one-step closer to a new day.

You see the Global People’s Movement is about self-empowerment and taking back control of our own destinies. For too long we have had our lives dictated to us by the rich and powerful. We have served as indentured servants to a richer class for hundreds of years and finally people all over the world are sick of it. One day we will all wake up and realize the extent to which corporate greed and influence have affected our daily lives. On that day the people will hit the streets. Until then we must stand in solidarity where we are.

Empower yourself. Take control of your lives back from the system. Refuse to pay the banks their unfair interest rates. Take back your houses when they are foreclosed on. Take your money out of the big banks. Refuse to pay your student loans. Stop using credit cards. Buy local produce. Spend time with your children. Ride bicycles. Carpool. Exercise. Create things instead of consuming them. Every step we take away from the corporation and the power structure is one step closer to a true revolution.
Let the worker demand equal pay. Let the mother and father demand time for her family. Let the parent demand their child be fed and medical needs met. Let the soldier refuse to fight an unjust war. Let the teacher be paid and appreciated for their dedication. Let the oil man produce green energy, Let the politician choke on their broken promises. Let every person wherever they are take a stand for fairness and equality.

The Occupy Movement stands in solidarity the worker, the teacher, the student, the unemployed, the hurting, the destitute, and the weak. We are protesting and fighting for your rights and the future of your children We stand is solidarity with you. Now we ask you to stand in solidarity with us.
The fight in the streets must be complimented by broad participation in a paradigm shift. We must begin making decisions to empower ourselves. Together, there is no limit to what we can accomplish. But it will take everyone. The Occupy Movement is calling to the 99%: stand with us.

Yours Truly, Larry Swetman

Anxiety in the US or One More Rodeo with Iran

The current state of anxiety in the US and the Middle East regarding a potential military strike on Iran is well warranted. The Israeli government seems committed to, if not longing for, a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. However, surgical strikes on Iranian facilities are not as easy as attacking other Middle Eastern targets. Iranian nuclear sites are spread across the entire country and most of the facilities are under ground. So even the most precise bombings could not guarantee that the sites would be damaged beyond repair. Even more so damaging their technological capabilities would only at best delay their pursuit of a bomb; not suppress the program. On the contrary, a military strike could signal the beginning of a nuclear arms race in the region, which would only heighten tensions and incentivize Iran to redouble their efforts.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Any military intervention on sovereign soil is assured to prompt an immediate response. Israeli cities will almost certainly be dealt blows from a retaliatory strike from Tehran. While Iran's military capabilities are not as modernized as Israel's, lives will still be lost. Also, a strike also risks increased motivation for radical groups such as Al-Qaeda to step up their efforts in planning attacks on American soil. Israel and the United States are inextricably linked in the Persian government's mind and an attack from one is an attack from both. After all where is the "little Satan" without help from the "great Satan?" If Israel attacks then the US attacks as well – whether we like it or not.

However, American complicity does not necessitate American intervention. President Obama has been correct to use the rhetoric he has been using. As Teddy Roosevelt said, "speak softly but carry a big stick." The President has extended the hand of friendship to Israel in its dealing with Iran's ambitions but he is reticent (thank the heavens) to commit to any military intervention. Instead, he has spent his time urging the international community to step up economic sanctions. While these are temporary measures to a more permanent regime problem, they do offer an alternative to bloodshed.

The cultural and socio-political context of Israeli-Iranian relations offers the biggest indicator of intention from the Israeli perspective. During a recent interview in the White House both President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu exhibited less than cordial conversation about the topic. Sure, they exchanged pleasantries and smiled for the cameras but one could not miss the slyly indignant, and somewhat condescending, tone of Mr. Netanyahu toward Pres. Obama when he stressed that Israel had "the right to defend itself." (It is no secret that there is no love lost between the Israeli PM and the President.) Mr. Obama, wisely in this reporter's opinion, has been quick to speak and slow to act. Military force should always be a last resort and Mr. Obama is doing a good job, for appearances sake at the very least, of leaning on sanctions and international pressure. But Iran may yet do it for him.

Iran, in an attempt to institute energy-crippling measures on the west, has already stopped oil delivery to France and Germany. Additionally, they have threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping channel out of the Middle East. Consequently, fear and speculation are already playing a role in the global oil price. Their goal, it would seem, is to threaten the world with oil price inflation. They reason that if they could disrupt the flow of oil in and out of the Middle East then they can cripple the world economy. However, Iran has not thought this one through.

By shutting down oil delivery to certain European countries, Iran is effectively starving their own economy of 60% of its GDP, which comes from oil and gas exports in addition to risking a US-Israeli attack. Iran is simply out of options. While Iran, as a sovereign nation, has the right to pursue whatever course of action it chooses, international socio-economic pressure is going to either squeeze the country so hard they will have no choice but to acquiesce or pursue a radical course of retaliation.

The US policy should be one of passive resistance. Continue pressing Iran with economic sanctions and let them implement their own counters. The west will suffer from an increase in oil prices and heightened tension with Israel but we will also avoid another prolonged conflict which will costs billions of dollars and sacrifice many more lives. Have we not learned out lessons in Iraq? Afghanistan?

War is not the solution. Even if an American-Israeli coalition wiped the Iranian nuclear program off the face of the Earth they would still rebuild. They would still pursue the desires of their hearts. Conflict and violence only exacerbate and prolong these issues. If a real solution is to be reached it will have to come willingly from the people and government of Iran. Outside military intervention will only raise the stakes. Energy yields energy. The American government needs to be very careful where it puts its energy because we will reap what we sow.

PAN invite

Inter-Assembly List and Global Newswire

This is an invitation to join our Inter-Assembly Newswire project. It’s being run by team members from Occupy/15M/PAN in the USA, Spain and London. Please read the following information, and ask your Assembly's external and international communications workgroups (or equivalent) to subscribe and participate.
There are two aspects to this project: (1) the global email list and (2) the decentralised blog-link, or global newswire. We are excited about the newswire which allows you to 'news tag' your local blog posts for people to follow and receive your news at the global level. Both platforms are designed to maintain local assembly autonomy while also establishing clean lines of inter-assembly communication, and are open-source so can be utilised on other sites. You may subscribe to one or both (we recommend both so we can monitor and make improvements).

Participation in the Email List requires only that your local workgroup (i) subscribe and (ii) considers what assembly-endorsed messages to post there [*]. Individuals may also subscribe, but only as observers.

Participation in the Decentralised Blog-link/Global Newswire requires that you (i) set up a new posting category (on your local blog) and (ii) send us the RSS feed. Similar posting guidelines apply to both platforms [*].

Both are therefore simple to set up. More detailed info on the platforms, and how to participate is as follows:

(1) Email List

A strictly moderated Assemblies-Only (ie. noise-free) email list[**], and linked open source newswire. Subscribe individually as an observer or, to obtain posting rights subscribe using your official assembly workgroup email address (be ready to verify this, in the interests of transparency).

Subscribe here:

https://lists.takethesquare.net/mailman/listinfo/assemblies ( please ignore security warning )
[**] Every post will also appear on a dedicated blog-space [location, to be confirmed] as part of the global newswire. Further info on this platform is set out (in ENG/FR/ESP/IT) at: http://www.peoplesassemblies.org/2012/02/assemblies-only-email-list/

(2) Global Newswire

Once your local blog is linked in the www.peoplesassemblies.org platform will live stream blog posts designated by your external communications workgroup as of wider national or international interest while also linking global subscribers back to your local assembly blog. Streamed content will be geographically organised at the global level by continent, country and city/region and, if your local group uses news tags appropriately [see (iv) below and recommended!] also by issue / topic.

Linking your blog to the Global Newswire is simple. Here's how:

(i) Create a new, uniquely designated category on your local blog (eg 'PAN', ‘Assemblies’, ‘GA’ 'PA' or as you choose).

(ii) Register (ie send) that designated RSS feed address to us at: pan-owner@lists.takethesquare.net
(iii) Start posting under your designated category local assembly content your group deems of wider national or international interest [*] and watch it appear on the global newswire :)

IMPORTANT: Aim to News Tag designated posts by topic wherever possible. The Global Newswire will work without it, but tagging will make it much easier to organise content at the global level, so subscribers wil be able to access the assembly content they are most interested in. General tags like 'actions', 'democracy', 'economics', 'education', 'politics', 'corporations' 'global' and/or others could be used. Tagging works best if similar tags are used worldwide, so you may wish to consult http://wiki.occupy.net/wiki/Harmonized_groupings to see if there is a tag that suits before posting.
Once the above is done, whenever you locally post to the designated category (think 'newswire channel') the post will live-feed to the global site (and other sites that choose to access or mirror newswire content) appearing under continent, country, city/region and relevant topic :)

[*] Please note: posts in the designated PAN category (as with the Email list) should be

A - Text/info/projects your local assembly has endorsed

B – Text / info your local, assembly-endorsed communications group wants to broadcast to the wider world (eg communiques, minutes of meeting, call-outs, political statements etc).

More Info / Join the Team!
- We are an open working group made up of an international team of activists working in the Take the Square International, Inter-Occupy, Occupy-Net, London International Commission, People's Assemblies and the Global Square communications platforms.

- The www.peoplesassemblies.org site is being redesigned to facilitate the newswire, and this will go live when we have RSS feeds from sufficient assemblies. Our basic aim is to take the PAN project to support assemblies worldwide by enabling reliable, effective and transparent communication between all local people’s assemblies.

A link to the info in this message, plus details of our next weekly global planning meeting (to which all are invited) is at http://www.peoplesassemblies.org/newswire/

Love and Solidarity

Carolina, Larry, Dana, Ternura, Mark and the rest of the team

The Homeless in America and the Occupy Movement

Some have come to occupy for political reasons. Others have been occupying most of their lives. Since the Occupy movement began it has become increasingly apparent that one of the biggest problems in America would take center stage: homelessness. It was inevitable that the two groups of occupiers would influence each other and change the nature of the movement. From LA to New York the homeless have found a community in local occupations. However, what happens to the homeless community once initial encampments are dissolved?

Once an eviction notice was released for Occupy Philly to vacate Dilworth Plaza, our original encampment, the previously homeless population started to organize their own community. A sizable contingent of tents and resources were transferred from our original encampment to a site much farther north and out of the way. This has led to two questions: 1) what is the nature of this Occupy annex and 2) how do we continue to support them?

The original Dilworth encampment accomplished a goal it didn’t even intend: it empowered the disenfranchised of America to work together to build an infrastructure for themselves. Our working group and general assembly structure now functions as a model for this 21st century Hooverville. They have taken donated materials such as tents, tables, and pallets to assemble their own occupation. In addition to their structural emulations they also have their own councils and caucuses. They have empowered themselves with a sense of purpose, cooperation, and community, that has been absent from their normal day-to-day for years, independent of the primarily political participants of OP.

Philosophically, this raises interesting and important question: if and/or how does the centralized occupation continue to support this expansion. The movement as whole was not intended as a direct action against homelessness. It has however become a possible champion of the cause. So how do we allocate resources in a way that supports the movement as a whole and yet is fair in its donations to the sustainability of tent city annexes? We need to very concretely create a structured plan of allocations including members of both the political off-siters and the citizens of the new tent city which includes a code of conduct, stipulations of support from both sides, and a third party check and balance for accountability and transparency.

Occupy 2.0 is about to begin but we cannot leave troops in the trenches. This expansion is a victory for our movement. The hardest hit of the victims we represent have empowered themselves to create their own community. As we take the battle to the top 1% we must not leave any of the 99% behind. As the old saying goes: united we will stand but divided we will fall.

Political Pandering and The Blame Game

The US government’s recent squabble regarding the national debt ceiling has finally revealed congress for what it is: 541 prepubescent monkeys throwing shit at each other. A democracy is based in open dialogue and a mutual understanding of compromise. Rational men elected to lead the “greatest nation on Earth” should be able to wisely rise above their ideological trappings for the good of their constituents. Alas! Republicans and Democrats instead spend their time alone, masturbating at the thought of their own superiority. The debt ceiling controversy was not a national crisis; it was a game of Risk played with the lives of common men by the powerful elite.

This charade was revealed to be a farce when House majority leader Mitch McConnell proposed a measure giving the President executive privilege to raise or lower the debt ceiling. Why? Because he wanted to see the problem solved and the “crisis” averted? From the Senator’s own mouth: “The single most important thing [Republicans] want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” Millions of people’s jobs, medical care, and livelihoods were falling into the abyss of the political process while our countries leaders were playing politics. Thankfully, the American public has not turned a blind eye to Congress’ shortcomings.

In a recent New York Times/CBS News poll Congress received an 82% disapproval rating. 77% thought they acted like “spoiled children.” Even now, they cannot agree to stop wagging their genitals at each other. In response to the S&P’s degradation of the government’s credit rating John Boehner, the Speaker of the House and Republican mouthpiece, still pointed the finger at the Democrats. "It is my hope this wake-up call will convince Washington Democrats that they can no longer afford to tinker around the edges of our long-term debt problem.” The Republicans have suffered the greatest PR blow in this debacle and still they preach their Reaganesque mantras of tax cuts and smaller government. But nowhere has this cabaret stimulated more erections than in the 2012 Presidential race.

Michelle Bachman, the tea-bagging-fundamentalist-Neanderthal darling of the Republican party, suggested that the President fire his economic staff while Mitt Romney pronounced the death of the President’s policy, lauding America’s brand-spankin’ new AA credit rating as Obama’s “latest [economic] casualty.” I am sure that under their watchful eyes all this could have been averted.

The Democrats aren’t doing any better. A deep-set belief that your policies will better the country should thrust them into the public domain like an army on the shores of liberation. Instead, to maintain their golden thrones and comfortable paychecks, Democrats have fattened themselves with timidity. They have acted like puppies that have been beaten too much when they should have been the hounds of hell, come to gnaw on the bones of irresponsible government. They are pussies of the worst kind—cowards who call themselves kings.

“Bi-Partisan” politics is a joke. Democrats and Republicans care more for their legacies, luxuries, and opulence than they do about the well being of the American people. We now have heard from the horse’s ass, on so many occasions, that politicians would rather be re-elected than propagate progress. We must stand up to these megalomaniacs. Their egos grow a mile for every inch that we are set back, creating a chasm so wide that the Grand Canyon itself might groan in envy. It is time we take our lives back from these entitled and engorged enigmas. I call on our politicians to account for their crimes of omission and commission. Repent and we can be saved. Who knows? Maybe even shit-covered monkeys can make a difference.