Roger Maxwell
Or does it?
How could "Occupy" even have a hint of support in Culver City? Our streets are safe, our parks are clean and well maintained, we have a state of the art Senior Center. We have our own responsive Fire Department as well as our local Police Department. And we have our own high ranking schools...and our own School District. We have gaggles of informed citizens who are in full court press at City Hall and at the Unified School District Headquarters who express their feelings, opinions, and concerns on a regular, continued, and sustaining basis.
Whither, "Occupy"?
Five days ago, on the windshield of my car, came the first ever political flyer that I have received in Culver City. The pamphleteer wanted me to look at Youtube Video on the 'Federal Reserve', "Quantitative Easing", and 'the essence of the banking system." Moreover the flyer asked me to Google "Why the Federal Reserve is Bad" and why we should "Nationalize the Federal Reserve." Right here in Culver City, folks.
However, anonymous pamphlets withstanding, there are some major issues in the U.S.A. at this time. Here in Culver City some homeowners are underwater on their mortgages. Some have had their homes foreclosed upon. In this politically sophisticated city there are some who remember the marches of the 60's who fought for civil rights with non-violent demonstrations. In the 70's some here marched against the Vietnam War. Now we have two wars Iraq and, in Afghanistan, the longest running war in the history of the United States both of whose military budgets drain programs for domestic consumption. The bail out of wall street has no scoundrels in jail yet a food stamp manipulator goes to jail. There is massive deficient spending yet local municipalities squirm to provide adequate services. The disconnect regarding tax loop holes continues and the 99% start to voice their outrage. Some California students harass the Regents after they had voted to raise, yet again, student fees (while paying a new administrator a $100,000 raise over his predecessor -- a yearly salary of $400,000).
Clearly these are not ordinary times.
I have read that the Time Magazine's Man of the Year may in fact be the 'Occupy' movement. Or maybe the 'Arab Spring' phenomena. Senator John McCain, not exactly a maverick from the left, has publicly stated that a 3rd political party may emerge soon, forcing both Republican and Democratic parties to scramble for votes. U.S. voters have continuously stated contempt and dislike for both parties. Unheard of citizen discontent from other nations has swept Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain. Palestine has submitted a bid for statehood to the United Nations after years of failed negations. The "Occupy" movement, started on 17 September 2011 in New York, has spawned supportive demonstrations in Lisbon, London, Stockholm, Berlin, Montreal, and other major cities of the world. In the U.S.A. 'Occupy" has similarly summoned the disenchanted, disenfranchised, and dissatisfied folks -- of all ages and ethnicities -- in major cities. The poor handling of the demonstrators has given some Police Departments very negative reports. Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent technique of civil disobedience has followed picketing, demonstrations, occupation of sites. New techniques fueled with the smart phone and Twitter, Facebook, and the internet acting as broadcast and contact points to "Occupy" followers give this movement unparalleled sophistication.
Yet the "Occupy" movement has failed to translate its objectives into clearly articulated action points.
But, I feel, "Occupy" is in the gestation period. There is massive, non-centralized discontent again. My crystal ball portends major "Occupy" disruptions. Our history books write of the Veteran's March on Washington in the 1930's and some of us remember the 60's and 70's epoch conflagrations. Something's afoot again.
Maybe right here in Culver City.
Roger Maxwell has served as the Vice President of the Culver City PTA, the Vice President of the Culver City Democratic Club, and was a marble away from being elected to the Culver City School Board in 2003.
Dear Roger,
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing such a timely article. I agree with you that the “Occupy” movement is in its gestation period and “maybe right here in Culver City.” The Culver City Progress Blog raises issues we should be concerned about and perhaps can only be dealt with as a movement.
When I think about the last school year, I wonder if things would have been different for the AVPA Theatre Department, Sheila Silver and, most importantly, our students, if there had been an “Occupy Culver City School District” movement. We were misled into believing that all was well when Ms. Silver’s non-rehire notice was rescinded. What many of us knew soon afterwards is that it was a meaningless gesture; district employees continued to make her life unbearable.
Ms. Silver’s job is just one example of people’s rights being trampled on for personal/political gain. Despite the fact that Culver City’s citizens show up at meetings to express themselves, it appears that not everyone is listening and/or cares what we have to say. It is also obvious that we are not as well-informed as we should be, and I applaud Karlo and Gary Silbiger for starting this blog and giving people the opportunity to fill in the gaps.
Although I am not a believer in the occult, do keep your eye on that crystal ball; change is needed, sooner rather than later.
P.S. Kudos to Gary Silbiger for being "caught" at Occupy L.A. Although I did not participate, I donated goods to friends who regularly provided meals, clothes and other necessities to the occupiers. Thank you for helping the 99%.
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