I have no problem with freedom of assembly but I do have a problem when what they are doing they are going about the wrong way. Remembering my first protest against a school I attended years ago, well the memories of the protest were great. I think we actually accomplished a little too, of course now I have no idea why we were protesting now but it was fun. We did it the right way, the way people prefer – peacefully, still working to make true on what we believed in and we brought our own shit. I think that is my biggest issue with #Occupy. I know many people on both sides of this fence and I am a little tossed in the middle, only for my over protection, now label as “stuck up” in my crazed ways. I have been reading up a great deal and quoted directly from their website (sourced at the bottom of this entry to avoid clutter)…
Neoliberalism is worldwide – it is the reason you no longer have a job, it is the reason you cannot afford healthcare, education, food, your mortgage.
The reason many no longer have a job is because they were either laid off (fair or not), quit, fired (again fair or not) or too lazy to get one in the first place. I take all of my “assumptions” based solely on first hand experience by knowing people who fit into these groups.
The reason you can no longer afford healthcare, well that is tricky. Most companies you work for do offer healthcare and even more deal with private health coverage instead as many times over its cheaper & better. If you are out of a job, you are out of luck unless you plan to take the private route. If you plan to live and be healthy and want insurance expect to pay for it – nothing in this world is free & anyone telling you so is a liar. The only things that you can depend on are death & taxes.
Education? Yes we have the public schooling system until we graduate, but most parents want their kids going to the best schools. Most of these schools are private, not to say a few good public schools does not exist – these most parents who care enough, research before they buy a home to make sure their kids are going to the best public school available. Should college be free? Hell no, I see this topic brought up a lot. “I want to go to college but it costs too much”, isn’t this the reason students had advisers to help them decide the best route to take getting grants and student loans? Do you expect everything free in life? If you want to be a grown up then grow up, if you want something expect a price for it. Love is free but that is about it.
I like a good deal, I honestly do. I pride myself on being a smart shopper for just about anything I shop for. I refuse to pay retail if I do not have to but I never expect anything free, that is stupid. This is my second issue with those who are protesting, stop asking for handouts. If you do not want labeled as a beggar, do not allow our perception of you to show as one in the first place by the things you ask for as a donation. If I plan to give its for a good cause, it’s for fighting cancer (which my mother died from), it’s for kids that need food because they are living in shelters. My donations are not for your lack of proper planning when you are an adult and lack the common sense to protest without proper provisions. If you want to be treated like an adult, act like one and follow through on what you should already be doing.
When people decide they are not willing to do what it takes to get the job done I tend to label them in the group I call “Idiots that need tossed” (more will come on this topic at a later date). The job taking care of their family to pay the mortgage, feed their kids or even attempt to have a somewhat tolerable lifestyle – if you are not doing this, you are an idiot. I have had rough times in my life, many actually & I have known others who have been dealt the same card. What burns me is when I hear about some brat who is complaining about so many things but not willing to do a damn thing to change them. If you are lazy I have no use for you in my life and anything that comes out of your mouth is random gibberish to me.
Please continue to go #Occupy
No I do not agree with everything that the government has to offer, but I am not running around asking for handouts either. I am still working for what I need to take care of myself and my family. I really do not understand the point of a handout in the first place when you are protesting – Bring Your Own Shit (again, a topic for another time). If you want to lobby and change things on a real level that matters, just going out on the streets is not going to do it. Has anyone bothered to talk to their locals within their state or does everyone think standing around is going to open enough eyes to make a difference?. Not a damn person within a level of our government is going to see you protesting and go “Oh boy I better change that now”, it is not magick, it does not happen overnight.
If this truly is the first movement, the second one better be damn better for everyone’s sake. The last thing I want is this blowing out of proportion so that the entire government decides its better for them to micromanage my life for your fuck up. It needs to be organized, you can not go to a NE state during Fall and then worry about being cold when you are not planning ahead enough to wonder how you will stay warm at night. If you are protesting against a government for their lack of planning with the mortgage fallout’s, the serious unemployment rates that we have & the lack of jobs – then you need to prepare yourself too. Yes I see tons of reasons why the government is to blame for many of these issues but you can not call them out for lack of planning when you are doing exactly the same and have no idea what food you are going to eat while you are protesting.
Non-perishable goods only. We can accept packages of any size. We’re currently low on food.
Pot calling the kettle black, much? Sounds like occupywallst to me…
