New Haven Independent

posted by: nhteaparty on October 5, 2011  9:09am

Oh, hippies/hipsters.  I’m sure their statements against corporate greed will be taken seriously as they sit around in designer clothes, drinking starbucks, and surfing the web on their ipads. 

Corporations won’t stop maximizing profits just because you say that you don’t like it.  Their job is to maximize profits; corporate greed is fundamental to being a corporation.  While you organize and execute these meaningless and purposeless demonstrations corporations will continue to strengthen their grip on the reins of this country’s politics, media, and workforce.

Since you all don’t seem to have anything better to do why don’t you make up placards with your statements against corpororate greed and carry them with you while you walk throughout the streets of the city picking up all of the litter.  That way at least people will be like “Hey look at those guys cleaning up my street. They’re OK.  Maybe they are onto something” instead of “Hey look! A bunch of spoiled kids who are too lazy to get jobs complaining about how the world owes them a living.”

posted by: New Haven Fail on October 5, 2011  9:31am

First off, October 15 is World Revolution Day.

Second, as stated above most of these people are indeed ironic in their practices. Its stated in the article about how one person is unable to obtain a loan to attend to school. This loan would more than likely originate from a mega bank receiving corporate welfare (B of A, Chase, Wells Fargo) thus benefiting a corporation they’re supposedly against.

These are misplaced good intentions. Maybe prior to October 15 they should all do further research about how to resist feeding further into these corporations and making productive change. One start being to end the private central bank known as the Federal Reserve (a misleading name as they are Federal as FederalExpress) and learning how truly free society should operate; not supporting collectivism, socialism, communsim all of which a portion of these hipsters support.

posted by: Billy on October 5, 2011  9:50am

I want to thank nhteaparty for clearly stating the case of the opposition to the Occupy movement.  I think it’s got to be tongue in cheek, since it’s so eloquent in stating the obvious taunts from opponents.  Even including the “hippie/hipsters” greeting…classic! 

The organizers seem to be clear that this manifestation of the movement has to have real results, and that the corporations WILL NOT be allowed to operate as usual, and see the movement as an inconvenient PR issue.  In order to achieve that, the organizers will need to have clear local targets, or at least local targeted affiliates of national or multinational corporations, and clear, consistent plans for pressuring them.  This can happen, while simultaneously creating a new micro-society, if that’s one of the goals.

I look forward to lending support to the movement in the coming days, weeks, and months.  Its goal of reining in corporations is the one of the most important issues facing Americans, since corporations pull the strings of all government policy (especially since the Citizens United ruling), and most private decision-making as well.

posted by: Jane on October 5, 2011  9:54am

Great work. It’s inspiring to see so many young people involved and active. Thank you for your commitment to justice and fairness for all!

posted by: Funky Chicken on October 5, 2011  10:04am

Where is Lou Cavalier with his gas mask and gas fogger when you need him?

posted by: Where's my iPad? on October 5, 2011  10:07am

I’ll be live tweeting the from event using my new iPhone 4S(AAPL‎ - Apple Inc. NASDAQ).

posted by: VD on October 5, 2011  10:17am

Sounds like a poor man’s hipster camping party on the green. This may qualify as the most bourgeoisie “protest” ever.  Will you all be wearing matching vintage t-shirts and kicks?

posted by: Rachel on October 5, 2011  10:18am

I am excited that people are working together to make a more fair & equitable society. I will not tear down what’s happening for its imperfections. I will join in & help create what needs to be. The status quo is NOT working and cynicism does nothing but disempower people.

posted by: Jill the Pill on October 5, 2011  10:18am

Oh, nhteaparty, where do you get this stuff?  Because they’re mostly young, white and idealistic, they must surely buy starbucks and ipads? 

Corporations will do what corporations do.  But, we, the people and our government, don’t have to cede as much power to them as we do.  Isn’t that a fundamental principle of the tea party?

These folks are trying, and they’ve got the time and energy for it.  ...

posted by: JAK on October 5, 2011  10:24am

Here is a disturbing scene from the occupation of Wall street. 

http://www.fireandreamitchell.com/2011/10/03/anti-semitic-occupy-wall-street-progressives-spew-their-anti-jew-anti-israel-filth/?utm_source=FAM_Blog&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed:+FireAndreaMitchell+(Fire+Andrea+Mitchell!+Exposing+Liberal+bias+cause+the+MSM+doesn’t+have+to.)

Had this guy shown up at a tea party rally, do you think the media would have covered it? Might we have seen this on all major networks and cable? Would the left have used this example as a way to define the entire movement?

How will the lack of any cohesive message and the inclusion of voices like this affect the Occupation?  What do “Occupy New Haven” organizers think about this guy?  Are all voices welcome at the protest?

posted by: Cedarhillresident on October 5, 2011  10:30am

Great job everyone! I will make sure to show on Sat. Can not camp out. But will chip in some supplies when asked for. I am one of the 99% I am the poor working class of New Haven. And I support Occupytogether 100%

posted by: Meghan McGaffin on October 5, 2011  10:33am

I see “tea party” in your username. The tea party the Occupy movement share many of the same goals, like getting politicians out of the pockets of private industry and returning the power back to “We the People”. Come see us Saturday and see if you have any goals that we can help you achieve. You have as much a right to see the world change for the better as anyone else. Come let your voice be heard!

posted by: Josh Smith on October 5, 2011  10:59am

EDITOR: There is a mistake that needs correction here.

The article states: “The government needs to know we’re really getting serious about this,” Smith said. “I can’t go to school because I have no credit and I have no co-signers.” He said he moved to Ansonia after losing his jobs and is still looking for work.”

The only problem is, I was not the one who said that.  I don’t know who did, but I have graduated from college already and I live and work in Norwalk. :)

[Editor’s Note: Sorry about that! Thanks for the correction.]

posted by: A little bit to our southwest maybe??? on October 5, 2011  11:05am

Shouldn’t we mobilize to OCCUPY GREENWICH ???

posted by: Josh Smith on October 5, 2011  11:12am

A proverb for you all: “Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the people doing it.” If you’re not happy with the way people are trying to change the status quo, form your own group and do what you think is right instead of railing against people trying to affect positive change! It’s been three weeks so far down at Occupy Wall Street, and people expect a “clear, coherent set of demands” already? Come on, get real. Fixing decades of problems is going to take a heck of a lot longer than three weeks. It’s so easy to sit behind your keyboard and bash those who are trying; it’s yet another to go out and try to change things.

“It is common sense to take a method and try it.  If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.”
—F.D.R.

posted by: forthie lulz on October 5, 2011  11:33am

funny how nhteaparty criticizes a meeting he didn’t even attend. perhaps ... you could have attended and discussed your grievances with the group. ...

posted by: Paul Martin on October 5, 2011  12:08pm

Everybody knows that the only legitimate grassroots protests are the ones organized by anti-regulation corporate lobbyists and attended by wealthy whites with Medicare, pensions, and burning racial resentments.

Where are the racist signs? Where are the threats to kill the president and his children or the signs comparing his wife to an animal at a zoo? Where are the banks of tv cameras treating this as a serious uprising against the status quo?

I can’t wait for CNN to co-sponsor a presidential debate with the Wall Street groups like they did with the Tea Party.

...

posted by: Billy on October 5, 2011  12:08pm

Ben Aubin mentions that he does not want to “disrupt the lives of homeless people already on the green”.  Why not find ways to include them in the movement?  There are many natural leaders among the people who live on the green, and there are other supporters close by.  There are few citizens who are as aware of the uneven distribution of wealth as those facing another winter outdoors.  Ben and other organizers should consider attending a Chapel on the Green service at 2:00 on Sundays behind Trinity Episcopal church on the upper green to make connections.

posted by: Bill Saunders on October 5, 2011  12:11pm

OCCUPY YALE!! (former home of New Haven, CT)

posted by: mike on October 5, 2011  12:16pm

Great article!! Occupy Together, Nycga.cc and OccupyThePlanet.org have done a great job so far!! we are all in this together!

posted by: Threefifths on October 5, 2011  12:33pm

Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people,
can transform the world.”
bkjagadish Howard Zinn

posted by: Curious on October 5, 2011  12:42pm

This strikes me as the coziest sit-in ever. 

Whatever happened to chaining yourselves to a bank or something?  This looks more like a picnic than a protest.

Making sure you have bathrooms and clothes and food and water for everyone doesn’t exactly paint these people out as willing to endure hardship in order to be heard.

You never see pictures of Gandhi sitting in a La-Z-Boy, getting all comfy.

posted by: Anderson Scooper on October 5, 2011  1:16pm

Not sure how you start a genuine revolution by first guaranteeing not to make ANY trouble?

If I were involved in calling the shots, (thankfully I’m not!), it might begin with being just a little bad, like occupying the Lower Green, and heaven forbid risking a few blown water pipes.

While they’re at it, they might decide to take on the Proprietors of the Green and end their feudal system of supposed ownership of New Haven’s central park. (Seemingly controlled by Anne Calabresi and her Yale buddies. Of course Anne lives in Woodbridge!)

Honestly, if people want to argue, or even have a real fight about who controls what, the New Haven Green might be the perfect setting!

Links:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/27/nyregion/keeping-a-close-eye-on-the-green.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/Government/Boards_Commissions.asp

“Descendants of the city’s original settlers maintain ownership of the green. There are five members of the committee that oversee the large, main portion of the green. Today’s committee members — called proprietors — are drawn from the ranks of prominent city residents. Members are appointed for life, and when one dies the four remaining members convene in private to select a replacement.”

posted by: robn on October 5, 2011  3:28pm

ASCOOPER,

Agreed….permissioned protests suck…these guys need to reach down and see if they’ve got a pair….then get all Sacco and Vanzetti on the Green proprietorship.

posted by: Bill Saunders on October 5, 2011  3:41pm

Scooper,

I am totally with you.

Since when do you ask if it is OK to exercise your Constitutional Right to Free Speech and Assembly.  Maybe the Green Proprietors are signing permission slips.  NEVER ASK! 

And secondly, if ‘you can’t ‘afford to be arrested’, you are a poseur, not an activist.  Sometimes, when abuse of power meets civil disobedience, being arrested is the only peaceable recourse.

Is this cooperation with City Hall another ploy by the administration to suck up some last minute votes for the underclass?

And lastly, I really think you occupiers should chip in and pay for your own portable toilet.  They just don’t cost too much. 

Be independent and free from the system you protest.
Camping Out is Fun!!!

posted by: MRM on October 5, 2011  4:31pm

This sounds like another Critical Mass deal, police blazing alongside in motorcycles, everyone getting permission, eveyone is nice and safe.  I don’t necessarily think that one has to get arrested and have police march on them in riot gear for a movement to be successful, but hearing that city officials were “happy to host” the movement (maybe they can get some cookies and hot chocolate ready and waiting for them on the 15th), even followed by the limp “not that it matters”, along with the provision of porta-potties by the parks department makes the whole thing sound kind of hokey.  Part of the power of the NYC/Boston movements is that they aren’t doing this kind of thing. Dig an outhouse on the green and see what happens!  As with most things, New Haven’s Occupy movement is coming out more as a whimper than a bang (comparatively).

posted by: huh on October 5, 2011  5:10pm

So, if you’re not being disruptive and anti-social, then you’re not protesting? How absurd.

Be a stupid brat is simply a surefire way to get average folks against you. The way to change is the get folks WITH you—and most will be if they are awakened.

Then, use the votes of the people to push change. People voting in candidates who will fight for a justice America—and voting them out when they don’t—is the direct way to change the status quo.

Responding to the know-nothings, BTW, just squanders energy that should be going toward awakening the working, preoccupied good people who are not much interested in ‘movements.’

posted by: Bill Saunders on October 5, 2011  10:03pm

Huh,

People need to be unafraid to freely exercise their enumerated rights.
In pursuit of that end, conflicts happen. What do they say about Strength and Adversity? 

Secondly, all politics are local.
We need to put our energies into making New Haven a better place,  otherwise, this exercise is little more than a surprise visit from the Distraction Police.

If the Green Occupants want to use this opportunity as a platform to register, educate, and inform voters, I am all for it. The timing is just perfect.

However, if something like that were to happen, all City Hall support would most likely evaporate.  Their might even been rules against such behavior. Check with Ann Calabrese to find out….

While you are at it, maybe you can talk to her about bringing back the stocks, as well.

posted by: Flynn Huck on October 5, 2011  10:40pm

Anderson Scooper..do you really think a more than century old “owning” of the Common & Undivided Land needs to be updated to fit your idea of what a Green should be.  This small group of people have kept the Green safe from the City politicians.  The land would probably have been parceled off & sold as office space if not for the Proprietors.  Oh & btw who would pay to replace the water pipes? Taxpayers…ya think. Protest & grassroots demonstrations are an American right…destroying property to “dig a hole” to s… in are not.

posted by: Billy on October 6, 2011  9:41am

Here are a few models of occupying protests, which may serve as good examples for the coordinators of this movement:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonus_Army

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_People’s_Campaign

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Haven_Black_Panther_trials  (right on the New Haven Green)

All three of these also came from a place of deep and widespread frustration, like this movement.

However, they were 1. organized, 2. had clear goals, and 3. aware of the risks involved.

I suggest that the very first thing the coordinators do is have a training with a few seasoned community organizers, who can give them a real idea about how to organize, how to pick a target, develop a consistent strategy, organize and manage a coalition (if necessary), learn how to deal with the real pressures (like facing arrest) which will inevitably happen, if the protest actually challenges the grip on power of the targets it selects. The current leaders may want to play nice, but if they actually strike a nerve, their opponents will NOT.  From what I can see, the current organizers are clearly not seasoned enough to lead an effective movement. Their energy is an excellent catalyst for change, but the actual process of change needs to be developed by some more experienced people, in cooperation with those that are already making Occupy New Haven happen.

Labor and other organizations are joining the Wall Street group.  The New Haven contingent will need to get more organized, if it wants to be able to attract these kinds of groups, and truly build a movement that shifts power and leads to any kind of substantive change.

And, when arrests and pressure from the city, agitators planted by those targeted by the movement, and those kind of things start to occur, the leaders need to be prepared and organized.  Once people start to get arrested, and civil rights issues begin to be raised, this isn’t just something to shout about from a place of passion.  It will become a very serious campaign, with very serious considerations, and very serious situations which will require seasoned, trained leadership.

posted by: Cedarhillresident on October 6, 2011  9:41am

86 my last comment. As I read the comments I am starting to wonder if this is the same as Wall Street. Or what is starting to appear to be. I am hoping they are what they say but wondering if this was a farce.

posted by: westville man on October 6, 2011  9:48am

Good luck to the protestors- any action for change is ok by me.

What my family and I do on a daily basis to counter the centralization of power and money by circulating our dollars w small businesses and proprietors whenever possible. Hardware, food, clothing, dining, appliances, auto repair and home improvement projects are just some of the areas we shop small business and shop locally. While we cant avoid some purchases- cable, phone,etc, we do our best to avoid the corporate business and help local ones survive.
Good luck again.

posted by: Ellis Copeland on October 6, 2011  10:02am

They will have to be a LOT more serious than the"Occupation” of Wall St. I’ve personally witnessed it. Colossal joke. They aren’t serious about anything.

posted by: Josh Smith on October 6, 2011  12:16pm

Occupy New Haven has no leaders and will never have any leaders.  This is one of the strengths of the Occupy movement.  If a hierarchy arises, it allows those on top to be targeted by those who oppose the movement, or it allows those on top to abuse their power.  If, on the other hand, decisions are reached by consensus in the New Haven General Assembly each day, it blocks any one person or group from co-opting the democratic process.  With regards to getting training from seasoned activists and protesters, we are.  We have people who have been and continue to work closely with Occupy Wall Street.  They are more like organizers or facilitators, though.  No one can claim to speak for all of us.  One may only speak for himself or herself unless consensus is reached in the General Assembly.  That is New York’s model and I think it is a good one to use.  I believe we’ve reached consensus on that already, as we used that model at our first planning meeting that took place in Pitkin Plaza, with about 100 participants.

The lack of specific, enumerated goals or demands is also a strength.  The Occupy movement will not “sell out” to people who might say, “Well, okay, if we throw them a bone and give in to this one specific demand, maybe they’ll go away.”  That is not the point of this movement.  In my eyes, this is a broad campaign for economic justice for the bottom 99%.  The top 1% fleeces everyone underneath them on the ladder, day after day after day, causing misery by taking away healthcare and vacation time, cutting hours and wages, laying people off left and right, offshoring jobs to where labor is cheaper to save a couple bucks.  I could talk all day about things that are wrong, and perhaps that’s why it’s so hard to come up with a plan of action—when you’re in a cluttered, messy room and you can’t even see the floor, it’s hard to know where to start cleaning up first.

By the way, I should throw out there that these are a few of my beliefs, and are not necessarily represented by the rest of Occupy New Haven.  One of the underlying problems in the system we have today is that corporations have a legal mandate to turn a profit for the shareholders, at the expense of everything else in the world.  What we must do is change the paradigm so that a legal mandate to do what is right for humans is created, and a lot of the corruption might go away.  I’m sure this will be brought up when Occupy New Haven starts, and I look forward to going to the Occupation to start discussing topics like this and start collaborating to figure out ways to give people a fair shot in life to be at least a little bit happier than they are now.  It’s time to get the money out of politics and fix the economic and political machine to work for the 99% of America that’s suffering, not the other way around.

posted by: mike on October 6, 2011  12:21pm

we love you josh!! we are all in this together!! OccupyThePlanet.org and ProjectHug.us LOVE YOU ALL!!

posted by: Bill Saunders on October 6, 2011  12:33pm

Josh,

A paradigm shift is already happening.

The question is no longer “What’s your Occupation?”, it’s “Where is it?”

posted by: robn on October 6, 2011  1:16pm

Is New Haven unoccupied?

posted by: anonymous democrat on October 6, 2011  4:03pm

our green already has a tons of actual poor people, now we have some fake self righteous “social justice activists” ? and whats the deal with the starting date 10 days away ? why not just start now ? this has rich kid gathering written all over it. But i bet we will all get some laughs.

posted by: Ellis Copeland on October 6, 2011  7:31pm

Josh Smith—if you all truly wish to accomplish anything you really need to re-think your approach. You demonstrate a complete lack of understanding of how power works and you don’t appreciate human nature. You are an idealist. I appreciate and celebrate that. But idealists, and I speak from direct experience, are destined to get beaten down on the rocks of reality if they don’t accept a few facts. It is human nature for the strong to take advantage of the weak. Do not think that you can appeal to the “better angels” of the power establishment. They don’t have any better angels. They are depraved beyond redemption. They will not give you anything and they will not simply meekly yield to you. You will have to take whatever it is you want. And you don’t seem to know what that is. You must be able to articulate something quantifiable. Otherwise you truly are the Tea Party of the Left—a disparate collection of pissed off people who don’t really know why they’re pissed off or what to do about it. That’s a sure recipe for continuing to get chumped.

posted by: Transductor on October 6, 2011  9:52pm

Go ahead!! The word likes you!! Cheers!!

From Spanish rEvolution.

posted by: Bill Saunders on October 6, 2011  10:21pm

Ellis:

You hit the nail right on the head.

When the Revolution finally DOES get Televised, it will be a situation-comedy, with unpaid, unscripted, union actors.

posted by: Tom Burns on October 8, 2011  1:15am

Wow—I am very impressed with the leaderless movement in New York and throughout the country—from the heart—and it took our youth to get it started——Yes—Yes—Yes—-our organizations may hesitate—-but you do not—thank you for lighting the fire—-for if you didn’t then America as we know it would have been lost—-we were losing the battle to corporate interests until NOW—lets make this real and take back America from the GREEDY and SELFISH——A short history lesson(that Warren Buffett knows so well)Prior to the 60’s the wealthy were taxed at 90% and they remained wealthy and did not complain—A democratic President—JFK reduced the taxes on the wealthy—-Moving forward—Reagan raised taxes as did all the responsible legislators and presidents to come—DOES THE GOVT WASTE MONEY—OF COURSE THEY DO AND THIS NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED——-but the ignoramus Tea Party members and legislators are all about reelection and not about real govt——-Anyway—occupy Wall street—for they caused all of this—occupy Hartford—the Insurance Capitol of the World (they are killing us) and Occupy New Haven to support these other movements against the Koch brothers and corporate greed—-Thanks goes out to these gutsy protesters—we need to say goodbye to the over-reaching sick and selfish governors who have tried to enhance themselves at the peril of normal citizens——well say goodbye and get a real job you con artist, non-working clowns—-Christie(NJ) Walker (Wisconsin)Kasich (OHIO) Daniels(Indiana)—FLa and Michigan——these self serving losers represent noone but themselves and need to say goodbye——The establishment hates what you are doing in New York and across the country—-but we love you and we need you and we will follow and support you——Keep on keeping on—-Tom

posted by: Ready to March! on October 12, 2011  1:44pm

I completely agree with Bill here:: OCCUPY YALE! 
Yale is the biggest ‘corporation’ there is in town…  Any reason why not much attention has been paid to them yet?  Granted, Yale is supposed to be a not-for profit agency, but the last I looked, they’ve got pretty large pockets!

posted by: Ross Carpenter on October 13, 2011  11:39pm

Love what you are doing whish i could be there thanks for you commitment go non corporate America!!!!

posted by: Bill Holcombe on October 15, 2011  8:21am

My wife Rosi and I will visit the Green on Sat afternoon in sympathy with the occupiers.  We are old.  I protested the Vietnam War and Racism in the 60s and burned my draft card back when there were such things.

Then spent 25 years in some vestigial organ of the Corp Beast and have some idea what moves things in corporations—often Control Needs at the Top and Survival everywhere else—over sensible behaviors and even profits—take a look at GM over the past 40 years….