47 Replies to "Followup: 'Occupy West Seattle' announces first two meetings"

• Bouncer January 31, 2012 (6:35 pm)

  This reads like a group of concerned citizens getting together to think of ways to improve our neighborhood and beyond. So why do I feel an extremely disconcerting sense of foreboding?

• Brian M. January 31, 2012 (6:54 pm)

  “We plan to have an open discussion about things that truly matter to the people that live within our community, and then to take the first steps in addressing those problems or issues, and together come up with a way to attack them.”

  It might be tough to get results with such an overarching mission statement. I would imagine the discussions would go a bit more smoothly with specific outcomes (e.g., The Feb 4 meeting will be about the quality of the public school system, and how to better educate our young people).

• ET January 31, 2012 (7:00 pm)

  Wow, two articles promoting these people in two days. I don’t suppose there is anything political in this

• Amanda January 31, 2012 (7:02 pm)

  Bouncer – Because change isn’t easy and it takes a lot of hard work. That can be very daunting. But, it takes a community to build a community and we have to start somewhere.

• duder January 31, 2012 (7:10 pm)

  Wow. The Occupy movement just got a major dose of lame.

• leary January 31, 2012 (7:24 pm)

  Probably because the announcements for the other “occupy” movements read the same way – then you go down to westlake park and see what is really going on. doesn’t match the tone of the publications. gets taken over by a bunch of trouble makers and drug users, and turns into a dirty, smelly area which drives away customers from the stores they camp in front of.

• CSW January 31, 2012 (7:50 pm)

  I don’t know? You will have to go to the meeting and see that it’s mostly mainstream, middle class people tired of politics as usual.

• Chris January 31, 2012 (7:59 pm)

  @Bouncer – it’s because that’s how you’ve been trained to think about citizen activists. At least you recognize it!

• Tuesday January 31, 2012 (8:03 pm)

  Haha. Best comment of the day, Bouncer.

• a January 31, 2012 (8:13 pm)

  Are you kidding me? All of this “Occupy” stuff is bs. Enough already.

• Joe the Plumber January 31, 2012 (8:20 pm)

  Nothing to worry about. Just ask the folks in Oakland.

• JoAnne January 31, 2012 (8:26 pm)

  Because radical communists who want to overthrow the democratic capitalist system are pretending to be our friends and neighbors?

• transplantella January 31, 2012 (8:33 pm)

  The first thing they need to occupy is The Hole in the Triangle.

  The hole that was created from an existing business, and then excavated by easy ZIRP induced bank lending and fraudulent fantasy development.

  West Seattle’s own homage to government backed debt-is-progress policy depravity.

• Petert January 31, 2012 (8:45 pm)

  The Hole is a great idea for their occupancy. It’s about time it became useful for something.

• G January 31, 2012 (9:05 pm)

  Same message dressed up in different clothes, and tweaked to fit the times. Same modus operandi, too. Find a common grievance – in this banks or rich people – and then use that common rallying call to slip in the rest of the leftist doctrine.

• nereid January 31, 2012 (9:05 pm)

  “democratic capitalist system”? democracy does not require capitalism. People may in fact be against the tenets of capitalism without being communists. Heck, they may even believe very strongly in a truly democratic system of governance free from the influence of corporations. If caring about our fellow man over the greedy self interest of those currently in charge is what being a communist truly means then I’ll allow myself to be branded as such without shame. But its always so sad to think that people would rather label and fear than spend any real time thinking these complex issues through and allowing their expectations to be challenged.

• Sympathetic but Enough of Occupy January 31, 2012 (9:15 pm)

  Please let’s not do this in West Seattle. It has become counter-productive. Alienates the very people needed to make a lasting difference. Time to retire Occupy and move on.

• Jerry Whiting January 31, 2012 (9:34 pm)

  What I’ve been impressed with (sic) is that those who profess to know so much about #Occupy have never talked with anyone involved, get most of their news from Fox et al., and are the first to drag out old tired stereotypes and assorted half-truths.
  Quit being sheep. Think for yourself for a change. And if you don’t want to lend a hand, get outta of the way of those that are more than willing to do what it takes.
  Oh, and I ain’t no smelly hippie.

• old timer January 31, 2012 (10:37 pm)

  Their first meeting, at the Admiral Library, was most interesting and had standing room only attendance.
  It’s great fun to get out of your comfort zone.
  It’s a real surprise to see who else shows up, and to hear
  what their many issues actually are.
  These people are our neighbors, our families, and our friends,
  although probably not the same scary ones doing 55mph on Admiral Way or 35th SW, but, then again, maybe…
  You will just have to go and see for yourself.

• WSTroll January 31, 2012 (10:43 pm)

  Howbout occupy a job?

• Nick January 31, 2012 (11:02 pm)

  Interesting how much coverage this silliness is getting on here.

• Yardvark February 1, 2012 (5:01 am)

  Well said, Jerry. Glad to have Occupy in town!

• Smitty February 1, 2012 (6:33 am)

  This thing is still going on?

• Pete February 1, 2012 (8:17 am)

  As someone who spoke with members of the OS movement on a daily basis, this is a bad move for the Neighbors for Peace & Justice. OS and the OWS movement in general was and is an abject failure that didn’t even resonate with the people they purport to represent. So why on earth would you denigrate your name to associate with them and adopt tactics that are proven to be unsuccessful. In other words, if you don’t realize by now Occupy is a joke of a movement, you are dense and doomed to repeat their failure. And this is from someone who supports the underlying tenets of income equality.

• orca February 1, 2012 (8:18 am)

  I cannot grasp what it is that the Occupy group actually wants. It seems to be rhetoric about closing down the evil corporations and banks.
  The thing that bothers me is:
  1. Where do the people who now work for these corporations get a job. If places like Boeing and Microsoft (“big corporations”) are somehow closed down…where do all those people work?
  2. How do you actually propose to close them down?
  Two simple questions. Are there two simple answers or just more feel good rhetoric?
  Is there a plan?

• olive.and.june February 1, 2012 (8:48 am)

  wow. I’m disappointed to read all the comments. It’s unbelievable to me how fearful of change and community involvement folks act.

• wseavirgo February 1, 2012 (10:08 am)

  It is not about closing down corporations. It is about corporations paying their fair share of taxes and being accountable. Keeping their profits in the US of A and being taxed on them fairly just like the rest of us.

• wseavirgo February 1, 2012 (10:12 am)

  There is also the matter of those cute little bail outs which did nothing to help the problem, but did put more money in the pockets of the uber rich.

• Tuesday February 1, 2012 (10:19 am)

  I don’t think it’s fear of community involvement. What I read is concern that it will likely turn out to be the kind of community involvement that people don’t want. Not all change is good. Usually when people do things for the “greater good” it’s shortsighted, poorly planned action like say… banning plastic grocery bags… that ends up being the result. The “just do something” attitude is one that’s leading down all kinds of emotionally driven, poorly conceived paths. I’m actually really happy to see all of the comments questioning the reasonability of “moving Occupy to the neighborhoods” or anywhere for that matter.

• Brian M. February 1, 2012 (10:30 am)

  Olive and June, I am actually proud at how involved our West Seattle community actually is. This site is full of near-daily examples that demonstrate our community spirit.

• M February 1, 2012 (10:31 am)

  It’s pretty beleivable when these same people are responsible for violence & property damage, olive and june

• Kate K February 1, 2012 (10:43 am)

  I support the Occupy movement and don’t want to close down corporations or banks. What I do want is fairness. When you and I pay more taxes than GE or Wells Fargo does that seem remotely fair?

  There are two sets of rules, one for the wealthy and corporations with lobbyists who can buy influence and create the rules that favor themselves. And the middle class gets stuck with the tab. It’s time to change this.

• Yardvark February 1, 2012 (10:46 am)

  Don’t you have the plan, orca?

• G February 1, 2012 (11:47 am)

  “get most of their news from Fox et al., and are the first to drag out old tired stereotypes and assorted half-truths.”

  Kettle: meet pot.

• Amanda February 1, 2012 (1:24 pm)

  Well, like I say to all naysayers – you can complain all you want, but unless you take a stand and do something – you are just part of the problem, not part of the solution. It’s time we become yaysayers and change the tone of this country and the tone of Government.

• 33Pete February 1, 2012 (1:31 pm)

  “I’m disappointed to read all the comments. It’s unbelievable to me how fearful of change and community involvement folks act.”

  Actually, the comments are pretty targeted to half-baked groups like Occupy. Indeed, there are accolades for more well thought, organized groups like The Neighbors for Peace & Justice (who ironically, are the ones now seeking to jump on the Occupy tag).

  I mean really people, Occupy Seattle was a total and complete joke. It quickly devolved into nothing more than a bunch of people camping trying to have their “look at me” moment, egging on the police and then complaining when they were asked to disprese. Other than grabbing some headlines for the questionable police response (which ranks up their with Sandusky’s recent media presence), what on earth did they accomplish?

• 33Pete February 1, 2012 (1:33 pm)

  “Well, like I say to all naysayers – you can complain all you want, but unless you take a stand and do something – you are just part of the problem, not part of the solution.”

  So, under that logic, I assume you include Occupy as part of the problem (given their lack of actually doing something). Or do you give credit for simply camping on public property in violation of the law and egging on the police (which has nothing to do with the underlying tenets of the movement).

• sarelly February 1, 2012 (2:35 pm)

  The issues motivating the Occupy movement, as I understand them, include but are not limited to 1.)Campaign finance reform, so that the richest candidates who receive huge corporate donations don’t win just because they can afford to drown out the message of the other guys 2.)Making everyone equally accountable under the law, so that corporate CEOs can’t rob people with impunity. The government shouldn’t have bailed out the banks who mismanaged their own businesses by making bad and fraudulent mortgages. It’s about accountability. The wealthiest people in the country shouldn’t be able to break the law, nor should they be able to buy or control the law by buying political influence. 3.) Raising the quality of life for the lowest income people improves the national quality of life for ALL citizens. 40 years ago, the rich paid a higher percentage of their incomes in taxes, workers got a minimum wage they could live on. 4.) Privatizing essential services is a recipe for corruption and low standards (i.e. education, the U.S. mail, prisons, private security forces).

  Now, whether a bunch of people sitting around in the rain is a constructive or meaningful way to address these problems, I think the time has come to reconsider that approach. When the protests began, I was inspired and encouraged to see that many people are equally frustrated with the current economic disaster and the freedom of the wealthy class to break the law. Demonstrations will not change anything. Those calling for a national general strike make more sense. But goals do need to be clarified and made explicit – to the people who can actually do something about them.

  As I personally don’t believe in waiting around for people with money and power to give me what I need, I think it would be more practical to focus on increased self-sufficiency measures, such as growing food, getting out of debt, moving my money to a credit union, becoming self-employed, getting off the power grid, avoiding big-box stores, and removing myself as much as possible from the corporate-driven gerbil wheel. Money talks, and we have to be very careful where we put our money.

  We are becoming a third-world nation. Hopefully it will not be a military dictatorship.

• LA February 1, 2012 (2:39 pm)

  Encouraging those for and against to go to http://www.occupylove.org. See what it’s about. It’s about the people waking up to what is really happening. Nobody professed to know what to do. Many people professed to care, and that is how Occupy has started and grown. It’s not going away, so get informed.

• Concerned for USA February 1, 2012 (4:29 pm)

  Let’s not bicker about the Occupy Movement, let’s get on board! One thing Occupy is working on is getting the big $$$ out of elections. Let’s work together to end ‘Citizens United’ that allows Corporations to spend money on elections through Super PACs without disclosure. Jim McDermott (7th District US House of Representatives) says, “The notion that corporations have the same First Amendment speech protections as people deeply concerns me. Corporations are not people. They don’t attend our schools and breathe our air. Corporations cannot vote in our elections. Yet, in the Citizens United case, the court ruled that they have the same free-speech rights as you and I, despite the fact that large businesses can afford to buy expensive TV ads while most individuals cannot. The result is the concentrated wealth, now known as the 1 percent, has been given an even larger megaphone with which to drive the tone and content of our public debate.” (Seattle Times editorial 1/30/2012). This is worth combining our efforts with Occupy Groups all across the country and fixing this troubling ruling while we still have a democracy!

• westseattledood February 1, 2012 (5:10 pm)

  Has anybody heard whether there is an Occupy White Center meeting being organized? If so, think about sending whatever info you have to the editor…

• Amanda February 1, 2012 (5:38 pm)

  @33Pete – Yes. I credit the Occupy Movement for adding 660,000 new members to BECU, forcing BoA (and other) to rescind their $5 debit card fees, Warren Buffet’s Millionaires Tax proposal, Joe Leiberman’s proposal to eliminate inside trading for Congress, and ultimately President Obama’s calling Congress out during the State of the Union address. What you see as “simply camping on public property in violation of the law and egging on the police” is actually a very small part of the movement. It was the start, and what has happened since is the reality. It will take all of us to force change, and what sarelly (and many others) are doing is the new Occupy.

• Bouncer February 2, 2012 (8:53 am)

  Why do I suspect there won’t be a huge hue and cry to Occupy White Center? ;)

• blackwatch February 3, 2012 (12:45 am)

  I totally support what the 99%’s are doing. Because of these folks, we are at least discussing these issues that otherwise would be swept under the rug and it would be business as usual. No wonder that the media has gone against them and their ranks have been infiltrated with anarchists and troublemakers. I’m just hoping they/We get it together as the spring comes.
  Go ahead and knock these people but they seem to be the only ones asking why:
  -Is there such a huge financial inequality ?
  -Is it that the people responsible for the financial meltdown haven’t been brought to justice when everyone knows laws were broken?
  -Why isn’t anyone screaming for the Glass–Steagall Act being re-enacted?
  -And why can’t people see that by knocking citizen involvement they are doing exactly what the
  powers that be want them to and are certainly working against their own best interests.
  Yes, this group is disorganized, has a scattered, unclear message, and has been reduced to a ragged bunch of individuals most of whom can only stay at these camps because they are out of work, but come spring time when the weather lets up, if these people/we can get organised good things could come of it. Support these people, we really don’t have much more before the powers that be take it all. “It’s later than you think”

• Aman February 7, 2012 (5:00 pm)

  Anyone make the meeting in Alki last Saturday afternoon? How was the turn-out? How was the ‘Energy?’ How was the focus/organization?

• Aman February 12, 2012 (12:50 pm)

  Anyone make the meeting at Westside Unitarian Universalist Church this past Saturday (2/11)afternoon?

  How was the turn-out? How was the ‘Energy?’ How was the focus/organization?

  • WSB February 12, 2012 (12:57 pm)

    Hey Aman – we weren’t able to cover either one, conflicts both times. I have not heard directly from anyone who did go but you might consider (a) asking in the WSB Forums, where I think a couple of regulars were at least expressing interest, and/or (b) checking out their presence on Facebook. There is both a group and a “page,” both titled Occupy West Seattle. I haven’t looked for a day or two but I believe organizers, or whatever you call people who make things happen in the theoretically leaderless OWS movement, have been hanging out there – TR

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