Rob

I did protest, and I did stand in the streets more than ten years ago now, and I am grateful for having that contrast in my life where I now see the blame and shame I played into; the dualistic, us vs. them type of thinking that dictated my every move. And now,a little like you wrote for yourself, I find myself mezmomorized by everyday life and my fellows without judgement.

I read people are occupying Amsterdam over here, not sure if it ended yet. I think it is hard for movements here such as anti-capitalism to gain momentum over here (the way they did in the late sixties and 70′s) because everybody got their social bill of rights written in after WWII. I mean, when you are paid to be a junkie, when the worst of child abusers are considered “clients” to the very bitter end and go to jails that look like college dorms, when someone (who workd for us in the little bakery actually) can work one Day over their 90 day probationary period and then have the right thru their union to sue you (us/our family, I mean) for a whole year’s pay; what is there really to complain about.

Living in this country hasn’t converted me to a social democrat, no sir. And I am still closer to marching in the streets than accepting the way everything is taken care of here. I just wish they’d be more honest and go all the way and take the “democracy” part out of it here and have all the bakeries be state owned! No, really I’m for decentralized wheel of trades type of set ups on very very small village size scales.

It’s fun to talk about this Rob, thank you! It’s all talk right now for me, while we pay on that one employees year-long payment and I just take care of my mental/physical health and love my children and family.

take good care, Em

I support any protestor who has the guts to organize and exercise their rights to free speech and assembly.

Protest and dissent are vital to the democratic process, especially our rather limited 2-party system. Protest reminds us that all of us do not feel “represented” by this system, that many (except for the 1%) have been disenfranchised.

It is unfortunate that there is a lack of a viable Third Party to represent those of us that cross party lines in their thinking. With the existing 2 party system, candidates for office must “pledge their allegiance” to the Party Platform or risk losing needed Party support. This is true among Republicans and Democrats alike.

The problems confronting our country today are the result of a lot of bad decisions by many in government and the private sector. While there is no point in directing blame, many households have lost the majority of their net worth in either the stock market, real estate or some combination of both. The majority of those impacted by the mortgage melt down did nothing more than buy or refinance a house after 2006 and/or believed the conventional wisdom that investing in a diversified stock/bond market portfolio was the path to a secure retirement. Most of those affected are are not reckless people. I consider myself among them.

Protests in the United States have been a vehicle for change; a wake-up call to those in charge. In my view, what is most notable over the past several years is that people from both sides of the political spectrum have been unhappy enough to stage protests. Many sympathizers stay home for fear of retribution resulting from associating with either group.

The country needs leadership. True leaders should be able to find a consensus between people with differing views. Unfortunately, partisanship seems to rule the day. Perhaps it is time to seriously consider term limits to set our elected officials free. Of course, one then has to wonder if anyone would run.