Have you gone to your local occupy?

[nadinbrzezinski]

I went today for the vigil, and that meant much closer to the General Assembly...this meant close to 100 people were present, and there was some lively political discussion.

So here is one constant I got...people are pissed. To paraphrase one of the people, what happened to her American dream? She's lived and worked here for thirty five years, and yes...paid taxes...she does not even have health insurance

Another sees the abuse of the Medicare system with unnecessary tests with her mother, oh and she can't see a doctor either.

Then there is the nam vet who's getting one regular meal now, who can't get into low income housing...yes he's one of them invisible people, to get back on his feet...current wait in this city...ten years.

Did I mention the guy who owns five houses, rentals, who wants to pay his fair share?

They get it, it's the system.

Then there is the healthcare activist...

The college student who already has a 60k debt.

The construction worker who gets work a few times.

The mother with her kids, afraid they don't have a future.

Oh and I did confirm my diagnosis. The tents are a health hazard because they are attracting the wrong element.

My only complaint is not the smell, I ain't an innocent flower, but the smoking and it has to do with my freaking asthma.

Oh and as to the vigil, it was a minute of silence. I should have brought the candles, dopey me.

[MrSlayer]

1. I have. I love the enthusiasm but it's going to be hard to make this work for us politically.

And by "us" I mean the 99%. The people I've talked to hate Obama and the Democrats as much as they hate the Republicans. They will not recognize the natural allies that we already have in Congress. Many think we have to scrap everything and go to some radical system that can never happen, instead of infiltrating and changing from within. All of this shit the "conservatives" are doing didn't happen overnight, they worked from the bottom up. I may have to address the GA.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Well there was a vibe ranging from a true, maybe left to center

But take heart, for a few of our partisans there was an Obama 2012 on the ground. But at a meta level this is well beyond the parties. And I mean both parties. Also people I talked to had nothing good to say about...the GOP and a lively debate was had on why obama should be reelected. For the most part I was there as a reporter...I need to turn puter on to load photos by the way.

[coalition_unwilling]

11. You should address the GA. It is your sacred duty to your fellow

progressives and Americans.

See my report of my visit to Occupy Los Angeles last weekend:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=2175014

[Voice for Peace]

24. I think it's a wave; don't project ahead, just stay with it.

Something powerful is happening that I think is bigger
even than an idea.

A fundamental and urgent passion for justice & honesty on earth.

Edit to add, I think it's going to take its own shape as time goes on.. so much that seems chaotic and unclear right now will crystallize.

This is how our beautiful universe began, do not forget: in the beginning, there was chaos.

Look what has come forth. So much order, and beauty, and living creatures, and.. oopsy chaos

[WillyT]

2. Yep...

Twice... and by local, I mean 26 miles away, LOL!!!

:hi:

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Mine is a trolley ride

And since I did not park in the safest and they were running an hour late...

It felt odd to give decon instructions for tear gas though.

[guitar man]

5. Not yet

But I'm going soon. I was going to go last week but fell I'll and was hospitalized for a short time with kidney stones.

I'm getting stronger every day though and will join the ranks very soon :hi:

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Your health matters.

[Blue_In_AK]

6. Yes, I have.

I've been down there for four or five hours each of the past three Saturdays and will be going again this Saturday. I've posted photos here at DU, but for anyone who missed them, they're here: http://northernvisions.smugmug.com/Politics/Occupy-Anchorage I understand that Occupy Anchorage has managed to maintain a continuous 24-hour a day presence since last Saturday.

My husband is going to Texas for a couple of weeks starting next Tuesday, so I will probably be spending a bit more time at the vigil.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. I need to process photos

I went there yesterday and today. It started while I was in Mexico city.

[BlueIris]

8. No. My days of public demonstration are over.

I did that back in my wasted youth, with very little support. So the folks who sat on their butts during that time? Are more than welcome to try to make up for that now, while I continue to repair the damage my activism did to what passes for my life. Good luck, all. We missed you back in '04.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. We were there in 2004

But the energy here s different and quite frankly global.

You can occupy the web...no serious, you can do that too.

[Generic Other]

12. I have been every day for two weeks

It's breaking my heart.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. I see it for what it is, the birth of something

This started when I was in Mexico city. I promised, to myself mostly, to document some of it.

[defendandprotect]

13. kr

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Photos

http://nadinbrzezinski.posterous.com/oh-and-yes-two-photos

[bengalherder]

16. Yes twice.

I plan to go again.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Me too

My faces though don't go on web

[krabigirl]

18. Yes, once. I am hoping to go back again this weekend as well.

[DLnyc]

19. A lot.

Every time I go by, I suddenly feel 20 years younger. Anybody know why that might be? It sure is a nice feeling!

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. Yup

I suggest people do, especially those going but what is this about?

[U4ikLefty]

21. Made the march from Pershing Square to L.A. City Hall.

This is something special.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. Indeed...I've been to a few

Starting in the 1990s as a student in college. The energy is very different from anything before.

[U4ikLefty]

23. Yes, I've been marching in the streets of So Cal about the same

amount of time...since the first Gulf War. Making the initial March to start the Occupation in L.A. was real cool & very special to me.

This time it seems like things are changing. It feels so good to see this happening.

[Voice for Peace]

25. Yes (Albuquerque) and wish I could spend more time with this.

I was present at the Tuesday night eviction from Camp Coyote, (and now they've banned EVERYONE, not just protesters, but professors, students, and general citizens) from Yale Park on the UNM campus. It's absurd.

The police are occupying the park now, not the people.

Yesterday I was at most of their General Assembly, in the cold rain, observing the difficult, somewhat tedious, fascinating and heartening process that people are using to make decisions. (I was there to deliver some contributions of bail mone,y for some of the folks arrested the night before.)

Mostly am following on line and helping however I can with communications network and occasional practical contributions.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. I am documenting

:hi:

Oh and dropped a few things too

[unionworks]

27. occupy erie pa

Brought them pizza and supplies. Thanks, occupiers!

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. Good on you

[philly_bob]

29. Joined a working group, been going (almost) every day.

It's nice to have a defined role and to see who's who on a continued basis.

Frustrating, though, because it's a huge enterprise, with maybe 20 working groups. It's impossible to keep up on all the various activities. For instance, there's all this buzz about organizing a regional assembly, but I can't keep up with the volume of messages and meetings, so I tune it out. Just let me know when and where, folks.

I recommend you join a working group and take it on as a part-time job. Most have an email list or Twitter list for you to stay in contact.

I'm lucky because I'm retired and I live a 12-minute trolley ride from the Occupy site. Also my wife has agreed that this is "the chance of a lifetime."

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. Well to me it is obvious those who still ask

needask need to go... It is interesting and an opportunity too

[nc4bo]

31. Yes, going again tomorrow.

We are sooooooooo small a bunch and most can not physically occupy anywhere permanently but we're active and vocal.

Most of us are well on our way to middle age +.

Link to photos when we protested/occupied the Old Slave House (they try to call it the Markethouse but the locals know what it really stood for and won't forget its history): https://sites.google.com/site/occupyfayetteville/

[Odin2005]

32. I've been to Occupy Fargo-Moorhead several times.

There are a handful of hardcores that have a permanent presence in front of the downtown US Bank offices, most of us go down there when we can.

[LWolf]

33. Yes. nt

[mucifer]

34. Yes one time. I went with a coworker to one of the big Chicago marches

Several other coworkers want to join us next time we go!

[proud patriot]

35. I went to Occupy Oakland on oct 15th

This Saturday I'm joining in the "tax the rich" Human Banner

Here in the suburbs we are still in the organizational phase. Our next move is to meet
outside in a public square.

[mmonk]

36. Yes I have and thank you for sharing your experience.

[Marrah_G]

37. I've only been able to go drop off some food

I'd like to be able to do more. I'm hoping that maybe next weekend I might have some time off to go.

[Abin Sur]

38. No, nor do I have any desire to do so...

Given that I actually have a life.

[nc4bo]

42. Well goodie for you.

However, nothing in life is guaranteed.

[graywarrior]

39. Yes, in Boston several times

Will probably go this weekend after I take online midterms.

[Blue_Tires]

40. yes (Norfolk)

plan on returning soon...

[Lydia Leftcoast]

41. I went down and donated some supplies the first weekend

I should go do that again.

[jtrockville]

43. Not as often as I'd like to, but as often as I can.

I've spent a few nights in a tent, and have donated supplies (food, books).

"Stop the Machine" (Freedom Plaza, DC) is going quite strong.

[woo me with science]

44. Yes, D.C. nt

[Zorra]

45. yes nt

[lindysalsagal]

46. Yes. Posted the photos on here. I was at Wall St, NYC. Zuccatti Park.

It was serene and peaceful, clean, orderly, happy. That was before Oakland and Scott, so, I don't know if it's different now, especially with the snow approaching NYC.

[Bake]

47. I haven't been to the one here in Louisville

But I did see a large group of them walking/marching down Bardstown Road last weekend and gave them a big smile and thumbs up.

Bake