Noah and Rockelle facilitated and began with the usual introduction and went over the hand signals, as well as reminded the group, “We are not here to make anyone feel like they’re in danger or a hostile environment. We are here to get things done.”
There was a reminder that anyone present needs to watch for the handicapped space.
The Facilitating Team was explained:
Two Facilitators
Stack Managers
Time Keeper
Floor Managers
Process Manager
Space Manager
Vibe Manager
Clerks
The Agenda
Working Group Announcements
Working Group Proposals
Individual Proposals
Individual Stack
Working Group Announcements:
Indigenous People Outreach Group: We formed one.
Free School University is located at the bright orange block on Atlantic Ave. Their
schedule for tomorrow (Sunday) is the following:
Noon: workshop discussion on capitalism energy and climate change
2:30 discussion human need, not corporate greed
3:00 Discussion on tools against sexism at occupy Boston.
5:00 Meaning on we are the 99%
Access Working Group: We welcome everyone to join us. You do not have qualify by a specific label. We would like to create a space where everyone can move around freely and feel welcome. We are part of the 99%. We are open to invisible disabilities.
Arts and Culture: Will be having a meeting after the GA. We would also welcome people who are working on projects similar to arts and culture to tells us what they are working on so there is no overlap.
Food: The food group needs volunteers. Also, a restatement of the no-smoking rule on the GA floor and no Smoking in tents
Legal: Most people involved in the legal working group are not lawyers. NLG is here to represent people who are arrested. Let legal observers know about any activities that may attract police attention.
The following training sessions are happening with the Legal Group:
Legal Observer
Civil Disobedience
Know your rights
If you get arrested, fill out an arrestee intake form. Legal also needs more people to be at the tent during the day.
The Safety Committee stated the following rules:
No open flames in tents.
Watch your step.
Lock your bike.
Clean up trash.
Volunteers, wear yellow armbands.
Keep noise down at night.
Need volunteers.
Outreach: The student march on Monday starts with a meeting at the Common gazebo at 1:30 p.m. Global Homeless advocacy day is upcoming. The group needs canvassers. The Outreach tent has moved from back to front
Proposals
The Proposal Process:
Person will make a proposal.
Clarifying questions
Points of information
Strong concerns and objection
Friendly Amendments
Proposer will decide what to adopt and modify.
Repeat steps 2-4
Vote
Ask for blocks
Group Proposals
The Drug Reform Group focused on a better solution for drug reform.
Individual Proposals
Lindsey: I propose a preamble to our statement of occupation.
Clarifying Questions: Who are the actors? Can we see the words before approving them? Why do the actors have no place in our democracy?
Points of Information: We have a committee with dealing with our statement: SPP. We are just a working group like any other. Anyone who has proposal on their own should feel free to present as they are doing tonight.
Serious Objections/ Concerns: I think we should seen anything in writing before we vote.
Talks about solutions and doesn’t give any. I don’t want a preamble that focuses on liberal democracy. The word state is very directly to colonialism. Let’s avoid it. Does it make sense to draft a preamble before we decided on the body of the statement? We need more historical context.
Friendly Amendments: I believe that the word actors should be changed to bureaucrats. I feel that language of the document should be a little closer to legal language such as wherefore, whereas and therefore. I amend that this document be added to the working document that is being discussed in the SPP. I amend that the proposal can put online so that people who do not have access to this site can read and comment on it. I believe that in the democracy, we should be all inclusive. I propose that once its online, it should be in the form of a wiki where everyone can comment.
Proposer: I would accept the amendment around the actors wording. I will like to put it online. I will pull it off the table.
Brian and Marilyn: We are asking for a position on the wars. Occupy Boston calls for ending the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and bring the troops home now.
We, occupy Boston, want the war dollars to come home to fund food, housing, healthcare, and jobs for everyone. We, occupy Boston, encourage all those who oppose the wars to march with us on the 15th.
Clarifying Questions: Do you want to make these official statements of the group?
Yes.
Point of Information: None
Serious concerns or objections: These statements sound like demands. If we vote them on demands now, we are doing the other demands proposed a disservice. I think the first statement from OB should be making a connection between criticizing wall street and financial markets and the wars. I think that inclusivity is very important to maintain at this point. I think its premature to making specific demands out of context from the overall statement. I believe that the 1% are the war mongers. Too left wing. I am concerned that we are voting on specific demand. The language sounds isolationist, beyond opposing war. I am concerned in how it interacts with our discussion around homelessness.
Friendly Amendments: I propose that this be included in SPP discussion. I agree with the statements, but we need to wait until we have more statements. I am thinking that for now it will be good to do the last statement only. I propose that point 1 and point 2 are legitimate and would like to vote separately on these two points.
Proposer Response: We are keeping it the same.
Clarifying Questions: Are the statements the same or have you amended them?
(They are the same.)
Points of Information: None
Serious Concerns and objections: It is not a simple issue. The wording does matter. I do not think this wording reflects the vales that brings everyone together. Well, I personally very much disagree with both wars; the wars are not why I am here nor are they why we are here at this historical moment. I feel like a statement on these peripheral issues will divide our group. Do we mean housing for all, even people who are currently excluded from public housing? What about using our war dollars to rebuild the country?
Friendly Amendments: I propose we change the wording to say “in solidarity with” instead of “demands.” I propose that we say all anti-war marches. I propose that we change our language to reflect how these corporations are affiliated with the wars. I propose that we change to these statements to match those of the march and then we vote in solidarity.
Instead of occupy Boston, we say that MANY of the 99% oppose, have serious concerns and objections about the wars and adversely affected by these wars.
Proposer Response:We do not want to complicate things. We have factual information and we want to keep the proposal simple. This is a unifying thing. This will bring people together. These are general principles.
Clarifying questions: Was that a restatement or an explanation? (The only thing that was added was that our solidarity applies to all future anti-war actions.) Are we endorsing the organizations behind the march? (No.) What level of endorsement are we talking about?
(We are asking that occupy Boston took a stand on the question of wars.)
Points of Information :None
Serious Concerns: I’m concerned that the war effort is systematic of bad domestic policy rather than a root cause. I do not want to focus on the symptoms.
Friendly Amendments: I would like to acknowledge the other wars, shadowy in nature, that our government is conducting right now. Stand the opening statement to “Occupy Boston stands in solidarity with.” Simplify the statement to we want to end the wars and our troops to come home. Change the wording to 99%. I would like to amend that statement to remove we and our to united state troops and they are not occupy Boston troops. It has a political implication.
Proposer Response: We believe everything is symptom of an unfair society, that does not mean we can’t talk about the symptoms.
Clarifying Questions: None
Points of Information: Autonomous Action: we haz it.
Serious Concerns/ Objections: None
Friendly Amendments: None
Blocks: They are direct demands from this group.
Proposal was Tabled
Marty: Statement of solidarity with indigenous groups.
Clarifying Questions: Is there a written document?
(Yes.) What does decolonizing actually mean? (It’s a process. We are inviting them to join in the process.) Do we have to leave Mass.? (No.)
Points of Information: None
Serious Concerns or objections: I feel this language is very strong and damning of us as a group. It is unclear from the current wording is inviting first nations who are not represented among us or this language was created already collaborated with first nations. I disagree with the language that we are all colonizers. Many people who live in this country did not come here at their own free will.
Friendly Amendments: I would like all people affected by colonialism put in this statement.
I propose that this statement be included with the statement that is being developed by the SPP. I propose that the word “decolonilize” be removed from the statement. It implies that all non-native Americas should leave and we cannot afford that kind of confusion. I would like to propose that the phrase “seek the consent of” be rephrased so that it does not seem like we are asking permission. I would like to add that we declared an occupy together day.
Proposer Response: By decolonizing, it does mean to get rid of people – but to decolonize our minds and it is to acknowledge our history. We want to acknowledge that we seek the involvement of first nations. We hereby declare Columbus Day as indigenous people day.
Clarifying Question: Is this a statement of solidarity? (Yes.) What do you expect to be done with this statement if it is approved today? (Make it go viral and spread the word.)
Points of information: None
Serious Concerns and Objections: They derail our movement and are a waste of time.
Friendly Amendments: Boston indigenous name was something I really can’t spell, but I propose that we add that. I propose that we strike all language except the language that pertains to Columbus Day. My amendment is to propose that this document be directed to outreach and let them formulate a plan to reach out to 1st amendment.
Blocks: No principled blocks
Proposal Passed
47 Responses to “Saturday Night (10/8) GA Notes”
I’m so sad. You just lost my support. I thought that the main issue concerned the connection between money & politics and the resulting failure of – for lack of a better word – the ‘system’ to serve the vast majority of Americans. On this, I believe the occupation movement does reflect the view of many of us. But now it appears that all manner of political issues are being folded into the mix. This is no longer a question of returning power to the people, but of telling us what we should do with it. For example, I don’t support the current wars, but I believe there should be room in this movement for those who do. Before you know it, this movement is going to be taken over by a different 1%. Count me out.
I think the points being made are worthy of discussion, as there are a lot of concerns, and everything has to be dealt with, but with a consensus on priorities.
If people support the wars, let them be heard, too. Maybe they have something worth listning to… maybe they hold some beliefs which may not be necessarily true, are held only because of emotion or some other irrational investment. I personally feel that the wars – what are we really up to now, five? – are a serious drag on the nation’s revenues, historically espoused values, and a detriment on the morality of the US. If other people find value in war, they need to share TRUTH *both ways* in the argument.
I think that this all will size up into a message/demands that are absolutely shared by everyone.
Really, no one ever had YOUR support. You just aren’t in it for justice. There is absolutley NO “instant gratification” when dealing in stuff like freedom and justice, unless you’re in the business of denying or taking these things away from people..
I absolutely agree with the original poster. It is a SERIOUS mistake to begin bringing up divisive political issues that the majority of Americans may not support. Statements of solidarity with indigenous people and pacifist are swell, but they should in now way become the official platform of this movement. As soon as you start raising demands like these we’ll start losing people who should be on our side. 99% means 99% of everyone. We stand together against the 1% or we fall.
I couldn’t agree with you more. This should be about a representative government that would allow lenders, bankers, and wall street (all a bunch of self-serving carpet-baggers) to methodically bankrupt the country (the 99%) over the past five or six decades. While they ponder ways to extract our last nickel and dime, our politicians have conveniently turned their heads. Or, they have knowingly encouraged the unethical activity by profiting from and entertaining the self-serving agendas of low-life, charlatan, lobbyists. We have been subjected to decades of hurtful legislation that is riddled with “fat cat” notions which amount to nothing more than legalized extortion. They tax us to death, levy fines upon us, they take away are houses, and lock us up when we complain. Oh, they’re clever alright! But, they’re even too clever for themselves because there is no remedy for pure, unadulterated greed. What will they do when there is nothing left to take? The time is near when all will be lost. The Fall of Rome will be nothing in comparison to the Fall of America. Now, isn’t this what Occupy Boston is about?
I agree with keeping focus. We can have a focused set of demands that revolve around Wall St and corporate reforms and then a set of periphery concerns, such as the wars and how they relate to the specific issues.
While I agree with te centiments of this document. I must say that this proposal will alienate the Italian community here in Boston.
It seems off to me that there is all this focus on being sensitive to groups for this or that. But we aren’t sensitive to a large group of people who are in denial about a point of pride in their culture. Saying these things creates a guttural response that is so great that they can’t control their emotions on the subject.
Therefore, if we understand this fact on issues surrounding gender and race. Why are we not respecting the Italians ethnic traditions, flawed as they may be?
I read much of why we fight, the truth of this fight, and even how to organize for this fight by reading “The Book of Jack” by Gandesbery. I hope that is blessed, I hope you have it with you. I plan to buy 10 copies to hand out in my home town. May God Blass you all for being so brave and him for writing how to do it.
It’s funny how the socialist big money machine is attempting to ignore you, me, us. You know that CNN and other owned mouth pieces of the old money that controls us tries so hard not to talk about us in a positive way.
Their fake news spewed out over the nation is set against us. Yes against America at large.
They don’t like to admit that the Tea Party, The Occupation of Wall street, the support of Ron Paul over their socialist puppet choices are all linked. We the people, the pissed off, fed up, and fully awake now people. It’s the 99% finally taking off the blinders and the chains. God Bless You.
America never mind we begin to see them for who they are. Focus on change and move only forward. Remain invested in the futures of OUR tomorrow. Fighting now spares dying later.
May God Bless Your Efforts/Lives!!!!!
If you don’t like the decisions, and you weren’t there, stop ya crying!
So it’s the 0.00001% who are there who count? Boy, that didn’t take long.
Amen. I wish to hell I had been there at the last assembly to vote down these unnecessary and unhelpful amendments. Those of you at the GAs who don’t keep the 99% are doing the movement a terrible disservice.
*Attention Lou*
We were there Lou. Several of our family were there from day one. We gave it time, we helped and we participated. We saw first hand if you disagreed or had a different opinion from the group you were either booed off the stage or “hurried along” with the little hand signals. In the least you were marginalized and ignored. We witnessed this plenty. Your movement isn’t about the 99%. It’s about the percent that goes along with the bigger agenda. That agenda seems to us to be entirely left wing directed. We see this through, Unions(this was NOT put up for a vote either), George Soros, MoveOne.org, Michael Moore, Susan Sarandon, Cornel West, etc. Including the thumbs up from Nancy Pelosi, VP Biden, and Obama. You know the saying “If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, it must be a duck”. This along with the constant fracturing of the message of the 99% vs the 1% with all your pet projects. Don’t forget, the 99% includes capitalists and rich people too, so displaying signs and chanting about taxing the rich while walking down Newbury Street alienates plenty of the 99%. Not everyone can join the party @Dewey and speaking from direct experience, you do NOT represent us, and we ARE in the 99%, just not yours.
I thought that “Occupy Wall St”. and “Occupy Boston” etc were mainly about trying to make Wall Street and Corporations pay their fair share to keep the country going and to take their money out of politics. And also to pursue some justice in the system. Until we can have elections that are not paid for by the 1% how can we have an effect on any other policies?
Occupy Boston is about whatever we make it about. It is about what’s important to us. We’re not just trying to copy New York. Justice is indeed the priority. It will take much work in many areas, including of course economic.
@ Tamarleigh “Occupy Boston is about whatever we make it about.”
“We are the 99%, and so are you” Oh…….just not you….or you…..or you…….or you…….or you……or you…….or you…………
I get it now.
Why on Earth do you think that this movement is occurring at this historical moment? Or aren’t you aware that a sizable percentage of the country is unemployed, underemployed, living below the poverty line, being foreclosed on, and/or underneath crushing student loan debt?
Don’t cloud the wall street 1% issue by piling on additional causes. This will lose supporters and get confusing.
I agree with Gooshiem. I think “Occupy Wall Street” first and foremost is about money.
The 1% richest Americans should pay their fair share and stop robbing the poor.
Let’s not try to fix everything wrong with America. Right now I don’t care what Columbus Day is called. Let’s keep on track with the money thing. Everything else will fall in line as problems to be solved.
Remember why we are called the “99%” in the first place?
Anyone is welcome to have an opinion and to be a part of the decision making process by showing up at the General assembly that happens every day at 7pm. Having gone to my first General Assembly as of last night, I found it to be an incredible process and a democratic one. If you have criticism about any of this, that is fine, but most effectively your voice is better heard by showing up to be a part of this General Assembly. Change can not happen unless you make it happen…one slow step at a time.
I know…I really wish I wasn’t working evenings, else I would be there every night. I hope someone of a like mind brings up these issues, at least.
People are busy. Not even everyone on-site can participate in all of the GAs. And they last three or four hours. People have other things going on in their lives.
Also, if you have questions or concerns about GA itself, PLEASE come to the facilitator meetings. We meet at 5 by the stage.
The media is going to have a field day over “Occupy Boston” piling on every cause and issue they think is worth fighting. Why? Because that’s dividing and conquering. Our strength is going to come from sticking to an issue and relentlessly pushing for change. The second we start “protesting this” and “protesting that” we’re stripped of all power and credibility. Don’t fall for this trap. It’s happened time and time again in history. Money. Wall Street. Taxing the wealthy 1%. This is what we’re fighting. We’re taking America back from the corporations. The simpler our cause the more dangerous we are. LESS IS MORE!
I hear you. fighting for* (not “fighting)
I agree! Keep it simple! The more ingredients you put in a soup the thicker and less palatable if becomes. Yes – all the additional “ingredients” have merit on their own, but when you mix tomatoes and potatoes and beans and rice and chicken and broccoli and squash and peas and carrots and every other veggie you end up with a gelatinous glop! Stick to the core principles. Keep pushing to have the corporations and big money pay their fair share,
> May God Blass you
You are assuming that there is a God, and that I also believe in it. I find that comment condescending, and always have.
May the grand Ant King of Tulla bless you. See how that makes no sense? Because every one knows it is the Ant Queen who does the blessing.
It would be really great if I could edit my post, after posting it. That way I could fix all the typos.
I have to agree with the other posters w/ regard to announcing the 99%’s wholesale opposition to, solidarity with, or support of anything aside from this particular movement. It makes us look like a collection of fringe groups, when thr primary message and goal as they’ve been promoted are financial. Most of the left-wing participants (which is already probably most of the participants)agree on these points, but many people don’t, and they’re not interested in Indigenous People’s Day or an anti-war message. Turning off an otherwise receptive older/conservative/traditionalist person whose home has been foreclosed with these issues just fractionalizes the 99%.
Ignore the negativity, you guys are doing great. I was honored to participate in the rally and sit-in. Thanks for all that hard work and effort. Keep strong.
I didn’t see much negativity. I saw critical responses from people who seem to care about this succeeding.
The strength of Occupy Boston/Wall Street/etc. lies in its powerfully simple message of the 99% vs. the corrupting power and wealth of the 1%. Other issues may be equally valid, but none are as compelling and politically resonant with the broad population as that single message. It is the essential starting point for the coalitions that must be built, so please don’t water it down with other issues that may be valid but are a political distraction. Occupy Boston/Wall Street can become the core of a new coalition — or just another fleeting fringe affair. Don’t waste this moment!
I agree 100%, well said.
I want to draw attention to what happened to the crowd during the proposal for occupy Boston to make a statement about the wars and endorsing the anti-war march. The crowd died down heavily because people did not come here to discuss this issue and it turned into a back and forth bickering over semantics, while important, but are very, very divisive. It turned a lot of people off and many people left because of it.
It is one thing to bring up the march for support, but asking occupy Boston to make an official statement of endorsement was wrong and look what happened.
I’ll still attend and support, but it is a shame that it happened and how many people were put off by it.
I think the emphasis need to remain on breaking the oligarchy and righting the financial wrongs that have screwed the 99%. Simply beating back the corrupting influence money has had on our political system would go a long ways toward stopping war for profit, without having it become a wedge issue to this movement. Sorry I can’t be there at nights to make this point or vote on it.
If I was Freedomworks, I’d destroy this movement by planting a bunch of people trying to dilute the key issues with 100 fringe ones.
Or planting a bunch of people who want to undermine the important work being done by calling it irrelevant and focusing on one facet of the problem to the exclusion of all else (a losing strategy).
Do you honestly think we’re very likely to get mainstream support for renaming Columbus Day? Meanwhile, we have an opportunity to get mainstream support for major economic and political reforms that, while they would not make our system perfect by any means, would ease an awful lot of human suffering. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Too many people are hurting too much for that.
I applaud the efforts and work done by the participants in the General Assembly.
I agree with the sentiments expressed by others in this thread — and apparently some participants — that getting into anti-war issues is a mistake. Issues around the conduct of American “defense” are tied very closely to the general reason for the protests — income inequality and a rigged game (banks get bailouts, the rich keep their profits and the 99% are made to pay).
Thanks, kids.
I repeat… I repeat… Time is running out on this. It doesn’t take long for something to get old in a news cycle that goes 24 hours a day. Without a cogent message we will not be “The 99%” but “The 99” because no one’s going to care enough to show up or even participate electronically. Right now we have the pulse of the moment and we have to seize it before it disappears.
Sorry, I didn’t actually complete my thought.
The issues of “defense” and the reason for the protests are tied, and those should be included in any statement of purpose, leaving aside specific but somewhat peripheral issues like ending the wars. There are a lot of issues with the way American defense is operating that need to be changed, not just that there are troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This movement should be about democracy and making sure no one person has more influence over the political process than another. That’s what’s at the root of growing disparities in wealth and power: special interest lobbying, donations, and the ensuing favoritism that exacerbates existing inequalities.
You cannot define this movement’s position on every issue under the sun. Detracting from the focus of political equality and accountability stands to marginalize all but a small percent of people from this movement and thus make it a special interest itself.
The essence of this movement should remain encapsulated by its slogans: one’s wealth or prominence should not permit them to eclipse the political sentiments and needs of many others. Accomplishing that requires scrutinizing the existing avenues by which individuals and organizations wield their power to secure political favors and addressing them accordingly. All other issues are red herrings.
I do wish I could attend the General Assembly. I find it very interesting what Alex posted (at 9:30 in this thread). Please, please, please try to stay on topic down there! And the topic, for now, is $$$$. That’s why it’s called Occupy “Wall Street,” not Occupy the Pentagon, to use one example.
Maybe the GA should address more of the nuts and bolts. Continue to talk about safety on the campgrounds. Ways to solicit the Port o Potty company. Plans for more media.coverage. Brainstorm! Use our human resources wisely.
We *ARE* the message.
I like what you said here Lydia. Keeping on the topic while simultaneously addressing practical issues within the group is the only way to go. It is a difficult balance to maintain, but possible and worth it in the long run.
I attended the entirety of last night’s general assembly (GA) and the first half hour of this morning’s GA and spent the night at the camp. I am pro-indigenous rights (I’m part Cherokee) and anti-war. There is room in this Occupy Boston movement for everyone. The banking system is just the tip of the iceberg. I am male, and I think that the fact that sexual harassment happening within the protesting community is unfortunate, and that everyone needs to respect everyone as people and not think of each other as objects. There’s lots to talk about. Let’s be strong and keep resisting corporate greed.
I am also part Cherokee and also anti-war, but neither are why I’ve been involved with Occupy Boston. They’re also not why the Occupy movement just happens to have sprung up in the middle of the greatest economic crises since the Great Depression. (You have noticed that we’re in the middle of an economic crises, yes?)
Kind of disappointed to see that issues that are not central to why the majority of the people who came out actually showed up for are getting more central attention while we have yet to get a list of concrete demands in regards to corporate personhood, debt-based currency, and campaign finance reform. Sure, we can make sure that all races are equal, sexes are equal, etc (and we should), but without addressing the core reasons we ALL organized, we are fighting to all be slaves that are treated in an equally poor manner. The media is getting bored, and more importantly, our supporters are getting bored as they see our GA’s getting sidetracked. At this point, I’m far more worried about losing focus than being co-opted, as the former ensures we likely accomplish nothing, having spread our resources too thin, while the latter would require at least marginal bowing to our core demands. Don’t take our numbers for granted, and don’t take the stream of donations for granted, because if we fail to act in a timely manner, both will cease.
I guess in part what I’m saying is: Fix the electoral system by removing corporations and debt based monopoly money from the equation, and then use that system to address these other concerns, in a way that is more likely to achieve meaningful success. I doubt many people weren’t already aware that most of us are against the war (seriously, we’re protesters in Boston…), or that we agree that indigenous populations got completely fucked over (again…we’re protesters in Boston). What those still on the sidelines are, and have been waiting for is our specific demands in regards to Wall St. We’re camped out in front of the Federal Reserve building in the Financial District of Boston for a reason…aren’t we?
Consider this a point of process, and frankly, a block. I know a good few people who’ve said that as soon as they have a list of demands to look at, they’ll more than likely join, and for myself, I can say quite frankly that if this turns into just another catch-all rally for every cause under the sun, then I simply will not be wasting my time, energy, and resources any longer. If I wanted to see how long a list of things I can “Like”, then frankly, I’d be home on Facebook.
Hi, I think the other issues are worth talking about as things progress, but I would like to remind you that making this about too many things and creating too many factions will dilute the message and the core (I think) of this movement. Stay focused. Creating too many factions will force you to lose focus and cohesion. This is not to say those other issues have no importance. Please listen to your supporters who can’t be there all the time, but are with you in spirit.
The problem in the 60’s is that people got fractured into sub-groups that fought with each other. Social justice requires that all get lifted out of poverty, but you must remain focused and remember that there are those who will use these fractures to try break apart the movement.
AND for those of you who get all huffy because there ARE discussions other than YOUR core issues, try not to suppress ALL discussions because these can be unifying as well. WE NEED TO TALK, not be silenced..it’s a balance, that is how democracy works, and we do want it to WORK for US, right?
Here’s an example of a voice being silenced by the “democratic process”… I’m glad that we let Jill Stein talk without such obstruction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QZlp3eGMNI
I can’t skip work to attend these meetings. I have several questions:
1. What are these “hand signals” everyone mentions?
2. Who are the leaders of the General Assemblies? Are they elected?
4. What is a “friendly” amendment?
5. Do the leaders read this blog, or are we just blowing off steam?
I’ve seen this happen before, in citizen action groups: Many people turn up because they care deeply about a cause. But some people turn up to stand in front of the crowd, assume the “cloak of leadership” and lay down the rules and, in the process, squash anyone who’s ideas are not in line with their own. This is a strange kind of democratic process.
I don’t care a fig about Columbus Day. My aim is to bring down rich who run this country without morals or accountability.
If the leadership of “Occupy Boston” continues to diffuse our mission, well, I’ll donate my dollars to New York’s “Occupy Wall Street” instead. I will be proud to support them.
Can someone in this thread answer my questions, or at least some of them? Thanks!
Love,
Lydia