99 Percenters -- Writers' / Leaders' Site

 The difference between progressives and conservatives is progressives work toward the common welfare of all using the resources of those that accumulate resources to the benefit of no one but themselves (and they don't even use them for much of that since they just sit on those resources for the most part) and conservatives work toward protecting the interests of those that accumulate resources for the benefit of no one but themselves and deplete the resources available for the common welfare in building the military-industrial complex and sustaining a financial industry that sucks the middle class dry and keeps the poor impoverished. Conservatives are sick in their heads, inhumane and lacking compassion of any kind. They give to charities as a way of relieving their guilt because unlike progressives they never otherwise lift a finger to help their fellow human beings. Conservatives are contemptible and do not deserve the confidence of the consenting governed.

The oddest thing happened today. A day or so into the Democratic National Convention, a few days past the tricked out, primped and pumped Republican National Convention,

One of the least endearing aspects of protest movements is the whining and complaining about how to get things done. How to move forward. How to accomplish anything.
 
How, indeed.

In the winter, when I was getting messages from President Obama’s campaign about providing it with money, I got to thinking about how the campaign would use that money. I felt Senator Kerry’s campaign had squandered the money I gave. Fortunately for President Obama’s campaign, the Web site for giving money also provided me with the opportunity to put my two cents in about how I thought the campaign should go. My opinion was asked. I felt a bit better about making a continuing contribution of a size reflecting my budget and my not overly zealous commitment to another four years of President Obama.

How so?

The Occupy movement has, as one of its core principles, the idea that all decision processes should be transparent. Accordingly, the work of the movement is visible to all who wish to see or participate in it. Time to put that principle to the test.

Two months ago, an individual in the Occupy movement had the idea to ask the Oath Keepers, a national sheriffs’ organization, for assistance with a project. The project is getting Congress to call an Article V convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution based on the active, clear applications of the states that have been published in the Congressional Record and deposited with the National Archives. The idea is to arrest every member of Congress for violating their oaths of office by not calling an Article V convention.

For the last week or so, I have been arguing with other members involved in the Occupy movement regarding a fundamental assumption. They believe that the apathy, short attention spans, and desire for immediate gratification that describe a vast number of Americans are obstacles to the realization of any change in our political system and must be addressed before any other action is taken. In this view, the American people need to be awakened and educated regarding the issues before change can occur. As a developmental educator, a political scientist who specializes in political change movements, and recovering alcoholic, I know from my experience, education, training, and observation that assumption is faulty.

My husband and I went to see Mirror, Mirror yesterday. It is a rather fun, well-produced re-telling of Snow White from the perspective of the evil step-mother/queen. I just scanned the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Pretty much everyone hates it. And I think, everyone pretty much missed the point of the film. In the re-telling, the makers of this film have captured the mood, sensibility, issues and personalities of our times. I'm too lazy to go into the details and, besides, I think it best that I just point everyone in the right direction for them to find the beauty and deeper message in this work.