One of the most remarkable things about the United States is how rarely its citizens experience democracy. We do have a right to vote, and, within limits, assemble with others and speak freely. We have other rights as well, but in our daily lives - in our families, jobs, schools and other institutions - there is often a lack of democratic participation. For much of our lives, decisions are made by others. We are rarely consulted, and we are expected to do what we are told.

Question the prevailing way of thinking at home, work, school, even in church, and there can be serious consequences. Over time, we become accustomed to believing in the authorities, of following, of allowing others to make decisions for us. Having been deprived of democracy, over time, we begin to forget what it looks and sounds like. However, the idea that each of us should have a voice in the decisions that affect our lives is a powerful concept. That concept gave birth to this country, and it has been the central idea that encouraged struggles to create social, political and economic institutions that are responsive to human needs. Moreover, participatory democracy is alive and well in the Occupy movement.

Over the past month, I've had an opportunity to visit the occupations in New York (with my youngest son), in Washington DC, and in Lexington, Kentucky, where I live. In addition, I've spent considerable time reading about the occupation movement and discussing it with students and others. What is so encouraging about the occupations is how sharply they contrast with the dominant institutions and practices that have brought so much pain to so many of our fellow citizens.

It is not surprising that what is happening seems so foreign to many of us. Accustomed as we are to rely on "leaders" and media pundits to explain current events, the Occupy movement is difficult to comprehend. Who are the leaders? What is the platform? What is the solution? What is so important about the Occupy movement is that it is asking fundamental questions - questions about the kind of country we want for ourselves and for our children and the opportunities that should exist for all Americans. What the Occupy movement makes evident, as most of us are painfully aware, is that the current political economy does not work for most Americans, nor does it work for our brothers and sisters around the world. Yet, it does not tell us what to think. Instead, it encourages us to think and to learn through the countless discussions that take place each day at occupation sites around the country and abroad.

It also does not tell us to follow, but to learn and lead; that our voices are valuable and deserve to be heard. It does not promise solutions, but it reminds us that, together, we can do better, much better, not only in meeting the needs of our fellow citizens, but also in being a real leader in the world - one that is respected because of its ability to live up to its ideals, rather than feared for its ability to terrorize and destroy our enemies. Moreover, it reminds us that it is we, the people, who are capable of standing up to the power and corruption of those at the top. And it connects us in a very human way to all of those who came before us who struggled to achieve a better world and unites us with all of those who struggle now around the world. It joins us with those who believe, as Ghandi said, that "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed."

It short, the Occupy movement is a process by which we are able to develop knowledge, teach one another and take action to transform our world. If you were politically active during the 60s and 70s, you know the feeling. If you have been involved in actions designed, in some way, to help others, not because of the material reward, but because you understood it to be the right thing to do, you know the feeling. Indeed, what is so exhilarating about the Occupy movement is that it allows us to experience something that so many of us rarely experience: the right to practice democratic decisionmaking.

I encourage you to visit a nearby occupation or go to New York. And if you are a parent or educator, take your children or your students. Know in advance, however, that real democracy takes time and practice. Be patient, but be willing to engage with others, be open to differing ideas and perspectives, and consider getting involved. 

This work by Truthout is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.

 

Last night, despite the plan for a complete eviction, Occupy LA took the action to the streets.  Tonight, 250 people showed up to the GA, believing that this is just the beginning.

LA Times reports, "Nearly 300 Protestors Still held on $5,000 bail." Attorney Carol Sobel of the lawyers guild said protesters should be released with notices to appear before court and not be punished “for exercising their 1st Amendment rights."

Occupy San Luis Obispo met at the occupation to stand in solidarity with Occupy Los Angeles, and to express their concerns with the city's Mayor Villaraigosa and his decision to evict the LA Occupation at 12:01am, Monday. Three mic check messages were left on the Mayor's voicemail:

"Dear Mr. mayor, I'm from Occupy San Luis Obispo. We stand in solidarity with Occupy LA. What do you hope to achieve by raiding the occupation? Do you think it will stop there? A raid on the occupation will only show that you support the continued oppression of the American people in complete disregard for our constitutional rights. The continued persecution from raids like this only make us stronger and more determined to show that people of America that Los Angeles values the constitution over the comfort of the 1%. We are one. We are united. Thank you!"

Listen to the audio »

"Dear Mr. Mayor, We are Occupy San Luis Obispo. Why are you afraid of us? How will the continuation of Occupy LA hurt your city? What negative outcome will come out of Occupy LA? We stand in solidarirty with all occupiers and implore you to answer these questions before you make up your mind. Thank you and goodbye."

Listen to the audio »

"Dear Mr. Mayor. I'm from Occupy San Luis Obispo. How can you represent your constituents if you insist on silencing them? Please respect our first amendment rights to peacefully assemble. Thank you. Goodbye."

Listen to the audio »

Despite any challenges ahead, Occupy San Luis Obispo stands in peaceful solidarity with the different occupations throughout the country and the world!

http://calcoastnews.com/2011/11/occupy-slo-battle-leads-to-theft-allegations/

The theft stated in the Cal Coast News article resulted in a decision reached by consensus by the General Assembly on Saturday, November 26th to publicly disassociate Pete Evans, Desire Gallo and 3 other people from the movement. To focus more on strengthening the principles of the movement, supporters and members of the organization believe that this public disowning will help the group move in a more positive direction. The illusion of their involvement has compromised the principles that the movement is working with, causing the divide which contradicts unity and solidarity.

Occupy San Luis Obispo and Occupy Wall Street has no official spokesmen, founders or co-founders. The General Assembly is comprised of those who choose to be a part of contructive dialogue and activity.

Anyone who is claiming to have any singular authority to make decisions on Occupy SLO’s behalf, is speaking as an individual only and not in any official regard.

For official information and activities, please come to the General Assembly every Saturday at 1:30, or consult this website.

by Laura Hirahara on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 6:12am

I have not become ambivalent, lost interest, been chased away or otherwise dissuaded from participation in the Occupy movement that has spread to so many cities, towns and communities it’s hard to keep track. I understand that some have and that's why I write this statement. Not on the off chance it will change their minds but so that others will see that for every negative statement about why the Occupy movement is destined to fail, there are those willing to see it succeed.

As a member of campaigns and protests in the past, I see this behavior from those who don’t get the results they want when they want. I saw it from friends and colleagues working with me on repealing Prop 8 in California- when our first attempts failed they immediately lost hope. They didn’t recognize the long term commitment social change requires. Social change, change that affects an entire state, an entire country, takes time. It takes resources, energy, and people.

This movement in particular calls upon the 99% to fuel social change. In asking the majority of the people to get involved and make their individual and collective claims for economic justice, the initial protesters decided not to act as so many corporate leaders and politicians before them had (unilaterally with no thought of how individual choices affected others) but with a strong, consensus led voice.

This has caused many (MANY) to question the effectiveness of the movement. How can anything be done without a leader, without clear mission statements, without traditional organization? I would ask those posing these questions to think about why you need a leader. What about the structure of this majoritarian movement makes you so uncomfortable? Why do you need a mission statement written by someone else?

As to those who actively work to demoralize the Occupiers, I understand the frustration. I understand how frustrating it can be when you see so clearly how to make something work but are unable to put it into action. I understand how frustrating it can be to hear people discussing and focusing on the wrong aspects of an issue and be unable to articulate what they should be focusing on. That’s when you need to take time to step back, get perspective, get a grip, whatever you need to do, and come back refreshed and ready once again to work on the long-haul goals of social change.

On the topic of some of the more radical parts of this movement, in specific actions that have engaged law enforcement, I think there is value in this too. There is value in exposing police departments, procedures and methods that cross a line. There is value in questioning authority, value in demanding a reasonable answer and value in protesting against state-authorized violence against civilians. The students at UC Davis were not the first and will not be the last to engage in an expression of their civil right to question and protest.

Comparing what they went through to other student led protests is a waste of time and energy. For any student, any protester, that has stared down a line of police/soldiers and been afraid, energized and

defiant, there is a common thread. The level of violence encountered in no way minimizes or elevates one experience over the other. Instead, all protesters should recognize the inherent power of solidarity. Solidarity is more than sympathy, more than support. It is standing and making the public statement that if you had been there you too would have been sitting on the walkway, waiting for the pepper spray to hit your face. Solidarity is saying you too would be willing to face the consequences (and the victories) of this movement.

Finally, please know that I understand how difficult involvement in any movement can be, especially one that is as big and diverse as the Occupy movement. I don’t know how to make it better for you and I’m not particularly concerned with making sure you’re OK. In the words of Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon:

“Coalition work is not work done in your home. Coalition work has to be done in the streets. And it is some of the most dangerous work you can do. And you shouldn’t look for comfort. Some people will come to a coalition and they rate the success of the coalition on whether or not they feel good when they get there. They’re not looking for a coalition; they’re looking for a home!”

Social change cannot be done from the comfort of your home or from behind the screen of your computer. You have to interact, disagree, discuss, formulate and implement. If you lack the stamina to do this continuously, rest until you can do it again. If you lack the will or desire to do this work at all, do not tear down those that do. Walking away may afford you security if they fail but you will still benefit if they succeed and at the very least, you can respect that.

Question: The only thoughts i would share are that when you protested prop 8, you knew for what you fought. when students challenged tuition hikes, they knew what goals they sought. when i participated in the divestment riots at CAL, we knew our goals. for what reason did the UC Davis students suffer?

Answer: I can't give you a reason to fight, I can only tell you my reasons. For me, it's the social change needed to create economic justice, to create oversight and accountability in our financial institutions. I fight for those I know and love (and those I don't know) who are unemployed, who have been denied opportunities and rewards despite their hard work. It's for those facing police brutality and what that brutality represents; an abuse of authority. The UC Davis students, like any other individual in this movement, are not representative of the whole fight. But I can still respect what they did and what they suffered, because ultimately they suffered in solidarity with those who have and who continue to suffer less physical manifestations of oppressive action. I'm not confused about why I occupy.

Question: So let me ask you as i asked so many others, 'what one thing about your government would you change'?

Answer: If only changing one thing would fix everything! If only government could solve our problems! If only I had the one, true answer! I don't know why you need me to answer this for you, but since you asked...I would start with some real accountability and transparency in government/corporate dealings. I would like to know why, when millions of peoples fortunes and livelihoods were on the line, government chose to focus on institutions instead. More importantly, I think social change needs to occur right now. Social in that we value people over consumerism. Social in that we focus on talent,

innovation and hard work over personal accumulations of monetary wealth. Economic disparity isn't sustainable. This movement is a reaction to that instability.

Question: Well,Thank you for answering my question.

Answer: You're welcome, I really hope I answered your question.

Question: Well you did, in a sense. you answered as i anticipated. this is usually the point where i would say, 'no more questions'

Answer: If you need to have every answer before you're willing to do something, nothing will get done. You want some sort of detailed economic/social/political plan to put into action? Make it yourself. For whatever reasons my answers are insufficient for you and you feel the need to dismiss my comments, fine. Just have something more of substance to offer in return.

With all the police and government crackdowns sweeping over the Occupy Movement across the nation, it’s inspiring to see our people refusing to go quietly and let our progress fade away as a short-lived flicker of resistance.  The violations brought upon the movement have forced us to adjust and redirect our efforts.  We have not lost sight of the fact that this movement must endure for the long term.  Thinking about the long term is something the movement must do as well as the rest of the 99% the movement represents. 

A recent national survey conducted by one of the major banks on Wall Street provided statistics that support this need to look at the long term implications given our economic crisis.  Here are some alarming figures about retirement resulting from this survey:

•  25% of the respondents expect to work until age 80 – It’s embarrassing when the so-called richest nation in the world fosters a system where a quarter of  octogenarians will continue to work to provide for themselves and their families.
• 75% plan to work while in retirement – This calls for a redefining of just what retirement is.
• 43% do not expect to leave their children any inheritance – If these respondents do not anticipate having any assets upon death, it’s clear many of them count on relying on their children to support them during “retirement”. 
• 39% intend to work during retirement just to maintain their lifestyle – Once again, if a person must work to maintain their lifestyle, does this fit the traditional description of retirement? 

 

 

 

If those statistics do not grab your attention perhaps this will: of the respondents, the average retirement savings goal was $350,000 and the median savings level was $25,000.  That’s only 7% completion to goal.  The ever increasing challenge to save money will only make this goal seem more like a mirage in a desert.

Heads Up! More austerity is coming our way.

At a time when homelessness is increasing and housing needs are increasing, inadequate housing stocks cannot fill needs US Congress has cut the HOME program by 38%.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/11/congress-supports-homes-for-the-wealthy-over-the-poor/248742/

The insanity is palpable. Growing disparity between the wealthy to the middle class and poor has become a permanent feature of our American economy. Here in Lost Osos however it is much much worse as we are saddled with an additional unbearable load that will dislodge thousands of residents that are barely hanging onto their housing.  Yes, Lost Osos in a planned gentrification, supported by faux environmentalist and wealthy developers is foisting a whopping $200 million gravity sewer that will surely be disfunctional when the next earthquake strikes. The USDA is looking the other way thanks to John Diodati’s lies and misreps in a loan application that is 8 times the allowed amount for sewer that is 10 the average amount in California.

Rentals will be unaffordable and unable to compete with nearby market in a town that has less than 54% ownership. Renters will have no choice but to have their landlords eat the cost or leave. Landlords has already lost their great tenants for this reason and the real load has yet to be administered by the county tax man.

--http://www.clih.net/

In response to the increasing privatization of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, OccupyCalPoly will be holding an open forum discussion on Tuesday November 29 at 11AM at the UU plaza on the Cal Poly campus.

OccupyCalPoly has also released a letter addressed to the faculty and staff listing their grievances with recent administrative decisions, as well as systemic issues found throughout the California University system.

Click the following links to learn more about the privatization of Cal Poly as well as OccupyCalPoly's letter to the faculty:

• Cal Poly administrators working to divorce the state
• OccupyCalPoly's Letter to Faculty

Arrested LA occupiers report to its supporters their different experiences about the recent arrests that they have gone through.  These signature-speeches inspired their supporters to echo what they were saying and bring each verse to heart.  Occupy LA believes that the more these stories are heard, the message will spread ever-wider.  

Appreciation is extended to Tony McGrath for creating the video.