Bradley Manning Imprisonment is An Unconscionable Travesty

You may not like Michael Moore.  Personally, he is one of my heroes.  But that's beside the point.  The point is:  don't fail to read this article because Michael Moore wrote it and you don't happen to like Michael Moore.  Take the time to read and follow the links....

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/18/1046557/-A-Man-in-Tunisia,-a-Movement-on-Wall-Street,-and-the-Soldier-Who-Ignited-the-Fuse?via=recent

http://www.bradleymanning.org/

CLOSER...THEY'RE GETTING CLOSER.....Tar Sands Sellout Pending

Remember that Daffy Duck recording, set to the tune of the Hungarian Rhapsody?  It was Daffy, portrayed as a hapless,hunted duck, awaiting execution, surrounded as he was, by a bazillion hunters intent on his demise. 

"Bang-bang here, And bang-bang there....bullets flying everythere....closer, they're getting closer....!!!"

And that's exactly how we who support environmental issues, democratic ideals. social justice, LGBTQ rights, etc.,  feel.  Everywhere we turn, we're being betrayed and "compromised"  to death.  For years, now, we've done the "right thing."  We've gone through the "proper" channels of petitions, calls to the White House...we've made excuses for the unresponsive administration....and here we find ourselves holding the butt with no barrel, of Daffy's shotgun. 

Here's our sad, bowed but not quite defeated completely, hero Duncan Meisel, two emails,here in reverse order to what I received late yesterday:

Friends --
Just wanted to pass along an update: today, we completely flooded the White House phone lines with thousands of calls opposing this deal on Keystone XL oil pipeline.

The good news: this means we overwhelmed the White House with calls. The bad news: it also means that a lot of people didn't get through, and that the comment line is now shut down for the weekend.


If you weren’t able to get through or make a call, you can leave a short message for the President on the White House website here.


Thanks again -- we’ll be in touch soon.


Onwards,
Duncan Meisel for the Tar Sands Action and 350.org Team
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Friends,
It all comes down to Barack Obama.
As I type this, Big Oil's representatives in the House and Senate are pushing legislation that would rush approval of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. Up until now President Obama has stood strong, threatening to reject any bill that includes the pipeline.


But in the last hour, some terrible news has begun to leak from DC: President Obama seems to be on the verge of caving on Keystone. There’s no way to sugarcoat it -- if the President allows Keystone to move forward, he will be failing the single biggest environmental test of his presidency.


The next few hours will be absolutely crucial -- the President needs to hear from you that cutting a back-room deal with Big Oil on Keystone XL is unacceptable. If he steps up and threatens to veto this bill, he can stop this pipeline in its tracks.


Can you make a call right away? Here’s the White House number: 202-456-1111


Feel free to say what you want on the call, but remember to drive this one message home: to keep his promises, President Obama needs to veto legislation that would rush approval of Keystone XL. This pipeline is a threat to our climate and jobs and needs to be stopped.


After you've called the White House, take 30 seconds to let us know how it went by clicking here.

(Don’t worry if you get a busy signal -- it’s actually a good sign: it means we’ve flooded the White House switchboard and that the movement is sending an overwhelming message to the President. Just keep on trying until you get through.)

President Obama came into office promising to “end the tyranny of oil.” This is his chance to prove he was serious. If he’s not, he needs to know right now that there will be real consequences.


Big Oil cut a back-room deal with the dirtiest Members of Congress to attach this legislation to a must-pass tax cut bill. These kinds of deals exemplify the tyranny Big Oil exercises over our government, and underscores why the President needs to threaten a veto.


We have just a few hours to convince him to stand strong and veto any legislation to rush the Keystone pipeline. Can you make a call right now and tell him that we expect nothing less? Here’s the number again: 202-456-1111


Your calls right now are absolutely crucial, and you should also be getting ready to get back into the streets in the days and weeks to come. We’re dusting off our plans to go to Obama 2012 offices and raise some ruckus. Call the White House, but also get in touch with your friends to start plotting your next steps locally.

Thanks to you, this fight isn’t over yet -- not by a long shot.


Let’s go,

Duncan Meisel for the team at Tar Sands Action and 350.or
P.S. Share this red alert with a few clicks on Facebook and Twitter to bring them back into the game.


BTW:  The Tar Sands pipeline project uses FRACKED gas in their process.

Conclusion?  What else can I say?  Back to the cliche of the boiled-frog analogy:  drop a frog into a big kettle filled with boiling water.  The frog, close to the top of the kettle jumps out easily and survives; drop the frog into a little cold water, heat it up slowly and the frog, never knowing he was in danger, boils, unable to jump out of the depths....We are working toward boiled frogs.

Friends, Americans,Countrymen, Lend Me Your Ears......

......sleighbells (alarms) ring...are you listening?

I know....we all have heard this since high school....but it might be a good idea to re-read it, and then pay attention to the National Defense Authorization Act....CLOSE attention.  Check out my recommendation at the very bottom of this post.....



Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;


I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.

The evil that men do lives after them;

The good is oft interred with their bones;

So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus

Hath told you Caesar was ambitious:

If it were so, it was a grievous fault,

And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it.

Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest -

For Brutus is an honourable man;

So are they all, all honourable men -

Come I to speak in Caesar's funeral.

He was my friend, faithful and just to me:

But Brutus says he was ambitious;

And Brutus is an honourable man.

He hath brought many captives home to Rome

Whose ransoms did the general coffers fill:

Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?

When that the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept:

Ambition should be made of sterner stuff:

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;

And Brutus is an honourable man.

You all did see that on the Lupercal

I thrice presented him a kingly crown,

Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition?

Yet Brutus says he was ambitious;

And, sure, he is an honourable man.

I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke,

But here I am to speak what I do know.

You all did love him once, not without cause:

What cause withholds you then, to mourn for him?

O judgment! thou art fled to brutish beasts,

And men have lost their reason. Bear with me;

My heart is in the coffin there with Caesar,

And I must pause till it come back to me

Tune in to WBAI radio FM 99.5 out of New York (http://archive.wbai.org/  Scroll down the archived play lists to Occupy Wall Street Radio...and others.

Check out the program for December 16th of Occupy Wall Street radio.

When you're done, scan the rest of the website for more interesting commentary and discussion.  And then put it on your list of Favorites.

Guess what! -- UPDATE

I'm wrong.  I apologize to Time.  Indeed the "Protester(s)" cover IS on the U. S. edition.

Time's "Person of the Year..."

They DIDN'T put the cover on the U. S. edition!  Does that tell you something???

From The Washington Post:  There are some hints of dissent. “Time's ‘Person of the Year’ is the person they did not put on their U.S. edition covers,” The Post’s Anup Kaphle wrote on Twitter.



In a viral screengrab, Internet users complained about the Dec. 5 cover story selection. Time Magazine put a protester with the headline “Revolution Redux on the cover of its Europe, Asia and South Pacific editions, but opted for the headline “Why Anxiety is Good For You” on the cover of its U.S. edition.

Meet Loukanikos...(name means sausage in Greek)!

And while you're at it, check out these articles on Time's Person(s) of the Year 2011....
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/15/1045590/-Time-Magazine’s-Person-of-the-Year:-Tear-Gas,-Concussion-Grenades,-and-the-Occupy-Movement?via=recent
WaPo has posted extensive links to Time's Person of the Year:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/time-person-of-the-year-2011-the-protester/2011/12/14/gIQAvZtntO_blog.htm
And meet Loukanikos...!

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2102191_2327694,00.html

And the beat goes on....

This is probably the worst thing going on right now (although it's hard to make that choice when faced with the corruption that exists everywhere including the very topmost levels of OUR "government".....and this, sponsored by our esteemed president):



http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/15/1045560/-Why-a-Constitutional-Law-Professor-Cannot-Sign-NDAA,-Allowing-Military-Detention-of-Americans?via=recent

Amazing to me that Congress (you know, the body that shall make no laws....) makes laws, like this. You might want to take your copy of the Constitution out of your hip pocket--the one you've been sitting on all these years, assuming everything is hunky dory-- and have a look:

 Amendment I


Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment IV

 The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized

 Amendment VII

 In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

 Amendment VIII


Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.


...and the beat goes on....Take a look at your Constitution. Seriously. How long has it been since you read the Bill of Rights? I'll make it easy for you. Go here:


http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/billofrights


Now....having read it,  and having had a RE-view of our Consitutional rights in this country, just go Google the NDAA (that's the National Defense Authorization Act sponsored by the president and MOST of the House (all but 4 voted FOR it) and MOST of the Senate....and picture ssstttttrrrrrreeetttcccchinnng that law just a teeny, tiny bit in order to imprison PROTESTERS--people that happen not to agree with "The Govrnment"....(of course the police or "authorities" would never "stretch" the "truth" (and if you believe that I have a big, juicy chunk of cow manure to sell you)...and let your mind wander. Heck, with this big weapon of power, militarized police can walk right onto my farm, pick me up, incarcerate me (no charges required) and keep me imprisoned for as long as they want without charge--in effect, throw away the key.


Finally, have a look at this:  http://occupywallst.org/article/defend-bill-rights-all-us/

No joke. Civil libertarians EVERYWHERE are in an uproar, and YOU should be, too. We are headed down the wrong path. All the damned petitions and protests we can mount, don't keep apace. The illicit "powers that be" want to remain "the powers that be"....you'd best start paying attention. Don't sit back and assume you're safe. Don't assume anything.

I Knew You Would Be Proud of Me!

Indeed. I accept your congratulations for having the foresight to join, support and publicize this awe-inspiring movement. What's exciting is that it's only just begun...! BTW, I'm told that I am now officially a terrorist because I support OWS, have more than seven days food stored, have smoke residue on my fingers (wood cookstove) and am generally speaking a cranky old bat when it comes to tolerating "personhood" and Republicans, and big banks and big oil and big pharma and the Congress and the president (lower case intended)...need I continue?
To read about Time's momentous decision go to:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45657166/ns/today-today_celebrates_2011/

Do you think you're well off, living in the U. S.?

It might be enlightening to read the following....  Maybe you'll want to reconsider.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/13/1044550/-The-mainstream-German-magazine-Spiegel-asks-has-the-United-States-of-America-become-an-Oligarchy?via=recent

Amazing! No wonder the oil, gas, coal, et al industries are worried!

Have a read of this!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cwSFu1Pz0g&feature=related

SQUIDDING

http://www.letsgosquidding.com/

This speaks for itself! (you might have to cut and paste here....don't know for sure.)

This Should Open a Few Eyes...

I am not a Ron Paul supporter.  Truth be told...I am not a supporter of ANY presidential candidate that is running, today.  Nonetheless, this gives pause for thought and is worth a couple of minutes of your time:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/10/1044056/-Ron-Pauls-Eye-Opening-Ad-on-our-Wars-This-Ad-Needs-to-go-Viral

FRACKING

Yesterday was gratifying.  I was a little worried prior to putting up our banner, "Save the Water Table.org"  MM and I are new at being visible activists, putting our bodies on the line, you might say (not that it even resembled that, but I was a tad nervous, if truth be told).  You never know how people will react to those who take up a cause that has the potential for conflict about critically important topics...their jobs, the environmnet, politics....

But when you share information about such a hugely important topic as water, people take time to listen;  at first they grow silent as the message takes root in their minds; and then it's like an awakening.....

We were at a little Country Store in the little unincorporated town in Greenville, West Virginia.  We shared the potential for disaster with all who came into the store between the time we arrived--10:00 a.m. and the end of our shift at 1:00 p.m.  And, it was soooooo rewarding!  Of the 48 people who entered the store during that time, 45 signed our petition.  Only one person was borderline rude, two didn't want any information (hard to imagine!) Two people even showed up for the specific purpose of signing the petition (as the signing locations had been well-publicized.

It was a good day.  A very, very good day.  Forty-five signatures may not sound like much, but keep in mind, this is a tiny place.....a very special tiny place....and the message was loud and clear:  no fracking, not here....not anywhere.  Go away BIG OIL....go AWAY!  All your feel-good-ain't-we-wonderful slick ads on TV are just so much bullshit.  You are ruining lives all across this country....lives of people who are defenseless...and you are the Goliaths against a humble population of Davids that risks losing everything...including our lives....all for BIG OIL PROFITS.

Watch the following to see how Fracking will impact this country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEB_Wwe-uBM

This is simply beyond belief, but it's true.....

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/09/1043781/-Why-Obama-Will-Not-Veto-NDAA-Military-Detention-of-Americans:-He-Requested-It?via=siderec

Think of all the protesters "they" will have the "right" to arrest without charge, and hold indefinitely.....connect the dots, folks....and make your voices be heard....Call the White House, your Senators.....only SEVEN voted AGAINST this bill....

Occupy the Plutocracy

Don't miss the vids!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/02/1041647/-Chris-Hedges-at-Occupy-Harvard-–-feeding-plutocracy-and-why-the-cops-are-scared?via=sidebyuserrec

Here's My Very Own Recommendation on the New website as of last night.

OCCUPYEDUCATED.ORG

In the belief that an educated citizenry is key to change, Occupy Wall Street--OWS--has --as of last night--introduced a new website to replace the exstensive library that was trashed by the New York City Police RAID in Zuccotti Park--Liberty Plaza.  You may recall that 5,000 books at Liberty Plaza were thrown irretrievably into dumpsters by the goon squad of Mayor Bloomberg. 

This replaces the physical books, and goes beyond.

It is an open forum.  YOU--anyone--can recommend additions.   With technological wizardry, OWS has produced a place where recommended reading is displayed for all to explore.  It shows how richly educated we already are!  And it also reaches out, offering to share our understanding of where we are, where we are heading, how we can help, what we need to know....on every possible front! 

What kind of world do we want?  How can we, as individuals, move our caring agenda forward?

Whether it be environmental, financial, legislative, climate change, unemployment, foreclosures, corporate personhood, money, income inequality--the list is infinite!  Please take a look at this wonderful resource. 

My own recommendation is for an inspiring film we watched about two weeks ago called The Singing Revolution.  It features Estonia, an incredibly lovely land and its people in their peaceful struggle for independence.  It's available as a streaming video on Netflix.  To educate yourself, check out the new OWS awesome website:

http://occupyeducated.org/forums/topic.php?id=67

Scary Stuff From Keith Olbermann's program this evening....

If this doesn't scare the daylights out of you....

http://current.com/community/93569564_government-activating-fema-camps-across-u-s-occupy-the-planet.htm

Fracking and Hot Diggity Dawg!!! Time Magazine's Story of the Year!

MM and I will be on deck at a table out here JOTOLR this coming weekend, getting people to sign our petition against FRACKING.  Our aim is to get fracking banned completely from our region at least, if not the entire country.  The name of our organization is Save Our Water Table.

And here is a small announcement about Time Magazine's story of the year:
 http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/07/1043118/-Time-magazine-picks-Occupy-Wall-Street-as-the-top-news-story-of-2011-?via=sidebyuserrec
 
You betcha! From four dedicated people to this...!!! And we're growing every single day with amazing stories as we Occupy EVERYTHING. Occupy is moving into illegally foreclosed homes across the nation, reclaiming them for the homeless.  Occupy even Mic-Checked the Metropolitan Opera the other evening and got at least 50 percent of the audience to APPLAUD THEM!!!  Right now, OWS is occupying Congress!  Awesome.  And this is only the beginning.  Get ready for more.  We are the 99%.
 
 

Port Shutdown on the West Coast

This should be pretty big....Hoping to put a few punctures in Goldman Sachs, et al...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/07/1043151/-Occupy-Seattle-Why-We-Shut-Down-The-Port-Part-I?via=recent

Embarrassing to say the least.....

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/01/1041370/-Der-Spiegel:GOP-Freakshow-Damaging-Americas-Reputation?via=recent

Now THIS is creative ACTIVISM!

Love it!

http://occupywallst.org/article/occupy-museums-goes-lincoln-center/

Complete with tanks...

...maybe even drones which currently fly over 8 U.S. cities spying on all kinds of activities, we're told...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/01/1041313/-Mayor-1-says,-Ive-got-my-own-army,-the-NYPD?via=recent

Couldn't have said it better....

We're on the verge of losing this once-great country...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/30/1040975/-The-New-AmericaA-scary-place?via=recent

In Case You Missed This Edition of 60 Minutes....

...I hope you take the time to watch this video.  And, by the way....Occupy Foreclosures knows where there are LOTS of vacant homes, most, if not all, foreclosed upon ILLEGALLY.  What would be wrong with allowing families to move into these VACANT homes? Rent free.  In exchange for their looking after the place, starting with a little seed money...?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/27/1040359/-Families-Living-in-Cars:60-Minutes-Video?via=recent

Terrifying. Simply Terrifying....UPDATE

If you believe our government is benevolent.....take a look at this...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/28/1040408/-Defense-Authorization-Bill-Raises-Alarms-Over-Civil-Liberties?via=recent

Pretty soon, they'll be outlawing the ACLU. Don't be caught napping...

Here's another on the same subject:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/27/1040371/-Monday-Stop-Senate:-Indefinite-Detention-of-US-Citizens-in-USA-by-US-Military-in-Secret-Legislation?via=recent

And still another..

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/28/1040468/-ALERT-!!!-Most-important-thing-today-!-Under-siege-?via=recent
Pick up the phone.  Take action!!

Don't Miss This Special Edition of Democracy Now

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/11/25/occupy_everywhere
 
Click on the center logo and get ready for an hour of great information thanks to Amy Goodman!

Buy Nothing Day

Go to: 

http://occupywallst.org/article/occupyxmas-kicks-buy-nothing-day-nov-2526/
 
And while you've got a little time, and while you're there, have a look at the destruction of books wrought by Michael Bloomberg's goon squad...as well as laptops, etc.  Who will pay?

And have a read about the 1% who are in charge of California's  "education" system, (translated making tons of money by being in charge of something called "an education" (needed by all young people if they want to rise above the poverty level in this country), while imposing "austerity" on students....cutbacks, layoffs, reduced library hours, etc. not to mention horrendous debt at the end of four+ years of schooling...They m must be kidding:  81% tuition increase????

Have a read of this article on AIG now suing the American people to pick still another tab of this fat-cat operation

http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/21/news/companies/aig_greenberg_lawsuit/index.htm

(not my cat!  Borrowed from Google images)

Here it is......Hot Off the Press!

Thanks much, Barbara!!

Here is what we want:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/22/1039174/-Where-Does-Occupy-Wall-Street-Go-From-Here?via=recent

WE ARE WINNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When a courageous group of high school students from Central High in Manchester New Hampshire can MIC-CHECK the President of the United States to his face and call for investigations and support for over 4,000 arrested protesters, and be articulate about income inequality and other injustices......

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/22/1039110/-President-Obama-Mic-Checked-at-High-School-in-New-Hampshire?via=recent

...we are winning!  Congratulations to the "youngsters" taking up the lamp of truth and confronting the source about his lack of interest.   "Wanna know what democracy looks like?  This is what democracy looks like!"

Stop SOPA in its tracks

If you don't understand the issues on this one, trust me.  You WANT your name read aloud as opposing it.  I am one of the 60K

Go here:



http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/22/1039105/-Join-Wydens-Censorship-Filibuster:-More-Than-60k-Have-Asked-For-Their-Names-To-Be-Read-From-Senate?via=recent
 
and take action.  If you like and use the Internet, you need to do this.  

The %@#$ Hippies WERE RIGHT...

Don't fall into the trap (many do) of discounting this because you perceive it to be uncouth and potty-mouthed....there's value behind the use of the "F"-word...don't miss it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YadT2EmDW_c

Gasland and Other Horrors

First, have a look at from last night's Keith Olbermann's show:


http://current.com/shows/countdown/videos/debra-winger-gasland-director-josh-fox-antihydrofracking-victory-delaware

And, don't miss the Worst Persons on Countdown, where Bloomberg et al staged a "terrorist attack" on New York --foiled, of course--to take the sheeple press away from the drumming at Bloomberg's PP (posh-palace) Pretty creative, eh!  Even the FBI admitted it was a bit too much to swallow, even for them! Remember Bush's red-alerts?  Every time he had to hide something else from the press, he issued a "red-alert?"  And the knee-jerk press (what of it that hadn't been bought off) was once again led by the nose on still another snipe hunt.

http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/

Then pick up a copy of this movie on your way to get those last essentials for Thanksgiving and have a look at what is being done to us.  Here in West Virginia we've been told by huge and overwhelming "gas interests" (Koch brothers, et al....for one, with all their evil tentacles undermining our water supply.....) that we are a "sacrifice zone."  So, how would you feel being labeled as such?  We've already been under seige with "mountaintop removal" and now, our farmland and the water we drink, is under attack (unlaid with karst with all its fissures and unknowns)....What are you willing to sacrifice to enrich the Koch brothers?


And while we're on the subject of earth demolition, check this out:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/19/1038235/-Architect-of-Reactor-3-warns-of-massive-hydrovolcanic-explosion?via=search

Finally, the light show was spectacular!  http://occupywallst.org/ and the car horns in support shouldn't go unnoticed.

This will get your day rollin'....

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/20/1038494/-The-Empathy-Deficit

and then...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/21/1038452/-The-Goldman-Sachs-Project-to-take-over-the-world?via=recent

and top these off with Officer Pike of  UC Davis fame: 

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/21/1038602/-UC-Davis,-John-Pike,-and-the-Birth-of-a-Meme?via=recent

Interesting....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2011/11/18/lobbying-firm-occupy-wall-street_n_1102310.html

Thank you, Occupy Wall Street Press

And this doesn't begin to address the incredible abuse protesters have endured.  For the most part, peacefully.


http://motherboard.tv/2011/11/18/who-smashed-the-laptops-from-occupy-wall-street-inside-the-nypd-s-lost-and-found

Five thousand books thrown into the dumpster as Mayor Bloomberg wined and dined at a fundraiser for the New York Public Library.  Seriously.  At the exact same time police were savaging the entire library at Zuccotti Park. 

SOPA

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/18/1037923/-Senator-Al-Franken-Is-A-Co-Sponsor-Of-The-Internet-Censorship-Bill?via=recent

I'm Just Sayin.....

Check this out from Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthis-chiroux/occupy-wall-street-nypd_b_1100209.html

and this

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/17/1037590/-Reporters-Arrested-All-Across-America-For-Reporting-On-Police-Assaults-On-OWS-Camps?via=recent

You Make an Excellent Point, Wayfarin' Stranger...read below

After I posted Jesse LaGreca's list, I came across this:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/17/1037506/-A-Critique-of-MoTs-OWS-Phase-2-From-One-of-the-99?via=recent

It's a way to make "The List" manageable.  Makes good sense.  I feel a bit lost myself trying to explain to neighbors that OWS is not some commie plot and keep them from dissing me off as a pinko!  So, we've got to keep the list short, punchy and sweet!  Right now, as I write, General Assemblies all over the country, as meeting to discuss and map out, the next moves, the next actions.

As an example of choosing those next moves,  from my own agenda at the moment, MM and I are trying to start a community association in our neighborhood.  We started with the simple stuff:  checking on elderly in our neighborhood--those who want this service--to make certain those who live alone, those who are ill, those who could fall in their own home without being noticed...get the attention they need, etc. Potential members thought it was a great idea. The intial group has grown to around 25 people.  That's a lot of participants considering our very rural and older population.

The trick here is translating real needs into simple actions.  (getting a routine in place for the care-check, a form for making sure it's done, etc.)  OTOH, it's a lot harder to explain to members that we COULD someday, if we go about it in the right way,  actually build a community CENTER, where members of the community could gather, socialize, etc. without having to drive to Egypt in order to enjoy this kind of thing.   This kind of pie-in-the sky looks worlds away to folks whose needs are more basic.  But you have to introduce the dream.  You don't want to get too carried away with the frosting when you haven't yet baked the cake!  But, you don't want to forget to mention the possibility of something more, so, it's a go-slow approach, as you said:  "one bite at a time" (although in the case of Republican elephants.....I would like to think we would get some help from their tendency to kill themselves.)

Build it and they will come...

Let me know, Jim, what you think of this prioritizing of our needs/wants, etc.  The thing is...WE HAVE STARTED A CONVERSATION!  And that is precisely what OWS is about!

Thank you for your fine comment!

WOW, AGAIN!!!!

This is sooooo cooool!  Don't miss it!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/17/1037610/-OWS-Messages-Projected-on-Verizon-Skyscraper-Near-Brooklyn-Bridge-(Updated)?via=recent

Also don't miss the fact that Congress is trying to ram through SOPA.  What is SOPA?  Life on the Internet as we currently know it, will die if SOPA goes through.  Light shows and controversial YouTubes will disappear as "the government" will have to "approve or disapprove" of materials on the Internet.  Big Brother is getting ready to extend its iron fist of control.  If SOPA goes through, we will sink further into the police state we are becoming.  Find SOPA on the web and study up because to defeat it will take a Herculian effort.  I fits the model of suppression this government is aiming to install.  Not allowing the press to cover the Day of Action by OWS has the eerie marks of totalitarian overreach.  The  news we are getting on this is mostly coming from Aljezeera. 

WOW!!!!!!

How FUNNY!!!! Google's headlines from the MSM this morning say, "NYC Authorities FOIL Protesters' Attempts to Shut Down Wall Street..."

Ahem......go here:  http://occupywallst.org/  Check out the photos!  Funny how the MSM creates "reality."  It's funny because NYC refused even to let the press IN!  Police kept the MSM press at bay for several hours yesterday, claiming "safety issues."  I watched via UStream live stream where it was easy to see the huge phalanx of people all around Wall Street.  The police kept trying to splinter groups. 

Later in the afternoon, the numbers began to grow.  By 3:00 p.m. NYPD estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 took to Foley Square, last night, winding their way through the streets and culminating with a Festival of Lights on Brooklyn Bridge.  Briefly, yesterday, OWS did shut down Wall Street, though not for very long.  At least the congestion outside created obstacles for all needing to make their way through the crowds.  And it was peaceful, despite the NYPD's bashing skulls with nightsticks, trying to overrun pedestrians using barricades as weapons, even smashing one man's teeth...

But the courageous protesters kept their cool and stayed focused despite being threatened. 

Can we call 30-40,000 a successful Day of Action?  Add to that the actions that took place in 30 other cities across the country, and consider that this was the 2-month anniversary of OWS.  I would call it the day a "success"...but it's only one day.  We have a long road ahead. I'll have more to say about this later on today.

So. Let's get busy:

Jesse LaGreca says it all, right here.  Got any questions?  Seems pretty clear to me. 


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/17/1037356/-Welcome-to-PHASE-2-of-Occupy-Wall-Street,-now-here-is-a-message?via=siderec

UPDATE2...Want to Watch Live?

Go to:  http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution

Protesters have made it completely around the New York Stock Exchange..

LIVE UPDATES AVAILABLE HERE:  http://occupywallst.org/

MORE:  http://www.ustream.tv/TheOther99

Why Does Greece Need U. S. Tanks to Straighten Out Their Financial Mess?

I am wondering why Greece needs tanks from the U. S. to settle their financial difficulties...It's time we all started "wondering" what the heck is going on....worldwide as well as right here in our rapidly crumbling former democracy...and it DOES concern everyone...or should...Yves Smith is no lightweight!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/17/1037302/-The-99-of-the-99-that-arent-paying-attention-should-wake-up?via=recent

Aren't you all wondering about a LOT of other things?  It's time to at least start paying consistent attention! The billionaires are on the marchm too.  They know what's at stake for them.  These soldiers of fortune include the Bloombergs, the Clintons, the Blankfeins, the Dimons, the Bushes, the Geithners.....and they're all "marching" lockstep against those of us in the 99%. 

It's time to get off the couch.

So, what can you do?  TALK.  Talk to your neighbors, talk to your friends.  Don't hide your light under a bushel.  If an 84-year-old woman can demonstrate, WE can.  WEAR your opposition.  Move your money.  Vote with your feet.  We didn't elect the Obama we now have.  They got to him.  Yeah, it's a little bit of extra effort to move those monthly pay-ins, but do it!  Start thinking about who would make a good "write-in" candidate.  How about Marcy Kaptur?  Elizabeth Warren?  Have the courage to start something.

Take the time to study what's going on.  Read Daily Kos--there are plenty of choices.  Watch Amy Goodman's Democracy Now.  Take time to explain to those who are still questioning, still on the fence.  It won't be long, now--a few months at the longest--and you're going to want to be in the thick of it, fighting for your Constitutional rights.

Right now, as I write, despite authorized press passes, journalists are not being allowed to cover the march on Wall Street "for security reasons.."  Check out Democracy Now, which is running a Live Stream...go to http://www.democracynow.org/ for a Live Stream

And did you know we're sending troops to Australia?  TROOPS!

The New Face of the Revolution

Enjoy this new old face:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/16/1037252/-UPDATED-The-New-Face-of-Occupy-Wall-Street:-Dorli-Rainey?via=recent

You go, Dorli!!!

Don't Miss Amy Goodman's Democracy Now for 11-15-11

http://www.democracynow.org/


A real jaw-dropper if you believe in our First Amendment Rights....to ignore this is to ___________(fill in the blank after you've seen it...)


You might also enjoy Keith Olbermann's Special Comment on Bloomberg on Current TV last night. KO was so mad, he was sputtering...! And, if you are a Michael Moore fan, you'll also appreciate his appearance on KO's show.

November 17th Day of Action

Ten thousand are watching -- UPDATE

Go to:

http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution

for a view of our police state.  Ten thousand are online right now, watching this unfold; latest is that the Judge who granted protestors the right to return to Zuccotti Park (Liberty Plaza) has been removed in favor of a more generous judge (to the owners of Brookfield Park); also police destroyed 5,000 books from the library; the police are arresting and roughing up journalists; they have driven away journalists covering the march, eviction, etc.  Police tear-gassed the food and kitchen; they used bulldozers to scrape up and dump all personal possessions in dumpsters;

UPDATE:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/15/1036711/-Breaking:-Homeland-Security,-FBI,-Others-Advise-Coordinated-Occupy-Crackdowns?via=recent

Evictions and brutality orchestrated from the top?

I think it's rather odd that our esteemed President hasn't said one word about OWS.  Now, maybe we are beginning to understand why...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/15/1036657/-Breaking:-Mayor-Quan-Admits-to-Collusion-of-Multi-City-OWS-Evictions?via=recent

Please read.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/11/15/1036619/-Occupy,-Police-Responses,-DHS,-the-Patriot-Act,-and-National-Leadership-Silence?via=recent

On the other hand....it can be done!

Read below.  Makes me proud to call Seattle the place of my birth!

Mon Nov 14, 2011 at 07:54 PM PST.







Seattle City Council passes Resolution from Occupy Seattle's G.A. in Unanimous Voteby Lefty CoasterFollow .


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In a resounding endorsement of a Resolution before the Seattle City Council that is likely to lead to the divestment of city funds from the Big Banks passed tonight in a unanimous vote. THE RESOLUTION ORIGINATED AS A RESOLUTION PASSED BY OCCUPY SEATTLE'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY.






I first saw the good news on Occupy Seattle's twitter feed






OccupySeattle #OccupySeattle


Seattle City Council unanimously pass resolution in favor of #occupyseattle !


1 hour ago Favorite Retweet Reply


OccupySeattle #OccupySeattle


Incredibly inspiring testimony from occupiers at the city council meeting. Most council members very supportive #occupyseattle


1 hour ago


OccupySeattle #OccupySeattle


Many here at city hall talking in favor of divestment proposal for city of Seattle


2 hours ago


From the Seattle P.I.






Seattle City Council backs Occupy Seattle


In a lengthy resolution that borrows language from the Declaration of Independence — it has 14 “Whereas” clauses — the Seattle City Council on Monday gave its blessing to the Occupy Seattle protest.






The resolution, which passed on a 9-0 vote, was sponsored by activist Council members Nick Licata and Mike O’Brien.






The sweeping resolution covers everything from a review of Seattle’s banking and investment practices, to a demand that Bush-era cuts in federal income taxes be allowed to expire.


The resolution’s broad wording suggests that the nation’s economic ills go back to the Reagan era, declaring:






“WHEREAS, over the past 30 years, gains in our economy have accrued largely to the top 1 percent income earners, who now control 40 percent of the wealth in the United States due in part to public policies that can be changed . . .”






They made me proud to be from Seattle.






.


Here are some excerpts from the Resolution:






Seattle City Clerk


A RESOLUTION recognizing and supporting the peaceful and lawful exercise of the First Amendment as a cherished and fundamental right in the effort to seek solutions for economically distressed Americans at the federal and local levels.






Status: Adopted as amended


Date adopted by Full Council: November 14, 2011


Vote: 9-0






Date introduced/referred to committee: November 7, 2011


Committee: Full Council


Sponsor: LICATA; CO-SPONSOR: O'BRIEN






1. The City will review its banking and investment practices to ensure that public funds are invested in responsible financial institutions that support our community. The Council may also consider future legislation to promote responsible banking and provide an incentive for banking institutions to invest more in our City, particularly with regard to stabilizing the housing market and supporting the creation of new businesses. This review should include evaluating City policies on responsible depositing and management of City funds.


2. The City will examine the number of home foreclosures in Seattle, the geographic neighborhoods in which the foreclosures are occurring, and lender information on homes involved in the foreclosure process, including real estate owned homes. Furthermore, the Office of Housing will work with the Seattle-King County Asset Building Collaborative's Foreclosure Prevention Action Team to gather qualitative data on the circumstances and causes of foreclosures and the foreclosure methods and practices of lenders, including reviewing apparent inequities many people in Seattle face when lender foreclosure proceedings occur.






3. The City will continue to address economic inequality and wealth disparities by race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender. Through the City's Race and Social Justice Initiative and 2012 City Council committee work programs, the Council will continue to identify effective approaches to asset building, job training, access to banking and other financial services, educational attainment, family support, access to health care and other ways to address historic trends in disparities.






4. The Council will request a report from the Department of Finance and Administrative Services on all exemptions or waivers allowed for City taxes to examine the impact of both tax shifts and lost revenue to the City against the economic and social benefits the exemptions are intended to bring to the City.






5. The Council will consult with advocates of tax reform and experts on equitable taxation and review past tax reform efforts in order to work effectively with the State Legislature toward a more equitable tax structure.






6. The Council will analyze how city election campaigns are currently financed and explore alternatives.






7. As federal and state assistance dwindles, the City resolves to continue to use available resources to provide assistance for the most vulnerable people in Seattle.






8. The City recognizes that reforms in education and career preparation are essential for building a viable future and that the disparities in these areas begin very early in life and they continue through adulthood. The Council will seek maximum possible funding for Early Learning and Basic Education in the State Legislative Agenda. During challenging times, it is also critically important to support community colleges, technical colleges, and state universities as they provide access to retraining and workforce development opportunities.






Section 4. The Council and the Mayor recognize and support the important responsibility the Seattle Police Department exercises in protecting for everyone our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and assembly while, at the same time, appropriately enforcing City laws and regulations.


I think this is a useful template for resolutions that other Occupations may want to bring forward in their own cities and towns