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Occupy Irvine will be going strong for another two weeks -- at least!
I’ll start with a disclaimer: I have been the primary negotiator for Occupy Orange County (Irvine’s) “Letter of Understanding” and now it’s “Amendment 1” to that “LOU” with the City of Irvine. You can read what I write with that in mind, but I don’t think you’ll find much bias.
Occupy Irvine (as I’ll call it) approved the Amendment renewing our licensed agreement on the Orange County lawn for another two weeks on Tuesday, and as I understand it it was signed by Mayor Sukhee Kang the next morning. Because the document may be of greater interest, you may find its text here at the City of Irvine’s site.
We’re still negotiating other matters with them, even as I type. It’s never easy. We understand that some nearby (and some not so nearby) residents of Irvine may want us hobbled, or out altogether, sometimes for good reasons and sometimes just to suppress our viewpoints. We understand that the City has reason not only to appear, but to be, sensitive to the more legitimate of these concerns. And yet, on the other side, we have our own legitimate concerns as well. Whatever else it is, it’s interesting.
We hope that people will show up on Saturday for what promises to be a good time among fellow active members of the 99%. And in the meantime, we and the City will keep on working behind the scenes as to how it happens.
Greg,
Have you camped out overnight in Irvine?
I don’t know if he actually camped out after camping was made legal (largely thru his efforts) but I remember him staying up all night on the sidewalks back when we weren’t allowed to sleep or be on the lawn.
BTW we’re all still waiting for that Caesar Salad. This Saturday – big Veterans’ Day goings-on at Irvine Village! I’ll try to post about it tonight or early tomorrow
Greg, be careful not become the Great Compromiser. That is not the goal is it?
No, becoming Henry Clay not the goal. If at some point my approach isn’t working, I’ll be replaced, and I’ll go quietly. All I ask before that happens is that people really do think through the consequences of whatever path they choose. Right now, I know that the villagers are restless, and people were unhappy about being approached today (on an amplification issue), but I’m still optimistic and I still think that we’re building something solid.
No offense, but since when do 18 people with nothing better to do than hang out all day at a public park “represent” the 99%. I guess I do mean offense.
Since when do the 1% represent the 99%?
Since when does the 98th% represent the 97th%?
Hey Geoff, “The 99%” is a slogan. Ever heard of one of those? But go ahead…sit there and take it literally and look down your condescending nose at it.
One non sequitor after another – 1) Your initial response had nothing to do with my post, 2) my response to your post is that the 1% number is completely random with no more correlation or “representation” of any other group of “percentile’s”, 3) if you were trying to “refresh” a “slogan” your point was lust in the muck of your words.
I agree, and I hope that the same courtesy will be shown to those of us 53%ers – you know, the ones who actually pay income taxes that fund most of the programs in this state and country.
You “53 PERCENTERS” do realize that 98% of you are in the lower 99% with the rest of us, right? Making and having ASTRONOMICALLY LESS than the top 1%, and that disparity growing year by year?
Flip side: The top half, or more, of us 99% DO pay Federal Income Taxes, WHILE being screwed over. (Not to mention of course that ALL of us pay lots of other taxes.)
So I really don’t know what in this “53%” argument negates anything WE’RE saying.
The problem is Vern you are artificially designing an us vs. them that’s sole purpose is to use the tyranny of the majority to attack a tiny minority without even a significant part of the majority buying into the faulty definition.
THIS isn’t a “significant” part of the majority?
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20125515-503544/poll-43-percent-agree-with-views-of-occupy-wall-street/
So anon, you have a poll that says that 1,650 random Americans feel that the wealth should be distributed more evenly in America. Leaving aside the fallacy that the idea is based upon a set amount of wealth in American to be distributed, the poll says nothing about the socioeconomic background of the people. Hmmmm, do people with less money than others want that re-distributed. Don’t worry that’s rhetorical. You, Vern and others talk about the growing income disparity between the rich and the poor, but you ignore the studies that have been cited by Geoff on here about the relatively good standard of living by the so-called poor in our country. You also ignore the standard of living of the so-called poor here compared to the real poverty that exists in most other countries. I think poverty is terrible, but it exists because we live in a fallen world and it will continue to exist, no matter how much money the government throws at it, until Christ returns and defeats evil. I do my part through my giving to my church and charitable groups to take care of widows and orphans as the Bible calls us to. I take offense to the government and other people claiming that they know better than I where my money should go.
Wow. Well, please forgive a whole lot of the rest of us in this DEMOCRACY who don’t want to wait till “Christ returns and defeats evil” before dealing with our nation’s problems and injustices. I wouldn’t be surprised if Christ returns and snatches you bald-headed for saying that.
And yeah, color many of us unimpressed with Geoff’s “America’s poor are better off than those in Mexico or Somalia” argument.
“You, Vern and others talk about the growing income disparity between the rich and the poor, but you ignore the studies that have been cited by Geoff on here about the relatively good standard of living by the so-called poor in our country. You also ignore the standard of living of the so-called poor here compared to the real poverty that exists in most other countries.”
I’ve done no such thing. Our poor are better off than the poor in other countries? So what? Are we supposed to then sit idly by and accept that? Is that what you’re suggesting? As long as OUR poor are living better, then growing income disparities are acceptable? As far as ignoring goes, neither you nor Geoff has addressed whether or not these income trends are sustainable and a good thing for our country. Do you think these trends should continue, even grow?
http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=12485
Can I be part of the 0.00000000000001%? Because I really don’t want to be in anyone else’s clique.
Sometimes you gotta work with others to get shit done, Chief!
“the poll says nothing about the socioeconomic background of the people.”
If you’re dismissing this poll based on THAT parameter (it was a random sample of 1,650 people nationwide, a methodology approved by the National Council on Public Polls), then you have to dismiss pretty much any poll ever taken or any poll that WILL be taken.
Is that what you’re suggesting? Because if you are, I’ll be sure to make a note of that when…oh wait, you DID reference a poll recently…one of 200 samples in a single location.
And you offer this criticism of the CBS poll? LOL. OK dude, whatever.
“the poll says nothing about the socioeconomic background of the people.”
Does the poll mention that some of these people may be sociopaths? Well, if that’s the case let’s discredit this poll right away!
Well I guess I disagree with you anon that the poor are really suffering when at least 2/3 of them have air conditioning, cable or satellite tv, at least one DVD player, more than one tv, and other amenities (and that’s the Census’ definition by the way).
And Vern, us “radical conservatives” consistently put our money where our mouth is – we actually give more than liberals – and yes, studies back that up. So, I could care less about your weak attempt to claim that I am not in favor of a democracy simply because I believe people are better stewards of their money than the government or those who don’t have as much money as me but think I should give them some of mine. You ignore where I said that I’m not waiting until Christ returns to do my part (I’d be ignoring a Biblical mandate if I did), and neither are many of my “radical conservative” friends. If you actually read my post, I said that poverty will never be completely eliminated until Christ returns.
I know that there are nice Christian conservatives like you who adopt orphans and give a lot to charity. That’s not the general rule. It’s not enough to substitute for action from all of us, together, to make this country a more just place. Of course I’ll leave that decision to our democratic processes, which I hope you respect as much as I do. I think we’re gonna make some progress this coming year.
Yeah anon, I referenced a poll of 200 actual Occupiers done by a Democratic pollster to show the ideas of … wait for it … actual Occupiers. You reference a poll that says that a majority of some random sample of Americans want the wealthy’s money re-distributed. Of course you would ignore that distinction since the socioeconomic background would be vital in your poll to distinguish between those who have money and want it re-distributed and those who don’t have money and want other people’s money re-distributed. But I know that facts are pesky things to you liberals.
Newbie, I’ll say it again and maybe this time it will sink in (although I doubt it); If you are going to inject arbitrary parameters into poll results and use that to dismiss a poll (one could come up with a hundred arbitrary parameters other than socioeconomic status), then you can dismiss ANY poll ever done, and any poll yet to be done. We’ll be watching the polls you and your fellow conservatives here site and we’ll see if you apply the same thinking to those polls.
And while you’re at it, would you like to comment on whether or not increasing income disparity is a good thing for the country? Is that something that should continue, even grow?
“You reference a poll that says that a majority of some random sample of Americans want the wealthy’s money re-distributed.”
The poll doesn’t conclude a “majority”. It says 43%
Do you normally misrepresent facts this casually?
Work with others? Why would I want to work with others that reduce their own likenesses to numbers like 1, 53, 47, 99, 98, 69? For fuck sakes, it sounds like you and Willis are talking about lotto numbers.
Instead of using numbers which tends to divide, cause disagreements and creates virtual wedgies in people’s underwear, how about using a more unifying rallying phrase that is mellow and is non-confrontational? For example, “Gakina Awiiya.” If you want the English translation, Google it.
Well, they throw in their “53” and it does sound silly. But our original point, that the top 1% is doing better than ever in this country while us bottom 99% are sucking wind, is a good thing for everyone to be constantly reminded of. And if we’ve learned anything from the Talibanis who’ve ruined this country over the last 30 years, it’s the value of repetition.
To which I might add: if we’ve learned anything from the Talibanis who’ve ruined this country over the last 30 years, it’s the value of repetition.
Oh, Geoff, that’s sort of cute. People aren’t just “hanging out,” you know. And it’s plenty more than 18 people. And it’s not going away.
No neither is the smell and the deaths!
Patronizing response. Yes “Occupy” is just like Dr. King’s movement except that Dr. King’s movement sought to end racism and the Occupy movement can’t even internally articulated what it stands for. The Occupy movement even existed when I was in college except it was called “those guys playing bocci ball.”
Jeezus, what a condescending, elitist, uppity little ***** you are.
Is that your version of “Oh, yeah . . .” when you can’t really figure out what to say when your argument has been shredded and you are left with nothing but your anger?
Mr. Willis being called an uppity little sh** by an elitist liberal is a sign that you’ve hit their nasty wee cord! lol
The only thing the Occupy movement has in common with the civil rights movement is that their was Occupy movement types within the civil rights that did not belong there.
Occupiers are people we all know that exist but hope never to meet! Mean little buggers!
… says noted scholar of the civil rights movement, Michelle Quinn.
Michelle, if you had been your age 45 years ago you’d have been slamming the civil rights movement and screaming about the terrors of interracial marriage. Sorry, but you don’t get to claim Dr. King’s mantle.
You say that it’s 18 people hanging out, I deny it (based on personal experience), and you call me patronizing.
Geoff, have you been there even once to see what people are doing, before sagely informing us of your belief as to what must be true?
I think that we’ve done at least as good a job of articulating what we want as the Tea Party has. What does the Tea Party want, Geoff, other than apparently none of the existing Republican Presidential candidates?
I don’t know, but the same could have been said for your beloved Tea Party. Since when do a bunch of cranky geriatrics who have nothing better to do represent the mood of this country? I suppose the crankiness could be the result of soiled Depends or the fact that KDOC decided to air “Matlock” reruns during nap time.
I love when our rightwingers get really nasty and uptight. If we weren’t making a difference, they’d just be smug as usual.
I guess us “rightwingers” are “nasty and uptight” whenever we say something that you disagree with. My original post was purely factual and in stark contrast to “Jeezus, what a condescending, elitist, uppity little ***** you are”.
Your post wasn’t factual at all, as Greg aptly pointed out. It was a simplistic caricature. But OK, tell yourself otherwise.
An assertion of fact is not the same as “being factual,” as I’d honestly like to believe that you know. Where do you get the “18 people” figure? Last time I was there I saw about 30 tents alone.
Pretty frisky comments section here today! I’m just sorry that “shape shifting hooker” has started to lose steam.
“Occupy Irvine (as I’ll call it) approved the Amendment renewing our licensed agreement on the Orange County lawn for another two weeks on Tuesday, and as I understand it it was signed by Mayor Sukhee Kang the next morning.”
In the City of the Beige, you will eventually have to contribute some money to Emperor Bren. Ask the Northwood Night Stalker who is the owner of the land that his house lays on in that gated fortress in the Canyon View neighborhood. And if he e-mails you complaining about me, ask him why he is so hung up on Dr. No’s abodes in the City of the Beige.
You clearly need to come join our Civic Liaison committee. Maybe you could negotiate with the Irvine Company directly.
You ever try dealing with Emperor Bren? Negotiations with the Irvine Company rank right up there with having a rational and reasoned conversation with Spanky and asking him about his flip flop vote on abolishing redevelopment agencies. As a good percentage of the City of the Beige residents know, the Emporer flashed some greenbacks in Spanky’s face right befor the vote. Like a excited and horny lap dancer at a sleazy strip club, Spanky was on all fours dancing for his john, Emporer Bren, and complying with all of his wishes and demands.
In case you don’t know, Greg, “Spanky” is Irvine Assemblyman Don Wagner, who is an outspoken advocate for corporal punishment at home and school – hence the nickname. The supposed hardcore conservative turned into an impassioned defender of wasteful Redevelopment Agencies once Brown and the Dems (and just a couple of honest Reeps) put their abolition on the table. Documented for the ages on Orange Juice!!!
I don’t think, Guy, that Greg is really going to try to negotiate with Donald Bren, or actually invite you to facilitate the process. You just keep doing what you do best!
I might invite him to do it, but just for the comic value. I don’t expect to deal directly with the Irvine Company on this. They have people for that.
Having volunteered for Melissa Fox in 2010, I do know that Wagner is “Spanky.” What I still find hard to believe is that Wagner is Asmb. Spanky.
I’d need a link for that — and ideally a video.
To my knowledge I’ve never met Donald Bren.