We’ve heard plenty about what may have happened when Occupy Las Vegas moved Downtown yesterday. I wanted to share with you what I thought was the most poignant part, which was the part that did not receive all that much media attention.
Take a look at the video above… And these photos below.
Look at the 99% here. They were carrying signs and shouting out sound bites, yet they were also sending an important message directly to Nevada’s Congressional delegation, especially Senator Dean Heller (R-Tea Party) and Rep. Joe Heck (R-Tea Party). While the G-O-TEA duo were promoting their “Balanced Budget Amendment” hogwash (since they are not actually interested in balancing any budget, all they want is another excuse to destroy America’s social safety net), Nevadans were outside Heller’s Las Vegas office and asking him to focus on what Americans really need: JOBS!
And interestingly enough, Heller’s former colleague (and Heck’s opponent last year) came by to address the crowd. She delivered this same message.
Dina Titus obviously has a different perspective on Congress, since she was briefly a member of Congress (and plans to return there in 14 months). Still, I see more here.
It can be quite easy to become discouraged by the whole process. And it can be quite easy to become distracted by the endless media hype and speculation over meaningless “dog and pony shows”. And it be quite easy to become disgusted by all the dirty corporate money thrown around. Sometimes, it’s quite difficult to remember what really matters.
However, we just can’t forget. We can’t forget the importance of getting involved, contacting our members of Congress, building a real movement, and ultimately using our votes to change what we don’t like. That’s the beauty of our system, and that’s something we should never feel compelled to give up.
We can’t wait for job creation. And we can’t wait for an end to Congress’ charade games that keep threatening middle class families. We need real, bold action on job creation. And if the current G-O-TEA House majority prevents Congress from acting, then we need to change Congress by occupying the vote.
(This gem is also found at Nevada Progressive.)
I’d like see the Occupy movement set up an encampment at the Supreme Court, who has made so many rulings in favor of the rich, such as: a.)declaring that corporations have the same rights and privileges as individuals (but none of the responsibilities); b.) declaring that unlimited sums of money can be dumped into political campaigns (a recipe for corruption of there ever was one. Personally I’d like to see all money eliminated from political campaigns, as it would make them more honest and a lot shorter); c.) the Supreme Court decision in 2000 declaring George W. Bush president in spite of the complete screw-up of the Florida vote. At the very least they should have ordered a complete do-over of the Florida election so we would know for sure what the people wanted – the following eight years were a nightmare. Does the Supreme Court work for all of us, or only for the rich (as it appears)?
Fascinating….
Thanks for sharing this.
I was in court two days ago as Occupy St. Louis tried to get its encampment back….judge said no….the group had no standing.
We held a candlelight vigil and funeral for the effort that night, but at the end a call went out to join the national movement on Thursday in a rally and march. Thursday, nearly 1000 showed up. We made a full afternoon of it.
Occupy St. Louis and Chicago have linked and the tactics in the Second City look like they will work here.
Already working on how to get to Occupy Congress.
Mayor Bloomberg, his fellow mayors and the cops have done the movement a great favor it seems.
Murph, that’s on the 5th of December?
The Occupy Congress, mean.
December 5-9……plans are just forming…oh my God….the energy….
I have never been to Washington DC! That would be wonderful!
Sally, you will love it! It is one of the cleanest cities I’ve ever seen. The architecture is beautiful and there is so much to see and do. I especially loved the Lincoln Memorial. They have a very small book shop in the building that’s worth a visit. In the “basement” of the Lincoln Memorial is a section dedicated to MLK and the civil rights march. Of course, the Smithsonian is not to be missed! The live butterfly exhibit is wonderful! I could go on and on about it.