http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/BlogtownPDX/archives/2011/11/17/occupy-portland Comments On: The Moment When the Police Lost the Occupy Portland Narrative by Denis C. Theriault en-us Copyright 2013 Portland Mercury. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, Portland Mercury readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact Portland Mercury. webmaster@portlandmercury.com (Portland Mercury Webmaster) Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:30:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss
Regarding the parks. Yes, this is a cost that will be born by tax payers. As well as billions and billions of other costs that get shuffled onto society by capitalists every day. At some point is seems a little silly to get outraged about small cost brought out by social protest, while the other much higher costs go on day after day with little in the way of protest.

Sitting in the parks for a few months was a spontaneous reaction to the action in NYC. it spread to hundreds of cities in the US. There were occupys in Seaside, Astoria, and other small towns. this is less an example of a functional political strategy, but an expression of the failure of electoral politics to have an impact on peoples lives. The massive groundswell of support, and the breadth of it's reach shows the extent of failure official channels offer citizens.

So if you, in the wave of history, want to obsess on the shortcomings of peoples attempts to become agents of change in their lives, you can. but you are picking a side. be clear about it.
Posted by 503McBee]]> Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:30:39 -0800 Portland Mercury
@69, you make a valid point. What was the estimate for the restoration of the parks Occupy trashed? Between $50,000 and $100,000? Yeaaah think of all the good that money could have done to people that really need it. What a waste.
Posted by ohemgeeskittles]]> Sun, 20 Nov 2011 01:10:10 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by The Showstopper]]> Sat, 19 Nov 2011 13:26:04 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by shit on all libtards!]]> Sat, 19 Nov 2011 10:40:00 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by Fruit Cup]]> Sat, 19 Nov 2011 09:59:30 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by Karen]]> Sat, 19 Nov 2011 06:31:05 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by tom da chosen wan]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:08:57 -0800 Portland Mercury
Many people had placed some hope in relief with the Obama Administration. For many reasons, this has evaporated. So in comes “Occupy”. It started in NYC 2 months ago, and spread rapidly too many many places across the country, and across the globe. For many people, it is there first time being engaged politically. This was not stage managed.

It can only be categorized as a leftist populist movement. The anti-capitalist left in the United States is very marginalized by institutional power; I mean the media and the electoral process. This is not to say that it does not marginalize itself as well, but compared to many countries, it is shut out of the “official” processes. Because of this, the infrastructure to direct a “message” is lacking. The tea party was able to direct a message because they had million dollars NGOs, corporate PR machines, as well as a major American cable news channel supporting their work.

So, to expect “occupy” to have clear and delineated political programs, to have tight and disciplined organization, to speak with one voice, is ahistorical notion. To come to occupy and say “this is not how I would want resistance to capitalism to look” is a fool’s errand. One can complain about drum circles and homeless people. But that is what you are looking for. That is a small part that you are extrapolating out, in order to dismiss or too direct this social explosion.

In fact, it is precisely the fact that “occupy” is an organizing pole for many different grievances is a strength. There is a lot of clumsy thinking around this issue. Attempting to shoe horn “occupy” into the political process, into the media system as it exists today is exactly what should be avoided.

Our current media system, which wants bullet points and 5 second sound bites, cannot grasp the totality of the failure in legitimacy that capitalism is facing. It cannot do so because it is lazy, stupid, and is in service to power. Students have no jobs and are burdened by debt, vets return home to devastated families and unemployment, 50 million people have no health insurance- and many that do cannot afford to use it. Rents are skyrocketing, people are being foreclosed on. Unemployment grinds on. These are all reasons to “Occupy”.

People want one 5 second notion to get their heads around. But our problems are much larger than that, more complicated. And the political process, the media system, and capitalism are ill prepared to reflect that complexity.

So start to think. This is the shape of things to come.

Posted by 503McBee]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:37:01 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by tom da sizzle bomb]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:59:38 -0800 Portland Mercury
@PatrickColeman - Your comments pretty much describe my own position toward Occupy. But it seems we (as part of the so called 99%) our opinions are meaningless unless we want to subject ourselves to drum circles and leaflets. To have a moderate, logical opinion about how to change the status quo is to be, it seems, in direct conflict with Occupy. For every Occupier I've asked to vote, to publicize a policy outline, to register as a political party and work for change has told me that I am a dumb suburbanite (I'm neither) who must love banks and capitalism ( I don't, within reason) and had better just shut up and be grateful that the Occupiers are out there (in the park!) *standing up* for me.

It seems you either need to fall in line with Occupy's message or be dismissed as an idiot who doesn't know what's best for them. I'm not really into to either of those things.
Posted by Sarahfina]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:28:48 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by tom da sizzle bomb]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:18:19 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by Wallstreet]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:48:34 -0800 Portland Mercury
The cops no longer represent or protect the people that pay their salaries, they represent and protect corporate interests.
Posted by randyzpdx]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:57:45 -0800 Portland Mercury http://mobile.twitter.com/mayorsamadams/st…
Posted by Graham]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:54:48 -0800 Portland Mercury
You are fucked #2, because you are in charge of allocating police resources, and right now you are more interested in protecting the 1%"s bank buildings then responding to anti-social crime. that is, you are showing where your priorities lie.

Mayor Reese? Really?
Posted by 503McBee]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:15:15 -0800 Portland Mercury
A lot of small businesses failed because the banks are holding on to the money (which is suppose to be circulated to stimulate the economy) from SB to use as working capital. It's a greedy mentality that is destroying this great country. America is starting to look like 3rd world country.

Thomas Jefferson once said. "I believe that banking institutions are MORE DANGEROUS to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around these banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power of currency should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs."
Posted by SaronK]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:07:34 -0800 Portland Mercury But wait, you guys take forever just to decide to unblock a street, right?
Posted by frankieb]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:57:18 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by Wallstreet]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:35:30 -0800 Portland Mercury
I'm just suggesting that the movement coalesce and start working to create a meaningful change through legislation. Also, winning support for said legislation might require an image change.

I don't think a loud standoff with police, or demanding that the streets are your streets, or trying to occupy private property is going to win the support of the people OPDX claims to be fighting for.

I'm sympathetic to the idea that there is a vast inequality of wealth in this country, and I think a part of it is due to corporate influence in politics, but Occupy lost me with their woo woo twinkle-finger bullshit.

I want a way to participate, but I'm not going to stand in front of a line of riot cops and shout. I know what that's all about. Been there. Done that. Got tear-gassed. Blah blah blah.

When Occupy offers up some concrete way I can make a lasting legislative change in the way our systems operates. I will sure as shit vote for it.

In the meantime, I'm not going to feel particularly torn up about people, participating in direct action, drawing riot police who do what riot police do when people are occupying private property.

And besides, isn't this what they want? All this talk of "Every time you pepper spray a Occupier the movement gets stronger," seems to be a tacit way of saying: "Thank you sir may I have another?"

Posted by Patrick A. Coleman]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:26:59 -0800 Portland Mercury
@REYMONT: YOUR SUPPOSED SOURCE DOESN'T ACTUALLY CITE ANY SOURCES. ALSO, IT'S BULLSHIT AND 14 YEARS OLD AND WRITTEN DURING THE SINGLE LARGEST EXPANSION OF THE ECONOMY EVER (HINT: THAT MAY HAVE UNDULY INFLUENCED THE AUTHORS). YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY CLAIMING THAT 99% OF PEOPLE ARE LAZY. YOU ALSO DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW PERCENTAGES WORK. THERE WILL TECHNICALLLY AND MATHMATICALLY ALWAYS BE A 99% AND A 1%. THAT'S HOW NUMBERS WORK. WHAT PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT IS THE VAST AND HORRIBLE DISPARITIES IN INCOME BETWEEN THE 1% AND 99%; AND THE UNDUE UNINFLUENCE THE 1% CURRENTLY HAS ON THE POLITICAL SYSTEM. (HINT: GOOGLE PLUTOCRACY).
Posted by Graham]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:24:22 -0800 Portland Mercury
At the same time, there are people at these protests who want to get one foot from a cops face and yell obscenities at them. I know that I would want to hit such a person with a stick if I were that cop.

Hopefully, Reese and his staff aren't just closing ranks and blaming the protesters, but actually disecting how their tactics might have escalated this.
Posted by Blabby]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:23:40 -0800 Portland Mercury Posted by AMA]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:00:50 -0800 Portland Mercury
Here's an idea. How about making yourself presentable, getting yourself on the biggest public forum in the world, which just so happens to be that TEEVEE you seem to despise, win some hearts and minds with sympathetic rhetoric and get some folks who share your agenda voted into political office.

If the Tea Party folks managed to do it, why can't you? Those fuckers even took LOADED firearms to public debates. And don't give me that "Waaaaahhh, they had money from secret donors, waaaahhhhh" bullshit. They sure as fuck knew how to work a message.

Get a commercial friendly face. Stop freaking people out with your masks and mobs and beat the people you despise at their own game. It may not make you feel as big as standing against a line of cops, but that's the way shit gets done in this country.

Figure it out.
Posted by Patrick A. Coleman]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 10:00:17 -0800 Portland Mercury That, to me, is the number one thing to get the middle-class in the middle again.
It is complicated though, right? Tarrifs on foriegn made objects...? etc etc.
'occupy' - outrage is easy. Things won't change just because you're mad about it (as I am too) and rant downtown at banks and such.
And, I have been down there too and seen this all first-hand, not just from behind a TV screen. Nor is my only soarce of info the TV, the O, or even the Merc.
Give me something to vote on. Support a candidate. Get a platform....
Give me something to vote on! Just throwing a tantrum downtown won't do shit.
Posted by frankieb]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:46:43 -0800 Portland Mercury
And people are mad at the banks and not the borrowers because the financialization of the housing market, healthcare and education over the past 30 years has made it impossible for the average American to afford a basic, middle-class lifestyle. In 1960 the average price of a 3-bdrm house was $12,000 and the average annual salary was $7,000. You do the math on that. Wages aren't rising, but cost of living definitely is. Something's gotta give if a middle class is going to survive.

You may be doing fine, Reymont. Good for you. The rest of us are getting the uneasy feeling that, as the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer, the system may be rigged.
Posted by Ovidius]]> Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:36:42 -0800 Portland Mercury