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Forum Post: Occupy Los Angeles is an EMBARASSMENT

Posted 13 years ago on Nov. 6, 2011, 1:01 a.m. EST by sensiblebystander (31)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

This "movement" just lost one borderline supporter. Agreeing with so many of the protesters' grievances, I came down to downtown los angeles to see something which would shed light more on this movement. I saw a tent city of completely drugged out people, squalor, skater punks, very rude 'if you're not one of us you're not with us' attitude, mentally ill squatters and criminals from Skid Row (nb - I did not feel safe there), people almost smashing their heads against the pavement from being too high. Pathetic. And worst of all, Communist propaganda everywhere. Yeah you're cool to wear a Che Guevara t-shirt? Let me explain. The Che t-shirt gained its popularity solely because he was handsome. If you know anything about history your handsome boy was Fidel's personal executioner! Having grown up in Eastern Europe and coming here for exactly the freedom that we did not have, it is vileand despicable to see so much attention paid to idiots like the Revolutionary Communist Party of the united states and glorifying a murderous ideology. And then there's Bob Avakian, who loves Stalin and Mao who are responsible for the deaths of 40-50 million people each respectively? All I saw was the Mao/Stalin crowd - they were the most organized, the rest were there to party. "yeah, Chomsky, yeah, cool man, pass the doobie" There are problems - but this is not onu idiotic but frightening because that s a fine way to work things out. China, Russia, etc - I don't think anyone at Occupy los angeles is actually thinking, too busy smoking weed. And mind you, I am all in favour of legalizing weed. But this movement is not a movement. Arab Spring my ass, they are laughing at us from Alexandria to Tunis (get a map) looking at how delusional we are.

59 Comments

59 Comments


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[-] 2 points by hollatchaboy (55) 13 years ago

I feel the same way...after a few trips down to Zuccotti Park, I felt like I was in some sort of political burning man, but instead of love it was hate and angst and downright stupiditty. I'm all for the change that 99% of the people want, which is removing the big money influence from our government, but full blown communism and anarchy just don't sit well with me. Also having some self righteous faux hippy/revolutionary scream in my face for being a "sheep" isn't gonna fly by my book. Anyway, eventually this will either get organized, choose a clear message and some leadership, or it will fizzle away like the parking lot after a Dead show.

[-] 2 points by wormholes (19) 13 years ago

Vision statement, Mission Statement and Core Values: these are needed in order to move forward. If the Occupy movement really wants to accomplish evolutionary improvement, it must take the time and discipline to work on these core aspects. If the Occupy movement cannot do this, it will not go far. However, once Vision Statement, Mission Statement and Core Values are determined by the current Occupy system, they should be EVERYWHERE and reviewed daily by ALL GAs. All newcomers will know from the get-go what is expected. IF - and that's a big IF - the Occupy movement can get these three components established, it will take on more potency.

[-] 2 points by Atomic (7) 13 years ago

I can understand where you're coming from, however I would love to hear your views regarding the TEA PARTY... movements can't prevent people from attaching themselves to its (the movement's) message. If this were the case, I wood assume that the TEA PARTY was dominated by Skin Heads, hillbillies, and terrorist (ie. the KKK and "Freemen") however I know intellectually that this is not true, I know that the bulk of their follow are regular people with mortgage, kids and a mini van and I think the same would go for OWS.

[-] 1 points by OccupyNews (1220) 13 years ago

I don't recall tea partiers staying for longer than a day???

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 13 years ago

Evita - "Waltz For Eva & Che"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abvQKChM1b0

[-] 1 points by drunkenmonkiees (18) 13 years ago

http://www.youtube.com/drunkenmonkiees

dedicated to the movement

[-] 1 points by moediggity (646) from Houston, TX 13 years ago

Pfbbbt "borderline?" You are either all or nothing. We don't need weak minded pansies straddling the fence. Also, so you just let them party?And you didn't say anything? Do nothing pansy.

[-] 1 points by bettersystem (170) 13 years ago

Force Change, Boycott Capitalism

We know what the problem is, let us fix it and move forward together.

When you look at a republican or democrat, congress or FDA official, Judges and Justice Department, you see criminals.

Our corruption dates back many years to when those, who in trying to preserve slavery, had to find new ways to preserve it and so created a scientific and advanced form of slavery.

Only two components were required -- the illusion of freedom & choice and the taking away of the freedom to live off the land.

This is how to get people to submit themselves to exploitation, mind numbing or degrading work, fool and oppress them into it.

Our current system is rooted in corruption and every attempt in preserving it involves manipulating human thought and turning people against one another.

In America the population has been transformed into two major voting groups but they only have one choice.

They had been distracted up until now with television and American culture which prospered through the oppression of other nations.

Americans allowed themselves to be fooled into using their military and economic dominance to seize resources of other nations and create expanding markets for American profiteers.

Now that technology, competition and conscience have evolved Americans are realizing that our current system of government is damaging and unsustainable.

Our government officials have allowed private profits and personal benefits to influence decisions that affect the health and well-being of people all over the planet, not just in America... how much longer will we allow them to rule over us??

Occupy Washington and demand that government officials resign their posts.

We will setup new online elections with a verification system that will allow us to see our votes after we cast them, put our new officials in office and work toward rebuilding our country and our world.

Pass this message along to any and everyone, we already occupy the world, unite.

Occupy Washington, Boycott Capitalism, Force Change -- http://wesower.org

[-] 1 points by OccupyNews (1220) 13 years ago

better system, I don't quite see how your response actually fits this particular topic.

[-] 1 points by bettersystem (170) 13 years ago

there's a lot of cleaning up to do, from the financial sector to the food and drug administration where big pharma writes our bills, energy, where energy companies write our bills, to weapons and manufacturing who fool us into war, drug enforcement which funnels money to weapons building and throws kids in privately owned jails for smoking a joint while letting the entire nation get hooked on pain killers, anti-depressants, pressure & cholesterol and most alarmingly children on behavior modification drugs. - "they" have wedged themselves between us and our freedom to live.

to go against them or the capitalist system they head would mean death.

this is a crime, the system for the exchange of goods and the system of government by and for the well-being of people should always be seperate.

this new form of slavery must end.

[-] 1 points by OccupyNews (1220) 13 years ago

The problem with piling on with everything you think is wrong is that it just makes the task seem insurmountable. I believe in doing what will protect people from having the debt they already have control them for the rest of their lives.

If people have the right to restructure their debts without being declared in default by the very entities that created the present eCONomy, then the 99% control their destinies to a far greater degree.

The more the 99% control their own destinies, the less influence others have over them, including wall street, the banks and the government.

[-] 1 points by bettersystem (170) 13 years ago

right, we need a completely new government - a clear separation of a system of commerce and a system of government by and of the people, for the people and the protection of their inalienable right to live free on the earth.

freedom to opt of out capitalism.

[-] 1 points by OccupyNews (1220) 13 years ago

freedom to opt out of capitalism means starting over. This means dig up all the roads, power lines, sewage systems, uniform roadways from one city to the next, water supply and start over.

Good luck with that. And lets not forget, the stronger people rule since they can do the most physical labor, good luck with that one too.

[-] 1 points by bettersystem (170) 13 years ago

what are you even saying, whose gonna dig up roads?

just to clarify, are you saying we should not allow people to live off the earth if they so choose?

kill them if they try to grow their own food and live in a home they build for themselves?

"god bless america?" -- really?

just confirm, we want to know.

[-] 1 points by OccupyNews (1220) 13 years ago

Of course people can opt out of capitalism if they want to, and you are free to do that right now if you want to. But if you are advocating it be done in mass, then start over from scratch and build it the way you want.

Or, I suggest not condemning capitalism but the abuse of capitalism that is going on on an ever expanding manner even as we discuss.

[-] 1 points by bettersystem (170) 13 years ago

where do those who opt out go when all the land is claimed by bullets? where are the gardens of the earth, where can we plant them without being thrown behind bars or killed?

[-] 1 points by OccupyNews (1220) 13 years ago

You may need to opt in to capitalism before you can opt out, but eventually you can opt out. However, I think the compromise is to be ultra efficient with resources.

I am getting some of the nicest compost imaginable simply by digging a big hole and filling it with grass clippings and fruit rinds. I cover the clippings with a thin layer of dirt and the compost happens automatically while preventing an infiltration of fruit flies and mosquitos. (I am in California so this is probably not as efficient of a method in other parts of the country right now).

This seems a more logical approach to having the green recycling truck come by and I dump all of my food refuse and clippings, then go to the store to buy fertilizer and compost.

Just practice efficiency all the time and you defeat the evil side of capitalism, the wasteful aspect. I can cook a store bought pizza in almost half the time by raising the oven level to just below the heating element, using a metal funnel to channel the lower grill's heat up to the pizza, then shutting down the oven as soon as it reaches 425 degrees. It takes 12 minutes instead of the recommended 20 minutes at the same temperature.

Just practice efficiency and you make capitalism work for everybody rather than only for the 1%

[-] 1 points by bettersystem (170) 13 years ago

watch this and then get back to me and claim to know anything, i challenge you.

watch - http://www.hulu.com/watch/151119/the-end-of-poverty

[-] 1 points by OccupyNews (1220) 13 years ago

I don't need to accept your insults for my simply stating that practicing efficiency is a great way to practice capitalism and that it can eventually lead to opting out of capitalism, so I won't be looking at your video.

[-] 1 points by Thrasymaque (-2138) 13 years ago

It doesn't. It's a copy/paste response he sprinkles here and there on the forum to pass his link. It's called spam, most likely by a robot.

[-] 1 points by bettersystem (170) 13 years ago

no bot, just spreading our message.

[-] 0 points by Thrasymaque (-2138) 13 years ago

You mean, spamming your message.

[-] 1 points by sensiblebystander (31) 13 years ago

I guess no one got my point - you are going about it in the wrong fucking way - outside of LA it looks well it looks likes a Rainbow Gathering. No one has a fucking CLUE as to what they're doing there except to drop some you know what and sit in a tent. AND what pisses me off is that you can't complain this to the Civil Riights Movement or to the Union Strike in Gdansk. Ask your constituency what happend in Danzig, hoiw many will know? My bet is 0%. Open up another book a

[-] 1 points by carrieVann (6) 13 years ago

Gdansk has been an active trade port, but I'm pretty sure you are referring to Lech Wałęsa and the Solidarity movement. I remember that well. It started the changes in the USSR and Eastern Europe.

[-] 1 points by sensiblebystander (31) 13 years ago

Of course. That was the real deal. Not this rave.

[-] 1 points by sensiblebystander (31) 13 years ago

I am not trolling, I am sore. The idiocy I witnessed today was out of control. I am so sick of it. This is not a movement. It was a bunch of space cadets. There was not message of any sense. there were skateboarders saying "yeah Ive been at this party for a couple of days" and they were comparing skateboard tricks. My wife and I got harassed for taking photos. There was one semi reasonable guy who asked to sig a petititon. 70% of the park was occupied by legalize pot people. Great. I'm all for it but what the bloody hell is it have to do with wall street?

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[-] 1 points by OccupyNews (1220) 13 years ago

I'm sorry that you saw so much partying. While this may sound like a flimsy excuse, perhaps because you went either on a Friday or Saturday you probably saw more partying then if you went during the week. Just a guess on my part.

I am registered to the Los Angeles Occupy site. My one complaint centered around there being no visible written policy concerning who can be a blogger and who cannot be a blogger. However, anyone can post a topic in the general discussion area.

It just seems to me that if blogging is going to be a closed group thing, than I believe the reason why should be publicly stated, which as far as I can tell, has not been the case so far.

[-] 0 points by mickydees (13) 13 years ago

We are responsible well meaning protesters Mon-Friday, can't we get high on the weekend? I don't come into your living room and fuck with your good time, do I?

[-] 1 points by mapparu (10) from Sun City, CA 13 years ago

We need to improve our image.

[-] 1 points by DonQuijote (55) from West Springfield, MA 13 years ago

I have to say, I am all for the occupy wall street movement but in all honesty...some of this people really do make shake my head and sigh. They just don't exactly look like people who would last out the winter when the going gets rough, is all I'm saying.

[-] 1 points by daddyo14171 (48) 13 years ago

I hate sounding judgmental because we are all real people and individuals in our own unique way but the west coast contingent while being lauded for participation is either going to make or break this movement in regards to how they interact with the media.

Having people speak to the press who look like they just got done partying at a decade long rave isn't going to help.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2011/11/04/occupy-oakland-explains-the-violence-or-doesnt-video/

[-] 0 points by nikka (228) 13 years ago

And then there's the lice outbreak:

[-] 1 points by daddyo14171 (48) 13 years ago

Yes - not good....

From alleged infiltration to actual infestation, one death and numerous other issues. It may be time to look into setting up headquarters in buildings and organizing events safely/remotely. Not as cinematic but it has it's benefits...

[-] 1 points by dewitback (63) 13 years ago

Did you see how many protesters there were at the occupy Oakland strike? Its not just about the tents anymore.

[-] 1 points by Mooks (1985) 13 years ago

It is all about the image that the rest of America (the true 99%) has of the group. And unfortunately, I feel like it is an every worsening image.

[-] 1 points by dewitback (63) 13 years ago

Is this a worsening image? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4jYdCaHrjQ

[-] 1 points by sensiblebystander (31) 13 years ago

Yes it is. "Taking back the highway"? From who? People trying to get to work? Like the drivers and stevedores at the port of Oakland?

[-] 0 points by mynameisfred (115) 13 years ago

There was no place to park the Ferraris and Bentley's

[-] 0 points by Richardgates (133) 13 years ago

Your right. Thanks for the report.

[-] 0 points by Frankie (733) 13 years ago

So we can count on your support then?

; ) lol

[-] -1 points by Richardgates (133) 13 years ago

Troll fuck.

[-] 1 points by sensiblebystander (31) 13 years ago

Brilliant. Troll Fuck, that's the best you can do?

[-] 0 points by Richardgates (133) 13 years ago

Need help making a t-shirt. We need to draw a picture of Zooccotti Park with a cage around it. Here are some ideas: Draw a hippie climbing the cage like a monkey and throwing shit.
Draw a hippie rolling in mud and shit like a pig.
Draw a hippies fucking like dogs.
Draw a picture of a hippie eating peanuts like a big fucking elephant. Draw a hippie as a lazy fucking Ape doing nothing.

[-] 1 points by carrieVann (6) 13 years ago

Go for it Dick! Just try to keep in mind the difference between your finger paints and your own poo. Stay busy with that.

[-] 0 points by Richardgates (133) 13 years ago

How many shit paintings do you want you sick fuck. Yuck!

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[-] 0 points by Richardgates (133) 13 years ago

I've sold almost 1000 so far. Lots of good ideas out there. Like: hippie fucks peddling bicycles in the park to run a light. Hippie chicks running out of tents with half their cloths ripped off. Hippie dirt bag stealing another hippies lap top.

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[-] 0 points by Richardgates (133) 13 years ago

I'm left of the middle and I think you know my stance ;)

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