US Government rules where the US money flows

SPOLIER ALERT: This is all opinion

If you have paid attention to the news in the last year or so revolutions are at the top of the list. They may not be reported as much but they are there all over the world. Arab spring was big in the news with 16 protests/occupations/revolutions going on and it was hard to not notice. The one I want to pick out of the bunch has connections with the current Occupy Wall Street occupation and every other occupy occupation in the world. Egypt to me draws parallels to the Occupy movements going on because what the US Government said basically set the tone of enforcement. The army took the side of the people, which was so moving but the United States Government also took the side of the people in Egypt who were occupying Tahrir Square. Many American's I knew were pleasantly surprised, who else but the US would back a movement for equality and free speech. I was never happier to be an American but this changed when the Occupy Wall Street movement started.

As with many other people I was shocked to see the OWS protestors being dragged, beaten, pepper sprayed all for peacefully assembling in opposition to big business and the government in cahoots with each other. Now I can't blame the government and big business as most American's were not paying any attention, they system was unchecked so it grew like mold in a moist and dark place. The past few years I have grown frustrated because I knew that they were not paying attention and when I wanted to talk politics with friends or friendly strangers their smile would turn upside down into a frown. "Politics doesn't effect me so I really don't care," or variations was a common statement but that is another story. The point of that little rant was to show that when people didn't pay attention and would peacefully assemble, like at "hippie hill" in San Fransisco, CA to play bongo drums and other musical instruments it wasn't much trouble. They stayed away from the business man and the business man stayed away from them but now that common American is all up in their business exposing the unfair practices and it's not appreciated to much. So this time when citizens are protesting unfair business practices their freedom of speech is trying to be taken away by the enforcement from government paid employee's a.k.a the police. Though it is easy to blame them and many are, at first I think they are thinking that this job puts money in their pocket and food on the table for their families but they need to get away from this thinking. Anyways back to my point.

The US Government backed the people's movement in Egypt and the military sided with the people, very moving but I think that a main reason why the Egyptian military took the side of the people was because their paychecks probably came from the US. I say this because the US Government funded, not sure if they still do, but funded the Egyptian military with US$1.3 billion a year1. To me this goes hand in hand with what the police are doing in the US right now, they are following the orders of their boss and they are doing what American's are taught to do, look after themselves. That is the American Dream right? To be the best at your job, beat everyone to the top and don't look back. These police are doing just that, looking after their family and not looking after the best interest of the people. Now how can this be fixed because it is a pain in the ass when people complain and don't offer a solution.

Well I will say that I don't have an immediate solution but I did learn something with my four-years in the military. That was a solider/sailor/airperson does not have to follow a direct order if they feel it to be unlawful. I would hope that there is some similar rule in the police force. If the officers feel that what they are doing is unconstitutional why can't they just say so? Is there fear of retaliation by other officers or that their job will be on the line? I can't say for sure but I am sure there is a common bond with police officers and they say to stand in solidarity with each other. My solution would be that police officers need to stand up for themselves and do not fear being fired. So what if your fellow police officers don't like you and your boss is pissed at your, welcome to a common workplace. At least your have your pride and haven't sold your soul to financial greed.

The police officers and politician's are claiming to holding up the rule of law but right now it seems to be more like an iron fist. It is my hope that the police see that they are breaking down the fabric of our constitution and backing the politicians that are using them as pawns.

In my city of Sacramento a lot of police show up to Cesar Chavez park to arrest people who are standing up for themselves. Police officers are pulled away from their regular beats to come and assist, in riot gear, to arrest people who are assembling peacefully while real crimes are being committed. I think it's just to prove a point but I am not sure what positive impact their point is.

So money rules all as we all pretty much know and the government has the ability to throw a lot of it down the drain while the rest suffer. I just hope the US society can make something work before it's to late.

Sources
1. Egypt's military gets paid by the US Government

Occupy Sacramento goes to City Council

Protesters from the Occupy Sacramento protest filed into the City Council meeting to have the anti-camping ordinance lifted so they could assemble throughout the night but were not successful.

Passion and emotions were high from the protesters and the City Council waited until all 40 people who registered to speak finished what they wanted to say and then the council took their turn.

Police Chief Braziel provided a report for the City Council that said the city has extended the hours so that people could be in the park.

Usually Cesar Chavez Park is closed from dusk till dawn but since the protesters have occupied the park the hours have been extended to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday, he said.

Braziel said that the city manager has the authority to approve a special event camping permit and the Occupy Sacramento protesters had not applied for the permit.

Many voices were heard by the city council including young men and women, old men and women, veterans, lawyers and retired educators.

Cindy Sheehan drove from Vacaville to support the Sacramento occupiers at the city council.

Sheehan said that she could of drove to many of the different occupy protests but she chose Sacramento because it was the capital of California and hoped that the City Council would hold up the first-amendment right to assemble peacefully.

Matt, a member of the Occupy Sacramento protest said, “Show that you are patriots and part of the 99%, stop telling us our constitutional rights end at 11 p.m.”

Sean Laney, the occupations education chair said the park needs to remain open at all times because it takes a lot of time to set up and take down equipment, and those hours could be used to educate people.

The occupiers have been educating people on what the occupy protests are about and is educating anyone on any subject they wish to learn, which has included school subjects and job skills.

Sean said, “The problem is apathy and now people are discussing the problems, please be part of the solution.”

Christina Kay, another who spoke on behalf of the Occupy Sacramento protesters said, “The constitution was not drafted during business hours and we have been a shining example of a peaceful protests.”

The protesters wanted a vote from the City Council on the anti-camping ordinance but the item on the agenda was to only hear from the public.

No decision was going to be made and this was not acceptable from one Occupy Sacramento supporter, he said the City Council should give an un-official vote so the people knew where they stood.

City councilman Steve Cohn said, “I am convinced you are on the right side of history and this council is with you.”

He said the occupiers had his support to keep their equipment in the park over night but that it was not the same support to lift the ordinance.

Councilwoman Angelique Ashby said she understands what the protesters wanted but she had been receiving emails from her constituents and they don’t want the protesters in the park.

Mayor Kevin Johnson said the City Council had heard everyone and it will be taken into consideration but he could only offer dialogue at this time.

Johnson said he would come across to the park and discuss the intensions of the occupiers so a letter could be drafted and he would take it with him next time he goes to Washington before the end of the year.

After the agenda item the occupiers left the chambers and went out side.

“We were offered dialogue but that is not what we asked for,” said the crowd.

Repost of a story from another one of my blogs but it belongs here

Occupy Sacramento Day 1

The young and the old of Sacramento peacefully march in downtown Sacramento to Cesar Chavez Park on 10^th street ns H to bring a message to the government.

“We want money out of politics, we want people in office who have an agenda for the people, not for themselves,” said a spokesperson for Occupy Sacramento Jeff Neves.

The message is simple but clear, they no longer want people with big bank accounts only running for office.

“It’s not about the left versus the right or my politics against yours, it’s about getting people in offices who represent what is best for the people,” said Neves.

A young man, Danny Garza, flew from the Occupy Wall Street protest where he has been since day one and wanted to help organize Sacramento and let them know what could be in store.

Garza said they were using laws from the 1800’s and arresting people without a verbal warning.

According to Garza the law from around the 1870’s that was being enforced was a group of two or more people are not allowed to cover their face and people were being arrested for this and also for writing on the sidewalk with chalk.

The police were also verbally threatening the occupiers by saying, “We are going to take you in and throw you in with the whores and pimps,” Garza said.

He said, “ The more the cops messed with us the stronger we became, it had the opposite effect that they intended.

Occupy Sacramento had around 150 people present at 4 P.M. Thursday, October 6^th.

The occupation is peaceful and the focus is to remain the same as the other Occupy groups throughout the country, including Occupy Wall Street in New York, according to the press release.

“The more people we have here tonight the better off we will be,” said a legal representative from the ACLU.

What is the blog all about

Hello reader,

I am sure you are wonder what the heck is this 'from the fringe' business is all about. This blog will be about political things that come to my mind. I am government and journalism student at California State University of Sacramento, which is a great school by the way, what this means is I read, discuss, think and learn a lot about governments from around the world, past and present. This does not mean I 'know whats up' in every facet of governmental matters but I am educated and can make some keen observations and this blog is where those will be posted.

From the Fringe is about being on the outside of what is going on but still in the know.

My aspiration is a blog that gets your brain thinking, I tend to think outside the box and draw interesting parallels, sometimes. I hope you enjoy and I hope we can create dialogue.

- The Captain