The following is from MOVEON.ORG.Democracy In Action
This is just insane.
Scott Olsen, a protester who’s done two tours of duty in Iraq and is now involved in Veterans For Peace, was critically wounded during an Oakland police raid by police projectiles. When people tried to help him, an officer lobbed a flash bang grenade right into their group. Olsen is currently hospitalized with serious injuries and is reported to be in critical condition.
This is how peaceful demonstrations are met...with violence...billy clubs, tear gas, smoke bombs, water hoses, dogs, sabers, guns. These are the standard weapons used in non-provoked violence. If the soundtrack was not in English, would you know where we were? Greece, maybe?
It happened in Chicago in 1968, but worse. It was the Democratic Convention. It was a peaceful demonstration against the Viet Nam War.
It happened during the Freedom Marches led by the Rev. Martin Luther King.
Now it has happened in Oakland. It will happen again.
View the first video of the demonstrators. Then listen to Bob Dylan singing his best ever. I'm not a tech gal, so I don't know how to combine. So try to visualize the video with the song in the background. (If you know how to combine these please do).
By The Way, this was being sung during the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago where the demonstrators against Viet Nam were pummeled by the police. I was living in Chicago during that time.
This song has been sung by many good folk singers. I happen to think Dylan's version above is the best.
Listen... watch... and perhaps you can join in on a "Wall Street" closer to you.
I actually saw this on Bill Maher's show on Friday. I was very impressed and fell in love with Alan Grayson immediately. A friend of mine on facebook ("facebook friend" does not do justice to our connection even tho we virtually met on facebook) sent the following to me and I learned to share a long time ago:
While on Real Time with Bill Maher former congressman, and future 2012 House candidate, Alan Grayson explained to the panel the 1% what Occupy Wall Street is all about.
Here is the video:
The latest edition of Real Time featured one of Bill Maher’s patented balance things out with three Republicans and a Democrat panels, but the Democrat was Alan Grayson. While P.J. fellow panelist P.J. O’Rourke broke out his bathing and hippie jokes, former Rep. Grayson schooled him on Occupy Wall Street.
O’Rourke claimed that the Occupy Wall Street people flunked econ, and Grayson said, “No, listen Bill, I have no trouble understanding what they are talking about.” O’Rourke asked Grayson, “You passed econ?” Grayson answered, “I was an economist for more than three years, so I think so…Now let me tell you about what they’re talking about. They’re complaining that Wall Street wrecked the economy three years ago and nobody’s held responsible for that. Not a single person’s been indicted or convicted for destroying twenty percent of our national net worth accumulated over two centuries. They’re upset about the fact that Wall Street has iron control over the economic policies of this country, and that one party is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wall Street, and the other party caters to them as well.”
O’Rourke joked that Occupy Wall Street has found their spokesman, then Grayson continued, “Listen, if I am spokesman for all the people who think that we should not have 24 million people in this country who can’t find a full time job, that we should not have 50 million people in this country who can’t see a doctor when they’re sick, that we should’t have 47 million people in this country who need government help to feed themselves, and we should’t have 15 million families who owe more on their mortgage than the value of their home, okay, I’ll be that spokesman.”
Alan Grayson demonstrated why all the media complaint’s about the unclear message behind Occupy Wall Street is nonsense. It took former Rep. Grayson 37 seconds to explain what Occupy Wall Street is about. He almost delivered the perfect 30 second sound bite, but he ran a tiny bit over. It isn’t that the one percent and the Republicans who support them can’t understand Occupy Wall Street. It’s that they don’t want to. The message isn’t complicated.
The right has been trying to play on the fears of some who support Occupy Wall Street by claiming that the left is hijacking the movement, but the support and media sophistication of people like Alan Grayson and Bernie Sanders can only help these protests grow. Grayson demonstrated the value of having someone speak on the movement’s behalf that understands and is comfortable with television.
The right and many in the media will continue to make jokes and play dumb, but while they are laughing it up, a movement is growing. They may intentionally not understand the message of Occupy Wall Street, but millions of Americans do, and these people want their democracy back.
I've noticed lately that many progressive pundits have been ranting and raving the old movie line "I'm mad as hell, and I won't take it anymore!" And, they each have their own soap box topic: Republicans ridding the American workforce of Labor Unions, laying off tons of government workers, the rich not paying any taxes... all worthy of their ire.
But, the "Occupy Wall Street" (OWLS?) people have hit the whole problem on the head. If you are unable to support them with your presence, please support them with your voice or any other way you can.
We are mad as hell but, we know why and we know who the recipients of our wrath are.
Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt was one heck of a President. His strength of purpose for the American people was needed then and is needed now.
No one, at this time of great need, is better able to fill the shoes or ideals of Mr. Roosevelt's than President Barack Obama.
President Obama: Listen closely to your predecessor and speak your own words with the same strength of purpose and you will forever win the hearts and minds of the America people.
Everything the Republicans have done these past few years, they have done with the zeal of fanatics working toward the end goal of ruling a country with two economic classes: The rich and the poor. It was President Roosevelt that helped create the middle class and it is the current Republican Tea Partyers who are set to demolish it.
The immigrants did not come here to become millionaires. They came looking for freedom of religion, the opportunity to work hard, and the ability to enjoy the fruits of their labor. In the end, it is those same American people, regardless of color or belief, who will vote for President Obama with the vigor and hope they had when they voted the first time.
He has to take Medicare and Social Security and put them on the table, so to speak. Then when the GOP still refuses to raise taxes the President can say "I did everything I could to reach a compromise. The Republicans will not raise taxes or make any compromise. They have done everything they can to succeed in achieving their goal to make me a one term president. They have also done everything they can do to take away rights of the American workers. It is for these reasons that I have no alternative but to use the power found in the fourth paragraph of the fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. And so, I will raise taxes, close loop holes, and correct the deficit."
Copper The Dog - Rolling Over 2011 Photograph by Sharon
This is my cockapoo Copper in the midst of rolling over. He is a democrat. Sometimes he rolls over, but has yet played dead. He tells me what he needs and when he needs it. Remarkable. Seldom does he lie to me, although the truth is sometimes stretched. For example: He may tell me he has to go out to pee, but what he really wants to do is go out and sniff for chipmunks.
Republicans have many tools they use to their benefit. Especially during elections and when a Democrat is in office. I have never seen such overt wickedness by the GOP until President Obama was elected.
One of the tools they use is called The Flip-Flop. It has increasingly become a favorite. Here is an example from one candidate on one topic.
I think all politicians, or people in general, should remember that everything is out in the open today, via video tape and other medias.
When you say something, more than likely, someone will hear it.
And how does the current President accomplish anything without some support from the opposing party. Even when that President has endorsed an idea for action that the GOP previously recommended, they vote it down. It's the old Bait and Switch con. They set the bait by saying what they are for and when the President agrees, they switch to something else and Flip Flop themselves right out of the room. How does anything get accomplished? Not easily, if ever.
The GOP at the very beginning of President Obama's term made it clear what they were going to do: Make President Obama a one term President.
I suspect that no one believed they meant it literally. That they would, in fact, do what they thought they had to do, to make it happen. Because they would have to
1. Roll Over any ethics they had left as a party.
2. Flip Flop continuously to keep in step with the tea party and the Koch brothers.
3. Bait and Switch their political ideas until neither the President nor the democrats had any idea what promises would be kept, or which bargains would be agreed on.
I knew from the very beginning what was happening. How? They told us. But most could not believe they would take such a mean spirited course. I am only myself, an aging woman with a human spirit. I have known much beauty and kindness. But, I have seen these people before. And, I have read about others.
They are always here waiting for the right time. We need to be wary.
A few days ago I went to a concert with the Chief, my handsome oldest grandson and my beautiful granddaughter. The kids were playing in the Youth Symphony Orchestra, so I really enjoyed myself.
Then on the way home we went to a drive-thru fast food spot. I was exhausted from the excursion, so after eating I went to bed early (for me). I woke up later, quickly (LOL) limped into the bathroom and proceeded to throw up Lake Michigan.
The morning found me with a low grade fever, but okay.
I think it was an omen because in the days following my stomach eruption I continued to feel queasy at least once a day. I blame it on the Republicans. Because, every time I hear them say "We don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem" I feel like puking and am inclined to go hug that porcelain bowl.
Rachel Maddow of msnbc Talks About Ryan Budget Proposal
Every time a Republican says "We don't have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem" I just want to puke! (Don't hold back!)
How 'bout changing that to " We don't have an Obama problem. We have a Bush problem."
President Bush spent a lot, while at the same time cutting taxes even more for the rich leaving President Obama a HUGE problem to solve. The animosity between the parties is palpable. Even through television cables. Probably because the Rebs have taken the position of lying about (or ignoring) the truth. The Republicans and the Democrats know the truth. Unfortunately, the people in general don't.
But once a person sees what happened and what is happening now during the budget discussion...the solution, it seems to me, is simple. It involves three steps:
1. For Americans earning more than $250,000 annually, return to taxes in effect prior to Bush cuts (while eliminating loopholes) to increase revenue.
2. For Americans earning less than $250,000 annually, make the current tax breaks permanent to help increase spending.
3. For American businesses tax profits over a certain amount at a higher rate. Eliminate all loopholes. Increase taxes for companies who "ship" jobs out of country.
You will notice that nonprofits are left alone, as well as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, as well as the new Health Care Program.
Simple? Yes. Successful? Yes. I will throw my hat into presidential race soon.
