November 29th, 2011 Vol. 1: Issue 1
Early American Patriots and Occupiers share common ground
By Evan Harmon
Internet meme Lieutenant John Pike defends the Crown against American Patriots. Source: www.boingboing.net “We are one.” “Join us!” “We are the 99%.” The rhetoric of Occupier signs bears a fascinating resemblance to the rhetoric of the American Revolution. Whereas the rallying cries during the Revolution focused on a government out of touch with the people it governed, economic policies that irked its citizens, and unequal representation, the Occupy Movement is focused on … well … pretty much the same thing. Read on…
“You cannot evict an idea whose time has come.” –Occupy Wall Street
The Consensus Process:
Point and Counterpoint
Occupiers participate in the consensus process at a General Assembly.
The consensus process signal for agreementThe consensus process is indispensible to genuine self-governance.
By Amy Bowen
If you have ever stood in a cold rain for three hours, agonizing over a single proposal alongside fifty of your fellow Occupiers, you will understand why some people are less than enthusiastic about using the consensus process. However, the critical benefits that the process imparts to democracy, and the inherent meaning it provides to its citizen participants, makes enduring a bit of discomfort and tedium not just worthwhile, but necessary. Read on…
The consensus process signal for expressing a strongly-felt disagreement
The consensus process may defeat us, unless limits are adopted.
By Jeff Johnson
Consensus is a grand ideal. Where practical, it should be attempted. Where it interferes with progress, it should be avoided. Read on…
“We are not attacking the corporations, but endeavoring to do away with any evil in them. We are not hostile to them; we are merely determined that they shall be so handled as to subserve the public good. We draw the line against misconduct, not against wealth.” –Theodore Roosevelt
Chad Moore is among those that plan to stay in Penn Valley Park through the winter.
Protesters face Valley Forge-like test, some intend to go the distance.
By Jeff Johnson
In Cairo, protesters are shot and killed. At UC Davis and in Denver, they are pepper sprayed and batoned. Here in Kansas City? The park sprinklers came on during one of Occupy KC’s events and dampened the grounds. Not shocking video material. No outraged citizenry, no city officials forced to step down, and a bunch of local Occupiers left wondering whether they are being taken seriously. Read on…
We are the 99%! We are the 99%! We are the 99%! We are the 99%! We are NOT the 99%!
By Jeff Johnson
An Occupy KC sign
Are we the 99%? Not really. It’s a catchy slogan, and it’s fun to chant, but it’s not accurate. Occupy has been getting a lot of support lately, but on our best day, it’s nothing near 99% support. Read on…
Linda Miller beside her tent at Penn Valley Park.
For Occupy KC’s camp cook, being unemployed does not mean being idle
By Jeff Johnson
Talk to people around the Occupy KC site and they will tell you that nobody works harder than Linda Miller. “I guess that’s why I’m so damn tired and cranky all the time,” says Miller. Using donations from supporters of the Movement, and with help from other Occupiers, Miller, 38, cooks for and feeds between 30 and 50 people on site each day. Read on…
“This country does in fact have a serious deficit problem. But the reality is that the deficit was caused by two wars — unpaid for. It was caused by huge tax breaks for the wealthiest people in this country. It was caused by a recession as result of the greed, recklessness and illegal behavior on Wall Street. And if those are the causes of the deficit, I will be damned if we’re going to balance the budget on backs of the elderly, the sick, the children, and the poor. That’s wrong.”–U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (VT-I) November 18th, 2011
