Occupy Cleveland To Occupy Lakewood This Saturday

[John LePlae]

Tim, thanks for jumping in. I appreciate everyone's comments on here and it seems like the only thing we disagree on is the effect of not "bailing out the banks" would have had on our economy. Also, I hate to see all 7,500 or so banks be painted with the same brush. Aren't we really talking about the extremely large banks, Chase, Wells Fargo, B of A, to name a few? Not a bank like First Federal of Lakewood, local or regional banks who weren't involved much in the speculative lending. To me, it's about uncontrolled growth and maybe this is what I mean by "too big to fail". The reason these super large corporations got so big is because most of the top executives end up getting appointed to an administration or vice versa, begin working for one of these companies.

Unfortunately, and this is something I feel needs to be addressed with this movement, millions of American's may agree with the protestors but cannot excercise their freedom of speech due to fear of retribution.

I'd love to speak with you guys more on Saturday or in the near future, but the level of my comments in this forum must be tempered. I hate to be so vague but that's the nature of the situation for a lot of people.

[Betsy Voinovich]

One of the frustrations I (and many others) had initially with the Occupy Movement was that it was so unfocused. One very specific action has been their encouraging people to move their money out of big banks into local community banks and credit unions. I like this because it is a specific action that makes sense.

I agree with what has been said here regarding our local banks who have treated my family very well since we have been in Lakewood. As others have said, the issue isn't with our local banks. I learned a lot from the following story about how our bank bailout money is being used (and not being used.)

Betsy Voinovich

[Jim O'Bryan]

I agree with what has been said here regarding our local banks who have treated my family very well since we have been in Lakewood. As others have said, the issue isn't with our local banks. I learned a lot from the following story about how our bank bailout money is being used (and not being used.)

Betsy Voinovich

Betsy

What i am noticing of the "Occupy Movement" is "Occupy Cleveland" is not a protest against
"Cleveland" as much as it is showing support and solidarity with "Occupy Wall Street" and
that protest that is against what is going on, on Wall Street, and what has been reported
about the banks, and Federal Reserve.

When I spoke with some of the members early on I asked why here not in front of the
Federal Reserve, that said they had not thought of that, but they did want to send a
message of support for what is going on in New York and around the world.

FWIW


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[Jim O'Bryan]

I stopped by Sinagra Square to check on the 2 Occupiers that were stopping by yo explain
what they were doing from 8am - 6pm and all I saw was these two occupying, but nothing
from "Occupy Cleveland" though both were headed off to Cleveland so I followed along.

More later.


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[Gary Rice]

I stopped by the apparently-supposed-to-be "Occupy Lakewood" location late this morning on my way out to a musical jam session...

...but the place was uh, well, er...unoccupied.

...so I "occupied" myself on down to the popular Metroparks monthly Canalway Visitors Center musician's song circle. That's a great informal place to relax and play a few tunes.

I suppose if I'd brought out the banjo in Lakewood for some rousing sing-a-long, a few sparrows might have joined me...

...if they did not choose to fly away first.

I did have the banjo in the car at the time, of course.

Better get back to that banjo now.

Maybe I'd have better luck playing for the Tea Partiers?

After all, I do love to drink tea, and I do love a good party.

[Jim O'Bryan]

This was about 3pm, in Sinagra Park. Betty Boop had shown up to hand out little flyers
about the Occupy Movement, with another fellow from downtown. Not at a card table
in front of Marc's but holding signs, and protesting in Sinagra Park. No answering
questions but lots of good discussion.

Meanwhile Downtown...


It is hard to tell if the movement is catching on in Cleveland. Three of the people in this
photo drove down with us from Lakewood's protest, and left with us.

Kenneth Warren, ex-Lakewood Public Library Director, and one of the founders of the Lakewood
Observer, was there and has been to many other "Occupy" cities, including New York, look
for his report in an upcoming printed issue, and online.

One of the people we brought from the Cleveland protest had thought the turnout in
Lakewood was so low because their is a disinformation campaign that it was not a
pro-active join us protest but simply two guys at a card table.

Hard to say...

The "man" will do anything to keep the people down.


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[Roy Pitchford]

In his article, will Mr. Warren be addressing what his sign actually means? Is it a reference to Diamond v. Chakrabarty? If so, I think he's taking the idea of "the 99%" to an unusual extreme...one which would actually put him and all humanity into "the 1%" which seems counter to the entire Occupy movement.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Roy

So you believe that the Occupy Movement would be for the patient on the Human Gene?

I believe the actual Diamond v. Chakrabarty allows for this to happen, if you extrapolate how it reads.

I believe Ken's article could end up hitting on the why no one can really speak for this very wide and diverse
group of protesters, because they are fed up on so many levels. This was one of many
topics he hit on while talking with him.

While one can easily parse down the Tea Party Movement to "less government" is better government. "Occupy"
seems to focus on the 1%. In a vacuum it would be easy to dismiss both groups. But we do not live in a vacuum
and it would seem that neither the government, nor big business plays fair, or really cares about you, or me.

As for Ken, I have long stopped trying to figure him out, or tell him what to do. I just stand back and watch
the art happen.

FWIW