As traditions go, the Rose Parade couldn’t be chintzier. So, naturally, the #Occupy hordes of anarchist, cultural mongoloids knew that without their involvement it would be another dull year of decadent middle-class floral hedonism. Filthy and free, hippie vibes moved through our assembly at Singer Park, as #OccupyLA organizers screamed, “Mike check!”, co-ordinating wandering demonstrators in to a concentrated metaphor of corporate tyranny. 

The #Occupy procession was joined by many others with unique views, some draped with flags emblazoned with images of “alternative medicine”, militant vegans, Code Pinkers, men who claimed an intimate understanding of the English-language Bible and an orange-jumpsuited man schlepping a turquoise tie-dyed cross. As 99%, all were welcomed under the banner, #OCCUPY, demanding an end to financial slavery.

Onlookers were sometimes confused by our presence, as one woman wearing a Bindi in the stands shouted, “You don’t belong here! This isn’t the time! This isn’t the place!”

As the parade wound to a close, police trucks pushed behind the parade, herding the #Occupation forces to our rally point in front of Pasadena City Hall.

Adding to the confusion, police removed barriers dividing north and south Arroyo parkway, as local traffic inched through the intersection. Several times local bus’ 266 would cut through and stall in the center of the road, reducing the five thousand throng to otherwise meek and manageable numbers.

Our moral grounds once again settled, speakers from #OLA spoke over a PA to rouse the assembled. Other protestors looked around nervously as riot police gathered along the cordon, but our peaceful assembly, kept to the south side of the street’s double-yellow line, gave police forces little provocation to cross the barricades.

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Further #Occupy Tactics

If you agree with the basic principles of #OWS here are two other ways in which you can participate in dismantling the corporate structure of our society:

• Move your money in to a Credit Union

Banks and the fraudulent CEOS who own the banks rely on your business to stay in power. If you withdraw your financial support from these institutions and invest in credit unions you can re-establish your power on a global scale.

A credit union is a collection of individuals who pool their paychecks together. As individuals banding together within their community they are then able to choose who gets a loan. That means that they are able to support businesses who contribute to their local community. Likewise, I imagine very few credit unions are foreclosing on people’s homes.

• Use the pre-paid envelopes that credit card companies send potential applicants to mail them the most expensive package imaginable.

Credit, and the high interest payments which go along with it, enslave working class peoples. With the United States Postal Service facing severe cuts we must do everything we can to support our essential government services.

Personally, I prefer to send them dead batteries, as these are the heaviest, most useless things I can find (while I am unsure about the eventual destination of this garbage, I admit there could be something even better to send…). Please remember that the people opening these packages are workers like us, so send them a nice message while taking a dent out of unfair businesses’ wallet.

How else can we get involved?

End Corporate Greed and the Need for #Occupy

The #Occupy manifesto, “End Corporate Greed,” is constantly questioned by onlookers and the media. What does it mean to end corporate greed?*

You don’t need a deep understanding of the complexity of governmental law and the incomprehensible language in which it was written to see that corporations are not contributing to our well-being. As the major producers of commerce in America, we should expect these large groups of citizens to contribute to the economic infrastructure of our society. If you compare the simple numbers regarding the tax contributions from working class citizens to that of the ultra-rich, a vastly unjust difference is easily understood.

Why does the government rely on money taxed from hard working citizens rather than the companies they work for?

Irregardless of your political stance, we can all agree that, in America, people who work hard deserve to be rewarded. If you work at the minimum wage of $8/hour, 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, your annual income will be $16,640 and for someone trying to support a family of four, the measure of poverty (that is, to be considered “poor”) is $22,350. 

For “working class” peoples there is little to no hope of career advancement and even those who have shelled out for an education will be woefully underpaid. In California, Governor Jerry Brown has threatened public schools with shortened school years and, no matter who tells you otherwise, education is required for people to thrive. If cuts to vital public programs continue how can our country expect to contribute to our continued survival on planet earth?

Why is the welfare of the average American less meaningful to our elected representatives than the pursuit of the American dollar?

*Forgive me the use of framing this in terms of “America”. I’m hardly one to advocate that undocumented peoples are somehow less deserving of all the rights which are given to American citizens. Likewise, all countries and people around the world deserve the same rights and opportunities.

Equality of Opportunity

Bank of America Flyer

Given to constituents of the BANK OF AMERICA in Monterey, California in solidarity with Occupy Monterey.

End financial reliance from corrupt business.

www.BANKofAMERICAsucks.com

THE SECRET HISTORY OF BANK OF AMERICA

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    Amadeo Peter (A.P.) Giannini was born in San Jose 1879 to low income immigrants. At age 24 in 1904 he founded The Bank of Italy, one of the first banks for immigrants, and “the little fellow,” middle class workers. After the bank building was burned in the 1904 Quake, he helped San Francisco to rebuild with ultra low rates and no hidden fees.