New Years Eve Protest

It is protest day again today; our last chance in 2011 to make a public statement about the issues we are concerned with in the Occupy Rapid City movement.  It is also very windy today and it the weather alternates between raining and snowing every so often.  The focus of our concern it centered on the Supreme Court’s decision with regard to Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.  We still have many other concerns, but in the interest of presenting a more nationally united front, our group has agreed to focus on reversing or overcoming corporate personhood.  If there is any issue that unites public opinion it is the issue of corporate personhood and excessive financial influence it allows.

Corporations have long been able to strongly influence state and federal politics and legislation.  All it takes in South Dakota to get the influence ball rolling is to associate job creation with the satisfaction of corporate desires.  In the past, the South Dakota state legislature has ignored the will of voting public in favor of corporate interests.  Recall the various entities that wanted to use the southern Black Hills area for a dumping ground for sewage ash, solid waste, and low-level nuclear waste from more populated areas of the country.  South Dakota appears willing to sacrifice just about anything for a job and members of the state’s US Congressional team aren’t too particular about requiring proof from corporate entities making job creation claims.

On a chilly blustery day in Rapid City, the Occupiers were standing again on downtown street corners displaying signs that would encourage others to question corporate motives and methods.  In the months ahead, Occupy Rapid City members will be working to increase public awareness of the issues that adversely affect all of us.  The group continues to encourage everyone to become informed.  A banner offered observers a place to begin their search and, perhaps, their participation in positive civic activity:  http://occupyrapidcity.org/.

60 days to reject Keystone XL

Dear Friends,

It's on. 

Congress has agreed to a two-month payroll tax and unemployment extension bill that forces a decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline, and by all accounts President Obama will sign it. 

Republicans have gotten their wish -- President Obama will have 60 days to decide on the Keystone XL Pipeline. 

And we have 60 days to make sure he rejects it. 

This is a moment to pour the pressure on. I just signed a petition asking President Obama to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline. Add your name and learn more here: 

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/keystone_timeline/?r_by=32546-3451380-d1_aNCx&rc=paste1 

Four Questions for Legislators

West river legislators respond to four questions in a December 18^th Rapid City Journal article.   There were few solid answers to those four questions.  Several of the legislators admitted to being unaware or their responses implied that the legislators were still campaigning or that they were inclined to provide answers that pertain to issues facing the US Congress rather than the South Dakota state legislature.  Apparently, these legislators don’t read the opinion page letters or forum page articles of the local newspapers.  They don’t seem to associate what they do in Pierre with anything that their constituents may be concerned enough about to voice a public opinion.  Perhaps the legislators were too distracted with Pierre bar fights to recall what they were told at their get together with fellow members of American Legislative Exchange Council. 

When referring to constituent concerns, the purported concerns weren’t supported by documented sources or hard numbers.  Could it be that one or two phone calls or coffee with friends constitutes the basis for the legislators’ idea of what the common concerns are for all of the voters in their respective districts?  It appears likely that these legislators will repeat whatever it was they did last year even though there is plenty of reason to believe that it will have very little to do with constituent concerns.

Occupying Rapid City Continues

Today was an interesting day Occupying Rapid City.  The pleasant weather was responsible for increased numbers of protestors and foot traffic that included shoppers and people coming out to enjoy the activities at the new Main Street Square.  The result for the Occupiers was more face to face meetings with supporters and detractors of the Occupy Movement.

The analysis of the movement by observers has changed somewhat now that many Occupy encampments have been shut down by various municipalities.  Some seem to think that the Movement is finished and that it has failed.  The most common complaint so far has been that the observers could not tell what the Movement was about, that it was unfocused, and that there was no clear leadership.  This view seems to stem from the fact that most observers wanted to quickly find a label to apply to the Movement.

On the other hand the Occupiers resist being labeled and stubbornly adhere to the leaderless general assembly, consensus method to determine what the Movement does.  Further, the Occupy Movement brings together people with a broad spectrum of concerns about government, economics, and society.  The Occupy Movement represents the interests of the 99% or the majority by avoiding the labels and leaders associated with political parties and by addressing a broad scope of issues that affect everyone.

The Occupy Movement treasures the freedom of speech, encourages civil discourse, and promotes informational education on issues of concern.  The silent majority has allowed their elected leaders to become corrupted by money and power.  The silent majority has abdicated its civic duty by allowing itself to be divided up into warring factions by political parties that are increasingly controlled by moneyed interests.  The Occupy Movement seeks to return the power to the people that are the 99%.

Tuesday, December 6

There will be a teach-in at the Rapid City Public Library upstairs in Room B from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.  Here are the topics: 

Workers co-operatives--how they operate, resources for starting, how to find a co-op already in operation

Monsanto, the corporation that brings us DDT, Agent Orange, pcbs, Roundup, growth hormones, terminator seeds, and more...

Resource-based economy 

Candid thoughts and advice from a wealthy one percenter

As recorded by Greg Olson

Note from the author:  The following piece is fictional, the thoughts and advice are from an imaginary character.  Any resemblance to someone living or dead is perhaps not all that surprising.  Hopefully, there is connection to anyone that is both, living and dead.

I was born here in the United States of America.  Being a natural born United States citizen gives me certain rights in accordance with the Constitution of the United States.  Further, our economic and political systems ensure additional rights that are potentially open to all US citizens.  Some consider these rights to be privileges.  However, I not only consider them rights, but duties or obligations that pertain to my specific position in society.   

It is important to consider the main aspect of my position, personal wealth.  There are numerous ways to achieve considerable personal wealth, but what seems to trouble so many detractors is whether or not wealth was earned.  The next complaint by those who would disparage the top echelons of our society is how personal wealth is handled in dealing with people in lesser positions.  With these things in mind, I begin my treatise.

The dollars saved in my off shore bank accounts were earned.  This has allowed me to use my skill in taking advantage of the opportunities presented to me by open and fair markets to increase my wealth the same as anyone else in my position.  I am confident that my fellow political party members in lesser positions will fight and die to keep America safe and my position in society safe, because it is the right thing for them to do.  It is my fervent hope that someday all Americans will know the joy of this patriotic calling.

Again it needs to be restated, all my money was earned.  The people that earned it were confident in my ability to improve the economy as I accumulated their earnings.  This money represents sweat and blood, my friends.  Considering the sacrifice required earning this money, it logical that this money should not be taken from me through immoral taxation based on the value of my accumulation or the quantity of income derived from this accumulation.  No, when I make investments, it isn’t done for the sole purpose of supplying my rightful income; it is to provide jobs commensurate with the societal positions of large numbers of honest hard working, wage earning Americans and their counterparts the world over.

Free market forces for the benefit of the global economy help to ensure low prices for consumer goods that help to keep demand high for those goods.  At the same time the need for production of these goods provides jobs that do not require expensive, high levels of training or education.  It is easy to see how this opens a panacea of opportunity for workers.  Not only do workers benefit from abundant job opportunities; businessmen are able to expand their operations due to reduced costs.  In this way the forces of supply and demand work to benefit the most those people in our society that truly deserve the benefit.

Some people have impugned the efforts of my ancestors.  They have implied that the money my family has provided me was somehow tainted.  They degrade the very foundation of our nation.  As I have already written, someone earned every dollar I own.  Earned, not sucked from society or myself in some give away scheme like welfare that unfairly takes money that is rightfully mine.  Welfare is a scheme that transfers my wealth to someone that could otherwise be a valued, producing member of society or a warrior for democracy and freedom.

 Readers, do you honestly believe that the old, the infirm, or the poor are happy in their positions in life?  Welfare just prolongs their agony.  What we need to do is pull the rug out from under people in these positions so that they can wake up and make the coffee.  From experience I can tell you that my own upstairs maid doesn’t need both her feet to stand on when she makes up the beds and carries the soiled linens to the laundry in the basement level.  Hopping has actually improved her cardiovascular health.  I’m not saying this just because she’s my mother either.  Just think, if I provided insurance benefits for my numerous household staff, she might not have lost that foot and heart disease could have taken the ninety-third birthday from someone who proves their value to society 24/7.

Using this same premise, consider the provision of living quarters for the household staff on my estate.  While this action did provide a well-deserved tax shelter for me, most importantly it provided privately funded housing for low income Americans.  This housing was not constructed in the flamboyant manner of some state or federal public housing development you may have seen in some inner city ghetto.  No, these houses will remind the occupants daily that they should strive continuously to improve their situations in society.  I can tell you, it warms my heart to think of the incentives that I am able to provide to people in lesser positions than myself.

Proper education, like the housing I just described, can be used to help keep our society on track.  The books I sell at a normal and fair profit to my household staff allow them the opportunity to provide moral, parent guided home schooling for their offspring.  The books are especially selected to ensure the children will be ready to take their parents places in the household when their parents pass on.  There isn’t a concern for these children about how they will support their parents in retirement since they know their parents will never be forced to retire.  My staff members can work right up to their last day, happy in the knowledge that they have given it their all. 

These children are not bothered with scientific sex education or birth control.  Heaven forbid they should deprive the work force of additional members.  Believe this, these kids have prayer in school.  In my experience no group is more consistent in their beseeching prayers than workers in my employ.

The principles used in my home are easily applied in business.  Morally and ethically we should not allow ourselves to deprive the people we deal with of the opportunity know their place in society.  It is not my fault if financial position provides me with an advantage in business dealings.  Every opportunity needs to be used to keep me in my position so that I can keep other people from losing their incentive to participate.  Starvation is a friend in this situation.  Being beaten down is not the demoralizing threat some would have you believe.  No, keeping your head down ensures your ability to stay on the right path.

In summation, let us remember a few things: 

1.    If you are wealthy, it was meant to be and you can’t help that and you certainly can’t help anyone if you are poor.

2.    Low wages and Spartan working conditions keep business costs down so that profits are not bled away in a manner that would force workers to think they have a higher value or position in life.  Low wages equals more jobs.

3.    High wages rob workers of their incentive to work.  High wages equal fewer jobs.  Look at me, how many people could society pay the amount that I make in a year?

4.    Men and, especially, women cannot be trusted to make moral decisions regarding their own health.  We must not get caught in the trap of providing health benefits for anyone and risk the possibility that people lose their fear of getting sick.  Choices are not good for little people.

5.    When a worker gets sick and dies, the gene pool is strengthened.  This is especially true in the case of younger workers of pre-child bearing age.  Death is society’s future fitness program and it helps to relieve over crowding.

6.    Sex education and birth control make the military recruiter’s job more difficult and it is detrimental to work force numbers.

7.    People in lower positions are in those positions in order to keep their betters on top and they are willing to do this because it is the morally correct thing for them to do. 

8.    Vote Republican.