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Thanks to the miracle of Facebook, I reconnected this year with one of the smartest kids from high school (now of course in middle age.) He’s been following my occasional posts there about the Occupy movement, including the good news this week about Occupy Irvine. He generally has a centrist viewpoint — and he had a question:
Can you speak to the political effectiveness of camping: actual overnight occupation and pre-emption of public space?
The encampment before it got quite so big. Note: grass already dead. (Photo: Occupy Irvine)
Why sure I can … maybe … all right, actually I don’t know if I can, but I’ll try. It’s interesting to note that since pretty much the 1970s this is not a question I’ve heard asked much, which is the first part of my answer to him, which I reprint below in a luxurious and appropriate forest green. Your thoughts (with exceptions that will be cheerfully withstood) are encouraged.
The effectiveness of a continuous occupation of space (public or private) is partly just that it’s new — and so can’t be so easily shrugged off by the public. Where the motive is to get people talking about stark and largely ignored issues like income equality and how to rein in abuses by the financial services industry, just being visible as a goad to discussion is useful.
In our case, we’re preempting a relatively small portion (though still enough for dozens of tents) of a very large front lawn. Still, it’s very visible and at a relatively busy intersection. In part, it forms a base camp from which we can go — peacefully but assertively — into the communities around us and both educate and stir up discussion.
I think that this is effective for us because people in Corona del Mar, Balboa Island, and such are (so far as I can tell) really not used to political protest “coming home” to them. Because we think that our message is one that should be appealing to a great swath of Americans who have mostly not shared in the skewed growth in incomes over the past 30 years, we expect an unusually good reception there.
Even the wealthiest 1%, I’ve found, generally admit the legitimacy of our grievances when you get them out of their defensive posture and into individual conversations. They know full well that the system is screwed up — and they know deep down that it is wrong, not only for individual Americans but for us as a society. We speak to the “better angels of their nature.”
I’m interested in how the violence in Oakland, the mass arrests in San Diego, the impending conflict in Los Angeles, and such will seem when juxtaposed to the placidity of Orange County’s occupation. We took this course intentionally because we thought that this was the way to reach the hearts of our local residents. So far, we’re not making big news — but the news of this alternative path for an suburban Occupation is very big. We’re “of Orange County,” though we’re not leaving Orange County untouched.
And then, I swear, my friend transformed into a donkey that resented paying taxes.
Every Occupy has their own approach and issues to bring to forefront. In Santa Ana, the existing homeless are not allowed to sleep at night with anything covering their bodies besides clothing. (No tents, no sleeping bags, no tarps) The shelters are full and people have to sleep on floor with rats and thieves and sometimes worse. People would prefer to sleep on grass where they feel safer from other humans and vermin. We hope to continue to highlight all of these details and more.
I agree — and I understand. Making the plight of the homeless — which I think most everyone who has tried staying on a lawn this past two weeks better appreciates — is a worthy goal
for individual Occupy movements and there’s no Occupy Central to say that you can’t choose it.
WHAT IS THE EXIT STRATEGY?
All we’ve figured out so far, Stanislaw, is that in one way or another we plan to use you as a diversion.
“diversion”…… Hmmmm
How?
Haven’t decided. They haven’t yet seen the video of you singing with Vern.
Well Esq. Encino, I can sing anything Vern can play.
So if he cal play this I can sing it too.
Didn’t see this post before. You certainly are old-fashioned. I haven’t had my religious affiliation commented on so often since religious school.
Thanks for the sampler. I generally prefer sub-Saharan African music.
The movement is proposing to occupy repossessed property and office buildings.
So Nelson are you gone proudly become a squatter?……. Huh Che?
More and more it points to anarchy.
Where is “:the movement” proposing this? Post a link. Is it happening in Irvine?
Good!
You are following my legal advise Esq. Encino:
If you do not know something google! and; if you are moron mongoloid ask!
Answer:
http://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2011/oct/31/occupy-our-empty-buildings/
Not happening in Irvine, apparently.
that is my question, not only for irvine but for all the occupiers, what is the exit strategy. whether you like it or not, the comparison to the tea party is inevitable. both were allegedly grass roots movements that have or are being hijacked. the difference, in my tiny mind, is that, from the beginning, the tea party had a plan, they were going to get people elected and they did that, for better or worse. the occupiers do not seem to have the same sort of long term game plan, hoping, instead, that some sort of organic change is going to blossom. but it will not blossom unless and until they engage not just the system but the process and that is what seems to be missing. no candidates are emerging to run for office and no legislative agenda is being formulated. i agree that there is a lot of sympathy for what the protesters are articulating but there needs to be something more than camp outs and conversation with people passing by
‘sbeen about a month, Willie. Or six weeks? And no candidates have emerged…
I think you might have this confused with some light entertainment, some reality show.
“And no candidates have emerged”……. Hmmmm
Candidates for what?
Well Nelson you have to put some life into that dieing as we Bohemians say.
Have you review the list of suggestions which I have e-mailed to you re Erwin.
not confusing this with light entertainment or a reality show and, frankly, your response, sarcastic, dismissive, is part of the problem. there is an arrogance that really hurts the cause.
mine is a serious question. if you look at what the occupiers are doing across the country, they are having general assemblies where everybody is equal. and, while conceptually this is is a great philosophy, it is impractical in the real world. what is the agenda other than a vague definition of fairness. how do they intend to implement their doctrine of fairness. are they going to support candidates who want to simply revise the tax code or are they going to support those candidates who call for the dismantling of the current social structure.
again, if you look at the tea party and what they did, whether you agree with them or not, they came out of the box with a specific agenda and a game plan. the occupiers might be right but it is hard to get behind a movement that does not know where it is going. and to be dismissive, or worse, to say, trust us, is to ask for the same sort of lemming-like inertia that you are protesting.
Sorry … in the middle of preparing for a concert today and doing a different musical rush job as well… I’ll read your comments again tomorrow and answer better!
Irvines biggest Democrat (in lbs. and politically) Beth Krom offered to bring Meatballs and finger foods but, when she learned she couldn’t charge the taxpayers, she sent a postcard instead!
Thats the disgusting part of this whole exercise, while Vern, Greg and company rough it in the park, the loudmouths, Blog and talk……
‘So the kids they dance and shake thier bones……the politicians throwing stones”
GROSS
well, we do what we gotta do, kenlay. Hey, tomorrow’s a big party, I’ll be playing, swing by. March at 11, music and speakers at 2.
I don’t even get the Krom joke. Did you intend to be Kromulent?
Beth Krom moved to put the item belatedly onto the agenda on Tuesday when none of us (least of all me) expected her to do so. After that, if she just wants to send a postcard at this point, that’s fine. I’d love for all councilmembers to hang out with us tomorrow, though, and watch Vern play. (I’m trying to get my daughter to sing, too.)
Did you move to Irvine? By your own rules, if you don’t live in Irvine, you can’t comment about it. If you want a fat politician, look no further than Sal Tinajero
Actually, I can. I live in the City of the Beige.
Here is Czech Representation of 1%
http://www.expats.cz/prague/article/prague-business/richest-czechs/
If they made it why not you!
That picture reminds me of Irvine roots as a cattle ranch. I can almost hear the Moo’s.
I am watching to see if there will be a voter drive that may change the balance of power in Irvine or a cattle drive where the failed college students and their “hippy want to be” grandparents are led to Slaughter.
Sit back, smoke a joint, and vegetate on this:
Occupy Egypt was going nowhere, then they got a gun.
Occupy Libya was going nowhere, then they got a gun.
Occupy Syria was going nowhere, plenty got shot by government troops.
Occupy “other” was going nowhere, there is a lack of private gun ownership in many counties ruled by dictators.
In the USA the pen is mightier than the sword, but only if you use that pen to vote, and to vote out the status quo.
If this next November the voters vote to send back the same losers to run the show, I think there we be hell to pay. Just take a look at the city of Irvine, part of the richest 1 percent’ ors. And they are ready to revolt because they feel their 1 percent is not good enough.
Are you trying to prod us to be violent? If so, why? If not, what was this?
You are weird Jew Esq. Encino.
It is Christians who offer other cheek, in contrast, Jews are eye for eye, tooth for tooth.
Pleas make not of it!
I will indeed make not of it.
YOU know, like that big Jewish avenger Jesus Christ!
You are weird Jew like Jesus Christ Esq. Vern.
(Ack! Possessed by Stanislav! Out! Out! The power of Vern compels you!)
“big Jewish avenger”…… Hmmmm
The big guy was Goliath, the Palestinian warrior who was slain by Jew David with malice, same like today.
“(Ack! Possessed by Stanislav! Out! Out! The power of Vern compels you!)”……. Hmmmmm
Vern possesses only his own wind power. (not exactly green)
Actually, it wasn’t with malice, it was with a slingshot and a stone. And it was in the course of a one-on-one duel of “champions” for their sides. What do you think that Goliath was doing there, pining for Prague?