Portland observer., October 26, 2011, Page 21, Image 21

^ortlanh (Observer
O c to b e r 26, 2011
Page 21
What I've Learned Occupying Wall Street
Taking time for true
democracy to work
by L acy M ac A uley
I was standing on a
street one evening near
my home in Washington,
D.C. — it seems like ages
ago now — with a chatty
friend who travels often to
New York. He mentioned
that a few New Yorkers
were planning an "occu­
pation" of Wall Street.
Not knowing what I was getting myself
into, I said, "I'm there." A few days later, I
boarded a bus, backpack and sleeping bag in
tow. 1 was there when Occupy Wall Street
began.
After some chilly nights in Liberty Plaza,
I returned to Washington to help plan an
occupation in my city. Others in Boston, San
Francisco, Dallas, Atlanta, Denver, Portland,
Seattle, and so many more cities have begun
their own occupations. Occupy DC started dying in them. About 50 million Americans together to discuss the world that we want to
Oct. 1, and is still going strong.
have no health insurance, and too many of see and how to get there. We have big
Many people are asking why. While the them go bankrupt paying for health care. problems. We need big solutions. And those
occupation of city squares all over the nation Agribusiness is destroying family farms. big solutions take time.
is inspiring many people, others are (un­ Poverty is rampant. Congress can’t stop
While on Wall Street and on McPherson
derstandably) a bit perplexed.
squabbling. Corporations have too much Square on K Street in Washington, I've
But I think people understand more than control. About 25 million of us are unem­ learned how to change my clothes in my
they know. Something is very wrong with ployed and underemployed and can't find sleeping bag. I've learned how to run a gen­
our country and our world. The rich got jobs. Too many college graduates can't find erator, which keeps us in electronic touch
richer from our economic crisis, and the jobs. Our children's future is uncertain.
with the outside world. I've learned the best
poor barely got the crumbs from their ban­
So, many of us are fed up. We've brought methods for hauling plastic bags of donated
quet table.
our anger and hopes to our city squares. bread, pastries, and bagels nine city blocks.
Now big corporations are asking for a We're not leaving until we see real movement I've learned to appreciate tarps.
new tax break, a tax holiday that they say toward change. More people are arriving
I've also learned that when we all raise our
will create jo b s - while the last time Congress every day and joining us. In liberated squares, voices together and work in the spirit of true
granted that tax break the main result was parks, and plazas all over the country, we're democracy, we can work toward real solutions
layoffs and downsizing. Corporations are discussing challenges and talking about and real changes to our world. We the people
sitting on over $2 trillion in cash, but aren't solutions. Every voice is equal, and all of us tend to agree on a lot more than we realize. It
hiring. Our environment is under assault. are expected to raise our voices, our ideas, just takes coming together, talking things
Natural disasters are laying waste to towns our concerns. We're reaching consensus. through, and not leaving until things change.
like Joplin, Missouri, and some lawmakers We're figuring it out as we go.
And that's what the occupations are do­
even held up relief efforts by threatening to
All I can say is that true democracy takes ing: We re staying put, and taking the time for
trim education, health care, and other vital time. At Occupy D.C., we meet daily to dis­ true democracy to work.
services to free up money for emergency aid. cuss why we’re there. The unemployed, the
Zzicv MacAuley is Media Relations Man­
We keep paying for wars, and people keep foreclosed, and the sick-of-it-all are coming ager at the Institute for Policy Studies.
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