Opposite corner at Judd

There were three of us walking the line today. It was cloudy and breezy with temps from 69-71. Responses were great, approaching 50% again, and I didn’t see any negatives. A couple of walkers stopped and asked what we were about. After brief conversations, they wished us well and continued on their ways.

Walking the line at Judd

One of my friends sent me the following quote. I think it speaks to our current times, to the greed that has caused our nation and the world to go into recession. It speaks to the rigged systems and laws, set up to protect those for whom the misguided, constant, drumbeat mantra of austerity is their only solution, because it effects them the least. They really don’t care about you or me, only themselves.

We have suffered unnumbered ills and crimes in the name of the Law of the Land. Our men, women and children have suffered not only the basic brutality of stoop labor, and the most obvious injustices of the system; they have also suffered the desperation of knowing that the system caters to the greed of callous men and not to our needs. Now we will suffer for the purpose of ending the poverty, the misery, and the injustice, with the hope that our children will not be exploited as we have been. They have imposed hungers on us, and now we hunger for justice. –Cesar Chavez

Judd Plaza - May 7 2012

Temp. today ranged between 87 and 89, with a good stiff breeze keeping the sunshine pleasant. Traffic was moderate and there were a couple more negatives, but nothing we haven’t heard before (not much creativity in our opponents). There seemed to be more indifference today than usual. Rob walked the line again today; finished as we arrived.

The Shredder

Today was also “shredder day” at the bank. The shredder truck actually parked on the street this time instead of on the plaza, right next to the bank’s back door, like usual. They were shredding away when we arrived and continued till about 1:45pm. Must not have been that much “evidence” to get rid of this time, compared to usual…

Found some shade...

We met a young woman today, Kathleen, who is working a minimum wage job, trying to support her family, and totally outraged by the system that allows the richest nation on earth to keep the majority of its people living is sub-standard conditions, from sub-standard wages, health care, food, water, air, working conditions, education, justice, to even fair and equal representation from our elected officials, whose duty it is to represent and protect us (not just the one percent) from the greed and corruption that ultimate power engenders. Kathleen said that she wants to join us on the picket line on her days off. I hope she does, unlike others who have claimed they would.

In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. –Friedrich Nietzsche

Judd Plaza - Cinco de Mayo

Traffic was light today and responses were good. There was one vehement “Get a job!” Some people are so stupid they defy sympathy, much less any kind of reason. What? Is he part of the deluded “53%” who thinks he’s not part of the 99%? Must have skipped class during basic math in the 4th grade. But most responses were excited and positive.

Temperature ranged from 73-75 during our Cinco de Mayo watch. Rain kept us under our umbrellas for about half of our time on the line, soaking my arm with every thumbs up. Rob brought his sign back today. In fact he beat us to the site; was already walking the line when we arrived. Good job Rob!

All truth is simple… is that not doubly a lie? –Friedrich Nietzsche

Cinco de Mayo

Just read an interesting article about the origins of the holiday, incidentally, a very American holiday, as American as the 4th of July… Check it out at CNN.

New sign at Judd

Rob returned to the picket line today with a new sign, “Wall Street eggheads think we’re muppets!” Hope to see more of him.

It was also brought to our attention that some new faces were seen on Judd Plaza yesterday around 5:pm, carrying signs and a banner in praise of Ron Paul. They apparently didn’t stay very long though. Perhaps they’ll be out tonight when I walk through the area for the First Friday celebration? Would like to see if they are really 99 percenters or just Paul partisans…

Judd Plaza - May 4 2012

The temperature ranged from 77 to 80 during today’s watch. Traffic was fairly heavy for a First Friday. Responses were better than yesterday’s, getting close to 40%. There were a couple of negatives though. One woman drove by in a pretty shabby car loudly proclaiming that that she was “One percent, and proud of it!” As Forest’s mother would say, “Stupid is as stupid does”…

This woman is obviously suffering from the true American Dream (read nightmare), to become one of the greediest, most self indulgent leeches on the planet. From her junky car, it’s obviously just a day-dream… and will probably never be reality, just another selfish, uber-rich schmuck want-a-be.

The Kent State Massacre

Today is the 42nd anniversary of the Ohio National Guard’s killing of four students at Kent State University on May 4th, 1970. (Four dead in Ohio… from the CSN song lyrics). Today will be marked with poetry and song in Kent, as it has been every year since that egregious assault on our civil liberties here on US soil, carried out by the emissaries of a radical Republican State government (much like the one over-reaching in OH today).

Remember the times and what was happening around the country then. People were demanding their rights and trying to stop the US from embarking on building a colonial empire. But the powers of the time couldn’t abide that… Kent wasn’t the only incident from that time frame. Reading history shows many similar attitudes prevalent in the ruling class that are everywhere evident today as well. I must repeat my quote from a couple of days ago:

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.  –Thomas Jefferson

87-89 at Judd

Well, so much for the May Day celebration, and Occupy’s attempt to reclaim the first of May for America and the American dream. We had to be away yesterday, but were not really surprised to find that nothing materialized on Judd Plaza in our absence. What does it say for a city, for a “movement,” for activism, if it takes two old, retired people to be the only face to Occupy Ashland? Does everything have to be planned out, along with invitations, banners, signs and slogans for you? Has no one any initiative of their own? Is there no outrage at the shitty deal we’ve been bound to since Regan, or the fact that it’s getting consistently worse?

The temp ranged from 87 to 89 for today’s vigil. Responses were fair, but not as good as they have been lately, only about 30%… and there were no negatives.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
–Thomas Jefferson