We Withstand A Withering World

May 20, 2012, 9:00 AM -- Activist Sign at LaSalle and Jackson

Wisconsin

There can be no denial of the disappointment which occurred in Wisconsin this past week. The citizens of Wisconsin rejected the notion of ousting Walker. In the afterglow of the failed push to unseat the Koch Brothers, Tea-Party darling, two things seem to be standing out. First, many people in Wisconsin, including union members, find it unseemly to unseat a Governor in midterm. Second, there is a Democratic majority in Wisconsin's Senate now. This is the preferred solution to Wisconsin's problem. The citizens of the state seem to feel the legislative body controlled by the opposition is sufficient to check the radical, right wing, draconian power of a fascist governor bent on selling the state to the highest bidder. Will it pan out? Time will tell. If the Democratic Senate of Wisconsin revisits the budget bill that clipped the unions' ability to function, then it is a tactic which will pay off for a few more (but not everyone). If, however, this new Democratic body does not revisit those issues, then it will prove that the Democrats are no better than the Republicans in this era.

Arrest in Chicago

The activists of Occupy Chicago once again have fallen afoul of Chicago Police Department. There are suspect allegations that a single protestor threw a pot, pan, skillet (kind of depends on who wrote the report). In the following police inspired riot, ten others were arrested. One, an independent photo journalist, was swept off the sidewalk for doing nothing more than taking pictures.

May 20, 2012, 4:15 PM -- Abandoned Sign After Police Blitz at Michigan and Cermack

The eavesdropping law which has prevented citizens from videotaping police officer in public was recently struck down. That legal nicety is not deterring the Chicago Police Department from arresting people for taking pictures. Having cases dismissed, losing law suits, such things do not matter. Nothing in the future will diminish Rahm's police force. They are going to sweep the streets clear of all journalist and protestors, so that the city remains safe for the murderous elite. This may sound asinine, but it is a fair summation of the situation going on in Chicago these days.

As long as the Chicago police continue to protect the few at the expense of the many, I can't say I really give a damn what happens to them. But I will ask this, how is it that a cop wearing a helmet gets a knot on the head from a non-ballistic object? The loss in velocity over the course of the trajectory would render the blow as glancing at best. If the bike helmet is designed to prevent injury in the event from a fall from a speeding bike, how does a bump on the head by a pot lead to serious injury? But would they lie? We are talking about a police department which has been convicted for torturing people in the name of their version law and order.

Some of the citizens of Chicago say that we should be more respectful of the Chicago police department in order to hold the "High Moral Ground." It is painful to listen to this nonsense. It is even more painful to have to admit that before NATO's visit to Chicago, I had similar misguided convictions. The Chicago Police are doing their best to embrace the thuggish brutality of the past. They are out of control by any stretch of the imagination. It is only a matter of time until that is proved, once again, to the people of Chicago. It is appalling that anyone would continue to support what is happening here in Chicago. 

May 20, 2012, 5:00PM -- Sign found again at Michigan and Cermak

Based on Mark Colvin’s work in Crime and Coercion this is completely understandable. Constant coercion, official indifference, and bullying, produce people who will accept such behavior as normal. That is the sick truth of it. The destruction of a functional civilization is the end result of accepting such abuse as common.

The worse part of this fiasco, however, is that we have to spend time wring about it just to illuminate the official hate on the street. Such discussions take us away from removing the influence of billionaires and multi-nationals from our government… if it is our government at all. One has to begin to wonder whose government this is any more.

When good average citizens are subject to arrest, and confiscation of property, without anything resembling due process, one has to question what is going on. When the on looking citizens nod in consent to the abuse of power, one has to question what has become of the promise of “liberty and justice for all.”

Independent Media Van

We've received many good ideas on what has to be added to the van project. However, as of right now we don't have enough money to address any of them. Again, I'd ask you to consider aiding me with this project.