Occupy Wall Street Started 5 Years Ago!

Occupy Wall Street started 5 years ago.

Concepts such as the 99% versus the 1% helped articulate our frustrations.

Money Out Of Politics!

A growing awareness of corporate power corrupting our democracy 

no doubt made Bernie Sanders' success possible.

OCCUPY - 1 YEAR

While Occupy lost significance since it's sudden explosion on to the world scene, locally I can report that a handful of activists have been meeting regularly three, then two times a week until recently. One young man told me only yesterday that it is because of  Occupy and his involvement that he stopped drinking and that he is now a committed activist involved with several local progressive groups. Occupy brought concerned citizens together, we now recognize each other and know we are not alone in our discontent. While the movement failed to thrive and bring meaningful results, the nerve that it hit is still raw, still hurting and is still in need of real change.

May Day Santa Fe Style

Occupy Santa Fe organized an event at our Railyard park for noon on May 1. followed by a General Assembly beginning at 2 p.m. May 1. a day without the 99%, a day of no work, no shopping, no school, no banking and no chores. Bring your family, friends, bring a picnic or share in food offered at this community building event.

Tania, our dedicated activist, rehabilitation facilitator and mother of a computer wiz kid had gotten there a bit early, all organized and ready for a serious picnic that included cheese and meat, with a brand new role of paper towels in easy reach. Later she would be facilitating the General Assembly seated in one of those little chairs. The woman brings such grace and enthusiasm to our community of activists.

 Occupy The Moment

Santa Fe, The City Different, in The Land of Enchantment, home of various mediation groups that have attempted to raise our awareness toward oneness and away from duality, which includes the 99% versus 1%, with some calling on the 100%. Mats invited folks to join in a meditative approach to activism.

NO WAR ON IRAN

During Occupy Santa Fe General Assembly our civil rights lawyer shared on one working group's initiative to urge our City Council with petitions and presentations to pledge a stance against a war in Iran. The raised hands signal support and agreement from GA participants.

NO WAR

WeArePeopleHere! has endorsed the Tuesday May 1 People's General Strike. We encourage you to join the strike in protest against a government and an economy that unjustly favors the super wealthy and big business at the expense of the American people. We are joining the strike to build solidarity for a national movement against the corruption of the worldwide marketplace, which has led to illegal foreclosures, mass unemployment, low wages and government policies that support the plutocracy.

 Passionate Performer

Captivated Audience

Cuddle Companions

Cop

Blessed with smiling cops, 

Occupy Santa Fe has enjoyed leniency from our public servants.

Only one cop checked in on our May Day event.

The day passed without any incident.

No violence.

Non-Violent Training 

for free

was on the agenda the very next day. 

unify

clarify

intensify

simplify

amplify

fortify

magnify

identify

beautify

sanctify

occupy

(Tania's T-Shirt)

Occupy Santa Fe

 Occupy Santa Fe got a tipi, hooray!

Garrick Beck, Rainbow Elder, donated his sacred tipi.

It was set up in a beautiful ceremony.

Native American drums resounded from within
as I left the site just after the sun had set.

One delightful happy camper.

 One guy, one gal and one dog.

At sunset, outside the kitchen.

She said it made her feel weird to be photographed,

that did not deter her from smiling.

She graciously consented to having her photos taken,

from left and right. I did not get a chance to talk to her yet.

The Place NOT to be - WALMART!

 

- Research has shown Walmart pays an average wage of just $8.81/hour for their sales associates.

- Walmart is the world's largest private employer, with more then 21 million employees 

   (14 million associates in the US alone.)

- Despite the economy, Walmart continues to be profitable with 16.4 billion in net income for fiscal 2010.

- CEO  Mike Duke's compensation in 2010 was 18.7 million. 

- Walmart has been consistently anti-union.

- Walmart pays nothing ($0.00) in state corporate taxes in New Mexico

BUY LOCAL!

- For every dollar spent in a locally owned business, 45 cents stay within our Santa Fe economy.

- For every dollar spent in a non-local business, only 13 cents stay in our community.

- Locally owned business recycle a higher percentage of profits back into the local economy.

- Two major chains, when compared with local businesses, gave 75% less to charities than locally    

  owned businesses.

I have avoided Walmart for decades, but I will admit that many items can not be found from a local source, much less for a competitive price. So, if you do decide to shop at Walmart, at least do so not blindly, but know the facts, know the high cost of cheap shopping. (The above info was taken from  a Walmart Fact sheet off the internet.)

Our upcoming legislative session is the place to finally plug those corporate loopholes as regards  fair taxation and in so doing give local businesses a fair chance and the local economy a boost.

Finally the holidays are about people, not things. No need to shop 'til you drop. Just say no!

Why?

Why do I support the Occupy Movement? Because it is time!

I absolutely hate US war mongering along with corporate driven mainstream media's underreporting of the peace protests. I am so fed up with the cowboy mentality that brought so much devastation with no repercussions to the instigators, Bush, Cheney and cohorts. Sadly these days this is continued by our US government, ironically by our Nobel Peace Price winning President Barack Obama, who must have sanctioned the assassination of Osama Bin Laden. Unforgivable for our President, a lawyer, to not have made every effort to apprehend and to have brought before an international court of justice  Osama Bin Laden.

I hate US simple mindedness, of which George Bush will forever serve as poster child. It allowed for Bush to be elected twice, no matter any deceit, he got a lot of votes. This made America the laughing stock of the world. On top Bush got away with it all. No repercussions, except for a few countries (Spain and Canada, maybe others) ready to arrest him if he so much as touches their ground.

I hate US expansionism, no doubt pushed by corporate greed. We are given bogus reasons for invading and manipulating sovereign countries, even when the world knew Saddam had not been involved with 9/11 and we the US were begged to wait for the special report on Saddam's nuclear capabilities and intentions. We can not allow this same mistake, as some like to put it, or deceit, as others see it, to happen again with Iran!

"Military spending, found in the Department of Defense and other departments, has increased dramatically during each year that George W. Bush and Barack Obama have been president, roughly doubling during the past decade... both as measured in real dollars and as a percentage share of discretionary spending. Military and related “security” spending is now at over $1 trillion per year and comprises well over half of federal discretionary spending. It is also very nearly equal to the military spending of all other nations on earth combined. Ending our two most costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan before the 2013 fiscal year budget would save $1.8 trillion, as compared with ending those wars on the currently planned schedule, with savings of $108 billion per year." The 99% Deficit Proposal

I hate to see all those funds go in to war mongering and useless defensive strategies when the American people are suffering and living in 3. world conditions already.  Brown University estimates that our wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan have cost 236,000 lives and $4 trillion. My state of residence for the last quarter century holds the 14th highest position of food insecurity. Kids go to bed hungry, here in the US! I want to see America close bases all around the world and especially in Germany, but instead it was announced the other day that expansionism will be continued now with bases in Australia, supposedly to keep an eye on China. "Today, we know that the "American way of life" – the model that the rest of the world is meant to aspire towards – has resulted in 400 people owning the wealth of half of the population of the United States." Arundhati Roy

While President Obama got elected under the premises of offering change, what we got is small change rather then real change. A mandate for the poor to get health insurance will bolster the insurance industries on cost of those that can afford it least. Nothing but universal health insurance will do. President Obama, while he admitted in an ideal world that would be best, never fought for us, the 99% of Americans.

One of the most egregious acts against the 99% may well come from the Superior Court's decision of having awarded corporations personhood along with an ability of unlimited funding to causes of their choice. This effectively has undermined our current democracy of one person - one vote, to one where those with the funds will be able to buy their votes, not in small part through deceptive and rigged, right wing media. (Why anyone would pay attention though to propaganda by either party, especially before an election is beyond me.) I shudder at all the wasted money thrown down this media monster machine in an endless frenzy of attempted manipulation. Meanwhile real people with real bellies and real mouths and real eyes go hungry, homeless and do not receive the medical care they need, or get it too late. (Check on the stories on We Are The 99%, they are heart breaking.) "Somewhere along the way, capitalism reduced the idea of justice to mean just "human rights." Arundhati Roy

As regards taxation, I am not in the camp that simply believes the rich should pay for the poor. What I  do want is fair taxation that no longer allows corporations and individuals to use legal loopholes for tax evasion purposes. "Closing corporate tax loopholes would return the fair share of taxes paid by corporations to the funding of government. Declining corporate taxation is another prime factor in increasing ...deficits. Corporate income taxes have fallen from roughly 4.8% of GDP in the 1950s to only 1.8% of GDP over the past decade. Ending just two large breaks, deferral of overseas revenue and accelerated depreciation would raise about $114 billion over a decade. The Treasury Department lists $365 billion in corporate tax breaks being gifted annually — that’s $3.65 trillion over the next 10 years. Due to tax loopholes, corporations pay record low tax rates — they actually pay 21% on average. Indeed, a recent report by Citizens for Tax Justice found that Wells Fargo received $18 billion in tax breaks, while both Verizon and General Electric paid negative taxes. Earlier Citizens for Tax Justice reported that 12 major companies which together made $171 billion in profits from 2008-2010 paid a negative $2.5 billion in taxes, thanks to $62 billion in tax subsidies." The 99% Deficit Proposal

There is too the world of lobbyists I personally have little experience with, but somehow understand the need for reform as there is an urgent need as well in the area of finance and banking regulations.


The Occupy movement has only just begun to scratch the surface, but tapped in to an outrage that is profound and will last and will be transformed only with real change.  Global occupation sites have shown the world that it is time and that we, the 99 percent, are willing to go to great length toward global justice.

My Experience with Occupy

I want to explore still why I am so attracted to the Occupy movement, like I take to it like a Mermaid to water. But the influx of information, opinions and happenings are overwhelming. On top I feel like I ought to present a masterly dissertation in favor of the Occupy movement. But I am conflicted like with most anything and things keep on changing.  Even while I was writing my post 11.11.11 describing the progress of our local encampment, the fire department had been checking out the site and had ordered the disuse of propane, leaving the kitchen stranded for the weekend, well kinda. Charcoal grills that are part of the park are o.k. to use and of course the community came to assistance.

On my way home from the encampment through the Farmers Market on Saturday, I managed to score a whole chicken and proceeded to cook my very first chicken soup from a whole bird. I was scared to reach inside and deal with the innards, but my fear was unfounded, all was wrapped in plastic and much appreciated by my pups, but not our Pretty Kitty, he is a finicky eater for sure. I was ready to deliver the goods, a pot of steaming hot soup with vegetables from the community garden across the encampment, on my bike at night, but got a response from my post on-line and got a ride, appreciated in frigid winter temperatures. The feedback next day was glowing "the best soup ever" despite little salt and spice since some of the campers can not tolerate such and our "Chef" had suffered a stroke. Tough to camp out in winter temperatures after a stroke, but he insists it to be his choice. There would be beds and warm meals at the shelter, but he prefers to be an essential part at our occupation site.

The very next day one crotchety, senior part time camper told me that he wished I would do something on my visits to camp. We seem to have a lot of those senior, sinewy, seemingly uptight guys in our local occupation movement. I have been walking my pups to the occupation site and through the park twice daily most days now since the site at my nearby park got occupied. It is a good way to get a feel for things, relay some information and offer a helping hand where needed.

I want to state that I did not vote for establishing an encampment, I abstained, because I knew I would not be an occupier and because I am not convinced that the freedom to assembly includes the freedom to create tent cities in public places. 

There are those that abhor the mere mention of such doubts and want those voices to shut up and go someplace else. I find that offensive and unacceptable. Americans really seem to be unable to tolerate dissent. One dear senior expressed a wish for those homeless occupiers to get pocket money for cigarettes and time off, maybe to hang out in a warm coffee shop. While his desire no doubt came from his heart and his experience spending nights at the site, I find it wholly unacceptable to pay protesters. I always object to providing anyone with their drug of choice, be that cigarettes, alcohol, dope or donuts. My senior buddy stomped off upon hearing my remark, somewhat flippant I admit, and we have not communicated since.

At such times it is good to go back to basics, do what's in front, take the next step. Despite having caught a cold during our last General Assembly and despite my doubts about the legitimacy of a tent city in an urban environment, I took to the street with my erasable bulletin board the morning after the unnecessarily forceful clearing of the People's Park, the Occupy Wall Street encampment. I was mostly standing alone! Campers did not feel like it! There were never as many as even a dozen protesters in the main intersection where our protest were to be held, announced on line while the destruction of OWS still was in full progress! A movement that can not mobilize at a moment's notice seems to me is not a movement! Movement or not, I believe we are the 99%, maybe 99.99%! I might take to the streets, or rather side walks alone, because it is time!

I object to police brutality, to the devious secrecy of the military style police action, and to the thrashing of personal property including the public library, all hauled off in dump trucks (60 out of 5000 books do not restore what must have been an outstanding library donated in part by Pattie Smith.) If you have not done so yet, feel free to place your objections with Major Bloomberg by calling 1 212 639 9675.

We can not eradicate an idea whose time has come!

At Our Occupy Santa Fe Encampment

This evening.

Occupy Santa Fe

Occupy Santa Fe has grown to now feature two generators, two solar panels, a media tent, a good size tent used by the kitchen, and since this morning a large tent to accommodate good sized groups of activists for general assemblies, teach-ins and working groups. A circle of individual and community tents fill in a good size circle that is the occupation site. We are lucky to have bathrooms available near by along with 2 outhouses placed by order of our Major.

Occupy Santa Fe now has a website that features forums and the various working groups anyone can participate in, once signed in with WordPress. Of course Occupy Santa Fe can be found on facebook, twitter and also on flickr.

As of yesterday Occupy Santa Fe raised $2500. There is now an account with Del Norte Credit Union.

Tomorrow Occupy Santa Fe will partake in a nation wide action "Move Your Money". For that purpose a protest will be held in front of Bank of America and Wells Fargo on St. Michael's Drive, starting 9 in the morning. If you have not yet moved your money out of the major banks and are not yet motivated to do so, you may check on these 10 reasons to get inspired. If you have moved your money already, like I did ages ago, fed up with the treatment I got, still show up at a demonstration near you and lend your body to a worthy cause.

 This action will be followed by teach-ins and trainings, check the Events page for details.

Moral Outrage Fuels The Occupy Movement

These last almost 2 weeks have been busy since the start of my involvement with Occupy Santa Fe/Occupy Wall Street, really Occupy Everywhere. The first day I arrived at the encampment across from the Bank of America, after that first big demonstration on October 8th, I simply joined a group of protesters and held up my own erasable board with my message. I live right near the birthplace of the nuclear bomb, Los Alamos, one of the wealthiest communities in the US, that of course thrives, due to their focus on military defense, rather then a focus on green sustainable invention in science. I am outraged at the money that flows in to military spending and I want it to stop!

Soon though I realized that there is wisdom in not making outright demands, yet. This now global movement just emerged. It is crucial to not splinter off in separate factions, to not alienate too many with our individual grievances. But it is time, it is truly time, we are overdue for a rising up and making our voices heard. This is what I believe. Injustice, not just economic, but social runs through the whole fabric of our American society, it is truly shameful.

George Lakoff is right when he calls the Occupy movement a positive and moral force that contrary to the Tea Party does not only care for it self, but includes the 99 percent (in Santa Fe we like to not be divisive and think of it as the 100%) as well as animal and environmental welfare along with world wide inclusiveness. The occupy movement does not hinge on camping out and partying, but it is about a deep moral outrage brought forth in a peaceful, non-violent manner, which may include civil disobedience.

The 99 Percent Declaration states a list of grievances, not approved by Occupy Wall Street, but certainly worth our contemplation and discussions. What follows are a few points of theirs of my choice:

1. Implementing an immediate ban on all private contributions of money and gifts, to all politicians in federal office, from individuals, corporations, "political action committees", "super political action committees", lobbyists, unions and all other private sources of money or thing of value to be replaced by the fair, equal and total  public financing of all federal political campaigns. We categorically REJECT the concepts that corporations are persons or that money is equal to free speech because if that were so, then only the wealthiest people and corporations would have a voice.  

5.  A complete reformation of the United States Tax Code to require ALL citizens to pay a fair share of a progressive, graduated income tax by eliminating loopholes, unfair tax breaks, exemptions and deductions, subsidies (e.g. oil, gas and farm) and ending all other methods of evading taxes. The current system of taxation favors the wealthiest Americans, many of whom, pay fewer taxes to the United States Treasury than citizens who earn much less and pay a much higher percentage of income in taxes to the United States Treasury. We, like Warren Buffet, find this income tax disparity to be fundamentally unjust.

6. Medicare for all American citizens or adoption of a single-payer healthcare system. The Medicaid program, fraught with corruption and fraud, will be eliminated except for the purpose of providing emergency room care to indigent non-citizens who will not be covered by the single-payer healthcare system. 

12. Recalling all military personnel at all non-essential bases ...

20. An immediate withdrawal of all troops from Iraq and Afghanistan ...  
Finally, I do believe the US needs a 3. non-partisan, independent party, eventually.

We are the 99 Percent!
It is time.

We got the power in numbers.

We will be silent no more.