Just when I thought that the government cannot make this situation any worse, I discover that I'm wrong.
This past week, government officials around the country began to "evict" Occupy protester from their protesting sites. Now, if I assume that there is a valid reason for these eviction, then I would expect that the various government officials would evict these people by the light of day, allowing the press to record the proceedings. I would expect the protesters would be given enough time and warning to remove their possessions in an orderly fashion. And unless the protesters began to violently react, I would also expect close to no arrests.
Did any of this happen?
No!
The government officials crept through the night like bandits and thieves, like mafia enforcers who wish to avoid the eye of the public. Police men showed up in riot gear, despite the fact that all of the violence so far was initialed by the police. Tear gas and rubber bullets flew, creating war on our own streets. Against our own citizens, who want nothing more than for the current government to listen to the people. They want Congress to stop practicing taxation without representation, to stop representing the wealthy elite who consider themselves about "We the people" and to represent everyone. They want the laws currently on the books to be enforced, for the wealthy who have been breaking the laws with impunity to be brought to justice. Stop allowing a small group of business to be virtual monopolies, controlling the entire American economy yet having no responsibility to match their power.
The government failed the American people years ago, when they allowed the wealthy elite to dictate the votes of Congress. They failed the American people when they bailed out the bank and car companies, citing that these organizations were "too big to fail" but not enforcing the monopoly laws on such companies. They failed the American people by passing laws that allowed corporations to be a "person" in the eyes of the law, gaining all of the privileges and none of the responsibilities. They failed the American people by allowing for-profit universities to take money for student loans and not give a decent education in return. They failed the American people by using the debt ceiling to get personal legislation passed, putting party politics above the entire country. They failed the American people by faking a "war on terror" and then doing nothing useful to stop terrorists. Instead, they removed more and more of the rights of Americans until we have the situation of today.
American citizens getting arrested for practicing their right to protest. A right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. A right inherent to the American Dream.
Now, the government fails us again, arresting not only the protesters but the media. Anyone who has a camera or a video recorder is at risk for being arrested, not for breaking any particular law but for reporting the truth. For recording what the government is doing, and letting the world see how democracy and the American Way of Life is dying.
This past week, government officials around the country began to "evict" Occupy protester from their protesting sites. Now, if I assume that there is a valid reason for these eviction, then I would expect that the various government officials would evict these people by the light of day, allowing the press to record the proceedings. I would expect the protesters would be given enough time and warning to remove their possessions in an orderly fashion. And unless the protesters began to violently react, I would also expect close to no arrests.
Did any of this happen?
No!
The government officials crept through the night like bandits and thieves, like mafia enforcers who wish to avoid the eye of the public. Police men showed up in riot gear, despite the fact that all of the violence so far was initialed by the police. Tear gas and rubber bullets flew, creating war on our own streets. Against our own citizens, who want nothing more than for the current government to listen to the people. They want Congress to stop practicing taxation without representation, to stop representing the wealthy elite who consider themselves about "We the people" and to represent everyone. They want the laws currently on the books to be enforced, for the wealthy who have been breaking the laws with impunity to be brought to justice. Stop allowing a small group of business to be virtual monopolies, controlling the entire American economy yet having no responsibility to match their power.
The government failed the American people years ago, when they allowed the wealthy elite to dictate the votes of Congress. They failed the American people when they bailed out the bank and car companies, citing that these organizations were "too big to fail" but not enforcing the monopoly laws on such companies. They failed the American people by passing laws that allowed corporations to be a "person" in the eyes of the law, gaining all of the privileges and none of the responsibilities. They failed the American people by allowing for-profit universities to take money for student loans and not give a decent education in return. They failed the American people by using the debt ceiling to get personal legislation passed, putting party politics above the entire country. They failed the American people by faking a "war on terror" and then doing nothing useful to stop terrorists. Instead, they removed more and more of the rights of Americans until we have the situation of today.
American citizens getting arrested for practicing their right to protest. A right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. A right inherent to the American Dream.
Now, the government fails us again, arresting not only the protesters but the media. Anyone who has a camera or a video recorder is at risk for being arrested, not for breaking any particular law but for reporting the truth. For recording what the government is doing, and letting the world see how democracy and the American Way of Life is dying.
